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In this Update:
New Year, New PA Senate Session, New Ways to Connect with ‘We the People’
On Tuesday, Jan. 7, I took the oath office to begin my second term serving the people of the 25th District in the Pennsylvania Senate. Voters gave Senate Republicans a 28-22 majority in the November 2024 General Election. Learn which members took the oath of office for the first time, who was sworn in following reelection and who is serving as part of the leadership team here. We are still blessed to live in the greatest country on earth. Our founders created a constitutional republic by the people and for the people, free from out-of-touch politicians and special interest coercion. As your state senator and returning chairman of the Senate State Government Committee, my priorities include restoring election integrity, reducing government spending and over-regulation, working to balance budgets and fighting against tax increases. It is imperative to strengthen our voter laws to preserve our most fundamental right to self-government: honest, transparent and secure elections. The people who elected me to serve them deserve nothing less. As the first chairman of the PA Senate Second Amendment Caucus, I strongly support our God-given right to keep and bear arms and I’m working to protect the constitutional rights of Pennsylvanians and the freedoms we enjoy. As the prime sponsor of Senate Bill 44 which was unanimously advanced and signed into law (Act 39 of 2023) to ensure sexually exploited child human trafficking victims always have full access to necessary services and support, I will continue to shepherd high-priority, bipartisan, anti-human trafficking initiatives during the 2025-26 legislative session. While other forms of government have relied on the use of totalitarian tyranny to make subjects of the people, constitutional republics such as ours rely on a written declaration of ‘We the People,’ as to what form of government we will accept I will stand up for our God-given rights, defend our shared values and fight for every citizen residing in the 25th Senate District. As always, I encourage citizens to stay informed by visiting my frequently updated website www.SenatorDush.com, my Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/SenatorCrisDushPA, and my new social media channels at x.com/SenatorDush, www.Instagram.com/SenatorCrisDush, www.Linkedin.com/in/SenatorCrisDush, and www.youtube.com/@SenatorCrisDushPA for the latest state government updates and district information. Must See PA Farm Show Wraps Up Jan. 11
Time is running out to experience the 109th Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg. The largest indoor exposition of its kind along the East Coast wraps up on Saturday, Jan. 11. As you can see from the majority of my photos above, 25th Senate District school districts were very well represented in terms of awarded Pennsylvania Future Farmers of America (FFA) jackets and students who earned their Keystone Degrees. Be sure to check out the frequently updated list of local winners here. The site also includes hundreds of photos from the week, categorized by competition. You can also watch my latest exclusive Farm Show interview with PA Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding here. Again, if there is any chance you can make it, I’d strongly recommend it. Besides showing off Pennsylvania’s largest industry, there are plenty of things for everyone to see, learn and do. Food, drink and things you never knew we do in Pennsylvania are here to experience for the first time. The Farm Show is truly a must see! Scholarships Available Soon for Students Earning Degrees in In-Demand Jobs
Pennsylvania students pursuing a degree for an in-demand occupation will soon be able to apply for a $5,000 scholarship through the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) because of a law passed by Senate Republicans. To bolster industries with lots of open positions, the law requires them to agree to live and work in Pennsylvania in an in-demand occupation for at least one year for each year they accept the scholarship. Those occupations include agriculture, computer science, business, education, special education, STEM education, engineering, nursing, allied health, criminal justice and other programs approved by PHEAA. The list of in-demand occupations will be adjusted regularly to reflect Pennsylvania’s workforce needs. Out-of-state students are eligible for scholarships that allow them to pay in-state tuition rates. If a student receives a scholarship but does not complete the educational program or fails to meet other terms of the agreement, the scholarship will be converted to a loan and must be repaid by the student. The application is expected to be available on PHEAA’s website in the coming weeks, and more information will be shared then. Online Resource Tracks State Plows
Winter weather can impact safety on the roads, particularly before snow is cleared and salt is spread to mitigate icy spots. As the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) crews work to keep roads passable, you may be wondering where the plow is in your area. All of PennDOT’s roughly 2,200 owned and rented plow trucks are equipped with automated vehicle location systems, which use in-truck technology to log and share data in real time for that truck. View the routes of these interstate and expressway trucks here. PennDOT maintains nearly 40,000 miles of roads and 25,400 bridges statewide, which translates to more than 95,000 snow-lane miles. More Veterans are Eligible for Free Birth and Death Certificates
New this year, more veterans and their families are eligible for free birth and death certificates from the Pennsylvania Department of Health because of legislation passed by Senate Republicans. All veterans who were discharged or released from services under conditions other than dishonorable can receive a veteran fee waiver. Previously, they were only available for military members who were in active service or who were honorably discharged. Normally, there is a non-refundable $20 fee per copy, but with this law, up to 10 free copies will be available. The fee waiver may be applied to applications for the veteran, spouse and dependent children. To be eligible for the waiver, applications for birth and death certificates must be submitted with documentation proving military status. Schedule Your Free State Capitol Tour
If you’re looking for a fun educational activity for your family, you can tour the state Capitol for free. During a 30-minute guided tour, Capitol tour guides point out architectural and artistic highlights as they make the Capitol’s history come alive. There is also an Interactive Welcome Center and Capitol Gift Shop to enjoy during your visit. Guided tours are offered every half hour Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Weekends and most holidays, tours are offered at 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Schedule a tour online or by calling the Tour Guide Office at 1-800-TOUR-N-PA (868-7672). Groups of 10 or more require advanced reservations. For your safety, group size is limited to 40.
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