 |  | Common Sense Gun Reform
| | Recently, I participated in a joint project between Time Magazine and award-winning artist JR to provide a thorough look at firearms in America. This project highlights the perspectives of 245 Americans with various backgrounds, including advocates, first responders, and lawmakers, on the topics of gun violence, individual rights, safety, and policy. As a part of the project, I highlighted my continuing efforts to keep guns out of the hands of criminals, terrorists, and the dangerously mentally ill by expanding firearm background checks to cover all commercial sales. The project has both an online interactive mural that contains remarks from the participants, as well as a cover story running in the next edition of Time. You may view the interactive mural here. The cover story can be read on Time Magazine's website. | | |  | Tax Reform's Big Success
| | Across Pennsylvania, employers are investing more in their workers and operations. A great example of this can be found in Clearfield County, where Paris Companies is located. Paris Companies is one of the largest private employers in Clearfield County. The company's leadership calls the pro-growth changes brought about by tax reform a ‘game-changer,' adding that the lower tax rate has allowed them to invest more into their workforce. Read more about my visit in the Courier Express. | | |  | Meeting with the Lewistown Sentinel
| | While in Mifflin County last week, I stopped by the Lewistown Sentinel for an interview on everything from farm policy to the costs and supply problems Pennsylvania businesses are enduring because of tariffs. I also updated the paper on what has been a productive two-year session in Washington. Since January 2017, the Senate has confirmed Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, repealed Obamacare's individual mandate, rolled back onerous regulations, enacted a bipartisan package to address the deadly opioid and heroin epidemic, and passed historic tax reform. There is much more work to be done, but those accomplishments are making life better for Pennsylvania families. Read more about our conversation here. | | |  | Stopping the Importation of Fentanyl
| | Centre County officials and first responders are working to take the scourge of opioid and fentanyl abuse head on. Last week, I visited Bellefonte in Centre County to discuss my work. In particular, we discussed the need for bipartisan legislation I introduced with Senator Doug Jones (D-Ala.) which attempts to curb importation of deadly fentanyl. The Blocking Deadly Fentanyl Imports Act would block certain American foreign aid to countries, like China, that turn a blind eye to drug dealers who import this poison into our country. Just two milligrams of fentanyl is enough to kill the average adult. Estimates have shown that two-thirds of opioid overdose deaths in Pennsylvania involve fentanyl. We must do more to prevent this deadly substance from coming into our country. This legislation has broad support from law enforcement and business organizations and I was honored that first responders from Centre County stood with me in support of this important legislation. | | |
