Important Updates/Highlights

Statement on Minneapolis Shooting

SEPTA Impact Story

On Monday, I met with Johnny Wallace at the Arc Alliance to talk about PA’s current transit funding issue. He expressed to me his concerns about our lack of transit funding and is worried it’ll make services like CCT (SEPTA Access) unaffordable, inaccessible, and unsafe for many individuals who rely on it across Pennsylvania. And he’s right. Johnny is already experiencing these issues, and he wanted to share his story because so many others are dealing with them too.

CCT (SEPTA Access) is Johnny’s main form of transportation. This paratransit service from SEPTA gives individuals with disabilities and seniors a form of transportation and picks them up along SEPTA routes. However, due to the SEPTA cuts, Johnny can no longer be picked up at his address. He now has to find his way to a nearby SEPTA route that hasn’t been cut, use a stranger's address and wait in front of their home to be picked up. He raised flags about safety concerns and departure times from his home to the location, especially with inclement weather on the way. But this is Johnny’s reality without transit funding, and it’s the reality for so many others, too.

For SEPTA users, all of us will feel the effects of extended wait times, limited options, increased prices and interruptions to our daily life activities like grocery shopping, getting to appointments, access to our families, and getting to and from work. Whether SEPTA use is a necessity for you like it is for Johnny, or if you use it for the annual Philadelphia Flower Show or to the Sports Complex, your access and ride times will be impacted. And that doesn’t even account for the extra vehicles clogging our already heavily traveled roads.

Johnny’s story is one of the many out there, and every single person matters. Mass transit needs to be funded all across our Commonwealth. This isn’t something that should still be up for debate. Senate Republicans need to work with the Governor and the House Democrats to fund mass transit and to pass a budget. And Johnny’s point is spot on; there’s no excuse why any of the five transit funding bills we passed in the PA House that adequately fund mass transit can’t be passed in the state Senate.

Johnny and other daily riders who rely on accommodations know exactly what our transit systems need—and that wasn’t reflected in the Senate’s bill. The longer the Senate waits, the longer the livelihood of our neighbors and our economy suffer. Senate Republicans are letting down every single one of us.

Upcoming Office Hours

Reminder! My district office will be closing at 12 p.m. (noon) on Friday, August 29, and will be closed all-day on Monday, September 1, in observance of Labor Day. We will re-open on Tuesday, September 2, at 9:30am

If you need any state-related assistance, please call 484-200-8263 or email [email protected] and a member of my staff will contact you.

Back to School

It’s back to school in our area, and I want to wish all students, teachers, staff, and families a happy and healthy school year as they make their return to the classroom both this week and next. I look forward to hearing about and celebrating all of the achievements and opportunities our students will experience this year. And neighbors, please be mindful of school zones, buses, pedestrians and new drivers on our roads so that we can have a safe school year.

Have a great year, Methacton School District, Norristown Area School District, Pathway School, Perkiomen Valley School Distrct, Pope John Paul II High School, Spring-Ford Area School District, Ursinus College!

Mitzvah Circle

Mitzvah Circle Foundation, a Montgomery County nonprofit that partners with hundreds of schools, charities, faith groups, agencies, organizations and individuals to provide relief to families in crisis throughout Southeastern Pennsylvania, suffered a fire last week. Damage was sustained to a significant number of donations that were set to be distributed throughout the region. Members of the PA House and PA Senate have offered to be donation drop-off points for the most immediate critical needs to be replenished.

- Sneakers, all sizes, women's, men's and children's (can be new or gently used)
- Women's, men's, and boys' underwear (new)
- Toiletries (new)
- Baby items (new)

Please contact my office with any questions, and feel free to stop by with donations Monday through Friday between 9:30 am and 4:30 pm at 35 Evansburg Road.

Celebrating National Park Service Birthday, Valley Forge & America 250

Last Friday, I attended an event at Washington Memorial Chapel to celebrate the National Park Service’s birthday, the upcoming 50th anniversary of Valley Forge’s designation as a national historical park and to build momentum toward our nation’s very own 250th anniversary in 2026.

I was glad to join my colleagues and speakers from Valley Forge, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, America250 and National Parks to talk about the significance of our country’s history, the importance of investing in our beautiful parks and the commitment we have to ensuring our region is prepared for the 250th celebration and the influx of visitors it will bring.

So many from all over will visit our parks, towns, restaurants, and businesses, and it’s important that we make sure they want to come back. We can accomplish that with our current efforts, but also by making critical investments in our mass transit systems and parks.

Summer Collection Drive Drop Offs

Over the last week, my staff and I successfully delivered donations from our Summer Collection Drive to St. James Outreach House, Spring-Ford Project Outreach and Daily Bread Community Food Pantry. I want to again thank everyone who donated to my 2025 Summer Collection Drive.

Now more than ever, it’s important we come together to help our neighbors who need a hand, and it was amazing to see how many donations came through the door at my office and the drop-off locations around the community. Your generosity is greatly appreciated!

Special thanks to Upper Providence, Lower Providence and West Norriton Township Administration Buildings for serving as drop-off locations!

House Fellowship Program Applications

The Pennsylvania House Fellowship Program is now accepting applications for the Spring 2026 semester (January – April). This program is based in the Pennsylvania Capitol Building in Harrisburg, and fellows will be assigned to work in House Standing Committees or House

Leadership Offices. Qualified applicants are as follows:

College 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.

Applications are due by Wednesday, October 1, 2025, and can be emailed to [email protected]

More information can be found at http://www.pahousefellowship.us/

Helpful Information

On Tuesday, September 9, Montgomery County is hosting Reflections in Recovery, an event geared toward supporting recovery. A list of speakers, including Congresswoman Dean, Commissioner Winder and others will share stories and methods to create a recovery-friendly environment.

The event will be held at Theatre Horizon in Norristown (401 Dekalb Street) from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Property Tax/Rent Rebate

Reminder! The Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program deadline has been extended to December 31, 2025. This program, which is eligible to older adults and people with disabilities 18 years or older, supports homeowners and renters across PA with rebate ranging from $380 to $1,000.

The forms are available for pick up in my district office! If you need assistance filling out an application, please call ahead to schedule an appointment.

For more information, other ways to apply, and to check your eligibility please visit: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/revenue/incentives-credits-and-programs/ptrr.html

Coatesville VA Suicide Prevention Run

Neighbors, make sure you save the date. The Coatesville VA is hosting a Suicide Prevention 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, September 6, 2025, to raise awareness for Veteran suicide prevention. The 5K will be held at the Coatesville VA Medical Center, 1400 Blackhorse Hill Road, Coatesville, PA 19320 Lot D. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. and the race kicks off at 9 a.m.

The event is free for any Veteran or active-duty service member, but all are welcome with a registration fee.

To sign up or find out more information, click here: Coatesville VA Strides to Prevent Suicide 5K Run/Walk

My Office Can Help!

If you need state-related assistance, my office can help you! Please feel free to contact my staff with any questions by calling 484-200-8263 or emailing [email protected]

Community Events

Music in the Park – Family Stages: Swifti & the Midnights from Upper Providence Township

Wednesday, August 27, from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Anderson Farm Park, Natural Amphitheater, 499 Hopwood Road, Collegeville, PA

Arts Montco Jazz Fest Kickoff from Ursinus College

Tuesday, September 16, from 6:30 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Berman Museum – Front Lawn, 601 E Main Street, Collegeville, PA

Rowdy Raccoons from Upper Schuylkill Valley Park

Friday, September 19, at 11 a.m.

1615 Black Rock Road, Royersford, PA

Household Hazardous Waste Collection from Montgomery County

Saturday, September 20.

Spring-Ford 9th Grade Center, 400 South Lewis Road, Royersford, PA

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].

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Sincerely,

Rep. Joe Webster
State Representative
150th Legislative District