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| Capitol Report |
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The latest news from the State Capitol
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Please do not reply directly to this email, as it returns to an unattended account.
You are welcome to contact me through this link.
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Protecting Custody Rights for Deployed Military Parents Now Law
As you may recall, I sponsored legislation to protect the custody and visitation rights of deployed military parents. That bill passed both the House and Senate unanimously and was signed into law on October 27 as Act 40 of 2025. This law stops permanent custody changes during a parent’s military deployment and prevents family law litigants from using deployment as a reason to alter custody arrangements.
As a retired Marine Corps Colonel, I saw firsthand how deployments can complicate family life for those serving our nation. This law ensures that military parents are not penalized for answering the call to duty and that their service is treated as a point of honor, not a disadvantage in family court.
The law also allows parents to delegate visitation rights while deployed and promotes continued communication between parents and children through modern means, such as video calls, when in-person visits are not possible. Courts may issue temporary custody orders which permit a close family member to care for a child during deployment, and the parent’s prior custody order is reinstated upon return.
Judges are now directed not to treat military service as a negative factor in custody decisions and may allow a parent to participate in hearings electronically when military duties prevent attending in person. These changes create a fair and uniform process for deployed parents and bring Pennsylvania in line with other states that have already adopted this standard.
Act 40 reflects updated guidance from the Uniform Law Commission and makes Pennsylvania the eighteenth state to enact the Uniform Deployed Parents Custody and Visitation Act. This uniform standard is supported by the Pennsylvania Bar Association, the American Bar Association and the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers.
This law protects military parents, strengthens families, and upholds the principle that service to our country should never come at the expense of a parent’s rights.
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Veterans Appreciation Breakfast is November 7
My annual Veterans Appreciation Breakfast is Friday, November 7, from 9 a.m. to noon at Covenant Fellowship Church at 1 Fellowship Dr, Glen Mills. Former Secretary of the Navy Kenneth Braithwaite and Pennsylvania Deputy Adjutant General Maureen Weigl will be this year’s special guests.
Veterans from all branches and service periods are invited to attend, along with their families and guests. Please call 610-358-5925 to see if space is still available.
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Pennsylvania Has Arrived at an Energy Cliff
I am often asked what can be done in the legislative space about our surging electricity bills. That is a very complicated subject, so I have decided to write for you a series of articles to explain what is suddenly happening to our market and what solutions are being considered. This first article is about some basic concepts to set the stage.
It is very important to know that our evolving technology and the manner in which our current energy market operates are most of the explanation. Of course, those markets are also heavily influenced by policy decisions, which we will tackle in these articles.
For context, I am heavily involved in the discussions about next steps to address exploding consumer prices from which I draw my knowledge and pass along to you:
• I sit on the Energy Supply Task Force (ESTF) of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), where I have worked for the last five years. The ESTF is meeting again in November, and I expect this will be our main topic of conversation.
• I represent NCSL on the Executive Committee of the National Council of Electricity Policy (NCEP) (a Department of Energy and National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners initiative and organization), where again this is a core issue now. I will be a guest speaker on energy supply issues and agency responses in December.
• I currently sit on the House Energy Committee and also the House Consumer Protection, Utilities and Technology Committee, where I am the Republican Chairman of the Utilities Subcommittee. We are addressing these issues in both committees with varied emphasis and results.
• Based on my background as an energy attorney, I taught National Energy Policy at the University of Pennsylvania for years as a visiting professor.
Here is some of my recent activity on this issue:
• Two weeks ago, I participated in a legislative discussion at PJM Interconnection LLC, our regional transmission organization which coordinates the movement of wholesale electricity in the 13 states and District of Columbia in our region. We specifically discussed the recent capacity auction and what policies we need to address the electricity deficit.
• I traveled last week to participate in a national meeting on our growing energy supply problem, exchanging ideas with some of the nation’s leaders on the issue (where I also spoke directly with Senator McCormick about the scale of the problem).
• I am engaged with a multi-state group of legislators developing a recommendation for PJM in response to federal rulemaking on this issue. I am now on the Steering Committee of that group.
• I visited the Crane Clean Energy Center in Dauphin County (formerly Three Mile Island) to see their work on reopening the plant under a 20-year agreement with Microsoft.
In short, I am working very hard to help you and us find a well-reasoned, balanced solution.
I find that reducing the problem to one sentence often helps with finding answers. Here is my attempt:
We do not have enough electricity to meet the expected demand.
Even a casual observer can see that our tech-heavy society with its streaming services (as one example) and emergence of large data centers is driving demand up like a rocket ship. If electricity supply (meaning “generation”) does not increase dramatically, that means that demand will badly outstrip supply. Remember one of the basic principles of economics says that increased demand on limited supply means that price will go up. And that is exactly what is happening.
Here is one significant example expressed as simply as possible. We have a “capacity” market which pays electricity generators for their commitment to being online when their electricity is needed (not payment for the energy they actually produce). PJM administers the auction for our capacity market. For the 2025/2026 auction year, capacity prices jumped from $28.92/MW-day to about $269.92/MW-day. Even if the nomenclature of the market is hard to understand, it is not hard to see that an almost 10X price increase is going to be paid by consumers. The auction price for the 2026/27 delivery year was about $329/MW-day, another huge increase. One estimate forecasted a 10-20% increase in residential electricity bills as a result.
Governor Shapiro sued PJM over those auction prices, and a settlement established a temporary cap on the capacity price. It is still in the range of 10X more. And that is a one-time trick. We have to address the long-term policy problem.
So, why has the capacity price exploded? We answered that question: our anticipated demand far exceeds our available electricity generation. We know that because the local utilities are responsible for predicting their anticipated demand, which PJM then uses to calculate capacity needs for the region.
Of course, the knee-jerk reaction in the Pennsylvania House was to require the Public Utility Commission (PUC) to establish a regulatory litigation process to challenge the utility estimates as though we can strong-arm a different conclusion. That will result in negotiated estimates with the PUC, consumer advocates, environmentalists and other parties to the litigation, which will then start a new pricing war over the lack of accuracy and certainty in the demand estimates. In other words, if we can no longer rely on professional estimates because of a litigated process, the market will build in a risk cost.
This is but one example of the tensions around policy solutions on market realities.
Next week, I will write about how Microsoft and a Pennsylvania nuclear generator have addressed their electricity needs. Here is a teaser: it is a form of Bring Your Own Generation in the case of data centers, but consumers could still be left paying for transmission and distribution costs.
It is a tough problem, and I work on it every day!
Photo Credit: Crane Clean Energy Graphic
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Protecting Our Neighbors from Scams
We recently hosted another Scam Jam at Calvary Chapel after a church member was targeted by a scammer. More than 80 residents attended the presentation led by David Shallcross from the Attorney General’s Office, who again shared valuable information about recognizing and reporting common fraud schemes.
These scams often target seniors and vulnerable residents through phone calls, text messages, and social media. Education remains our best defense. My office continues to partner with state and local experts to bring these Scam Jam events to neighborhoods across our district, helping residents stay alert and informed.
If your community group, senior center, or church would like to host a Scam Jam, please contact my office. We will gladly schedule a presentation to protect more of our neighbors.
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Long-Term Restricted Traffic Pattern Coming Soon to U.S. 322 in Upper Chichester
PennDOT announced that a new long-term traffic pattern will begin next week on U.S. 322 (Conchester Highway) in Upper Chichester Township as part of the $99.4 million project to reconstruct, widen, and improve 1.4 miles of the highway.
From Monday, November 3, through Wednesday, November 5, between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m., periodic lane closures will be in place in both directions between Chelsea Parkway and the Route 452 (Market Street) interchange while crews set up the new pattern.
By Thursday morning, November 6, U.S. 322 will be reduced to one lane in each direction through the work zone. This single-lane configuration will remain in place through 2026 while PennDOT’s contractor reconstructs and widens the eastbound side of the roadway and replaces the eastbound bridge over Route 452 (Market Street).
Additional travel restrictions will remain in effect on Route 452 and Bethel Avenue during this stage of construction.
For project details and updates, visit us322conchester.com.
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PennDOT to Begin Cheyney Road Bridge Replacement Project
Beginning Monday, November 3, PennDOT will start replacing the bridge that carries Cheyney Road over a branch of Chester Creek in Thornbury Township, Delaware County.
From November 3 to 7, between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., drivers may encounter lane closures with flagging on Cheyney Road between Station Road and Thornton Road for clearing operations.
This project will replace the 94-year-old reinforced concrete slab bridge with a modern box culvert. The new structure will expand the width by five feet on each side to accommodate two 11-foot travel lanes and four-foot shoulders.
Photo Credit: PennDOT
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Don’t Forget to ‘Fall Back’ Saturday Night
Daylight saving time will end at 2 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 2. Be sure to turn your clocks back one hour before going to bed on Saturday night.
It’s also a good time to check or change the batteries in smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms in your home. In addition to regular battery changes, experts say the alarm devices should be replaced every 10 years to better ensure your safety.
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Election Day This Tuesday
My office will be closed for Election Day.
Election Day is Tuesday, November 4. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. To confirm your polling place for in-person voting, visit pavoterservices.pa.gov.
Voters voting by mail must return their ballots to their county Board of Elections by 8 p.m. on Election Day.
If you hand-deliver your ballot, remember you may only return your own. No one may deliver another voter’s ballot unless the voter has a disability and has designated a person, in writing, to return it on their behalf, or if an emergency absentee ballot has been approved.
For more information about voting in Pennsylvania, visit vote.pa.gov.
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Around the District
Chadds Ford Recycling Day and Fall Clean-Up Saturday, November 1
I encourage residents to participate in Chadds Ford Township’s annual Recycling Day and Roadside Clean-Up on Saturday, November 1, at the Township Building, 10 Ring Road.
8 a.m. – CFTRA Roadside Clean-Up
Join your neighbors in helping keep Chadds Ford clean. The Residents Association will provide safety vests, gloves, trash bags, and pickers. Please bring water.
9 a.m. to noon – Recycling Day
For Chadds Ford residents:
• Free electronics recycling (limit five items per household)
• Native tree giveaway (one per household, while supplies last)
For everyone:
• Clothing and household donations (The Salvation Army)
• Confidential paper shredding
Please note: Items will not be accepted before 9 a.m., and hazardous materials such as paint, batteries, and large appliances will not be accepted.
Photo Credit: Facebook
Westtown “Road Show” Event
Westtown residents are invited to a special “Road Show”- style event with auctioneer, author, and radio host Mike Ivankovich on Thursday, November 6, at Oakbourne Mansion, 1014 South Concord Road. The show begins at 6:30 p.m., with a pre-event gathering at 6 p.m. for light refreshments and conversation.
Residents may bring an item to be appraised and learn its value. Registration is required for appraisals and is limited to Westtown residents. To register, call 610-692-1930 and ask for Sue.
All are welcome to attend as audience members. To join for refreshments and enjoy the show, register online or email parkrec@westtown.org.
This event is hosted by Westtown Township Parks and Recreation.
Photo Credit: Westtown Website
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Bravo Zulu
*The BZ pennants are hoisted as a part of Navy/Marine Corps custom to communicate “GOOD JOB!”
Garnet Valley Field Hockey Advances to States
The Garnet Valley Women’s Field Hockey Team earned a 4–1 road victory over Souderton in the District Playbacks to advance to the State Tournament. Congratulations to the players and coaches on this well-deserved opportunity. Best of luck to the Jaguars as they continue their postseason run.
Photo Credit: Instagram
Garnet Valley Football Advances in Districts
The Garnet Valley Jaguars Football Team earned a hard-fought 17–7 victory over Ridley last Friday night. The #7-seeded Jaguars will now host the #10 Upper Perkiomen Indians on Saturday at the Moe!
Photo Credit: Instagram
Garnet Valley Volleyball Clinches State Playoff Spot
The Garnet Valley Girls Volleyball Team officially punched their ticket to the State Playoffs after a commanding 3–0 sweep over Upper Dublin in the District Quarterfinals. Congratulations to the athletes and coaching staff on another incredible performance.
Photo Credit: Instagram
Garnet Valley Model UN
Congratulations to the Garnet Valley High School Model United Nations Team for their outstanding performance at Archmere Academy’s Model UN Competition. Davin Rejy Joseph, Siyan Lin, and Shubun Aggarwal each earned first-place awards in their respective events. Neharika Vijayabhaskar, Ekansh Agrawal, and Evan Patel were also recognized for their exceptional speaking and negotiation skills. Congratulations to the entire team on an impressive showing.
Rustin Football Dominates Henderson
The Rustin Golden Knights Football Team dominated Henderson, earning a 36–0 victory. Running back Jimmy Boland led the way with three rushing touchdowns. Congratulations to Rustin Football on a commanding win and strong showing to close out the season.
Photo Credit: Instagram
Rustin Volleyball Hits Major Milestones
Two Rustin Volleyball standouts achieved impressive milestones last week. Lily Greenwood reached her 250th career block, marking a major defensive achievement. Ava Theiller recorded her 500th career kill during Friday’s game against Merion Mercy.
Photo Credit: Instagram
Unionville Football Heads to Playoffs
The Unionville Football Team defeated Conrad Weiser to clinch the #12 seed in the upcoming District Playoffs. The team will face #5 Wissahickon this Friday night. Congratulations to the players and coaches, and best of luck as Unionville Football begins its postseason run.
Photo Credit: Instagram
Unionville Men’s Golf Wins State Championship
The Unionville Men’s Golf Team captured the State Championship, adding another title to the program’s proud record. Congratulations to the players and coaches on this impressive accomplishment.
Photo Credit: Instagram
Unionville Soccer Players Earn Ches-Mont Honors
The Unionville Women’s Soccer Team continues to demonstrate excellence across the league.
• Freshman Ella Levine earned All-Ches-Mont Honorable Mention.
• Sophomore Addy Kenworthy was named to the All-Ches-Mont Second Team.
• Senior Emma Walter earned placement on the All-Ches-Mont First Team.
• Grace Davis was selected for the All-Ches-Mont Second Team.
Congratulations to each of these student-athletes on their achievements and representation of Unionville on and off the field.
Photo Credit: Instagram
Unionville Volleyball Setter Reaches 1,300 Career Assists
Congratulations to Unionville Girls Volleyball setter Holland Van Deusen, who reached her 1,300th career assist during Monday’s match. Holland’s precision and leadership continue to anchor the Unionville Volleyball offense.
Photo Credit: Instagram
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| Office Locations |
| District Office: |
| One Beaver Valley Road | (intersection of Route 202 & Naamans Creek Road) Chadds Ford, PA 19317-9012 | Phone (610) 358-5925 | FAX: 610-358-5933 |
| Capitol Office: |
| 3 East Wing, P.O. Box 202160, Harrisburg, PA 17120-2160 | Phone: 717-783-3038 | FAX: 717-787-7604 |
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