Justice

Almost three weeks ago, I was in Somerset County, Pennsylvania celebrating the bravery of the heroes of United Flight 93 who gave their lives on September 11 to save an unknown number of others. We owe these heroes an immeasurable debt. It is one I feel personally. Like many, I believe that the target of Flight 93 was the U.S Capitol, where I was working as a Member of Congress that day. Because of the heroes of Flight 93, my wife was spared being widowed, our two older children - toddlers at the time - grew up with their father, and our youngest child was able to be brought into the world.

More than thanks we owe them justice - justice that has eluded them for 15 years now. The Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act will allow the families of 9/11 and other victims of terror attacks in the U.S. to hold accountable those who commit or sponsor such attacks. I am proud to have co-sponsored this bipartisan legislation, and I also supported the successful effort in Congress this week to override President Obama's veto. It's long past time for this measure to be enacted into law so the 9/11 families can finally obtain the justice they deserve.

You may already know the story of the bug-eyed miracle puppy, Libre. He was found near death in one of the worst cases of animal neglect I've seen. But thanks to the care of the Dillsburg Veterinary Center and Speranza Animal Rescue, this puppy will have a long and healthy life. I'm glad my staff could attend the Libre Rally in Harrisburg on Wednesday to draw attention to the heinous act of animal cruelty.

During my time in the Senate, I have championed legislation that would help protect animals from abuse. My bipartisan Prevent Animals Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act would outlaw a heinous form of animal abuse known as "crushing," where deranged individuals maim and torture animals. If enacted, this would be the first ever federal law to grant all animals federal protection against cruelty and abuse.

There is absolutely no place for animal abuse in our society. It is blatantly inhumane and astonishingly cruel, and I will continue to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to end this abhorrent practice. We must do a better job of protecting animals so that cases like Libre's are a thing of the past.

Each year, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) honors members of law enforcement for their work to help protect children from violence and abuse. This year, three Pennsylvanians received NCMEC's Heroes' Award.

Homeland Security Special Agent Eli Bupp, Pennsylvania State Trooper Nicholas Cortese, and U.S. Postal Inspector Michael Corricelli were honored for their race against the clock to stop the sexual abuse of five young girls. These three men were able to help identify and locate the children through photos posted online, rescuing the girls, and arresting their abuser.

I am proud Pennsylvania has such dedicated law enforcement officials, and I am glad they received the recognition they deserve. John Walsh from CNN's The Hunt, and formerly America's Most Wanted, attended the ceremony, and a member of my staff, Dimple Gupta, attended on my behalf. Since joining the U.S. Senate, I have worked closely with Pennsylvania law enforcement officials to protect our children from pedophiles in the classroom, and I've seen firsthand the commitment of our brave men and women in blue.

You can read about my efforts to protect children in the classroom here.

Earlier this month, I was proud to be named a 2016 Guardian of Small Business by the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB). This award is presented to members of Congress from both sides of the aisle who support small businesses. Juanita Duggan, President and CEO of the NFIB, is pictured above with me.

As a former small business owner in Pennsylvania, I appreciate the challenges that these companies face. When I started a small restaurant chain with my brothers in the Lehigh Valley, I saw firsthand how excessive regulations and bad tax policies make it harder to compete, hire more employees, and succeed. I also understand that, for our state's economy to thrive and create jobs, we need to make sure that small businesses can prosper as well. This is why I will keep on fighting for common sense policies that will help small business grow and create more economic opportunity for all Pennsylvanians.

As you may know, Arnold Palmer passed away last Sunday, and Kris and I offer our deepest condolences to his family. Arnold represented the best of Pennsylvania. While "The King" was famous for his golf career, he was also renowned for his generosity, kindness, and commitment to his community. Arnold's roots in Western Pennsylvania ran deep, and he called Latrobe home his entire life.

Arnold once said "your hometown is not where you're from - it's who you are." He lived by that motto every day, and his death is a heartbreaking loss for Pennsylvania.

Senator Bob Casey and I introduced a bipartisan resolution this week to honor the life and legacy of this legend. You can read the full text of that resolution here.