Dear Neighbor, 

Over the past several weeks, I have heard from hundreds of folks from near and far who, like me, are appalled and deeply concerned about recent developments in Minneapolis involving federal immigration agents. Reports of violence and intimidation (including the fatal shooting of two U.S. citizens) by unidentified, heavily armed, and aggressive agents, as well as tactics including random ID checks, warrantless home invasions, and using young children as bait, are shocking and disturbing. In addition, the suppression, withholding, and even destruction of evidence raises serious questions regarding accountability and oversight. Government agents acting with secrecy and impunity threaten the foundations of our legal and constitutional system of justice.

As the proud son and grandson of police officers, I believe that law enforcement can and must be a public service, as exemplified by the motto “to protect and serve.” What ICE and CBP are doing today betrays that honorable tradition. Their recent actions have little if anything to do with protecting communities or upholding due process. Instead, they are trampling the rights and freedoms that generations of Americans have fought to preserve. In a democracy, law enforcement must respect and uphold the law while enforcing it.

Because I am a state representative and not a member of Congress, I have no direct oversight or control over federal actions. But please know that my colleagues and I are doing what we can to take action to protect our communities here in Pennsylvania. We are exploring legislation to require identification, ban masks and face coverings (except in rare, narrowly defined cases), and other reasonable, lawful steps to ensure the protection of all those who call Pennsylvania home. I am also working with the House Judiciary Committee on legislation that would require federal agents to preserve, protect, and share evidence with state investigators in cases involving serious injury, death, or significant civil rights violations. We have seen federal agents in Minneapolis attempt to withhold or tamper with evidence, and we must do all we can to prevent that happening in Pennsylvania.

Here in Pennsylvania — the birthplace of our nation — we have a special obligation to defend the rights and freedoms of our fellow Americans. I encourage you to join me in voicing your concerns directly to our federal representatives.

Finally, please be sure to take care of yourself, your family, and those in our community who are scared, vulnerable, and traumatized. Witnessing state-sponsored violence is disturbing and we must never normalize it in this country.

Groundhog Day may have been on Monday, but Tuesday I was in Harrisburg for Governor Shapiro’s annual budget address, delivered to a joint session of the PA House and Senate.  I was heartened by his continued focus on policies and priorities that will improve the lives of all Pennsylvanians and build on the historic investments my House Democratic colleagues and I have delivered with him over the past few years.

Those priorities include an ongoing effort to close the unconstitutional funding gap in public education and allow local taxpayers to keep more of their hard-earned tax dollars. They also include creating opportunity for all through targeted investments in economic development, innovation, and infrastructure while also cutting taxes and protecting the environment. And of course, our commitment to address the rising costs of energy, food, healthcare, and housing. I am proud of the work we’ve done and am excited to continue building on those successes.

Let me be clear however, this is only the beginning of a long deliberative process. I am committed to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to deliver an impactful, responsible, and on-time budget that will keep PA moving forward.

And to do that, I want to hear directly from you. Please reach out to let us know what YOUR budget priorities are. You can reach my staff and I at RepTakac@pahouse.net or 814-308-0569.

The Property Tax/Rent Rebate (PTRR) Program opened on January 15th and will continue accepting applications through June 30th. This is one of the most popular and impactful state programs to support homeowners and renters. In order to qualify for the program, you must be 65 or older; a widow or widower 50+; or someone with a disability 18+. In addition, your household income must be $48,110 or less annually.  

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is also open to eligible residents. This program is more important than ever. As we’ve experienced recently, heating bills are rising just as fast as temperatures are dropping.

My team will be hosting a series of local clinics to assist with navigating the application process, or you can visit my district office or any of my satellite offices anytime, and we can help you file.

To complete your Property Tax/Rent Rebate application at our office or clinic, please bring all sources of 2025 income information. For property owners, please bring your 2025 property taxes. For renters, please bring a rent certificate signed by your landlord, or we can provide you a blank one to have filled out at your convenience.  

If you’d like to file for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program at the same time, please also bring a recent fuel and/or energy bill. Your eligibility for LIHEAP is determined by the total annual income and size of your household. See below for more details!

I am proud to announce that the second round of the Agricultural Innovation Grant Program, which I spearheaded in 2024, is again open for applications. These matching grants help farmers and agribusinesses adopt cutting-edge agricultural technologies, conservation practices, and renewable energy innovations—expanding their potential to generate profits, enrich soil and protect water, and even produce energy on the farm.

The first installment of this $10 million grant program funded eighty-eight innovative projects statewide and is already helping farmers leverage robotics, AI, drones, biodigesters, and more to be successful and prosperous.

If you are involved in agriculture and are interested in this program—or have already applied—please let me know! I would love to support even more projects in the 82nd District that promote Pennsylvania’s #1 industry and help us continue to lead the way nationally.

Applications for the Summer 2026 PA House Legislative Fellowship are due by March 2!

The Fellowship Program is based in PA's magnificent Capitol Building in Harrisburg. Legislative Fellows are assigned to work directly with House Committees or Leadership offices, are compensated for their work (including college credit), and are provided opportunities to present their own bills, work directly with public officials, and tour some of PA’s historic public spaces.  

Qualified applicants will be:  

• University juniors or seniors, graduate students, or law school students; 

• Attending a PA college/university, or a PA resident at an out-of-state institution; and 

• Pursuing any major with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. 

If you are a college student or know of someone who would benefit from the Fellowship Program, please invite them to visit www.pahousefellowship.us or submit an application to pahousefellowship@pabmc.net. 

Hope to see you in the Capitol! 

Join us on Thursday, February 19th at Foxdale Village Auditorium for a community town hall about Pennsylvania’s environmental future.  We’ll talk about current legislative and budget priorities, bipartisan opportunities, and my own priorities for 2026.

But most importantly, I want to hear from you. All are welcome. Hope to see you there!

Please take note that my office will be observing Presidents Day and will be closed on February 16th.  As always, thank you for your continued trust and support. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to email us at RepTakac@pahouse.net or call the office at 814-308-0569.  

And please follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Bluesky to find out more about what we’re up to and our upcoming events in the community! 

District Office

216 W. Hamilton Ave.
State College, PA 16801

(814) 308-0569

Pennsylvania State Capitol

103-B East Wing
Harrisburg, PA 17120

(717) 772-0750