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Capitol Report
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The latest news from the State Capitol
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Please do not reply directly to this email, as it returns to an unmanned account.
You are welcome to contact me through this link.
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Welcoming a National Champion to the Capitol This Week
I had the privilege this week to welcome Saylor Rohrer and his family to the Capitol. Saylor recently competed in the United States of America Snowboard and Freeski Association’s National Championships in Colorado and took home the national championship title in both the slalom and giant slalom events. Congratulations, Saylor!
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Welcoming Guests from South Africa to the Capitol
It was a pleasure to meet some new friends all the way from South Africa who joined me at the Capitol recently. I enjoyed learning about how government works in South Africa while showing our visitors and their hosts, Mike and Nancy Gawlas from Silver Spring Presbyterian Church, around our beautiful Capitol building.
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Raising Awareness at Neuro Games!
This week, my office joined Encompass Health Mechanicsburg for the annual Neuro Games. In honor of National Rehab Week, my office competed in games to raise awareness about what it’s like to recover from illness, injury and stroke. The goal of the Neuro Games is to provide an experience that enhances awareness of the daily challenges faced by those who have suffered a stroke; share education and information on the benefits of rehabilitation; and foster a sense of community while having fun.
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Welcoming L.L. Bean to the 87th District
It was great to join the crew at L.L. Bean for its grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony this week in Silver Spring Township! L.L. Bean has been around for decades, and it’s exciting to have a storefront here in the 87th District. In addition to offering outdoor equipment, gear and clothing, L.L. Bean creates educational opportunities and experiences that connect people with the outdoors.
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Mark Your Calendars for My Upcoming Events
Toast with Thomas
Understanding Human Trafficking Seminar
For questions, please call my office at 717-975-2235.
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Cleaning Up Regulations that No Longer Serve the Public Interest
At the direction of House Republicans and various standing House committees, the Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC) recently completed a two-year-long review that found numerous regulations no longer in the public interest.
This is great news for the Commonwealth, as overregulation hinders economic growth, impedes our ability to govern ourselves and sometimes confuses the public. Streamlining government and reducing the size and scope of our administrative state has long been, and continues to be, a focus of House Republicans.
The report and orders issued by IRRC last week are another successful step in holding government accountable to itself and, most importantly, the people of Pennsylvania. Click here to learn more.
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New Law to Boost Reporting of Data Breaches
The Office of Attorney General has launched an online portal to streamline the process for companies and other entities required to report data breaches under a new state law adopted earlier this year.
Act 33 of 2024, which takes effect later this month, requires reporting of data breaches impacting more than 500 Pennsylvanians. The companies must also provide impacted individuals with 12 months of free credit monitoring and access to a free credit report, if the breach involves the person’s name and Social Security number, bank account number, or driver’s license or state ID number.
The portal is available here.
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Treasury’s Transparency Portal Reveals County-Level Data
The Pennsylvania Treasury Department’s award-winning Transparency Portal now includes details about how residents of every county across the state are taking advantage of the PA 529 College and Career Savings Program, the PA ABLE Savings Program for people with disabilities, and Keystone Scholars, which provides a $100 jumpstart for education savings for every baby born in Pennsylvania.
The county-level data feature also shows how much of the $4.5 billion in unclaimed property in Treasury’s care is available to claim in each county.
Pennsylvanians can explore all the portal’s features to dive deep into the state budget, state contracts and more.
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Keeping Kids Safe in the Car
Car crashes are a leading cause of death for children. Every day in 2022, on average, three children under age 13 were killed and 429 were injured in cars, SUVs, pickups and vans, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Also in 2022, 39% of children killed in car crashes were unrestrained.
As Child Passenger Safety Week draws to a close on Saturday, parents and caregivers are reminded of the importance of properly restraining children in vehicles.
The Commonwealth’s primary seat belt law requires all vehicle occupants younger than 18 to wear a seat belt when riding anywhere in a vehicle. Children up to the age of 2 must be secured in a rear-facing car seat, and children under the age of 4 must be restrained in an approved child safety seat. Children must ride in a booster seat until their eighth birthday. Parents are also reminded that due to potential dangers associated with air bag deployment, children 12 and younger should always ride buckled in a vehicle’s back seat.
Selecting the appropriate car seat for your child’s age and size is vital to its effectiveness. For tips on selecting a car seat, click here.
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