|
||||
|
In this Update:
PA Supreme Court Rules Counties Must Comply with State Election Law
This week, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court reiterated its previous stance and ruled that undated or misdated mail ballots should not be counted in the 2024 election. It upholds prior rulings clarifying mail and absentee ballots that fail to comply with the Pennsylvania Election Code “shall not be counted” for the purposes of the Nov. 5 election. The people of this commonwealth said “game on” after Marseglia defiantly declared: “… precedent by a court doesn’t matter anymore in this country. And people violate laws anytime they want. For me, if I violate this law, it’s because I want a court to pay attention to it.” I believe the outrage of the people, who are now unafraid of speaking out against the abuse of authority given to executive and county officials led to the Supreme Court taking decisive action against these abuses. However, don’t be fooled. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court is still an activist court. During the past several years, they have changed our elections laws when and how they see fit, circumventing the separation of powers. As chairman of the Senate State Government Committee, I want to thank the people of Pennsylvania for standing up and giving a LOUD voice to protect the rule of law across this commonwealth! Bridging the Digital Divide with New Laptop Device Grants
I’m excited to announce that the Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority has awarded grant funding for the purchase of approximately 172 laptops in communities where affordability has been identified as a significant barrier to digital broadband access and expansion. Connecting underserved, rural households, schools and local governments with the technology and resources they need to successfully bridge the digital divide is absolutely critical for making our entire region more appealing for future development and family-sustaining job creation. Best of all, these laptop devices will be distributed to provide affordable and reliable online access to education, workforce training and other vital community services—all at no cost to local residents. The recipients of the laptops are:
The laptop grants are funded through the federally backed ARPA Digital Connectivity Technology Program and were part of a $20 million competitive grant process to Pennsylvania public-facing community anchor institutions, including libraries, schools, units of local government, workforce training organizations, and other non-profits. To ensure accountability and responsible use of taxpayer dollars, grant recipients must submit progress reports that outline the impact of these devices in their communities. Read the full laptop grant announcement here. PA Department of Agriculture Orders Precautionary Bulk Milk Testing to Protect Dairy, Poultry Industries from Avian Flu
On Wednesday, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture announced that precautionary bulk milk testing for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in dairy cows is now required. All processors and cooperatives receiving milk from PA farms are expected to comply with the procedures in this quarantine order that went into effect on Nov. 20. Milk samples will be collected from bulk milk tank trucks transporting milk from Pennsylvania farms to processing plants—at no cost to farmers as the USDA is covering the cost of supplies. If the HPAI virus is detected, it will trigger further investigation to identify the source. Special quarantine measures will be established to contain and eliminate the virus at the source. No virus has been detected in Pennsylvania cattle, but cases continue to rise in other states. Not typically fatal in dairy cattle, HPAI can severely affect milk production, lead to serious illness in some cows, and substantially strain farm operations. The virus is especially fatal to poultry. Detailed information on avian influenza, biosecurity, quarantines, and other measures to protect Pennsylvania agriculture are available here. Senate Passes Bill to Honor Gold Star Families
It’s important to recognize fallen service members and the families they left behind. I supported a new law that will authorize construction of a Gold Star Families Memorial Monument at the State Capitol Complex in Harrisburg. As a veteran and military father, I wholeheartedly supported this bill, helping it along the way as it traveled through my committee. The monument will be sponsored by the Woody Williams Foundation, which was established to honor and support Gold Star Families. It will be built to reflect five main philosophical pillars of the foundation: homeland, family, patriot, sacrifice and legacy. The monument will give Gold Star Families a permanent place to gather, remember and honor their fallen loved ones. It will also remind the public of the ultimate sacrifice made by the country’s bravest patriots. The monument will be constructed south of the Auditorium Forum Building, east of the Irvis Office Building and north of Walnut Street. New Law Creates Rape Kit Tracking System
To empower survivors and hold offenders accountable, a bill establishing a statewide rape kit evidence tracking system was signed into law as Act 122 of 2024. Act 122 allows survivors to track the status of their rape kits throughout the testing process, from collection to destruction. The law clarifies existing rights and enshrines new statutory rights for survivors of sexual assault. It also brings Pennsylvania into compliance with the Fairness for Rape Kit Backlog Survivors provision of the recent Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) reauthorization. To comply with VAWA, the law provides a waiver for survivors who file untimely claims for compensation due to delays in rape kit testing. Survivors will not need to undergo an appeal process for consideration of this waiver. Bill Allowing Year-round Motorcycle Inspections Now Law
Legislation giving people who are trying to take safety precautions more convenience is now law after receiving unanimous Senate and House support. It allows year-round motorcycle safety inspections in Pennsylvania. Even though motorcycles can be purchased and driven on Pennsylvania roadways throughout the year, the state Vehicle Code previously only allowed safety inspections to be performed from March to October. The legislation eliminated the old restriction to give motorcycle operators more opportunities to complete required inspections. Motorcycle registration with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation will continue to be tied to the month the vehicle is to be inspected. New Maple Map Paves the Way for a Tasty Treat
Pennsylvania maple is a true taste of fall, and it’s simpler than ever to enjoy maple syrup and related candies, popcorn and sauces produced right here in the commonwealth. The new Maple Map highlights local producers and businesses all across the state. Using the interactive mapping application makes it easy to find delicious snacks to help you enjoy the season. It also provides maple syrup recipes and a list of restaurants and coffee shops with maple menu offerings.
For anyone who hasn’t already signed up to receive my mission reports, you can get on the e-newsletter mailing list here. |
||||
|
||||
Want to change how you receive these emails? 2024 © Senate of Pennsylvania | https://senatordush.com | Privacy Policy |
