Protecting Our Kids, Improving Our Roads, and Strengthening Our Community

Rep. Melissa Cerrato September 4, 2026

Dear Friends,

One of the things I value most about serving as your State Representative is that no two days are exactly alike. One day I might be at a policy hearing listening to experts discuss an emerging challenge facing our children. The next, I am back home in our community celebrating an infrastructure project that will make a road safer for the thousands of people who use it every day.

While the issues might be very different, the goal behind the work is often the same: making our communities safer, stronger, and better prepared for the future.

I have had the opportunity to focus on precisely that, and I wanted to share a little of what I have been up to.

Protecting Our Children in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence is no longer some futuristic technology we only hear about on the news. It is already becoming part of everyday life, including the lives of our children.

Students are encountering AI in schoolwork, social media, online searches, entertainment, and increasingly through chatbots and other digital tools. There is tremendous potential in this technology, but there are also very real questions about what it means for the safety, privacy, education, and wellbeing of young people.

I recently attended a policy hearing that brought together educators, students, healthcare professionals, law enforcement, and other experts to discuss how artificial intelligence is affecting child safety.

It was an eye-opening and incredibly important conversation.

One thing became very clear throughout the hearing, AI itself is not inherently good or bad. Like so many technologies, its impact depends on how it is developed, how it is used, and what protections we put in place along the way.

There are exciting possibilities. AI can help students explore new ideas, assist educators, support creativity, improve accessibility, and open doors to new kinds of learning and innovation.

But we cannot allow excitement about what technology can do to prevent us from asking what it should do.

We heard serious concerns about student privacy, misinformation, deepfakes, inappropriate or manipulative content, and AI chatbots capable of engaging young people in conversations that might be harmful or dangerous.

Those concerns deserve our attention.

Technology can be a useful tool, but it should never replace caring teachers, trusted adults, engaged parents, qualified professionals, or the human relationships children need to grow and thrive.

As a legislator and a parent, I believe we have a responsibility to strike the right balance. We should embrace innovation and prepare our children for a changing world while also making sure appropriate safeguards are in place.

And we cannot make those decisions in a vacuum.

We need to listen to educators who are seeing these changes unfold in their classrooms. We need to listen to healthcare and mental health professionals. We need to listen to law enforcement and technology experts. We need to listen to parents.

Just as importantly, we need to listen to young people themselves.

I am grateful to everyone who shared their expertise and personal experiences during the hearing. Their testimony will help inform the conversations and policy decisions ahead.

The future of AI is not years away. In many ways, it is already here.

Our responsibility is to make sure that future gives our children every opportunity to learn, create, and succeed without sacrificing their safety along the way.

Celebrating Safer Travels on Blair Mill Road

Back here at home, I was also excited to attend the ribbon cutting for Phase II of the Blair Mill Road Safety Improvements and Widening Project.

Infrastructure projects do not always generate the most headlines, and anyone who has lived through road construction knows that they can require plenty of patience, but investments like this make a meaningful difference in people's everyday lives.

We all rely on our roads to get to work, take our children to school, visit family, shop at local businesses, get to medical appointments, and simply go about our daily routines.

When those roads are safer and traffic moves more efficiently, the entire community benefits.

The Blair Mill Road project is designed to improve traffic flow, reduce congestion, and enhance safety for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists.

Those improvements matter, especially in growing communities where roads and intersections need to keep pace with the people and businesses that depend on them.

Projects of this size also remind us how much collaboration is required to turn an idea into reality. State and local officials, transportation professionals, engineers, contractors, community partners, and residents all play a role along the way.

I am grateful to everyone who helped plan and complete this important work.

It was wonderful to come together and celebrate the completion of another investment in our local infrastructure and another step toward safer, more connected neighborhoods.

Here's to safer travels on Blair Mill Road!

A Reminder About the Kind of Community We Build Together

Finally, I want to share something a little different.

Public service often means talking about legislation, budgets, roads, schools, healthcare, and the many other issues affecting our communities.

But underneath all of those issues are people.

And lately, I have found myself thinking about how important it is that we remember that.

We are all human.

Every single one of us is perfectly imperfect, shaped by the experiences we have had, the lessons we have learned, the people we have loved, and the challenges we have faced.

None of us has everything figured out.

Most people I meet, regardless of their background or beliefs, are simply trying to care for the people they love, build a good life, and hopefully leave the world a little better than they found it.

We will not always agree on how to get there.

We might have different political beliefs, different life experiences, different priorities, and very different ways of seeing the world.

But disagreement should never require us to stop seeing the humanity in one another.

Before judging someone, it is worth remembering how little we may know about what they are carrying.

There is a reason the old saying about walking a mile in someone else's shoes has lasted for generations. Every person we meet has a story we cannot fully see.

Kindness costs nothing.

Listening is powerful.

Respect does not require agreement.

And compassion has an incredible ability to bring people together, even when our opinions pull us in different directions.

I believe public service should reflect those values too.

We can debate passionately without demeaning one another. We can disagree without assuming the worst about someone else's intentions. We can stand firmly for what we believe while still treating one another with dignity.

Our communities are stronger when we choose grace over judgment, curiosity over assumptions, and understanding over anger.

There is already plenty in this world trying to divide us.

I would rather spend my time looking for the things that bring us together.

Whether that means protecting our children as technology changes, investing in safer roads, helping a neighbor who is struggling, or simply offering someone a little kindness on a difficult day, each of us has opportunities to make our corner of the world better.

That is what I will continue working toward, both in Harrisburg and here at home.

As always, thank you for allowing me the privilege of representing you. Please never hesitate to reach out to my office if my team or I can be of assistance.

Upcoming Events

Join us for our upcoming Veterans Expo!

Rep. Nancy Guenst, Rep. Brian Munroe, and I are proud to invite local veterans and their families to a Veterans Expo!

This event is a great opportunity to connect directly with VA representatives, learn more about available support and resources, and get answers to questions about benefits and services. We will also be providing a free lunch at noon.

Registration is required. Please call 215-323-6997 to register by phone.

Our veterans have given so much in service to our country, and we are honored to help connect them with the resources, information, and support they deserve. We hope you will join us and help spread the word to the veterans in your life.

Join us for College Prep Night ??

Senator Maria Collett, Rep. Nancy Guenst, and I are excited to invite students and families to an upcoming College Prep Night.

Planning for college can feel overwhelming, but you do not have to figure it out alone. This event will share helpful information on the PA 529 Plan, financial aid, scholarships, FAFSA applications and deadlines, and finding the right fit for you.

Whether your student is just starting to think about college or getting ready to apply, this is a great opportunity to ask questions, learn about available resources, and feel more prepared for the road ahead.

Registration is encouraged. Please call Rep. Guenst’s office at 215-259-5962 or use the QR code on the flyer to register.

We hope to see you there!

?? It's time to clear out the clutter and protect your personal information!

Join State Senator Maria Collett and me for our Community Shredding Event on Saturday, September 19, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. (or until the trucks are full).

?? Rose Twig Park at Windlestrae

1151 Kenas Rd.

North Wales, PA

Bring your old documents for safe, secure shredding. Please limit shredding items to three paper bags or small boxes per vehicle.

?? While you're there, consider helping a neighbor by bringing a nonperishable food donation to support our local food banks.

Please note that electronics cannot be accepted at this event.

We look forward to seeing you there and helping you safely dispose of sensitive documents while giving back to our community!

?? Have old electronics collecting dust? Let’s recycle them responsibly!

I’m excited to once again host an E Waste Recycling Event for our community!

This is a great opportunity to safely get rid of old computers, laptops, printers, small appliances, DVD players, VCRs, miscellaneous wire, metal items, and just about anything with a plug.

A few important reminders: monitors, TVs, and items containing freon or other hazardous materials cannot be accepted. For everyone’s safety, please remain in your vehicle when you arrive and follow the directions of our volunteers.

Thank you to The Junkluggers for partnering with us to help keep electronic waste out of landfills and make responsible recycling a little easier for our neighbors.

Start gathering those old electronics now, and I hope to see you there! ????