Dear Neighbor, I hope you are well! I wanted to take this opportunity to update you on several happenings in the district as well as Harrisburg. 

As always, I hope you find this informative and useful.

Harrisburg Update

On Tuesday I hosted The Lady Hoofers Tap Ensemble in Harrisburg in honor of National Tap Day which was May 25. The tap dancers had a fantastic performance in the East Wing Rotunda and spoke with my fellow legislators about the importance of supporting the arts in Pennsylvania.

During session we passed multiple bills including S.B. 1018 from state Sen. Tim Kearney, which would extend protections provided to child witnesses during civil and criminal proceedings by allowing the PA Department of Human Services to designate a person who holds specific training to accompany the child(ren) during the proceedings. This ensures that the child(ren) are aware of what is taking place and protects them from harm or distress.

We also passed H.B. 851, which would establish a grant program to provide public schools with funding to acquire and distribute menstrual hygiene product at no expense to students.

If you have any questions about the bills mentioned or other bills in the PA House, send an email to [email protected]. 

Today in Harrisburg we welcomed former Capitol police officers, Sergeant Gonell and Officer Dunn, who were verbally and physically assaulted in the Capitol building on January 6th, 2021. House Democrats thanked them for bravely defending democracy and cheered them on. Many of my House Republican colleagues booed and walked out.

I was proud to honor them. 

Around the District

It’s been a busy week since I last checked in with you! Over the weekend I attended several community events including a Memorial Service for Gun Violence Victims at the Reformed Church of the Ascension in West Norriton. I spoke on the need for serious action to address gun violence in our communities and reminding everyone that gun violence is not just the mass shootings reported in the news; it’s also veteran and first responder suicides, domestic violence against women and children, LGBTQI+ hate crimes, and accidental gun deaths.

The Pennsylvania House passed bills that would create universal background checks and Extreme Risk Protection Orders a year ago. I encourage everyone to contact your state senator and urge them to pass these gun reform measures.

On Saturday I attended Perkiomen Valley’s Middle School East for their Moon Tree planting in the Perkiomen Valley Woods. PV was selected to be one of 50 institutions across America to receive an Artemis moon tree from NASA and the US Forest Service. This sweetgum tree flew aboard the Artemis I as a seed during a 25.5 day journey in 2022 and will now be included in PV’s STEM and Environmental curriculum. Congratulations on this unique addition to your school!​​​​​​​

I also attended the opening of the new Welakamike Creekside Park in Collegeville. Pronounced “wala-ka-me-kah” which means pretty place in the Lenape language, this new park is the result of collaboration between multiple community organizations, the Montgomery County Planning Commission, and Collegeville Borough. Funded through a Montco2040 Grant, this park furthers Montgomery County’s goal of creating connected communities and building sustainability.

June Awarenesses

Happy Pride Month!

June is a month-long celebration of love, community, and acceptance of all. As your legislator and a proud ally of the LGBTQI+ community, I remain committed to building a commonwealth that is welcoming to everyone no matter how you identify or who you love.

June is also Gun Violence Awareness Month to remember the thousands of lives lost every year to gun violence and recommit to implementing gun reform to prevent future loss. I say this often, but it’s easy to talk past each other when we talk about gun violence and what real gun reform looks like in this country. Yet we know that the majority of Americans support gun reform measures like waiting periods, universal background checks, and red flag laws. It’s time to pass gun reform.

Lastly, this month is also PTSD Awareness month. PTSD can develop after experiencing a life-threatening event such as combat, sexual assault, natural disasters, domestic violence, or car accidents and can take a few months or even years to recover from. If you or someone you know is experiencing PTSD, know that there are resources available to you. If you are a service member or a veteran, you can visit ptsd.va.gov. If you are a civilian, you can visit montgomerycountypa.gov/mental-health-services.

Upcoming Neighborhood Events

There are a few upcoming events that you may be interested in:

Elastic Karma Concert in Collegeville

June 6 beginning at 7 p.m. at Collegeville Community Park, corner of 3rd Avenue and Park Avenue

Lower Providence Fire Company Annual Fireman’s Fair

June 6 to June 15 at 3199 Ridge Pike, Eagleville, PA 19403

Juneteenth Flag Raising Ceremony, Montgomery County

June 18, 10 a.m. – 11 a.m. at 2 E. Airy St., Norristown, PA 19401

Make Music Day from Expressive Path Creative Arts Center

June 21, 6 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. at 857 Cherry St., Norristown, PA 19401

Students, families, and guest are welcome for an open mic night of singing, instrumentals, poetry, and skits.

Household Hazardous Waste Collection from Montgomery County

June 22, Norristown Area High School, 1900 Eagle Drive, Norristown, PA 19403

You must register for this event. Visit www.MontcoPARecycles.org to sign up.

Please continue to stay safe, healthy and well-informed.

And, if you have questions about any state-related issue, please contact my office at 484-200-8263 or email [email protected]. If you wish to unsubscribe to this email, please scroll to the bottom where it says “visit this page to manage your email preferences".

Sincerely,

Rep. Joe Webster
State Representative
150th Legislative District

Pennsylvania House Democrats are committed to ensuring better jobs, better schools and better communities for all Pennsylvanians. More information on these successful efforts is available at pahouse.com/deliveringforpa.

PA House of Representatives Democratic Caucus
PO Box 202250 Harrisburg, PA 17120-2250

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