Dear Neighbor,
I’ll continue to spend a lot of time in Harrisburg for at least the first couple weeks in July as the House, Senate, and Governor work toward a state budget agreement.
With the recent signing of a catastrophic budget bill in Washington, D.C. that will bring dramatic funding cuts to public programs like Medicaid, programs that benefit people with disabilities, and efforts that support infrastructure improvements, health care and clean energy; I will be working with my colleagues to address those impacts as we negotiate the budget.
We’ve already passed a good number of budget-related bills that focus on shared bipartisan priorities, such as improving state & local programs combatting the opioid crisis.
We’ve also recently passed legislation that, while unrelated to the state budget, would have meaningful impacts on all Pennsylvanians – like protecting consumers from unknowingly entering into paid subscription plans. Learn more in the first story below.
Sincerely,
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My House colleagues and I passed important bills over that past few weeks that aim to help you and our neighbors and improve our communities.
We voted to protect your wallet by…
- Requiring companies to be completely transparent with free trial and “introductory rate” offers and obtain your clear consent before automatically transitioning you into a paid subscription plan – and make it easier for you to cancel a plan (H.B. 129).
We voted to support you & your family’s health by…
- Expanding Medical Assistance to help pregnant women avoid complications by covering blood pressure monitors for home use as part of their care (H.B. 1234).
- Better preventing disease for the brave firefighters who put their own safety on the line for all of us by reducing their exposure on the job to PFAS chemicals (H.B. 1261).
- Protecting people (especially teens) from illicit vape products by requiring a public directory managed by the Office of Attorney General that lists all approved and certified electronic cigarette manufacturers and products and requiring manufacturers to submit certification forms that confirm their compliance with federal regulations (HB 1425).
- Prohibiting health insurers from denying coverage to children for certain medically necessary health care services (notably speech therapy, mental health, behavioral health, & telehealth) solely because they take place in a school setting.
And we voted to address the childcare worker and teacher shortages by…
- Helping those who are retired or switched careers but wish to return to education complete continuing professional education requirements and get back in the classroom sooner (H.B. 1403).
- Increasing the length of time that future teachers (including CTE educators) can use an intern certification from three years to five years (H.B. 1404).
- Providing recruitment and retention bonuses for licensed childcare providers participating in the Child Care Works program (H.B. 506).
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I participated in PA MOMNIBUS Day last week to advocate for a package of bills that would reduce maternal mortality rates for all PA moms, help new parents, and make life a little easier for our new parents and kids.
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I am very proud of the work the Black Maternal Health Caucus is doing to address PA’s alarming rates of poor maternal health outcomes. They are making sure the legislation produced by our caucus creates multifaceted solutions to give all pregnant women in PA access to the care they need for themselves and their babies to remain healthy.
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I attended the 12th Annual Cultural Celebration Day in June at the PA State Capitol, an event hosted by the Peace Islands Institute and includes traditional music, dancing, lots of (amazing) food, and reverberating messages of unity.
The event brings together people from numerous cultures, backgrounds, and walks of life –including Turkish, Korean, Vietnamese, and Kyrgyz. This year’s theme, “One Commonwealth, Many Traditions: Celebrating Our State’s Rich Tapestry,” reflected the diversity and shared values that unite our Commonwealth. It was a platform where the rich tapestry of human heritage was very clearly celebrated and shared with all Pennsylvanians.
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It is so important to take a moment to appreciate and respect the diverse cultures shared by our neighbors here in Pennsylvania -- not just to improve the world we live in, but to improve the lives we live as individuals. I count myself blessed to be confronted by those basic truths each day in Harrisburg. There is so much opportunity to see in new ways and to grow individually, by taking the time to see, hear and feel what brings others joy.
It is my fervent wish that more people take the opportunity and time to see this beauty. It gives nourishment to the soul and reminds us how much stronger we are when we stand together.
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I ran into my friend and constituent Rose Hanh Yuan, who organized a Vietnamese dance troupe, displayed traditional Vietnamese clothing, and introduced me to some more of our neighbors.
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Catching up with the realtors & their industry
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I attended the recent Pennsylvania Association of Realtors’ annual legislative reception, where it was nice to run into local realtors (and our neighbors in the 29th!) Maryellen O’Brien and Jim McCormick. This is always a great opportunity to talk about the housing market and issues related to the profession.
I have held a real estate license for several years, so I know how hard the work (and continuing education) can be.
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I am very proud that we passed H.B. 818 this session, which would help start a first-time home buyer program for those saving for a down payment and closing costs. Our caucus analysts estimate this program could lead to an increase of about 4,000 home purchases annually!
Housing, the cost of living, and ensuring the stability of state services while the federal environment is in question are top priorities for Bucks County, and we continue to work on these issues in Harrisburg.
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Greeting local college students
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I was happy to welcome Sen. Steve Santarsiero's college interns to the PA House recently -- all three are our neighbors in the district! They included alumni from my own roster of former interns, Matt Smith and Eli Moore (not pictured), along with Mackenzie Kopew.
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I always love showing off the building, and they had a great time learning about its history. They also had a chance to attend a committee meeting with the senator.
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At the end of June, I attended the first-ever statewide community Pride Month celebration in Harrisburg.
It was hosted by the PA Youth Congress with support from groups including the ACLU of PA, the Women’s Law Project, and Planned Parenthood Keystone. I also attended Governor Shapiro’s annual Pride Reception, held this year at the State Library.
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Leaders and allies of LGBTQ+ groups across the commonwealth united for the event, which focused on lifting up the work people are doing in PA to promote equality and protect people in the LGBTQ+ community. While it was a reminder of the urgency to keep up our action, we also took the time to truly celebrate the joy and diversity this community brings to our lives.
To echo Governor Shapiro’s words from that day, “Here in Pennsylvania, you are loved.”
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A look inside Pfizer’s Collegeville campus
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I organized a roundtable discussion and tour of the Pfizer facility in Collegeville last month, and several additional House members representing the southeast accepted my invitation to join. One of our neighbors in the 29th District – Dennis Hancock, the company's Senior Vice President of Digital Health Products – showed us around, along with several Pfizer national decision makers.
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Pfizer was founded in 1849 and makes a point of working on solutions to complicated medical problems, often in partnership with institutions like UPenn.
The Collegeville facility is Pfizer’s national hub for cybersecurity. Dennis showed us how they defend against constant digital threats and innovate in supply chain solutions—skills that align with training programs at schools like Bucks County Community College. (For example, check out this article about the program at its Epstein Campus in partnership with The Estée Lauder Companies.)
The life sciences sector—especially pharma—is an economic powerhouse for our region, and Gov. Shapiro’s business plan rightly prioritizes investment in this industry. Our region is fast becoming a life sciences hub, thanks to local investments in medical, robotics, and tech companies. Many of these companies are stationing their headquarters here, further drawn to the area by our public schools, housing options, and cultural life – and our proximity to colleges & universities that serve as a pipeline of talented potential employees.
Pfizer’s work represents human potential, and ultimately, the age-old pursuit of relief from suffering. I’m grateful to Dennis and his colleagues for a fascinating visit and the chance to learn about a complicated industry.
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Visit from A Woman's Place
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I appreciate getting to meet with staff from A Woman's Place, the domestic violence (DV) organization that serves all of Bucks County. Rates of DV in our country have been climbing every year since 2014, and about 85% of DV victims are women.
I learned about the free services and resources AWP provides to victims of DV (and their children) to help them escape crisis and secure a safe living situation.
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These include getting them set up with counseling and legal assistance, helping them get food and clothing, and connecting them with financial services. AWP also runs a full-service shelter in a confidential location and offers community-based programs to educate vulnerable populations on how to recognize and escape DV.
The AWP hotline (1-800-220-8116) is available to anyone 24/7 and is confidential. If you’re interested in getting involved with AWP, you may learn about opportunities on their website.
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Celebrating Independence Day
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Every year I get the opportunity to walk with my staff in the New Britain Tri-Municipal July 4th Parade, I’m reminded of the unwavering American spirit. Getting to see so many friends and neighbors come together in celebration of our great nation shows our amazing history, caring community, and the democratic values that we hold above all else. I am honored to represent my community and take pride in knowing that above all else, the American people continue to stand for unity, freedom, and progress.
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Pride block party (+ support hotline update)
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First, the good news: as expected, my staff and I had an amazing time at the Pride Festival Block Party in Doylestown! We enjoyed live music, delicious food, visiting the diverse array of vendors – thank you, Lloyd, for helping me at our office’s booth! – and spending time with so many of our dear neighbors. We were very happy to be joined in our celebration by Rep. Jessica Benham, who represents Allegheny County and chairs the LGBTQ+ caucus.
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Next, an important update about a change to the support available to LGBTQ+ youth, and how we’re standing up to it.
Last month, the Trump administration specifically removed the 988 crisis hotline’s option tailored to LGBTQ+ youth. A move made in the middle of Pride month, there’s no other way to interpret this decision: as with continued rollbacks of civil rights protections, it’s a move designed to marginalize and dehumanize a specific community – and to further divide us as a people.
To my LGBTQ+ neighbors: You are America's sons, daughter, brothers, sisters, mothers and daughters, and you deserve our support and continued advocacy.
2023 saw the highest number of suicides in our country’s history (2024 numbers aren’t tallied yet), and LGBTQ+ youth are among those clearly at the highest risk. This latest action is unquestionably cruel and endangers more than 1.3 million LGBTQ+ youth who turned to the tailored 988 option for help from 2022 until now.
Standing in way of the administration’s hostility and division, however, is our American spirit. For those in need or for those that care about someone in need, the folks behind The Trevor Project are amping up the options they offer for LGBTQ+ youth to get help.
We also have local support systems run by dedicated and caring members of our own neighborhoods:
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Planning for retirement can feel overwhelming, which is why Sen. Santarsiero and I were happy to host another Retirement Seminar to local seniors back in May. Experts from the PA Department of Banking join us for these events to offer great advice about how much money you need to retire, how to make that money last, and how to access state resources available to help you.
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This one was held at the Doylestown Township Municipal Building – stay tuned for details on where we’ll be next!
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Watch out for a scam targeting seniors re: inheritance
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A new e-mail-based scam involving someone posing as a state employee is targeting seniors with messages about collecting an inheritance from overseas, several PA agencies are warning.
The scam uses fake emails that mimic Commonwealth addresses to convince victims to send money in exchange for the fictitious inheritance. One reported case saw an older Pennsylvanian lose money over nearly a year.
Officials urge residents to:
- Ignore unsolicited messages offering money or prizes.
- Verify suspicious emails (official state emails end in @pa.gov).
- Never share personal info or send money to unknown individuals.
Report suspicious activity to state agencies or local law enforcement by calling 1-866-PAComplaint; visiting pa.gov/consumer; or contacting the Attorney General's office at 1-800-441-2555 or attorneygeneral.gov.
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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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