Happy sunny Friday, 168th!

It is the time of year I live for…Phillies back on, the trees starting to show red and green buds, and the weather inching toward spring warmth. But, despite all these positive signs toward spring, I am worried. Very worried.

Over the past several weeks, we have seen and heard some very concerning things coming out of Washington. A new administration always means change, and change is not always bad (I said that often while a commissioner). But the change impacting our federal government right now is causing uncertainty and concern for millions across the county and here at home.

What keeps me up at night are the decisions being made which will impact the ability of so many in our commonwealth to access the health care they need. The budget resolution passed by the U.S. House on Tuesday night appears to target serious and significant cuts to the Medicaid program. These cuts will not only impact some of the most vulnerable in our communities, but severely impact our local hospitals as well.

I have already heard from families in our district with children with special needs, families with seniors who have spent down their assets to be able to secure needed assistive care, and those with loved ones in recovery. These planned cuts will make healthcare harder to access, as this adds to the already overwhelming financial crisis our hospitals face.

Medicaid for PA does the following:

• Pays for 35% of all births in PA.
• Pays for the healthcare of 1.25 million children, including those with special needs.
• Is the single largest payer for mental health and substance use disorder treatment in PA.
• Pays for almost 2/3 of all nursing facility care and pays for care that allows people with disabilities and the elderly, who would otherwise be in a nursing facility, to be cared for in their homes.
• Reimburses for EMS costs.

So, why does this matter to you if you aren’t on Medicaid? Well, even when Medicaid is cut, the people it covered will still need care. Those formerly covered by Medicaid will now be self-pay or uninsured, and those with commercial insurance will see their costs rise so hospitals can continue to fund operations. Hospitals with a high number of Medicaid patients will be crippled by the lack of funding, and those already in a fragile state will be forced to reduce services or close, thus forcing more patients to a smaller number of hospitals not fully equipped to handle an overwhelming increase of patients. This will further weaken those hospitals, and the cycle begins again.

Fewer hospitals, less healthcare options, and increased wait times in emergency departments are just a few of the immediate impacts – we have already been seeing it happen in Delco with the loss of the Springfield and DCMH hospitals. People will start to put off seeking care, thus making them sicker when they finally seek treatment... and they will most likely seek it through the emergency department, the most expensive point of care entry.

Honestly, I could go on and on. I worked in healthcare for 30 years prior to taking on this role and we have been seeing the erosion of care for many, many years. However, what might happen with Medicaid is probably the single biggest threat to the system I have ever seen, and I am worried. I do not know how our state will step up to absorb these costs and help protect our healthcare system.

So, I’m sorry to start the weekend this way. I will say I am heartened by Zach Wheeler's performance in yesterday’s spring training game, and it makes me hopeful for a phun Phillies season. ?? Let’s all stay positive and keep communicating with each other -- I've scheduled a Virtual Town Hall in response to the questions you've been asking about what's happening in the federal government. Details are below.

In this edition:

Harrisburg Update

- State funding to increase walkability in Newtown Square & Radnor

- New Fire & EMS grants awarded

- Auditor General DeFoor's cyber charter audit

- Joint committee hearing on avian flu

In the District

- Penn State Brandywine is safe from closure

- Newtown Library clothing sale

- Technical education at the DCIU

- Helping neighbors with program applications

- Volunteering at Mitzvah Circle

Spotlight 168: Mary Slinkard of the Epilepsy Foundation of Eastern PA

My Events

- Virtual Town Hall (3/11)

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

FYI

- AG warns of rise in scams involving bitcoin ATMs

- PA 211's public dashboards

- AARP Tax Aide appointments at Wayne Senior Center

Community Events

- Statewide PA LGBTQ Youth Listening Session (3/11 & 3/19)

- Middletown Twp EAC: Birds of the Delaware Valley (3/27 & 3/29)

- CRC Stream Cleanup in Edgmont Twp (3/29)

- 2025 Trout Season (3/29 & 4/5)

- Backyard composting workshop at Rose Tree Park (4/22)

- Community Hearing Aid Clinic (4/25)

State funding to increase walkability in Newtown Square & Radnor

Investing in sidewalks and crosswalks isn’t just common sense—it’s a wise and responsible investment of state dollars. Well-designed and maintained walkways protect pedestrians’ lives, reduce accidents and strengthen communities overall. You deserve to feel safe when walking in your neighborhood, and that’s exactly what these investments aim to achieve.

I’m proud to work alongside Senator Amanda Cappelletti & Senator Tim Kearney to advocate for this crucial funding, because we all care deeply about Delco, your safety, and the safety of students who choose to learn here.

New Fire & EMS grants awarded

Every year I advocate in support of our fire & EMS companies’ applications for basic state grants to help fund equipment purchases, training, facility upgrades, and any operational costs needed to ensure firefighters have the best resources at their fingertips – both for our safety and theirs.

This year I’m also pushing for the improvements Governor Shapiro proposed in his budget address: Creating a new $30M funding stream for more grant funding; creating a program to help fire companies collaborate on best practices; and covering regular cancer screenings for firefighters.

Auditor General DeFoor’s cyber charter audit

I applaud the efforts of Auditor General DeFoor, who has done a deep dive into the way cyber charter schools are funded in PA. The current formula is funneling millions of local school tax dollars from our public schools to cyber charters, which are using it to grow excessive fund balances and spend it on questionable items.

I support alternative learning methods, as all children learn differently, but it does not cost the same to educate a child remotely as it does in a brick-and-mortar school. It is time to adjust the formula to fund cyber charters based on the real cost of remote learning.

In this current session and in the last session, I have supported cyber charter reform legislation that would improve the funding formula and recover overpayments by taxpayers. My hope is that we can pass this reform and get closer to our goal of fairly funded school districts!

Joint committee hearing on avian flu

On Wednesday, the House Agriculture and Health committees held a joint hearing on the spread of avian flu (H5N1), discussing the threat and its implications – including the spread to dairy cattle and people.

We heard from Dr. Andrew Hoffman, the dean of the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine, and several additional experts in veterinary medicine and influenza. 

They talked about the state of the outbreak in Pennsylvania, and how the agricultural community and government entities can work together to contain the spread of the virus.

Dr. Hoffman warned H5N1 appears to have adapted or become endemic in wildlife populations, meaning it will not dissipate on its own and action must be taken to protect animals and the public. Louise Moncla, an assistant professor of pathobiology at Penn, said the prevalence of the virus in wild bird populations is making it difficult to contain because they can spread the disease over large geographic distances when they migrate.  

The experts agreed we must take 3 main paths of action:

1. Track new cases of H5N1 in animals and humans, including their origins.
2. Monitor changes to H5N1’s ability to adapt and spread.
3. Figure out how the virus is resisting antiviral medications and vaccines.

Scott Hensley, a professor of microbiology at Penn, said vaccines are in the works for poultry, cattle, and people who are at high risk for contracting the disease. Dr. Hoffman said the medical community is still learning about H5N1’s impact on humans who contract it, but it remains rare and they are still optimistic that it does not appear to have a severe effect in most cases. Only 70 people in the entire country have contracted it – all farm workers – with none in PA.

It was reassuring to hear from the expert panel that they believe Pennsylvania is following recommendations and doing a very good job with its containment efforts, especially when compared to the rest of the country. I will continue to keep you updated.

News has circulated this week that significant changes will be made to Penn State University’s Commonwealth Campus network. In her statement from Tuesday, President Bendapudi said:

“To provide clarity, I want to affirm that our seven largest Commonwealth Campuses – Abington, Altoona, Behrend, Berks, Brandywine, Harrisburg, and Lehigh Valley – along with our graduate education-focused campus at Great Valley, will remain open and we will continue to invest in them. These campuses comprise nearly 75% of total Commonwealth Campus enrollments and 67% of campus faculty and staff. They are positioned for long-term sustainability based on current and projected enrollment, institutional performance, and locations within regions that are stable or growing in population.”

The 168th is home to Penn State Brandywine, which has been a wonderful partner to our office and an asset to the region for many years. I am grateful that they have been recognized for their excellence and will not be affected by the impending closures.

I was thrilled to serve as a guest “winetender” at the Newtown Public Library’s inaugural Clothing Sale last Friday! From what I saw there was a fabulous turnout of shoppers ready to discover their next fashionable find. I even picked up an adorable purse for myself. Congratulations to Cindi Young and the library board for pulling off such a successful event!

Last week I had the opportunity to hear from the outstanding students at the Delaware County Technical School. These students come from all the public high schools across the county to learn and train in culinary arts, carpentry, electrical, welding, HVAC, cosmetology, sports medicine, childcare, computer science, robotics, and much more!

I loved meeting the students (several from Marple Newtown) and hearing from them about how what they learn now, is helping prepare them for their future. It is an impressive program, and the students and teachers even more so.

These are in-demand careers and the DCIU’s programs are a great place for students to gain experience before heading to work or to an apprenticeship. The future is bright here in Delco!

Earlier this week, I joined my SEPA Delegation colleagues at Mitzvah Circle in Lansdale to “shop” for families in need of a hand up.

In 2024, Mitzvah served over 500,000 people in eight counties, including Delco. Last year, over 100,000 people in Delco received support in the form of clothes, diapers, sanitary products, household items, toys, books & other necessary things. Mitzvah Circle collects these Items through generous donations from the community. If you’d like to help, let me know or visit their website. 

We had a great time working together to complete wish lists of items for several families. Together, we packed over 70 boxes for delivery! Some days, it just feels good to do something for someone else. And I love doing it with such an amazing group!

It is a privilege to every day have the opportunity to meet incredible people dedicated to helping others and supporting wonderful causes. Through the work of developing legislation to encourage research into Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy with 168th neighbor Colleen Hosbach, I have been connected with the amazing advocates of the Epilepsy Foundation of Eastern PA.

I recently joined them at their annual Mardi Gras Gala and was thrilled to help honor another 168th resident who I have known for years, Mary Slinkard!

It was an honor to celebrate Mary’s tireless efforts to raise awareness and support those, like her, living with epilepsy. I’m excited to join them, my colleague Rep. Ann Flood, and Colleen to create legislation to support better understanding of this chronic and life altering neurological disorder.

Congratulations, Mary!

My Events

FYI

AG warns of rise in scams involving bitcoin ATMs

Attorney General Dave Sunday has issued an alert that scammers are now using Bitcoin ATMs, or “BTMs,” as a means to gain access to your money.

Scammers will target consumers with urgent messaging — such as “protect your money” and “take care of any criminal charges” — during the scam. Unsuspecting consumers may also be persuaded to act because scammers have personal information, such as knowledge of their bank or financial institution.

The Bureau of Consumer Protection provided these related safety tips:

• Never click on links or respond directly to unexpected calls, text messages, emails, or computer pop-ups. If you think the message could be legitimate, you should contact the company or agency directly. Never call the number provided in the message: go directly to the agency or company website to find contact information.

   

• Slow down! Scammers want to rush you, so stop and check it out. Before you make any moves, talk with someone you trust. Real law enforcement and real bank personnel would never rush you. If a scammer insists you remain on the phone or instructs you to mislead your bank or financial institution, it is a scam.

   

• Never withdraw cash in response to an unexpected call or message. Only scammers will request that you pay vast amounts of money in cash. Never send money through a Bitcoin ATM - anyone who asks for funds this way is a scammer, not from a government agency.

PA 211's public dashboards

PA 211 is a free and confidential resource available 24/7 to help Pennsylvanians like you connect with vital resources across the state, including housing and utility assistance, food assistance, mental health services, and disaster support. In 2024 alone, PA 211 helped almost 1.9 million Pennsylvanians.

The newly redesigned pa211.org makes it easy for you to search for local services by ZIP code or category. To reach PA 211 by phone, dial 211 or text your ZIP code to 898-211. A guided search for community resources and chat is also available at www.pa211.org. To chat with a 211 Resource Navigator on the website, start a search for resources, and select the option to chat.

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.

Community Events

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.

Middletown Twp EAC: Birds of the Delaware Valley

Attention, birders! The Middletown Township Delco Environmental Advisory Committee will hold a program, "Birds of Delaware Valley," on March 27 & 29 in collaboration with the Birding Club of Delaware County. See the image for details, and sign up here.

CRC Stream Clean-Up Day in Edgmont

Our creeks need your help! CRC's 27th Annual Streams Cleanup is coming up at a creek near you on Saturday, March 29th from 9 - 11:30 a.m. Sign up here.

Take it from me... this event is always a great time!

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.

Backyard composting workshop at Rose Tree Park

Pennsylvania Resources Council will host a Backyard Composting Workshop on Tuesday, April 22 from 6-7 p.m., at the Hunt Club in Rose Tree Park, 1521 N. Providence Road, Media, PA. Registration is required and the cost is $70 with supplies, or $20 for just the workshop.

Attendees will learn how to turn their organic waste into a valuable resource for their garden, the benefits and process of composting, plus everything they need to know about setting up and maintaining a compost bin to turn kitchen scraps, yard waste, and more into natural, home-made compost.

Community Hearing Aid Clinic

Hearing the Call Delaware Valley is the non-profit affiliate of PA Center for Hearing and Balance in Springfield. Their mission is to provide quality hearing healthcare and hearing aids to those in our community who cannot afford it. New hearing aids and related services are provided for a small co-pay for those who qualify. They have partnered with the national Hearing the Call project to offer these services on Friday, April 25.

If you are interested, please complete an application by March 25. For an application to be e-mailed or mailed please call 610-438-5203. Click here for more info on their website.

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