I was overjoyed to announce alongside state Rep. Pat Harkins a $400,000 grant awarded from the Solar for Schools program to Erie County Technical School!

By securing this grant, we are not only investing in renewable energy but also ensuring that our schools have the financial flexibility to focus on what really matters -- education.

We’re proud to lead this initiative, proving that responsible investments in clean energy benefit the community in countless ways.

This Memorial Day Weekend, we pause to honor the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. Enjoy the time with friends, family and loved ones as we reflect, pay tribute and express our deepest gratitude to those who have perished in the line of duty.

My office will be closed Friday, May 23 and Monday, May 26 in observance of Memorial Day. We will return to regularly scheduled hours on Tuesday, May 27.

I’m wishing everyone a weekend filled with laughs, great food and plenty of time spent with loved ones!

Next year is this country’s Semiquincentennial and the organization coordinating our country’s 250th anniversary is looking for local artists to be a part of it.

Bells Across Pennsylvania is an art series to commemorate our country’s anniversary. The selected artists will be given a $1,250 honorarium and will execute their designs on 3-feet-tall fiberglass bell sculptures.

Bells Across PA is open to all Pennsylvania artists and groups, regardless of amateur or acclaimed status, and includes painters, sculptors, craftsmen, multi-media artists and other creative people.

The goal is to place at least one bell in each of PA’s 67 counties. Click here to learn more about how to apply.

It was so much fun hosting a booth at Harborcreek Township’s Big Truck event! Plenty of friendly faces came out to enjoy all the trucks, buses and fire engines on display! I hosted a table to make sure residents know all the services we have to offer!

The Department of Human Services and the Office of State Inspector General have launched a new EBT card security feature to protect Pennsylvanians who receive SNAP and cash benefits from instances of theft.

Benefit recipients can now lock their EBT cards when they are not in use to protect their benefits from skimming and theft. 

Locking an EBT card blocks all purchases, balance inquiries, and transactions to keep benefits secure.

SNAP and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients can lock and unlock their EBT cards using Conduent’s free, and secure ConnectEBT app, available on Apple and GooglePlay app stores, or via the Connect EBT website.

The Pennsylvania Department of Education recently announced $2 million in funding to cover the host of high school equivalency exams for eligible residents.

Pennsylvanians can now take the GED or HiSET tests free of charge at public testing sites or online proctoring, while funds last.

To register, test takers must use the promo code PAFreeGED or PAFreeHiSET when signing up through the official GED® or HiSET® websites.

The initiative aims to support over 650,000 Pennsylvania adults without a high school diploma by reducing financial barriers and encouraging career advancement.

Pennsylvania State Capitol

221 Irvis Office Building

P.O. Box 202002

Harrisburg, PA 17120

(717) 787-4358

District Office

3921 Buffalo Rd.

Erie, PA 16510

(814) 455-6319