Last Monday, my House colleagues and I returned to Harrisburg to pass legislation to fund public transit across Pennsylvania, and also road and bridge projects. This is the fifth bill to fund public transit that we have passed in the House, and this bill even included reforms Senate Republicans proposed. Yet, they made unnecessary changes to the bill that would not adequately resolve public transit issues.

This bill is not a quick fix nor a stopgap solution to fund mass transit across Pennsylvania – this is just another delay and a sorry excuse for Republicans scrambling to do their jobs at the last minute. 

The state has a handy tool to help you search for grants. Visit this page to search for grants or visit my website for the most recent list of grant programs open for applications.

This week, I joined the Policy Committee for a tour and roundtable hosted by Rep. Takac to discuss rural jobs tax credits. This event was hosted at CENTROID, a small business started by two Penn State University graduates who have since built an advanced CNC manufacturing company that serves customers worldwide. Thank you to Rep. Takac for his initiative on facilitating this discussion and to the owners of CENTROID who so graciously hosted the Committee.  

While at State College, I joined the House Agricultural and Rural Affairs Committee at the Red Barn Annex and Mendel's Way Farm and Greenhouses for a joint hearing with the Senate. My colleagues and I were able to hear directly from various farm owners and producers as they shared their businesses' successes and challenges. Farmers are our lifeline; they are responsible for our food so make sure to thank a farmer and support local! 

The Pennsylvania House Legislative Fellowship Program is now accepting applications, and submissions are due on Wednesday, October 1.

The Fellowship Program is based in Pennsylvania’s magnificent Capitol Building in Harrisburg. Fellows are assigned to work in House Standing Committees or House Leadership offices, are compensated for their work (which may also include college credit), and are provided the opportunities to draft and present their own legislation, attend meet-and-greets with various public officials and staff, and tour some of the Commonwealth’s historic public spaces, to name a few. The Spring semester will run from early January through early April. Final dates will be confirmed following the release of the Spring 2026 Legislative Session Schedule.

Qualified applicants will be:

1. College undergraduate juniors or seniors, graduate students, or law school students;
2. Enrolled in a Pennsylvania college/university, or a Pennsylvania resident enrolled in an out-of-state institution; and
3. Pursuing any major with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. 

Interested applicants should visit www.pahousefellowship.us. Applications can be submitted via email to: pahousefellowship@pabmc.net.

This week ended the SanArte Cultura Roots of Solidarity Camp, filled with community, healing, music, and more. Thank you for the invitation and for empowering our youth to embrace their roots and the arts. Our community showed up to support as well – we are stronger together! Gracias!  

Berks County welcomed MATPRA (Mid Atlantic Tourism Public Relations Alliance) guests, a cohesive unit of regional tourism partners, with an Opening Night celebration at a Reading Fightin Phils ball game at the Redner’s Event Center. Thank you for inviting my office and for showcasing the storytellers who help inspire travel across our region!  It was a wonderful event! 

Last week we had the honor of joining co-owners of The Haven Lissette and Sabrina for the Grand Opening and Ribbon-Cutting of their hair salon. Lissette and Sabrina have been best friends since the fifth grade and proud graduates of Wilson High School, Class of 2013. With a shared passion for beauty, creativity, and connection, they turned their lifelong friendship into a dream business – creating a salon that's more than just a place to get your hair done. This studio stands as a haven – a space where clients can feel comfortable, seen, and celebrated. Every detail in the salon reflects Lissette and Sabrina's vision of warmth, style, and purpose. Congratulations to Lissette and Sabrina on their new business!  

I also had the honor of joining the Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for Helping Harvest’s Community Kitchen last week. The kitchen features state-of-the-art cooking equipment and preparation stations, an expansive meal preparation area, multiple food storage areas, two dedicated packaging lines, and a flexible configuration to accommodate program needs. The facility also includes a large classroom/conference room with large windows looking into the kitchen, a smaller conference room, and 13 offices housing Helping Harvest staff, including client-facing staff, thereby making them more accessible to our neighbors in need.  

One of our office staffers was able to attend the Berks Center Community Days event the other week on my behalf to present a citation to the Center and to celebrate National Health Center Week. Thank you for inviting my office, Berks Community Health Center! 

My Summer intern, Jovanny Amoros Bracero, presented a certificate on my behalf in recognition of Ecuadorian Flag-Raising Day. Thank you for your support this Summer, Jovanny! Diversity makes our communities richer! 

I will also be hosting a Back to School Resource Fair on Friday, August 22 from 10:30 AM – 1:30 PM at the West Lawn United Methodist Church on 15 Woodside Ave. in West Lawn. I look forward to seeing our families there!  

Sinking Spring is hosting group Robotics Teams for grades 4th & 5th on the 3rd and 4th Saturdays from 9 AM – 10 AM and grades 6th through 8th on the 3rd and 4th Saturdays from 10 AM – 11:30 AM. The FIRST Lego League Challenge teams are introduced to a scientific and real-world challenge for teams to focus and research on and will design and program Lego Education robots to complete tasks. The students may compete for regional, national, and international tournaments. This programming is by sign-up only. Contact the Sinking Spring Library for more information.  

Pennsylvania State Capitol

104-A East Wing Main Capitol
Harrisburg, PA 17120

(717) 772-1858

District Office

1111 Penn Ave.
Wyomissing, PA 19610

(484) 577-2756