Dear Neighbor,

This month, I had the privilege of meeting with Black business owners, leaders, and officials who help Delaware County embrace its Black history every day. Today might be the last day of Black History Month, but we should uplift Black voices all year round.

Contest winners announced!

First, I’d like to name our first and second-place winners of our Black History Month Poetry Contest!

Congratulations to Academy Park High School’s Joy Night for taking first place with “My Color, My fate.” This poem is beautiful and expresses so much emotion.

And congratulations to Academy Park High School’s Kocelia Dogba for taking second place with “Harriet Tubman.” It is a marvelous ode to one of history's most important people.

Thank you for all the entries, Delco! We had so many amazing writers!

Celebrating in Aldan and Collingdale

It was an honor to participate in celebrations in Aldan and Collingdale. Black history is a history of resistance, and the blueprint for fighting authoritarianism today is found in the persistence of Black men and women throughout history.

Resistance has never been easy or safe. But we don't have to be Harriet Tubman or MLK Jr. to make a difference. We can be like Georgia Gilmore, who used her cooking to sustain the Montgomery Bus Boycott, or like those who resisted slavery by supporting the Underground Railroad, or created mutual aid societies, or protested injustice.

If you would like to discover more about Black and American history here in Delco, I highly suggest that you check out our rich heritage through the Upper Darby Underground Railroad Trail. This self-guided walking tour features eight historical sites, including Riverview House and Sellers Hall, the latter being one of Pennsylvania's oldest buildings and a former stop on the Underground Railroad. The trail spans approximately 4.5 miles and offers a profound insight into the area's abolitionist activities.

You can also check out Eden Cemetery in Collingdale, which is a historic African American burial ground established in 1902. It serves as the final resting place for numerous prominent figures who played pivotal roles in the fight for freedom and equality.

One such individual is Nathaniel W. Depee (1812–1868), an esteemed activist and abolitionist. Depee was actively involved in the Underground Railroad and Black political movements in Philadelphia during the mid-19th century. Originally interred at Lebanon Cemetery, his remains were later re-interred at Eden Cemetery.

Focusing on technical education

It was a pleasure to visit students in pre-apprenticeship programs at Delaware County Intermediate Unit and Technical High School this month, as well. State Rep. Leanne Krueger and I had the pleasure of presenting school leaders Executive Director Maria Edelberg and Director of CTE Programs Steven Butz with a PA House citation honoring February as Career and Technical Education Month.

Legislators and local business leaders were invited to a showcase of the power and potential of CTE programs in Delaware County. I got to tour the Welding program, as well as the Engineering and Robotics, Cosmetics, Electrical Construction and Advertising Design. It’s plain to see that students are in good hands.

Shred Event is March 15

You’re invited to a free paper shredding event hosted by me and state Rep. Gina H. Curry. You can also bring hard drives, laptops and cell phones to be recycled.

It will take place from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, March 15 in the Upper Darby High School parking lot.

Hearing in Capitol focuses on housing

Many people across Pennsylvania are finding housing increasingly unattainable. A highly competitive market, rising mortgage rates, and a persistent shortage of residential options are creating significant challenges for the state's workforce and economic growth.

This week, I attended a PA House Majority Policy Committee meeting in which we discussed how out-of-reach housing negatively affects workers, businesses and families. We heard from experts in the field, who described how interest rates, costs and supply contribute to challenges to attaining homeownership.

NeighborWorks cited that the average household price point has moved to $198,000, skyrocketing from the average price point of $108,000 only a decade ago. Half of the nation’s renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing and 12 million of those spend 50% or more.

I will continue to help advocate for changes in state law to benefit Pennsylvanians who want to own a home. We are looking at grant programs and credits to help renters become homeowners. 

Wednesday’s hearing also featured testimony from James Eash, the director of real estate development at ACTION Housing; Craig Burkley, the COO and CFO at NeighborWorks Western Pennsylvania; and Angel B. Rodriguez, the executive director and senior vice president of land management at Philadelphia Land Bank. 

Information about this hearing and other PA House Majority Policy Committee hearings can be found at pahouse.com/policy.

PA House holds joint committee hearing on bird flu

I also attended a joint informational meeting of the House Agriculture & Rural Affairs and Health committees on the topic of bird flu. We heard from experts at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine about how Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) affects Pennsylvania and what we can do about it.

They explained how they follow “family trees” of viruses to discover their origins and move to eradicate them. These viruses are now circulating continuously in wild birds, allowing for rapid geographic spread and repeated introductions into agriculture. The additional outbreaks in dairy cattle descend directly from ongoing outbreaks in birds.

While rare, bird flu can infect humans and sometimes make them very sick. Most human H5N1 infections are from close contact with infected animals.

Strong testing, surveillance, and outbreak response are critical for outbreak mitigation. If you find a dead bird, do not touch it. If you do, please pay attention to your health for 10 days after. If you have any of these symptoms during that time, call your health care provider right away. Tell them about your contact with the bird.

For more on the bird flu in Pennsylvania, visit the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s website here.

2025 Property Tax/Rent Rebate Application Period NOW OPEN

The 2025 Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program Application Period is open and accepting application for rebates on property taxes or rent paid in 2024. My office can help you apply.

We will have special hours for help applying from 10 a.m. – noon on March 26, but you can reach out to my office for help anytime.

The program benefits eligible Pennsylvanians 65 and older, widows and widowers 50 and older, and people with disabilities 18 and older. It has made it easier for seniors in Delaware County to stay in their homes and afford groceries, medicine, and so much more.

Please call or stop by my office to find out if you’re eligible and get assistance applying for your rebate. We’d be glad to answer any questions and set up an appointment to help you complete your application online!

To apply for Pennsylvania's Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program, you'll need to complete the PA-1000 form and provide specific documentation based on your status as a homeowner or renter. Here's a breakdown of the required paperwork:

• Proof of age: You can submit a photocopy of one of the following documents for verification: 
  • Birth certificate 
  • Blue Cross or Blue Shield 65 Special Card 
  • Church baptismal record 
  • Driver’s license or PA identification card 
  • Hospital birth record 
  • Naturalization/immigration paper, if age is shown 
  • Military discharge paper, if age is shown 
  • Medicare card 
  • PACE/PACENET card 
  • ?Passport 
     
• Proof of income 
   
• Proof of property taxes or rent paid
  • For homeowners: This should be submitted in the form of receipted tax bills for the year being claimed. 
  • For renters: This can be a rent certificate completed by your landlord or their authorized agent, or if your landlord’s signature cannot be obtained, a rent certificate with the affidavit notarized.  

PA House of Representatives Scholarship available

Applications are currently being accepted for the PA House of Representatives Scholarship Program. The Program – administered through The Foundation for Enhancing Communities – is for graduating high school seniors who reside in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. TFEC awards two four-year scholarships to high school seniors each year. The award consists of the value of one semester of tuition at the State System of Higher Education for each of four years.  Students must maintain eligibility criteria in all four years to receive the ongoing award.

Details on how to apply and submit required documents are available online at www.tfec.org or by clicking here. The deadline to submit all materials is April 15, 2025.

Come get a coffee with me March 13

In case you haven’t made it to one or would like to visit again, I host a Coffee with the Rep event the second Thursday of each month. My next one is March 13. We'll discuss whatever state-related issue you'd like, with special focus on state programs available to you.

Free lead certification training offered in March

Free lead certification training at the Delaware County Health Department will be offered in March. In 2022, nearly 9,000 children under 16 in Pennsylvania were found to have elevated blood lead levels.

You can file your taxes with Direct File in PA 

More than 2 million Pennsylvanians are now eligible to use Direct File, the IRS tool that allows you to file your federal and state tax returns online securely and for free. The IRS launched this tool last year, but 2025 will be the first year that PA residents can use it.

Check to see if you will be eligible to use Direct File to file this year’s federal and state tax returns at https://directfile.irs.gov/.

Help with heating costs is available

We are in the thick of winter, so it’s important that you’re able to stay warm in your home! Applications are now open for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). This program can help you keep warm and safe during this time of year by helping with your heating bill. For more information on this program, to see if you qualify, and to apply, visit here or contact my office.

Pennsylvania State Capitol
106-A East Wing
Harrisburg, PA 17120
(717) 783-8099

District Office

6 S. Springfield Rd.
Clifton Heights, PA 19018
(484) 200-8262