EDUCATION

---

In today’s world, a good education can define whether or not our children are able to achieve prosperity and the American Dream. Sadly, Pennsylvania lags severely behind other states in terms of the quality and funding of education. The solutions are there, but sadly interest groups and partisan bickering have held our children’s futures hostage.

As a parent of two high school students, I know how important it is for parents to have a say in the safety and curriculum of our schools. Putting people before politics means prioritizing the needs of parents and students above all.

Both of my parents where public schoolteachers for over 30 years and I sat at the table growing up seeing the dedication they put into their classrooms and students. There is no doubt we have amazing teachers and schools in the 82nd District. I will work endlessly to ensure that we have a great education for our youth.

I believe that the hard-earned tax dollars of parents should follow their children, wherever they wish to send them to school. A voucher system is necessary in order to promote school choice and put parents back in the driving seat of their kid’s future – not Harrisburg. With this freedom, we also need to ensure that charter schools are up to the same standard as our public institutions with the same academic oversight. Ensuring a quality education for all is one of my highest priorities.

We have one of the best institutions of higher education in the nation right here in our backyard. Penn State has equipped generations of students for the rigor of their future careers and has provided many with a future that would not be attainable without the degree they received from Penn State. 

In spite of this, we cannot forget about alternative education opportunities for those who choose not to go to a traditional university or college.  Another goal for promoting educational opportunities will be my advocacy for vocational and trade school programs. It is time for us to admit that college is not always a fit or affordable for everyone. A great alternative is training in high skill, high demand, great paying careers that can support families and allow upward economic mobility.

Pennsylvanian families and small businesses deserve relief from tax hikes and inflation.

State government is failing to incentivize our children and students to stay and grow their families in our area. Instead, they are sending greater resources in our big cities like Philadelphia. 

Our Commonwealth and workers are continuously losing out on opportunities for business because wages are stagnating and we remain less competitive than other states. This is a problem, and we must provide funding to education and trade schools, as well as emphasizing that there is no shame in a blue-collar career and supporting our universities.

In fact, blue-collar careers and industries have driven our economy for years. As your representative, I will fight to reinvigorate our agriculture industry and unleash our state’s large, diverse energy portfolio which has sadly been stifled.  

The agricultural community and agriculture technology at the University is something that we have throughout the 82nd District. I will work tirelessly for those farmers that are providing food for our state and nation. I will also continue to support Penn State in their agricultural technology programs and continue to lead the nation in research.   

The 82nd District deserves good paying jobs and I will be the that voice for the people.  

Infrastructure is going to be at the top of Justin’s list when he arrives in Harrisburg because he knows that for far too long Centre County has been left behind in terms of our roads, bridges and other critical public works. He recognizes that not every resident has the luxury of driving an electric vehicle or having less than a 15-minute commute to work. As your Representative, he will fight for District 82 to receive its fair share of tax dollars and resources to fix our roads, strengthen our bridges and allow for economic expansion.

As Justin is door knocking the constant theme comes up that the people of the 82nd want safe roads and infrastructure that works for them.   That is no different than the new proposal for the PennDot plan to expand the roads in the Harris township and surrounding areas.  Justin will fight for safe roads that make logical sense.  Through cost effective, common sense, safe decisions we can build our roadways.  

If there is one thing, we learned during the COVID stay-at-home orders, it is that when work and school commutes were moved online, our idea of infrastructure changed from roads to the electric grid. Many communities in Centre County have suffered because of a lack of broadband. We need a representative who will fight for highspeed, 21st century internet access throughout all the 82nd District. Due to its importance, we need to treat broadband like a utility and ensure that it is accessible and cost efficient for all. 

This, however, cannot be possible without strengthening our electric grid and enhancing the diverse energy portfolio we have here in the Commonwealth. We as a state have been gifted with abundant resources and brilliant technology in order to utilize them. Pennsylvania could have enough energy to fuel the entire country, but politics have sadly gotten in the way. Revitalizing our energy sector with new permits and technology will give the people of District 82 good-paying jobs, relief on their energy bills and independence from foreign adversaries. 

In addition to these medium term actions we can take, there is an even easier solution when it comes to giving working-class people relief on their energy bills and a break at the pump. We must immediately lower the gas tax. Pennsylvania already has the second highest gas tax in the nation and our economy and families need help recovering from this pandemic.