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| The Barb Wire |
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The latest news from the State Capitol |
Please do not reply directly to this email, as it returns to an unmanned account.
You are welcome to contact me through this link.
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Barb’s Update
This week in session consisted of committee reorganization meetings for Education, Aging, Labor & Industry, and Commerce. A few bills were brought up that had been in the system from the last session. I attended a great budget briefing for the upcoming state budget, which I will be reporting on next week after the governor’s budget address. As deputy chair of the Policy Committee, I attended an energy meeting in Ligonier in the western area of the state.
The governor’s energy policy will definitely be hitting constituent pockets in a tax increase if we don’t get things turned around with upgrading our grid and eliminating the current Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative this administration is attempting to implement. Businesses are seeing, in some cases, up to an 8% increase in their energy costs, and new regulations are threatening blackout periods.
My comments are below as well as the full hearing.
Click here to watch full Policy Committee hearing.
On another topic, the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) scores came out this week. In a nutshell, what they prove is that fewer than half of PA students are proficient in reading and math, even as spending outpaced inflation. PA spends roughly $20,900 per student, one of the highest in the nation; we take longer than most states to issue teacher certifications, and we get bogged down with countless initiatives that don’t have anything to do with actual learning. Year over year we continue to do the same thing getting the same results. It is time to switch course and start to focus on academic achievement, truancy and transparency. The NAEP results are sure to start conversations both in committee and in policy hearings.
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Food Processing Residuals (FPR) Legislation Update
I recently provided an FPR legislation update to the Carlisle Sentinel and posted links to the article on social media. In case you missed the article or posts, you can find it by clicking here.
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Happy 275th Anniversary Cumberland County, PA!
We were back in session at the Capitol, and I was not able to attend on Monday, but I was happy that my legislative aide, Lynne Cox, presented a PA House of Representatives citation on behalf of our Cumberland County delegation: state Reps. Thomas Kutz, Torren Ecker, Sheryl Delozier and Nathan Davidson. Congratulations and here's to the next 275 years!
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Army War College Visits the Capitol
Sometimes throughout the year a War College Seminar will hold class at the Capitol and also receive a tour. I was thankful to have a few minutes to address the seminar and talk about protecting U.S. farmland from foreign adversaries and get a photo with them. It was a great honor.
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CV Soccer Team Visits the Capitol
The CV Boys Varsity Soccer team was honored at the Capitol with citations for winning the AAA State Championship. Congratulations!
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Labor and Industry Committee Introduces LIGER
This week, as a member of the House Labor and Industry Committee, I participated in the committee’s first Labor and Industry Government Efficiency Roundtable (LIGER).
LIGER is a series of policy roundtable discussions to be held throughout the session on issues under the committee’s purview. LIGER will focus on improving government efficiency, effectiveness and accountability, focusing on the following questions: Is everything the agency does now necessary? How can the agency streamline its administration of existing programs to improve service and eliminate waste? And are the agency’s enforcement practices fair and commensurate with an alleged violation?
The House Labor and Industry Committee helps to develop legislation relating to workforce development, unemployment and workers’ compensation, minimum wage, prevailing wage, child labor laws, and more. Standing House committees are responsible for vetting and fine-tuning legislation before it goes to the full House of Representatives for consideration.
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Governor to Give Budget Address on Tuesday
Gov. Josh Shapiro will deliver his 2025-26 state budget address this Tuesday, Feb. 4, before a joint session of the General Assembly.
It’s important to remember the governor’s address is only a starting point for the budget process. After reviewing the budget, the House Appropriations Committee will hold three weeks of public hearings to review the budget line by line with agency leaders. This will be the first opportunity for House Republicans to provide feedback and develop a fiscally responsible plan. At the conclusion of the budget hearings the House will return to session and begin the work of crafting a budget for the new fiscal year, which begins July 1.
As always, Tuesday’s House session will stream live at PAHouseGOP.com.
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Marking National School Choice Week
Every child learns differently, and no child should be trapped in a failing school due to his or her ZIP code.
As National School Choice Week draws to a close this Saturday, please know I am committed to ensuring we give every student the best chance for educational success. That means ensuring parents and students have the opportunity to explore tailored approaches to learning, accommodating individual strengths, preferences and pace.
While we continue to advocate for Lifeline Scholarships, Universal Savings Accounts, and tax credits to businesses, that would direct more state funding to the child rather than to an institution, we also celebrate the $75 million increase in last year’s state budget for the Educational Improvement Tax Credit and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit programs that have opened doors to educational choice for so many children and families.
School choice should not be an argument about funding. It is about putting students first and providing them with access and opportunities that work for them. When students come first, they flourish. As a previous public school board member I have seen first hand how spinning the Capitol Area School of the Arts off into a charter school has helped those students. 95% and greater graduate and go on to be successful. This is just one example of how we can help every student get the education they need.
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Is PA Money Match Heading Your Way?
The Pennsylvania Treasury Department is sending the first batch of PA Money Match letters this week, so keep an eye on your mailboxes to see if you’ll be receiving some unclaimed property!
PA Money Match is a new law, which passed the General Assembly unanimously last year with my support, allowing Treasury to automatically return certain unclaimed property. Eligible properties must be valued at $500 or less and belong to a single owner. Those with eligible properties will receive a letter in the mail to confirm their address, then about 45 days later they’ll receive a check for their property.
Treasurer Stacy Garrity said the first round of PA Money Match has the potential to return over $2 million to more than 8,000 Pennsylvanians.
In total, PA Treasury is working to return more than $4.5 billion in unclaimed property. This money includes things like dormant bank accounts, uncashed checks, rebates, insurance payments and more.
Everyone is still encouraged to search PA Treasury’s website regularly for property that may belong to them. The average value of a claim is $1,600, and PA Money Match will not automatically return properties valued above $500 or those that may have more than one owner, such as a dormant joint checking or savings account.
Visit patreasury.gov/unclaimed-property to search anytime, and contact my office if you need any help.
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Grant Applications Sought for WalkWorks Program
The Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) is now accepting grant applications for the 2025-26 WalkWorks Active Transportation Planning Program.
Any Commonwealth municipality can apply for funding to create a plan to develop more user-friendly spaces for pedestrians and bicyclists, as well as boost public transportation and increase accessibility for people with disabilities. The program’s goal is to boost Pennsylvanians’ physical and mental health through increased activity.
The deadline for grant applications is Friday, March 21, at 5 p.m. An optional one-hour webinar is available to aid potential applicants on Tuesday, Feb. 4, at noon. Pre-registration is required here.
Click here for additional information.
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Cumberland Valley Coffee & Chocolate Trail Begins
My staff attended the kickoff of the Cumberland Valley's Coffee & Chocolate Trail adventure yesterday. On this adventure, you will fill the blank spaces on your passport as you sample rich, aromatic coffee and indulgent, artisanal chocolates.
With more than 20 delightful locations across Cumberland Valley, your journey will take you through charming towns, each with its own unique flavor. From cozy cafes to chocolate boutiques, every stop is filled with the delicious tastes you know all too well.
Sign up for the FREE 2025 Cumberland Valley Coffee & Chocolate Trail here: Click here to sign up.
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Save the Date!
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| Office Locations |
| District Office: 437 E North Street | Carlisle, PA 17013 | Phone: 717-249-1990 |
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| 427 Irvis Office Building | House Box 202199 Harrisburg, PA 17120-2199 | 717-772-2280 |
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