WILKES-BARRE — Gov. Josh Shapiro this week announced a lawsuit challenging President Donald Trump’s unconstitutional freeze on $1.2 billion in federal funds appropriated by Congress to Pennsylvania, along with an additional $900 million requiring an undefined review by federal agencies.
Sen. Marty Flynn, D-Scranton, said the Governor’s lawsuit aims to restore critical funding for Pennsylvania agencies that provide essential services, such as LIHEAP assistance, energy and clean water infrastructure, and plugging orphan wells — programs that directly benefit the people of the commonwealth.
In strong support of this legal action, Sen. Flynn released the following statement:
“I fully support Gov. Shapiro’s decision to take this matter to court and challenge the unconstitutional freeze on federal funds that rightfully belong to Pennsylvania. The people of our commonwealth rely on these essential services to keep their homes warm, their water clean, and their communities thriving. This blatant overreach by the federal administration is not only unlawful but also a direct threat to the well-being of Pennsylvania families.
“My constituents are deeply concerned about the sudden uncertainty surrounding critical programs that support working families, seniors, and vulnerable individuals. We cannot allow partisan politics in Washington to jeopardize the fundamental needs of our residents.
“I commend Gov. Shapiro for standing up to this injustice and for fighting to ensure that Pennsylvania receives the federal resources it was promised. His leadership is exactly what we need during this time of federal instability. I will continue working alongside my colleagues to support his efforts and advocate for the people of Pennsylvania.”
Rep. Meuser votes to support the Agent Raul Gonzalez Officer Safety Act
U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser, R-Dallas, this week voted in favor of H.R. 35 — the Agent Raul Gonzalez Officer Safety Act — a bill designed to strengthen community safety by criminalizing the act of evading U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) agents, particularly during dangerous high-speed pursuits.
Rep. Meuser said that in recent years, human smugglers and cartels have increasingly recruited drivers to transport illegal migrants into American communities. These drivers frequently flee from law enforcement, leading to deadly crashes that put officers and innocent civilians at risk.
Tragically, USBP Agent Raul Humberto Gonzalez, Jr. lost his life in an ATV crash while pursuing a group of migrants at the border. His sacrifice is recognized through the naming of this legislation.
Rep. Meuser said H.R. 35 establishes federal criminal penalties for individuals who intentionally evade Border Patrol or other law enforcement, with harsher consequences when such actions result in serious injury or death. He said the bill also bars individuals who evade Border Patrol from entering or remaining in the U.S., making them ineligible for immigration benefits, including asylum.
“The American people will no longer tolerate lawlessness or policies that put criminals ahead of citizens,” said Rep. Meuser. “The Agent Raul Gonzalez Officer Safety Act gives law enforcement authorities the necessary tools to fully penalize criminals who intentionally evade Border Patrol agents. This legislation sends a clear message to cartels and traffickers: if you endanger American lives, we will hold you accountable to the fullest extent of the law. I strongly encourage my colleagues in the Senate to pass H.R. 35, which protects the lives of law enforcement, innocent bystanders, and the illegal immigrants themselves.”
H.R. 35 passed the House with bipartisan support, 264-155, and now moves to the Senate for further consideration.
AG Sunday urges U.S. Senate to pass HALT Fentanyl Act
Attorney General Dave Sunday this week joined a multi-state coalition in a letter to the U.S. Senate asking for passage of the HALT Fentanyl Act, which will close a “copycat fentanyl” loophole and allow for more aggressive prosecution of traffickers.
“Copycat fentanyl,” or fentanyl-related substances, are lab-created variations of fentanyl that were not previously subjected to the same scheduling as fentanyl, under the federal Controlled Substance Act. That allowed for traffickers to avoid harsher penalties when prosecuted.
During a one-year period between 2023 and 2024, the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General seized nearly 3 million individual doses of fentanyl and an additional 50,000 fentanyl pills. The seized drugs included fentanyl-related substances.
The HALT Fentanyl Act would result in the permanent Class I scheduling of fentanyl and fentanyl-related substances.
“The deadliest, most dangerous drugs should be scheduled as such. Synthetic opioid manufacturers and traffickers have exploited loopholes in scheduling classifications which contributed to widespread distribution of variations of fentanyl,” AG Sunday said. “Those variations have the same disastrous effects as fentanyl, and this office remains committed to doing everything in our power to deter trafficking in Pennsylvania communities.
“Each and every life lost leaves a family and community devastated, so it is imperative we act with urgency to combat this scourge.”
Since 2018, fentanyl has killed nearly as many Americans as World War II. The problem has only been made worse by Mexican drug cartels smuggling deadly Chinese-made copycat fentanyl across the southern border. Between October 2021 and June 2022 alone, U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized enough fentanyl to kill the entire American population five times over.
Fentanyl-related substances are often more harmful than prescription fentanyl. Congress temporarily classified fentanyl and fentanyl analogues as Schedule I drugs, but that status is set to expire March 31. The HALT Fentanyl Act will permanently fix the problem.
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the HALT Fentanyl Act law with an overwhelming bipartisan majority — AG Sunday and the multi-state coalition are now calling on the Senate to do the same.