Around the 53rd District - August 22, 2025

Rep. Steve Malagari August 22, 2025 | 1:07 PM

PA Representative Steve Malagari banner image

Dear Neighbor,

Given the urgency of funding SEPTA and passing a sustainable state budget, my colleagues and I convened for a special session of the House last Sunday and Monday in an attempt to put this crisis behind us.

We moved forward a bipartisan, sustainable piece of legislation, HB 1788, that would support transit across PA by increasing the share of sales tax revenue dedicated to transit agencies, while also providing for new road and bridge funding. It includes several new accountability measures for SEPTA and would allow them to take advantage of new revenue generators, like video advertising on buses and public-private partnerships.

I know many of you are with me in hoping for a solution to secure the future of SEPTA, the transit system that gets us to work, school, sporting events, doctor’s appointments, and more. This is why I’m deeply disappointed to report that, despite being given a fifth chance to fund mass transit agencies like SEPTA, Senate Republicans have chosen to leave their constituents stuck.

To be clear, all of us as legislators understand the seriousness of the crisis, and I commend my colleagues in the Senate for convening last Tuesday in an acknowledgement of the urgency with which we must approach these issues. But this, in turn, makes it even more frustrating that the chamber decided to pass legislation that does not reflect these understandings — one day before service cuts became unavoidable.

Their proposal, HB 257, would fund everyday operations by draining money from the Public Transit Trust Fund; but that fund is meant for transit agencies to use for maintaining and upgrading infrastructure. This will force SEPTA, which already operates the oldest rail fleet in the country, to choose between making necessary repairs or providing necessary service.

We already lag significantly behind our peer regions in terms of investing in our transit system, and this older infrastructure makes delays and unreliable service more likely. Because of this consistent underfunding, SEPTA now has a maintenance backlog of over $5.1 BILLION. This proposal would only grow this backlog while also depleting their capital funding – and doing nothing to fix their structural deficit in the long term.

Senate Republicans have decided to kick the can down the road at a time when we cannot afford to do so, and we are now facing unprecedented fare hikes and service cuts so that SEPTA can remain fiscally solvent.

(To learn more about these changes, including how they’ll impact individual lines, click here.)

More than six weeks past the June 30th deadline, Senate Republicans also passed a state budget proposal that represents another letdown to working Pennsylvanians. They’ve had myriad opportunities to compromise—we even sent them a budget proposal that cut $1 billion from Governor Shapiro’s original proposal last month. Instead, Senate Republicans decided to re-use last year’s numbers to pay this year’s bills. In the face of rising costs and steep declines in federal funding for social services, this amounts to a funding cut.

This is not about fiscal responsibility, either: we’ve highlighted several new funding sources that we could tap to fund our budget proposal without raising taxes on working people, but Senate leaders ignored them. Their proposal also fails to meet our constitutional duty to reduce the inequality in our public education system. Senate Republicans are engaged in a dereliction of duty, and I will continue to stand with my colleagues in the House Appropriations Committee to vote “no” on their attempts to let us down.

309 Connector Phase II opens

Phase 2 of the 309 Connector is now open!

Pennsylvania Transportation Secretary Mike Carroll joined me and my colleagues to cut the ribbon on another section of this big infrastructure project, which stands as profound proof of what is possible when everyone comes together in a spirit of cooperation for the common good.

The Connector Project will provide a direct link from the PA Turnpike’s Lansdale Interchange to PA 309, supporting smooth transportation between these two major thoroughfares while improving roadway safety and alleviating congestion. As our regional economy continues to grow, this project will provide much-needed roadway capacity to support our people and businesses.

National Night Out: Stronger, safer communities

The Montgomery Township Police Department put on a fantastic National Night Out event last week.

It was great to see people in our community getting out there and connecting with law enforcement. It’s events like this that help keep our community strong and safe.

Upcoming Events

Break out those calendars, seniors! Join us in September for my 6th annual Senior Fair!

You don't want to miss it, and we’d love to see you.

This FREE event includes:
- Health screenings
- Vaccinations
- Information on state & local services available to seniors and caregivers
- Light refreshments

?? Date: Thursday, September 4, 2025

? Time: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM

?? Location: Trinity Lutheran Church

(1000 W. Main St., Lansdale, PA 19440)

I'm partnering with Senator Collett to host our first ever Pet-A-Palooza event! This fun and FREE event is designed to connect you and your furry friends with local resources, keeping our beloved companions healthy and happy.

We're hosting great pet-themed vendors, including:
- Local vets ??
- Delicious treats ??
- Rescue organizations ??
- State resources ??

Stick around afterward for the Hatfield Pool’s Dog-A-Poolooza and let your pup take a dip in the pool! (proof of immunizations required)

?? Date: Saturday, September 6, 2025

? Time: 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM

?? Location: Hatfield Aquatic Center

(2500 Chestnut St., Hatfield, PA 19440)

Is your license plate peeling, faded, or hard to read? Don't risk a ticket!

I'm hosting a series of FREE License Plate Restoration Events to help you get a new plate, featuring PA’s new Liberty Bell Design. My staff will be on hand to process the paperwork for you and make this process hassle-free.

We'll be at the following locations around the district in the coming weeks:

?? Wednesday, Sept. 10

? 5 PM – 7 PM

?? Telford Police Dept.

(100 Penn Ave., Telford)

?? Thursday, Sept. 25

? 5 PM – 7 PM

?? Lansdale Borough PD

(1 Vine St., Lansdale)

?? Wednesday, Oct. 15

? 5 PM – 7 PM

?? Franconia Twp PD

(671 Allentown Rd., Telford)

New Beginnings for Samiha!

Last week, we bid farewell to our summer intern, Samiha. She’s proven herself as a hard worker and quick learner as part of our team as she’s helped plan events and serve constituents. We wish her all the best as she continues to pursue a degree in political science at the University of Pittsburgh.

Good luck, Samiha, and thank you for your outstanding support this summer!

Support for Mitzvah Circle

Mitzvah Circle, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides clothing and other necessities to so many of our neighbors, suffered a devastating fire last week and lost two truckloads full of supplies. To help them make up for what was lost, I'm joining my colleagues in the PA House and Senate in serving as a drop off point for donations to help replenish the organization's most critical needs.

We are happily accepting donations Monday through Friday from 9 AM - 4:30 PM at my Lansdale office, located at 100 West Main Street.