Newsletter Archive

Saving Jobs, Protecting Consumers Reforming Government's Wasteful Sugar Program Click here to see my interview with ABC 27 Harrisburg's Dennis OwensI toured Pepperidge Farm's Denver plant in Lancaster County this week to urge reform of the government's wasteful and costly sugar program. This flawed policy is corporate welfare at its worst. The federal government uses... Read More

Protecting Pennsylvania's Families: Fighting For A Sustainable Budget I wish we could have had your good sense in Washington last week. Your family understands how to live within its means. Your family knows that you don't spend what you don't have. Unfortunately, Washington still refuses to accept this principle.  Early last Saturday morning, the Senate passed its... Read More

Saving Pittsburgh's 911th Airlift Wing No Changes To Personnel Structure The 911th Airlift Wing will be preserved. This important, cost effective unit will remain in Southwest Pennsylvania - at current strength. Senator Casey, our House colleagues and I have repeatedly championed the merits of the 911th Airlift Wing. The Air Force Secretary and Chief of Staff concur. I'm... Read More

Seeking Bipartisan Solutions For Our Fiscal Problems "I'll work with anyone for the good of everyone." Click here to see my interview on Fox And Friends about my meeting with the president. Late last week, automatic spending cuts went into effect.  I continue to believe it is important for the modest magnitude of those cuts to be implemented.  I authored a bill... Read More

Offering A Bipartisan Solution To The Sequester Click here to watch my conversation with Joe and Mika on Morning Joe This week, I worked with Democrats and Republicans to craft a sensible plan to give federal agency managers flexibility for smarter cuts while still making sure that the overall spending cut targets are met.  Over the last 12 years, the federal... Read More

A Day In The Life I was happy to welcome the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Tracie Mauriello to the Senate last week for a fast-paced day of meetings, interviews and events on Capitol Hill. The result was an in-depth profile piece Pennsylvania's junior senator Pat Toomey on the fast track. I'm occasionally asked what it's like serving in the U.S. Senate.  To help answer... Read More

Filling PA's Judicial Vacancies Introducing Three Nominees for Eastern PA     At a Senate judiciary hearing this week, Sen. Bob Casey and I introduced Judges Luis Felipe Restrepo, Nitza Quiñones and Jeffrey Schmehl as U.S. District judicial nominees for Pennsylvania's Eastern District. President Obama nominated these judges upon a joint recommendation from Sen.... Read More

Commissioning USS Somerset Navy ship honors passengers of Flight 93 This week, I asked the Navy to commission its new amphibious warship USS Somerset in Philadelphia. The ship is named in honor of the courageous passengers of Flight 93 which crashed near Shanksville, Somerset County on 9/11. Their heroic acts of sacrifice prevented the terrorists from killing many more... Read More

Teen Cancer Awareness Week At the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia I met with some very courageous young people at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia when I visited to announce Teen Cancer Awareness Week. I introduced the bipartisan resolution establishing this event to help organizations like Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation raise awareness of teen cancer. My... Read More

Mourning Connecticut's loss During this time of national mourning regarding the tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut, it is important for us to count our blessings and appreciate our loved ones all the more.  My wife Kris and I join the people of Pennsylvania and all Americans in expressing our deepest sorrow at the loss of life in the Sandy Hook elementary school... Read More

Hurricane Sandy Recovery Working together to help those in need I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all of the utility workers, first responders, volunteers, and emergency response professionals dedicated to helping those affected by Hurricane Sandy. I visited PPL Electric Utilities' Emergency Command Center in Allentown earlier this week and received an... Read More

Commitment to veterans The story behind a recent Senate vote As a member of the Senate Veterans Jobs Caucus, I am very concerned about the ability of veterans, including those returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, to find good jobs during this economic downturn. As Congress pursues legislation to create job opportunities for our veterans, controversy arose recently... Read More

Visiting Every PA County Traveling the state listening to you With a visit to The Holcombe Group in Sullivan County Aug. 14, I've officially visited all 67 Pennsylvania counties since being sworn into office in January 2011. Since joining the Senate, I have traveled to every corner of the state listening to Pennsylvanians, and I've heard the same concerns again and again.... Read More

Opposing Two UN Treaties Treaties would threaten our sovereignty I stand opposed to two pending UN treaties -- the Convention on the Law of the Sea Treaty and the Arms Trade Treaty. The Law of the Sea Treaty (LOST) would compromise the United States' sovereignty by subjecting American navigational rights to an international body that is indifferent, and sometimes opposed,... Read More

A Disappointing Decision A jarring blow to our personal freedoms The U.S. Supreme Court's 5-4 decision regarding the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) is extremely disappointing. This decision is a jarring blow to our 200-year-old tradition of constitutionally limited government and personal liberty. The Supreme Court's... Read More

Senate Votes On Budgets My budget would balance in eight years The Senate voted in May on my 10-year budget proposal, which garnered more votes -- 42 -- than any other budget received this year. At a time when our country is piling up unprecedented deficits, we need a budget that lays out a clear vision for the future of our country and puts us on a path toward balance.... Read More

It's Time to Restore Balance My budget would balance in eight years At a time when our country is piling up unprecedented deficits, we need a budget that lays out a clear vision for the future of our country and puts us on a path toward balance. That's why I introduced a fiscal year 2013 budget resolution in April that would reduce our debt, lower our spending and put us... Read More

Putting America To Work Bipartisan JOBS Act will spur economy When I travel across my home state, I hear the same refrain from constituents: "Why can't you guys in Washington work together? Why can't you get something done?" I share their frustrations. I came to the Senate a year ago determined to make a difference -- to cut spending, reform our loophole-ridden tax code,... Read More

Defending PA Jobs Against Excessive Regulations Power plant closures highlight need for regulatory reform to protect jobs GenOn Energy announced plans this week to close five power plants in Berks, Clearfield, Lawrence, Northampton and Washington counties in Pennsylvania. The plants in Birdsboro, Elrama, New Castle, Portland and Shawville employ about 315 people. I visited... Read More

The State Of Our Union President's speech was more of the same In his third State of the Union address last week, the president suggested his willingness to work with Congress on a few pro-economic growth policies, and I will always welcome working with the president and anyone who wants to pursue ideas that will grow the economy and create jobs. However, the majority of... Read More