Senator Baker

Members of @psea_org and PSEA-Retired were busy this month outlining their legislative priorities. It was great to see Gail Honeywell, Rich Kern and Tony Perzia while they were in town as part of these advocacy efforts.

I was honored to join community members in Pike County to celebrate Women Veterans Day and recognize the extraordinary women who have served our nation. Their courage, sacrifice and commitment to protecting our freedom deserve our deepest gratitude. We thank all women veterans for their service and for the example they set for future generations.

On Flag Day, in this year of celebration of @america250_pa years of independence, it is fitting and proper to honor those who help make sure Old Glory continues to proudly fly. Thank you veterans! 🇺🇸

I was pleased to recognize the 250th anniversary of Hanover Green Cemetery during this year’s Heritage Day celebration in Hanover Township.

The event featured guided tours, historical presentations, living history reenactors and recognition of notable individuals buried at the cemetery. Community members gathered to celebrate the cemetery’s rich history and its role in preserving the stories of generations of local families.

Today, I was pleased to introduce Elijah “Eli” Peifer, who is working as an intern in my Harrisburg and district offices this summer.

A graduate of @wallenpaupackhs he is currently pursuing a degree in political science from @universityofscranton where he is a pitcher on the baseball team.

He is a talented and bright young man with a very promising future ahead.

Such an honor to support and participate in the For Pete’s Sake groundbreaking ceremony today. So many of us have been touched by cancer, which is why I’m proud to stand in support of Pete’s dream.

This cancer respite center will have a profound impact on Pennsylvania and Pike County, creating jobs, generating regional economic growth, and, most importantly, providing a place of community, comfort, and healing for thousands of patients and their families.

On Police Officers’ Memorial Day, the Senate approved Senate Bill 1284, Detective Kyle Gilmartin’s Law, which means tougher penalties for individuals who attempt to murder a law enforcement officer and cause serious bodily injury, closing a glaring loophole in state law.

Tragically, the need for this legislation was first brought to my attention in February by Lackawanna DA Brian Gallagher after a horrific crime against Scranton Police Detective Kyle Gilmartin in his county in 2024.

Detective Gilmartin miraculously survived and is here with us today as a testament to his faith, tenacity, and determination.
 
Unfortunately, Detective Gilmartin faced an unexpected roadblock in his journey to recovery. It was during the criminal proceedings when DA Gallagher discovered that the attempted murder charge was not the one carrying the most severe punishment. I was shocked by this revelation.

I’m pleased we were able to address this injustice with Senate Bill 1284, which closes this loophole, and ensures anyone who intentionally tries to kill a police officer faces the full weight of the law. This bill ensures sentencing reflects the gravity of those crimes.

I had the opportunity to recently tour The Little Playroom daycare facility in Hawley, which just opened its doors on a beautiful new facility. I had a great time reading books to the children. Congratulations to owner Mindy Skelton and all the staff at The Little Playroom on their grand opening. Well done!

I was honored to attend the Bushkill Fire Company’s 90th Anniversary Banquet and present them a Senate citation to mark this incredible milestone. Thank you to all the members and the over 8,000 volunteer hours dedicated to keeping our communities and residents safe.

I joined Pennsylvania @paattorneygen Dave Sunday today to host a Senior Scam Prevention and Awareness event at the Kingston Active Adult Center, equipping older Pennsylvanians with tools to recognize and avoid increasingly sophisticated scams.

Scammers are becoming more aggressive and more convincing, and too many seniors are paying the price. We want our seniors to feel confident recognizing red flags and empowered to take action when something doesn’t seem right.

I would like thank Attorney General Sunday and his office for educating our seniors on this important issue. During the event, officials highlighted several key topics, including:

o The rise of AI-powered scams that are harder to detect.
o Common fraud tactics such as phishing, government impersonation and emergency cash schemes.
o The importance of immediate action steps, including the “hang up, shut the door” approach when contacted unexpectedly.
o Efforts by the Office of Attorney General’s Elder Exploitation Section to investigate and prosecute scams targeting seniors.

As a proud member of the Tunkhannock Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, it was an honor to attend yesterday’s Marcy Cemetery Restoration Program.

The restoration program and recognition of the new monument for American Patriot Solomon Avery marks another milestone in the Tunkhannock Chapter’s goal of historic local preservation.

Yesterday’s ceremony culminated the efforts that started in 2023 as part of Wyoming County’s involvement in @america250_pa . I was moved by this collective display of community and patriotism. Congratulations to all involved!

I was proud to recognize Wyoming County residents who were inducted into the Pennsylvania Voter Hall of Fame for voting in 50 consecutive general elections.

It was an honor to help celebrate their achievement, and we thank them for setting such a strong example of civic responsibility for future generations.

#vote

Every April, the @luzernecountycac plants pinwheels to mark #childabusepreventionmonth

At the Luzerne County Courthouse, 391 pinwheels were planted by county leaders, representing the number of children CAC helped last year. Pinwheels were also planted at the Dallas Rotary Club Triangle.

The Wyoming County Chamber of Commerce invited local legislators to participate in a breakfast panel with area employers. We discussed many of the key issues confronting northeastern Pennsylvania, including access to health care in rural communities, rising energy costs, the impact of regulatory complexity and permitting delays, and how we can better align our education system with the real-time workforce needs of our region.

I appreciated the opportunity to participate in this event. Hearing about the challenges our employers are facing is valuable as we continue our deliberations on the 2026-27 state budget.