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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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Barb’s Update
After attending the signing of President Donald Trump’s executive order to protect women in sports last week at the White House, I was asked to participate in the Chick2Chick podcast with Flora Posterara on the subject.
I’ve introduced House Bill 158 in the House (the Senate similarly has introduced Senate Bill 9) that would prohibit trans female athletes from participating in women’s and girls’ sports in Pennsylvania.
Also, Leadership Cumberland had a luncheon honoring Gen. David Hill, commandant of the U.S. Army War College, for his exemplary leadership in our midst over the last four years. I was humbled by his speech and plea for the community to actively recruit new soldiers for the future.
On Thursday, I attended a senior listening session at Chapel Pointe and talked about the budget, food processing residuals and bipartisanship, and education, including the Protect Women in Sports Act.
Last, as you will read below, I was a guest speaker at Hillsdale College, where I discussed agriculture and some of the new national trends that are a threat to farmers.
It was an honor and pleasure to be invited to speak at Hillsdale College in Michigan on Tuesday. I discussed some of the greatest threats facing American agriculture like avian bird flu, raw milk and fake meat. I also had the opportunity to highlight my legislative efforts to Protect Farmland from Foreign Adversaries (House Bill 163). As both a farmer and legislator, these topics are near and dear to my heart.
During my visit, I met with some of Hillsdale’s ladies’ sports members to update them on my re-filed Protect Women’s Sports Act and share my experience visiting the White House last week to witness President Trump signing his executive order to keep men out of women’s sports.
It was energizing to interact with so many of our future leaders. A very special thank you goes to the Hillsdale College Republicans for organizing this amazing experience as well as all the students and faculty who made me feel so welcome. After this visit, I can honestly say, our future is very bright!
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Congratulations Fire Companies and EMS Agencies Serving the 199th
Fire and emergency medical services organizations in our area were awarded more than $157,000 in funding through the Fire and Emergency Medical Services Grant Program.
Grant recipients that serve the 199th House District are as follows:
• Citizens Fire Co. No. 1 Mount Holly Springs - $27,891.
• Cumberland Goodwill EMS - $15,000.
• Newburg-Hopewell Fire Co. - $15,676.48.
• North Middletown Township Fire Co. - $15,246.13.
• Friendship Hose Co. (EMS) - $15,000.
• Friendship Hose Co. (Fire) - $12,879.17.
• Shippensburg Area EMS - $15,000.
• Upper Frankford Township Fire Co. - $13,309.52.
• West Pennsboro Fire Co. - $12,663.99.
• Yellow Breeches EMS - $15,000.
The funding comes from an ongoing grant program created by the Legislature and administered by the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency and Office of the State Fire Commissioner (OSFC).
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Congratulations 199th Growing Greener Grant Recipients
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced that 17 projects in the state’s Southcentral Region were awarded a total of $3,709,759 through DEP’s Growing Greener Plus grant program. These projects work to protect waterways and watersheds, reclaim abandoned mine sites, and work to reclaim and plug abandoned oil and gas wells. This year’s awards exceed $15 million statewide. Grantees have up to three years to implement their projects.
This funding is being distributed through existing Commonwealth grant programs to ensure high-impact projects are selected in the affected communities and that proper oversight is provided. Grant programs include those operated by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the DEP.
For more information on the Growing Greener Plus grant program, application guidance, and to sign up for notifications when grant programs reopen, visit DEP’s webpage, Growing Greener Plus Grants Program.
In August 2022, the Office of Attorney General (OAG) announced that Energy Transfer Marketing & Terminals, L.P. was convicted of criminal charges related to its conduct during construction of two major pipelines. As part of the settlement agreement, Energy Transfer has paid $10 million toward dedicated projects that improve the quality of watersheds and streams along pipeline routes, including five in the Southcentral Region.
Growing Greener Projects in the 199th Legislative District funded by the settlement agreement include:
• $426,309 for Middlesex Township Stream Restoration - PRP Project 8
• $500,000 for Old Carlisle Landfill Seep Mitigation, North Middleton Township - Phase 3
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A Closer Look at the Governor’s $51.47 Billion Budget
The House Appropriations Committee’s examination of the governor’s proposed 2025-26 state budget gets underway next week with the start of budget hearings.
The committee will hear from officials with the Department of Community and Economic Development and the Department of Revenue on Tuesday, followed by the Department of Transportation and Pennsylvania State Police on Wednesday. Higher education will be the focus on Thursday, while public health and safety will close out the week on Friday. I intend to attend the Higher Education appropriations hearing, since I am on the Education Committee of the House.
The governor proposed a $51.47 billion budget last week, representing a $3.57 billion, or 7.5%, increase over the current fiscal year. The proposed spending increase is significantly more than the anticipated $1.3 billion revenue increase, and would leave a deficit at the end of the year if enacted.
Budget hearings will stream live at PAHouseGOP.com. For a full schedule of hearings, click here.
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Still Time for Beginner Skiers to Experience the “Best Winter Ever” with Upcoming Bunny Hill Weekend
The Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development launched “Bunny Hill Weekends” to encourage beginner skiers and their families to experience Pennsylvania’s slopes as an invitation for visitors to have the “Best Winter Ever.”
The Visit PA Best Winter Ever campaign aims to attract more visitors during the winter months, especially families and snowbirds who may otherwise have traveled south.
Through the Bunny Hill Weekends initiative, resorts are highlighting accessible and welcoming skiing possibilities for beginner skiers and families from both in and outside the state. With more than 20 ski resorts, Pennsylvania offers endless opportunities for people of all levels to ski, tube, and snowboard from the Poconos in the east to the Allegheny Mountains in the west.
The last Bunny Hill Weekend will be March 1-2 with the following resorts offering exclusive promotions:
• Blue Mountain Resort in the Poconos : Save $50 on the first person in a Family & Friends Beginner Ski or Snowboard lesson, including rental and a beginner lift ticket. Use code PORA50 at checkout.
• Mount Pleasant of Edinboro in northwestern Pennsylvania: Guests who purchase a beginner ski package online during Bunny Hill Weekends will receive an upgraded full slope lift ticket. Walk-ins who mention Bunny Hill Weekends can receive the lift ticket upgrade for the beginner ski package. Subject to availability.
• Ski Big Bear at Masthope Mountain in northeast Pennsylvania: Take $10 off a Learn to Ski Package with promo code BUNNY25 at checkout. Walk-ins can receive $10 off the in-person price, subject to availability.
• Shawnee Mountain Ski Area in northeast Pennsylvania: The first 50 guests each Sunday get 20% off a First Time Ski or Snowboard Package with lift ticket, rentals, and a lesson at noon or 1:30 p.m. Use code VISITSHAWNEE at checkout. This deal is only available online.
Additionally, through March 2, Visit PA will sponsor the Winterfest ice rink, a major attraction in Philadelphia managed by the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation and sponsored by Independence Blue Cross welcoming more than 350,000 visitors each season. For 31 years, Winterfest has provided visitors the chance to skate on the Delaware River while enjoying tastes of local Philadelphia cuisine, heated cabins, and fire pits.
Learn more about the Bunny Hill Weekend promotions and experiencing winter in PA at visitpa.com/winter.
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Driver License Centers Close for Presidents Day Holiday
PennDOT’s driver license and photo centers will be closed Saturday, Feb. 15, through Monday, Feb. 17, in observance of Presidents Day.
Customers may still obtain a variety of driver and vehicle products and services, including all forms, publications and driver training manuals, online through PennDOT's Driver and Vehicle Services website.
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Office Closed in Honor of Presidents Day
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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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