Dear Neighbor,

Last week we passed a balanced, bipartisan budget along with other key legislation for Pennsylvanians, and I’m proud to report that one of the bills that was signed into law by Gov. Shapiro includes my proposal to require parental notification of bullying in schools. The measure will require schools to establish a procedure for investigating all alleged bullying and cyberbullying incidents and to immediately notify parents and legal guardians of any student involved after a bullying incident has been confirmed.

I led the fight for this new bullying law because many children are not comfortable discussing these incidents, which means many parents are unaware that their child is involved in a bullying incident until it’s too late. Some schools already do this, but not all; now we have a statewide standard in place.

I also supported our new state budget because it helps schools and other important programs without raising taxes and without tapping into the state’s Rainy Day Fund. Besides schools, the budget invests more in childcare and the childcare workforce, grants and scholarships for college students, mental health services, programs to combat food insecurity, programs for veterans, and violence prevention measures. It’s a budget that delivers for our communities.

You can read more about the budget here.

Next month, Senator Tim Kearney and I are hosting a SEPTA Senior ID Event at the Upper Providence Township Building on Aug. 6 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Individuals aged 65 or older can stop by with their photo ID or driver’s license to sign up for a free SEPTA Senior Card, which will allow them to ride SEPTA for free. For more information or to register, please call the office at 610-544-9878.

I’m also happy to share that the Wallingford-Swarthmore School District is receiving a grant of $47,084 to help cover the costs of training new school bus drivers. This grant is funded through PennDOT’s School Bus Safety Grant Program to increase school bus safety for Pennsylvania’s students and communities. It was part of an allotment of $1.1 million in grants announced this week to help 26 school transportation providers train more than 430 drivers across 19 counties.

Gov. Josh Shapiro’s Administration has launched a statewide women’s health informational tour to raise awareness about the life-saving preventive services available at no cost through their health insurance plan. I want to inform you about it because a 2025 survey of women across PA found that 31% of women are very or somewhat unaware of the preventive services available to them at no-cost under the Affordable Care Act.

The tour will run through September with five stops in each region of Pennsylvania. At each stop, women will be able to ask questions and share their experiences navigating the health insurance system. The stops include one in Philadelphia at 10 a.m. on Aug. 26 at Parkway Central Library, 1901 Vine St. For more info, visit here.

To help everyone stay safe when temperatures rise, I want to make sure you’re aware of Delaware County’s 2026 Heat Plan. It includes Code Red alerts and cooling centers at senior centers, libraries, and community buildings. To learn more, visit https://delcopa.gov/health-department/heat-information, or call the Delaware County Health Department’s Wellness Line if you need help staying cool at (484) 276-2100.

And remember these tips to beat the heat:

• Drink plenty of water
• Check on older friends, relatives, and neighbors
• Limit time outdoors, especially midday
• Never leave kids or pets in a car
• If you need to be outdoors, be aware of the signs of heat exhaustion: dizziness, nausea, headache, or excessive sweating.
• When in doubt, take a break, cool down and seek help.  

If you’re thinking about starting a business, or expanding, or moving to PA, check out the state’s Business One-Stop Shop website, which provides helpful resources for small business owners. You’ll find help from the Department of Community and Economic Development regarding business plans, state funding, taxes, and contracting, among other things.

The Children’s Health Insurance Program, or CHIP, is Pennsylvania’s program to provide health insurance for kids and teens who need it, but it’s not just for those on low incomes. Some parents might think their kids can't get CHIP coverage because they make too much money. Not true!

CHIP covers uninsured kids and teens up to age 19 who are not eligible for Medical Assistance. Apply today: chipcoverspakids.com.

During July and August, our office will hold summer hours by closing at 3 pm on Fridays. Stay cool and enjoy your summer!

Swarthmore Farmers Market
Swarthmore Town Center
Saturdays, 9 am to 12 pm

Media Farmers Market
Edgemont Street, between State and Front
Sundays, 10 am to 1 pm

Dining Under the Stars
State Street
Wednesdays, 5 pm to 9 pm

Rep. O’Mara and Sen. Kearney’s SEPTA Senior Card Event
Thursday, Aug. 6 11 am to 1 pm
Upper Providence Township Building

Sincerely,

District Office

26 E. 4th Street

Media, PA 19063-3042
(610) 544-9878

Pennsylvania State Capitol
217 Irvis Office Building

P.O. Box 202165

Harrisburg, PA 17120-2165
(717) 783-4090