Dear Neighbor & Estimado Vecino,

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For Spanish readers, please read the full Spanish-language version of this email here.

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I hope you are well. I would like to share important information about my ongoing work. As always, please feel free to reach out to my office for help with any state-related issues. To stay informed,?visit my official page. You can also check your?preferences?to make sure you're signed up for?my emails.?

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Para los lectores en?español, lea una versión completa de este boletín electrónico?en su idioma?aquí.?  

Espero que estén bien. Me gustaría compartir información importante sobre mi trabajo en curso. Y no olvides?visitar mi página oficial?para mantenerte informado.?También puede verificar sus?preferencias?para asegurarse de que está registrado para recibir mis correos electrónicos.   

This week, I had the honor of taking part in the bipartisan procession to welcome Governor Josh Shapiro to the House chamber for his annual budget address.

The governor's budget proposal is a strong first step towards a budget that will provide the support that our community needs. It would see significant funding increases for Reading, Wilson and Wyomissing school districts, improved community safety, investments into the job market, and more - all while actually cutting taxes for working Pennsylvanians.

I will continue to use my position to ensure that our community gets the resources and funding it needs out of these budget negotiations. I will provide further updates as the budget continues to develop throughout the year.

It was an honor to have so many of my House and Senate colleagues, as well as guests from across Pennsylvania, join our Dominican Independence Day Celebration!

As the proud daughter of Dominican immigrants, I have seen the sacrifices, resilience and determination that has allowed so many Dominicans across our commonwealth build better lives, and I am proud to continue that legacy.

I also had the honor of introducing H.R. 387, which designates Feb. 27, 2026 as Dominican Republic Independence Day in Pennsylvania. This resolution was adopted by the House with overwhelming bipartisan support and will serve as a time to recognize and honor the incredible Dominican community that has shaped Pennsylvania and our nation.

This week, we passed several other significant bills. Some of the highlights from the past few days include:

• H.B. 490: Amends the Media Shield Law to provide qualified privilege for news reporters to refuse to disclose nonconfidential material and sources.
• H.B. 1909: Protects domestic violence survivors by creating a grading enhancement for certain criminal offenses committed while violating a protection-from-abuse (PFA) order.
• H.B. 1935: Creates a sentencing enhancement for terroristic “swatting” threats against a school or institution of higher education and adds that the court may order restitution for affected employees and first responders. 

You can watch every House session and committee meeting live or after the fact on the House of Representatives website. I encourage you to watch us at work and see how Harrisburg works first-hand.

As a member of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus, it was an honor to have a sit down with Governor Josh Shapiro and my colleagues to discuss how we can take action and advance policies that protect, uplift, and deliver results for Black and Brown Pennsylvanians across the Commonwealth. 

The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency has new grant and scholarship opportunities available. You can learn more about the available programs and requirements here.

The Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus is now accepting applications for its annual James R. Roebuck Scholarship. Applicants are required to be a resident of Pennsylvania, a person of color, and a graduating high school senior or current undergraduate student.

Applications are due on Friday, Feb. 20, and can be turned in here.

The PA House Fellowship Program is accepting applications from eligible Pennsylvania college students for the Summer 2026 semester. Fellows work in committees or leadership offices at the state Capitol.

The program provides compensation and may also offer college credit. Eligible applicants include college juniors, seniors, graduate students, or law students with a 3.0 GPA or higher. Applications are due by March 2. Visit here to learn more.

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is now accepting applications! This program provides cash and crisis grants to help families cover their heating bills as we head into winter. Grant amounts range from $200 to $1,000, depending on your income, household size, and fuel type.

You can apply here or contact my office for assistance.

Applications for Property Tax/Rent Rebates are now open! This gives money back to PA renters and homeowners for costs from 2025 - including seniors, widows and widowers, and those with disabilities.

You can learn more here and contact my office for support with your application. Applications are due by June 30.

Many Pennsylvanians have unclaimed property - money from dormant bank accounts, insurance payments, uncashed checks - and you may be one of them!

My office can help you receive this unclaimed property. Contact us or go to PATreasury.gov/unclaimed-property to see if there is anything available in your name.

It was great to join Mayor Eddie Morán for his State of the City address, looking back on the past year and towards the future for Reading. I look forward to continuing our work together to improve our community!

Did you know there are programs available to help reduce your property taxes or provide a rebate on rent or property taxes you’ve already paid?

The “PA Homestead Exclusion Program” helps homeowners save on property taxes by reducing the assessed value of their primary residence before school taxes are calculated. The “PA Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program” offers rebates to eligible older adults and individuals with disabilities.

My staff will hold a FREE event on Tuesday, Feb. 10 at 2 p.m. at the Reading Public Library (100 S. Fifth Street) to help you learn more about these programs and process your applications.

I will be joining with Reading Councilman Chris Miller, Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan, and Senator Judy Schwank for a meet and greet to discuss your thoughts, ideas, and suggestions for our community.

We will be at Lauer's Park Elementary (251 N. 2nd Street, Reading) from 5:30 - 7 p.m. on Thursday, February 12. I hope to see you then!

Black communities continue to face persistent health disparities rooted in systemic inequities. This Black Health Matters Community Conversation will bring neighbors together to discuss real solutions to improve Black health outcomes in our district and across Pennsylvania.

If you or someone you know needs food assistance, please reach out to my office to find out where you can find help. You can also click here to go to Helping Harvest's website, which has a map of over 350 charitable food program partners in our area.

Helping Harvest will also be collecting non-perishable food items throughout the year at their programs and events. You can learn more about those and how to ensure our neighbors are fed here.

Girls Empowerment Movements will be helping to make prom dreams come true with free dresses, accessories and support for students! The event will be held on March 15 from noon - 4 p.m. at 1011 North Park Road, Suite 300, Wyomissing.

RIZE Youth Arts will be hosting a free youth dance program on Wednesdays at GoggleWorks (201 Washington St., Reading). Latin dance lessons begin at 5 p.m., and hip hop dance lessons begin at 6 p.m. Registration can be found here.

Reading Hospital, along with the Junior League of Reading and Berks Teens, will be hosting Let's Talk, Period - a judgement-free, stigma-breaking event that brings medical professionals together to ensure that girls can have honest, down-to-earth discussions about puberty and periods.

The event will be held on Saturday, Feb. 21 from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences Sullivan Auditorium (1025 Old Wyomissing Road). They will also be collecting new and gently used bras to distribute to local agencies.

Space is limited - register here or by emailing communitywellness@towerhealth.org.

Routine mammograms are important to find the first signs of breast cancer. Tower Health has started their Mobile Mammography stops for 2026, with stops across our community. You can find what locations they will be at on which days here.

As always, my team and I are here to help you navigate state programs and services. Please reach out with any questions, concerns, or ideas. If you can't make it into my district office, you can visit one of my satellite offices! Find my office information below:

Centro Hispano Casa Senior Center

25 N. 2nd St., Reading, PA, 19601

every Thursday from 9 a.m. to Noon

Spring Township Municipal Building

2850 Windmill Road, Sinking Spring, PA, 19608

1st and 3rd Friday from 9 a.m. to Noon

We also host DAV Services (Disabled American Veterans) in my office

1111 Penn Ave., Wyomissing, PA 19610

Every other Monday from 9 a.m. to Noon

Pennsylvania State Capitol

104-A East Wing Main Capitol
Harrisburg, PA 17120

(717) 772-1858

District Office

1111 Penn Ave.
Wyomissing, PA 19610

(484) 577-2756

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