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Happy 250th birthday, America!
This past weekend, communities across our district came together to celebrate America's semiquincentennial and honor our nation's 250-year legacy. My family and I had the privilege of participating in Mansfield’s Fourth of July festivities, and it was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate alongside so many members of our community. A special thank you to our oldest son, Colton, for driving the jeep so Lauren and I could walk the parade route and hand out American flags. It was great to see so much patriotism and community spirit on display.
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| Photo Courtesy of Photos By Aria |
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| Photo Courtesy of Photos By Aria |
As we reflected on the enduring spirit that has carried our nation through challenge, change and possibility, this milestone also invited us to celebrate the courage, creativity and resilience that generations have poured into building our country and making it what it is today. I am also reminded of the vital role Pennsylvania has played in shaping the United States. It is an honor to represent each and every one of you in our district. I look forward to the role we will continue to play in building an even brighter future for the next 250 years.
My House colleagues and I created this video that highlights Pennsylvania’s important contributions to our nation’s history.
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A Love Story That Keeps Getting Better
This past weekend was filled with celebrations, and one of the most meaningful was helping Bill and Jean Strohecker celebrate an incredible milestone – 70 years of marriage – over the July Fourth holiday weekend.
Bill and Jean were married on March 24, 1956, and together they have built a remarkable legacy. They are the proud parents of six children, grandparents to eighteen grandchildren, and great-grandparents to six great-grandchildren.
More than 40 family members, along with many close friends, gathered to honor this extraordinary couple and celebrate a lifetime of love, faith and commitment. Throughout the celebration, friends and neighbors and children and grandchildren shared stories of Bill and Jean’s unwavering devotion to one another, their steadfast faith and the love they have poured into their family and friends.
Two granddaughters shared a story about how their grandparents had a special way of turning ordinary moments into extraordinary memories. Even a simple trip to Walmart became an adventure with Grandpa. And Grandma’s unmatched hospitality ensured no one ever left her home hungry. More importantly, everyone leaves with hearts made even fuller by the love they experience there.
Naturally, I always ask what the secret to 70 years of marriage is. Their answer was simple. They said that their commitment to follow Jesus together, along with prayer has been the foundation of their marriage Their steadfast devotion to one another, their unwavering faith, and their deep love for their family have created a legacy that will continue to inspire generations to come. As their two granddaughters so beautifully said, “The best love stories don’t just last forever, they get better.”
Congratulations, Bill and Jean, on 70 wonderful years together. May God continue to bless you and your family.
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Welcoming the Painterland Sisters to the Capitol
June was Dairy Month in Pennsylvania, and dairy continues to be a cornerstone of our state’s agricultural economy. It was especially meaningful to welcome our own Painterland Sisters to the State Capitol on Thursday, June 26.
Sen. Greg Rothman and I had the pleasure of speaking with Stephanie Painter, Hayley Painter and their team about the importance of Pennsylvania's dairy industry, the impressive growth of their business and the impact they're making both here in our Commonwealth and beyond. We're proud to celebrate Pennsylvania agriculture and the hardworking dairy families who help keep it thriving.
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Fun for All Ages Awaits at PA Fairs
Summer is in full swing, and so is Pennsylvania fair season! Communities across the Commonwealth are hosting dozens of fairs featuring food, fun and entertainment, as well as competitive exhibits highlighting animals, produce, crops, crafts, baking and more.
In Bradford County, the Troy Fair is set for July 26-Aug. 1, while the Tioga County Fair is set for Aug. 10-15.
To plan your fair visit, check out the 2026 PA Fair Guide here.
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Supreme Court Upholds Laws Protecting Fairness in Women’s Sports
Great news for our girl athletes! The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 this week that states can limit participation in women’s sports to biological females only. The decision specifically upheld laws from Idaho and West Virginia, determining that biological sex-based restrictions do not violate the Constitution’s Equal Protection Clause or Title IX.
The ruling reaffirms it is time for House majority Democrats to stop playing games and run a bill that would ensure fairness in women’s sports in Pennsylvania once and for all. House Bills 158 and 1849, along with Senate Bill 9, have been shuffled from committee to committee over the last year as Democrat leaders have worked to avoid a vote on the issue. The bills are currently in the House Health Committee and should be called up immediately for consideration.
Polls indicate 80% of people, regardless of political party, support women’s sports being for biological women only. Athletic competitions give women the opportunity to demonstrate their strength and skill, while also providing opportunities for recognition ranging from accolades to college scholarships. We owe it to our female athletes to ensure these rights and opportunities are protected.
State Rep. Barb Gleim and I sat down together and talked about this landmark decision. Rep. Gleim and I have been working on this bill for five years. Take some time and listen to our thoughts here.
Join us in support of this effort by signing the “I Believe” promise at defendingdaughters.com.
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PEMA
As Caucus Secretary, I recently organized a visit to Pennsylvania Emergency Management Association (PEMA) headquarters for our new members to get a behind-the-scenes look at how the agency supports emergency preparedness and response across Pennsylvania.
The tour provided valuable insight into the resources PEMA has in place to assist our local emergency responders before, during and after disasters. Emergencies can happen at any time, and it is reassuring to see firsthand the critical role PEMA plays in helping protect our communities and ensuring first responders have the support they need when it matters most.
I appreciate the PEMA team for taking the time to share their work and demonstrate their commitment to keeping Pennsylvanians safe.
You can get an inside look at our visit here.
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Keep the Lights On, Costs Down
With a Maximum Generation Emergency warning issued last week amid the extreme heat and a warning of mounting strain on the regional electric grid, House Republicans unveiled a comprehensive 10-bill legislative package designed to keep the lights on, lower electricity costs, expand reliable baseload generation and cement Pennsylvania’s role as America's energy leader.
The unveiling of this package of bills comes on the heels of the House of Representatives passing House Bill 2224, which is included in the package and would eliminate the Gross Receipts Tax on electric utility service.
Additional bills in the package would:
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Establish a one-year timeline for environmental permit appeals. |
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Create a Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Permit Ombudsman to assist applicants and improve permitting efficiency. |
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Modernize Environmental Hearing Board appeals to focus on the administrative record developed during permitting. |
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Eliminate the DEP regulatory petition process that allows outside organizations to initiate new regulations. |
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Align state environmental permitting standards with applicable federal standards. |
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Protect Pennsylvania ratepayers from subsidizing electric transmission costs driven by other states through a Pennsylvania-first grid reliability approach. |
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Replace the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards with a Reliable Energy Portfolio Standard that prioritizes dependable, dispatchable generation. |
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Protect consumer energy choice through a uniform statewide policy that preserves access to a variety of energy sources.
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Ensure projects with valid DEP permits are not unnecessarily stalled while permit appeals are pending. |
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