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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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Weekly Update
This past Sunday, I attended the Fare 4 Share Food Truck event to support Project Share.
On Monday, after several constituent meetings, I attended the Western Council of Government meeting (WCOG) to give a legislative update and hear what is going on with municipalities in the district.
On Tuesday, I drove to Blandon, Pa., for a Labor & Industry hearing at Schlouch Incorporated, a high-functioning construction company with one of the highest safety ratings in the state. More info on that below. I then drove back to Middlesex Township for a presentation by PowerHouse – the data center company looking to make an impact in our region with a complex of 18 buildings on nearly 800 acres. I was struck by the number of people from out of the region who attended (nearly half), trying to get more information on this new industrial business. While the state does have bills introduced to regulate aspects of the data center industry in the state, this issue is a municipal decision, and many municipalities are drafting ordinances as a result. Not all data center companies are the same, so it is important to find out more about this particular business and how this entity will operate. I was grateful that many team members from the company made themselves available for questions from constituents. Thus far, Middlesex Township has not received an official proposal.
On Wednesday, I met with the new President of UPMC Carlisle, Josh Wedge, and we talked about the 199th District and how the Carlisle Hospital has impacted our constituents. It was great to meet him and open that line of communication. We discussed workforce development and the continual need for healthcare workers in our area. I then went to the Capital Area Intermediate Unit school year kick-off event, where the Partnership for Career Development had a host of speakers lined up to educate everyone on school, student and employer engagement opportunities. After this meeting, I traveled to Encompass Health Mechanicsburg and received a tour of its facility. This is a beautiful rehab facility that hospitals use as a referral option, and it has 70 beds. It is licensed as a hospital and can serve a wide range of rehab. Picture is in the article below.
The state budget did have movement this week as Senate Bill 160, the appropriations vehicle, was sent over from the Senate and subsequently voted out of the House Appropriations Committee. The House will likely be back in session soon.
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Honoring Victims of 9-11
Recently, I visited the Flight 93 Memorial to honor the 40 Americans who gave their lives to protect our nation’s Capitol, and fortunately, it was windy that day, so I was able to experience the Tower of Voices as well. I am humbled by the human spirit that still prevails after that fateful day of Sept. 11, 2001. We will never forget them.
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A Turning Point
In the wake of the Charlie Kirk assassination, which rocked the nation, I was made aware of local social media posts that were more than concerning. They applauded the act of political violence.
I urge teachers, religious leaders, business owners, and those in leadership positions to shed light on how wrong applauding murder is, and to educate those with whom they come in contact about this type of heinous, evil thought process. Somehow, the “resist” movement left out the common fabric of our First Amendment in the Constitution: how to have dialogue that agrees to disagree.
Carlisle is better than this. If you entertain these types of violent thoughts, or applaud the murder of anyone, please seek mental health help. The majority of the district mourns the death of Charlie Kirk, who impacted such a large segment of our society, especially the younger generation, whether you agree with his protected speech or not.
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Labor Hearing at Schlouch Incorporated
A Project Labor Agreement (PLA) is a type of collective bargaining agreement unique to the construction industry. PLAs are pre-hire collective bargaining agreements negotiated between one or more construction unions and one or more construction employers that establish the terms and conditions of employment for a specific construction project.
Essential elements of PLAs include: provisions that bind all contractors and sub-contractors to the agreement, no strikes, no lockout clauses, etc. Usually PLAs specify the wages and fringe benefits for all workers and generally require contractors to hire workers for the project through a union hall. PLAs may also include clauses outlining goals for hiring local community members who incorporate equity plans and strategic recruitment policies for workers from underserved communities. Courts have held that PLAs have violated Pennsylvania competitive bidding laws because rarely do bidders meet the specifications of a PLA. Yet, state agencies, at the urging of the governor, proactively attach PLAs to projects in which agencies “establish the need for urgency of the project, recognize the complexity of the project, or validate concerns regarding the availability of qualified labor.”
The fact is (and below is proof in a clickable spreadsheet) PLAs raise the cost of public construction projects by requiring contractors to pay higher wages and benefits negotiated by unions. PLAs subject non-union workers to union-negotiated rules that may make them pay a share of union dues and comply with other inefficient rules and processes imposed by the union.
Why PLAs in PA? When was the last time there was a strike on a non-union job? Just more red tape in PA that creates jobs that are expensive with a lot of red tape.
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Encompass Health Mechanicsburg Tour
Thanks to Kristen Turner and Christy Barcelona from Encompass Health of Mechanicsburg for the tour this week. Encompass Health is an inpatient Acute Rehabilitation Hospital that enables patients to transition from the hospital to home more quickly. Their facility was also named Dialysis Center of Excellence in 2024, as well as overall quality.
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Happy 100th Birthday
I was honored to present a House citation to Lorraine Brown this past weekend for living 100 years. She currently resides at Green Ridge Village in Newville. Congratulations to both her and her family!
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Recognizing an Outstanding Citizen
On Tuesday, Lexi Peterson from my district office staff had the honor of presenting John Fralish Jr. of Carlisle with a House certificate in recognition of his induction into the Pennsylvania Voter Hall of Fame. He earned the honor after having cast a ballot in 50 consecutive elections and is one of 548 Cumberland County residents to achieve this honor.
John is an excellent example of citizenship and exercising one’s right to vote, which is a freedom we should never take for granted.
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PA March for Life Set for Sept. 22
Pro-life advocates from across the Commonwealth will gather at the state Capitol Monday, Sept. 22, for the Pennsylvania March for Life. The event kicks off at 10 a.m. with pre-rally praise and worship, followed by the rally at 11 a.m. and the march at noon.
Scheduled speakers include Ryan Bomberger, Radiance Foundation; House Republican Leader Jesse Topper (R-Bedford/Fulton); Michael Geer, PA Family Institute; Jennie Bradley Lichter, March for Life; Sarah Bowen, Pennsylvania Pregnancy Wellness Collaborative; Pastor Chandy Thomas, Life Center; Dr. Robby Waller, emergency medicine physician at Penn State Health; the most Rev. Nelson Perez, Archdiocese of Philadelphia; and Rep. Kathy Rapp (R-Warren/Crawford/Forest), co-chair of the bipartisan Pennsylvania House Pro-Life Caucus.
For more information about the event, visit MarchforLife.org/Pennsylvania.
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Keystone State ChalleNGe Academy Accepting Applications for January 2026 Class
The Keystone State ChalleNGe Academy (KSCA) is now accepting applications for its January 2026 class, and for the first time, prospective cadets can apply online through a simpler, faster process. There is no tuition cost to attend, and meals, housing, uniforms and school supplies are provided at no charge.
The KSCA is designed to give teens in jeopardy of not graduating on time or dropping out of school a second chance at obtaining their basic education and much more. Cadets learn leadership, self-discipline, job skills, health and hygiene, values of community service and civic duty, physical fitness, and responsibility to build a better life.
A new online eligibility checker at pa.gov/ksca helps applicants quickly confirm they qualify before completing the full application. Applicants can also request a mailed form by emailing RA-MVPACHALLENGE@pa.gov or calling 717-861-7767 or 717-861-8831.
The National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program currently operates 37 Youth ChalleNGe sites in 29 states and territories. The program is both federally and state funded. More details can be found at pa.gov/ksca.
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Concealed Carry Seminar Sign-up
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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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