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Capitol Report
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#Listrak\DateStampLong#
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The latest news from the State Capitol
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Please do not reply directly to this email, as it returns to an unmanned account.
You are welcome to contact me through this link.
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Preparing for the 2025-26 Session
This week, I joined my fellow freshmen class of Republican members as state Rep. Clint Owlett (R-Tioga/Bradford) helped prepare us for the 2025-26 session.
I'm excited to get to work with my fellow legislators to improve the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Pictured left to right are Representatives Gary Day (Lehigh), me, Chad Reichard (Franklin), Marc Anderson (York), Jeremy Shaffer (Allegheny), Josh Bashline (Armstrong/Clarion), Scott Barger (Blair/Huntingdon), Brenda Pugh (Luzerne), Roman Kozak (Beaver), Brian Rasel (Westmoreland) and Jamie Walsh (Luzerne).
I am incredibly excited to enter my first term of service to you, the residents of the 5th Legislative District. I have written a brief biography below to introduce myself if we haven’t had the pleasure of meeting each other yet.
I am a graduate of Kutztown Area High School and a Berks County native who has devoted my life to serving our community. I continued my education at the Pennsylvania Sheriff/Deputy Sheriff Academy and began my career with the Berks County Sheriff’s Office in 1984 as a deputy sheriff.
I was soon promoted to assistant chief deputy sheriff in charge of the court division in 1996, and again promoted to the position of chief deputy sheriff in 1999. And in 2007, I was elected sheriff of Berks County and was re-elected four times.
I was first appointed by Gov. Tom Corbett in 2012 to serve on the Deputy Sheriff’s Education and Training Board to advise the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency on the development and implementation of training programs for sheriffs and deputy sheriffs across the Commonwealth. Gov. Tom Wolf reappointed me and I served as the board's chairman until resigning to take over my new duties in the General Assembly.
In 2012, I was also elected to serve as the secretary/treasurer of the Pennsylvania Sheriff’s Association and have been unanimously re-elected every year since.
My legislative goals include creating an economic environment that stimulates job creation and economic growth while reducing taxes and burdens on small businesses and working families, defending our state and federal constitutions, supporting law enforcement and the justice system, developing a world-class education system, and providing top quality constituent services to residents of the 5th Legislative District.
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Do You Have Clothing to Donate?
Hope Rescue Mission and LightHouse are collecting clothing donations by our district office in the Reading Airport Terminal. Hope Rescue has been supporting homeless individuals in Berks County since 1894.
They are collecting all-season clothing for men, women and children, as well as coats, hats, scarves, gloves, shoes, bedding, towels, belts, and purses.
Your donations will help to make a difference in our community!
Residents in need of support can visit Hope Rescue at 645 N. 6th St., Reading, or LightHouse Women & Children’s Center at 715 N. 6th St., Reading.
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Wernersville Tree Lighting
I was honored to attend the Wernersville Borough tree lighting this past Saturday and celebrate this holiday season with some of the constituents in our district!
Thank you to everyone who helped make this event successful!
My wife, Jessica, and I got a picture with Santa Claus. |
I was happy to see Wernersville Borough Mayor Melissa Dean. |
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Join PennDOT’s Public Meeting on State Rail Plan
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) recently announced that it will hold a virtual information meeting to discuss the updated Pennsylvania State Rail Plan on Tuesday, Dec. 10, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. An online survey will be available through Thursday, Dec. 19, for members of the public to submit their input.
PennDOT works with the Federal Railroad Administration to develop rail plans and is seeking public input on passenger and freight rail, funding, policy, safety, economic development, and more.
If you would like to join the public meeting on Dec. 10, you should visit this Zoom link prior to the start of the meeting at 4 p.m.
Presentation materials from the meeting and the online input survey are available for members of the public at advancingparail.com. Questions or comments about the plan may be directed to RA-PDPASRP@pa.gov.
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Deadline Nears for Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program
Older adults and Pennsylvanians with disabilities have until Dec. 31 to apply for the state’s 2023 Property Tax/Rent Rebate program. Remember, assistance through my office is always free. You need not pay a private firm for assistance.
Income limits increased this year to $45,000 for both homeowners and renters, so if you were earning too much to qualify before, you may be eligible now. Remember to exclude 50% of Social Security when determining your income. The maximum rebate also increased to $1,000.
The program is open to residents age 65 years and older; widows and widowers 50 years and older; and people with disabilities 18 years and older.
Click here for additional information or to apply online or contact my office for assistance. If you applied previously but have not received your rebate, click here. The 2024 Property Tax/Rent Rebate program will open for applications in mid- to late January.
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Supporting First Responders
A new state law will give first responders greater access to workers’ compensation benefits for a post-traumatic stress injury (PTSI).
Under Act 121 of 2024, firefighters, police officers, emergency medical technicians and paramedics will be entitled to benefits under the Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation law for psychological traumas arising from individual traumatic events or cumulative highly stressful experiences resulting from their employment – even in the absence of physical injuries requiring medical treatment.
At a time when first responders are in short supply, it is vital we provide proper support to the men and women who choose to put their lives on the line for us and our communities.
The law will take effect next fall.
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Warning for Energy Supply Shoppers
The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission is cautioning energy consumers about an increase in look-alike websites mimicking the state’s official energy shopping platforms.
Unofficial copycat or look-alike sites often top search engine results or appear prominently in social media ads, misleading consumers who are looking for fair and unbiased information about energy shopping.
The PUC’s energy shopping websites – clearly marked as “The Official Electric Shopping Websites of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission” – are designed to provide consumers with impartial and comprehensive information.
For safe and effective energy shopping and to ensure you are accessing the correct resources, please visit PAPowerSwitch.com and PAGasSwitch.com. Stay safe online and make informed decisions with trusted resources from your Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission.
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New Resource for State Grants
The Commonwealth Office of Digital Experience (CODE PA) recently launched a new resource to make it easier for residents, businesses, nonprofits, schools and local governments to find and apply for grants from state agencies.
The new discovery tool allows users to search for, sort and filter information about grants based on the type of applicant, category, application deadline, location and other criteria. The search results include links to each program, including information about who the funding is intended for, the application process, key dates and deadlines, eligibility criteria, and where to apply.
Check it out here.
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Need a Gift for an Angler?
Fishing licenses, permits and gift vouchers for the 2025 fishing season are now available for purchase from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. The cost remains the same at $27.97 for a resident annual license and $14.47 for a senior resident annual license. Please click here to make a purchase and check out the full list of license options. Licenses may also be purchased through the FishBoatPA mobile app or by visiting one of nearly 700 retail license issuing agents.
Now is also a good time to mark your 2025 calendars for the statewide opening day of trout season on Saturday, April 5, and statewide Mentored Youth Trout Day on Saturday, March 29.
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Remembering Pearl Harbor
This past Saturday we remembered Dec. 7, 1941 – the “date which will live in infamy” – and honored the lives lost 83 years ago. The attack on Pearl Harbor near Honolulu, Hawaii, killed 2,403 Americans, wounded 1,178 others, and led to the United States’ entrance into World War II.
As President Ronald Reagan stated in his 1986 proclamation for Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, “Every honor is appropriate for the courageous Americans who made the supreme sacrifice for our Nation at Pearl Harbor and in the many battles that followed in World War II. Their sacrifice was for a cause, not for conquest; for a world that would be safe for future generations. Their devotion must never be forgotten.”
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Let's Get Connected
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Our District
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Web Site
rep .com
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| Office Locations |
| District Office: Reading Regional Airport - Main Terminal, 2501 Bernville Road, Box 4, Reading, PA, 19605 | Phone: (610) 378-4407, FAX: (610) 378-4412 | Open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
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