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In This Update:
Bloomsburg Maker Fest Tomorrow
Tomorrow, Saturday, May 2, is the 2026 Bloomsburg Maker Fest from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Bloomsburg Fairgrounds. I am pleased to partner with The Bloomsburg Children’s Museum to help present this free, family-friendly event celebrating creativity, innovation and hands-on learning for all ages. Maker Fest brings together makers, artists, engineers, educators and families for a day focused on exploration, discovery and problem-solving. Attendees will be able to enjoy hands-on experiences in STEM, STEAM, art, engineering, technology and crafts, along with interactive exhibits and activities from a wide variety of organizations, including PA Fish & Boat, the PA Game Commission, PennDOT, Geisinger, PPL, UGI, Sekisui Kydex, Amazon and many others. Check-in will take place at the event, and parking will be available at the fairgrounds. I hope families throughout our region will take advantage of this opportunity to learn, explore and enjoy a great community event. May Satellite Office Hours Across the District
To make it easier for residents to access state services, my team will be holding satellite office hours at the following locations in the 27th Senatorial District during the month of May: Danville Beaver Springs Other accommodations can be made for those needing alternative locations, and as a reminder, my regular district offices in Shamokin Dam, Mount Carmel, and Bloomsburg are open Monday-Friday, 8am-4pm. Shikellamy Students Visit the Capitol
This week, several Shikellamy High School students visited the State Capitol for a job shadowing experience and a closer look at the many people and departments that help keep the Senate running. During their visit, the students had the opportunity to see much more than just a Senator’s office. They learned about the work of the Senate Sergeant at Arms and the team of Senate security officers, the staff from the Senate Chamber, the room in which the Senate convenes for Session, and among several others, the Senate Communications team, which ranges from photographers, videographers, graphic designers and more. Throughout the day, they got to see how different staff members support the legislative process each day. I always enjoy seeing young people from our district take an interest in their state government, and I appreciate the Shikellamy students and their teachers for spending part of their day at the Capitol. Senior Technology Workshop Set for May 21
I will be hosting a Senior Technology Workshop, together with the Shamokin and Coal Township Public Library, on Thursday, May 21. This workshop is designed to provide hands-on help for seniors who have questions about their smartphones or tablets. Whether it is learning how to use basic features, navigating apps, or staying connected with family and friends, this event will offer a supportive environment to ask questions and build confidence with technology. Participants are encouraged to bring their own devices so they can receive personalized assistance. The workshop will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Shamokin and Coal Township Public Library, located at 210 E. Independence Street in Shamokin. While not required, you can register by calling my Mount Carmel office at 570-339-5937. I encourage anyone who could benefit from a little extra help with their device to join us for this informative and hands-on session. Senate Approves Legislation to Help Relieve PA Nurse Shortage
The Senate approved legislation to help alleviate Pennsylvania’s nurse shortage. Senate Bill 998 would establish the Nurse Education Capacity Expansion Grant Program, aimed at increasing the number of qualified nursing students by providing targeted support to accredited nursing schools across Pennsylvania. Nursing education programs would have to meet key performance benchmarks, including strong graduation rates, high licensure exam pass rates and successful job placement outcomes. The bill now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration. Read more about Senate Bill 998 here. Measures Reinforcing Commercial Vehicle Safety Approved by Committee
A package of bills to improve safety standards for commercial driver’s license (CDL) holders in Pennsylvania advanced in the Senate. The measures are the result of a committee fact-finding hearing in December, which revealed deficiencies and loopholes involving criminal illegal migrants. The hearing was prompted by a fatal crash in the state of Indiana involving a Pennsylvania-issued, non-domiciled CDL held by a citizen of Kyrgyzstan. The package includes the following bills:
As I shared last week, SB 1294 passed out of the Education Committee. SB 1295 and SB 1296 were approved by the Transportation Committee. The bills now go to the full Senate for consideration. Hearing on Resource Adequacy, Energy Market, Barriers to New PA Power Generation
Continuing efforts to ensure Pennsylvania families and employers have access to reliable, affordable electricity, the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee held a public hearing to examine the latest energy market conditions and barriers to new power generation in the commonwealth. The panel heard from testifiers representing the regional power grid, PJM, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission and others. ReliabilityFirst, which is responsible for ensuring the dependability and security of the regional bulk power system, projected risk to grid reliability could come in 2029 instead of in the early 2030s as previously projected. The surge of demand from data centers and the need for more skilled infrastructure workers were also discussed. You can view written testimony and the hearing video here. Public Meeting Set for Bloomsburg Flood Mitigation Efforts – May 6
Residents are invited to attend a public meeting on Wednesday, May 6 at 6 p.m. to learn more about ongoing flood mitigation efforts in Bloomsburg’s West End and nearby areas. The meeting will be held at the Bloomsburg Fire Company, located at 911 Market Street in Bloomsburg. Hosted by the Columbia County Commissioners in coordination with SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG), the meeting will provide an overview of current flood mitigation needs, potential project concepts, and next steps in the planning process. Organizers also emphasized that this is an early-stage, informational session focused on gathering community input and feedback to help guide future efforts. The project builds on previous flood studies and aims to improve safety, protect homes and businesses, and strengthen infrastructure in areas impacted by recurring flooding. Residents, property owners, and business owners are encouraged to attend, ask questions, and share their experiences and priorities. Community input will play an important role in shaping the direction of future flood mitigation planning. Read more on the project here. DEP Public Hearing Scheduled for Cooper Township Proposal – June 15
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection will hold a public hearing on Monday, June 15, from 6 to 8 p.m. regarding 22 Transfer LLC’s municipal waste application for a proposed municipal waste transfer station in Cooper Township, Montour County. The hearing will take place at the Montour County Administration Center, 435 East Front Street in Danville. The proposed project is located on a 47-acre parcel along Grovania Drive, approximately three miles southwest of Bloomsburg, and would include a municipal waste transfer station, recycling center, and related operations with a capacity of approximately 500 tons per day. The public hearing will provide residents and interested stakeholders with an opportunity to learn more about the proposal and share comments directly with DEP. Individuals may offer up to three minutes of oral testimony. Those wishing to speak are encouraged to register in advance by contacting Megan Lehman with DEP at meglehman@pa.gov or 570-327-3659 by 4 p.m. on June 12. Time permitting, individuals may also register onsite prior to the start of the hearing. Written comments may be submitted to DEP through 4 p.m. on June 24 by emailing lhouser@pa.gov or mailing comments to the DEP Northcentral Regional Office in Williamsport. Public input is an important part of the review process, and all comments received will be considered by DEP as part of its evaluation of the permit application. May 4 is the Deadline to Register to Vote in the Primary Election
This Monday, May 4 is the deadline to register to vote in the May 19 primary election. You can register to vote online, by mail or at several government agencies. To register to vote in Pennsylvania, you must:
Learn more about registering to vote here. Check if you’re registered to vote here. Mammo May: Early Detection Saves Lives
May is Mammography Month in Pennsylvania. It’s an opportunity to spread the word that early detection of breast cancer through mammograms saves lives. This PA Breast Cancer Coalition resource page walks you through the steps of the mammogram process. Mammograms are available at no cost in Pennsylvania. If you haven’t yet, use Mammo May to schedule your mammogram and please spread the word to women in your life. |
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