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Dear Neighbor,

One of the responsibilities that I take most seriously as your state representative is finding commonsense legislative solutions that improve the lives of Pennsylvanians. Some issues are too important to be left to politics as usual.

Right now, during the busy budget month of June, I am proudly working with colleagues from both sides of the aisle to advance legislation that supports our farmers, protects our educators, strengthens our economy, and puts patients ahead of profits. I’m also making sure that our final spending plan reflects the proper fiscal investments toward those policies and the programs that support all of our neighbors in the Commonwealth.

Supporting Pennsylvania agriculture

Pennsylvania's farmers are the backbone of our communities and our economy. They work long hours, face rising costs and help ensure that families across the Commonwealth have access to safe and affordable food.

That is why I was proud to work alongside Rep. John Lawrence on House Bill 2207, bipartisan legislation designed to help Pennsylvania farmers access the capital they need to grow and modernize their operations. As the cost of land, equipment, and infrastructure continues to rise, farmers deserve practical tools that help them remain competitive and successful for generations to come.

Agriculture has always been a bipartisan issue because feeding our communities and sustaining our rural economy benefits everyone. Our farmers deserve that same bipartisan commitment from Harrisburg.

Protecting public school employees injured on the job

Our teachers, classroom aides, bus drivers, and school staff dedicate their careers to serving Pennsylvania's students. When these public servants are injured while performing their duties, they deserve to know that their government stands behind them.

I sponsored bipartisan legislation to protect public school employees who are injured on the job. This proposal would provide greater fairness and security for educators and school staff who suffer workplace injuries while serving our communities. Supporting our schools means supporting the people who make them work every day.

Incentivizing biomedical innovation

Pennsylvania has long been a leader in healthcare research, medical technology and life sciences. My office recently hosted a regional symposium, “The Future of Healthcare,” and what we heard was a clear appeal for patient-centered reform that keeps up with modern, safe and intelligent technology. To remain competitive and attract new investment, we must continue creating an environment where innovation can thrive.

This is why I support bipartisan legislation to incentivize biomedical innovation, helping Pennsylvania attract cutting-edge research, create high-quality jobs, and accelerate the development of new treatments and technologies. Strengthening our biomedical sector is not only smart economic policy, it’s an important step toward improving healthcare outcomes for patients across the Commonwealth.

Strengthening accountability for health insurance CEOs

I am also supporting legislation with Rep. Emily Kinkead that would hold healthcare CEOs accountable when corporate decisions put profits ahead of patients. Far too many Pennsylvanians have experienced delayed treatments, denied claims, or unnecessary barriers to medically necessary care because insurance companies chose to prioritize their bottom line over patient well-being.

Healthcare decisions should be driven by doctors and patients, not corporate executives focused on earnings. Pennsylvanians should expect accountability from insurers and healthcare corporations, and that patient care must come first.

UPDATE: Residual food processing waste bills in Senate

I also want to provide an update on legislation aiming to keep farms and communities safe by managing residual food processing waste.

House Bills 586 and 587 have both advanced to the Pennsylvania Senate for consideration. Ensuring that these bills become law remains a top priority for my office this legislative session.

Communities across Pennsylvania deserve clean water, environmental accountability and transparency from industrial operations. I encourage you to learn more about how important this issue is by reading this article about one town’s fight against a meat processor.

In June and always, you can count on me to work in a bipartisan fashion to advance policies that support you and strengthen our economy, protect our environment, and ensure that government works for everyone.