HARRISBURG – With pro-Hamas and anti-Israel encampments being set up at higher education institutions in Pennsylvania and across the United States, state Sen. Doug Mastriano (R-33) today introduced legislation to suspend state funding for state-owned or -related colleges and universities in the commonwealth if they support antisemitism.

“Targeting Jewish students because of their religion or perceived ties to the state of Israel is disgusting and cannot be tolerated,” Mastriano said. “Antisemitism should find no safe harbor on any college or university campus funded with Pennsylvania taxpayer dollars.”

Mastriano introduced Senate Bill 1185 as pro-Hamas and anti-Israel protests and encampments recently took root at the University of Pennsylvania, University of Pittsburgh and other Pennsylvania colleges and universities that benefit from state tax dollars. His bill would end taxpayer support for any state-owned or -related universities that authorize, facilitate or otherwise support any event promoting antisemitism on campus. Higher education institutions that support antisemitic events would be disqualified from receiving state funding for the following academic year.

The campus protests come following the Oct. 7, 2023, Operation Al-Aqsa Flood attack by Hamas in several Israeli communities, where more than 1,000 Israelis were killed and approximately 250 people were taken hostage.

Israel responded by defending itself through retaliatory air strikes and a large-scale ground invasion in portions of Gaza, with additional operations in the West Bank. The now six-month-long war between Israel and Palestine has resulted in a total of more than 35,000 casualties, with more than 34,000 Palestinian deaths and approximately 1,400 Israeli deaths.

The Anti-Defamation League reported a 400% spike of antisemitic incidents in the wake of the Oct. 7 attack.

“Jewish students deserve to feel the same level of safety and security on campus as students from any other religion or nation,” Mastriano said. “Pennsylvania taxpayer-funded colleges and universities that fail to protect Jewish students and quash antisemitism do not deserve to receive state tax dollars.”

U.S. college and university campuses have become ground zero in the ongoing debate surrounding the war. Public opinion among U.S. college students shifted drastically during the past six months, with only 41% of college students blaming Hamas for the Oct. 7 attack in a recent survey, compared to 52% in a mid-October poll.

Mastriano’s bill has been referred to the Senate Education Committee for consideration.

Constituents of the 33^rd District can learn more about Mastriano by visiting his website at SenatorMastriano.com or following him on Facebook at Facebook.com/SenatorDougMastriano.

Media contact: Josh Herman
717-787-9603

Bill would improve student mental health, academic performance.

HARRISBURG – In response to the declining mental health and academic performance of Pennsylvania youth, Sen. Ryan Aument (R-36) will soon introduce legislation to limit students’ use of cellphones in schools through secure, lockable phone bags in which students would deposit their mobile devices until the end of the school day.

There has been a steep decline in mental health in children since the early 2010s, with the suicide rate for girls age 10-14 rising 131% from 2010 to 2019. Not coincidentally, the percent of United States teens with smartphones rose from 23% to 73% from 2010 to 2015, with a quarter admitting to being online “almost constantly.” Now, teens spend an average of nearly eight hours on screens per day.

“While it’s great that the commonwealth dedicated an additional $100 million last year to schools to care for students’ mental health, that money won’t go very far unless we get at the root cause of the problem,” Aument said. “Because we know widespread access to smartphones and social media apps increases depression, anxiety, feelings of isolation, and even suicidal thoughts in teens and children, my bill is a commonsense approach to improve student mental health and academic performance alike.”

In addition to the mental toll excessive smartphone and social media use has on children, behavioral issues have also increased. This often translates into bullying, fighting, and costly pranks where students film themselves damaging school property and share the videos on social media as part of viral trends. This comes with real costs to schools and ultimately the taxpayers.

“We are expecting children to have the discipline to disconnect from social media and their phones, but most adults can’t even do that. Instead of putting an adult responsibility on their shoulders, my bill would give them a break during school hours and the opportunity they deserve to learn without a constant distraction in their pockets,” Aument said. “The data is clear – there is a direct causation, not just a correlation, between the rise of smartphones and the decline in mental health, social skills, and academic success of our kids, and they need us to be the adults and break the cycle for the sake of their future.”

Aument continues to work with community stakeholders and leaders to develop the language of the legislation and hopes to have it completed in the near future.

Additionally, in an effort to gather support for this initiative, Sen. Aument is circulating a petition to the public. If you support his effort to limit student cellphone use during school hours in Pennsylvania, please consider signing your name to his petition here. Together, we can get our kids back on track!

Learn more about the legislation, the intent behind it, and the research supporting it on Sen. Aument’s website here. Read the full cosponsor memo for the bill here.

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CONTACT: Stephanie Applegate

HARRISBURG – Legislation that would increase penalties on illegal street racing was approved today by the Senate, according to one of the bill’s sponsors, Sen. Frank Farry (R-6).

“During the last several years, we have seen illegal street racing events in Philadelphia and the region. These incidents have led to numerous law enforcement officers being struck by vehicles,” Farry said. “These tragic incidents need to stop before more people, including law enforcement officers, are hurt or killed at these events. This bill is part of my effort to combat this evolving crime and improve safety in our communities.”

Senate Bill 998 – also known as the “Putting the Brakes on Street Racing” legislation – proposes significant penalties for street racing offenses. It would increase fines for first offenses to $500 and imposing fines of $2,000 for second and subsequent infractions, along with impoundment orders for vehicles used in the offense. The bill also holds event organizers accountable, recognizing their role in facilitating such activities. Penalties include fines, suspension of driving privileges, classification as habitual offenders, impoundment of vehicles and potential imprisonment for subsequent offenses.

Additionally, the bill would impose penalties for drifting on roadways or parking lots and for organizing street racing or drifting events. Drifting is a driving technique that involves steering a car to make a controlled skid sideways through a turn.

“Public safety is always my main concern and Senate Bill 998 is a critical step toward enhancing road safety and accountability for dangerous driving behaviors,” Sen. Jimmy Dillon (D-5) said, who is also a sponsor of the bill.

The bill now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration.

CONTACT:
Nicole McGerry

HARRISBURG – Two bills sponsored by Sen. Dave Argall (R-29) to update training procedures and remove employment barriers so more people can join the long-term care workforce were approved by the Senate Education Committee today.

“Too many of our families, including mine, have faced the difficult decision of moving a parent or grandparent into a long-term care center,” Argall said. “The professionals who make sure they are cared for and respected have an extremely important job yet are facing increasing challenges because of workforce shortages. These bills are essential.”

The number of Pennsylvanians aged 65 and older is expected to double by the year 2040. Despite the sharp increase in this population, labor statistics revealed that from 2019 to 2022, Pennsylvania saw a 14% decrease in long-term care professionals.

Senate Bill 1102 would expand both the availability of long-term care training courses for nurse aides and the eligibility for individuals to take the nurse aide competency exam. Industry professionals strongly support these changes, noting that they would remove barriers for those seeking employment at long-term care centers while still ensuring employees are well-qualified.

Senate Bill 1104 would allow high school juniors and seniors to earn up to two credits toward their graduation requirement for employment in a long-term nursing care facility, a personal care home, or an assisted living residence. This would allow these students to enter the workforce more quickly.

Both bills now advance to the full Senate for consideration.

CONTACT: Jim Brugger