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| The Barb Wire |
| #Listrak\DateStampLong# |
The latest news from the State Capitol |
Please do not reply directly to this email, as it returns to an unmanned account.
You are welcome to contact me through this link.
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Barb’s Update
Last Friday, I attended a House Education Committee hearing at Lancaster Middle School. Democrat Committee Chairman, Rep. Pete Schweyer (D-Lehigh), focused on curtailing cyber school funding based on data that suggests they have poor outcomes. A link to the hearing is posted above.
There are more than 60,000 students enrolled in cyber charter schools and the numbers are growing. Many teachers are also leaving public schools to teach in cyber and charter schools. The most recent suggestion that only $8,000 should flow from public schools to cyber schools for a student whose average daily cost is $17,000 suggests that public schools want to keep $9,000 for a student they don’t teach.
Unfortunately, the hearing went off topic and did not focus on charter school outcomes. This is difficult because many public schools in Pennsylvania don’t have great outcomes either. I believe we can both manage the funding formula and student outcomes by focusing on the student.
Please click here to view my remarks.
The next committee hearing is taking place today in Johnstown.
Speaking of education, I met with the superintendent and business manager from the Cumberland Valley School District this week. I also attended the Carlisle Chamber of Commerce’s “State of Education” breakfast when four schools in my district presented issues pertaining to their upcoming budgets. Later in the day, I met with several advocacy groups that want stricter limits on cell phone use in schools.
I met with members of the Big Spring Watershed Association who are concerned about the Big Spring habitat and waterways and a planned warehouse to be built close to the Big Spring Creek. The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has approved the draft plan. I will be asking DEP questions about the best management practices in this area.
Thursday was National Day of Prayer, and I traveled to Susquehanna County to participate in a House Republican Policy Committee hearing on energy. Gov. Josh Shapiro’s current energy policy is unsustainable, and stifles workforce development in our state. Pennsylvania ranks second in the nation in availability of natural gas, and we are not using all our energy resources, which would produce jobs here at home. Wind and solar are unreliable, and we do not want to follow the United Kingdom’s example of what can happen when we don’t use the clean energy under our feet. Please click here to view the hearing.
Next week we are in session in Harrisburg. Now that it is May, we will see more bills take shape for the budget.
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Thank You First Responders!
Two huge wildfires have burned more than 2,700 acres of the Michaux State Forest and more than 170 firefighters responded to the unusually large mountain fires this week.
The Thompson Hollow Fire started around 5 p.m. on Wednesday, April 23, and the Hammonds Rocks Fire started around 2 p.m. on Thursday, April 24.
Current status:
• The Thompson Hollow Fire, approximately 2,248 acres, is 80% contained.
• The Hammonds Rocks Fire, approximately 470 acres, is 100% contained.
The cause of the fires is currently under investigation. For the latest information, visit pa.gov/cumberland-county-wildfires.
No lives or structures have been lost in the fires, thanks to the courageous and collaborative efforts of many area emergency responders from all over Cumberland County. This includes the volunteer fire companies from the 199th Legislative District listed below. Please use their individual websites if you are interested in helping them out in any way.
Carlisle Barracks Fire Department
Website: https://home.army.mil/carlisle/index.php
North Middleton Twp. Volunteer Fire Co.
Website: https://nmfire39.com/
Union Fire Company No. 1
Website: https://www.unionfireco.org/
Carlisle Fire and Rescue Services
https://www.cfrs45.com/raffle/
West Pennsboro Volunteer Fire Company
Website: https://www.cumberlandcountypa.gov/5212/Fire-Companies
Friendship Hose Company # 1
Website: https://www.facebook.com/FriendshipHoseCompanyNo1Inc
Upper Frankford Township Volunteer Fire Co.
Website: https://uffc48.com/
Newburg-Hopewell Volunteer Fire Company
Website: https://nhfd51.com/
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Apprenticeship Grant Awarded
The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry announced $2.5 million in funds to support the development or expansion of registered apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs in the agriculture sector.
Congratulations to 199th House District awardee LEAF Project, Inc.! Their more than $144,000 grant will allow them to offer employment to high school students, leadership development and agricultural training through its pre-apprenticeship program. Youth aged 14-18 gain hands-on farm management experience, which progresses to roles with greater responsibility over 3-4 years.
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PA Women Veterans: Register Now for Capitol Ceremony Honoring Your Service
Pennsylvania women who served in the armed forces have until May 9 to register for the June 10 state Capitol ceremony honoring their service. A virtual display will also be available online and will go live on June 9.
The event will recognize the courage and dedication of Pennsylvania’s women veterans from World War II to the present. Women veterans from all branches of the military are encouraged to attend and take part.
The first Women Veterans Day Capitol exhibit took place in 2023, after passage of legislation observing Women Veterans Day in Pennsylvania annually on June 12. New participants are encouraged to share their service stories by completing the required submission form, which you may access here.
Veterans featured in last year’s display who wish to participate again may simply update their previous submission.
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Seizing Opportunity Through AI
Growing the state’s energy industry would reap many benefits for consumers and employers across the Commonwealth. It would also give us the chance to capitalize on the growing economic opportunities presented by artificial intelligence (AI).
The House Republican Policy Committee recently held a joint public hearing with the Senate Majority Policy Committee in Pittsburgh to learn more about how artificial intelligence is already reshaping Pennsylvania’s economy. We heard from industry-leading experts about how AI is significantly changing operations in health care, aerospace and banking.
Ken Zapinski, director of research and public policy for Pittsburgh Works Together, stated that Pennsylvania must build more power plants, take advantage of old industrial sites that have access to existing gas and electric infrastructure, and minimize permitting and development hurdles to fully take advantage of the rapidly expanding AI industry.
Our AI Opportunity Task Force is also continuing its work on this front, talking with AI business leaders to learn more about the policies necessary to support the growth of this industry.
Click here to watch the hearing.
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Reminder: Voter Registration Deadline Monday
Just a reminder that if you are not already registered to vote but wish to participate in the May 20 municipal primary election, the deadline to register is this Monday, May 5.
To be eligible to vote in the primary, you must be a citizen of the United States for at least one month before the election; a resident of the election district in which you register to vote for at least 30 days before the primary; and at least 18 years of age on or before the date of the primary.
Under state law, only voters registered as Republicans or Democrats may vote for candidates in the primary election.
You may register to vote online here or visit your county voter registration office. Not sure of your registration status? Check it here.
Voters who prefer to vote by mail-in or absentee ballot have until May 13 to apply for the ballot and until 8 p.m. on May 20 to return it. For more information, click here.
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Growing Greener Plus Grant Program Accepting Applications
The state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is now accepting applications for a new round of Growing Greener Plus grants.
This opportunity includes three grant programs, which are intended to address nonpoint source pollution through local, watershed-based planning, restoration and protection efforts. These include:
• Growing Greener Watershed Restoration and Protection Program grants are to restore impaired waters and protect waterways from nonpoint source pollution.
• Surface Mining Conservation and Reclamation Act Grants are intended to help treat abandoned mine discharge sites.
• Act 167 Stormwater Management Planning Grants are to assist in the preparation of stormwater management plans.
Growing Greener grants can be awarded to watershed groups, local or county governments, municipal authorities, county planning commissions, county conservation districts, councils of governments, educational institutions or nonprofit organizations. Applications are due by Friday, June 20. Learn more about the program and application process here.
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Agricultural Deer Program Changes Adopted
The Pennsylvania Game Commission has adopted four changes to the agency’s agricultural deer control permit program, which allows farmers to address deer damage through hunters harvesting additional antlerless deer on enrolled farms and in longer hunting seasons. The program aims to expand accessibility to agricultural deer depredation programs and provide opportunities to hunters.
Most notably, the rule limiting hunters to four agricultural deer permits, also known as “ag tags” or “red tags,” to harvest antlerless deer for any particular property is removed. Additionally, the time frame during which the tags can be used is more than doubled. A brief closure will be held during the peak of fawning season in spring and early summer.
With ag tags now permitted during regular deer seasons, hunters using those tags will be limited to using the sporting arms allowed in those seasons. Otherwise, hunters may use any lawful sporting arm.
Finally, those who apply to enroll their farms in the program will be required only to certify they are the owner or lessee of both the agricultural interest adversely affected by deer damage and the hunting rights to be covered by the permit. Previously, to be eligible, applicants had to supply a deed or a lease agreement.
Read more here.
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Mental Health Awareness Month
May is National Mental Health Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about mental health and continuing the fight against the stigma people face when seeking help.
In Pennsylvania, mental health services are administered through county Mental Health and Developmental Services programs. To learn more about mental health care in Pennsylvania, click here.
If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by calling or texting 988.
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| Office Locations |
| District Office: 437 E North Street | Carlisle, PA 17013 | Phone: 717-249-1990 |
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| 427 Irvis Office Building | House Box 202199 Harrisburg, PA 17120-2199 | 717-772-2280 |
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