Dear Neighbor & Estimado Vecino,
I hope you are well. I want to share important information about my ongoing work. As always, please feel free to reach out to my office for help with any state-related issues. To stay informed, ?visit my official page. You can also check your?preferences?to make sure you're signed up for?my emails.?
Espero que estén bien. Me gustaría compartir información importante sobre mi trabajo en curso. Y no olvides?visitar mi página oficial?para mantenerte informado.?También puede verificar sus?preferencias?para asegurarse de que está registrado para recibir mis correos electrónicos.
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Celebrating Juneteenth and Supporting Black Voting Access
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Friday, June 19th, marks Juneteenth - when we celebrate the day when the last enslaved Americans learned of their freedom in 1865.
Please note that in recognition of Juneteenth, my office will be closed all day on June 19. We will reopen for regular hours on Monday, June 22.
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To kick off this historic week, I joined several of my colleagues from the Legislative Black Caucus, as well as Harrisburg Mayor Wanda Williams, in celebrating Juneteenth and recognizing the importance of preserving Black history as American history.
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I also joined my colleagues to stand up for Black voting rights here in Pennsylvania and across our nation, where we were joined by Tennessee Rep. Justin Pearson, who has championed voting rights and gun control reform in his home state.
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I would like to wish a happy Father's Day to all the fathers, grandfathers, fathers-in-law, and father figures who keep our families and community moving every day!
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Recognizing Venezuelan Independence Day
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As Chair of the Legislative Latino Caucus, it was an honor to host our fourth annual Venezuelan Independence Day celebration in the Capitol. Venezuela became the first colony in the Americas to proclaim its independence from Spain, fundamentally reshaping world history in the struggles that followed, and we are proud to recognize and honor that history that freed so many across the world.
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Standing up Against Domestic Violence
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I joined advocates from across Pennsylvania and several of my colleagues to stand up against domestic violence. No one should have to suffer at the hands of someone they love, and I proudly continue to work to ensure that we pass legislation to end domestic violence.
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Welcoming our Neighbors to Harrisburg
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I had the honor of welcoming Rhea Patel, my legislative intern and a rising senior at Wyomissing Area Junior/Senior High School, to the Capitol this week to learn more about state government and be recognized in the House chamber. Thank you for all the work you have done for our community!
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It was a great morning as I welcomed my friends Bob Hoffmaster and John Damms to Harrisburg as they advocated on behalf of our local workers. Thank you making the trip to Harrisburg and standing up for the workers who keep our region moving!
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This week, several competitors for this year's Miss Pennsylvania title visited Harrisburg, and it was an honor to meet with those who represent our region! Ritika Malik serves as Miss Greater Reading, Bailey Godfrey serves as Miss Berks County, and Cassidy McNew serves as Miss Pretzel City.
Congratulations on these outstanding titles, thank you for all of your service to our community, and best of luck as you compete for Miss Pennsylvania! The contest will be held at the Appell Center in York from June 18 - 20.
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Several advocates from the Pennsylvania Chapter of SEIU came to Harrisburg to call for improved workers' rights. I am always proud to stand by our service workers!
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I also had the honor of joining my colleague, Rep. Nikki Rivera in welcoming Esther Aurora DeWoody, founder and director of the Lancaster Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. It is always great to see business leaders and new organizations develop our state economy!
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Working for You in Harrisburg
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This week, my House colleagues and I passed important bills that will help our neighbors and improve communities:
We’re protecting consumers and ensuring transparency regarding artificial intelligence in advertising by requiring the disclosure of AI-generated material in advertisements (HB 95).
We’re making higher education more affordable by establishing the PA Promise Program to grant eligible students scholarships for tuition and fees at a state-owned institution, state-related institution, or independent institution of higher education, including a community college or Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology (HB 2084).
We’re protecting families by requiring Pennsylvania to transition to chip-enabled EBT cards, protecting SNAP beneficiaries from skimming devices (HB 2540).
We’re protecting the youngest human trafficking victims by increasing the grading of trafficking infants (under a year old) to a felony of the first degree (HB 1616), ensuring that children who are found to be sexually exploited are immune from being prosecuted for any nonviolent crime they were forced to commit while being trafficked (HB 2243) and a establishing a Child Victim Recovery Fund, paid for by fees on offenders, to support Child Advocacy Centers across Pennsylvania (HB 2443).
We’re protecting good Samaritans by expanding the “safe harbor” law to protect individuals who help another person in the event of a drug or alcohol overdose from prosecution for the offense of reckless endangerment (HB 1944).
You can learn more about these bills and watch us live at work on the House website.
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Property Tax/Rent Rebate Deadline Extended!
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Applications for Property Tax/Rent Rebates are available, and the deadline to apply has now been extended to Dec. 31! This program gives money back to PA renters and homeowners for the taxes they paid in 2025 - including seniors, widows and widowers, and those with disabilities.
You can learn more here and contact my office for support with your application.
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You May Have Unclaimed Property - We Can Help!
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Many Pennsylvanians have unclaimed property -- money from dormant bank accounts, insurance payments, and uncashed checks -- and you may be one of them!
My office can help you receive this unclaimed property. Contact us or go to PATreasury.gov/unclaimed-property to see if there is anything available in your name.
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New Farmers Market in Reading
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Reading will now have a new farmers market! The Reading Roots Market will be open every Thursday from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. at Goggleworks until October 8. In addition, every third Thursday, there will be a night market from 5 - 8 p.m.
It was great to attend the grand opening of this incredible initiative!
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Kicking off the World Cup
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It was an honor to attend the kickoff of the 222 Corridor Summer Soccer Series, a program that I secured funding for that is bringing the World Cup right here to our community with watch parties and opportunities to connect over soccer.
It was wonderful to see so many members of our community turn out for the first match of the competition between Mexico and South Africa!
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The 222 Corridor will also host World Cup events in Lancaster and Allentown, and it was wonderful to join my colleagues, Reps. Nikki Rivera and Izzy Smith-Wade-El at the Lancaster International Soccer Watch Party & Festival!
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While on my way to Lancaster, I also had the opportunity to meet with one of my former interns, Reece Baines, to celebrate his graduation from Wilson High School. Congrats Reece!
You can find a full breakdown of the 222 Corridor's events here, and Experience Reading & Berks County will also be hosting watch parties at Santander Arena on July 3, 4, 18 and 19. All four watch parties are free, but registration is required, which can be done here.
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It was great to join Rep. Ana Tiburcio at Sliding into Summer, where we had the opportunity to learn about the Sonia Sotomayor Dual Language Immersion Academy in Allentown and celebrate the Allentown community's student body and school staff.
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As Pride Month continues throughout the rest of June, I am proud to recognize our LGBTQ community and always stand up for them. This week, members of my staff attended the Pride flag raising over West Reading Borough Hall.
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Recognizing Outstanding Groups in our Community
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It was wonderful to attend the anniversary celebration of Action Chapel Pennsylvania, a church that has served our community for 12 years. Congratulations on your anniversary, and here are to so many more!
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I also attended the Hispanic Society Against Cancer's annual celebration, where we recognized the outstanding work they do for Berks County.
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I had the honor of addressing Red Cultural Dominicana as we recognized the outstanding work of our Dominican community in Reading and Berks County.
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Honoring the Order of Elks of the World
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It was an honor to recognize the Pennsylvania State Association and Pennsylvania Daughter State Association of the Improved Benevolent Protective Order of Elks of the World during their 103rd Annual State Convention in Reading.
For generations, these organizations have embodied the values of charity, service, leadership, and community engagement. Their commitment to uplifting communities and supporting future generations continues to make a lasting impact across Pennsylvania.
Congratulations on this milestone convention, and thank you for your continued dedication to serving others.
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Reading Wants to Hear from You
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City property owners, businesses and developers seeking to have land added to or removed from Reading’s City Revitalization and Improvement Zone, or CRIZ, have until July 31 to submit applications for consideration during the 2026 map change cycle.
More information and application material can be found here.
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New Farming Grants Now Available
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Horizon Farm Credit just launched a new $20,000 grant for Young, Beginning, and Small Farmers and will award 10 grants. You can learn more here.
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My Property Tax/Rent Rebate Days
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The Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program is accepting applications for rebates on taxes paid in 2025! My staff will be at the Spring Township Municipal Building (2850 Windmill Road, Sinking Spring) every second and fourth Friday of the month, ahead of the Dec. 31 application deadline, to help you apply. The next event will be on June 26.
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New Youth Resource Hub Now Available
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The Daniel Torres Hispanic Center has created a page to help Reading families find free and low-cost programs for children and teens. You can check out the RDG Youth Resource HUB, in both English and Spanish, here.
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You Are Not Alone: Crisis Intervention Resources
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Holcomb Crisis Intervention in West Reading offers a free crisis program to support our neighbors experiencing varying levels of crisis, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in both English and Spanish.
You can learn more about their work here, and if you or someone you know needs help, you can walk in, call 610-379-2007, or text 484-816-7865 for support.
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If you or someone you know needs food assistance, please reach out to my office to find out where you can find help. You can also click here to go to Helping Harvest's website, which has a map of over 350 charitable food program partners in our area.
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Helping Harvest will also be collecting non-perishable food items throughout the year at their programs and events. You can learn more about those and how to ensure our neighbors are fed here.
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Mobile Mammogram Screenings Available
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Routine mammograms are important to find the first signs of breast cancer. Tower Health has started its Mobile Mammography stops for 2026, with stops across our community. You can find locations and days here.
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As always, my team and I are here to help you navigate state programs and services. Please reach out with any questions, concerns, or ideas. If you can't make it into my district office, you can visit one of my satellite offices! Find my office information below:
Centro Hispano Casa Senior Center
25 N. 2nd St., Reading, PA, 19601
Every Thursday from 9 a.m. to Noon
Spring Township Municipal Building
2850 Windmill Road, Sinking Spring, PA, 19608
2nd and 4th Fridays of each month from 9 a.m. to Noon
We also host DAV Services (Disabled American Veterans) in my office.
1111 Penn Ave., Wyomissing, PA 19610
Every other Monday from 9 a.m. to Noon
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Pennsylvania State Capitol
104-A East Wing Main Capitol
Harrisburg, PA 17120
(717) 772-1858
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District Office
1111 Penn Ave.
Wyomissing, PA 19610
(484) 577-2756
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