Dear John,

I was excited to announce this year's winners of my 2023 Congressional Art Competition during a reception held at Scranton's Everhart Museum. 

At the event, we welcomed 76 students, their families and teachers where 87 pieces of art from ten regional high schools were on display to the public. 

The celebration and excitement this competition brings to our students, parents and teachers is uplifting and I’m incredibly proud of this year’s entrants. 

The winners of Pennsylvania’s 8^th Congressional 2023 District Art Competition, as chosen by a panel of independent judges, are: 

• Zoe Nester, a senior at Delaware Valley High School, took home first place honors for her multi-media entry, Colorblind, which she describes as “meant to bring to life the struggles with disability.”  
• Youngeun Choi, a junior at Delaware Valley High School, came in second place for her acrylic and ink entry entitled Victims, which depicts a somber portrayal of ivory poaching and elephant hunting. 
• Leah Crawley, a senior at North Pocono High School, was awarded third place for her oil pastels entry, Ordinary Things, a still-life of “random objects I found around my house.”  
• Shannen Havel, a senior at Delaware Valley High School, was awarded honorable mention for his digital artwork, Things aren’t Always What they Seem to Be, a graphic illustration created out of song lyrics.

Zoe and her family are headed to Washington D.C. this month, where she'll be recognized at the annual awards ceremony. Her winning artwork will also be on display at the U.S. Capitol for the next year. 

The Covid-19 pandemic exposed a serious flaw in the United States’ medical supply chain: an overreliance on imports, especially from China.

Reinvigorating our domestic supply chain protects the health of Americans and the country’s national security, which is why I reintroduced the bipartisan MADE in America Act.

The Manufacturing API, Drugs, and Excipients in America Act will prevent drug shortages and medical supply chain crunches while incentivizing the domestic manufacturing of drugs, PPE and diagnostics.

America’s scientific community is second to none so there’s no reason we shouldn’t also lead the world in making lifesaving medications. Bolstering American-made pharmaceutical production will support high-paying jobs and ensure that the country isn’t exposed to future supply chain breakdowns, whether due to a pandemic, war or some other unforeseen crisis.

Learn more about the bill here. 

I joined U.S. Senator Bob Casey, EPA Administrator Michael Regan, and students and officials from the Greater Nanticoke Area School District for an inaugural voyage aboard one of 15 new electric buses awarded the district's fleet. 

These new clean, green buses will reduce harmful pollution, improve air quality in and around schools and communities, save money, and reduce greenhouse gas pollution.

Greater Nanticoke Area is part of the first round of grant funding made available by the Inflation Reduction Act. This unprecedented investment will protect the safety and well-being of our most treasured resources — our children and our planet.

Read The Times Leader's coverage of the event here. 

My office's upcoming Service Academy Information Night is scheduled for this Wednesday, May 10, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Wilkes-Barre Area High School. 

Along with staff members from my office and the offices of Senators Casey and Fetterman, you can meet and talk with representatives from: 

• The U.S. Military Academy at West Point
• The U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis
• The Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs
• The Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, N.Y.  

For more information or to RSVP, contact Tammy Aita at 570-341-1050 or email her at [email protected]. 

Be safe and well,