18-02-2025
Pennsylvania invests nearly $6.7M to protect 19 farms in 16 counties
Feb. 17—WILKES-BARRE — The Shapiro Administration this week announced that Pennsylvania is investing $6,699,378 to purchase development rights for 1,837 acres on 19 farms in 16 counties — protecting them from future residential or commercial development.
These joint investments by state and local government ensure that Pennsylvania farmers will have the prime-quality land they need to continue supporting families, communities, and jobs.
"Food security is national security," said Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding. "Farmers face fierce competition from developers seeking to buy their land, and saving that land to produce food is one of the most important things we can do to ensure that we can keep feeding Pennsylvania and the world. The Shapiro Administration is committed to investing, along with these farm families, to protect our valuable land to feed our families and economy in the future."
Gov. Josh Shapiro's proposed budget recognizes that agriculture isn't just part of our rich heritage in Pennsylvania — it's key to our future. With 50,000 farms across Pennsylvania that contribute $132 billion to our economy and support almost 600,000 jobs, it doesn't make sense economically to ignore that.
To continue Pennsylvania's national legacy as an agriculture leader, the 2025-26 budget proposes:
—An additional $13 million in the Ag Innovation Fund to help build the future of American agriculture right here in Pennsylvania. In its first open application period, the Ag Innovation Fund received 159 applications for nearly $70 million worth of innovation projects.
—Investing $2 million to keep Pennsylvania's new animal testing laboratory in the western part of the state operational, providing critical testing services for farmers to ensure their livestock remain healthy and viable for continued farming operations.
—An additional $4 million to help connect Pennsylvanians at risk of hunger with healthy, local food through the Pennsylvania Agricultural Surplus System.
—A $4 million increase to the State Food Purchase Program to provide state funds for emergency food assistance for low-income Pennsylvanians.
These easement purchases multiply the impact of Pennsylvania dollars invested in conservation initiatives, like the Agricultural Conservation Assistance Program (ACAP), Clean & Green tax incentives, Resource Enhancement and Protection tax credits, as well as historic levels of state support for Pennsylvania farmers who are conserving priceless resources and working for cleaner water and healthier soil.
In 2023 and 2024, Pennsylvania preserved 333 new farms and 27,510 prime acres of farmland across the state, investing more than $96.9 million. Pennsylvania continues to lead the nation in preserved farmland. Since 1988, when voters overwhelmingly supported creating the state's Farmland Preservation Program, Pennsylvania has protected 6,500 farms and 648,692 acres in 58 counties from future development, investing more than $1.7 billion in state, county, and local funds.
One of the farms preserved is in Luzerne County:
Kurt A. and Holly M. Michael, 90-acre dairy farm, Huntington Township; total investment — $281,285.
Rep. Meuser co-sponsors the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act
U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser, R-Dallas, this week co-sponsored H.R. 979 — the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act.
Meuser said this bipartisan legislation would recognize that AM radio is an essential communication tool during emergencies, and for decades has been a source of news, entertainment, sports, and music for tens of millions of drivers.
As such, Meuser said the legislation directs the Department of Transportation to require automakers to include AM broadcast radio installed as standard equipment in new motor vehicles, ensuring access to AM broadcast stations in every car at no additional cost.
"Across Pennsylvania and the nation, AM radio is a crucial source of information, entertainment, and emergency alerts," Meuser said. "In rural areas, especially during natural disasters, AM radio is often the only reliable way to stay informed when internet or cell service is unavailable. This bill ensures that drivers can continue to rely on AM radio in their vehicles to remain prepared and up to date."
Specifically, Meuser said the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act of 2025 would:
—Direct the Department of Transportation, in consultation with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Communications Commission, to issue a rule that requires automakers to maintain AM broadcast radio devices as standard equipment in their vehicles in a way that is easily accessible for consumers, and without a separate or additional payment, fee, or surcharge, all while providing extra compliance time for small manufacturers;
—Require any automaker that sells vehicles without access to AM broadcast radio before the effective date of the rule to clearly disclose to consumers that the vehicle lacks access to AM broadcast radio; and,
—Direct the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to study the importance of AM radio as a communication technology during emergencies, whether a reliable alternative communication system exists for delivering emergency alerts, and consider the cost to drivers of receiving communications through an alternative system, and cost and time required to develop and implement an alternative.
Rep. Bresnahan issues statement on budget reconciliation; vows to vote 'for the people of NEPA'
U.S. Representative Rob Bresnahan, Jr., R-Dallas Township, this week released the following statement in response to current budget reconciliation negotiations:
"I ran for Congress under a promise of always doing what is best for the people of Northeastern Pennsylvania," said Rep. Bresnahan. "If a bill is put in front of me that guts the benefits my neighbors rely on, I will not vote for it. Pennsylvania's Eighth District chose me to advocate for them in Congress. These benefits are promises that were made to the people of NEPA and where I come from, people keep their word."
Bresnahan said Pennsylvania's 8th Congressional District is home to more than 200,000 Medicaid recipients, amounting to 25% of the district.
Additionally, he said the district is home to 66,000 Medicare recipients, and 190,000 Social Security recipients.
Sen. Fetterman urges Trump Administration to reverse measures banning transgender troops from military
U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Braddock, this week condemned the Trump Administration's decision to bar transgender individuals from serving in the U.S. military and called for an immediate reversal of these policies.
In a video posted to X, Senator Fetterman stated:
"I am unapologetically pro-military — I believe in a strong, lethal military. But I am also unapologetically pro the LGBTQ community.
"I am calling on President Trump to rescind this executive order — to allow and honor the inherent dignity of our service members regardless of what their race is, what their gender is, who they love, or how they identify.
"A military that respects and supports all of its members is fully capable of being lethal and winning wars."
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recently issued a memo enforcing a ban on transgender individuals from enlisting in the armed forces and eliminating access to gender-affirming medical care for current service members.
The memo, addressed to senior Pentagon and military leadership, follows an executive order President Trump issued last month, directing the Department of Defense to exclude individuals who identify with a gender different from their biological sex from military service.
Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.
