Dear Neighbor,

While many of you have likely seen this update already on one of my social media channels, I haven’t yet paid tribute to Carol Wasserman Spiewak in this newsletter. Carol passed away peacefully at her home in New Hope in December. She served as my chief of staff, but more than that, she was my friend and mentor, and every moment I spent with her was a blessing.

Carol had a beautiful soul and felt the full weight of the universe pressing down on her to right every wrong. She had a deep sense of empathy, near impossible goals and the energy, passion and confidence to change the world.

Every time I feel like I’m hitting a wall or embarking on a new effort that seems like a hopeless cause, I will remember Carol… and I will try harder. For her, and for you.

Sincerely,

Tim

Embarking on my 2nd term as your state representative

As I was sworn in for my second term, I thought about how grateful I am to be representing the good people of the 29th Legislative District for another term. I came to Harrisburg to fix problems, improve people's lives and to make a difference for you, and I’m looking forward to building on the progress we made last year.

My focus will be on continuing to work with PennDOT to prioritize local road projects, especially fixes for routes 611 and 202. I'll also continue to secure state funding for farmland preservation and to improve our infrastructure – such as the new boat launch in New Hope and PFAS remediation facility in Doylestown – creating high paying jobs right here in Bucks County in the process.

I’ve been re-appointed to serve on the important House Appropriations Committee, as well as the standing House committees on Labor & Industry, Insurance, State Government, and Tourism, Recreation & Economic Development. I will also continue to serve as one of eight members of the bipartisan House Ethics Committee and remain a member of the Asian Pacific American Caucus, Delaware River Basin Caucus, Jewish Legislative Caucus, and Autism & ID Caucus.

Working on securing our water quality...

At my recent meeting in Harrisburg with PENNVEST – the agency that funds projects to improve water quality, prevent pollution, maintain water systems, and other related efforts – I spoke in support of a grant to fund a new PFAS treatment system for Doylestown Borough.

Central Bucks has been hit hard by PFAS contamination, and adding to the urgency for this remediation is that the borough's coverage area includes the courthouse, all Bucks County government buildings, and the third-largest school district in the state. I’m happy to report the project was approved – PENNVEST will provide a grant of nearly $5 million and a low-interest loan of $1 million – details to come!

...and educating the next generation of Skilled Workers

While in Harrisburg, I also met with Interim Chancellor Chris Fiorentino of Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education (known as PASSHE) and his staff to talk about tuition. I urged them to continue the tuition freeze instituted in 2018 for the 2025-26 academic year (they voted in July to keep it frozen for the current year).

Reasons for this include the need to produce more nurses and skilled technical workers to fill in gaps in our local workforce – because when a student graduates from a PASSHE school, there’s a 62% chance they’ll stay (and work) in PA!

Talking agriculture with Secretary Redding

I had a great opportunity at the PA Farm Show to sit down and talk with PA Dept. of Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding to find out how we can help grow agriculture in Bucks County.

I’ve already re-introduced the agriculture preservation bill I cosponsored with state Rep. Keith Greiner, a Republican serving Lancaster County, that passed the PA House last year but was neglected by the state Senate, forcing us to start the legislative process over again.

The measure would encourage the private investment of land trusts and combine them with public agricultural funds in the overall push to preserve farmland, ultimately saving taxpayer dollars and pushing some of that wealth back into the farmers who provide for us daily – and helping to ensure fresh, nutritious food is available to Pennsylvania’s future generations.

While on the topic of farms, it’s important for you to know the status of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in Pennsylvania.

This year’s first positive case of HPAI in domestic poultry was confirmed last Monday on a commercial poultry farm in Lehigh County. There have been no additional cases on poultry farms reported since. Last weekend, dead geese near a pond at Gettysburg College (Adams County) tested positive for the virus, and the college implemented safety measures.

The state Department of Agriculture's coordinated and aggressive response plan is underway. Here are the crucial takeaways:

? There is no health risk to the human public. Poultry products and eggs are still safe to eat when cooked properly. No infections in cows or humans have been detected in PA.

? A task force of state & federal workers is on the farm carrying out a comprehensive response plan to keep the virus from spreading. The farm is quarantined within a 10-kilometer radius.

? PA already has vigilant biosecurity measures in place, aggressively testing dairy cattle milk and poultry in farms & live bird markets and responding to positive tests with strict quarantines.

The detection in Lehigh is the first confirmed in commercial poultry in PA since February 2024. Still, this case and infections in neighboring states show that the threat of the highly infectious (and typically fatal for poultry) HPAI virus is now heightened. Anyone who encounters a sick or dead wild bird is asked to report it to the Pennsylvania Game Commission at 1-833-PGC-WILD.

While humans in other states who work closely with infected poultry or cattle have tested positive for the virus, it has a very low risk to human health. The FDA says there is low risk of infection to house pets; you may view their advice here.

I will continue to update you on any developments.

Middle schoolers show what it means to be a thoughtful citizen

I recently visited with the Honors students at Lenape Middle School in Doylestown to learn about their participation in StudentCam 2025, C-SPAN's annual national video documentary competition, encouraging young people to think critically about issues affecting our community & country.

I will always make time to encourage young people to be more civically engaged. These kids also asked some great thoughtful questions. They must have some exceptional teachers.... thank you to Mr. Blair, their teacher (on the left in the photo below), for the great work with these classes.

In the last two years, I have been working with a bipartisan, bicameral group of current and former legislators, including two former congressmembers, to make sure civics remains a substantive part of our kids’ instruction in our schools. Act 35 was passed several years ago to encourage civic competency and still more needs to be done to make sure teachers have the encouragement, space and incentives to build thoughtful and engaged citizens.

(They could surely take notes from Mr. Blair and Mrs. Monkoski!)

Staying informed on the latest education trends & issues

Last week I toured the apprenticeship training facilities for the UA Local 420 Steamfitters and Plumbers Union Local 690, bringing along Lou Kassa from Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center of Bucks County, which is in Buckingham. I wanted to show him some of the great things PA's trades are doing to develop and advance new technologies -- our region’s leadership in this area has been growing over the past couple decades, and the Shapiro Administration continues to provide significant support!

I also met recently with leaders of Bucks County Community College to discuss its priorities. You may recall that as part of the previous state budget, the legislature appropriated funding to give PA colleges the ability to expand their Dual Enrollment programs that let eligible high school students take tuition-free, college-level classes at no cost.

Looking forward, BCCC will take advantage of that opportunity – it also plans to prioritize custom training for large workforces, and to prepare more students as internship candidates for local small businesses.

I met with President & CEO Patrick Jones, Ph.D. (left), and Tom Jennings, Esq., Chair of the Board of Trustees (middle)

Appreciation for Jerry Fox's community contributions

Welcoming the State Director of Outdoor Recreation to the 29th

I recently invited Nathan Reigner, director of the Office of Outdoor Recreation (launched by Gov. Shapiro in 2023 under the PA Department of Conservation & Natural Resources) to our district for a mini tour of a few of our popular recreational spots, aiming to show him how our historical and cultural assets have been key in creating Bucks County’s thriving tourism economy – which generates nearly $1.2 billion(!!) in yearly visitor spending.

Nathan’s office is tasked with improving our state parks and forests to spur economic growth in the outdoor recreation industry, and they’re doing a great job – you may learn more on the Office’s website. If you own an outdoor business, make sure you take note of their form for submitting feedback on how the Office can support it!

The 2025 trout season will open officially on Saturday, April 5. There will be a preview Mentored Youth Trout Fishing Day on Sat., March 29. Click here for the entire 2025 schedule.

For Mentored Youth Trout Fishing Day, youth under the age of 16 can join a mentor (adult) angler who has a current fishing license and trout permit. Youth anglers must obtain a free PFBC-issued permit, or a voluntary youth fishing license.  Both are available online, through the Bucks County Treasurer’s office, or at a retail license issuing agent.

Students in grades 1-6 invited to enter statewide Art Contest

Submissions are now open for state Dept. of Health’s 2025 Lyme Disease Student Art Contest. First through sixth grade students in Pennsylvania may enter by creating a short video or poster focusing on the theme: “Protect. Check. Remove.”

The annual contest helps students, scout troops, and community youth programs learn how to prevent Lyme disease by educating them about ticks, including where they live, how to prevent bites, and how to remove ticks that bite.

The deadline for entries is 11:59 p.m. March 14, 2025. Click here for the contest’s details.

Pennsylvania has one of the highest annual counts of Lyme disease cases in the nation, which further emphasizes the importance of teaching children about tick awareness and prevention measures.

Internship opportunity for college or law school students!

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives Legislative Fellowship Program is currently accepting applications for the Spring 2025 semester. Applications are due on March 1, 2025. The program is based in the Capitol Building in Harrisburg.

Fellows are assigned to work in House Standing Committees or House Leadership offices, are compensated for their work (which may also include college credit), and are provided the opportunities to draft and present their own legislation, attend meet-and-greets with various public officials and staff, and tour some of the Commonwealth’s historic public spaces.

Qualified applicants will be:

1. College undergraduate juniors or seniors, graduate students, or law school students;
2. Enrolled in a Pennsylvania college/university, or a Pennsylvania resident enrolled in an out-of-state institution; and
3. Pursuing any major with a GPA of 3.0 or higher.

If you know of any college students who would benefit from our Fellowship Program, please feel free to invite them to visit our website at: www.pahousefellowship.us. Applications can be submitted via email at: pahousefellowship@pabmc.net.

Veterans: How to apply for a vehicle registration fee waiver

A new state program allows Severely Disabled Veterans to forgo the fees for titling or registering one vehicle. To qualify, a veteran must have a 100% service-connected disability that has been certified by a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office Administrator. These disabilities include:

• Lost a limb or eye or became partially paralyzed while serving;
• Was captured by the enemy in any armed conflict for which the U.S. Dept. of Defense authorizes a campaign medal, or;
• Has been awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor or the Purple Heart.

To apply, you must fill out form MV-371DV - Supplemental Application for Free or Reduced Registration Rates for Vets. Please visit this post on my website to download the form and for detailed instructions on how to fill it out based on your reason for applying.

The Coldest Night of the Year is a winterrific family-friendly fundraising walk in support of local charities.

Let’s change the tune for people experiencing hurt, hunger, and homelessness... because it’s cold out there.

The event takes place February 22, 2025 - click here for details.

Pennsylvania State Capitol

27B East Wing

Harrisburg, PA 17120

(717) 772-2361

District Office

80 North Main St., Suite 1A
Doylestown, PA 18901

(267) 884-0395