May 30 e-mail: Listening, leading, and delivering for our community

Rep. Melissa Cerrato May 30, 2025

Dear Friends,

As we wrap up an incredibly busy and rewarding month, it is inspiring to see how much we've accomplished together, from legislative town halls and listening sessions to senior fairs, health initiatives, and community gatherings. Your involvement and dedication make all the difference in shaping a stronger, more connected community.

Advancing Education Funding Through Meaningful Dialogue

It was a privilege to join Gary, a passionate advocate from Ambler Borough and a leader at Renew Community and POWER Interfaith, for a town hall discussion focused on public education funding. Listening to community concerns and collaborating with colleagues and constituents reinforced the importance of advocating for equitable and adequate education funding for all.

In February, 2023, in a historic victory for Pennsylvania’s public school students, Commonwealth Court ruled that Pennsylvania’s school funding system is unconstitutional and must be reformed.

Reforming Pennsylvania's school funding system, and addressing this court-ordered mandate to provide equitable and thorough funding for all public schools has been presented through a new formula to distribute state education aid, with a focus on adequacy and equity grants, and includes measures to reduce overspending on cyber charter schools.

Gov. Josh Shapiro's proposed state budget continues the work that he and lawmakers began last year to address this crisis.

Meaningful conversations like the one with Gary and other community members pave the way for real progress, and I’m grateful to be part of the movement.

Celebrating Our Seniors at the Third Annual Spring Senior Fair

This month also marked another successful Spring Senior Fair, a special event dedicated to supporting and celebrating our seniors. Your engagement brought this gathering to life, and I want to extend my deepest gratitude to Rep. Sanchez and Rep. Guenst, and our hardworking teams who made it possible. A huge thank-you to the vendors who provided essential resources—from prescription assistance programs and financial relief to transportation guidance and much more. Your contributions strengthen our community and provide valuable support to our seniors.

For those who came out, it was such a pleasure to see so many familiar faces and to meet so many new folks! We are already in the midst of planning our fall senior expo and looking to provide new and different resources to capture your attention and provide new connections.

Prioritizing Health Through Our Annual Mobile Mammogram Event

Preventive healthcare remains a critical priority, and our annual mobile mammogram event in partnership with Fox Chase Cancer Center was another important milestone. Regular screenings save lives, and through this initiative, we continue to encourage women to prioritize their health and well-being. If you haven’t yet scheduled your mammogram, now is the time as early detection is key, and every action we take together promotes healthier lives and brighter futures.

Honoring Horsham VFW Post 9788 & Auxiliary

A heartfelt thank-you to the Horsham VFW Post 9788 & Auxiliary for their unwavering commitment to supporting our veterans and broader community. Whether it’s their veterans' gatherings or fun-filled events like the recent car show, they continue to bring people together with camaraderie and purpose. The VFW plays an instrumental role in nearly every piece of veterans' legislation passed, always with veterans' well-being in mind. Their dedication to service and meaningful causes is truly inspiring.

We are fortunate to have such an amazing group making a difference right in our backyard.

Connecting at Montgomery County Community College’s Legislative Breakfast

Another highlight of the month was the Legislative Breakfast at Montgomery County Community College (MCCC), where I had the pleasure of joining President Dr. Bastecki-Perez, students, Trustees, and the Senior Leadership Team for a morning of insights and connections. MCCC has continued to grow with the community to meet the lifelong learning needs of the county and they have been recognized numerous times for having one of the nation’s top faculty and for being the most technologically advanced community colleges in the country. MCCC continues to thrive as a center for high quality, affordable, and accessible education, fostering vital partnerships that strengthen our region.

Celebrating excellence and collaboration with such a dedicated team was a true honor.

Listening, Learning, and Advocating at the PA Legislative Listening Session

I was honored to be part of the PA Legislative Listening Session hosted at KenCrest Services—an advocate-driven event that amplified the voices of parents and self-advocates courageously sharing their experiences and challenges. Their stories highlight the power of advocacy as the heart of change and the listening session provided an opportunity for legislators to engage in meaningful dialogue and work toward practical solutions for the critical issues outlined. We discussed proposed Medicaid cuts at the federal level and the shifting of said costs to the states; what’s being discussed at the federal level, anticipated timeline, and the state’s potential approach in Pennsylvania and how that difference could be addressed.

These conversations not only raise awareness but offer connections and a better understanding of the challenges families and advocates are facing.

Each of these events reinforced the strength of our community, the importance of listening and advocating, and the impact we can have when we come together. None of this would be possible without your support and engagement. Thank you for making this month one to remember—I look forward to continuing this journey with all of you in the months ahead!

Upcoming Events

SEPTA Key Card Event

We are proud to continue our partnership with SEPTA in helping our older constituents gain access to SEPTA Key Cards in the most convenient way! This card is provided to residents aged 65 or older and offers free rides on all SEPTA transit routes including buses, trolleys, subway, and regional rail. Additionally, seniors who wish to take SEPTA to Delaware or New Jersey will receive a 50% discount on fare when they tap their Senior Key Card.

We can assist in your application for an initial Senior SEPTA Key Photo Card as well as renewals. You are required to bring a government-issued ID that lists your birthdate, like a driver’s license or photo ID. At this time, the current time for SEPTA to process your application and send your Key Card is approximately 2-3 weeks. If you would prefer not to wait, you may apply or have your pass renewed at SEPTA Headquarters, located at 1234 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19107. To do so, schedule an appointment with SEPTA at 215-580-7145.

In order to receive a replacement for a lost or stolen card you can send a $5 check or money order made payable to SEPTA to: SEPTA, P.O. Box 824833, Philadelphia, PA 19182. Be sure to include a note with your name, address, and date of birth.

Summer Open House

Come and explore our "home away from home" at our Summer Open House! Get to know me and my wonderful team in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. We'll be serving light refreshments and can't wait to share an afternoon filled with great conversations and connections. We look forward to seeing you there!

Fall Shredding Event

Join us for our Free Shredding Event—a fantastic opportunity to protect your personal information while making a positive impact on your community! ??????

Safely dispose of old documents and keep your sensitive information out of the wrong hands. Paper shredding is a powerful deterrent to identity theft, making it nearly impossible for thieves to reconstruct private details. Plus, shredding supports paper recycling, helping to reduce waste in landfills!

And here’s another way to give back—bring non-perishable food items for donation and support local food banks while you’re here.

We’re thrilled to offer this service once again for our constituents. Protect your identity, reduce waste, and help your community—all in one event! Hope to see you there!