Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility The news you need on avian flu, program opportunities & more <

The news you need on avian flu, program opportunities & more

Happy Friday, 168th!

What a week it has been! It certainly started off on the right foot with the big Eagles win! Next week (whether the Steelers fans like it or not) will definitely be a green one in the state Capitol.

 

Our first session week of the year was a busy one. Four of the six committees I am currently assigned to met, reorganized, and got to work. 

I had a bill pass out of the Housing Committee, but sadly it was along party lines, so I doubt it will ever see the House floor — but I am grateful to Chair Markosek for considering H.B. 67 (more details in the story below).

 

We held an informational meeting with the Aging and Older Adults Committee where we discussed the challenges being faced by home healthcare providers. This was a big topic last session, and I anticipate it continuing to be a focus of conversation and, hopefully, some meaningful legislation to support the much-needed services the industry provides.

 

I’m really looking forward to next week’s session! I have a bill running in the Health Committee which is the result of neighbors calling to share concerns about access to ADHD medication. I also have legislation running in Local Government developed in collaboration with Newtown Township Board of Supervisor Chair Leonard Alteri. This legislation will support local governments as they seek to serve their communities.

 

Next Tuesday, we will hear from Governor Shapiro as he presents his 2026 budget plan. There is a lot to consider and a lot of funding needs. This is just the opening offer, and then the real work of hammering out a budget that benefits and supports every part of the commonwealth begins. Stay tuned!

 

I wish everyone a great weekend and a very fun week of Super Bowl festivities!

 

Let’s go E-A-G-L-E-S!

 

In this edition:

Harrisburg Update

- Remembering Rep. Matt Gergely

- Committee & Caucus positions for the new session

- Update on my legislation

- Opportunities for students

- Avian flu update

 

In the District

- Riddle Village Meet & Greet

- Delco Hi-Q at Archbishop Carroll

- PA Film Office event

 

Community Events

- School Supplies drive (now through 2/28)

- Unclaimed Property event (2/4)

- Property Tax / Rent Rebate event (2/25)

- Real ID Info Sessions (3/6, 3/13, 3/20)

 

FYI

- Statewide PA LGBTQ Youth Listening Session

- 2025 Fishing Season

- SEPTA changing names of multiple metro & bus lines

- Veterans: How to complete the new MV-371DV - form for reduced/free registration

- AARP Tax Aide appointments available at Wayne Senior Center

 

Harrisburg Update

Remembering Rep. Matt Gergely

I am heartbroken by the passing of my colleague and friend, Representative Matt Gergely. He was a good man who cared deeply about the community he served and worked hard to address their needs and those across our commonwealth.

 

My heart goes out to his wife Holly and their two boys. Thank you for sharing him with us. God bless you all and our friend Matt.

 

Life is so fragile. We all must take care of each other while we have the chance.

 

Committee & Caucus positions for the new session

I’m proud to share I was elected by my peers to serve as Vice Chair of the Southeast Delegation and co-chair of the Firefighters & EMS Caucus, and will serve on most of the same committees as the previous session, with several leadership positions:

  • Veterans' Affairs & Emergency Preparedness - Secretary
  • Health - Chair, Subcommittee on Health Care Facilities
  • Consumer Protection & Utilities - Chair, Subcommittee on Consumer Protection 
  • Local Government - Chair, Subcommittee on Townships
  • Aging & Older Adult Services
  • Communications & Technology

You may see all of my caucus memberships here.

 

Update on my legislation

With the new legislative session just getting underway, my only bill to update you about so far is the one I mentioned in the intro. 

 

H.B. 67 would ensure that people who live in a condo, cooperative, or planned community have the right to dry their clothes outside using a clothesline or drying rack. But as I pointed out above, even though the Housing & Community Development Committee did vote to send it to the full House for consideration, because the vote was along party lines it is unlikely to actually go up for a vote by the entire chamber. 

 

Drying clothes using nature’s dryer—the sun—is an easy way to reduce utility bill expenses and is environmentally friendly. However, many homeowners associations fight to prohibit them for being “ugly.” My legislation addresses this with reasonable restrictions such as limiting the use of these items to backyard areas. I’ll let you know if it progresses.

 

Opportunities for students

? PA House of Representatives Legislative Fellowship Program

 

The program is currently accepting applications for the Spring 2025 semester. Applications are due on March 1, 2025. The Fellowship 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.

Learn more here. Applications can be submitted via email to: pahousefellowship@pabmc.net.

 

? Keystone Contractors Association Scholarship Program

The program provides a total of $40,000 in scholarships annually to Pennsylvania residents who are attending Pennsylvania colleges and who seek a construction-related degree. It’s open to graduating high school seniors and current college students.

 

The deadline to apply for this year's scholarship program is March 1, 2025. Click here for details

 

The first positive case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in domestic poultry in PA in 2025 was confirmed Monday on a commercial poultry farm in Lehigh County. There have been no additional cases reported since. 

 

The state Department of Agriculture has begun its coordinated and aggressive response plan. Here’s what you need to know:

 

? There is no health risk to the human public. Poultry products and eggs are 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.

 

This detection 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.

 

That is the general update – you may keep reading for more details about actions the Shapiro Administration has taken:

  • Implemented a special $31 million fund to get PA’s agriculture industry through the outbreak. This money will be used to help impacted farmers pay for testing and get compensation for losses to their flocks that aren’t covered by federal programs. It is also going toward growing the workforce needed to keep up with testing, prevention, and outbreak response efforts; growing the capacity of labs that perform testing; and implementing new technology that helps detect outbreaks.  
  • Made free personal protective equipment available to farm workers.
  • Is coordinating with the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, Food & Drug Administration, PA Dept. of Health, PA Centers for Dairy Excellence and Poultry & Livestock Excellence, and Penn State University.
  • Created an online depot for guidance documents for surveillance testing and for obtaining permits.
 

In the District

Riddle Village Meet & Greet

Kate and I had a great time with our neighbors at Riddle Village Retirement Community! We talked about successes of the past session, how we plan to expand on that work in the 2025-2026 session, and processed a lot of SEPTA Senior Fare cards!

 

I was happy to answer lots of questions about cost-of-living adjustments for retired teachers. services for our seniors, rising prescription medication costs, the state of healthcare in Delco, and how to avoid identity theft.

 

I also gave residents some insight on how we are working together as a divided legislature to deliver for the neighbors we serve across the commonwealth. We had a great crowd and great conversation. 

I’m grateful to everyone who came out and brought their questions and concerns. I’m busy following up on answers and will be back in touch soon.

 

Hi-Q at Archbishop Carroll

It’s always great to our outstanding students and next generation of leaders showing off their academic muscles. I spent a fun morning last week at the Delco Hi-Q match cheering on Archbishop John Carroll High School vs. Haverford and Sun Valley. It was shaping up to be a great match (sadly I had to leave early) between some very well-prepared contestants. Great job! My score? 3-0 on current events, Shakespeare 1-2, math…a big 0!

 

PA Film Office event

Last week, Kate represented the 168th to welcome Gino Anthony Pesi – Film Commissioner and Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Film Office during his first visit to Delco. In town for the screening of Delco: The Movie, Commissioner Pesi led a discussion about how the PA Film Tax Credit is bringing the film industry to Delco and serving as an economic driver. [photo]

 

We’ve been fortunate to see some of the benefits of filming in our district, but Delco has definitely been the beneficiary of PA being a great place for film and television production.

 

Community Events

 
 
 
 

FYI

Statewide PA LGBTQ Youth Listening Session

The Governor’s Advisory Commission on LGBTQ Affairs has identified expanding protections for LGBTQ youth as a priority and will host LGBTQ Youth Listening sessions virtually on Tues., March 11 and Wed., March 19 from 4 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. via Zoom. The commission would like to hear from youth about any issues that they are having in school or elsewhere in their lives.

This invitation is open to any Pennsylvania LGBTQ+ youth in middle and high school. The commission also encourages local organizations to host an in-person gathering so local youth can participate online as a small in-person group. The commission would like to hear from youth about any issues that they are having in school or elsewhere in their lives.

This survey is for individual youth to indicate their interest; responding will result in an official invite with the Zoom link. If you are part of a community group or center that would like to host a hybrid gathering, please fill out this survey.

 

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.

 

2025 Fishing Season

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 Delaware County Treasurer’s office, or at a retail license issuing agent.

 

SEPTA changing names of multiple bus/metro lies

SEPTA’s Metro transition is underway, and a key element of this process is streamlining the way it refers to different services – all bus lines will be indicated by numbers, and all metro lines will be identified by letters.

 

These changes have already begun appearing here on SEPTA’s web pages, and throughout 2025 you will begin seeing them in more places, including the new schedules that will go into effect February 23 – 24. Note that this kind of transition takes time, and riders should expect to see both old and new language and signage used through the transition.

 

AARP Tax Aide appointments available at Wayne Senior Center

AARP is now scheduling tax prep appointments at the Wayne Senior Center. This service is available to adults 50 years of age and older who are low to moderate income. You do not need to be an AARP member to receive tax aide assistance or a Wayne Senior Center member, it is open to all.

 

Wayne Senior Center members can call the Center directly at 610-688-6246 to make an appointment. Appointments are available on Wednesdays at 1:00 PM and 2:15 PM; and Fridays at 8:45 AM, 10:00 AM, and 11:15 AM.

 

Non-members of Wayne Senior Center should call the appointment hotline at 484-380-5260 and leave a voicemail with your contact information. A local AARP volunteer will call you back.

 

Pennsylvania State Capitol

28-B East Wing
Harrisburg, PA 17120
(717) 772-2005

District Office

24 S. Newtown Street Rd., Suite 100
Newtown Square, PA 19073

(484) 427-2884