Recent News
Mar
18
2023
March 18, 2023
In this Update: Share Your Perspective: University of Pittsburgh Survey of Older Adults (55+) in Westmoreland County Budget Hearings Begin March 20 Examining Government Cloud-Based Cybersecurity Strengthening Guardianship Laws, Preventing Elder Abuse DMVA Mobile Outreach Vans to Serve Vets PennDOT Invites Public Feedback on Transportation Beware of the Secret Shopper Scam Share Your Perspective: University […] [Read More]
Mar
16
2023
March 16, 2023
Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward (R-39) today announced the approval of nearly $600,000 in gaming revenue funds to support a multimodal transportation project in Salem Twp., Westmoreland County. [Read More]
Mar
11
2023
March 11, 2023
In this Update: Governorโs Budget Proposal Includes Significant Areas of Concern Historic Breast Cancer Screening Bill Unanimously Passes Senate Senate Acts to Protect Citizen Data with State Employee TikTok Ban Measure Preserving Community Energy Choice Passed by Senate Senate Approves Legislation to Increase PA National Guard Health Care Providers Senate Honors 20th Anniversary of Operation […] [Read More]
Mar
07
2023
March 07, 2023
In response to Governor Josh Shapiroโs first budget address today, Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward (R-39), Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R-41) and Appropriations Committee Chair Scott Martin (R-13) reiterated their commitment to passing a conservative, fiscally responsible spending plan that strengthens Pennsylvania.ย [Read More]
Mar
06
2023
March 06, 2023
Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward (R-39), Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R-41), Senate Majority Appropriations Chair Scott Martin (R-13), Senate Majority Whip Ryan Aument (R-36), Senate Majority Caucus Chair Kristin Phillips-Hill (R-28), Senate Majority Caucus Secretary Camera Bartolotta (R-46), Senate Majority Policy Chair Dan Laughlin (R-49) and Senate Majority Caucus Administrator Lisa Baker (R-20), today issued the following statement on workplace harassment: [Read More]
Mar
06
2023
March 06, 2023
The Pennsylvania Senate today unanimously passed Senate Bill 8, a first-of-its-kind in the nation comprehensive breast cancer screening bill sponsored by Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward (R-39), Senator Devlin Robinson (R-37) and Senator Tracy Pennycuick (R-24). [Read More]
๐ฃ 3 weeks of ๐๐ช๐๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐๐๐ง๐๐ฃ๐๐จ held by the Senate Appropriations Committee will begin today.
๐ The hearings will be used to review @governorshapiro`s spending plan & ask administration officials about the need for any proposed expenses.
From there, a budget that more appropriately reflects the needs of taxpayers can be developed before the constitutional deadline of June 30. ๐
For the budget hearing schedule: https://appropriations.pasenategop.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/124/2023/02/Budget-Hearing-Schedule-2023-24-REVISED-022323.pdf
โ ๐๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ฒ ๐๐ญ. ๐๐๐ญ๐ซ๐ข๐๐ค`๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฒ! โ
"May the road rise to meet you, may the wind be always at your back."
Did you know? Pennsylvania ranks 6th for Irish population in the US!
I hope you have a fun & safe weekend! ๐
THANK YOU to the PA Senate Library for featuring me in the current exhibit โOfficers of the Pennsylvania Senate.โ What an honor!
I highly recommend a visit to the beautiful PA Senate Library to meet the knowledgeable librarians & staff. ๐
#WomensHistoryMonthinPA
More info: library.pasen.gov/Exhibitions.cfm
Last week, Senate Bill 8 unanimously passed the PA State Senate. The bill will be the first of its kind in the country if it gets through the House and signed by the governor. It will make BRCA (genetic testing) more accessible and access to breast MRI and ultrasound testing without co-pays for those who are at high risk. This came out of my personal experience while going through treatment and diagnosis for breast cancer. While I could afford to pay for testing if necessary, many women canโt. Thatโs not acceptable. This bill will result in earlier diagnosis which will result in saving lives. 1 in 8 women get breast cancer and approximately 14,000 women are newly diagnosed with breast cancer every year in PA - thatโs a lot of mothers, daughters, friends, relatives and grandmas aka Kikiโs, which Iโm called. ๐. I am the prime sponsor of this bill which is co-primed by Senators @senatordevlinrobinson and @senatorpennycuick.
Iโm extremely grateful to the 49 co-sponsors of SB8 from both sides of the aisle. โค๏ธ
Attended the the 112th Annual Convention of the Westmoreland County Association of Township Supervisors this morning. Thanks for having me!
My office was happy to meet with @duquesneuniversity pharmacy students to discuss workforce issues and industry trends! ๐๐ฉบ
Following Gov. Shapiro`s first budget address, I was joined by my Senate colleagues to reiterate our commitment to passing a conservative, fiscally responsible spending plan that strengthens Pennsylvania.
We voiced concerns with this proposal to increase spending by more than $1.3 billion above the current yearโs budget. However, the $45.8 billion budget proposal unveiled by Shapiro today does also include many priorities shared by us, including workforce development, infrastructure advancements, safe communities, and mental and behavioral health supports.
Watch our full response to Gov. Shapiro`s budget address here:
https://www.pasenategop.com/news/senate-republican-leaders-reaffirm-commitment-to-passing-a-responsible-budget/
๐๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ค๐ง๐๐ ๐ฝ๐ง๐๐๐จ๐ฉ ๐พ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ง ๐๐๐ง๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฝ๐๐ก๐ก ๐๐ฃ๐๐ฃ๐๐ข๐ค๐ช๐จ๐ก๐ฎ ๐๐๐จ๐จ๐๐จ ๐๐ผ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ฉ๐ ๐๐
Senate Bill 8 improves coverage of necessary BRCA testing and screening for high-risk Pennsylvanians.
Read about it here: https://www.senatorward.com/2023/03/06/historic-breast-cancer-screening-bill-unanimously-passes-pa-senate/
