Human Trafficking Panel 2024

(Jan 18, 2024)

Collaboration is key and participation is crucial in preventing human trafficking here in Montgomery County. I recently brought together experts and stakeholders to discuss how we can combat this critical issue. Read more

 

Webster secures $278,000 for outdoor development projects

(Jan 17, 2024)

MONTGOMERY, Jan. 16 – State Rep. Joe Webster, D-Montgomery, announced today that two projects in Montgomery County will receive state grants to rehabilitate outdoor spaces. The Commonwealth Financing Authority has released a list of grant awardees from various Department of Community and Economic Development projects. Montgomery County projects will receive a total of $278,000 in funds under the Greenways, Trails, and Recreation Program (GTRP) and Watershed Restoration Protection Program (WRPP). $200,000 to Upper Providence Township for the Anderson Farm Park Loop Trail. $78,000 to the National Audubon Society, John James Audubon Center for the John James Audubon Center Green Stormwater Infrastructure Project. "When the state funds beautification projects like these, everyone benefits. Making outdoor areas accessible will encourage more people to get outside and explore what our area has to offer," Webster stated. "I look forward to the completion of these plans and applaud the Upper Providence Township and the National Audubon Society for working to make our area appealing to both our residents and our visitors." Webster represents the 150th Legislative District, which includes Collegeville, Trappe, Lower and Upper Providence, and West Norriton, and serves on the House Appropriations, Environmental Resources and Energy, Finance, State Read more

 

RACP, Health, Environmental, Public Safety, Transportation, and Redevelopment Opportunities

(Jan 12, 2024)

NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Commission on Crime and Delinquency: PAYS Survey Design Consultant Who May Apply: Applicants must meet the qualifications listed in the program guidelines, but any non-profit, for-profit, or academic organization is eligible. Use: The primary purpose of this project is to contract with an expert in the practice of surveying youth and adolescents to help inform necessary and appropriate revisions to the Pennsylvania Youth Survey (PAYS). Funds: Funding is provided through the State Violence and Delinquency Prevention Program stream. PCCD expects to fund one grant not to exceed $200,000. Application Deadline: February 12, 2024 More information: PCCD Website Commission on Crime and Delinquency: Oversight of the 2025 and 2027 PAYS Administrations Who May Apply: Applicants must demonstrate their ability to conduct the tasks outlined in the program guidelines, but non-profits, for-profits, institutions of higher education, or others are eligible. Use: The primary purpose of this project is to provide direct oversight of the administration of the Pennsylvania Youth Survey (PAYS) for the 2025 and 2027 survey administration periods. Funds: Funding is provided through the State Violence and Delinquency Prevention Program stream. PCCD expects to fund one grant not to exceed $125,000. Application Deadline: February 12, 2024 More information: PCCD Website Commission on Crime and Delinquency: 2024/25 Justice Assistance Grant Read more

 

NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS - Summer 2024 PA House Legislative Fellowship Program

(Jan 10, 2024)

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives Legislative Fellowship Program is currently accepting applications for the Summer 2024 semester. Applications are due on March 1, 2024 . The Fellowship Program is based in Pennsylvania’s magnificent 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, to name a few. Qualified applicants will be: College undergraduate juniors or seniors, graduate students, or law school students; Enrolled in a Pennsylvania college/university, or a Pennsylvania resident enrolled in an out-of-state institution; and Pursuing any major with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. If you know of any college students who would benefit from the Fellowship Program, please feel free to invite them to visit the website at: www.pahousefellowship.us . Applications can be submitted via email at: pahousefellowship@pabmc.net . Read more

 

Grant Memo: Cultural, Health, Environmental, Public Safety, Transportation, and Redevelopment Opportunities For Your District

(Jan 03, 2024)

NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Department of Human Services: OCDEL Keystone STARS Continuous Quality Improvement Who May Apply: Eligible childcare providers will be notified via an eligibility letter from their Early Learning Resource Center. Providers must meet the requirements outlined here . Use: Staff qualifications and professional development, early childhood education programs, partnerships with families and communities, leadership and management, and accreditation costs. Funds: Grant amounts vary by provider. Grant funding comes from $12 million of federal Childcare Development Fund funds. Application Deadline: Feb. 15, 2024 More information: Keystone STARS Website Department of Transportation: State Transportation Innovation Council (STIC) Incentive Program Who May Apply: To be eligible for STIC Incentive funding, the STIC or other equivalent task force, committee or group must be formally established with a charter, include public and private members, meet regularly, and comprehensively consider sources of innovation. Use: The State Transportation Innovation Council Incentive Program provides funding to help STICs foster a culture of innovation and make innovations standard practice in their states. Examples of allowable activities include but are not limited to: developing standards and specifications; developing training to facilitate widespread use of innovation, developing Read more

 

Webster Highlights the Need for Renewed Focus on Stormwater Management

(Dec 11, 2023)

COLLEGEVILLE, Dec. 11 – ­­State Rep. Joe Webster, D-Montgomery, is emphasizing the need for renewed attention on stormwater management in Pennsylvania as the commonwealth is hit yet again by dangerous weather. Throughout Sunday, Dec. 10, Webster’s district received about 1.6 inches of rain as a result of a nation-wide storm system that flooded the Pacific Northwest earlier in the week and produced extreme thunderstorms and deadly tornados in the south. “Those who live along or near the Perkiomen Creek like myself, know that it does not take a big storm for the “Perky” to get full,” Webster said. “This was a big storm. Less than 2 inches of rain falling doesn’t sound like a lot, but the USGS gauge at Graterford on the Perkiomen Creek topped at almost 9 feet.” In comparison, during Hurricane Ida in 2021, the district saw nearly 10 inches of rain in the span of a day, raising the Graterford gauge to higher than 20 feet, equivalent to 2,100 tons of water a second or an Olympic-sized swimming pool passing by every second. “In Hurricane Ida we saw homes destroyed, businesses ruined, and public and private infrastructure completely eroded away. And it left our region even more susceptible to flooding.” Webster’s district sits within the Perkiomen Watershed, an area that encompasses parts of Montgomery, Bucks, Berks and Lehigh Read more

 

Webster welcomes House Appropriations and Education committees to Philadelphia

(Oct 24, 2023)

COLLEGEVILLE, Oct. 24 – State Rep. Joe Webster, D-Montgomery, reminds constituents, parents, neighbors, and stakeholders that the House Appropriations and Education committees’ Pennsylvania Education Tour will be stopping in Philadelphia today and tomorrow, Oct. 24 and Oct. 25, to discuss Pennsylvania’s public education funding system. In February, the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania ruled that Pennsylvania’s method of funding public education was unconstitutional in that it fails to adequately provide every child with a high-quality education. To address the inequalities, the state legislature established a bipartisan, bicameral Basic Education Funding Commission tasked with identifying the current failures of the funding system, recommend changes, and report its findings to the General Assembly no later than Nov. 30. “For years, Pennsylvania has underfunded its public schools, so much so that four out of five school districts across the Commonwealth do not receive their fair share of funding – that’s rural, urban, and suburban schools all not receiving enough money,” Webster said. “This committee has an obligation to the students, teachers and parents of Pennsylvania to create a plan that equitably funds public education and enact it expeditiously. Every child, regardless of ZIP code, should have the opportunity to succeed.” As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, Webster will attend both Read more

 

Fall 2023 Newsletter

(Sep 26, 2023)

Check out my Fall 2023 Newsletter! Read more

 

Proud to Stand Union Strong with Teamsters

(Jul 26, 2023)

Congratulations Teamsters on your well-deserved success on safer working conditions and better wages for UPS workers. Last week I was proud to stand with my Democratic colleagues to support UPS union workers as they worked toward this goal. Read more

 

PA Budget Update

(Jul 20, 2023)

At this time, the PA Senate has not returned to Harrisburg to formally accept the 2023-2024 budget that was passed by the PA House of Representatives. Read more

 

Webster releases statement on state budget passage

(Jul 06, 2023)

HARRISBURG, July 6 – State Rep. Joe Webster, D- Montgomery, issued the following statement regarding his vote on the 2023-24 state budget that is headed to the desk of Gov. Josh Shapiro. “The 2023/24 Budget is a compromise. As Democrats, we stood firm against school vouchers to prioritize the future of our public education system. However, it was disappointing to see valuable programs and line items sacrificed in order to eliminate vouchers and pass this budget without further delay. “While this budget doesn’t finish the job in addressing decades of underfunded public education, we’ve now come farther than ever before in closing the gap.” Webster said the four school districts in the 150th Legislative District will all see increases in their state funding. $11,297,268 for Methacton School District, a 7.3% increase from last year. $31,953,809 for Norristown Area School District, a 18.5% increase from last year. $ 11,148,153 for Perkiomen Valley School District, a 7.1% increase from last year. $16,800,385 for Spring-Ford Area School District, a 10.4% increase from last year. “The budget includes much-needed funding for other important programs, including the modernization of the Department of Revenue, workforce development grants, and the Whole Home Repairs program. These and other investments will improve daily life for Pennsylvanians. However, I am committed to advocating for continued improvements to Read more

 

PA House passes Webster bill to extend time limit for veterans' records not to be disclosed

(Jun 12, 2023)

HARRISBURG, JUNE 12 – Today, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives unanimously passed legislation authored by state Rep. Joe Webster, D-Montgomery, that would protect the identity and privacy of Pennsylvania’s veterans as they age. House Bill 269, Veterans’ Records of Discharge , would extend the time period from 75 to 85 years for a veteran’s records of discharge or separation to remain undisclosed other than to the veteran, immediate family or authorized representatives. “People are living longer, and we need to make sure our laws are keeping pace with this reality, especially to ensure that our veterans’ records are not being accessed for fraudulent purposes,” Wester said. “My bill would make DD-214 discharge papers inaccessible to anyone other than a veteran or an immediate family member or authorized agent of the veteran for 85 years, rather than the current 75 years. Genealogists may continue to request redacted copies of DD-214s through the federal Veterans Administration, if within that timeframe.” Currently, veterans may file their DD-214s with their county’s recorder of deeds to access an array of benefits through the county’s Veterans Affairs office. “Our veterans have served this country honorably, and whether their service was recent or decades ago, it is our responsibility to protect them after they have made sacrifices to protect us,” Webster said. “I’m Read more

 

Webster and local advocates promote riparian buffer legislation

(Jun 06, 2023)

COLLEGEVILLE, June 6 – State Rep. Joe Webster, D-Montgomery, held a news event at Evansburg State Park on Friday to discuss his recently introduced riparian buffer legislation (H.B. 1275) and the importance of storm water management throughout Pennsylvania. Joining him were environmental advocates and community members including: Delaware Riverkeeper Maya K. van Rossum. Ursinus College President Dr. Robin Hannigan. Cool Heron LLC Founder and Director Erin McCool. PennFuture Field Director Jess Cadorette. Also present were members of: Penn State Extension Master Watershed Stewards. West Norriton Township Environmental Advisory Council. Lower Providence Township Environmental Advisory Council. Upper Providence Township Supervisor Bill Starling. Lower Providence Township Supervisor Gary Neights. The riparian buffer legislation “would protect this space, left and right of the creek by about 100 ft,” Webster said, with a section of riparian buffer of the Skippack Creek as his backdrop. This bill protects riparian buffers from development, it protects them from impermeable kinds of parking spaces and black tops so that water seeps into the earth.” Webster’s bill also addresses measures such as tree cutting, tree planting, and the residential homes that already exist within the buffer. Read more

 

Collegeville Trappe Memorial Day Parade & Festivities

(Jun 01, 2023)

Collegeville Trappe Memorial Day Parade & Festivities Read more

 

Updates from Harrisburg

(May 24, 2023)

Updates from Harrisburg Read more

 

Legislative Town Hall is Tonight - See You There!

(May 17, 2023)

Tonight is my Legislative Town Hall! Please join me from 6:30 to 8:00 PM at Schellhase Commons, Ursinus College at 601 E. Main St., Collegeville, PA 19426. I will be discussing news from Harrisburg, passed and upcoming legislation, community projects, and more! Looking forward to seeing you tonight. Read more

 

Legislative Town Hall

(May 10, 2023)

Legislative Town Hall Read more

 

PA Fairness Act Passes House

(May 04, 2023)

PA Fairness Act Passes House Read more

 

Ciresi and Webster dedicate Trooper Branden T. Sisca Highway in Trappe

(Apr 28, 2023)

HARRISBURG, April 28 – State Reps. Joe Ciresi and Joe Webster, both D-Montgomery, held a road dedication ceremony today in Trappe to unveil a memorial sign in honor of Trooper Branden T. Sisca, who was killed in the line of duty in 2022. “Branden Sisca dedicated his life to protecting others in service of the community he loved,” Ciresi said. “Although nothing can fill the void that Branden’s tragic passing left, Rep. Webster and I thought weaving Branden’s legacy into the fabric of the community through the road dedication would help us all heal. From this day forward, everyone traveling through Trappe will be reminded of Branden’s life of public service as a volunteer firefighter and Pennsylvania State Trooper. Thank you to everyone who worked tirelessly to make today’s ceremony a tremendous success.” The memorial sign designates a portion of State Route 4031 (Main Street) between Fifth Avenue and State Route 4048, also known as Seventh Avenue, in Trappe as the Trooper Branden T. Sisca Memorial Highway. “Today we honor the life and service of Trappe Fire Chief and PA State Trooper Branden Sisca who dedicated his life to public service and protection of our community,” Webster said. “This dedication stands as a show of our sincere gratitude for his service and our pledge to honor his memory and sacrifice. Thank you to everyone who ensured today’s ceremony was a fitting tribute.” Read more

 

PA Fairness Act

(Apr 26, 2023)

PA Fairness Act Read more