Happy Kwanzaa, Pennsylvania! To all who celebrate, I hope you have a wonderful holiday season, celebrating community, joy, and tradition over the next week.

From Blayre, Harper and myself, Merry Christmas Pennsylvania!

Our main streets are the hearts of our communities and when we invest in them, communities thrive.    In 2025 we invested $20 million to revitalize store fronts, walkability and lighting – and in the state budget we secured another $20 million to improve even more main streets next year.

Providing safe spaces for kids and teenagers to go when they’re not in school keeps them safe and away from potential violence.     This last year we drove out over $11 million to our after school programs and secured another $11.5 million so that even more kids can stay safe in their neighborhoods.

Congressional Republicans sent Congress home early, allowing health insurance premiums to expire on January 1st. Without these ACA tax credits, Pennsylvanians could expect to pay over 100% for their health insurance – which is absolutely absurd for families and seniors on fixed incomes.

After private equity bankrupted Crozer Health and forced it into closure, people in Delaware County were left without care.   Last week $350,000 was awarded to relaunch the hospital-based violence intervention program so that residents could once again be treated for gun violence-related injuries.

Every day our first responders are answering the call, running towards danger. They have our back and we have theirs. This year we expanded investments for our fire, police, and EMS companies while making sure post traumatic stress injuries sustained on the job are now covered under workers’ comp.

This past year we’ve been focused on creating safe communities across PA & driving out grants to trusted organizations that affect real change in people’s lives. And next year, we’re on track to deliver again on our promise to improve public safety and build a Pennsylvania that is welcoming to all.

At the end of this month, health insurance is set to cost a whole lot more for much worse coverage. Many Pennsylvanians will lose health insurance because Republicans in Washington refuse to renew the premium tax credits that keep health care affordable for millions of Americans.

Americans are paying much more for rent and groceries than they were this time last year – and many lost their jobs or went without pay for weeks, all because of Donald Trump.   His policies continue to weaken the economy for working class people while enriching the top 1%.

From Blayre, Harper, myself and our entire family, we want to wish a happy Hanukkah to all who celebrate in Pennsylvania and around the world.

Over $160 million in grants are now available through PCCD to strengthen school safety, support youth mental health, and reduce gun violence across Pennsylvania. These investments will have a direct impact in our communities and will help to build a safer Commonwealth for all.

Yesterday, we approved more than $73 million in state and federal grants focusing on community safety and supporting victims.   These dollars will be driven out to cities, towns and neighborhoods all across the Commonwealth in 2026 to continue our progress reducing crime and keeping people safe.

Pennsylvania laid out a clear path to build an economy that is competitive and innovative. By investing in our strongest assets, cutting red tape, and supporting small businesses we’re seeing the results.   Our unemployment rate remains below the national average and our economy continues to grow.

When we incentivize businesses to set roots down in Pennsylvania, the job market expands and so does our economy.   Very excited to see DrinkPak bring manufacturing opportunities to the southeast.

Pennsylvania’s Christmas Trees are looking beautiful this time of year. Merry Christmas, Pennsylvania.

Premium tax credits are set to expire at the end of the year, meaning healthcare costs are about to spike for millions of Americans and push some people off of insurance altogether.   Congress must act now to keep healthcare affordable and accessible for everyone.

By developing new programs, making targeted investments, and putting communities first, we’re making progress on reducing gun violence – but there’s still plenty of work to do. I sat down with @thetrace.org last month to discuss the work we’re doing to make Pennsylvania safer for everyone.

For generations, southwestern Pennsylvania has been a hub for production and innovation– and we’re seeing that again today. The groundbreaking ceremony for the new Esplanade development is an example of this innovation, and what we can achieve when government, business, and community work together.

Last year, the Governor and I announced a new plan to redevelop Downtown Pittsburgh that would create housing, build green space and make this community safe for everyone. This 10-year, $600 million revitalization plan is already underway – and bringing even more investments with it.

Affordable child care is not a Democratic or Republican issue. It’s a Pennsylvania issue and that’s why we’re lasered focused on making it easier for working families to access child care.

This administration is directing $25 million to support our child care workers & grow this critical workforce.

We’ve cut red tape and sped up permitting time so that small businesses and entrepreneurs can get started faster and earn an income sooner.   This administration is making sure that government is finally working at the speed of business.

It’s Small Business Saturday, Pennsylvania! Shop small and stop by your local book or toy store, go to your favorite coffee shop, or find a new place to do your holiday shopping.   When we shop small, local economies grow.

Last year, we invested $20 million into our extremely successful Main Streets Matters program – and in this budget, we’re investing another $20 million so that even more communities will have the economic boost that occurs when main streets are invested in.

Last month, PA was named the only state in the Northeast with a growing economy and this month, we were ranked as one of the top climates for businesses to set roots and grow. This year’s budget will further our economic gains & ensure opportunities are available for every Pennsylvanian to succeed.

Pies are ready to eat.    Happy Thanksgiving, PA!

Blayre, Harper, & I want to wish all of you a happy Thanksgiving. Whether you celebrate today, tomorrow, or this weekend with your family and friends, I hope every Pennsylvanian is able to enjoy this holiday and break bread with the people that matter most to you.

Happy Thanksgiving, Pennsylvania!

Blayre and I are praying for the West Virginia National Guardsmen who were shot today in DC. Violence against anyone — especially those in uniform — is inexcusable and should never happen anywhere. We are keeping all of West Virginia in our thoughts tonight, and all who serve our country.

During this time of year, more people are on the road, traveling to be with their family and friends during the holidays. This is your reminder to obey the speed limits, avoid distractions, and be prepared for traffic.   We all want to be with our family, make sure you get their safely.

Many Pennsylvanians take on the role of caregiver in addition to their 9-to-5 & other responsibilities. Through initiatives like the PA Caregiver Support Program or our Area Agencies on Aging, assistance is always available for our caregivers so that they can continue to care for their loved ones.

Every Pennsylvanian deserves to have food on the table and enough to feed their families.    This budget invests an additional $11 million to support our food banks, SNAP, and food purchasing so that families across Pennsylvania, including Pike County, can have access to healthy and nutitrious food.

Pike County has a growing population of people over the age of 60 and a demand of essential services like meals, social activities and transportation. We're investing an additional $10 million into our local Area Agencies on Aging so that seniors can receive the services that keep them independent.

In this budget, we secured $62 million for our Violence Intervention and Prevention program that directs grants to groups who are taking on the epidemic of gun violence. And what we're seeing is that this work is making an impact, even at a time when the federal government continues to cut funding.

With more than 2.5 million seniors living in Pennsylvania, our Area Agencies on Aging connect older adults with resources to help them stay healthy, and independent for longer. We’re now providing an additional $10 million to these local agencies to help more seniors find the services they need.

For the second year in a row, we’re compensating student teachers as they complete their mandatory work experience in classrooms across our 67 counties.    By providing these stipends for our student teachers, we’re giving them a leg up as we work to reduce the teacher shortage here in PA.

Before last year, Pennsylvania had never before invested in our afterschool programs. But now with this year's budget we will again direct $11.5 million to afterschool & summer programs. That's $23 million in total to support enriching programs that keep kids safe when they're not in the classroom.

Our members of Congress @houlahan.house.gov & @deluzio.house.gov have served this country with honor and dignity.   Donald Trump has no honor or dignity, and his call to “hang them” is a disgusting, disgraceful act.

After Washington refused to fund SNAP benefits, food insecurity remains a huge concern for too many Americans. In this budget we invested: 🍽️ $5 million increase for food banks  🛒 $4 million increase for the State Food Purchase Program 🍏 $2 million for the State Food Bucks Program to supplement SNAP

When we take the initiative to invest in our communities and build partnerships with businesses, the job market expands and so does our economy. Through these investments, we're creating economic opportunity for every Pennsylvanian, and today, Harrisburg welcomes a new business to its neighborhood.

Pennsylvania will soon have the CROWN Act on the books, preventing discrimination based on hair type, texture, or protective style – a huge win for Black Pennsylvanians.  As the first Black Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania, I’m excited to see this go to the Governor for signature.

Many Pennsylvanians serve as the caregiver for their families, providing daily assistance to their loved ones so that they can remain at home. During this National Family Caregivers month, know that Pennsylvania has your back and remains committed to supporting you as you support your family.

The victims compensation program is a lifeline for victims and can help to secure lost wages, crime scene clean up, and medical costs not covered by insurance. We've secured $9 million to help victims in Pennsylvania receive the support they need to recover and rebuild after a traumatic event.

Beginning next year, Pennsylvanians who already qualify for the federal Earned Income Tax Credit will automatically receive the new state credit as well – that’s nearly 1 million Pennsylvanians who will see meaningful relief in 2026.

An investment in our teachers is an investment in our children.    In this budget, we're directing $25 million to our child care teachers to put more money in their pockets and bring more workers to the Commonwealth. I'm grateful to all of the advocates who have fought hard to see this in PA.

Lowering costs for working families has always been one of our top priorities in PA.    With this budget, nearly one million Pennsylvanians will see up to $800 in tax relief from the new Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit. This is one more way of how we’re getting stuff done in this Commonwealth.

Main Street is where life happens.    In this budget, we’re delivering another $20 million to our Main Street Matters grant program, helping communities and small businesses revitalize store fronts, improve walkability, and boost local pride.

For too long our public schools have been forced to pay high rates to cyber charter schools– taking too much money away from their own students.  This year we passed Cyber Charter reform, delivering $175 million in savings to public schools and helping to level the playing field for students in PA.

Every student deserves access to a high-quality education. In this budget we will invest an additional $565 million in education, sending real relief to the schools that need it the most – plus dollars for universal free breakfast, mental health and safety grants, and infrastructure improvements.

Kids deserve safe places to go outside of the classroom – places to have fun with friends, receive additional help with schooling, & exercise freely without having to worry about violence. This budget invests $11.5 million in the BOOST program so that more kids can stay safe in their neighborhoods.

We brought Republicans and Democrats together and delivered a balanced budget that not only sustains our rainy day fund but increases investments into the programs that Pennsylvanians care about.    We held true to our values, stayed at the table, and stood up for the people of Pennsylvania.