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| The Barb Wire |
| #Listrak\DateStampLong# |
The latest news from the State Capitol |
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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We Will Never Forget!
Next Friday marks the 25th anniversary of one of the worst days in our nation’s history. On Sept. 11, 2001, nearly 3,000 men and women were killed in devastating terrorist attacks in New York; Washington, D.C.; and Pennsylvania. Among the dead were more than 400 first responders who ran toward the danger, rather than away, in the effort to save the lives of others.
In addition to the annual remembrance events, special programming is planned at the National September 11 Memorial and Museum in lower Manhattan and Pennsylvania’s own Flight 93 Memorial to help ensure the 100 million Americans who are too young to remember 9/11 learn about the significance of the day and the stories of bravery, compassion, unity and service it produced. To further the educational effort, on Sept. 10, officials will break ground for construction of a Visitor Education Center adjacent to the 9/11 Pentagon Memorial in Washington, D.C.
The Borough of Carlisle will be hosting a 9/11 Memorial Ceremony on Friday, Sept. 11, at 7 p.m. at Carlisle Fire and Rescue, 177 Carlisle Springs Road. The ceremony will honor those who lost their lives, as well as the courage and sacrifice of first responders, service members, families and communities affected by the attacks.
The House of Representatives has also produced a 9/11 Remembrance video titled “We Were One That Day.” Only six current members of the House were in office when the tragedy occurred 25 years ago, and it is interesting to hear their perspectives on what happened that day and beyond. You can watch it here.
Also, the House Archives has teamed up with the National Park Service and Flight 93 Memorial for a 9/11 exhibit on display in the Capitol’s East Wing Rotunda through Oct. 27.
It is important we remember this horrible tragedy and honor those who lost their lives that day and in the aftermath. Share your memories and perspectives with those who did not experience it firsthand to ensure these men and women are never forgotten.
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Middlesex Township Supervisors Vote to Approve Data Center Project
At Wednesday’s meeting, the Middlesex Township Board of Supervisors voted to approve Phase 1B of the PAX-1 data center project off Country Club Road. They also voted “yes” to the Preliminary Land Development Plan for Phase 3, as well as the Masters Developers Agreement and Community Benefit Agreement.
Many residents turned out in opposition to the data centers and voiced their concerns ranging from noise and air pollution, PFAS testing concerns and decommissioning to overall loss of the pursuit of happiness in their living environment. It was just a public comment time for them, so little answers were given. I encourage those with questions to follow up with the township in the next few weeks.
Litigation has been filed against the data center process, and those comments will be heard in Cumberland County court on Friday, Sept. 18.
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Just Say ‘No’ to More Government Overreach
I’m calling on the Shapiro administration to withdraw proposed Department of Health regulations reminiscent of COVID lockdown-era government policy that would infringe upon constitutional norms and civil liberties. You can join me by submitting your feedback.
As proposed by the Pennsylvania Department of Health, the regulations would allow government officials to institute school or community mask mandates, enter private residences without warrants and seek private health information without consent. The department also would have the authority to enter any school building to interview a student of any age in private, without notification to the parent or guardian, to gather information for contact tracing and partner services. If you’d like to read the proposed regulations in full, they are available here for review.
Policies with such significant impacts on students, families and communities should be debated openly by the Legislature, not imposed through regulation. We learned important lessons about government overreach during COVID, and we should not repeat those mistakes.
The public can submit comments on the proposed regulations through Sept. 21 by emailing RA-DHCHAPTR27PROPREG@pa.gov. Please reference Rulemaking #10-242: Communicable and Noncommunicable Diseases; IRRC #3490.
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Major Settlement on Youth Safety
In October 2023, Pennsylvania joined a bipartisan coalition of state attorneys general in suing Meta, alleging that Facebook and Instagram were intentionally designed to encourage compulsive use among minors while hiding associated risks. The case went to trial in early August in federal court in Oakland, CA .
On Aug. 26, Meta reached a settlement with 52 attorneys general, and a federal judge approved it the same day. Meta denied wrongdoing. Nationally, the company will pay between $17–$18 billion over ten years.
Key Requirements for Meta: The settlement mandates new protections for users ages 13–17, to be implemented within 4–12 months:
• Daily limits: A default two hour combined cap on Facebook and Instagram. Parents can adjust limits, teens cannot.
• Nighttime restrictions: Most features blocked midnight to 6 a.m., and notifications limited to 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.
• School day notifications: Most notifications paused from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Feed and autoplay controls: Teens may choose a chronological feed. Parents may require it and disable autoplay.
• Likes and reactions: Counts hidden by default, parental approval required to show them.
• Appearance filters: Cosmetic procedure filters disabled for teens.
• Parental controls: Expanded insight into time spent, secondary accounts, new contacts and safety alerts.
• Age assurance: Stronger measures to verify users’ ages.
• Independent oversight: Meta must retain an independent auditor with expansive access to information and resources to monitor compliance.
The settlement encourages TikTok, YouTube and Snapchat to adopt similar measures. If they do, Meta’s daily limit would drop to one hour and its payments to the settling states would increase.
Pennsylvania is expected to receive more than $516 million, with the potential for an additional $212 million if other major platforms adopt comparable safeguards. Funds will be placed in an interest bearing account managed by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General and may support youth mental health services, digital literacy, after school programs, phone free school initiatives, provider training and enforcement efforts.
This agreement marks a significant expansion of protections for young social media users and strengthens parental oversight, though its success will hinge on Meta’s implementation and whether other platforms follow suit.
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House to Convene in Philadelphia’s Congress Hall
On Wednesday, Sept. 9, I will take part in an historic session of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
In honor of the nation’s 250th birthday – and the foundational role Pennsylvania has played in our nation’s development – the House will convene legislative session in Philadelphia’s historic Congress Hall. The hall once served as the meeting place of the United States Congress, from 1790-1800.
In conjunction with the America250PA organization, the day’s events also include a full-day civic learning experience for students.
The legislative session will be livestreamed here starting at 5:45 p.m.
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Thanking Our Workers
This Monday, Sept. 7, is Labor Day, a day set aside to recognize the achievements of American workers and the vital role they play in shaping the nation’s strength and prosperity. The holiday emerged in the late 19th century as states began adopting a day to honor workers; by 1894, Congress officially established Labor Day as a federal holiday.
Today, Labor Day serves as a moment to pause and appreciate the dedication, innovation and hard work that drive progress in every community. Whether marked with gatherings, parades or a well-earned day of rest, it’s a celebration of the people whose contributions continue to move our country forward.
Locally, King’s Gap Environmental Education Center at 500 King’s Gap Road, Carlisle, will host Music on the Mountain this Sunday, Sept. 6., from 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
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Office Closures for Labor Day Holiday
In observance of Labor Day, my offices will be closed Friday, Sept. 4, and Monday, Sept. 7. Also, all PennDOT driver license and photo centers, including the Riverfront Office Center in Harrisburg, will be closed Saturday, Sept. 5, through Monday, Sept. 7.
Customers may still obtain a variety of driver and vehicle products and services online through PennDOT's Driver and Vehicle Services website, dmv.pa.gov.
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You’re Invited to my Annual Farmers Breakfast
My upcoming Farmers Breakfast will be a great opportunity to honor those of you in the agriculture community and get the latest ag news from Harrisburg.
If you plan to attend, please click here to register in advance. We hope to see you on Wednesday, Sept. 16!
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| Office Locations |
| District Office: 437 E North Street | Carlisle, PA 17013 | Phone: 717-249-1990 |
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| 427 Irvis Office Building | House Box 202199 Harrisburg, PA 17120-2199 | 717-772-2280 |
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