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In this Update:
Senate Stands with Attorney General, District Attorneys, State Troopers and Police
Second-degree murder is a horrific crime – these are homicides committed while the defendant was also committing another violent felony such as rape, arson, robbery, burglary or kidnapping. Those who commit such an act deserve a punishment that matches. In March, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that our current sentencing structure for second-degree murder (life without parole in every case) is unconstitutional. The justices gave the General Assembly 120 days to enact legislation correcting the situation. The Senate successfully passed strong bipartisan legislation to address this issue – twice. Once in June and again in early July. The Senate’s legislation is supported by Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday, Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association, the Pennsylvania State Troopers Association, the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association, and Pennsylvania State Lodge Fraternal Order of Police. The House refused to take action on this important issue until day 119 of the court-imposed 120 day deadline. Unfortunately, the majority leadership in the House of Representatives refused to allow a full House vote on this bipartisan legislation, instead in committee amended the bill to weaken it thereby taking away the opportunity for the full House of Representatives to vote on the issue. The House added a provision to the bill as amended that could allow more than half of all inmates who have not served their full sentence, including those on death row for killing children or a police officer, to qualify for release from prison under a weakly defined “medical release” program. As the House debated the bill, one side of the aisle seemed focused on relief for convicted murderers while the other focused on not revictimizing the family members whose loved one was murdered. The bill passed with nearly 100% of the vote on party lines. The majority of the public was unaware of this issue and the deadline that the House failed to meet last week. Myself, and local representatives held a press conference last week to help make the public aware of the issue and most importantly to stand for the murder victim’s family members. Here is a link to the press conference. To watch my videos on the issue, you can visit my Facebook page. As a result of the House Majority’s failures over 1,100 convicted murderers will now be able to seek their release including 17 from Bucks County and 545 from Philadelphia. Honoring Dr. Widenmeyer for 48 Years of Exceptional Veterinary Care
Congratulations to Dr. Widenmeyer on his well-deserved retirement from practicing veterinary medicine after 48 years of dedicated service. I was proud to present him with a Pennsylvania Senate citation recognizing his remarkable career and commitment to our community. Dr. Widenmeyer founded Flowers Mill Veterinary Hospital in 1977 and has spent decades providing compassionate, high-quality care to countless pets and the families who love them. Thank you for your dedication, Dr. Widenmeyer. Wishing you all the best in this well-earned next chapter. Over $2 million in State Funding for Northampton Township
PA State Rep. Kristin Marcell and I were proud to secure over $2.3 million in state grant funding to Northampton Township for critical infrastructure and pedestrian safety improvements that will benefit residents for years to come. We appreciate supporting Northampton Township’s efforts to improve pedestrian safety for its residents and students. These investments include:
Investing in the Future of PA College Students
The successful Grow PA Scholarship program invests in Pennsylvania students looking to pursue a college education, develops the future of our workforce and incentivizes jobs to remain here in the commonwealth. Importantly, the program secures a commitment for students to stay and work in Pennsylvania communities after graduation, helping to address the state’s future economic and demographic challenges. With demand rising for Grow PA scholarships, the Senate secured a $10 million funding increase for the program in the 2026-27 state budget – bringing the annual funding total to $425 million. Grow PA, established in 2024, offers grants of up to $5,000 per year for in-state students who pursue a degree or certification in an in-demand occupation and is administered by the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency. Learn more about this program here. Nominate a Non-Teaching School Employee for a RISE Award
Non-teaching school employees – including paraprofessional, clerical, transportation, food service, custodial, security and health workers – play key roles in keeping our local schools running. If you know an incredible non-teaching employee, you can nominate them for a Recognizing Inspiring School Employees (RISE) Award. Find details and a nomination form at the state Department of Education website. Nominations for 2026 close Aug. 30. Organ and Tissue Donation Saves Lives
Saturday is PA Donor Day across the commonwealth, a statewide effort to rally support for the more than 6,000 Pennsylvanians waiting for a life-saving transplant. It’s held on 8/1 because eight lives can be saved by just one registered donor. PA Donor Day 2026 is especially important because the number of Pennsylvanians registering as organ donors has slowed and transplant waiting lists are long. You can register to donate at any time – you don’t need to get a driver’s license or permit. Learn more about organ and tissue donation and register to be a donor here. Save The Date for our Upcoming Events
National Night Out in the 6th Senatorial District
Tuesday, Aug. 4, is National Night Out, an annual nationwide community policing event that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie. Millions of people across the country will take part in National Night Out events, including block parties, festivals, parades, cookouts and more. Our local police departments are hosting events that are sure to be fun for the whole family and an opportunity to thank the officers that protect our community every day. See below for the list of events in the 6th Senatorial District. Hulmeville Borough will celebrate Family Fun Day and National Night Out this Saturday Aug. 1 from 12-4 p.m. at 321 Main St. on the recreation field. The following townships and police departments will celebrate on Tuesday Aug. 4: Middletown Township – 5:00-8:30 p.m. in the parking lot of Municipal Building, 5 Municipal Way, Langhorne. Lower Southampton – 6-9:00 p.m. at Lower Southampton Township Building (Baseball Fields). Bensalem – 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Bensalem Township Pavilion, 2400 Byberry Rd., Bensalem. Northampton – 5:30-8:30 p.m. at Northampton Township Municipal Park, 281 Hatboro Rd., Churchville. Warminster – 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Warminster Community Park, 100 Veterans Way, Warminster.
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