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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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Reading Empowers the Next Generation
Literacy matters! According to National Assessment of Education Progress, only one in three of our fourth graders is a proficient reader, meaning 67% of children are struggling with a foundational skill that shapes every future opportunity.
That's why I was proud to speak at a press conference hosted by the Pennsylvania Literacy Coalition. If we invest now, we won’t just improve reading scores. We will strengthen our economy, uplift communities, and open doors for an entire generation of Pennsylvania’s children.
To listen to my remarks from the event, please click here.
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Rossmoyne Elementary School Tours the Capitol
This week, fourth grade students from Rossmoyne Elementary School visited the Capitol for a first-hand look at state government in action. I was happy to take a few moments out of a busy session day to talk to these future leaders about what it’s like to serve as state representative. Thanks for coming to Harrisburg, Bulldogs!
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Policy Committee Unveils 14-Bill Childcare Reform Package
The Pennsylvania House Republican Policy Committee convened its sixth hearing this week examining childcare affordability and accessibility challenges facing families, providers, employers, and communities across the Commonwealth, followed by the unveiling of a 14-bill package designed to improve affordability, expand access, and support childcare providers.
The hearings revealed childcare is not simply a family issue, but also an affordability, workforce, and quality-of-life issue affecting communities across the state. Lawmakers used testimony gathered throughout the hearing series to develop a legislative package focused on modernizing regulations, supporting providers, and expanding childcare opportunities while maintaining safety standards.
I am proud to be a co-sponsor of a proposal in this legislative package. The bill would create a statutory exception for childcare providers who offer school-age childcare on school property in before- and after-school programs. By removing regulatory hurdles that do not impact child safety, we can better support providers and increase the availability of programs.
I understand this is just one piece of a larger puzzle surrounding childcare affordability; and I will continue to advocate for more funding for this critical infrastructure for Pennsylvania families. I was proud to support more funding for childcare in prior budget cycles, and I will keep that same goal close at hand during the weeks leading up to the budget deadline. The General Assembly needs to take a balanced approach that creates a better regulatory environment, while also adequately funding services that enable families to grow and thrive.
To watch the press conference about this 14-bill package, click here.
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Penalties for Using Handheld Devices Take Effect June 5
A Pennsylvania law banning the use of handheld devices while driving has been in effect since last June, with violators being issued warnings. Starting Friday, June 5, violators will instead face fines.
Paul Miller’s Law limits the use of handheld cellphones or other communication devices while operating a motor vehicle. The law is named for a young man who was killed in a crash involving a distracted tractor-trailer driver in Monroe County, Pennsylvania, in 2010.
Under the law, driving while holding a mobile device is a primary violation, meaning police can pull over drivers solely for the violation. Effective June 5, violators will be issued a summary offense, which carries a $50 fine, plus court costs and other fees. If a driver is convicted of homicide by vehicle and driving while distracted, they may be sentenced up to an additional five years in prison.
Drivers can still use their phones if using hands-free technology, such as a docking station, Bluetooth or speaker technology. You may also use your phone to contact emergency responders.
According to PennDOT, more than 11,000 crashes were the result of distracted driving, leading to 65 deaths and 6,700 injuries in 2023. Pennsylvania joins 28 other states with hands-free laws.
Read more here.
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New Law Supports Mothers, Babies
Working to ensure women and families have access to safe, high-quality care throughout pregnancy and postpartum recovery, I recently supported legislation that will modernize state laws governing midwives.
Act 14 of 2026 updates licensure requirements for certified midwives, improves collaboration with physicians and expands prescription authority in certain circumstances. The law also addresses healthcare shortages in rural and underserved communities by expanding the number of trained professionals available to provide maternal care services.
Licensed midwives are an integral part of our healthcare provider workforce, as they care for individuals during pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum and the first 28 days of a newborn’s life. They help identify high-risk pregnancies; monitor women and support them during labor and the birthing process; and teach new and expectant mothers how to care for their babies.
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Remembering D-Day
Tomorrow marks the 82nd anniversary of the Normandy landings during World War II, otherwise recognized as D-Day. D-Day marked the beginning of the final push across Europe to defeat Axis forces during World War II, with more than 10,000 Allied soldiers killed or wounded in that battle alone. For a full history about D-Day, click here.
I wish to extend a special heartfelt thank you to the men and women who served that day, and our gratitude to those who did not come home. Your legacy is not forgotten.
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Attention Students: House Fellowship Program Taking Applications
The Pennsylvania House Legislative Fellowship Program is accepting applications for its fall 2026 semester.
The program is based at Pennsylvania’s Capitol Building in Harrisburg where fellows are assigned to work in 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 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 pursuing any major with a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
For more information or to apply, visit www.pahousefellowship.us. Applications can be submitted via email to pahousefellowship@pabmc.net. The deadline to apply for the fall term is July 1.
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Leave Young Wildlife Alone
The Pennsylvania Game Commission is reminding those spending time in the great outdoors to leave young wildlife alone.
While some young animals might appear to be abandoned, usually they are not. It’s likely their mothers are watching over them from somewhere nearby. When encountering young wild animals, whether deer, birds, raccoons or something else, the commission says the best thing you can do is leave them alone.
Interfering with or removing any wild animal from its natural setting can be harmful to both people and wildlife. It also is illegal to take or possess wildlife from the wild. Under state law, the penalty for such a violation is a fine of up to $1,500 per animal.
Only wildlife rehabilitators, who are licensed by the Game Commission, are permitted to care for injured or orphaned wildlife for the purposes of eventual release back into the wild. For those who find wildlife that truly is in need of assistance, a listing of licensed wildlife rehabilitators can be found on the Pennsylvania Association of Wildlife Rehabilitators website, www.pawr.com.
If you are unable to identify a wildlife rehabilitator in your area, contact the Game Commission by phone at 1-833-PGC-WILD or 1-833-PGC-HUNT.
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