Dear Neighbor,

Last Friday it was my honor and privilege to welcome Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding to the Luzerne County Fair to show off all that we have to offer and host the first of four listening sessions that will be held throughout the Commonwealth to provide the best recommendations for moving the agriculture industry forward.

During our tour of the fairgrounds, we had the opportunity to meet with dedicated volunteers and local farmers with livestock in fair competitions – including some friendly horses, goats, alpacas and cows!

In addition to all of the impressive people and animals we met, we were also able to see the Fair’s new barn, which was constructed to replace two barns destroyed in flooding a couple of years ago. This beautiful facility comfortably houses horses, cattle, poultry, rabbits, alpacas, and so much more – providing plenty of room for animals and visitors alike!

Following the tour, we gathered with area farmers and agricultural stakeholders representing the depth and breadth of the industry to get their input on Governor Shapiro’s Pa Food & Agriculture Strategic Plan. Participants represented sectors ranging from produce to dairy to hardwoods to beekeepers and so many more – providing a lot of quality feedback.

One of the biggest takeaways from our discussions is the desire by all to make farming more profitable, as many small farmers struggle to make ends meet with the rising costs of operation. Other areas to address included streamlining permitting processes and building the next generation of farmers by bringing ag education into our classrooms, and providing additional incentives and support to new and beginning farmers in Pennsylvania.

With three more sessions scheduled, this was just the beginning of our discussion and planning – I look forward to working with Governor Shapiro, Secretary Redding, and all our partners in the ag industry and legislature to help craft a plan to ensure agriculture continues to be our #1 industry.

A HUGE thank you to everyone at the Luzerne County Fair for hosting us – and for 63 years and counting of putting on a family-friendly event that highlights Luzerne County and provides fun for all!

On Thursday, Americans paused to remember the 24th anniversary of one of the darkest days in our nation’s history – a day none of us will forget – September 11, 2001. Each year we pay tribute to and honor the 2,977 people who lost their lives in a horrific attack on our country.

To mark the occasion, I was honored to join first responders, lawmakers, local officials, and community leaders in the Luzerne County Courthouse Rotunda for a September 11 Remembrance Ceremony. This moving ceremony demonstrated our commitment to never forget those who lost their lives and sacrificed their lives on that horrific day.

At the ceremony and across our great nation, we spent Thursday remembering the brave heroes WHO RAN TOWARD danger to get others out, the families and communities who have supported victims and their families and of course the members of our Armed Forces who have repeatedly volunteered years of their lives to serve, protect, and prevent something like 9/11 from ever happening again in the United States.

While none of us, who were alive, will ever forget the horrific images we saw that day, we must make sure that the spirit of kindness, resilience and togetherness live on. September 11 reminds us that when our backs are against the wall, America is a nation Of, By, and FOR the People – and when we work together, we ALL benefit.

Let us never lose hope, and most importantly, let us never forget the innocent lives lost and the brave heroes who lost their lives on that terrible day 24 years ago. Never Forget.

Last Thursday I joined the Area Agency on Aging Luzerne/Wyoming Counties in downtown Wilkes-Barre to celebrate Active Aging Day!

This fun and informative event featured information on local services and program for seniors, bingo, and even a performance from the John Stevens Polka Band! Thank you to the Area Agency on Aging for Luzerne/Wyoming Counties for organizing such a wonderful day as well as all the local vendors and services who were on-hand to educate seniors and their families about how they can help.

If you need help connecting with services for seniors, please reach out our local Agency on Aging by clicking here or calling 570-822-1158. You can also reach out to my office for assistance with this or other state-related services and programs by calling 570-825-5934 or clicking here.

Individuals who received a LIHEAP benefit in the 2024-2025 heating season will receive a Preseason Mailing which is either a postcard telling them they can apply online (if they applied online last year) or a paper application (if they applied with a paper application last year) to allow for early processing before the official program start in November.

This mailing helps avoid application backlogs at the season's beginning, allowing grants to be processed and sent to vendors sooner. The LIHEAP season officially begins on November 3rd, 2025, which is when applications will be available for those who did not receive a LIHEAP benefit last season.

Find here the updated LIHEAP Handbook and the LIHEAP Brochure. Links to brochures in other languages can be found on the main LIHEAP website here: Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) | Department of Human Services | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Health insurers are requesting significant increases for 2026. It’s important to shop for plans that meet both your budget and health needs.

The Pennsylvania Insurance Department is hosting free, in-person informational sessions across PA to help Pennsylvanians prepare for Open Enrollment.

Find a session near you, get your questions answered, and make sure you choose the best plan for 2026 before enrollment begins. In NEPA. Sessions are scheduled for the following dates and locations:

• September 23 from 2 PM - 3 PM: Eastern Monroe Public Library, 1002 North 9th Street, Stroudsburg, PA 18360
• October 7 from 1 PM - 2 PM: Scranton Public Library, 500 Vine Street, Scranton, PA 18509

Let us continue to work together to build a stronger and safer America by searching for the TRUTH and finding the FACTS to guide our words, and our actions. Please, STAY STRONG and SAFE! Our democracy needs us to come together for the good of all.

Sincerely,

Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski

121st Legislative District