Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility Budget cuts taxes, funds education and more!

Budget cuts taxes, funds education and more!

 

New State Budget Delivers for Lehigh Valley

I was proud to vote for the passage of the 2025–26 state budget, which includes historic investments in education and a new Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit that will help working families who are struggling to make ends meet.

The budget includes more than $710 million in new funding for education, which is the third-largest increase in state history, and delivers $565 million in funding for adequacy and equity — the second payment in the state’s effort to address underfunding identified in a Commonwealth Court decision. The budget also includes an additional $105 million for basic education and a $40 million increase for special education. Cyber charter school reforms included in the budget will save school districts and taxpayers another $78 million this year and $178 million annually in future years.

Bethlehem Area School District is expected to receive more than $5.6 million in additional funding for the 2025-26 school year as a result of the new state budget.

 

 

LIHEAP Postponed Until Dec. 3

 

 

Meet the Interns

From left to right: Camila Mora, Speaker McClinton, Sophia Merlino, Rep. Samuelson

The staff in my district office routinely grows with the help of interns from local universities, including Lehigh and Moravian. This fall, we are fortunate to be assisted by two very capable and friendly interns from Lehigh University. If you’ve visited my office or called recently, you may have met Camila and/or Sophia. They’ll be with us until the beginning of December, and we know they are destined for great things as they move forward toward graduation and beyond. If you haven’t met them yet, you can learn a little more about both here.

 

Camila Mora is a senior at Lehigh University majoring in Political Science and pursuing minors in Public Administration, Real Estate, and Mass Communications. Originally from San Francisco, California, Mora aims to attend law school and build a career as an attorney. In her free time, she volunteers with the Arctic Defense Campaign on campus and works at Broughal Middle School as a teacher’s assistant and tutor.

 

Sophia Merlino is a senior at Lehigh University majoring in Political Science and History, with a minor in Latin American and Latino Studies. She is also pursuing an accelerated master’s degree in Secondary Education through Lehigh’s College of Education, with hopes of building a career in Education Policy. In her free time, Merlino serves as a Student Coordinator for Lehigh’s Community Service Office, president of the History Club, and treasurer for the College Democrats. She shares, “My experiences within Bethlehem have led me to understand the true meaning of community, and I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to further this connection and learn through my time at the Representative’s office!”

 

 

Diaper Need Awareness Drive

 

 

My Office is Available to Help You!

Remember, you can always contact my office if you have questions about anything in this email or other state-related issues. Give us a call at 610-867-3890, email RepSamuelson@pahouse.net, or stop by and see us at 104 E. Broad St. in Bethlehem.

 

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