June 4, 2026

Congrats, Class of ’26!

Graduation marks the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. Hard work, determination and perseverance have brought this year’s class to the great milestone of graduation. They should be proud of this accomplishment. This year also marked a first for me when I gave the commencement address at Cumberland Valley Christian School.

Whether heading to college, joining the workforce, serving in the military, attending a trade school or pursuing another path, I encourage all to remember that success is built one step at a time. Embrace new opportunities, learn from challenges and never stop striving to reach your goals.

Wishing all our graduates a bright future and continued success. Congratulations, Class of 2026! 

Remembering D-Day

The story of D-Day is one of courage, sacrifice and resolve. Thousands gave their lives so future generations could live in freedom. On this anniversary, we remember those who stormed the beaches of Normandy and honor all who served in the fight against tyranny.

Many of us have relatives who were there on June 6, 1944. For me, one of the brave fighters was my great-grandfather, Joseph Waite. He served in the Navy during World War I and, with seven children at home, answered the call to re-enlist to fight in World War II. He was part of naval support at the D-Day landings.

Cellphone Ban Should be a Local Decision

You may have heard that the House approved a bill forbidding students from having cellphones in schools. I voted against the measure because I believe this decision should remain with the very capable elected school board members and administrators of local districts. Though I agree phones shouldn’t be out in classrooms, this is a sweeping policy change that I believe oversteps the role of state government. Such policies should reflect what works for students, parents and educators in their community where it could be changed to fit what works locally, not a broad state law that would be difficult to alter going forward.

The legislation is now in the Senate for consideration.                                     

Avoiding Scams

Thank you to everyone who attended the anti-scam seminar I hosted with Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday’s office. The presentation focused on new scams and technology, such as AI, being used by scammers.

The Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General offers a scam alert system to provide real-time alerts and practical tips to keep you in the know and help you avoid getting scammed. The greatest tool to combat scammers is knowledge of their methods and being able to identify scams.

Grants for New and Beginning Farmers

New and beginning farmers can apply for grant funding to support the launch and growth of their agricultural ventures through Horizon Farm Credit’s the Young, Beginning and Small Farmer Grant Program.

The program provides $20,000 to outstanding applicants in the early stages of their business. To qualify, applicants must be 18 to 35 years old or a beginning farmer with 10 years or less of reported Schedule F income, or a small farmer with less than $350,000 in annual gross cash farm income. Applicants must live within Horizon Farm Credit’s 100-county footprint.                       

Protecting Against Fraud

Working to protect taxpayers from fraud, the House Human Services Committee voted to transition the older swipe EBT cards to chip-enabled cards, much like modern debit and credit cards. The upgraded, more secure cards will protect against skimming, which is when a device placed by scammers on a credit card machine steals vital card information used to fraudulently spend funds. These scams cost taxpayers millions and jeopardize access to food for those receiving the benefits.

I joined fellow committee members in passing House Bill 2540, sponsored by the Republican and Democrat chairs of the committee, unanimously. It goes to the full House for consideration.

Attention Students: House Fellowship Program Taking Applications

The Pennsylvania House Legislative Fellowship Program is accepting applications for its fall 2026 semester.

The program is based at Pennsylvania’s Capitol Building in Harrisburg where fellows are assigned to work in House standing committees or leadership offices; are compensated for their work (which may also include college credit); and are provided the opportunities to draft and present their own legislation, attend meet-and-greets with various public officials and staff, and tour some of the Commonwealth’s historic public spaces, to name a few.

Qualified applicants must be undergraduate juniors or seniors, graduate students, or law school students; enrolled in a Pennsylvania college/university or a Pennsylvania resident enrolled in an out-of-state institution; and pursuing any major with a GPA of 3.0 or higher.

For more information or to apply, visit www.pahousefellowship.us. Applications can be submitted via email to [email protected]. The deadline to apply for the fall term is July 1.

Junior Game Warden Camps Provide Hands-On Learning

The Pennsylvania Game Commission is holding one-day Junior Game Warden Camps across the Commonwealth, providing those who attend a structured, fun-filled day learning about the career of a Pennsylvania state game warden.

One of the camps will be held at on Saturday, June 20, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Greencastle Sportsman’s Association, 3260 Sportsmans Road, Greencastle. Registration is limited to 40 participants.

Campers will spend the day with game wardens, gaining insight into the job and the Game Commission’s mission of managing and protecting the state’s wildlife and habitats while promoting hunting and trapping. Campers will join wardens in light physical fitness activities, confidence-building exercises, hands-on learning stations and more.

The program is open to youths ages 12-15 who have not attended a camp held previously