Nelson weekly email for July 11, 2025: Waiting on a budget

Rep. Napoleon Nelson July 11, 2025 | 2:46 PM

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We still do not have a budget in PA. The House of Representatives has been in session ready to pass a budget and has been moving legislation along. The State Senate Leader, Republican Sen. Joe Pittman, hasn't called his chamber into session since June 30. Since June 1, the House has been in Harrisburg and ready to work for 17 session days across every single work week. The Senate has been in Harrisburg for just 11 days. The House will be back in session again on Monday to continue to work. The Senate is not scheduled to return to Harrisburg until September.

The House Democratic majority wants to fund mass transportation & public education, keep hospitals open, and raise the minimum wage. The Senate does not seem to want that. As our Congresswomen and Congressmen come home and either warn constituents of the harms that were included in the federal “One Big Beautiful Bill” or pound their chest to the tax and spending cuts, I am relatively convinced that the State budget that House Democrats and Gov. Shapiro would agree to will look nothing like the legislation out of Washington. I fear that it might take some time for our Senate Republican counterparts to accept this conclusion…hence the impasse.

Stay tuned, but don’t hold your breath.

Backpack Giveaway & The High Note

My office has TONS of backpacks that we will be giving away to students now through the start of the school year. If you or someone you know could use a backpack and some basic school supplies for the upcoming school year, please contact my office at (215) 572-5210 or RepNelson@pahouse.net!

Please note that we will be giving priority to students residing in the 154th District.

Turn on Wireless Emergency Alerts

As we’ve seen this week, we are no strangers to thunderstorms, flood watches, and even tornado warnings during the summer season.

Take a moment to make sure that Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs), the loud alerts that come to your phone in an emergency, are enabled on your device. It could be life-saving!

If you have an Android device: Settings --> Notifications --> Wireless Emergency Alerts.

If you have an Apple device: Settings --> Notifications --> Scroll all the way down to “Government Alerts”

Click on the image below for information on township events & updates

Click for information on active state government programs

Other Programs & Events

Scam Alert

PennDOT is warning the public about a new texting scam involving REAL ID. Fraudulent text messages are being sent to customers claiming to be from the DMV or the federal Department of Homeland Security asking people to click on a link and provide personal and payment information.

PennDOT does not have a process by which customers can pre-scan and upload REAL ID documents from a home or mobile device. PennDOT will never ask for nor accept any identity documents over the internet, via text message nor email for any reason. Any communication through text, internet, or e-mail requesting these documents are not affiliated with PennDOT and could be used for fraudulent purposes. As such, customers should not submit any images of personal documents to such requests.

If you encounter this scam or think you may be a victim of it, please report it to the PA Office of Attorney General. Consult the Federal Trade Commission’s website for more information.

SEPTA Service Advisory

SEPTA is alerting the community that overhead wire work on the Fox Chase Line will require shuttle bus substitution between the Olney station and the Fox Chase station for the next two weekends: Saturday and Sunday, July 12 & 13 and July 19 & 20.

Inbound shuttle buses heading toward Center City will depart stations up to 22 minutes earlier than normal train departure time. Outbound shuttle buses heading toward Fox Chase will depart three minutes after train arrival and arrive up to 18 minutes later than normal. Passengers should add approximately 20 to 25 minutes to their travel time.

Residents near the Cheltenham and Fox Chase stations can expect to hear typical construction noise over the next two weekends, along with lighting towers used as needed for nighttime and overnight work. Additionally, residents near the Cheltenham station can expect to hear noise around the clock from the wire train and diesel which will be sitting at the Cheltenham station during both weekends.

Limited SFMNP Vouchers Available

Share Food Montco has let us know that Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) vouchers are extremely limited in Montgomery County and must now be obtained in person from a designated allocation site. Vouchers are no longer available for distribution by mail, and their office is no longer accepting applications.

The last location in our district with remaining vouchers is KleinLife Montgomery County at 7763 Old York Rd, Elkins Park, PA 19027.

Vouchers are distributed on a first come, first served basis and will be available in person until Sept. 30 OR while supplies last. KleinLife is asking folks to please call them at (215) 690-4366 in advance to ensure there are vouchers remaining.