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In this update:
Hazleton Area High School Honored by Special OlympicsThis week, Hazleton Area High School celebrated a very special achievement – they are one of only four schools in Pennsylvania AND the first ever in Luzerne County to be named a 2023 National Banner Unified Champion School by the Special Olympics, which recognizes schools who go above and beyond to provide opportunities to ALL students. Senator Lynda Culver, Rep. Mike Cabell, Rep. Dane Watro, and I were invited to join the ceremony. I also spoke to students there taking AP United States Government and Politics about my role as their state senator. I always enjoy “opening the minds” of our young people to the realities of how our state government functions – or sometimes doesn’t. Thank you for inviting me to visit! Argall Report: Supporting Long-Term Care CentersThe February edition of my local TV program highlights a recent press conference and tour held at Providence Place Senior Living in Pine Grove. At the press conference, I introduced three bipartisan pieces of legislation to update training procedures and break down employment barriers so more people can join the long-term care workforce. Too many of our families have faced the difficult decision of moving a beloved parent or grandparent into a long-term care center. Both of my parents required this kind of help toward the end of their lives, and I cannot be more grateful to the professionals who made sure that they were cared for and respected. Defending the Southern BorderWe must do more to secure the southern border. I strongly support a new resolution that calls on the Shapiro and Biden Administrations to support Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s efforts to protect our national security. Under the current presidential administration, the situation at the border has become a full-blown crisis. Hundreds of thousands of people have unlawfully crossed the southern border in just the past few months. Without proper border procedures in place, it’s impossible to protect our country from criminals smuggling drugs, illegal firearms, and worse. Housing, Workforce Development Focus of Roundtable with EmployersI was invited to participate in a bipartisan roundtable discussion with employers about what the Senate and the House can do to continue the economic growth our region has experienced in recent years. Also participating were Rep. Doyle Heffley, Rep. Dane Watro, Rep. JoAnne Stehr, Rep. Jim Haddock, Rep. Tim Twardzik, and Rep. Jamie Barton. One of the key topics I discussed was the need for more local housing options. Now that there are more jobs available, employees AND employers are looking for places to live close by to avoid long, expensive daily commutes. We’ve seen progress on this front – Rep. Tim Twardzik and I worked to secure a highly competitive state grant to renovate the upper six floors of the Schuylkill Trust Company Building into sixty market-rate units in downtown Pottsville. In Hazleton, the restored Altamont Hotel is expected to be open to renters soon. And in Orwigsburg, the old St. Francis Orphanage has been transformed into sixty market-rate apartments. Deanna Cunfer Wins Statewide Farm Show AwardCongrats to Deanna Cunfer of Lehighton, who was recognized with the J. Ira Coble Award at the 2024 Pennsylvania Farm Show. The award honors a 4-H beef club volunteer leader who goes above and beyond to educate people about raising cattle. Deanne has been involved in the Carbon County 4-H Livestock Club for most of her life. Her volunteer work has helped shape the local livestock industry – this award is much deserved! Preventing Cancer by Increasing Access to ScreeningsThe federal government estimated that nearly two million Americans would be diagnosed with cancer and that more than 600,000 would die from their disease in 2023. Research shows that more than 40% of those cases can be attributed to preventable causes such as smoking, physical inactivity, excessive exposure to the sun and excess body weight. Making healthier choices can dramatically reduce your risk of cancer, according to the American Association for Cancer Research. Learn how you can put yourself on a better path and test your cancer prevention knowledge here. Pennsylvanians can get the preventative cancer testing they need thanks to a new law approved with bipartisan support last year. Specifically, it eliminates out-of-pocket costs for genetic testing of hereditary cancer syndromes and supplemental breast screenings for women at high risk of developing breast cancer.
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