Senator Argall E-Newsletter

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In this update:

  • Ensuring Parents Have Information about their Children’s Education
  • Hickory Run State Park Voted Best Fall Foliage in PA
  • Improving School Safety
  • Helping Seniors in Luzerne County
  • Elder Abuse Training in St. Clair
  • Giving Pennsylvanians a Voice in the Presidential Primary
  • Free Hard to Read License Plate Check in Cass Township
  • Preventing PA Taxpayer Dollars from Supporting Russian War Crimes
  • Meeting with Constituents in Hegins
  • Reducing Barriers for Teachers Moving to Pennsylvania
  • Argall Report: Breathing New Life into Old Communities, Just Like Jim Thorpe

Ensuring Parents Have Information about their Children’s Education

The Senate Education Committee, which I chair, passed a bill this week to give parents more information about the lessons their children are being taught in our public schools. 

Senator Michele Brooks spoke about the importance of parental rights and the education of our children before the vote took place. She emphasized that we need to get back to the basics in education – NOT inappropriate materials for our youngest children. I agree 100 percent.

Hickory Run State Park Voted Best Fall Foliage in PA

Photo by Jacqueline Dormer/Staff Photographer for the Republican Herald

Hickory Run State Park in Carbon County was voted as the best location in Pennsylvania to admire fall foliage, according to a survey conducted by Mixbook. With fall beginning on Saturday, you may want to consider stopping by for a visit in the next few weeks!

The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources also is a great source of information if you’re looking for the best places to admire the natural beauty of our area.

Improving School Safety

When I chaired ten public roundtables all across Pennsylvania on school safety after the shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School, we heard from students, parents, and educators that we needed to do more to protect our public and nonpublic schools. Since then, we’ve invested hundreds of millions of dollars into safer, far more secure schools.

This week, the Senate voted to further strengthen our state’s response, continuing to build on these critical investments.

Helping Seniors in Luzerne County

Thank you to everyone who volunteered their time or stopped by the Senior Expo hosted by Rep. Dane Watro, Rep. Mike Cabell, and me this week. We had hundreds of people attend! Rep. Jamie Barton will be hosting a similar event at the Orwigsburg Veterans Community Memorial Hall on Friday, September 29th.

Elder Abuse Training in St. Clair

The Schuylkill Elder Abuse Prevention Alliance is sponsoring a free elder abuse training next week. Thank you for hosting this event on such an important topic.

Giving Pennsylvanians a Voice in the Presidential Primary

The Senate passed my bill to move up Pennsylvania’s 2024 primary election to March 19th with a strong bipartisan vote of 45 to 2 this week. Members of the Senate, both Republican and Democrat, spoke about the importance of making this change as soon as possible, with Senator Judy Schwank (D-Berks) noting how we worked together on this bill and the importance of finalizing the primary date as soon as possible.

As the fifth largest state in the country, we should have a stronger role in selecting the candidates for President of the United States. In most Presidential primary elections, the outcome is largely decided before Pennsylvania voters have a chance to make their voices heard.

Free Hard to Read License Plate Check in Cass Township 

Is your license plate worn out? You can get it replaced for free at an event I’m hosting with Rep. Tim Twardzik on October 11th. A Cass Township police officer will be on hand to inspect your plate to determine if it’s illegible.

For more information or to RSVP, call 570-794-4039.

Preventing PA Taxpayer Dollars from Supporting Russian War Crimes

My constituents of Ukrainian descent have been loud and clear – they do not want our state government supporting the war crimes committed by the Russian government during their invasion of Ukraine.

My bill to prevent Pennsylvania taxpayer dollars from supporting companies with ties to the governments of Russia and Belarus passed the Senate Appropriations Committee this week and now awaits final consideration from the Senate.

Meeting with Constituents in Hegins

Thank you to everyone who came to a well-attended town hall meeting I hosted this week with Rep. JoAnne Stehr in Hegins – we had a great discussion about fixing our roads and bridges, finding a better way to fund our schools, and whether the death penalty should be used. Afterwards, we met with the Hegins Area Ambulance Association about the issues facing our EMS agencies.

I’ll be hosting more of these soon. Stay tuned!

Reducing Barriers for Teachers Moving to Pennsylvania

With educator shortages continuing to plague parts of the state, we need to do everything we can to make it easier for qualified people to become teachers in Pennsylvania. My bill to reduce barriers for teachers moving to Pennsylvania won unanimous, bipartisan approval by the Senate this week.

If we don’t ensure we have enough teachers, we’re failing the next generation of Pennsylvanians.

Argall Report: Breathing New Life into Old Communities, Just Like Jim Thorpe

The September edition of my local TV program focuses on revitalizing older communities.

I recently hosted the Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, Rick Siger, in Jim Thorpe to tour the borough and discuss the community’s success in bringing both tourists and new residents to the area.

Following the tour, Rep. Heffley, Rep. Tim Twardzik, and I hosted a roundtable discussion with dozens of local residents, Sec. Siger, representatives from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and the Pocono Mountain Visitors Bureau.

Consider the examples of Jim Thorpe, Pottsville, Tamaqua, Lehighton, Hazleton, or a number of other communities in Northeastern Pennsylvania, we’re making real progress in breathing new life into communities both large and small…. with much work left to do!

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