Dear Friends,
While gridlock in Harrisburg continues, the PA House is doing what Pennsylvanians expect, leading with purpose and delivering results.
This week, we advanced a balanced, responsible budget through bipartisan cooperation. We cut $1 billion from the governor’s original proposal while investing in the things that matter most:
- ?? Nearly $1 billion for public education, ensuring safer schools and stronger futures for our kids
- ?? $4.5 billion to protect Medicaid, securing health care access for our most vulnerable
- ??? Enhanced funding for public safety, transportation, and infrastructure to strengthen our communities
This budget isn't about party lines, it's about getting things done for Pennsylvania families.
Meanwhile, until Wednesday, the Senate hadn’t returned to Harrisburg since June 30. Instead of rolling up their sleeves, Senate leadership has allowed years-old distractions, like cannabis and skill games, to derail real progress once again. And when they finally returned, they didn’t prioritize the responsible, bipartisan budget plan we had sent them. Instead, on Wednesday night, they pulled a procedural stunt known as a gut-and-replace, stripping out our carefully crafted language that supported investments in education, health care, and infrastructure. In its place, they inserted significant funding for crisis pregnancy centers, organizations widely known for promoting anti-abortion messaging. And even that new version of the bill wasn’t moved forward; it’s now sitting idle in committee, without a floor vote. This kind of maneuvering doesn’t serve Pennsylvanians, it delays essential progress and distracts from the real work we were elected to do.
We need leadership grounded in reality. We need compromise that puts people first. And above all, Pennsylvanians deserve a government focused on solutions, not stunts.
While the budget has been at an impasse, our work hasn’t stopped. Over the past seven weeks, I’ve remained focused on the issues that matter most. This week, I’m turning the spotlight on our Commonwealth’s older adults.
They’ve spent their lives investing in our communities, and now, it’s our turn to ensure they are protected, respected, and supported.
In the House Aging & Older Adult Committee, we’ve been making meaningful progress to uphold that promise. I’m excited to share some of these efforts with you, and keep working to deliver results that every generation can count on.
??? Modernizing the Older Adult Protective Services Act (OAPSA)
We recently held an important informational meeting to explore updates to OAPSA, legislation that helps ensure the safety and well-being of vulnerable seniors. With the insight of the Department of Aging and the Pennsylvania Association of Agencies on Aging, we’re working toward stronger, more modern protections to keep seniors safe in today’s world.