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| The Barb Wire |
| #Listrak\DateStampLong# |
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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History Was Made
On Wednesday, I was invited to The White House to witness President Donald Trump sign an executive order protecting women and girls in sports. After four years of fighting alongside my colleagues, Rep. Martina White, Sen. Dawn Keefer, Rep. Stephanie Borowicz and now Rep. Stephenie Scialabba, Title IX and women’s rights will be upheld!
There were so many people helping to spread the word on this very important issue that I would like to give a long overdue thank you to, including Pennsylvania Family Institute, Pennsylvania Family Council, Concerned Women For America and the House Education Committee staff for helping us educate our constituents during this fight.
Congressman Scott Perry and Congressman John Joyce and others also have been working to pass this bill on the national level.
President Trump just saved the next generation of women in sports, and we were grateful, especially on National Women in Sports Day!
We still have more work to do to move bills through both the PA House and Senate to put the executive order into PA law, but I will continue to work to make it happen as the prime sponsor of my recently re-filed legislation, House Bill 158, know as the Protect Women’s Sports Act, of the 2025-26 session.
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Governor’s Proposed $51.47 Billion Budget More Than PA Can Afford
The 2025-26 state budget process got underway this week when Gov. Josh Shapiro delivered his budget address before a joint session of the General Assembly on Tuesday.
His $51.47 billion proposal represents an increase of $3.57 billion, or 7.5%, over the current year’s spending. With revenues projected to increase by just 2.8%, Shapiro’s plan would fully deplete the state’s surplus funds and would again dip into the Rainy Day Fund, as well as require revenue from new taxes on things like recreational marijuana and skill games.
This approach is unsustainable. We should instead focus on policies that grow the economy and create family-sustaining jobs. There is great growth potential in our energy industry alone.
The budget address is just the first step in the annual state budget process. The House and Senate Appropriations committees will each conduct hearings taking a closer look at the details of the plan. The House hearings get underway on Tuesday, Feb. 18, with the Department of Community and Economic Development, and the Department of Revenue.
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Policy Hearings Highlight Potential of PA’s Energy Industry
While the governor continues his push for new taxes on the state’s energy production, the House Republican Policy Committee recently heard from numerous testifiers about the damage these taxes would do to the energy industry, consumers and the economy as a whole.
The committee held a series of hearings, titled “Stopping New Energy Taxes,” in Westmoreland and Schuylkill counties last week, and at the state Capitol in Harrisburg on Monday, to hear from business and industry leaders, as well as community leaders, about how the governor’s push for a carbon tax would scare away potential investment in Pennsylvania; increase the cost of utilities; and perpetuate the unreliable energy supply.
My fellow House Republicans and I are committed to fighting against these taxes and instead advancing policies that will help grow our energy economy.
Click here for the video of the hearings.
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Community Conservation Partnerships Program Now Accepting Grant Applications
Communities across Pennsylvania can now apply for state grants to fund parks, recreation and conservation projects, as the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) opens its latest round of Community Conservation Partnerships Program funding. Applications are open now through April 2 at 4 p.m.
Eligible applicants include local governments and recreation and conservation nonprofit organizations. The grants fund projects such as park and recreation projects, conservation planning, trail planning, land and river conservation, community and streamside tree planting, and more.
Grant applications are only accepted through DCNR’s Grants Customer Service Portal.
Before starting an application, potential applicants should contact a regional advisor who serves the county where their project will be located. Contact information is available on the Regional Staff Assignment map (PDF).
A grant application overview is available here.
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Students Invited to Participate in Lyme Disease Awareness Campaign
Pennsylvania students in first through sixth grades are invited to enter the 2025 Lyme Art Contest by creating a short video or poster focusing on the theme: “Protect. Check. Remove.”
The annual contest helps students, Scout troops and community youth programs learn how to prevent Lyme disease by educating them about ticks, including where they live, how to prevent bites and how to remove ticks that do bite.
Pennsylvania has one of the highest annual counts of Lyme disease cases in the nation, which further emphasizes the importance of teaching children about tick awareness and prevention measures.
The deadline for entries is Friday, March 14, at 5 p.m. Click here for details.
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Join Us Next Thursday!
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Cumberland County Government is Hiring
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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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