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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
Conrad Weiser Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame
I was honored to be present for the induction of three Conrad Weiser Area School District alumni into the Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame. These three men went on from Conrad Weiser to make huge contributions to society in their fields of expertise and beyond.
Brian Clements, Brian Dreibelbis and Jonathan Trump were there to accept their award and to be an encouragement to current students.
Clements, class of 1972, was a long-time owner and operator of Clements Waste Services.
He is very active in the local community serving on the boards of many nonprofit and trade organizations, as well as Alvernia University, Penn State Health St. Joseph Medical Center and Kutztown University. He also served as chairman of the Western Berks Fire Task Force, which merged four separate fire companies to create the new Western Berks Fire Department.
Dreibelbis, class of 1981, is the senior director of supply chain human resources/labor and employee relations for Land O’Lakes.
He is well known within national labor organizations and works closely with the U.S. Department of Labor on key issues facing our country.
He has served on many committees at Penn State Berks and was named to the Chancellor’s Advisory Board in 2023.
Trump, class of 2000, is an associate professor of physics at the University of Connecticut.
In addition to receiving the Provost’s Recognition of Excellence in Teaching Award every semester from 2017-2025, he has been a co-author of over 250 papers, presented over 50 talks and contributed to over 80 seminars on astronomy and has received a national Science Foundation CAREER Award, a Hubble Fellowship and a Steward Observatory Outstanding Research Award.
Congratulations, gentlemen! Thank you for all your outstanding contributions and accomplishments.
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Recognizing Debbie Pierce
Last week, I had the honor of presenting a House citation to Debbie Pierce, who is retiring after serving the citizens of the Borough of Wernersville for the past 26 years. Debbie has served with dedication and integrity and has earned the respect of the entire community. She will be missed!
Thank you, Debbie, and best wishes in the future!
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Honoring Our Veterans
Tomorrow, we recognize Veterans Day by remembering the sacrifices these men and women made on behalf of our citizens and people around the world.
Veterans Day, originally known as Armistice Day, first marked the one-year anniversary of the end of World War I, on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, and sought to honor the veterans of the World War – the only world war to have occurred at that time. Armistice Day was declared a national holiday in 1938 to acknowledge world peace, and then was renamed Veterans Day in 1954 to celebrate the contributions of veterans of all wars.
For more about the history of Veterans Day, click here.
For more information about programs and benefits to support our veterans in Pennsylvania, visit the state Department of Military and Veterans Affairs website here.
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PennDOT Service Centers Closed for Veterans Day
All PennDOT driver license and photo centers will be closed tomorrow, Tuesday, Nov. 11, in observance of Veterans Day.
During the closures, customers may still obtain a variety of driver and vehicle products and services, including all forms, publications and driver training manuals, through PennDOT's online Driver and Vehicle Services website.
PLEASE NOTE: My office will also be closed for Veterans Day. |
Veterans’ Trust Fund Grant Applications Now Open
The Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) is inviting applications for the 2026-27 Veterans’ Trust Fund (VTF) grant awards.
Funding up to $40,000 is available to veterans’ service organizations and other nonprofit organizations with a mission of serving veterans. Funding up to $15,000 is available to county departments of veterans affairs to support their outreach mission.
Interested applicants are encouraged to join a Teams meeting Thursday, Nov. 12, at 11 a.m., where an overview of the grant guidelines, timeline and application will be provided. Interested parties can email ra-mvvettrustfund@pa.gov to receive the Teams link.
Grant applications must be received no later than 2 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 19. Click here for more information about the program and how to apply. |
Protecting Custody Rights of Deployed Military Parents
Parents who serve their country should never lose custody or visitation simply because they answered the call to duty. That’s why I was honored to vote in favor of a new law protecting a parent’s rights during military deployment.
Act 40 of 2025 fixes Pennsylvania child-custody law by preventing any permanent modification of custody or visitation orders while a parent is deployed. The law stops litigants from using the fact of deployment as a reason to alter existing custody arrangements. It also allows parents to delegate visitation rights during deployment and encourages continued communication between parents and children through modern means, such as video calls, when in-person contact is not possible.
The law will take effect in late November. |
New Law to Help Veterans, Students
Pennsylvania schools need teachers, and Pennsylvania veterans will soon be able to put their education and experience to work in the classroom under a new state law.
Act 41 of 2025 makes it easier for veterans to obtain a teaching certificate related to their direct experience in various career and technical education (CTE) fields. Specifically, the law requires the Department of Education to issue a CTE Intern or CTE Instructional I Certificate to a veteran who has served in the United States Armed Forces for a minimum of 8,000 hours in the occupational area to be taught.
This will open new pathways for veterans to become educators and share their valuable hands-on skills and expertise with our students. It’s a win for all involved!
The law will take effect in late December. |
A Boost to Education Savings in November for Youngest Pennsylvanians!
State Treasurer Stacy Garrity announced a statewide incentive for Keystone Scholars in November which will give children an even bigger head start on education savings!
Families who claim their child’s $100 scholarship from Keystone Scholars in November and open and link their own companion PA 529 College and Career Savings Program account will get an additional $50. Taking this action in November results in initial education savings deposits of $150.
Keystone Scholars provides a $100 scholarship for every child born in Pennsylvania since 2019. This money grows alongside the child and will be available to use after their 18th birthday for costs associated with four-year degrees, community college, technical training, apprenticeships and credential programs.
To learn more, visit PA529.com/keystone. |
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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