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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
Early in the week as I worked in the district office, I noted we were hearing a lot about aging and nursing home issues, as well as data center concerns. We scheduled events for the rest of the year, so stay tuned for more information coming soon.
I attended my first MIC III (Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission) state council meeting and discussed my House Bill 1069, which defines what disadvantaging military students looks like. We were given an overview of the Compact and Purple Heart family initiatives, as nine new schools were accepted into the program. Carlisle Barracks has enrolled 364 new students into the area for the new War College class. It was noted that there were a lot of homeschoolers out of this group.
We had a workforce and labor hearing at the ABC Keystone Building in Lancaster on Wednesday. Learn more below.
The Corvette Show comes to Carlisle this weekend and traffic will be interesting to maneuver. The parade is Saturday evening.
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LIGER Hearing at ABC on Apprenticeship Bill HB 677
You are probably wondering why we have such a bottleneck in our state – both at the technical school entrance for students and in the apprenticeship arena. It’s because we have a 60-year law on the books that states union shops can determine their apprenticeship ratio (supervisors per apprentice), while non-union shops have a four-supervisors-to-every-apprentice mandate. With only 10% of the businesses in the state union shops, this leaves 90% of our non-union businesses stifled from utilizing the apprentices within the business and actually caps them out based on the size of the business.
Pennsylvania’s 4:1 ratio is the highest in the nation. Maryland, for instance, is 1:1; Virginia is 1:1; Delaware is 1:1; Ohio is 3:1; New York is 3:1; etc. Companies that are multi-state actually take apprentices out of PA and train them in another state to use them both in and out of Pennsylvania. We cannot grow the trades unless we get rid of this outdated law, which my bill does. It’s a parity bill (House Bill 677) that says the ratios are established by the collective bargaining agreements in a prevailing wage job and whatever that ratio is set at, everyone gets it, whether they are union or nonunion. Gov. Josh Shapiro likes to paint a picture of getting things done…of increasing apprenticeships within the state … but that could not be further from the truth and here are the facts that you can look up yourselves:
I went back in my notes from a hearing the House Labor Committee had in December 2019. In that hearing, the Labor Secretary stated that the apprentice numbers had grown by 38 percent from 13,282 to 18,366, and that the 2025 goal was 30,000. According to Registered Apprenticeship Partners Information Database System (RAPIDS) data from this year, we have 16,331 registered apprentices, barely over half of the goal, and less than we had in 2019 – so we have actually gone backwards. With all of the money “invested” in this area, the return on investment of your tax dollars is negative. This is a bipartisan issue that should be advanced for the sake of our next generation. Over 30% of our workforce will be retiring in the next five years.
This was the impetus of the hearing in Lancaster, as we heard testimony from local businesses that the partisan politics needs to stop, and we need to get this commonsense, pro-worker bill passed.
Listen to some of my thoughts on the bill here.
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Data Centers in Cumberland County
Recently, Pennsylvania Data Center Partners and PowerHouse Data Centers (which has other locations near Dulles Airport) announced plans for a project along Country Club Road in Middlesex Township. There are other site locations being considered as well. The current site was going to be a residential housing project for 390 units; however, under this new proposal, there would be a multiple building campus housing next-generation AI data centers as well as a 450-megawatt substation. There are multiple planning commission meetings planned within Middlesex Township for consideration, as well as a public meeting at another location to be announced by the developer for questions and answers. The main concerns expressed to my office regard water supply and electric costs being funneled to the consumer. From my conversation with the developer, these concerns were concerns for the first data centers in other states initially. Upgrades to the system have since happened. The initial draw from the water supply will be recycled (cooled and then heated again), allowing less of a burden to the water supply.
The company also speaks to the substantial tax revenue that would improve social services, schools, roads and public parks – if invested properly by the municipalities and schools. It is estimating that Cumberland County would receive $10 million annually, CV School District would receive $46 million annually, and Middlesex Township would receive approximately $10 million annually. After speaking to staff from a Virginia lawmaker who represents the Dulles Airport area, they have seen their property taxes significantly decrease in the area of the data centers. That is significant, but we still need to find out what the cost to the consumer in electric usage will be and whether we will have brownouts due to the pull on the system (constituent questions). I think we should educate ourselves and remain calm and open minded, while patiently waiting for meetings to get the answers to these innovative ideas and initiatives being proposed.
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Attention Students: House Fellowship Program Taking Applications
The Pennsylvania House Legislative Fellowship Program is accepting applications for its spring 2026 semester.
The program is based at Pennsylvania’s Capitol in Harrisburg where fellows are assigned to work with House standing committees or 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, to name a few.
Qualified applicants must be college undergraduate juniors or seniors, graduate students or law school students; enrolled in a Pennsylvania college/university or a Pennsylvania resident enrolled in an out-of-state institution; and have a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
For more information or to apply, visit pahousefellowship.us. Applications can be submitted via email to pahousefellowship@pabmc.net. The deadline for applying is Oct. 1.
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Department of Aging’s New Monitoring and Accountability System
The Pennsylvania Department of Aging (PDA) recently announced that 50 percent of Pennsylvania’s 52 local aging agencies that provide a host of services to older adults – including protective services – are completing elder abuse investigations within 20 days more than 90 percent of the time. The Department checks each month how quickly these local agencies complete their investigations and measures how many cases are finished within 20 days, as the time it takes to complete an investigation is a key performance metric in ensuring an older adult’s safety.
This accomplishment is the direct result of the Department’s overhauled approach to monitor the local Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) more aggressively, to both hold them accountable and boost transparency of the process.
Last week also marked six months of the Department publicly posting the 20-day performance results in suspected elder abuse cases. Those performance results for all of Pennsylvania’s 52 AAAs are now posted on the Department’s website for the first time and can be viewed here on the Department of Aging’s website.
The publication of the 20-day turnaround measurement is yet another step the Department has taken under the Shapiro Administration to increase transparency of how well the AAAs are performing their duties for the older adults they serve.
In March 2025, PDA announced the rollout of the agency’s new Comprehensive Agency Performance Evaluation, or CAPE – an innovative tool designed to boost transparency and accountability of Pennsylvania’s AAA network that provides a host of services to older adults. In April 2025, the Department began publicly posting performance results on its website for the first batch of AAAs to be monitored under CAPE, with more AAA performance results regularly added.
Across Pennsylvania, AAAs investigate nearly 40,000 cases of suspected abuse each year. Reports of suspected abuse can be made to any AAA, or to the statewide elder abuse helpline at 1-800-490-8505. The Helpline is answered live 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and all calls are confidential. Part of the AAA’s duty in responding to a report is to determine whether the abuse or neglect is, in fact, taking place.
Learn more about how Pennsylvania is serving the needs of older adults by visiting the Department of Aging's website by clicking here.
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Grant Opportunity for Small Businesses
Applications for the Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Small Business Advantage Grant program are now open for Pennsylvania-based, for-profit small businesses with fewer than 100 full-time equivalent employees.
The program provides reimbursement grants ranging from 50% to 80% of eligible project costs to Pennsylvania small businesses to improve energy efficiency or reduce pollution or waste by upgrading or replacing equipment or supplies; improving processes; or reducing runoff into affected waterways.
More information is available here.
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Crackdown on Impaired Driving
Now through Labor Day, the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) and local municipal police agencies will be conducting impaired driving enforcement details as part of the National Crackdown on Impaired Driving enforcement and education campaign. This effort is funded through PennDOT's statewide annual distribution of more than $6.2 million from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for impaired driving enforcement. The goal of targeted enforcement is to reduce the number of impaired driving-related crashes, injuries and deaths on roadways throughout the state.
Over the Labor Day holiday weekend last year there were 1,002 crashes statewide, resulting in 13 fatalities and 722 injuries. Of those crashes, 106 were alcohol related, resulting in four fatalities and 65 injuries; and 27 were drug-related, resulting in three fatalities and 22 injuries.
PSP troopers also made 514 DUI arrests and investigated 65 impaired-driving related crashes, three of which were fatal throughout last year’s Labor Day holiday weekend.
Impaired driving enforcement goes beyond checking for alcohol impairment. Law enforcement continues to work to identify motorists impaired by illegal drugs and prescription medication or some combination of substances that impact Pennsylvanians’ ability to safely operate their vehicle. Pennsylvania has approximately 250 drug recognition experts or specially trained officers who look for impaired drivers and assist in DUI investigations when drug-impaired driving is suspected.
To learn more about PennDOT’s efforts to prevent impaired driving or other safety initiatives, visit penndot.pa.gov/safety.
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Elk Cam Fires Back Up!
With the September peak of Pennsylvania’s elk rut right around the corner, you can get a jumpstart on viewing some of those bugling bulls through the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Elk Cam.
The camera is located in the heart of Pennsylvania’s elk range, an area totaling over 220,000 acres including State Game Lands 311 and Elk State Forest. Video and sound from the camera will be livestreamed here, and viewers can expect not only to see elk, but turkeys, deer and other wildlife, as well. The best time to view elk on camera is late in the afternoon.
If you’d like to see the bugling season in person, the PA Game Commission reminds visitors to always be “Elk Smart.” Give elk space, never feed elk and do your part to ensure the welfare of the herd. Learn more here.
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District Director Kim Morewood Retiring
It takes a lot of organization, forethought and stamina to direct a state representative’s district office. I can’t say enough about Kim’s abilities in these areas; I thank her for her dedication to the people of the 199th and wish her well in her retirement. She will be missed.
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Upcoming Events
Rep. Gleim’s Annual Farmers Breakfast
Friday, September 19, 2025
9-11 a.m.
West Pennsboro Volunteer Fire Company
20 Park Road
Plainfield, PA 17081
This annual breakfast is being hosted for farmers in the 199th House District.
Registration is required by Friday, Sept. 12th at RepGleim.com/events or call 717-249-1990.
Rep. Gleim’s Concealed Carry Seminar with Attorney Joshua Prince
Saturday, October 4, 2025
9 a.m.- noon
Newville Lion’s Club Fairgrounds
433 Shippensburg Rd
Newville, PA 17241
Registration appreciated by Friday, Sept. 26th at RepGleim.com/events or call 717-249-1990.
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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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