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Dear Neighbor, The PA House is moving with urgency to address the needs of the people of Pennsylvania, including boosting wages, creating new housing opportunities, and passing family medical leave. Updates in this week’s newsletter include:
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Increasing the minimum wage for PA workers |
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For the third year in a row, the House passed a bill to increase the minimum wage. House Bill 2189 is a comprehensive bill that would increase the statewide minimum wage from $7.25 per hour (where it has been stuck since 2009) to $11 per hour, effective Jan. 1, 2027. The minimum wage would then increase to $13 per hour in 2028 and $15 per hour in 2029, followed by annual cost-of-living adjustments. It also would set the minimum wage for tipped employees at 60% of the statewide minimum wage. In addition, the bill would give counties the option to implement a $15-per-hour wage sooner. FYI: Neighboring states have all raised their minimum wages. It’s time Pennsylvania did too. It heads to the Senate for consideration. |
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A first-ever regulatory framework for data centers |
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While Pennsylvania has become a site of interest for widespread data center development, the Commonwealth currently has no statewide standards for data centers and lacks oversight of these facilities. House Bill 1834, which I voted for, would create the first-ever regulatory framework for data centers in Pennsylvania. The bill would protect ratepayers from even higher utility bills, increase the construction of renewable energy, and fund low-income energy assistance programs. It now heads to the Senate for consideration. Also, this week I took the first step to introduce legislation that would prohibit nondisclosure agreements between local governments and data center developers. I’m asking my House colleagues to support this bill that empowers our residents by prohibiting state and local government agencies from entering into non-disclosure agreements for data center development. This will remove a barrier to communication and dialogue about this important issue and make sure that key decisions about the future of local communities are made with transparency and the ability for the public to fully participate. A growing practice among developers of these major projects has been to require local governments to sign non-disclosure agreements - preventing local officials from being able to communicate openly and honestly with their constituents, answer their questions, and address their concerns. This controversial practice has been met with increasing scrutiny and pushback across the country, and at least one major technology company recently announced it would stop seeking these agreements with local governments. |
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Bipartisan AI education campaign |
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The public would benefit from better understanding how artificial intelligence works. I’m proud to co-introduce legislation with the Republican minority Chair of the Communications & Technology Committee, Jason Ortitay. AI is a double-edged technology offering opportunities for greater productivity while requiring the knowledge to know when it’s misused. Pennsylvania residents, from the very young to our seniors, need to be educated about this constantly evolving technology so that they can leverage its capabilities and protect themselves from being misled or manipulated by it. |
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Family Care Act, a family and medical leave insurance program in Pennsylvania |
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The House passed House Bill 200--The Family Care Act—that would bring economic stability to more working families by creating a family and medical leave insurance program in Pennsylvania. More than a dozen other states offer paid leave that ensures workers don’t have to choose between their job and their family’s well-being after the birth of a child or during a serious illness. It’s time PA did, too! It heads to the Senate for consideration. |
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Arts inspire and boost our economy |
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In the Capitol Rotunda, I joined artists, educators, and cultural leaders to call attention to the arts and cultural sector's $30 billion annual economic impact on the Commonwealth. The goal is to increase state funding for the arts and to raise awareness about the economic and cultural impact of the creative sector on the state's economy. Arts funding stimulates local economies, supports downtown revitalization, and sustains creative jobs. |
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Events in the community |
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PennDOT seeks feedback |
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PennDOT is seeking the public’s feedback on its services this winter through an online survey. The survey is available through April 14 and should take about five minutes to complete. All responses are anonymous. The 17-question survey asks respondents about their timeline expectations for safe and passable roadways, how they rank snow-removal priorities, and how they rate PennDOT’s winter services. You can access the survey here: https://qualtrics.pa.gov/jfe/form/SV_d6enJ54tQSo4gxU |
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Royersford District Office 301 North Lewis Rd., Suite 140C Monday through Friday, 8:30am-4:30pm |
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Pottstown Satellite Office Pottstown, PA 19464 Mondays and Wednesdays, 9:30am-2pm |
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Pottstown Satellite Office Pottstown, PA 19464 Tuesdays and Thursdays, 12pm-3pm |
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Harrisburg Office
325 Main Capitol, P.O. Box 202146, Harrisburg, PA 17120-2146 |
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