The Pennsylvania House of Representatives charged ahead with Speaker Joanna McClinton’s landmark Voting Rights Protection Act—a transformative, forward-thinking bill that would modernize the election processes and expand ballot access throughout the commonwealth.

The Voting Rights Protection Act is poised to unlock a host of meaningful and long-overdue reforms. It would empower county officials to prepare mail-in ballots in advance of Election Day, boost in-person early voting opportunities, expand the use of secure ballot drop boxes, and would clarify the law on absentee and mail-in ballots to ensure that every vote is counted.

Rooted in Pennsylvania’s proud legacy as the birthplace of American democracy, this initiative reaffirms our commitment to a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. Upholding the right of every eligible voter to participate in free, fair, and secure elections is essential to our nation’s promise—and this bill brings us one step closer to that ideal. It is now in the PA Senate and awaits further action.

Last month, I joined fellow legislators and advocates at a press conference hosted by The Arc of Pennsylvania. The other speakers and I highlighted the critical importance of maintaining and expanding programs and funding for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

I am unwavering in my support for every student in Pennsylvania to have access to the resources and support they need to receive a high-quality public education and a truly meaningful path to success.

Click on the video below for my full remarks.

This year, the Shapiro Administration has proposed doubling the funding for Pennsylvania’s first-in-the-nation Agricultural Innovation Grant program to help support the adoption of innovative technologies and practices by farmers and agribusinesses. As the bill’s prime sponsor last term, I am very proud of the program’s great success.

In its inaugural year, the PA Department of Agriculture received over $68 million in grant requests from 159 applicants but were only able to award $10 million in grants to 88 businesses and farms across 45 counties. Projects ranged from new refrigeration and precision technology systems to automated harvesting, milking robots, and inventive composting initiatives to reduce methane emissions and produce biofuels.

The upcoming budget negotiations offer a great opportunity to expand on this successful initiative, and I look forward to working with colleagues from both sides of the aisle to keep championing and making critical investments in our #1 industry.

As always, I was honored to take part in Memorial Day tributes throughout Centre County, home of the birthplace of Memorial Day.

Memorial Day is the annual solemn reminder that we must honor the sacrifice of those who gave everything in defense of our country, and that it now falls to us to uphold and defend the ideals of freedom, liberty and opportunity for which they gave the last full measure of devotion. It is our turn to fight for freedom and to protect our democracy from those who would rule as tyrants.

We've received many reports that scam text messages—disguised as communications from the "PA DMV"—are targeting Pennsylvania residents. These messages are fraudulent.

If you receive one, do not reply or click on any links. PennDOT is aware of this scam and is actively working to address the issue. Please share this message to help protect our community.

I am excited to once again invite you to participate in our Back-to-School Supply Drive—a community effort in partnership with the State College YMCA-- dedicated to ensuring that every child has the tools they need to succeed in the classroom.

The drive is underway now and continues through Aug 8. Your generosity can make a real difference in our community. I encourage you to donate new school supplies that can brighten a student's day and help prepare them for a successful school year.

Donations can be dropped off at my District Office during regular business hours. This is a wonderful opportunity to make a positive impact in the lives of our young learners. Check out the event flier for the list of supplies we’re collecting.

I recently had the honor of recognizing and celebrating three remarkable young men—Austin, Riley, and Samuel—who have achieved the prestigious rank of Eagle Scout.

Their impressive projects will have a tangible impact on our community, ranging from constructing a pre-school playground and a Little Free Library, to rebuilding a walkway and bridge at Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center. These projects are a result of great planning and hard work, as well as a testament to the values of service and leadership.

I extend my heartfelt congratulations to these outstanding scouts, as well as to their parents, families, and the dedicated leaders of Scouting America Troop 31.

I was honored to join friends and colleagues to celebrate the retirement of Ted Onufrak, the Executive Director of the Centre County Recycling and Refuse Authority (CCRRA).

After 35 years of dedicated service, Ted leaves behind a legacy of visionary leadership and innovation. His forward-thinking approach in recycling and renewable energy have transformed CCRRA into one of the leading authorities in Pennsylvania. Ted’s accomplishments have not only enhanced environmental practices but also inspired his colleagues and those around him to strive for excellence in public service.

Please join me in congratulating Ted on his outstanding career and wishing him all the best in his future endeavors.

Recently, I once again had the honor to attend the PA Special Olympics Opening Ceremony and Torch Lighting. The energy, pride, and joy radiating from the thousands of athletes, coaches, and volunteers is something I look forward to every year!.

One of the most memorable moments for me was one again having the opportunity to compete in the Unified Sports Event, where I had the privilege of competing alongside a remarkable Special Olympics athlete (Jeff) in the javelin. Sharing that moment of teamwork reminded me of the power of sports to unite us and the importance of celebrating the unique abilities of everyone, regardless of our differences.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid deadline for the 2024-2025 academic school year is quickly approaching. Use the link below to apply for financial aid and secure your future today!

Click here: https://studentaid.gov/fafsa-app/ROLES

On May 22, the U.S. House of Representatives passed Trump’s so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” by ONE vote. Sadly, our Congressman, Glenn “GT” Thompson and other House Republicans chose billionaires over the communities they claim to represent.

If passed as written, this misguided and misnamed bill will gut health care and food programs such as Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act, and SNAP in order to give huge tax cuts to the ultra-rich while exploding the national deficit by trillions! Hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians will lose their healthcare coverage and people who buy their insurance on the marketplace will see higher premiums and deductibles. Hospitals and nursing homes in rural and other underserved areas will close, and millions of kids, seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities will go hungry.

This massive and irresponsible upward transfer of wealth is now being debated in the U.S. Senate. It can still be stopped. Call your U.S. Senators and demand they put you and your health - not the bank accounts of billionaires - first.

Click on the video below for my full comments on the bill.

This past weekend was the Fifth Annual State College Pride Festival and Parade. I had the privilege of speaking to the large and colorful crowd at Sidney Friedman Parklet and introducing our Lt. Gov. Austin Davis. My team and I also had a blast tabling at the festival while stepping up and standing up for those in our community.

It is probably no surprise that Pride felt a little different this year. As always, it was a celebration of inclusion, joy, and the great progress we have made over time. But this year, it was also an opportunity to come together to acknowledge and reflect on the current hostile political climate, including criminal acts of vandalism committed Friday evening here in our community. As Michel Lee Garrett from Centre LGBT+ said, “it’s imperative that Pride must be more than just a festival, than just a party. Pride is a protest.”

Precisely because of the current environment, it is more important than ever that we make our voices heard loud and clear as highly visible allies of the LGBT+ community. NOW is the time for us to step up and to stand up for what we believe in and the values that we hold dear. We cannot say that we believe in liberty, freedom, and justice for all while being silent in the face of ongoing attacks. Showing up this weekend was a start. But I want to challenge everyone to make tomorrow even better and every single day after that. Let’s build a better world for everybody in our community.

Happy Pride!

Keynote Speaker for the PA Municipal Authorities Spring Meeting

Civil War Weekend in Bellefonte

Eating Ice Cream and Strawberries at the 43rd Annual Lemont Strawberry Festival

Congratulations to Ben T. for Achieving the rank of Eagle Scout!

As always, contact our office at 814-308-0569 or at reptakac@pahouse.net if you would like me or a member of my team to attend an in-district event. 

And please follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or Bluesky to stay in touch and find out about our previous and upcoming events in the community!

Pennsylvania State Capitol

103-B East Wing
Harrisburg, PA 17120

(717) 772-0750

District Office

216 W. Hamilton Ave.
State College, PA 16801

(814) 308-0569