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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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In the Fifth
Pennsylvania Sheriff’s Association Winter Conference
I was invited to join the Pennsylvania Sheriff's Association’s Annual Winter Training Conference earlier this month. There, I was honored to be recognized by the association for my former service as secretary and treasurer and made a lifetime member of the organization.
Troopers Dinner and Legislative Reception
Last week, members of the General Assembly were invited to the Troopers Dinner and Legislative Reception in Orwigsburg. At the reception, Trooper Phillip Melley, Lodge 65 of the Fraternal Order of Police, recognized the legislators for their service to the Commonwealth and their support for law enforcement.
Commute PA
Last week, I met with Michele Scribbick, who introduced me to the non-profit program, Commute PA. Commute PA encourages and helps commuters to make efficient use of all available transportation options in Berks County and other parts of the Commonwealth. They provide programs and information for both employers and commuters to promote sustainable and convenient transportation solutions.
For more information, visit commutepa.org.
Coffee and Conversation
Last week, we held our second Coffee and Conversation with local superintendents to discuss problems and legislative priorities for the district’s schools. We had great conversations with Dr. Chris Trickett, from Wilson School District; Dr. Cathy Taschner, from Schuylkill Valley School District; and Dr. Ryan Giffing, from Conrad Weiser School District.
Thank you all for attending!
Women Veterans of Berks County
This past Thursday, I was honored to assist the Women Veterans of Berks County by swearing in their new officers at their monthly meeting.
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Budget Hearings Highlight Need to Grow Pennsylvania’s Economy
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Concerns about significant revenue shortfalls and policies that inhibit economic growth in the Commonwealth were the focus of the first day of state budget hearings at the Capitol earlier this week.
House Republican members of the Appropriations Committee questioned officials with the Department of Community and Economic Development about the governor’s failure to support growth in the state’s energy industry in his 2025-26 state budget proposal. They also raised concerns about the proposed minimum wage hike and policies impacting broadband expansion.
Members also questioned Department of Revenue officials about shortfalls in the current year’s budget and said our focus should be on expanding the tax base through growing the economy, rather than the governor’s plan to implement more taxes.
The committee will continue its assessment of the governor’s proposed 2025-26 state spending plan next week at hearings with several major state departments, including Education, Agriculture, Environmental Protection, State, Labor and Industry, and more.
The governor proposed a $51.47 billion budget earlier this month, representing a $3.57 billion, or 7.5%, increase over the current fiscal year. The proposed spending increase is significantly more than the anticipated $1.3 billion revenue increase.
Budget hearings stream live at www.PABudget.com/livestreams. For a full schedule, along with video and highlights of each completed hearing, click here.
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Report Potholes to PennDOT
‘Tis the season for potholes on our roads and bridges.
To help combat potholes and prevent them from becoming a danger to vehicles and drivers, you can report potholes on state-owned roads to PennDOT. Simply call 1-800-FIX-ROAD or click here to file a report online.
Be prepared to provide specific information to help crews find the pothole, including the name of the county and municipality in which it is located, name of the road, and the closest intersection.
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Connecting Those in Need with Resources
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Do you know about the critical role PA 211 plays in helping Pennsylvanians connect with vital resources across the state and locally? From accessing housing and utility assistance to food assistance, mental health services or disaster support, PA 211 provides hundreds of thousands of residents a free, confidential and 24/7 lifeline to essential social services on which they can depend.
In 2024 alone, PA 211 helped almost 1.9 million Pennsylvanians.
• This included nearly 250,000 interactions with resource navigators via calls, texts and chats, and about 1.65 million searches using the PA 211 online database at pa211.org.
• The 250,000 interactions resulted in almost 705,000 referrals.
• The top needs in 2024 were housing, utilities and food. The PA 211 data demonstrates variability in needs in the Pennsylvania region.
In addition to calling 211, the newly redesigned www.pa211.org makes it even easier for residents to search for local services by ZIP code or category, ensuring they receive accurate, timely and up-to-date information.
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Pay Attention to Your Heart Health!
February is American Heart Month, a time when all people are encouraged to focus on their cardiovascular health.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), heart disease is the leading cause of death for men, women and people of most racial and ethnic groups in the United States. It notes one person dies every 33 seconds in the United States from cardiovascular disease. In 2022, 702,880 people died from heart disease. That's the equivalent of one in every five deaths.
To protect yourself, the CDC encourages people to choose healthy foods and drinks, keep a healthy weight, get regular physical activity and don’t smoke. People should also take charge of medical conditions that could increase their risk of heart disease, such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure or diabetes.
Learn more about heart disease and how to protect yourself here.
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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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| Capitol Office: 432 Irvis Office Building, Harrisburg, Pa 17020-2005 | PO Box 202005 | Phone: 717-772-9940 |
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