Pennsylvania’s skilled workforce makes us a leader in electrical and natural gas production. We are uniquely positioned to become a leader in next-generation geothermal energy.

That’s why I am proud to partner with Reps. Craig Williams and Elizabeth Fiedler to propose legislation that would create regulatory clarity to move forward with the development of clean, always-on geothermal energy in Pennsylvania. You can read our proposal here.

The state budget is more than a month overdue, and this is beginning to cause problems for Pennsylvanians. This will soon put the health of our communities at risk, bring our public transit to a halt, and threaten the education of our kids in public schools.

My colleagues and I in the State House have acted and passed a bipartisan budget to help all Pennsylvanians. We will again be returning to Harrisburg Sunday to move forward critical funding for public transit as we have previously on multiple occasions. The Senate Republican majority needs to step up, come back to Harrisburg, and do the same.

This week marks the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, a vital piece of legislation that helped secure the blessings of liberty for all Americans.

Let us recommit that like the courageous Americans who sacrificed to make the Voting Rights Act a reality, we will fight to protect access to the ballot box for all eligible voters, something that we unfortunately cannot take for granted today.

The threat to voting rights and political engagement was unfortunately reinforced for me recently by a terrible incident involving a young woman from our community who went to register to vote. Thankfully, her courage to speak out resulted in an appropriate resolution. You can read more here.

As an ER Doc, much of my academic work focused on educating EMS and ED staff on caring for those on the autism spectrum. That’s why it was wonderful to visit Spectrum Fudge, a local business that employs individuals with disabilities and works with schools and non-profits to bring those with disability into the workforce.

Thank you for all the amazing work you do and the chance to purchase some delicious fudge!

Veena, my staff & volunteers, and I had a great time at National Night Out in McCandless and Franklin Park. It was also a privilege to honor Joseph Hotnich, the first Franklin Park police chief.

Thank you to the police, firefighters, EMS, and municipal leaders for a great event and your work every day to keep our communities safe.

The Redevelopment Authority of Allegheny County is accepting applications through Aug. 22 for community and economic development grants to be awarded from the state gaming fund.

Grants can be used for a variety of projects and job training and must be between $150,000 and $500,000. Eligible applicants in include non-profits, for-profit businesses, municipalities, and authorities.

For more information, visit the RAAC Website.

Scammers have been sending fraudulent text messages trying to convince people they have an outstanding traffic ticket or unpaid turnpike tolls, so be aware. The fraudulent messages claim to be from the so-called “Pennsylvania Department of Motor Vehicles” and threaten several consequences, including a suspended license and possible prosecution.

The scam urges you to click on a link to pay to avoid legal trouble, but DO NOT CLICK ON IT because the messages are not legitimate.

Please remember that my talented staff can help you with a variety of state-related matters, from filing for a Property Tax/Rent Rebate to obtaining a disability placard or senior bus pass – to name just a few. Contact us or stop by to see how we can help!  

You can read my e-newsletter in a way that’s preferable to you by visiting my legislative website here and clicking on the accessibility icon?in the lower right corner. 

Pennsylvania State Capitol

101 B East Wing

PO Box 202030

Harrisburg, PA 17120

(717) 772-2363

District Office

9800B McKnight Road, Suite 130
Pittsburgh, PA 15237

(412) 348-8028