|
||||
|
In This Update:
Senate Approves Legislation to Help Relieve PA Nurse Shortage
The Senate approved legislation to help alleviate Pennsylvania’s nurse shortage by increasing the number of qualified nursing students. 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. Kingston Senior Scam Prevention Event with PA Attorney General Dave Sunday
I was pleased to partner with Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday to host a successful Senior Scam Prevention and Awareness event at the Kingston Active Adult Center, where we shared practical tools to help seniors recognize and avoid scams. It was great to see such a strong turnout and engagement from attendees. We discussed emerging threats like AI-driven scams, as well as common tactics such as phishing and impersonation, and shared simple prevention steps like the “hang up, shut the door” approach. With seniors increasingly targeted — and more than $76 million lost to scams in Pennsylvania last year — education and awareness are critical. Thank you to everyone who attended and helped make this event a success. I encourage all residents to stay vigilant and report suspicious activity to the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General. 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 was approved by the Senate Transportation Committee. 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:
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. Honoring Outstanding Community Leaders
I was proud to join the Baden-Powell Council of the Boy Scouts of America in recognizing Tom Follert and Tammy Bonnice with the Distinguished Citizen Award. This honor celebrates individuals who demonstrate exceptional leadership, integrity and service. Tom and Tammy truly embody these values through their continued commitment to our communities. It was my privilege to present each of them with a Senate citation. We are fortunate to have leaders like them making a lasting impact. White Oak Pond Dam Project Breaks Ground
I joined the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission and local officials to mark the groundbreaking of the $5.5 million White Oak Pond Dam Rehabilitation Project in Wayne County. After being drained in 2015 due to structural concerns, this long-awaited project will restore the pond through construction of a new dam, spillway and roadway culvert. Work begins in May and is expected to finish in fall 2027, followed by fish restocking. Friedman JCC Breaks Ground on New Facility
I was honored to attend the groundbreaking for a new multi-purpose facility and day camp at the Friedman Jewish Community Center in Kingston. This project highlights the JCC’s commitment to serving all members of the community. The new space will support recreation, youth programming and summer day camp opportunities. I was proud to help secure $2 million in state funding for this effort, matched by private donors. This investment will benefit families and young people for years to come! DAR Supports Local Fire Company
As a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, I want to thank our local chapter for donating snacks and refreshments to the Lake Winola Fire Company. Our volunteer firefighters play a critical role in keeping our communities safe. Acts of generosity like this show how much their service is appreciated. I encourage others to find ways to support their local fire departments and first responders.
Please do not reply to this email. If you would like to contact Senator Baker, submit a web contact form here. |
||||
|
||||
Want to change how you receive these emails? 2026 © Senate of Pennsylvania | https://www.senatorbaker.com | Privacy Policy |
