State budget season is here!

Rep. Tim Brennan February 21, 2025 | 7:11 PM

PA Representative Tim Brennan banner image

Dear Neighbor,

Much of my time over the next few weeks will be spent in Harrisburg, and for good reason: as a second-term member of the PA House Appropriations Committee, I am among those responsible for asking the tough questions of the secretaries and leaders in charge of the budgets for Pennsylvania’s various departments, agencies, and commissions.

The ultimate goal: balancing all their needs to craft a state budget that benefits Bucks County and the people of the commonwealth as a whole. This week we held hearings for the following:

Dept. of Health (along with the Dept. of Drug & Alcohol Programs)
PA Emergency Management Agency (along with the Office of the State Fire Commissioner)
Dept. of Community & Economic Development
PennDOT
State Police
PA State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) and Community Colleges
State-Related Universities

At Wednesday's hearing with PennDOT

Check out the short video I made this week (below) and those we will provide of budget hearings for more insights. I will continue to keep you updated!

Sincerely,

Tim

Harrisburg Update

Update on my bill to protect those permanently disfigured on the job

Before budget hearings got started, I testified before the PA House Labor & Industry Committee about my proposal with Chairman Jason Dawkins to update the Workers Compensation Act, revising it to ensure any worker in PA who is seriously and permanently disfigured on the job is eligible for workers’ compensation. This is an effort we will never give up on, because it’s a commonsense move that supports justice for working people! The state House passed the bill last year, but the Senate Labor & Industry Committee failed to consider it.

You may learn more by listening to my testimony:

Renewing my push to save student athletes' lives

My bill that would require schools to have an AED available at all school athletic events was one of the first pieces of legislation I introduced as a newly elected lawmaker. But despite the widespread, bipartisan support it earned in my own chamber, which passed the bill last session, the Senate Education Committee failed to consider it. I’ve reintroduced the measure for the new session and look forward to updating you on its progress.

A TV news station in Pittsburgh recently covered the story of a young man whose life was saved when he experienced cardiac arrest on the field because an AED was there. I spoke to the reporter about my bill – click the image above (or here) to watch!

Governor sues Trump Administration over federal “funding freeze”

Gov. Josh Shapiro has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration to release at least $1.2 billion in federal funds that the governor's administration says are unlawfully held up by the president's executive actions. Many of those dollars were appropriated by Congress through the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure, Inflation and Jobs Act; this is the funding that will create the most consequences if cancelled.

That funding that was granted to Pennsylvania for projects to remediate PFAS in our water, modernize the electric grid, and update/build infrastructure to support sustainability for future generations.

I’ve spoken with our caucus’ research analysts and lawyers, who agree that the directives being handed down in DC are very broad and include little guidance, so it’s hard for anyone – let alone those outside the affected federal agencies – to pinpoint their exact impacts at this time. It seems very likely, however, that the efforts above are on hold indefinitely.

See Gov. Shapiro’s statement below, and learn more here.

In the District

Exploring our region's postsecondary education opportunities

I recently visited IBEW Local Union 126 to learn about the career training and job opportunities they provide to hardworking people in Bucks County.

Thank you to Steve Lutz and chapter president Jason Acree for spending the day with my colleagues and me – and allowing us some hands-on education!

Meeting with the Bucks County Area Agency on Aging

My staff and I recently met with deputy director Carin Tinney and staffers from the Bucks County Area Agency on Aging to discuss their budget priorities for state funding, as well as the many different programs they provide for our senior population.

We are thankful for their dedicated staff, who support us in assisting seniors who contact our office for help. They also coordinate with the county’s senior centers, Health and Wellness programs, PA Medi program, home-delivered meals, the Caregiver Support Program, OPTIONS Care Management Program, and many more.

Learning about mental & behavioral support options

Like most regions across the country, Bucks County has seen overdose and substance use disorder rates climb steadily for several years. It's important for lawmakers at every level of government to learn everything we can to understand these and other behavioral health trends. New Vitae Wellness and Recovery has been serving individuals, families, and veterans in need of behavioral health support since 1983, and I recently toured their facility to learn more about the support they offer to our community.

New Vitae's approach is centered around the "Recovery Model," a framework for care that emphasizes the value of hope and self-directed services. In addition to substance use disorder, they treat conditions like Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and PTSI and offer both residential and outpatient options. I left our meeting impressed and grateful for their presence in our community.

Accolades for Angela

Congratulations to Doylestown resident Angela Nutter for winning the Community Leadership Award in Bucks County Community College's 2025 MLK Leadership Awards!

I appreciate my office director, Michael Gunden, for attending the awards ceremony while I was out of town.

Angela creates opportunities to elevate the voices of smaller populations across the county, organizing events that bring the community together and help keep alive Dr. King's vision of equity for all. She founded Doylestown Juneteenth to help people learn about and celebrate the national holiday, and their annual event at Mercer Museum brings together a variety of organizations (such as African Diaspora Collective in Bucks County & Bucks County NAACP) to showcase the vibrant history and community of African Americans in Bucks County.

She partnered with Desis of Doylestown to hold the first-ever Bucks Culture Fest at Bucks County Community College in Newtown in 2024, bringing together 40+ organizations and more than a dozen multicultural entertainers. She works as the food program coordinator for Bucks County Opportunity Council, and volunteers as a member of BC Cares Educational Foundation's Board of Directors.

It is such a joy to be able to congratulate our most hardworking and altruistic community members on their commendable work. Thank you, Angela, for everything you've done and continue to do! We appreciate you!

Save the date!

FYI

Do you know a standout Borough of Doylestown resident aged 18 or younger who's making a difference through community service or extracurricular activities? Now’s the time to shine a spotlight on their incredible efforts!

Submit your nomination here: https://ow.ly/aHSW50UL7ZH

Status Update: New Hope-Lambertville Toll-Supported Bridge

We are nearing the project's completion! Only off-peak alternating single-lane travel restrictions are anticipated to be needed to complete remaining project tasks. These are now underway from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays and expected to last up to three weeks.

The final tasks being completed involve removal of temporary construction platform/debris containment from beneath the bridge, completion of architectural lighting installation, calibrating and adjusting the new lights, and applying touch-up paint where needed. “Punch-list” work is then expected to follow, including further testing, calibrating, and programming of the lighting system.

One other detail will be the state line designation along the bridge’s walkway. Due to the composition of the bridge’s new slip-resistant foam-core fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) walkway panels, paint will not adhere well to the surface. As a result, the walkway’s railing will be utilized to connote the state line’s location. Two railing sections and one support post are colored differently for this purpose. Signs will be installed at the location to mark the respective states. Dividend: the new state-line designation will be more conducive for taking family and group photographs.