E-Blast: Working for YOU in Harrisburg

Rep. Melissa Shusterman July 7, 2025 | 3:52 PM

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SEPTA Latest

My House colleagues and I continue to strongly advocate for adequate funding for SEPTA in the state budget. Negotiations continue. In June we passed a mass transit bill that would include SEPTA funding, money for roads and bridges (all without increasing taxes). This was the 4th time in 2.5 years our House leadership has sent funding bills for SEPTA to the Senate. SEPTA is crucial to our way of life and economy and I will continue to do everything I can to push for adequate funding.

My Lottery Bill to Benefit Senior Programs Passes General Assembly

I’m proud to report that my bill H.B. 1058 to reduce the PA Lottery’s profit margin requirement has passed out of the General Assembly with strong bipartisan support. It awaits Gov. Shapiro’s signature to be signed into law.

Reducing the Lottery’s profit margin requirement will allow it to focus on maximizing gross profits. The Lottery believes this change will increase their profits to benefit senior programs by $1.2 billion over the next 10 years.

It is vital we ensure our Commonwealth continues to support our seniors and senior programs. You can view my remarks in the House chamber here.

My Child Custody Modification Bill Passes the House!

I’m proud to report that today my bill on child custody modification (H.B. 1412) passed the House. This bill requires a person requesting a custody modification to show a material change in circumstances. Often one party uses the modification process to harass the other party. This bill balances the need to protect children as well as protect the parents involved in a custody dispute. A court can always modify a custody order if they determine it is in the best interest and safety of the child, or if the petition includes allegations of abuse. The bill now heads to the Senate.

Period Products Donation Drive

Mitzvah Circle’s Period Supply program provides free menstrual products to local libraries, prisons, community centers, colleges and more than 345 partner organizations. We’re proud to help them in their mission with our donation drive from July 1 to July 18!

Working for YOU in Harrisburg

While budget negotiations continue, my House colleagues and I have been hard at work for YOU.

During the past 2 weeks, these are just some of the good bills we have sent to the Senate:

Voted YES on capping bank overdraft fees (HB1553)
Voted YES on PA joining the National Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact to increase access to care for patients in need of occupational therapy (HB482)
Voted YES to increase protections for municipal workers so they can have the same safeguards against assault as other public servants in PA (HB953)
Voted YES to protect firefighters by prohibiting firefighting foam containing PFAS (HB1261)
Voted YES to restore Medicaid coverage for dental services (HB583)
Voted YES to address the use of deepfakes in campaign advertising (HB811)
Voted YES to ban the sales of at-risk wildlife parts or products (HB994)
Voted YES to prohibit junk fees on entertainment and sports tickets so consumers can “pay the price you see” (HB1216)

My Comments on Federal Legislation

This so-called big, beautiful bill that just passed in Washington, D.C. will take healthcare away from our children, our veterans, our residents with disabilities, and many who are most vulnerable. 310,000 Pennsylvanians will lose Medicaid, and 143,968 will lose assistance through SNAP. This bill lacks a deep understanding of Americans and their basic needs. This bill lacks safeguards for the most vulnerable. I am committed to working with those in Pennsylvania who are willing to work to ensure Pennsylvanians are protected from these destructive cuts.