Sadly, it looks like this rainy weather will be with us over the weekend. Hopefully, by Monday we will be looking at some sun again, but in the meantime, we really can use the rain.
A lot has happened since our last e-newsletter. I spent another week in Harrisburg, and it was busy -- lots of legislation and rallies to preserve our rights.
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I was thrilled to welcome so many students from schools in our district. Learners from Eastern, Villanova (pictured here!), Penn State Brandywine and other commonwealth campuses all stopped by, as did the students from Widener University, a few who grew up in the 168th!
I am so grateful to all the students who took the time out of their busy schedules to come and share their concerns.
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I love nothing more than hearing from them, but I will admit it makes me sad to hear their concerns about funding, the potential loss of scholarships, and the heartbreak from the Penn State students who are attending the campuses currently slated for closure.
We also officially relaunched the Fire & EMS Caucus for this session. I was excited to join my bi-partisan co-chairs Reps. Cooper, Rigby, and Scott, as we collaborate on some of the most pressing issues facing our fire and EMS first responders – personnel safety, funding, and staffing. In fact, Rep. Cooper and I introduced bi-partisan legislation designed to assist EMS in recouping payment for services rendered. We have a lot of work to do.
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Back here at home, we have heard from so many neighbors regarding the doomsday budget scenario presented by SEPTA which includes service cuts, route elimination, and fare increases. The most impactful issue to our district is the potential elimination of the Paoli-Thorndale Line. Since joining the legislature in 2023, I have voted three times to fund SEPTA at the levels needed to prevent this dire situation. Those reaching out to me with concerns about losing this service, I hear you and I am with you. At this moment, this is going to be a negotiation between the Governor and Senate leadership. Please consider reaching out to the Senate to urge them to do the right thing!
We have also been watching closely as the Office of the Attorney General and the Governor’s Office are working to develop a long-term plan to secure the future of Crozer Health System. This is a very fluid situation, to say the least. We have calls almost every day and each time there is a new development. I hope to soon have more to report on a permanent deal to keep the hospital open and caring for patients, because the loss of these hospitals will only make accessing care in Delaware County even more difficult.
Lastly, please make plans to attend my Town Hall on April 21st featuring special guest Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon. So many neighbors have reached out with concerns, and this is your chance to come and ask questions. I’m also happy to be joined by Senator Cappelletti and Radnor Board of Commissioners President Maggy Myers. Join us at the Radnor Township Building on April 21st at 6:30 p.m.
I wish everyone a wonderful weekend and, as usual... go Phillies!
Sincerely,
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Sign Peter's retirement card!
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After over two years of incredible service to the 168th District, our beloved Pete Lake has decided to retire.
Wish him well and share your favorite Pete story in the card below:
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Harrisburg Update
- Launching the House Fire & EMS Caucus
- Protecting reproductive rights
- Rallying for gun control
- COLA for retired teachers passes House... yet again!
- Launch of Law Enforcement Caucus
In the District
- CRC Creek Clean-up in Edgmont
- Celebrating our Centenarians
- Collaborating with Nuns Against Gun Violence
- RTSD Legislative Breakfast
- SEPTA Cards at Newtown Public Library
My Events
- Small Business Summit (4/16)
- Town Hall (4/21)
- REAL ID Webinar (4/22)
- Medicare: Extra Help (5/12)
- Shred & E-recycling event (5/17)
FYI
- Keep PA Beautiful updates Litter Education Series
- Claim the Child & Dependent Care Enhancement Tax Credit
- REAL ID Mondays
- AARP Tax Aide appointments at Wayne Senior Center
- Radnor Twp seeks new Fire/EMS Chief
Community Events
- Free workshop from Middletown EAC: Maximize your Garden's Value to Pollinators (4/24)
- Backyard composting workshop at Rose Tree Park (4/22)
- Bass soloist Michael Franz performance at Radnor Middle School (5/2)
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Launching the House Fire & EMS Caucus
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I was proud to stand with my co-chairs, Rep. Greg Scott, Rep. Jill Cooper, and Rep. Jim Rigby to launch the House Fire and EMS Caucus for this session. This Caucus is a bipartisan group of legislators focused on addressing the challenges faced by Pennsylvania’s Fire and EMS providers and advocating for legislation that increases funding, protects the health and safety of firefighters and EMS professionals, and brings more volunteers and paid staff into the field.
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I look forward to working with my colleagues and our first responders across the Commonwealth to make progress on these long-standing issues. Read more in this Fox43 article.
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Protecting reproductive rights
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My Monday continued with a rally in the Rotunda, where I joined hundreds of Pennsylvanians and many of my colleagues to send the message that we will not let reproductive rights slip away for our state.
We called for members across the aisle to support the legislation we’ve proposed that would enshrine reproductive rights for Pennsylvanians and anyone who seeks care in our commonwealth. Those bills include:
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- Rep. Kristine Howard’s proposal to replace PA’s Abortion Control Act with the Reproductive Freedom Act, a more rational and compassionate model that would safeguard individuals’ rights to make their own medical decisions.
- Rep. Lindsay Powell’s Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act (FACE), which would establish a state version of the federal FACE law (signed by President Clinton in 1994) to protect patients from violence and intimidation when they seek reproductive care.
- Rep. Melissa Shusterman’s legislation that would protect access to abortion as emergency health care by codifying the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act into state law, and another bill that would allow PA’s Health Insurance Exchange to cover abortion care.
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I joined CeaseFirePA and my colleagues in a rally on Tuesday to demand real legislative solutions that will save lives. Last year the House passed two important bills in this effort, even earning bipartisan support on both – only to have them stall out in the Senate.
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One measure would’ve required background checks on all firearm purchases, while the other would’ve allowed family members or police to petition to allow law enforcement to temporarily remove firearms from someone deemed to be at extreme risk of hurting themselves or others.
With the process starting all over again for the current session, we need all the help we can get to demand the Senate acts on the commonsense legislation we send them on your behalf.
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COLA for Retired Teachers passes House...yet again!
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Many of Pennsylvania's retired teachers (and other state employees, like PennDOT road workers and nurses at our VAs) are one step closer to receiving long-overdue financial relief after we voted this week to pass legislation (H.B. 411) that would provide a COLA for the state’s most senior retirees.
The bill now heads to the state Senate for consideration, and not for the first time. That’s because we passed this same legislation last year, but the Senate chose to let it languish without a vote – a refrain I’ve grown very frustrated with repeating.
The bill would increase monthly pension payments for school employees (via the Public School Employees’ Retirement System, or PSERS) and state workers (via the Pennsylvania State Employees’ Retirement System, or SERS) who retired before July 2, 2001. This subset of nearly 60,000 long-retired public workers, many of whom are now in their 80s or older, have had no pension adjustment to account for inflation in 23 years, with the cost of living rising the entire time.
I couldn’t agree more with the bill’s prime sponsor, Rep. Steve Malagari, who said: “The people we represent often hear us, their lawmakers, talk about supporting our aging population and taking care of those who took care of us. Today, those who joined me in supporting this legislation can say we took action to do just that.
To be frank, the decisions being handed down in the federal government right now are only going to make it harder for older adults to make ends meet. Having to decide between paying for medication or putting food on the table is not a decision the people who devoted their careers to serving us should have to make.”
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Launch of Law Enforcement Caucus
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I was proud to support my colleague and former Radnor Police Officer, Rep. Brian Munroe, at the launch of the bipartisan House Law Enforcement Caucus.
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The Pennsylvania Law Enforcement Caucus is dedicated to advancing policies that enhance public safety, improve training and resources for law enforcement personnel, and bridge the gap between officers and the communities they protect.
By bringing together lawmakers, active and retired law enforcement professionals, and community leaders, the caucus aims to strengthen public safety and build better relationships between law enforcement and the public.
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CRC Creek Clean-up in Edgmont
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I spent a beautiful morning to join Edgmont Township and CRC Watersheds to clean up the areas around Crum Creek. The CRC exists to directly address the fact that 95% of our area streams are categorized as impaired by the State of Pennsylvania.
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This is my third year joining the neighbors of Edgmont who work so hard to protect their part of this diverse and far-reaching watershed. It was so good to see so many people helping out, including the dedicated Edgmont supervisors and township staff!
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Celebrating our Centenarians
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It is always a joy to celebrate Pennsylvania’s centenarians, and last week there were two!
First, I joined the caring staff and residents at Fair Acres Geriatric Center to celebrate Eleanor’s 101st birthday! I was fortunate to celebrate Eleanor’s 100th with her last year and was thrilled to be invited back to celebrate this year!
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Then, Chair Tim Briggs and I had the pleasure of celebrating Peter Godfrey’s 100th milestone birthday! Thanks to the lovely Joanie Mackie, Peter’s longtime companion, we had all we needed to put together the perfect tribute to a wonderful gentleman.
I really treasure these days in district and the opportunity to share special moments with my neighbors.
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Collaborating with Nuns Against Gun Violence
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I participated in a webinar last week that gathered Delco leaders (including Senator Tim Kearney) to examine gun violence prevention efforts underway in PA, and was encouraged to hear updates from people approaching the mission from various angles.
It was hosted by Nuns Against Gun Violence, CeaseFirePA, and Sisters of St. Francis. Watch our discussion here.
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Radnor Township School District Legislative Breakfast
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I love visiting my alma mater and the place where my journey in public service began! Yesterday morning, I joined Senator Amanda Cappelletti, Luke O’Connell from Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon’s office, and the elected members of Radnor Township School District for the 11th annual legislative breakfast.
I can’t think of a better way to start the morning than hearing from our students and administrators. We discussed everything from federal and state funding concerns, vouchers, and education disparities.
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I am always just so impressed by the students who are poised and well-versed in the issues impacting public education. Our future leaders are stepping up now to bring about change in the future! The one thing I heard multiple times is that they cannot wait to vote! Thank you, Radnor, for an inspired morning!
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SEPTA Cards at Newtown's library
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We just had 93 neighbors stop by the Newtown Public Library to get their SEPTA cards from Kate, Josh from Sen. Kearney’s office, and our pal Genevieve from SEPTA!
Once you turn 65 you can ride the rails, buses, and subways for free courtesy of the PA Lottery. If you missed Monday’s event, we’ll be at the Radnor Memorial Library on May 21st helping folks apply.
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Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Updates Popular Litter Education Series: Open Your Eyes to Litter in a Watershed
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Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful’s popular Open Your Eyes to Litter series of five educational activity books was created over 20 years ago. Over one million copies of the original series were distributed to schools throughout PA.
Now, updates to the activity book are complete! Designed for kids in grade 2 through 4, the book focuses on how illegal dumping and littering affect watersheds. The book includes vocabulary, activities, journal prompts and fun activities that reinforce the concept of a watershed and how litter impacts the people and animals who live there. The book and its teachers guide are available to download, free of charge, on the organization’s website.
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Claim the Child and Dependent Care Enhancement Tax Credit this Tax Season
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Pennsylvania offers a state tax credit that can help ease child and dependent care costs for working families. Eligible Pennsylvanians can claim the Child and Dependent Care Enhancement Tax Credit when they file their Pennsylvania Personal Income Tax Return (PA-40). This credit can range between $600 and $2,100, depending on your income level and the number of your dependents. See if you qualify and apply today!
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PennDOT is holding extended hours at driver license centers statewide to help people get their REAL ID. Click here to view the full schedule.
As a reminder, getting a REAL ID is optional in Pennsylvania, but beginning May 7, 2025, Pennsylvanians will need a REAL ID-compliant license/identification card, or another form of federally acceptable identification (such as a valid passport or military ID) to 1) Board domestic commercial flights; 2) Enter a military base; and, 3) Enter certain federal facilities.
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AARP Tax Aide appointments available at Wayne Senior Center
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AARP is now scheduling tax prep appointments at the Wayne Senior Center. This service is available to adults 50 years of age and older who are low to moderate income. You do not need to be an AARP member to receive tax aide assistance or a Wayne Senior Center member, it is open to all.
Wayne Senior Center members can call the Center directly at 610-688-6246 to make an appointment. Appointments are available on Wednesdays at 1:00 PM and 2:15 PM; and Fridays at 8:45 AM, 10:00 AM, and 11:15 AM.
Non-members of Wayne Senior Center should call the appointment hotline at 484-380-5260 and leave a voicemail with your contact information. A local AARP volunteer will call you back.
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Radnor Township seeks new Fire/EMS Chief
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The township is seeking qualified, strategically focused candidates for the position of Fire/EMS Chief as the first career fire chief for the department as a Radnor Township employee.
Currently the Township is provided with exceptional service from the Radnor Fire Co., the Bryn Mawr Fire Co., and the Broomall Fire Co. As with any area of growth as a destination for families in the greater Philadelphia area, call volumes and demand for services require the continued development of the excellent services already provided.
The Fire/EMS Chief position will be a very visible member of the senior leadership team of the township and requires well-developed leadership abilities and management skill sets that are based upon consensus building and problem-solving. The township is seeking progressive candidates committed to excellence in delivery of fire/EMS, Specialized Response and Emergency Management services with specific experience in a combination environment.
Please click here for the full job description (including salary and qualifications) and instructions for applying.
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Backyard composting workshop at Rose Tree Park
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Pennsylvania Resources Council will host a Backyard Composting Workshop on Tuesday, April 22 from 6-7 p.m., at the Hunt Club in Rose Tree Park, 1521 N. Providence Road, Media, PA. Registration is required and the cost is $70 with supplies, or $20 for just the workshop.
Attendees will learn how to turn their organic waste into a valuable resource for their garden, the benefits and process of composting, plus everything they need to know about setting up and maintaining a compost bin to turn kitchen scraps, yard waste, and more into natural, home-made compost.
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Pennsylvania State Capitol
28-B East Wing
Harrisburg, PA 17120
(717) 772-2005
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District Office
24 S. Newtown Street Rd., Suite 100
Newtown Square, PA 19073
(484) 427-2884
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