This week in Harrisburg, I was able to welcome many advocacy groups to discuss an array of budget issues and priorities. I am always happy to hear about what matters to them as we craft the budget for the new fiscal year.

Along with numerous committee meetings, we also started moving bills on policy issues which will hopefully become law during this busy month. One bill that passed the House was addressing cell phones in schools.

The House version of this bill allows school districts across the Commonwealth to ban the use of phones in schools with the discretion to tailor the policy to meet the needs and concerns of individual school districts. During the vetting process of this legislation, it was clear one size does not fit all in a state as diverse as ours, thus the final language leaves room for school boards to address the needs of their districts.

I look forward to keeping you updated on the happenings in Harrisburg as we continue through this very busy time. Have a great weekend!

Sincerely,

This week, House Bill 2120 advanced through the House, legislation that would regulate shared equity agreements, which has been a tool used by predatory lenders on exploited homeowners. If someone wants to sign an agreement, they should be protected the same as any other transaction. This bill is a huge win for accountability and protection for homeowners, and I urge the Senate to pass this.

I proudly partnered with Transit for All PA this week to demand adequate funding for shared-ride and paratransit services. Recent budget allocations have not kept up with the rising costs of public transit, forcing many providers to scale back these services. This is unacceptable, and I'll continue to work with Transit for All to demand these funding needs are met.

I stood with my fellow Democrats at this week’s CeaseFirePA rally at the Capitol, marking End Gun Violence Advocacy Day. We were joined by hundreds of those impacted by gun violence to discuss solutions like evidence-based violence prevention programs and secure storage. Together, we’ll continue making our communities safer from gun violence.

I had such a fun time taking part in the annual Seersucker Caucus photo and Dress for Success event on Wednesday! This Capitol tradition has been bringing together members of the House and Senate for over 20 years. We were also able to donate some clothing to PA Women Work, which seeks to empower women in the workforce.

The weather could not have been more perfect, this past Saturday, to listen to the Philly Pops and Paula Holloway bring the sounds of Motown and R&B favorites to the 2nd and South Street Plaza. Thank you South Street Business District for hosting this event.

My office staff participated in a SEPTA customer service day, touring the command center on Market Street. SEPTA continues to be the backbone of Philadelphia transit, and I’ll continue to fight for proper funding for its services in Harrisburg. My office can also help seniors apply for a SEPTA Senior Fare Card with no appointment necessary, walk in anytime!

This week marks the start of Pride Month, and I’d like to send my support to the LGBTQ+ community in the Commonwealth and beyond. June is a month to celebrate the arts, culture, events and camaraderie that LGBTQ+ residents provide us with every day.

To celebrate, my district will have a slew of events, and you can visit our friends at WHYY for the full list. Happy Pride Month!

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives Legislative Fellowship Program is currently accepting applications for the Fall 2026 semester!

The program, based in the Capitol Building, is for college undergraduate juniors or seniors, graduate students or law school students pursuing any major with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Fellows are assigned to work in House standing committee or House leadership offices, receiving compensation for work among other opportunities.

You can visit the PA House website to learn more, or you can submit an application on Indeed.

With summer now here, PECO customers will begin increased energy usage as they use air conditioning. With that increased usage may come an increase in bills, so PECO customers can visit www.peco.com/Summer to learn more about managing energy usage, exploring efficiency programs and enrolling in assistance programs. Click the photo above for more bill support.

We have two exciting events coming up this summer in the district:

• PA Declaration Reading: On June 24th at 3 p.m., there will be a free public reading of Pennsylvania’s colonial Declaration of Independence on the front steps of Carpenters’ Hall, where the declaration was ratified. Former governors Mark Schweiker and Tom Wolf will join to read this important document. Visit www.carpentershall.org to learn more.
• National Night Out: Save the date for National Night Out 2026, which will be held on August 4th from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Courtyard Apartments between 3rd and 4th of Washington Ave. If you would like to volunteer, donate or participate in the event, reach out to the organizers at juan.delgado@phila.gov, trodriguez1@tmo.com or griley@tmo.com.

District Office

610 North Second Street

Philadelphia, PA 19123
(215) 503-3245

Pennsylvania State Capitol
300 Main Capitol Building

P.O. Box 202175

Harrisburg, PA 17120
(717) 783-8098