Exciting news: Nearly $2 million in grant funding from the Commonwealth Financing Agency is coming to the 126th!

The following agencies were approved funding:

• $1,250,000 to St. Lawrence for its 2025 Sidewalk Connectivity Project. The funding will be used to install sidewalks along St. Lawrence Avenue and North Prospect Street in St. Lawrence Borough.
• $350,000 to Muhlenberg Township Authority for the Alsace Road water main replacement project.
• $249,000 to Laureldale for sewer repairs and rehab work.
• $144,413 to Lower Alsace Township for Crystal Lake stormwater remediations.

Read the full press release here: Rusnock: Nearly $2 million secured for local community improvement projects

The Pennsylvania House Energy Committee held a joint meeting with the House Consumer Protection, Technology, and Utilities Committee last week to discuss energy affordability.

It’s no secret that energy costs are rising across the country. In Pennsylvania, they’ve increased at a rate that significantly outpaces inflation. Last year, energy costs rose by nearly 10% throughout the commonwealth, and utility shutoffs due to non-payment rose by 38%.

We explored what actions we, as representatives, can take to help reduce costs. If you need help paying for your utilities, it is available: Apply for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Yesterday, I toured Dental Dreams in Muhlenberg, where I saw my first adult-student graduate from the Reading Muhlenberg CTC Dental Program, Sara Rodriguez. Sara is a dental assistant, still working in her first postgrad job!

As a former dental instructor and founder of the program, it was incredibly rewarding to see firsthand how career and technical education leads to good-paying and life-sustaining careers.

In my present role as a state representative, I’m proud to advocate for CTC education and for accessible, affordable dental care. Seeing both come together at Dental Dreams made this visit especially meaningful!

I recently toured the Region 13 Early Learning Resource Center, which acts as a one-stop shop for all early education needs. Whether you’re a parent or guardian, seeking information on enrolling a child in a pre-K program, need help paying for childcare, or are a childcare provider seeking support or training, the hardworking staff members are ready to help.

In last month’s email, I spoke on my visit to White House Daycare in Reading, where staff members talked to me about the difficulties they face. It’s clear to me that 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.

Huge shoutout to ALL municipalities and their road crews, especially Muhlenberg Township and their road crew for a job well done before, during, and after this latest snowstorm.

This is tough, demanding work that takes a lot of coordination, long hours, and real dedication – often while the rest of us are safely at home. It does not go unnoticed, and it is truly appreciated.

I was out during the storm myself, heading to my parents’ house to help dig them out, and I saw firsthand how hard these crews were working – doing an amazing job trying to stay ahead of the accumulation and keep our roads as safe as possible.

Thank you, Muhlenberg Twp, for your professionalism, teamwork, and commitment to our community. We are grateful for you!

I had the pleasure of visiting with the Exeter Fire Department this month and learned about all the amazing work this very busy firehouse does!

I’m looking forward to working with them to ensure that Exeter residents and surrounding communities have the tools available to them to protect their neighbors.

I want to encourage residents to stay engaged and involved in the EPA’s cleanup efforts at the former Exide site in Laureldale.

One meaningful way to do that is by establishing and joining a Community Advisory Group (CAG). CAGs are a great way for neighbors to stay informed, ask questions, share concerns, and make sure the community’s voice is part of the process as cleanup moves forward.

I was truly encouraged by the strong community turnout at the January meeting at the Muhlenberg Township building. That kind of engagement matters – and it makes a difference.

This cleanup affects all of us, and staying involved helps ensure transparency, accountability, and better outcomes for our families and our community. I hope more residents will consider getting involved and supporting one another through this process.

January 31st is the last day to enroll for Pennie’s 2026 health coverage.

Pennie, Pennsylvania’s official state-based health insurance marketplace, offers quality health plans for individuals and families who don’t have other coverage options. If you or someone you know does not currently have health coverage, now is the time to act and visit pennie.com to explore your options to get enrolled.

You can enroll here: pennie.com.

To honor Pennsylvania’s long-standing commitment to education, the state commission planning America’s 250th Anniversary will award $250,000 in scholarships to deserving Pennsylvania students attending in-state colleges next school year. Any Pennsylvania high school senior planning to attend a PA college for 2026–27 is eligible to apply. Twenty-five scholarships of $10,000 each will be awarded by the America250PA commission.

Applications are due Jan. 31. More details can be found here.

This year’s state budget includes the Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit (WPTC), designed to make life more affordable for working families across Pennsylvania. Modeled after the federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), the WPTC helps eligible workers keep more of their hard-earned money. If you qualify for the federal EITC, you automatically qualify for the state credit.

Governor Shapiro’s administration has launched an online calculator you can use to help determine if you qualify for the WPTC and estimate how much money you would receive from it.

The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) has introduced a new feature on PA Navigate to help SNAP recipients find volunteer opportunities in their communities and comply with federal work and reporting requirements.

Under updated federal rules, certain SNAP participants must work, volunteer, or engage in education/training for at least 20 hours per week to maintain benefits. PA Navigate now allows recipients to search for local volunteer roles, connect with organizations, and track hours to stay eligible.

SNAP recipients can visit pa-navigate.org to find volunteer opportunities and learn how to report their hours. Questions can be directed to local County Assistance Offices or DHS’ Customer Service Center at 877-395-8930.

Applications are now open for the Summer 2026 Pennsylvania House of Representatives Legislative Fellowship Program!

Based in the Pennsylvania State Capitol in Harrisburg, this fellowship offers a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in state government. The summer semester will run from Thursday, June 4, through Thursday, Aug. 6.

Qualified applicants will be:

1. College undergraduate juniors or seniors, graduate students, or law school students;
2. Enrolled in a Pennsylvania college/university, or a Pennsylvania resident enrolled in an out-of-state institution; and
3. Pursuing any major with a GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Applications are due on March 2, and you can apply now at www.pahousefellowship.us

We’re holding two free 2025 Property Tax/Rent Rebate filing events in February! These are closed events for residents of St. Catharine Senior Apartments and Queens of Angels Apartments.

However, if you need help filing for your 2025 Property Tax/Rent Rebate, my office is here to help!

My team and I are ready to help you with a range of 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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