Dear Neighbor,
You will see the Harrisburg Update section is more robust than In the District for this week’s edition – that’s because I’ve been spending most of my time at the Capitol in budget hearings as a member of the PA House Appropriations Committee.
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In the next few updates, I'll take time to tell you what we learned as we begin to hash out a bipartisan budget that will provide stability for you & our fellow Pennsylvanians over the next year.
If you’re curious about all the details, please check out our Appropriations website for copies of all the testimony given, videos, links to legislation, and more.
Sincerely,
Tim
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Join me on Monday for a conference call with Governor Shapiro! March 10-14 is Civic Learning Week across the United States. On Monday, March 10 at 4 p.m. I'll be a featured guest on PA Civics' 3rd annual State of Civic Education in Pennsylvania conference call to evaluate how well the commonwealth is doing to inspire civically engaged students, celebrate the excellent work of Pennsylvania's teachers, and explore opportunities for further growth.
The virtual event will be valuable for teachers, parents, administrators, policymakers, and interested members of the general public. Governor Josh Shapiro will provide opening remarks and engage Sen. Dave Argall (R) and me in a conversation about steps PA can take to become a national leader in high quality civics education. Plus, educators throughout PA will share innovations in the classroom. Sign up here!
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Governor Shapiro issues statement on Ukraine
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Pennsylvania is the proud home to more than 150,000 Ukrainian and Ukrainian American people. As Gov. Josh Shapiro pointed out after last week’s alarming meeting with President Zelenskyy at the White House, tens of thousands of these people are here to find safety after fleeing Vladimir Putin’s aggression.
I echo what Gov. Shapiro expressed in his official statement following that meeting:
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House Appropriations Committee budget hearings
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Department of Transportation
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My pursuit of getting our local roads and highways fixed continued at this hearing, where I got to speak with Transportation Secretary Mike Carroll about our legislative district’s unique transportation circumstances.
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Noting my appreciation for PennDOT’s improved responsiveness since taking office, I also expressed concern for PennDOT’s continued difficulty finding workers for District 6, the team that oversees road maintenance in our region, and called for a working group to study possible solutions to the issue.
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Civics education is one of the most powerful tools we have to preserve our democracy. I spoke with the department’s leaders about the state of Act 35 of 2018, which aims to increase civic engagement in the commonwealth by strengthening civics education in our public schools.
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There is limited data being collected about the effort’s results, so its success remains unclear – I called for the department and legislature to work together to strengthen the effort.
On a related note: I’ve proposed a resolution to direct the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a study on the state of civic education in PA, taking into account the methods of states with effective education initiatives, and the specific actions we can take to ensure students in this commonwealth receive the type of high-quality civic education that is essential to ensuring a strong democratic political culture continues in our country.
See the image above for details on the civics education conference call I’m participating in on Monday along with Governor Shapiro!
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I spoke with Secretary Al Schmidt and Deputy Secretary for Elections and Commissions Jonathan Marks about what the state can do this year to improve public confidence in elections. In their responses, Secretary Schmidt spoke about accessibility and “early voting,” and Deputy Secretary Marks discussed the push to allow pre-canvassing of absentee and mail-in ballots
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This week I ran into my good friend, Cassandra Coleman, the Executive Director of America250PA at the unveiling of their new state Capitol display. This installation is meant to reflect the energy, diversity, and spirit of Pennsylvania.
It celebrates our shared story as Pennsylvanians—one built on the strength of all 67 counties, each contributing to the national leadership and legacy that Pennsylvania holds today.
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It reminds us that history isn’t just something we memorize—it’s something we inherit, something we live and carry forward.
We can’t celebrate the last 250 years without ensuring that our history—the stories of every Pennsylvanian who built this nation—is preserved for the generations to come.
America250PA was created to make sure the next generation can see, feel, and add to Pennsylvania’s ongoing story. What will Pennsylvania’s next 50 years look like? That’s a question we will answer together.
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America250PA awards grant to Children’s Museum
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Speaking of America250PA, our staff were delighted to join the Bucks County Children’s Museum in celebrating the awarding of an America250PA Semiquincentennial grant under the Keystone Historic Preservation Grant Program. This grant will help fund a new interactive exhibit, The George Inn, which will help children connect with local history.
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The museum is preparing for a major renovation this fall that will bring updated and new gallery spaces with a focus on sensory and developmental accessibility, educational curriculum, and hands-on ‘no-tech’ experiences. It will reopen in December just in time for the big sesquicentennial celebration year in 2026!
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Bucks County Commissioners roundtable
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The Bucks County Commissioners recently hosted area legislators to discuss policy priorities and initiatives. We also got to tour the PA CareerLink Bucks County van, which we have hosted at our Senior and Disability Resource Fairs previously. Thank you to the Bucks County Government commissioners and their staff for organizing this great event!
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Register of Wills roundtable
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I also recently participated in another gathering of local officials at the Legislative Roundtable hosted by Register Linda Bobrin of the Bucks County Register of Wills and Clerk of the Orphans' Court.
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We talked about issues being raised with estates and current and future probate, as well as Orphans’ Court legislation. I was grateful for the invitation and productive discussion!
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I recently attended The Arc Alliance’s Buck’s County Legislative Breakfast for a robust discussion about the challenges facing individuals with disabilities in our community, and how we can work together to find solutions. Special thanks to the Bucks County Intermediate Unit for hosting us at their beautiful facility!
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The Arc is devoted to promoting and improving supports and services for all people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The dedicated staff at the Arc provide an array of programs including early intervention, supports coordination, and many other resources for individuals with disabilities as well as their parents, families, and caregivers.
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Kudos to Solebury Orchards!
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Feeding Pennsylvania – the statewide association of PA’s nine major food banks – just recognized Solebury Orchards as the latest PASS program success story!
The Pennsylvania Agricultural Surplus System, known as PASS, allows companies to sell their surplus product to their local food pantry.
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In these “farm-to-food bank partnerships,” companies are paid for their products while the food pantry receives local, nutritious food to distribute. For Solebury Orchards, that pantry is the Bucks County Opportunity Council. Read their story here.
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Now’s your chance to give the state your feedback on transportation
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PennDOT and the State Transportation Commission (STC) are asking Pennsylvanians to take a survey about your transportation needs and how they could be better met: https://survey.talkpatransportation.com/#/Survey.
Every two years, the PennDOT and STC update their 12-Year Program (TYP). As part of this update process, they use a Transportation Survey and an Online Public Forum to collect public input. They will document, review, and use the public feedback provided to help identify needs and prioritize transportation projects in the TYP.
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Nominations open for Doylestown Borough Council’s Youth Leadership Award
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Do you know a standout borough resident 18 or younger who's making a difference through community service or extracurricular activities? This annual honor is bestowed on one or more individuals who have made a positive impact through community service or extracurricular activity.
Nominees must be no older than 18 as of May 1, 2025, and must live in Doylestown Borough to be eligible. Individuals can nominate themselves or another borough resident.
??Deadline: 3/15/25
??Submit your nomination here: https://ow.ly/aHSW50UL7ZH
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The PA Department of Conservation & Natural Resources is seeking Park Manager Trainees to manage parks in our region. The position is civil service permanent full-time, and the salary is $44,890-$67,678 annually. Applications will be accepted through March 18. Click here for details and the application.
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Doylestown Borough’s Emergency Preparedness Seminar
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This class will outline plans and needs for both residents and business owners on how to be prepared in the event of an emergency, including the necessary supplies to have on hand, and discuss what individuals can do to help fellow community members after weather-related emergencies and other disasters.
The event will be held on Monday, March 24 at Doylestown Borough Hall from 7 p.m. - 8 p.m. Sign up here.
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Two scholarship opportunities for college students
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PA House of Representatives Scholarship Program
Administered through The Foundation for Enhancing Communities, the program is for graduating high school seniors who reside in PA.
The program provides four-year scholarships to two high school seniors per year. The award is to be used toward the cost of tuition and fees for a four-year program at a college, university, or career school in Pennsylvania. Each award consists of the value of one semester of tuition at State-System university for each of four years, as stipulated by members of the PA House when the scholarship was established.
The deadline to submit all materials is April 15. Eligibility criteria and details on how to apply and submit required documents are located here.
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Grow PA Scholarship Program
Applications are scheduled to open on Monday, March 10 for this program that offers scholarships to PA students studying an in-demand occupation at an institution of higher education located in PA. Recipients must agree to live and work in PA after graduation for the number of years they received the scholarship. Applications are considered on a first-come, first-served basis.
More information on this program is on the PHEAA website. $25 million in funding for this round of scholarships was included in Act 1A of 2024, the 2024-25 General Appropriations Act.
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Special license plates available to help honor women veterans
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As we celebrate Women’s History Month in March, the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs reminds drivers that purchasing one of the available women veterans license plates recognizes the importance of women who served and supports programs assisting the approximately 63,000 women veterans in PA. Click here to view the options.
These license plates are available for passenger cars or trucks with a registered gross weight of not more than 14,000 pounds. Each plate costs $40, with $15 going directly to the Pennsylvania Veterans’ Trust Fund (VTF). The VTF regularly issues grants to statewide charitable organizations assisting veterans service organizations and county directors of veterans affairs. The grants are used to aid veterans in need of shelter, essential goods and other services.
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Pennsylvania State Capitol
27B East Wing
Harrisburg, PA 17120
(717) 772-2361
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District Office
80 North Main St., Suite 1A
Doylestown, PA 18901
(267) 884-0395
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