Senator Culver E-Newsletter

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In this Update:

  • Senate Returns to Session Soon
  • A Week at the Bloomsburg Fair
  • PA Treasurer Announces Short-Term Funding for Head Start, County Services
  • Remembering Three Police Officers Killed in the Line of Duty
  • Open Government: How to Access Senate Bills, Votes and More
  • Reporting School Threats Anonymously
  • Don’t be Fooled by Fraudulent Ticket Sellers
  • Resource for New Moms: Maternal Mental Health Hotline
  • Prostate Awareness Month: Early Detection is Key 

Senate Returns to Session Soon

The Senate has revised its legislative calendar to add session starting Oct. 6th. You can watch both session and committee meetings live at www.pasenategop.com/watch.

The updated schedule is as follows:

  • Monday, October 6 at 1:00 p.m.
  • Tuesday, October 7 at 1:00 p.m.
  • Wednesday, October 8 at 10:00 a.m.

On Monday, as Chair of the Senate Education Committee, I will be convening a joint hearing with the Senate Communications and Technology Committee, chaired by Senator Tracy Pennycuick, on the topic of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Education.

I encourage you to stay connected as we continue to address issues important to the people of Pennsylvania, most importantly, the ongoing budget impasse.

A Week at the Bloomsburg Fair

The 170th Bloomsburg Fair has been a wonderful opportunity to connect with neighbors, celebrate traditions, and honor the many contributions of our community. I was grateful to spend the week at the Fair, meeting with so many people from across the 27th District and taking part in special events.

Throughout the week, I participated in activities that highlighted the diversity and strength of our region. Last Friday’s reveal of the Columbia County America250PA Bell helped kick off the festivities and featured a beautifully painted replica of the Liberty Bell by local artist Mark Golomb. On Tuesday, Ronald McDonald House Day helped raise awareness and support for families who rely on the organization during challenging times. Wednesday’s Military Day provided an opportunity to honor the service and sacrifice of our veterans and active-duty military members.

I was also proud to take part in the Veterans Expo hosted by Rep. Leadbetter on Military Day, where veterans connected with resources and programs available to them. During the week, I toured exhibits with Michael Cabell, State Director for the USDA, learning more about the agricultural and educational opportunities featured at the Fair. I also had the chance to spend time with Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding, visiting vendors and enjoying some of the unique experiences the fair offers, including a stop at Stud Muffins, a visit to Folk’s Butterfly Farm, and many more attractions that highlight the creativity and hospitality of our region.

Other highlights included:

  • Serving as a judge for the Celebrity Sheep Showing, an event that helps showcase agriculture in a fun way while supporting the fair’s ongoing mission of community and education.
  • Visiting America250PA’s mobile unit, an interactive exhibit teaching the history of our nation, where I was joined by former Miss Pennsylvania serving as a host of the display.
  • Helping present an award during the Friend of the Fair ceremony, which recognizes outstanding service and dedication to the success of the Fair.

The Bloomsburg Fair continues to be a place where history, agriculture, and community come together. I am always proud to see the talent and generosity of our region on display and grateful for the opportunity to celebrate it with all of you.

PA Treasurer Announces Short-Term Funding for Head Start, County Services

The Pennsylvania Treasury Department will make $500 million available for Pennsylvania’s Head Start providers and county governments, helping to keep essential services funded while the 2025-26 state budget is finalized.

The funds will be distributed via short-term, investment loans which recipients will be required to pay back following enactment of a state budget. Treasurer Stacy Garrity said that to be eligible for this program, Head Start providers and county governments must indicate the investment will be used for immediate operating expenses.

More information is available from the Pennsylvania Treasury Department.

Remembering Three Police Officers Killed in the Line of Duty

Three police officers were killed and two wounded serving a warrant Sept. 17 in York County, a heartbreaking reminder of the risk faced every day by those standing on the thin blue line between order and chaos.

The fallen officers, Detective Mark Baker, Sgt. Detective Cody Becker and Detective Isaiah Emenheiser, were members of the Northern York County Regional Police Department. Their shocking deaths highlight how crucial it is to stand behind law enforcement officers and give them the tools and support they need to serve communities in the safest manner possible.

May their families find comfort in this incredibly trying time.

Open Government: How to Access Senate Bills, Votes and More

Pennsylvania Senate votes, debates, bills and much more can be accessed via the General Assembly’s website. Citizens can learn who represents them, read bills and amendments, review text of floor debates in the official Senate Journals, and see how senators voted on bills in committee and before the full Senate

The committee meeting schedule is also available, along with co-sponsorship memos and monthly expense reports for each senator. Senate sessions are livestreamed, and video from previous sessions is available back to Jan. 2025.

Pennsylvania statutes (our state laws), the state constitution, recently enacted laws, rules and regulations (PA Code), the PA Bulletin, and more can be viewed by going to the Statutes section

Reporting School Threats Anonymously

Another school year is underway, and the Safe2Say Something program is available to train students and school employees how to recognize warning signs from individuals who may be a threat to themselves or others, and to anonymously report the threat before it is too late.

Once a tip is reported, a crisis center assesses it and sends it to school administrators and/or law enforcement for intervention. This youth violence prevention program is run by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General.

Since 2019, the Safe2Say Something tipline has received more than 178,000 tips covering threats to schools, bullying and potential self-harm.

Don’t be Fooled by Fraudulent Ticket Sellers

The arrival of the NFL and college sports seasons is a good time to watch out for fraudulent ticket sellers.

Attorney General Dave Sunday offers these suggestions to avoid being scammed:

  • Treat someone selling tickets to a popular sporting event with skepticism since these events are likely to be sellouts.
  • If you do buy from an individual, it should be someone you know personally, such as a relative, close friend or coworker.
  • Unless you know a seller personally, never pay for tickets with a peer-to-peer payment service — such as Zelle, Venmo, PayPal, CashApp or a wire transfer. If the person is a scammer, you won’t be able to get your money back because these apps don’t have the same consumer protections as credit cards.
  • When shopping for tickets, check the venue’s floor chart for the event to make sure that the section and seat number actually exist.
  • When buying tickets from a reputable seller, such as Ticketmaster or StubHub, make sure that the URL is the correct one and not for a look-alike site created by a scammer.

To report a scam, or if you believe you have been scammed, file a complaint at www.attorneygeneral.gov or by calling 717-787-3391.

Resource for New Moms: Maternal Mental Health Hotline

New moms can experience mental health challenges during or after pregnancy. Some common signs of postpartum depression are:

  • Feeling sad or hopeless most of the time.
  • Having no interest in things you used to enjoy.
  • Not caring for yourself as well (dressing, showering).
  • Trouble focusing.
  • Not managing daily chores.
  • Sleeping or eating too much or too little.

Call or text the Maternal Mental Health Hotline at 833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262) for free, confidential support 24/7. Find out more here.

Prostate Awareness Month: Early Detection is Key 

About 13% of American men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point during their lifetimes, making it the most common cancer in men after skin cancer.

Early detection and treatment are crucial for improving outcomes. Learn about screening options and more here.

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