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In this Update:
Student Council Meeting at Holy Family University
It was great to welcome back my Student Advisory Council last night for our second meeting! We first got together in the spring, and it was nice to have the same group of students back for another round of conversations. We covered everything from the new cell phone ban in schools to AI, public safety, and more. Each student brought a unique perspective to the table, and I appreciated hearing their thoughts on these issues. Conversations like these remind me just how bright our next generation is, and I always walk away feeling better about our future. I also had the opportunity to present each student with a citation recognizing their participation. Thank you to all of these students for taking the time to be part of these discussions and to Holy Family University for allowing us to hold our meeting on campus. I’m already looking forward to seeing everyone again in the spring! Visit to Empire Beauty School
It was great to stop by Empire Beauty School yesterday and spend some time with their students and instructors I’ve always been a strong supporter of the trades and the opportunities they provide. Cosmetology is a unique trade that combines creativity, skill, and hands-on experience. I enjoyed visiting the hair and esthetics classrooms, learning a little more about how the school operates, answering students’ questions, and letting them know that my office is always here as a resource. I even got a fresh beard trim from one of the students while I was there! A big thank you to everyone at Empire Beauty School for the warm welcome and for the work you do to prepare students for success. I appreciate you having me! Tacony Fall Festival Costume Contest
I had a great time joining everyone at the annual Tacony Fall Festival and judging the costume contest! There were some great costumes, and the kids certainly didn’t make our job easy. Congratulations to all the winner and thank you to everyone who participated. A big thank you to the entire Tacony Together team for putting together another great event. I appreciate all the work that goes into making traditions like this possible for our neighborhood. Visit to Christ The King School
I had a great visit to Christ the King School today! I got to meet their new principal, Amanda Strain, who showed me around the school and introduced me to the students and teachers. I stopped into every classroom to talk with the kids about my job as a state senator and answer some of their questions. We talked about everything from what I do in Harrisburg to some more creative questions, like how many claws a cat has. Thanks to Principal Strain and everyone at Christ the King for having me. I really enjoyed getting to meet the students and spend some time with them! Talking with Golden Years Senior Group
It was nice to stop by the Golden Years senior group today at Faith Lutheran Church and catch up with everyone! I had the chance to answer some questions about what’s going on in our neighborhoods and share a few updates on what I’ve been working on. Looking forward to seeing you all again soon! Touring the National Liberty Museum
I enjoyed spending some time at the National Liberty Museum today, learning more about its history and the work they do. Founded in 2000 right here in Philadelphia, the museum has spent more than 25 years helping people better understand the meaning of liberty and the freedoms that come with it. I also got a chance to check out their current exhibit on freedom of assembly, which shows the many ways people come together, from civic organizations and political movements to cheering on their favorite sports teams. It was great to see pieces of sports history, including signed Eagles gear and a “Miracle on Ice” jersey, along with artifacts that tell the story of how Americans have come together over the years. A special thank you to Alaine Arnott, President and CEO, and her team for showing me around and sharing more about the museum and its mission. It was a great visit, and I appreciate the work you all do to keep these important conversations going! Op-Ed on Problem Gambling CaucusOnline gambling has changed dramatically in recent years. What once required a trip to a casino can now happen anywhere, anytime, right from your phone. With the launch of Pennsylvania’s new Bipartisan Problem Gambling Caucus that i am proud to Co-Chair, it’s time we take a closer look at the risks, especially for young men, and how our laws can keep up with technology. I recently wrote an op-ed on why Pennsylvania needs commonsense guardrails for online gambling and what we can do to address this growing issue. Second Office Opening!
I am excited to share that our second district office in Rhawnhurst is officially open! Our Parkwood office isn’t going anywhere – we’re simply adding another location so our team can be more accessible and help even more of our neighbors across Northeast Philadelphia. Whether you need help with a state-related issue, have a question, or just want to stop in and talk with our team, we’re here to help! Our new office’s address is 8400 Bustleton Avenue Unit 301, Philadelphia, PA 19152. Their phone number is 215-608-9002. We are excited to become part of the Rhawnhurst community and continuing to serve you! Veteran Office Hours
We will be hosting Veteran Office Hours at my district office on November 10th! A Veteran Service Officer will be on hand to assist veterans and their families with benefits, claims, and available resources. Please bring your DD-214 paperwork to the office hours. Remember to Vote! Election Day is Tues., Nov. 3
Tuesday, Nov. 3 is Election Day, your chance to weigh in on state and federal elections. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. For those voting by mail, county election offices must receive completed ballots by 8 p.m. on Election Day. Find your polling place and other voter information here. PA House Needs to Act to Protect Pennsylvania Communities
In March, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled the state’s mandatory life-without-parole sentence for second-degree murder is unconstitutional. The court gave the General Assembly until July 24 to enact a new rule. The Senate passed legislation to protect our communities and fix the problem – twice. Instead of acting on our bipartisan Senate Bill 1400, the House of Representatives advanced a proposal tied to expanding medical parole, creating additional opportunities – without proper guardrails – for convicted felons to be released before completing their sentences. Senate Bill 1400 is supported by Attorney General Dave Sunday, PA State Lodge FOP, PA State Troopers Association and district attorneys across the commonwealth. It has languished in the House Judiciary Committee since June. Second‑degree murder is an extremely serious crime, and the House needs to act so these criminals remain behind bars. New Law Means PA Schools Will Be Cellphone-Free
Pennsylvania teachers will no longer have to compete with smartphones for their students’ attention – and kids will be able to get through the school day without the constant pressure of social media and notifications – with bipartisan passage of a new law requiring schools to adopt policies prohibiting student cellphone use during the school day. Act 117 of 2026 includes limited exceptions, such as students with individualized education plans and special occasions such as field days. It establishes a clear statewide standard, while allowing school districts, which have direct contact with parents, to decide what works best for their communities. The law will take effect with the 2027-28 school year. Pennsylvania joins 40 states in restricting these devices – 19 of which have school-day bans. Read more about the effect of cellphones in schools. Ensuring Sexual Assault Survivors Get Justice
Obtaining justice for sexual assault survivors requires timely processing of rape kit evidence, and I joined colleagues in making it a priority to improve and standardize rape kit testing. Previously, state law allowed local law enforcement agencies to determine whether a sexual assault evidence kit should undergo DNA testing or other forensic analysis, creating the potential for inconsistent practices across the commonwealth. We passed a new law eliminating such discretion. Read more about Act 106 of 2026. In addition, a law we passed in 2024 established a rape kit evidence tracking system, allowing survivors to track the status of their rape kits throughout the testing process. After operating as a pilot program in three counties, it will launch statewide in December. To better care for victims, we included a $12 million increase for rape crisis centers in the current state budget. Prosecuting perpetrators of these heinous crimes should be pursued vigorously, and we’ve made significant changes to ensure just that. Making Education More Affordable
An affordable and thorough education allows young Pennsylvanians to find success and lay down roots while filling in-demand jobs here in the commonwealth – without the burden of heavy debt. In addition to funding K-12 and higher education during the current legislative session, I supported initiatives that:
Affordability in education benefits students, parents, employers and communities. I’ll continue working to lower the cost of education and increase student access to promising careers. Action Taken to Protect Children in the Age of AI
The rapid emergence of artificial intelligence requires rapid deployment of sound policies to protect children from its darker side. I supported measures passed by the Senate cracking down on AI child sexual abuse material (CSAM), shielding them from harmful chatbots and banning “nudification” apps. Fortunately, the House of Representatives also passed one of them: Act 87 of 2026 requires teachers, childcare workers, healthcare providers and other individuals responsible for caring for children to report all instances of CSAM they become aware of, including those produced by a minor. This House bill mirrored the language of Senate Bill 1050. Read more about Act 87 of 2026, including the new requirement of reporting hazing. Unfortunately, House Democratic leaders did not act on other bipartisan bills passed by the Senate, including the Safeguarding Adolescents from Exploitative Chatbots and Harmful AI Technology (SAFECHAT) Act, which would require age-appropriate safeguards to prevent AI content generation that encourages self-harm, suicide or violence against others, and directs users to appropriate self-harm crisis resources whenever high-risk language is detected. Learn more about SAFECHAT. Also awaiting House action is a bill we passed to ban “nudification” apps, which allow individuals to take an image of someone and generate a fake nude or sexually explicit photo of that person. Read more about Senate Bill 1368. The Senate also established a Task Force on Child Protection in the Digital Age to review state laws, assess emerging technologies and identify gaps in protections for children in the digital environment. It will issue a report and recommendation for action to the General Assembly. Learn more about the task force. Bringing Dollars Back to Communities for Local Road Projects
When we learned PennDOT was sitting on millions of dollars that should be spent on local infrastructure, my Senate colleagues and I used state budget negotiations to free this money up for road projects across the commonwealth. PennDOT agreed to release an additional $775 million from the Motor License Fund for local road projects only, not interstates, which are funded elsewhere. We fought to secure these funds because local road improvements mean safer travel with less congestion and improved transportation infrastructure that supports the economy and job creation. List of Rapid Deployment Transportation Projects Making a Difference with Breast Cancer
As Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2026 comes to a close, here are a few ideas to take action all year long in your community: Make mammograms part of the conversation Know your risk Host a Friends Like Me Care Package donation drive Support research |
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