Rep. Kurt A. Masser joined fellow members of the PA HOPE (Heroin, Opioid, Prevention and Education) Caucus, along with other state government officials, health care professionals, addiction experts, survivors and family members of overdose victims, at a rally in September to urge action on numerous bills to help fight the ongoing heroin and opioid epidemic. The epidemic is killing 10 state residents every day, and drug overdoses are now surpassing car crashes as a leading cause of death. Several pieces of legislation to address the epidemic – including ways to improve opioid prescribing practices, better training for health care professionals, expanded access to treatment and enhanced educational efforts – are now with the Senate for consideration. Gov. Tom Wolf is expected to address a joint session of the General Assembly to discuss additional efforts on Wednesday, Sept. 28. Rep. Masser is sponsoring House Bill 1805, which states that doctors and pharmacists would be required to attend opioid- and addiction-related training prior to obtaining relevant licenses, and would further require ongoing training in every renewal period.

In late September, Rep. Kurt A. Masser attended a tour sponsored by the Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences Research Department. The tour provided access to research on working farms in Loganton. The presentations by the research faculty concentrated on “Agriculture and the Chesapeake Bay” which focused on water quality, conservation practices and policy.

Thank you to everyone who had a hand in making the Sixth Annual Senior Expo a huge success. Rep. Kurt A. Masser hosted the event on Sept. 15, at All Home Days Park in Elysburg. We had another great turnout, with many vendors and residents from our area. Here are some photos from the event.