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In this Update:
Cumberland County Bridge Named to Honor Sergeant Patrick C. Hawkins
The bridge on Spring Road that spans the Conodoguinet Creek in North Middleton Township, Cumberland County has been named in honor of Patrick C. Hawkins. The son of Roy and Sheila Hawkins of North Middleton Township, Sergeant Patrick Hawkins graduated from Carlisle High School in 2007 before enlisting in the United States Army in 2010. Growing up in a military family, Sergeant Hawkins sought out military service just as his father did years before. His skill, devotion, and commitment to excellence resulted in his assignment to Company B, 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Benning, Georgia. While on his fourth deployment, Sergeant Hawkins was killed in action, as he was moving to aid a wounded fellow Ranger in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan. Sergeant Hawkins was awarded the Bronze Star Medal (with V device for Valor), the Meritorious Service Medal, and the Purple Heart posthumously. Sergeant Patrick Hawkins is deserving of every honor and recognition we can bestow. With this designation, I pray his ultimate sacrifice and service for our nation’s freedom will never be forgotten. The designation, included in Senate Bill 78, was supported unanimously by the full Senate and is now on its way to the Governor’s desk for signature. Watch my floor remarks here. A Win for Hunters and Farmers: House and Senate Pass SB 518
I’m pleased to report that my legislation to safeguard sportsmen’s constitutional rights and provide relief to farmers facing crop damage received final Senate approval this week. Now on its way to the Governor’s desk, Senate Bill 518 removes unconstitutional provisions from The Game Code to ensure sportsmen’s Constitutional rights are protected. Currently, the Game Code includes sections that compel individuals to answer questions from Game Commission representatives, a clear violation of the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and Article I, Section 9 of the Pennsylvania Constitution, which protect against self-incrimination. It must be unequivocally clear that our Fifth Amendment rights are not forfeited when participating in recreational or sporting activities. Senate Bill 518 was amended to also incorporate language from Senate Bill 517, which aims to foster greater collaboration between farmers and hunters. This amendment provides common-sense procedural relief for farmers enrolled in crop deprivation programs, allowing them to transport harvested animals directly to processors. This change will streamline the process, reduce waste, and boost donations to charitable feeding programs. Our farmers are facing immense challenges from wildlife crop damage, and this legislation offers real, tangible relief; it’s a testament to how hunters and farmers can collaborate to find effective solutions that benefit everyone. The legislation passed this week by the Senate protects personal and private property rights, eliminates burdensome regulations, and grants farmers greater autonomy to mitigate crop damage, all while expanding hunting opportunities. Senate Unanimously Approves Bill to Fund Local Bridge Projects
Legislation I introduced to make state funding available for local bridge projects received unanimous Senate approval this week. Currently, state Motor License Fund dollars are appropriated for the construction and repair of county bridges. While the funds are used to repair county-owned bridges, current spending guidance fails to address if funding can be used for municipal bridges located within a county. As a result, municipal bridges often go without repair while bridge funding goes unused due to ambiguous guidance. Senate Bill 205 would give counties the flexibility they need to fund local bridge projects. Maintaining safe roads and bridges is a core function of government. My legislation removes barriers and gives counties the flexibility they need to make necessary repairs to both county-owned and municipal-owned bridges. Senate Bill 205 has been sent to the House of Representatives for consideration. Lifesaving Bill to Eliminate Cost Barriers to Breast Cancer Diagnosis Approved by Senate
Patients who receive abnormal results from supplemental breast cancer screenings will be able to access the necessary follow-up diagnostic imaging at no cost under bipartisan legislation passed by the Senate. This ensures critical continuum of care. Senate Bill 88 builds on the success of Act 1 of 2023, which provided no-cost preventive screenings for individuals at high risk. Senate Bill 88 takes the next step with no-cost follow-up diagnostic imaging and expands eligibility to include individuals at average risk. While 26 other states have followed Pennsylvania’s lead in offering no-cost supplemental breast screening since the passage of Act 1, Pennsylvania remains the only state without guaranteed coverage for diagnostic imaging. The bill now goes to the House of Representatives. Senate Targets PA Opioid Crisis with Expanded Reporting Tool
The Senate voted to incorporate overdose reporting by EMS providers into the statewide Overdose Information Network to make sure first responders, treatment providers and other key parties have the information they need to save lives. Senate Bill 89 would require the Pennsylvania Department of Health to coordinate with the Pennsylvania State Police to ensure real-time overdose reporting by EMS providers is incorporated into the statewide mapping system. The bill now goes to the House of Representatives. EMS providers would report information including the date and time of the overdose, location, substances used by the victim and more. In other action to prevent opioid deaths, Senate Republicans led passage of a measure giving EMS personnel permanent authority to leave behind a dose of lifesaving naloxone at non-fatal overdose scenes. Keystone Girls State Leadership Program & Hershey Jr. Bears Visit the Capitol
The American Legion Auxiliary’s Keystone Girls State Leadership Program has been educating and empowering young ladies since the 1930s. Program participants learn about state and local government, becoming active and informed citizens, running for office, and develop public speaking skills. This year’s participants visited the Capitol yesterday, met with legislators, and sang a beautiful rendition of the National Anthem in the rotunda. I was excited to speak with these impressive future leaders and hear about their action-packed week at Shippensburg University!
The Hershey Jr. Bears Bantam House Select hockey team also visited the Capitol this week. I was glad to congratulate my constituent, Finn Gibble, on an outstanding season! Finn and his team brought home gold from every tournament in which they played! They amassed a 26-2 record overall, scoring 104 goals to the 32 allowed. Great work, players and coaches! Capitol All-Star Game: Playing Ball for a Good Cause
I was glad to join friends and colleagues from both the House and Senate earlier this week to prepare for one of my favorite events, the Capitol All-Stars Softball Game! The game is non-partisan, bi-cameral and all proceeds go to Feeding Pennsylvania and Hunger-Free Pennsylvania! Since 2013, we’ve been able to fund meals for more than a million Pennsylvanians. Team rosters were determined for Team Youse and Team Yinz through our traditional “bat grab” process. As Team Youse co-captain, along with Speaker Joanna McClinton, I’m pleased to report that we won the bat grab, just as we’ve won the last two All-Star Games! I’m excited about our team–which includes Rep. Sheryl Delozier and Rep. Torren Ecker–and playing for a good cause. Hopefully the weather will cooperate this year! The game is scheduled for Monday, September 29, 2025, 5:30 pm at FNB Field on City Island. Learn more and get tickets here. Celebrating Great Outdoors Month
The arrival of summer means plenty of opportunities to get outdoors and enjoy what nature has to offer locally and across our commonwealth. Pennsylvania is home to cool, green forests, thousands of pristine lakes and streams, hiking trails and state parks. Find plenty of ways to explore the great outdoors of our region and the state here.
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