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Brown Shares Finalized State Budget

This past Sunday, we finalized Pennsylvania’s 2026-27 state budget. A few points to know:

When Governor Shapiro introduced his budget proposal in February, it called for a $2.7 billion increase in spending over last year and would have drawn approximately $4.6 billion from the Commonwealth’s emergency reserves. The House of Representatives and many of your state representatives voted on this very same budget and sent it to the Senate.

The Senate republicans worked especially hard to lower that spend number to $50.8 billion – $1.1 billion less than the Governor’s budget. It also preserved Pennsylvania’s Rainy-Day Fund.

The Rainy- Day Fund gains us interest and improves our bond rating so we can carry debt and take on loans at a much more affordable rate for taxpayers – saving us money and exemplifying financial stability.  Thank goodness it’s not pouring in Pennsylvania, and we found alternatives to raiding this fund. You can equate this fund to a household emergency fund, where it should be utilized strictly for an emergency.

Highlights of the budget include:

• NO NEW TAXES on Pennsylvania families.
• Preserves the Commonwealth’s Rainy-Day Fund.
• Provides a long-overdue cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for pre-Act 9 retirees before 2001.
• Utilizes $4.5 billion dollars of lapsed funds not being utilized, sitting in agencies and special funds to support budget.
• Invests in education, career and technical education, workforce development, and nursing homes. More to come on this from me this week.
• Supports infrastructure and transportation improvements while maintaining fiscal responsibility, utilizing $775 million in unused PennDOT funds for rapid deployment (over the next two years). You will see more road construction and maintenance!

This budget reflects a responsible approach to protecting taxpayer dollars while continuing to invest in the services Pennsylvanians rely on. I will be sharing more in the coming weeks about what this budget means for our communities and the 40th Senatorial District.

Brown’s Senior Expo is Next Week!

My Senior Expo is NEXT WEEK on Tuesday, July 21^st from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Pocono Mountain Swiftwater Elementary Center.

This event is a fantastic opportunity for our seniors to access valuable information, enjoy some great food and win some exciting prizes. There truly is something for everyone!

The event will give residents the opportunity to learn about resources and programs provided by state government, and local nonprofit and community groups in the area. It will offer a variety of prize drawings provided by vendors, health screenings, entertainment and more.

Urgent Action Needed to Keep PA Communities Safe

Nearly 1,200 people convicted of second-degree murder in Pennsylvania could be released if the state House of Representatives doesn’t act by Friday, July 24^th.

In March, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that the current sentencing structure for second-degree murder is unconstitutional and gave the General Assembly 120 days to enact legislation correcting the situation. The Senate has successfully passed bipartisan legislation to address this issue – legislation supported by Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday, Pennsylvania District Attorneys and the Pennsylvania State Lodge Fraternal Order of Police.

In Pennsylvania, second-degree murder (also known as felony murder) involves a homicide committed when the defendant engaged as a principal or an accomplice in the perpetration of a felony. In other words, homicides committed while the defendant was also committing another crime such as rape, arson, robbery, burglary or kidnapping.

These are serious and horrific crimes, and the safety of our communities is at stake. It’s time for the House to join us in taking urgent action.

Scenes from the 40^th Senate District

This week’s photos are courtesy of Christina from Spring Brook Township, featuring a soaring bald eagle! These pictures have been shared on my social media and posted to the 40^th Senatorial District Photo Gallery.

I am inviting residents of the 40^th Senatorial District to share their photography and help capture the beauty and character of our community. Whether it’s a stunning landscape, a lively community event, or a cherished historical landmark, I encourage you to submit photos that highlight the unique aspects of our district, which includes parts of Lackawanna and Wayne counties, and all of Monroe County.

Click here to submit your work and learn more.

The Moving Wall Comes to Stroudsburg

This past weekend, Monroe County welcomed The Moving Wall, a traveling tribute honoring the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice during the Vietnam War.

Although I was unable to attend the opening ceremony because I was in Harrisburg finalizing the state budget, I was proud to have my staff represent me. I especially want to recognize Mariclare from my office, who spent months working alongside Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 678 to help bring this meaningful tribute to our community.

I extend my sincere thanks to Chapter 678 and everyone who made this event possible. Their dedication ensured our community could honor the service and sacrifice of our Vietnam veterans.

All our Vietnam veterans – we welcome you home every day and thank you for your service.

My office offers Veteran Assistance appointments with Brian Stolarski of the American Legion Department of Pennsylvania to offer assistance to veterans of the 40^th Senatorial District for both my Scotrun and Jefferson Township offices. To make an appointment with the American Legion for Veterans Benefits, you can call my offices at (570) 620-4326 or (570) 213-5705.

Free Teen Mental Health First Aid Training Available

Youth Infusion, in partnership with the Fusia Center for the Arts, is offering a FREE Teen Mental Health First Aid training for students entering grades 9-12. This nationally recognized program teaches teens how to identify the signs of common mental health challenges, start supportive conversations, and connect friends with trusted adults and helpful resources.

The training will be held at the Fusia Center for the Arts in Stroudsburg on July 19^th, July 26, and August 2^nd, from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. Participants must attend all three sessions to complete the program. Space is limited to 30 students.

Brown Visits East Stroudsburg’s STEAMR Program

This week I had the pleasure of talking with the STEAMR East Stroudsburg Kids Program at East Stroudsburg Area School District! I always enjoy helping to educate the youth in our community on the government process in a way they will remember and enjoy!

This program is a great opportunity for children to continue learning and having fun with their friends through the summer.

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