I’m delighted to announce that multiple organizations across the 126th were awarded new grant funding from the Commonwealth Financing Authority.

Across our district, the following projects were granted funding:

• $538,286 to Laureldale Borough for sanitary sewer inspections and improvements across multiple borough roads. The funds will be used for construction, engineering and administrative costs.
• $401,649 to Lower Alsace Ambulance Association for the purchase of a new ambulance to be used in Lower Alsace Township. The funds will purchase a replacement ambulance with a power load system and electric power litter.
• $232,718 to Mount Penn Borough for equipment purchases, upgrades to the borough’s office IT infrastructure, and renovations to the Borough Hall garage.
• 110,683 to Muhlenberg Fire & Rescue for the purchase of a traffic control truck.
• $45,000 to the Berks County Redevelopment Authority to redevelop 3925 Perkiomen Ave., transforming an underutilized retail site into a vibrant mixed-use community. The funds will go toward the demolition of existing structures.

These funds will provide necessary upkeep and care to our beloved community. I’m always proud to support grants that address community needs! 

Read about additional grants approved for Berks County by the CFA here: Rusnock applauds over $1.9 million for local community improvement projects

Earlier this month, the Pennsylvania Department of Education recognized Ken Bonkoski, the school facilities manager at Antietam School District, for the 2026 Pennsylvania Recognizing Inspiring School Employees Award.

As a representative, I have the privilege of meeting many dedicated individuals – but few embody the spirit of service quite like Ken. I was so proud to nominate him for this award and am even prouder to share that he’s been selected!

The Shapiro administration has asked the U.S. Secretary of Education to consider Bonkoski for the national RISE award, which will be announced this spring.

However, regardless of a national win or not, we all know how special Ken is to the community!

I penned an opinion piece this month on the crisis that Pennsylvania’s childcare system is in. After visiting White House Daycare in Reading, I listened about the pressures facing both parents and educators.

The director shared that while staff truly love the work, many ultimately leave because “it’s not a viable career” due to low sector wages. Early learning and childcare teachers are certified, degreed professionals, yet they make a fraction of what they could teaching at a local public school district.

Providers want to raise wages, but they can’t because families are already getting squeezed from every direction.  

Right now, infant childcare in Berks County costs an average of $13,068 per year, nearly equal to in-state college tuition.

For many families, childcare is their single biggest household expense after housing. That is simply not sustainable for parents who are already stretched thin by rising costs, unpredictable schedules, and workplaces that depend on reliable care.

If we want a stronger workforce, a stronger economy, and stronger communities, we must build a childcare system that is affordable, reliable, and accessible for every family. That means investing in early educators so that childcare is a stable career, not a short-term job. It means easing eligibility cliffs so families can advance without fear. And it means expanding access so more children can learn, grow, and thrive.

Pennsylvania’s future depends on the strength of our youngest learners and the families who care for them. We simply cannot afford to wait.

Read my full opinion piece here: Working families deserve a childcare system that works.

I’d like to send a huge thank you to everyone who adopted a family through my Holiday Gift Giving! Your generosity truly knows no bounds, and I’m so thankful.

Shout out to my staff, Chad Schlanger, Yngrid Moser, and Ryan Golowski, along with all of our nonprofits, guidance counselors, and social workers. Without them, this would not be possible!

Pennsylvania’s Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program helps older neighbors and friends stay in their homes while covering life’s necessities – but the annual deadline is fast approaching. Applications must be filed by December 31, 2025.

Eligible Pennsylvanians include those 65 or older, widows and widowers 50 or older, and people with disabilities 18 or older. Rebates range from $380 to $1,000.

Learn more about the program here.

Pennie, Pennsylvania’s official health insurance marketplace, has extended their first enrollment date application period due to recent federal cost and policy changes.

Customers now have until Dec. 31, 2025, to apply, which means more time to get help, review their options, and choose the plan that works best for themselves and their families.

This year’s enrollment experience looks different for many Pennie enrollees due to several federal updates, including the expiration of enhanced federal tax credits, increasing the cost of 2026 health coverage. More information about these changes is available at pennie.com/whatsnew. 

To be covered in the new year, customers must apply by Dec. 31, 2025. Don’t wait, enroll today! Head here to apply or contact my office for assistance.

My team and I are ready to help you with a range of services, including filing for your Property Tax/Rent Rebate, help with PennDOT and unemployment services.

Please stop by my office (4933 Kutztown Road), call us at (610) 921-8921 or email RepRusnock@pahouse.net to learn more about the services we offer and get started!

District Office

4933 Kutztown Rd.
Temple, PA 19560

(610) 921-8921

Pennsylvania State Capitol
152 Main Capitol Building
Harrisburg, PA 17120

(717) 783-3290

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