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In this Update:
Trial Lawyer Venue Shopping Terminators Honored
As the lead sponsor of Senate Bill 125 that would grant the legislature constitutional authority to terminate trial lawyer venue shopping, I was recently presented with the Medical Professionals Liability Association (MPLA) Award of Excellence in State Public Policy. It was equally rewarding to receive this recognition—alongside my friends PA State Rep. Bryan Cutler and former Rep. Curt Schroder, Executive Director, Pennsylvania Coalition for Civil Justice Reform. Thank you once again to the MPL Association for this prestigious honor and, especially, for the opportunity to speak during your annual national meeting. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has removed previous restraints that prevented trial lawyers from selecting the most lucrative jurisdictions for filing medical liability actions. The corresponding fallout or “SUE-NAMI” of “Nuclear” medical malpractice awards being consistently handed out by Philadelphia courts, maternity wards closing and the epidemic statewide mass exodus of physicians, cardiologists, OBYGNS and other life-saving medical specialists is painfully obvious and undeniable. Rising health care costs, limited access to care and Pennsylvania now leading the nation in hospital closures—all have lethal consequences. The Rule of Law is what secures our Constitutional Republic. Because the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has already held that a law against venue shopping would be unconstitutional, the only way the Legislature can intervene in the best interests of the citizens we serve is through passing a constitutional amendment such as Senate Bill 125. Celebrating Penn State’s 2026 NCAA Wrestling Champions
On Monday, I joined with several of my Senate colleagues in formally recognizing the individual and team accomplishments of Penn State University’s All-American, 2026 NCAA Championship wrestling team. To repeat, this is the 13th National Wrestling Championship successfully brought home to Happy Valley under the expert guidance of Cael Sanderson and his coaching staff. All totaled, Penn State once again historically dominated on the mat with eight of its ten wrestlers earning the title of All-American and tying their previous team record by placing six national NCAA finalists. PSU now has a grand total of 272 All-Americans—109 of which have wrestled under Head Coach Sanderson. Head Coach Sanderson also deserves special recognition for becoming the second-winningest coach in NCAA history, now trailing only Iowa’s Dan Gable, who secured 15 national championships. With this year’s national title officially added to the record books, the Nittany Lions have now captured 65 NCAA titles, spread among 40 individual wrestlers (all-time), including 44 NCAA titles since Coach Sanderson’s arrival in 2009. Congratulations gentlemen and best wishes for continued success! We are always Penn State proud in Senate District 25! Recognizing State College Eagle Scout Excellence
Congratulations to Gus Clement and Zachary Spicer of Boy Scout Troop 245 (chartered by Nittany American Legion Post 245 in State College) who have earned the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest honor in the Boy Scouts of America. The multi-year journey to the Eagle Scout Award is one of the most involved and transformative experiences a young person can have. They try new things through the merit badge program, develop confidence in the outdoors, practice leadership tactics, and plan, develop and give leadership to a service project that benefits their community. For his Eagle Scout project, Gus refurbished a metal storage container and turned it into a shed for a non-profit animal rehab organization, Centre Wildlife Care (CWC). This shed will be used for storage of food and other supplies for the animals. Upon graduation, Gus is interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement or construction trades. For his Eagle Scout Project, Zach rerouted a trail within S.B Elliot State Park in Black Moshannon State Forest. This reroute moved the trail away from the river which would often flood. Rerouting it made the trail dry and able to be enjoyed by the community all throughout the year. After graduating from State College Area High School, Zach plans to enroll at Penn State in the Smeal College of Business and major in Finance. Congratulations again to Gus and Zach and to everyone who has supported and guided them along the way of their scouting journey. Senate Acts to Tighten Safety Standards for Operating Big Rigs
The Senate approved two bills to tighten commercial driver’s license (CDL) safety standards and close dangerous loopholes in Pennsylvania’s licensing and training systems. Senate Bill 1294 improves the training curriculum and strengthens penalties to shutdown unqualified “CDL Mills.” Senate Bill 1295 requires English proficiency in all testing applications to operate an 80,000-pound commercial vehicle on public highways. The legislation was developed after a Senate hearing exposed alarming gaps in current laws, including instances where individuals without proper training or English proficiency have operated heavy commercial vehicles on U.S. highways. The bills were sent to the House of Representatives for consideration. Read more about these CDL improvement bills here. Improving Stream Maintenance, Reducing Flood Hazards
Legislation to give counties and municipalities more flexibility in handling flood-related hazards and obstructions was passed by the Senate in March and now awaits action in the House of Representatives. Currently, entering streams to remove obstructions requires a permit from the state Department of Environmental Protection, a process that is lengthy, tedious and inefficient. Senate Bill 403 would allow local government organizations to apply for an extended permit, allowing maintenance to continue for 10 years or more. Senate Bill 404 would allow counties to obtain emergency maintenance permits in consultation with their county conservation district. Read more about how these bills will help protect against flooding here. Remembering D-Day
On June 6, 1944, the fate of Europe would be determined by the largest amphibious invasion in history, including 13,000 aircraft and gliders, 23,400 paratroopers, 5,000 ships and landing craft and 160,000 American, British and Canadian troops. More than 9,000 Allied servicemen were killed or wounded that day in northern France. It is our responsibility as Americans to honor their bravery, tell the stories of their heroism and preserve what they defended so their sacrifices were not in vain. |
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