View this email in a browser

In this Update:

• Demanding Answers on Illegal Alien CDL Holders  
• Grow PA Scholarship Grant Program Now Accepting Applications
• Concerned About Winter Energy Bills? Call Utilities Now
• The Dangers of Walking on Frozen Bodies of Water

Demanding Answers on Illegal Alien CDL Holders  

Article 4, Section 4 of the United States Constitution clearly stipulates that our government “shall guarantee to every state in this Union a Republican form of government and shall protect each of them against INVASION.”

Effective Sept. 29, 2025, the federal government issued an interim final rule to restore the integrity of non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs), and PennDOT was subsequently directed to pause the issuance of these licenses.

As chairman of the Senate State Government Committee, I am adding my name to the growing list of PA Senators who are calling on PennDOT to immediately re-evaluate all non-domiciled CDL driver’s licenses in light of the recent fatal crash in the state of Indiana involving a Pennsylvania-issued, non-domiciled CDL held by Bekzhan Bieshekeev of Kyrgyzstan.

This is the second high-profile case of an illegal alien being issued a non-domiciled CDL by PennDOT. In November of 2025, Akhror Bozorov, a man wanted on terrorism charges out of Uzbekistan was arrested in Kansas. He had a Pennsylvania non-domiciled CDL in his possession at the time of his arrest, of which police and the Department of Homeland Security said he used to drive truck nationwide.

With the ongoing investigations at both the federal and state levels, it is important that we act swiftly to safeguard the public in Pennsylvania and beyond its borders from foreign invasion.

Grow PA Scholarship Grant Program Now Accepting Applications

Eligible Pennsylvanians can now apply for a Grow PA Scholarship Grant for the 2026-27 academic year. Applications are available at pheaa.org/growpa.  

This program offers grants of up to $5,000 per year for in-state students who pursue a degree or certification in an in-demand occupation and administered by the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA).

Courses of study that qualify for the grant include agriculture, computer science, business, education, special education, STEM education, engineering, nursing, allied health, criminal justice and other programs as approved by PHEAA. The full list is available here.

To qualify, applicants must submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as well as agree to live and work in Pennsylvania in that occupation after graduation for 12 months for each year they received the grant.

Please note: Applicants who received this grant last year MUST reapply to receive the grant again for the upcoming academic year.

Concerned About Winter Energy Bills? Call Utilities Now

January and February are usually the months when home energy bills tend to peak, due largely to increased heating demand.

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission encourages consumers who are concerned about their utility bills to call their utility company to discuss available options. Utilities can help customers explore payment arrangements, budget billing and assistance programs that may help manage winter energy costs before a bill becomes unmanageable.

Utility representatives can also help direct consumers to additional state and local resources. Read more about reducing energy use and how to find help with bills here.

The Dangers of Walking on Frozen Bodies of Water

Cold weather means more frozen bodies of water and the risk that comes with walking on them, especially rivers and streams.

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission offers this safety advice:

• No ice is considered “safe” ice. There is no official authority that measures ice thickness.
• Never go out on ice alone.
• Never walk on ice that has formed over moving water such as a river or stream.
• The PFBC recommends a minimum of 4 inches of ice for walking onto the surface of a lake or pond.
• Always wear a life jacket or float coat while on the ice. (Inflatable life jackets do not perform well in freezing temperatures.)
• Survey the ice and listen for loud cracks or booms, which are signs of deterioration.

Look for new ice, which is clear or has a blue tint, and remember that ice thickness is not consistent across the surface of a lake or pond. Learn more about ice fishing and ice safety, including an ice thickness and safety chart, here.

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe

2026 © Senate of Pennsylvania | https://senatordush.com | Privacy Policy