Hi Neighbor!

It was a big week in Harrisburg, where my fellow State Representatives and I voted in favor of important bills that better serve our community.  

• We voted to extend federal OSHA protections to the 600,000 public sector workers living in Pennsylvania, which will establish workplace safety standards and support healthy and safe work environments.
• We voted to extend worker’s compensation benefits for people permanently disfigured by a workplace injury.
• We voted to protect and support children by requiring carbon monoxide detectors in daycare centers and making driver’s licenses fee-free for homeless youth.
• We voted to officially define 911 operators as essential first responders in recognition of their role in emergency response.
• And we voted for the first increase in monthly pension payments that 60,000 retired public school teachers and state employees, many in their 80s and 90s, have seen in over 20 years!

While these bills must pass through my peers in the Pennsylvania Senate before they become law, passing the House is the first step in getting you what you need.

BREAKING GROUND ON CHILD ADVOCACY

On April 4, I joined fellow Montgomery County Rep. Liz Hanbidge to celebrate the groundbreaking of a new, state-of-the-art child advocacy center right in Plymouth Meeting. Run by Mission Kids, the new center will provide comprehensive mental health care, medical care, and legal support to child victims of abuse and traumatic crime.

WEAR BLUE ON THE STEPS

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, and I stood together with the Montgomery Child Advocacy Project on the steps of the Montgomery County Courthouse to send the message that our community stands against child abuse. MCAP provides free legal advocate services to victims of child abuse in our community.

PROTECTING AND SUPPORTING OUR ESSENTIAL FIRE & EMS SERVICES

Fire and EMS services throughout Pennsylvania are underfunded and understaffed, and as a volunteer firefighter and EMT, I was proud to announce with my Democratic and Republican colleagues the re-creation of the House Fire and EMS Caucus. This group is dedicated to passing legislation focused on getting our essential first responders the funding and resources they need. It’s time to support the success of our local emergency services.

MEETING WITH GOVERNOR SHAPIRO

While in Harrisburg this week I and the members of the PA Legislative Latino Caucus had the pleasure of meeting with Governor Shapiro to discuss issues important to our Latino neighbors. Bilingual workforce development, access to healthcare, jobs, funding for public education and protecting immigrant communities were all part of the conversation.

As always, you can also follow me on socials, Facebook, Instagram, and X (previously Twitter), to keep up to date.  Please feel free to pass this newsletter along to friends throughout our community, so they can keep in touch, too.

UPCOMING EVENTS