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In this Update:
Vogel, Sworn in for Fifth Term, Prioritizes Jobs, Fiscal Responsibility and Agricultural Advancements
It was an honor to take the oath of office earlier this month to serve a fifth term in the Pennsylvania State Senate. In the 2025-26 legislative session, my focus will be on prioritizing jobs, fiscal responsibility and agricultural advancements in Pennsylvania. With the start of any new legislative session comes the time for fresh ideas and developing new paths forward to make our commonwealth better for current and future generations. I am excited to help advance not only our priorities, which have always included creating and maintaining family sustaining jobs and ensuring Pennsylvanians keep more of their dollars in their pockets, but other important agricultural goals as well. You can read more about this here. I’m also excited to have been reappointed to several key Senate committees for the 2025-26 legislative session, including chair of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and vice chair of the influential Appropriations panel. I will continue to use my membership on these committees to promote sound policy that allows farmers to thrive, and to keep government spending in check, because the money belongs to taxpayers. Read about my other committee assignments here. PA Farm Show Celebrates Farming’s Heritage and Contributions
The 2025 Pennsylvania Farm Show wrapped up Jan.10, concluding eight days highlighting the Pennsylvanians who make up the state’s $132.5 billion agriculture industry — the people who produce food and clothing for the commonwealth, nation and beyond. As a state where agriculture is one of the top industries, Pennsylvania is proud to host the largest indoor agricultural exposition under one roof in the nation. It featured nearly 6,000 animals, competitive events and 250 commercial exhibits. Other highlights were the educational and entertaining events, as well as the very popular Food Court. Vogel Helps Showcase Technological Innovation at Farm Show Town Hall
Innovation in Pennsylvania’s agricultural sector was the topic of a town hall held at the Pennsylvania Farm Show by the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee and the Senate Communications and Technology Committee. The discussion included conversations with state Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding, Penn State University Agricultural Sciences Dean Troy Ott, among other farmers highlighting technological advancements in agribusiness. As we embrace and utilize technology on our farms, and throughout the industry, there’s no doubt that Pennsylvania will continue to be a leader in innovation and set the standard for other states to follow. You can read about what we heard or watch the event yourself here. Scholarships Available Soon for Students Earning Degrees in In-Demand Jobs
Pennsylvania students pursuing a degree for an in-demand occupation will soon be able to apply for a $5,000 scholarship through the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) because of a law passed by Senate Republicans. To bolster industries with lots of open positions, the law requires them to agree to live and work in Pennsylvania in an in-demand occupation for at least one year for each year they accept the scholarship. Those occupations include agriculture, computer science, business, education, special education, STEM education, engineering, nursing, allied health, criminal justice and other programs approved by PHEAA. The list of in-demand occupations will be adjusted regularly to reflect Pennsylvania’s workforce needs. Out-of-state students are eligible for scholarships that allow them to pay in-state tuition rates. If a student receives a scholarship but does not complete the educational program or fails to meet other terms of the agreement, the scholarship will be converted to a loan and must be repaid by the student. The application is expected to be available on PHEAA’s website in the coming weeks, and more information will be shared then. 2025-26 FAFSA Form is Live
The online and paper form of the 2025-26 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is available now. Colleges and career schools use the FAFSA form to determine how much financial aid students are eligible to receive. The aid may include grants, scholarships, work-study funds and loans. Students must apply for aid every year. The Department of Education addressed issues with the FAFSA system and modernized internal systems and processes. It also updated resources to help students and families better navigate the FAFSA form and process. Learn more. Butler Veterans: Free Tax Filing, Computer Classes Available
These local assistance opportunities are available through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and hosted by the Butler VA Healthcare Center and the Butler County Center for Community Resources.
More Veterans are Eligible for Free Birth and Death Certificates
New this year, more veterans and their families are eligible for free birth and death certificates from the Pennsylvania Department of Health because of legislation passed by Senate Republicans. All veterans who were discharged or released from services under conditions other than dishonorable can receive a veteran fee waiver. Previously, they were only available for military members who were in active service or who were honorably discharged. Normally, there is a non-refundable $20 fee per copy, but with this law, up to 10 free copies will be available. The fee waiver may be applied to applications for the veteran, spouse and dependent children. To be eligible for the waiver, applications for birth and death certificates must be submitted with documentation proving military status. Online Resource Tracks State Plows
Winter weather can impact safety on the roads, particularly before snow is cleared and salt is spread to mitigate icy spots. As the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) crews work to keep roads passable, you may be wondering where the plow is in your area. All of PennDOT’s roughly 2,200 owned and rented plow trucks are equipped with automated vehicle location systems, which use in-truck technology to log and share data in real time for that truck. View the routes of these interstate and expressway trucks here. PennDOT maintains nearly 40,000 miles of roads and 25,400 bridges statewide, which translates to more than 95,000 snow-lane miles. Schedule Your Free State Capitol Tour
If you’re looking for a fun educational activity for your family, you can tour the state Capitol for free. During a 30-minute guided tour, Capitol tour guides point out architectural and artistic highlights as they make the Capitol’s history come alive. There is also an Interactive Welcome Center and Capitol Gift Shop to enjoy during your visit. Guided tours are offered every half hour Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Weekends and most holidays, tours are offered at 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Schedule a tour online or by calling the Tour Guide Office at 1-800-TOUR-N-PA (868-7672). Groups of 10 or more require advanced reservations. For your safety, group size is limited to 40.
Please contact me to provide input on any state-related matter, or to receive help in dealing with a state agency. |
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