Senator Martin E-Newsletter

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In this Update:

  • “Grow PA” Education and Career Preparation Reform Plan Gains Momentum
  • Legislative Survey: Higher Education, Career Preparation and Workforce Development
  • Increasing the Number of Firefighters in Pennsylvania
  • Spring Gobbler Season Begins April 27
  • April is National Donate Life Month

“Grow PA” Education and Career Preparation Reform Plan Gains Momentum

Earlier this month, I joined several of my Republican colleagues in introducing the “Grow PA” post-secondary education reform plan to improve the way we approach higher education and career preparation. The goal is to attract and retain the best and brightest talent by offering affordable education options for young people, while providing a pipeline directly to quality careers in high-demand industries here in Pennsylvania.

I authored an op-ed along with House Education Committee Republican Chair Jesse Topper this week to explain how this plan will help Pennsylvania reverse the troubling economic and demographic trends that threaten the future of our Commonwealth. You can read the op-ed here.

I also will appear on Face the State on CBS 21 to discuss the plan on Sunday morning at 8:30 a.m.

Legislative Survey: Higher Education, Career Preparation and Workforce Development

It is critical for Pennsylvania to rethink how we approach higher education, post-secondary education and workforce development so we can encourage more of our young people to go to school here, get jobs here, buy houses here and put down roots here.

My newest legislative survey asks 13th Senatorial District residents to weigh in on these topics and more. You can complete the survey here: https://senatorscottmartinpa.com/legislative-survey/.

Increasing the Number of Firefighters in Pennsylvania

The Senate approved a bill aimed at increasing the number of volunteer firefighters in Pennsylvania by reforming the certification process without sacrificing quality or safety.

Current firefighter applicants must complete four training modules totaling 188 hours. They then must pass a cumulative test covering all four modules. Senate Bill 1101 would enable applicants to be tested following each of the four modules.

In the 1970s, the commonwealth had as many as 300,000 volunteer firefighters. There currently are fewer than 38,000 volunteer firefighters in Pennsylvania.

Spring Gobbler Season Begins April 27

On Saturday, April 27, spring gobbler season opens with a half-day hunt for junior hunters and mentored hunters 16 and under. All participants must be accompanied by adults, and hunting hours run from 30 minutes before sunrise until noon.

The regular season runs from May 4-31. Hunting hours are 30 minutes before sunrise until noon from May 4-18 and 30 minutes before sunrise until 30 minutes after sunset from May 20-31.

Approximately 172,000 people hunt spring turkeys in Pennsylvania every year. Last season, hunters harvested about 39,500 gobblers – an increase from 35,700 in 2022 and 28,100 in 2021. Information about spring turkey hunting rules and regulations, for youth and regular hunts, is available here.

April is National Donate Life Month

Making a difference in the lives of others might be easier than you think. With nearly 7,000 Pennsylvanians awaiting organ transplants, donors can save up to eight lives. People donating tissue can enhance the lives of 75 others by helping them recover from trauma, spinal injuries, burns and vision loss.

If you aren’t an organ or tissue donor yet but would like to be, there’s no need to wait until you get or renew your driver’s license, learner’s permit or photo ID. It’s easy to register online to donate.

Misconceptions about organ and tissue donation can discourage people from taking the important step to save lives. Find myths and facts here.

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If you have a question about the information in this e-newsletter or other state related matters that you would like a response to, please click HERE to submit your inquiry through my website. This will help to ensure that we are able to respond to your question in a timely fashion due to the high volume of emails and the ever growing amount of computer generated spam mail we receive daily.

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