This week we celebrated Labor Day to honor the workers who built our nation, from steelworkers and manufacturing employees, to small business owners, educators, health care workers and first responders. We live in a community rich in labor heritage, where the United Steelworkers of America organized the Bethlehem Steel Plant in 1941, and where unions represent tens of thousands of Lehigh Valley workers today.

In Harrisburg, I am proud to protect workers’ rights and expand those protections, including co-sponsoring and voting to support HB 308, which would add public employee OSHA protections in Pennsylvania. Workers at private employers have been protected by the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Act since 1970, but public employees are not covered. The bill passed the House 111-92 and was sent to the State Senate for consideration.

Pennsylvania has a wealth of grant opportunities in so many areas of funding, and we can help you from our office. Every two weeks the House Appropriations Committee sends out a memo of the latest grant opportunities to open and a rundown of what applications are still open and active along with their eligibility and deadline information. To be added to the list to get regular grant updates, contact Cheryl Baker, Constituent Services and Communications Advisor, at cbaker@pahouse.net or call 610-867-3890. 

If you've filed for unemployment compensation, but are having problems with messages in your dashboard, getting paid in a timely manner, or just need to get answers about an issue, give my office a call! My staff and I can submit a Legislative Request on your behalf. We can't see your unemployment files, but by submitting your questions or concerns through our portal, your inquiry advances in priority so that you will no longer need to call in - rather, representatives from the Labor and Industry office will reach out to you directly, either by phone or email, within a day or two! We'll just need a few pieces of information, which we can go over with you on the phone - no need to even come to the office or make an appointment. Call the office at 610-867-3890.

Congratulations to the 8-10-year-old team from Lehigh Little League who are Champions of East Region of United States. They won it all. This summer they won every tournament they entered, and are:

• District Champions
• Section Champions
• Pennsylvania State Champions
• Mid-Atlantic Champions
• East Region Champions

Our community gathered to mark 34 years since Ukraine declared its Independence from the USSR on August 24, 1991. We stand in steadfast support of the people of Ukraine here in the Lehigh Valley, and across Pennsylvania. Long live Ukrainian Independence!

District Office

104 East Broad Street
Bethlehem, PA 18018

(610) 867-3890

Pennsylvania State Capitol

209 Irvis Office Building

PO Box 202135

Harrisburg, PA 17120-2135
(717) 705-1881