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Capitol Report
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#Listrak\DateStampLong#
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The latest news from the State Capitol
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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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Governor’s Budget Proposal Lacks Long-Term Viability
On Tuesday, Governor Shapiro laid out his record-high $51.4 billion budget proposal before a Joint Session of the General Assembly. The proposal includes new taxes on energy, presupposes additional revenue by levying new taxes on businesses, and would put the Commonwealth in a nearly $4 billion budget deficit—the largest since the 2008 recession.
Tuesday’s budget address by Gov. Josh Shapiro presented a deeply concerning plan for reckless spending by not only spending all the Commonwealth’s surplus, but also raiding $1.6 billion from the Rainy Day Fund to balance.
My goal as your legislator is to make Cumberland County and Pennsylvania better places to live, work and raise a family, as well as ensuring our government remains accessible, accountable and transparent for the constituents who elected us to serve.
I am committed to doing what is necessary to ensure our Commonwealth’s finances are well maintained, and do not put your hard-earned dollars in jeopardy.
You can read my full statement here.
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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 video of the hearings.
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Keep Up with Me on Social Media!
As your state Representative, I am committed to serving you with transparency and accountability. I believe it’s essential for you to see firsthand how your government works and how we’re advocating for our community every day.
That’s why I’m excited to invite you to connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter! On our social media pages, you’ll get an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at the day-to-day operations of our office, including virtual tours, updates on legislative efforts, and the ways we’re working to address the issues that matter most to you.
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Think Spring! Trout Stocking Schedule Available
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) announced its 2025 trout stocking schedule is now available online and on the FishBoatPA mobile app.
The PFBC will stock approximately 3.2 million adult trout in 691 streams and 130 lakes open to public angling. Stocking is set to begin the week of Feb. 17 in advance of the statewide Mentored Youth Trout Day on Saturday, March 29, and the statewide opening day of trout season on Saturday, April 5.
The 2025 adult trout stocking schedule is searchable by county; lists the waterways in alphabetical order; and indicates stocking dates, meeting locations for volunteers and the species of trout that will be stocked at each location.
Click here for additional details about stocking or visit www.fishandboat.com.
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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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Local Scholarship Opportunity: The Zonta Club of Harrisburg-Hershey
The Zonta Club of Harrisburg-Hershey focuses on building a better world for women and girls through service and advocacy, locally and globally. Since the club’s inception in 1980 more than $300,00 has been donated to local agencies and Zonta International to combat domestic violence and human trafficking, as well as to deliver empowering service projects.
Since 1992 more than 40 scholarships have been awarded to local young women who are committed to volunteering to help their peers, exhibit leadership achievements and dedicate themselves to empowering women worldwide.
To download an application for the local $1,500 scholarship, visit www.zonta.org/YWLA.
Applications for the local scholarship for girls between the ages of 16-19 are due to zontclubhbg@gmail.com by March 8. The winner of the local scholarship will then move on to be considered for a $5,000 scholarship from Zonta International.
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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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