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In this Update:
Ensign Sarah Mitchell Memorial Bridge Dedication
On Monday, the Route 213 bridge over the Neshaminy Creek in Lower Southampton Township was officially named the Ensign Sarah Mitchell Memorial Bridge in honor of a lifelong Lower Southampton Township resident and Neshaminy graduate, who lost her life during a training exercise while serving as an ensign in the U.S. Navy in Jordan on July 8, 2018, at the age of 23. Ensign Mitchell’s family and friends, local dignitaries, Lower Southampton Township officials, Superintendent of Neshaminy School District, Jay Bowman, Betty Carleo from Bucks County Department of Veterans Affairs, and many community members gathered for the bridge dedication ceremony to honor the life and the legacy of this local hero. Sarah Joy Mitchell was born in Meadowbrook to John and Betsy McClay Mitchell. She was a proud 2013 graduate of Neshaminy High School, where she excelled at field hockey, basketball, and track & field. Sarah graduated in 2017 from Virginia Tech and the Corps of Cadets having earned her degree in biochemistry. She served as platoon commander for Virginia Tech’s Naval ROTC. Sarah’s determination and loyalty secured her commission in May of 2017 and reported to the guided-missile destroyer USS Jason Dunham in June that same year. The destroyer was deployed to the Middle East from its home port of NAS Norfolk, Virginia. During the ceremony Sarah’s mother, Betsy recalled their family kayaking and canoeing under the bridge for years and said Sarah would have truly loved this. Sarah’s brother, Kevin, said he was proud every day to call Sarah his sister. Sarah’s aunt and godmother, Vicki Brennan, recalled a conversation with young Sarah. “When she was twelve years old, Sarah told me she was a proud American and when she grew up, she was going to be in the Navy.” Rep. Joe Hogan and I introduced legislation to formally dedicate this bridge to Ensign Sarah Mitchell. Earlier this summer, the language was included in an omnibus package of dedications, now Act No. 63 of 2024. Ensign Sarah Mitchell is a local hero who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving her country. I am honored to have had a part in naming this bridge as a part of ensuring Sarah’s memory will live on forever right here in her community of Lower Southampton Township. View bridge dedication ceremony here Auditor General Announces Aid for Volunteer Firefighters
My colleagues and I were honored to welcome Pennsylvania Auditor General Timothy DeFoor to the 6th Senatorial District last Friday to announce $68 Million in aid for volunteer firefighter relief associations (VFRA’s) statewide. DeFoor presented Warwick Township Fire Company No. 1 with a check for over $133K for their VFRA. The Department of the Auditor General distributes aid to VFRAs so they can purchase training materials, equipment, and insurance, and pay for death benefits for volunteer firefighters. Its revenue comes from a 2% tax on premiums paid for casualty and fire insurance sold in Pennsylvania by out-of-state insurance companies. As a fire chief and an active volunteer firefighter for 35 years, I can tell you firsthand that this funding is more important now than ever. Many volunteer fire companies continue to fundraise to supplement municipal funding to keep the company operating. Last year, my colleagues and I, along with Auditor General DeFoor’s support were able to legislatively address an issue we saw with a decline in investments on the 2% tax on foreign insurance companies. Now, our volunteer firefighters are getting additional funding, and a floor was created, so they know with certainty going forward how much they will receive. My Senior Expo is October 10
Please join me for my Senior Expo on Thursday, October 10th from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Northampton Valley Country Club, located at 299 Richboro Rd. in Richboro. There will be health screenings, flu, and Covid-19 vaccines available, a SEPTA key card processing station, refreshments, prizes, and information from federal, state and county agencies. A prescription drug take back will also be on site. Please bring your unused, unwanted, or expired medication for proper disposal. Our staff will also be on hand to answer any questions and help with any state-related issues. The event is free and open to all senior citizens in the 6th Senatorial District, and their caregivers and families. Please contact our office with questions: 215-638-1784. Bill to Establish Safe Exchange Zones Passes Senate
The Senate passed the Denise Williams Act, which would create a grant program to be used to establish Safe Exchange Zones throughout Pennsylvania. The bill advances to the House of Representatives for consideration. Senate Bill 173 is named in memory of Denise Williams of Cambria County, who went to purchase an item found on Facebook Marketplace and was brutally murdered during the exchange. This legislation would help establish safe areas for individuals to exchange goods purchased through an online marketplace, carry out child custody exchanges and conduct similar interactions. These zones will be equipped with video surveillance and be located either within 100 feet of a law enforcement office or near a public area with an active public presence. The establishment of Safe Exchange Zones will be voluntary and contingent upon approval of the participating law enforcement agencies. PA Senate Urges Congress to Pass the TREAT PTSD Act
The state Senate adopted a measure urging Congress to provide lifesaving therapy to Americans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Senate Resolution 311 calls on Congress to pass the Treatment and Relief through Emerging and Accessible Therapy for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Act, also known as the TREAT PTSD Act. The TREAT PTSD Act would require the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and U.S. Department of Defense to provide veterans suffering from PTSD with access to a lifesaving therapy known as stellate ganglion block (SGB). SGB works by applying an injection into the bundle of nerves that send signals of fight or flight to the body. The treatment relieves feelings of stress quickly for those with PTSD and provides them with a renewed chance to heal. This procedure has been used for nearly 100 years for pain conditions, including shingles and phantom limb pain. The federal legislation, House Resolution 3023, is now before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Health. September is National Prostate Health Month
Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer diagnosed in men in the United States, excluding non-melanoma skin cancer. It causes more deaths in men than all but lung cancer. Screenings can often catch the disease before it spreads, resulting in a five-year survival rate of 97.5%. For someone with an average risk, screening should begin at age 50. Getting screened every two or three years is sufficient for most men. While there is no way to completely prevent prostate cancer, men can reduce their risk by choosing a low-fat diet filled with fruits and vegetables, maintaining a healthy weight, and exercising most days of the week.
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