This Week in Washington

President George H.W. Bush was a great American patriot, dedicated public servant, tireless humanitarian, and caring family man. I was humbled to attend his funeral and celebrate the life and legacy of our 41st president.

Kris and I join the nation in mourning President Bush's passing and send our condolences to the entire Bush family. You can watch President George W. Bush's moving eulogy of his father here.

On December 2nd, Army Sergeant Jason McClary of Westmoreland County succumbed to injuries he sustained a week earlier when his vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device in Ghazni Province, Afghanistan.

Sergeant McClary was a patriot who gave his life serving our country. His death serves as a sobering reminder of the sacrifice members of our armed services and their families make every day to keep us safe here at home.  

Kris and I extend our heartfelt condolences to Jason's wife, sons, and all those who loved him.

You can read more about Sergeant McClary here.

Far too many Americans are dying from heroin that is laced with Chinese fentanyl. This week, the Trump administration secured an initial commitment from Chinese President Xi Jinping to crack down on the production of fentanyl and all fentanyl-like drugs. I applaud the president for this important, potentially life-saving development.

In recent years, the emergence of fentanyl has significantly contributed to the lethality of the opioid epidemic. Just two milligrams of fentanyl is enough to kill the average adult, and estimates have shown two-thirds of opioid overdose deaths in Pennsylvania involve fentanyl.

While this week's news is a good step forward, we have to do more to stem the tide of the opioid and heroin epidemic. Congress should strengthen the administration's hand in its negotiations with China by passing my bipartisan Blocking Deadly Fentanyl Imports Act, which punishes countries that fail to implement and enforce internal controls on fentanyl production.

I am pleased to announce that two major federal grants have been awarded for infrastructure projects in both Southeast, and Southwestern Pennsylvania.

The first grant, totaling $15 million, will be used to expand the capacity of Philadelphia's 30th Street Station. Specifically, it will finance improvements that make travel in the city easier for millions of commuters and visitors, and help to accommodate increased traffic from the Schuylkill Yards project.

The second grant, totaling $20 million, was awarded to Butler County to improve Route 228. This 26-mile economic thread is the County's primary link between southern Butler County, and Shell Chemical's $6 billion ethane cracker plant in Beaver County. Currently, there are several transportation challenges along the route, such as inadequate capacity, an excessive number of accidents, and lack of access to key employment centers, schools, and residential neighborhoods.

The awarded grant funds will realign and widen the Balls Bend and Haines School-Commonwealth sections of Route 228 to four lanes, including adding turn lanes, medians, connecting access roads, and pedestrian/bicycle facilities.