I would like to wish you and your family a happy holiday season. I hope you can take this time as a well-deserved break to cherish with family and friends.

I’d like to share our office hours for the upcoming holiday season. We will be closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, and at noon on New Year’s Eve.

From December 26–31 and on January 2, the office will be open by appointment only; however, my staff will be available to answer calls and emails. If you need assistance during the holidays, please reach out, and my team will respond as quickly as possible.

We will reopen for regular operations on Jan. 5.

This week, the House passed H.B. 1881, a bill I introduced with a group of my colleagues to protect access to vaccines through pharmacists. This legislation would ensure pharmacists can continue to administer vaccines based on Pennsylvania Department of Health recommendations.

Vaccines have saved millions of lives, and turmoil at the federal level should not prevent Pennsylvanians who choose to be vaccinated from accessing them. The bill is now moving to the Senate for consideration.

This week, I also took part in a hearing on H.B. 1925, my bipartisan legislation to regulate the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare. The use of AI in healthcare will impact all of us, and it is important that it be used responsibly.

You can find my remarks at this hearing in the video above and learn more about the hearing in the Pennsylvania Capital-Star, WGAL and FOX43.

On Wednesday, I joined my colleagues in the Allegheny County Delegation to bid farewell to Rep. Dan Miller, who is concluding his service in the State House and will begin his new role as a judge on the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas next month.

I greatly appreciated his dedication, leadership, and moral compass and know that he will bring the same to the bench. Thank you, Dan, for being a wonderful friend and colleague.

I had the pleasure of welcoming Madalyn Fernbach, a third-year medical student at Penn State, to the Capitol as she explored the work of state government. As a physician-legislator, I strongly believe that more physicians should engage with policymakers, and I am grateful for Madalyn’s interest in state policy.

I was honored to represent our community at Governor Josh Shapiro’s Hanukkah celebration this week. Wishing the Jewish community of the North Hills and across Pennsylvania a joyful Festival of Lights with your families.

I am always proud to advocate for state funding for our community, and we saw more arrive this week.

First, I joined Senator Lindsey Williams in announcing $60,000 to North Hills Community Outreach to support their efforts to reduce hunger and homelessness in our community.

I also was pleased to join bipartisan colleagues in the House and Senate to announce $1.5 million coming back to our community to support important projects across the district. You can learn more about these projects here.

Congratulations to our fall intern, Ally Braunsdorf, on her outstanding performance in a mock committee meeting at the conclusion of her Internship and Seminar course at the University of Pittsburgh.

Many thanks to the Pitt Institute of Politics and the Elsie Hillman Civic Forum for providing this wonderful opportunity to their students. And thank you, Ally, for all your hard work this semester!

Veena and I had the pleasure of joining the Korean American Association of Greater Pittsburgh for their holiday festivities. It was an honor to celebrate alongside Korean War veterans, the South Korean Consul from Philadelphia, and leaders and members of the Korean American community in our region.

Thank you to the Korean American Association for the kind invitation and all this vibrant community contributes to the North Hills, Western Pennsylvania, and our Commonwealth.

We also had a wonderful time at Avonworth Community Park’s holiday party. Many thanks to the park’s leaders and staff for hosting a festive celebration and for all your great work on behalf of the community.

Pennsylvania’s Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program helps older friends and neighbors stay in their homes while affording groceries, medicine, and other necessities. The program benefits eligible Pennsylvanians who are 65 or older, widows and widowers 50 or older, and people with disabilities 18 or older.

Rebates range from $380 to $1,000, and the application deadline has been extended to December 31. My staff are available to assist with applications, so don’t hesitate to contact my district office.

I will be taking part in a summit with City & State Pennsylvania on Jan. 21 where we will be discussing challenges and solutions to improving our healthcare system.

You can register and learn more here.

If you’re looking for a meaningful, patriotic way to give back this holiday season, please consider supporting programs that serve the commonwealth’s nearly 700,000 veterans, service members, and their families.

Several tax-deductible programs through the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs are currently accepting donations. You can contribute or learn more here.

Pennsylvania fishing licenses, launch permits, and gift vouchers for 2026 are now available.

These can be purchased at HuntFish.pa.gov or by visiting a retail license issuing agent. 2026 licenses, permits, and vouchers purchased now are valid immediately for up to 13 months, from December 1, 2025, through December 31, 2026.

Customers can choose from annual or multi-year licenses and permits with 3, 5, and 10-year options.  All documents may be printed immediately upon purchase or saved digitally to a smart device which serves as proof of possession.

Please remember that my talented staff can assist you with a variety of state-related matters—from filing a Property Tax/Rent Rebate to obtaining a disability placard or senior bus pass, just to name a few. Contact us or stop by to see how we can help!
 

You can read my e-newsletter in a way that’s most convenient for you by visiting my legislative website here and clicking on the accessibility icon in the lower right corner.

District Office

9800B McKnight Road, Suite 130
Pittsburgh, PA 15237

(412) 348-8028

Pennsylvania State Capitol

101 B East Wing

PO Box 202030

Harrisburg, PA 17120

(717) 772-2363

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