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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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Remembering the Fallen on Memorial Day
Yesterday, Monday, May 26, was Memorial Day – a day set aside to honor the more than 1.1 million Americans who have died in wars which the United States entered.
I hope you took a moment this weekend to remember these men and women who sacrificed their lives for us and for our country and participated in Memorial Day events in our community.
For more information about Memorial Day and its history, click here. |
In the Fifth
St. Luke's Ribbon Cutting
I had the distinct honor of attending the Ribbon Cutting Celebration for the new St. Luke's health center in Leesport. This state-of-the-art facility will bring vital medical services including urgent care, lab work, occupational medicine, imaging, orthopedics, primary care, and physical therapy, directly to the residents of Berks County, marking a significant step forward in our community's access to healthcare. |
Visiting Berks CTC
I had a fantastic visit to Berks Career and Technology Center where I was able to get a closer look at their Occupational Health programs. While there I was able to speak with staff and students about their experiences at BCTC how I can advocate for their needs as a state representative.
Beyond that, I was thrilled to see other programs, including their Precision/Computerized Machining Technology (PMT/CMT) program, where senior students manufacture flight hardware for use in the International Space Station through the NASA HUNCH program. This level of hands-on, high-stakes learning demonstrates the remarkable commitment to career education thriving in our 5th legislative district.
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Handheld Devices Ban Takes Effect June 5
A new Pennsylvania law banning the use of handheld devices while driving takes effect on June 5.
Paul Miller’s Law limits the use of handheld cellphones or other communication devices while operating a motor vehicle. The law is named for a young man who was killed in a crash involving a distracted tractor-trailer driver in Monroe County, Pennsylvania, in 2010.
Under the law, driving while holding a mobile device is a primary violation, meaning police can pull over drivers solely for the violation. For the first 12 months, the penalty is a written warning. Effective in June 2026, the penalty is a summary offense, which carries a $50 fine, plus court costs and other fees. If a driver is convicted of homicide by vehicle and driving while distracted, they may be sentenced up to an additional five years in prison.
Drivers can still use their phones if using hands-free technology, such as a docking station, Bluetooth or speaker technology. You may also use your phone to contact emergency responders.
According to PennDOT, more than 11,000 crashes were the result of distracted driving, leading to 65 deaths and 6,700 injuries in 2023. Pennsylvania joins 28 other states with hands-free laws.
Read more here. |
Prevent Lyme: Check for Ticks
May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month. As you spend time outdoors, it is important to check yourself, loved ones and pets for ticks and be aware of the symptoms of Lyme disease and other tick-related ailments.
The first line of defense against Lyme is to take precautions outdoors by treating clothing and gear with products containing 0.5% permethrin, using insect repellent, and avoiding wooded and brushy areas with high grass or leaf litter. When you return indoors, check your clothing, gear and pets for ticks; shower as soon as possible after being outdoors; and check your body for ticks, particularly in areas such as under the arms, in and around the ears, back of the knees and other similar areas.
If bitten, an individual should monitor the area for the appearance of a bull’s eye rash, though the rash does not develop in all cases. Early symptoms of Lyme disease include fever, fatigue, headache and muscle aches. However, symptoms may progress to arthritic, neurologic and cardiac symptoms if not treated.
Lyme disease is caused by the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi and is transmitted by the bite of a blacklegged tick or deer tick. If you pull a tick from yourself, a loved one or your pet, you may have it tested to determine if it carries Lyme or other tick-borne diseases. More information about how to get a tick tested at the East Stroudsburg University Tick Lab is available here.
Learn more about Lyme disease symptoms, treatment and prevention here. |
New Sextortion Scam Blackmails Children
A disturbing new scam involves organized groups of Nigerian cybercriminals targeting American children online. After befriending them – sometimes even posing as their classmates – and exchanging nude photos, the criminals blackmail them and demand money.
Organized Nigerian criminals have increased this practice, known as sextortion, by 1,000% in the last 18 months. It can cause unthinkable consequences, including suicide, after a child is told the images will be sent to their family, friends and everyone in their school if they don’t pay.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children offers a helpful tool to anyone facing this overwhelming scenario. Take It Down is a free service that allows a child to have a “hash value” – essentially a digital fingerprint – assigned to the photo being used against them. The “hash value” is then sent out to participating sites such as Instagram, Snapchat and even pornography sites that put a block on the image so it cannot be seen, shared or spread, rendering it useless for the blackmailer. A child never has to upload the photo to the service, nor does anyone ever view the image in the process. |
Win Money for Your Child’s Education
In honor of PA 529 Day on May 29, the Pennsylvania Treasury is inviting families to contribute $10 or more to their child’s PA 529 account in May to be automatically eligible for one of six regional awards of $5,529.
PA 529 plans allow families to use their savings to pay for a wide variety of education expenses, including at any qualified educational institution, from K-12 to college and career training programs.
Anyone – parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and family friends – can contribute to a PA 529 plan. Saving with PA 529 does not impact a student’s eligibility for Pennsylvania state financial aid. Learn more here. |
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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