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Get Out and Vote
Today is Election Day! Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Click here to verify your polling place for in-person voting.
Voters who have chosen to vote by mail-in or civilian absentee ballot must have those ballots back to their county Board of Elections no later than 8 p.m. on election day.
If you choose to deliver it in person, you can only return your own ballot, not anyone else’s. And no one can deliver your ballot on your behalf unless you are a voter with a disability and have designated someone, in writing, to deliver your ballot, or if you need an emergency absentee ballot. Click here for more frequently asked questions about elections from the Department of State.
More information about voting is available at vote.pa.gov.
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It’s Time for Dads to Get off the Bench
Last week, a coalition of dads, lawmakers and student athletes joined me in issuing a call to action for dads to stand up and defend their daughters’ right to compete on a level playing field by prohibiting biological males from participating in women’s sports through the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act.
It was an honor to have Frank Murphy join me in this fight. Frank, a former NFL player and father of two daughters, has been an outspoken advocate for fairness in girls’ sports. I appreciate his commitment to defending our daughters and their rights to fair competition and safe locker rooms.
We were also joined by two female athletes who had to compete with biological males on their teams and in their locker rooms. I encourage you to watch the news conference above to hear them share their stories.
Athletic competitions give women opportunity to demonstrate their strength, skill and determination. We owe it to our female athletes to ensure these rights and opportunities are protected.
It’s time to stop the legislative gymnastics that are being used to avoid a vote on the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act. Once again, Senate Bill 9 has been referred to another committee to block a discharge petition. A new petition has been launched to force a vote on the House version of the bill, House Bill 158.
It’s time for dads to get off the bench and protect the rights of girls and women in sports.
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The Rest of the Story
I would like to thank the Wellsboro Gazette for including the rest of the story in this week’s paper. Below you can read my response to the hit piece from a few weeks ago.
The late Paul Harvey was famous for his line, “and now you know… the rest of the story.” I hope to fill you in on the rest of the story that Susan Spicka conveniently left out of her recent opinion column.
As your representative I strive to be authentic and real, something I hope you’ve grown to appreciate. Yes, I have been communicating with school districts and nonprofits the need to be prepared for late budgets. The part that was conveniently missed or left out was the why.
A huge part of government, and specifically budgets, runs on trust and relationships. While Gov. Josh Shapiro is doing a great job building relationships and working hard raising money to run for president, his backstabbing the Senate in 2023 has caused major issues with trust. Line item vetoing one of the major parts of the negotiated budget in 2023, and giving into the House Democrats, is just one of the several things that has broken trust.
I also shared that we should not be surprised by a late budget. This is Gov. Shapiro’s third late budget. Yes, he has yet to get one passed on time, and I can’t see him charting a different path next year. He certainly does not act like it’s a priority and looks to pass the blame on everyone but him, the leader of the Democratic Party in PA. Just last year, we did not have a final budget till December.
I have served this district under the leadership of both the Republicans and the Democrats. I can tell you for a fact that Republicans actually care about the budget process. Gov. Shapiro proposed a budget that would spend at least $5.5 billion more than we are going to collect in taxes this year. That gave him the ability to travel the state like Santa having something for everyone. The reality is, he absolutely knew he was way off and was using the budget process for political games. During a hearing a few years ago, the Wolf Administration even admitted to this being a “dance.” And when it came time for the House Democrats to put a budget forward, they even walked away from Gov. Shapiro’s budget, knowing it was way out of line.
Republicans want this over more than anyone, but it must be right. In fact, House Democrats have been sitting on a level funding bill since mid-summer. They even unanimously voted down an opportunity to send that bill directly to the governor to get funding out to our schools at the same level as last year. That would have given us until December to get any increases negotiated.
However, they chose to follow Gov. Shapiro’s lead and voted that down, then directly headed to the microphone to blame the Senate, and then off to film a TikTok.
While it was cute to have an education activist try and spin my words into a negative narrative to try and blame me or my fellow Republicans, like Paul Harvey would say, “and now you know the rest of the story.”
Should you want to stop in and talk about the budget, feel free. I would value the opportunity to share more about all the work we are doing to put our state on a path of financial stability with real numbers and facts. Getting this one right is of utmost importance.
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Federal Budget Impact
The lack of a federal budget is having a big impact on residents across the country. This is a federal issue that needs immediate attention by lawmakers in Washington, D.C., and this could all end if the Senate Democrats would vote for a continuing resolution that would immediately open the government while negotiations continue.
During these uncertain times, my office is here to help point you in the right direction if you find yourself impacted by a lapse in federal funding or delays in services.
Impact on SNAP Program
The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) has announced that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payments for November will not be issued at this time because of the lack of a federal budget.
Here’s what you need to know:
• Even though there’s a delay, DHS is continuing to process new SNAP applications as well as other benefit programs.
• If you already have money on your Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card, you can still use those funds for eligible purchases.
• To find local help, including food banks, housing, utilities assistance, and more, please visit pa-navigate.org. This tool allows you to search by ZIP code and find resources.
Local help is also available by visiting pa211.org.
If you have any questions about your SNAP benefit or need assistance in Tioga or Bradford counties, you can call DHS at 1-800-692-7462 or contact your local county assistance office.
• Reach the Tioga County Assistance Office at 570-724-4051.
• Reach the Bradford County Assistance Office at 570-265-9186.
Just watch for scams during this process! SNAP clients are receiving calls saying their benefits are on hold until they verify their eligibility and asking that they call and provide their PIN. This is a scam. The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) will never ask for personal information in an unsolicited text message, email or phone call. Please report any texts or calls about DHS benefits that seem suspicious by calling the DHS fraud tip line at 1-844-DHS-TIPS (1-844-347-8477).
LIHEAP
Due to the federal government shutdown, Pennsylvania must delay the opening of the 2025-26 Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) season, because the Department of Human Services (DHS) has not yet received its federal allocation for 2025-26 LIHEAP funds.
For immediate needs during the shutdown, you can use PA Navigate at www.pa-navigate.org to help find resources. Local help is also available by calling 211 or visiting pa211.org.
Pennsylvanians can also contact their utility providers directly to find out what programs are available to help with utility costs, as well as search “utility assistance” at puc.pa.gov.
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Tioga and Bradford County Food Banks
If you or someone you know is facing uncertainty about feeding themselves and their families, we’ve put together a list of local food banks available to support you. If you know of any changes or additional resources that should be included, please let us know.
My office is here to help connect you with the resources you need.
Click here for a PDF version of the food pantry list.
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Powering the Mid-Atlantic
Our House Republican Policy Committee this week welcomed lawmakers from Maryland, New Jersey and Virginia for the first-ever multi-state policy hearing focused on restoring energy affordability and reliability across the Mid-Atlantic region.
The message from energy advocates and the region’s lawmakers was clear: We urgently need coordinated, commonsense reforms to our energy policies to ensure the stability of our electric grid and bring down the cost of energy for our residents and businesses. That includes leaving the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, improving permitting for new energy projects, and ensuring new generation is up and running before older facilities are taken offline.
A representative from PJM Interconnection, the regional transmission organization serving 67 million people across 13 states and the District of Columbia, outlined the challenges posed by accelerating energy demand, premature plant retirements and delays in new generation. He warned that, “without a significant course correction, the region could face a resource adequacy deficit by 2030 — or even sooner.” He emphasized that load growth from artificial intelligence, data centers and electrification is outpacing new generation and underscored the need for all resources — natural gas, coal, nuclear and renewables — to meet future demand.
We also heard testimony from Rob Jennings, American Petroleum Institute; Rachel Gleason, Pennsylvania Coal Alliance; Maddie Milam, Consumer Energy Alliance; and Elizabeth Stelle, Commonwealth Foundation.
Click here to watch the hearing.
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Discussing the Importance of Medical Care
Physicians from the Pennsylvania College of Emergency Physicians (PACEP) visited Rep. Clint Owlett and me at the Capitol this week to speak about the importance of physician-led care in the emergency department setting and House Bill 446. This legislation would allow patients to be discharged with the unused portion of certain medications opened during procedures when the medication is needed for continuing treatment. The measure would prevent waste and help save patients the cost of filling a brand new prescription.
PACEP is a voice for emergency medicine in the Commonwealth and a leading advocate for emergency physicians and their patients. It has advanced quality emergency care and public health in Pennsylvania through education and training, and advocacy for patients, physicians and the public.
Pictured with me are Rep. Tina Pickett, Dr. Chris Berry from Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, Dr. Mary Gallo from Geisinger Medical Center in Wilkes-Barre, Dr. Patrick Rowe from Guthrie, Dr. Scott Mueller from Guthrie, Dr. Brian Kelly from St. Luke’s , Dr. Christopher Wilson from Geisinger, and Dr. Jennifer Savina from UPMC in Somerset.
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‘Tis the Season to Watch for Deer
With deer becoming increasingly active, and the end of daylight saving time soon to put more vehicles on the road when deer move most, the Pennsylvania Game Commission is reminding motorists to slow down and stay alert.
Pennsylvania again led the country in animal-collision insurance claims in Fiscal Year 2024-25. The Commonwealth’s drivers have a 1-in-62 chance of a vehicular accident involving a big game animal, one of the highest rates nationwide.
You can reduce your chances of collisions with deer by staying alert and better understanding deer behavior. Be especially alert in “Deer Crossing” areas, and remember deer tend to travel in family groups, so if you see one deer, more are likely coming.
To report a dead deer for removal from state roads, motorists can call the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation at 1-800-FIX-ROAD. If the deer is on a locally owned road, contact the appropriate municipality. More information for drivers who want to claim the deer should click here.
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