It has been a very busy week in Harrisburg as we wrapped up legislative matters before the November election. There were many bills passed that updated and/or modernized existing laws in labor, licensing, healthcare and technology sectors.

In the education field, we finally passed a cell phone ban for schools. Each school district now needs to have a bell-to-bell plan for phones and student access. I also wanted to highlight the passage of Senate Bill 381, the “Beagle Bill,” which is an animal welfare protection for humane treatment and protection against cruel laboratory practices.

Finally, my House Bill 558 for capping application fees on rental properties advanced through the Senate and was signed into law by Gov. Shapiro. I have championed this issue for years, not to punish landlords, but to make sure that the fee is administrative and not a source of revenue. Application fees and the additional costs can be a hindrance to housing access, and I am glad to have moved this across the finish line.

Sincerely,

My colleagues and I continued our push to improve access to healthcare this week, advancing House Bill 1827, which would require private insurance and Medicaid coverage for preventative measures, testing, and treatments for osteoporosis beginning at the onset of menopause. We also advanced House Bill 2545, which would require insurance coverage for vaginal estrogen to treat menopausal symptoms and as a preventive measure for recurring UTIs. These bills are a huge victory on women’s health issues that are often overlooked.

The House also advanced House Bill 2771 this week, establishing standards for Automated License Plate Readers and the way data from these readers can be used. There have been too many instances of this data being used for nefarious means, and we need legislation to prevent this data from being shared, sold or abused. I urge the Senate to act on this, and in the meantime I’ll continue working in Harrisburg to protect your privacy.

My fall Senior Fair takes place today, October 23rd from 1-3 p.m. at Holy Name Church, 701 Gaul St. My office is bringing resources to seniors and caregivers like information on healthcare, volunteer opportunities, prescription drug plans, preventing identity theft, and more. We’ll also have local, city and state agencies on hand ready to answer all of your questions.

Thanks to everyone who came out to my Shredding & E-Recycling event this past Saturday, it was great seeing all of you and helping in the disposal of personal and sensitive documents.

If you missed us last weekend, my office will be back for an event on Halloween! We’ll be at The Mummers Museum, 1100 S. 2nd St. from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Saturday, October 31st. Along with the shredding and e-recycling opportunities, there will be a Trunk or Treat sponsored by the museum, so come out in your favorite costume and enjoy some Halloween treats.

We will also be joined by The Wardrobe, who will be accepting all clothing donations to help people experiencing clothing insecurity. With The Wardrobe’s inclusion, we’re cross-promoting clothing recycling to go alongside paper and e-waste recycling.

I was pleased to announce this week that $1,369,200 in Neighborhood Assistance Program investments will go toward community revitalization projects in the district! The NAP program provides tax credits to projects in the categories of affordable housing, community services, crime prevention, education, job training and neighborhood assistance. With these tax credits, we’re providing more opportunities for our residents to secure affordable housing in stronger communities. I appreciate the commonwealth’s investment in these organizations, which are crucial parts of the district and Greater Philadelphia.

Tuesday, October 27th is the final day to request a mail-in or absentee ballot for the November 3rd general election, and you can use the PA Voter Services website to request yours today. Remember, voting by mail is a safe and secure way to make your voice heard in November.

To plan for Election Day, you can use the City of Philadelphia’s Atlas tool to find information on your nearest polling place, including accessibility and parking information, as well as a preview of your upcoming election ballot. The city’s website also has a tool to find local mail-in ballot return locations.

This week, PennDOT and the Pennsylvania Department of Education announced an $11.8 million investment in the new PennDOT Career and Technical Education Grant Program. This investment will support career pathway education, technical training, industry certification and on-the-job learning in the highway industry for middle, high school and college students. I’m excited for the students of the commonwealth who will be able to take this experience and grow our skilled workforce.

My office is always here and ready to help you with a bevy of services. We can help with programs like Property Tax/Rent Rebate, LIHEAP, SEPTA senior fare cards, Unclaimed Property searches and more! We can also help with things like unemployment, small business resources and other senior services. Come visit us Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., at 610 N. Second Street, or give us a call at 215-503-3245, and we’ll be happy to help you.

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