Dear Neighbor,

“That men ought to be governed, seems to have been agreed on all hands…But the question has been — by whom should they be governed? And this has been made a question, by reason of two others — by whom can they be governed? — are they capable of governing themselves?”  — James Wilson, Lectures on Law, 1790

In an event aiming to explore the answers to those questions and how the state of civics education informs them, I hosted a state House Majority Policy Hearing and student town hall at New Hope-Solebury High School on Sept. 8.

I was thrilled to talk about civics with young students in our community, and honored that Gov. Mark Schweiker, PA’s 44th governor, joined us for a town hall in the school library, and for interviews with the student-run TV news program.

Former Congressmen Jim Gerlach and Joe Hoeffel were among those who testified at the following hearing, which students were able to attend if they chose. They are co-founders of the advocacy group PA Civics, which is doing incredible work to promote civics education and engagement across the commonwealth.

We also heard from Lauren Cristella, President of the Committee of Seventy; and Shannon Salter Burghardt, an educator at the Allentown School District and chair of the Educating for American Democracy Teacher Leadership Task Force.

You can watch the entire hearing below, and read NHSHS’s take on the day on their website.

The future of our democracy rests in the hands of the next generation. But if they’re not well-informed or prepared, it’s likely they won’t participate at all. Discussions like these are important to ensuring the vitality of both our democracy and our commonwealth, and I will continue to keep you informed on my work in this regard.

Sincerely,

The House is back in session this week

With both chambers of the legislature out of session for the past few weeks, I don't have much to report by way of news from Harrisburg. Next, week, however, will be a different story! Included on our docket for this week are:

• Four new gun safety bills that would implement practical solutions proven to save lives, such as expanded background checks and allowing loved ones and law enforcement to  temporarily get guns out of the hands of people in crisis with a judge’s approval after law enforcement provides evidence.

• A bill that would allow pharmacists to provide vaccines based on recommendations from Pennsylvania health authorities; current state law only allows them to administer vaccines based on CDC recommendations. It was introduced by Rep. Arvind Venkat, an emergency medicine physician, who explained: "“Chaos in federal health agency policymaking, which is no longer backed by scientific evidence but instead by anti-vaccine ideology, will cost people’s lives. This legislation will allow Pennsylvanians to avoid the politicization of health care and get the lifesaving vaccines they need, even if the federal government stops recommending them purely due to politics.” (More on this issue below!)

• Legislation that would help protect you from identity theft by requiring companies that collect personal information electronically to take steps to protect that data from breaches.

• Two pieces of legislation that would protect homeowners; one by requiring disclosure of flood-related risk factors during the homebuying process, and the other by establishing

  the Landslide and Sinkhole Insurance Program to provide coverage to homeowners for damage done by these natural forces.

Reassurance on vaccine access for you & your family

As the federal government continues to sow confusion and fear around vaccine access and over-the-counter pain relievers, Governor Josh Shapiro is working with state agencies to make sure you and all Pennsylvanians can get the vaccines recommended by your doctors.

Last week, PA's State Board of Medicine, State Board of Nursing, and State Board of Osteopathic Medicine all officially endorsed the PA Dept. of Health new vaccine guidance, which means doctors, primary care physicians, pharmacists, nurses, and all health care providers can legally make decisions based on this evidence-based information.

The week prior to last, following the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) issuing alarming new recommendations based on junk science that aim to limit access to lifesaving vaccines (namely the combined MMRV vaccine for children under 4), the Shapiro Administration immediately issued clear recommendations urging Pennsylvanians to consult other trusted medical authorities, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Family Physicians, and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

We are also taking steps to see how we can address dangerous misinformation from the White House about a link between acetaminophen (commonly sold as Tylenol) use by pregnant women and autism. The federal government’s wide-ranging statements on autism have been debunked and refuted by multiple organizations and medical professionals.

The House Majority Policy Committee held a hearing on this development this morning, which you can read about here, and will hold additional hearings on autism throughout the fall – not just on combatting misinformation, but on our existing plans to strengthen autism research and support services, too.

I will continue to keep you informed on these and related issues concerning medical guidance handed down by the federal government, and how we are responding in Pennsylvania.

Reporting back from my latest PennDOT Road Tour

You may have seen PennDOT crews out patching Cold Spring Creamery Road recently. The good news is more comprehensive resurfacing & repair work is scheduled over the next two years, and Route 413 (Durham Road) in Buckingham just got a refresh.

I recently joined Sen. Santarsiero's road tour with PennDOT officials to celebrate recent improvements and talk about where more work is still needed.

Among the local projects we focused on:

• Cold Spring Creamery Road (Buckingham) – major repairs scheduled
• S. Sugan & Old York (New Hope) – under review for safety improvements
• Route 413 (Buckingham) – resurfacing recently completed
• 202/611 (Doylestown area) – design work moving forward
• North Branch Neshaminy Creek Bridge (Chalfont) – safe, with ongoing inspection

My office regularly shares road concerns from constituents and municipalities with PennDOT, and I’ll keep working with them to move these projects forward. If there’s a stretch of road you’re worried about, let us know—we’re listening.

PA’s newest Police Academy will be in our backyard

Earlier this month, the Municipal Police Officers’ Education and Training Commission voted unanimously to establish Pennsylvania’s newest police academy in Bucks County, in conjunction with Bucks County Community College!

The academy will be fully accredited and provide top-quality training for our local law enforcement, including K-9 and fire training programs.

I was proud to support my colleague Rep. Brian Munroe, a former police officer, in advocating for this project. It’s a big step to strengthen public safety while providing high-quality training right here in our community.

(The pic is a throwback: the 2023 Tri-Municipal 4th of July Parade!)

Over the last year, I have introduced legislation to better fund law enforcement and support accreditation and regionalization efforts. This academy is another great step forward in making sure our officers have all the training, support, and resources they need to keep our communities safe.

It's festival season in Bucks!

As we do everything late summer/fall, my family and I have been enjoying our community’s great traditions. Each of these events highlight the culture, energy, and community spirit that make our district such a special place to live. I’m grateful to everyone who makes these traditions happen year after year!

A few snapshots are below…

Recognizing Delaware Valley Food Pantry

Congratulations to the Delaware Valley Food Pantry on 70 years of service to our Rivertown communities! Through floods, factory closures, and even a pandemic, their dedicated volunteers and generous donors have always been there to make sure neighbors have food on the table and support when it’s needed most. 

We were glad to join in recognizing this important work and incredible milestone. Here’s to the next 70 years of service and impact!

A new rec center for Doylestown Township

I was proud to join Doylestown Township to celebrate the opening of their brand-new Community Recreation Center. This space is going to be such an asset for our neighbors—a place for young and less-young ?? to gather, stay active, and build connections.

I have tremendous gratitude for everyone who put in the hard work over many years to make this ambitious vision a reality. I can’t wait to see it filled with life and energy!

Do you know a young person making a difference in Doylestown Borough?

The Doylestown Borough Youth Leadership Award is now aligned with the back-to-school season, giving outstanding youth leaders the chance to showcase their achievements on their college applications and resumes!

Nominees must be 18 or younger as of November 1, 2025 and they must live in Doylestown Borough. Click here for details and to submit a nomination.

Beware of an email-based scam targeting Bucks County property owners

The Bucks County Planning Commission has issued a warning about a scam targeting property owners currently working with the Commission. Fraudulent emails have been sent—first in April and again earlier this month—claiming to request payment for an “application approval fee.”

In both instances, the emails appeared to come from the Commission’s board chair. However, these emails are fraudulent and are not from the Bucks County Planning Commission. The county does not request payments via email in this manner.

This type of scam mirrors similar schemes reported across the country, often associated with wire transfer fraud, where victims are tricked into transferring large sums of money that are often unrecoverable.

Key safety reminders:

• Be cautious of unsolicited emails requesting payment. Do not click on any links, download any attachments, or follow instructions provided in the message.

• If you receive a suspicious message, contact the Bucks County Planning Commission the county directly at (215) 345-3400—not one listed in the suspicious email.

Vote-By-Mail – it’s safe, it’s secure, and it’s YOUR choice to be heard

November 4th is Election Day, and you have several options for how to make your voice heard. First, make sure you’re registered – you have until October 20th.

You can vote in person at your local polling place; the polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Click here to find out where to vote. If it’s your first time voting at a new polling place, you will need to show a photo ID to cast your ballot.

If voting in person doesn’t fit your schedule, Pennsylvania also offers safe and secure Vote-By-Mail options. Once you apply, your ballot will be sent to your home. You can fill it out and either drop it in a mailbox -- make sure to allow at least a week for delivery -- or return it in person to your county election office.

Get all the details here. I want to make sure everyone can cast their ballot and be heard in November – and in every election.

Pennsylvania State Capitol

27B East Wing

Harrisburg, PA 17120

(717) 772-2361

District Office

80 North Main St., Suite 1A
Doylestown, PA 18901

(267) 884-0395