00:11 - Like to call,

00:12 - this informational hearing during the meeting.

00:16 - Informational meeting?

00:18 - For the tourism, recreation and Economic Development Committee.

00:22 - And, Dan, can you please take the role, and I will say we do not need a quorum

00:26 - for this meeting.

00:27 - Just so you know, I'm sure people will be

00:30 - wandering in shortly.

00:34 - All right.

00:34 - All right.

00:36 - Representative Daly, you're

00:39 - representing Belmont.

00:42 - Leave

00:43 - representative Boyd,

00:45 - leave the represent.

00:47 - Brennan.

00:49 - You're on my.

00:53 - Subpoena for eight days.

00:56 - Represent Cerrado.

00:57 - Yeah.

00:59 - Representative Powell,

01:02 - leave.

01:02 - Leave. In protest.

01:05 - Leave here. Virtual.

01:08 - Oh, wait.

01:09 - Virtual.

01:12 - Represented in.

01:14 - Leave. Leave.

01:17 - Rivera.

01:18 - Leave.

01:21 - Represent.

01:21 - Brosnan.

01:23 - Leave the represent.

01:25 - Steele is here, Your Honor. Yes.

01:31 - Represent.

01:31 - Take a leave.

01:34 - Represent. Young.

01:36 - Leave.

01:41 - Represent.

01:41 - James. Present.

01:44 - Representative.

01:45 - Almonte.

01:47 - Represent.

01:48 - Banton here.

01:51 - Represent.

01:51 - Barton.

01:54 - Eight.

01:56 - Represent. Cox. Present.

01:59 - Represent.

01:59 - Cooper.

02:02 - The. The.

02:03 - Represent. Flight.

02:06 - We think.

02:08 - Represent.

02:08 - June.

02:11 - We see.

02:13 - Represent.

02:14 - Picket here.

02:17 - Represent Smith here.

02:20 - Represent towards the

02:22 - good morning or virtual blue.

02:26 - Represent witness here

02:29 - a quorum is present in

02:31 - the feedback will stop once I turn off my bike.

02:36 - Thank you Dan.

02:37 - And thank you Teresa.

02:39 - I'd like to welcome everyone to this informational meeting today

02:44 - to discuss the America 250 Pennsylvania Commission and the work

02:47 - they are doing to celebrate the Semi Quinn centennial in 2026.

02:53 - Before we start the testimony, Chair James,

02:56 - do you have anything that you would like to.

03:01 - Lucky for you, very little.

03:03 - Good morning everyone.

03:04 - We're really glad you're all here and we look forward to learning a great deal.

03:08 - This morning. Thank you.

03:12 - So just a few precautionary, we have received

03:16 - all of the written testimony for anybody who is, going to testify.

03:23 - So you don't have to read it.

03:24 - But if you're more comfortable reading it, go for it.

03:27 - But the other thing is that, Chair Coleman

03:31 - has asked that questions from all of us

03:35 - be held back until, well, questions

03:38 - for Chair Coleman and Governor Schreiber.

03:43 - Schweitzer.

03:45 - We're going to hold them until the end, because we have all of these other folks

03:49 - from different counties in Pennsylvania who've done a lot of work,

03:53 - who Cassandra said.

03:54 - They probably can really give great answers.

03:57 - So we'll do questions and answers after each speaker.

04:01 - But we have a tight time frame to work in and will hold.

04:04 - Any other questions?

04:06 - Until after everyone is done.

04:08 - So, we are going to start with,

04:13 - Cassandra Coleman, executive Director of America.

04:16 - Two £0.50.

04:19 - Thank you.

04:20 - So good morning, everyone.

04:21 - Chairwoman Daly, chairman James, members of the committee.

04:24 - Thank you for having me.

04:26 - My name is Cassandra Coleman, and I have the privilege of serving

04:28 - as the executive director of America for FPA, a position that I have officially

04:32 - held now for over six years since the commission was created.

04:36 - It's been an honor of a lifetime to represent our Commonwealth.

04:40 - Where this nation was born in Philadelphia, preserved at Gettysburg,

04:44 - forged its strength in Pittsburgh mills and fueled its growth

04:48 - from the coal seams of northeast and central Pennsylvania.

04:51 - Pennsylvania truly has it all through our epic pillars

04:55 - of educate, preserve, innovate, and celebrate,

04:59 - we are creating opportunities for Pennsylvanians

05:01 - of every age and background to connect with this milestone.

05:06 - Whether you live in a city neighborhood, a rural township, a historic borough,

05:11 - or somewhere in between, this commemoration belongs to you.

05:15 - The Semicolon Centennial is not only about what happened in 1776,

05:20 - it is about the generations of Pennsylvanians, leaders,

05:23 - visionaries, and everyday people

05:26 - who have contributed to the growth and the strength of our nation.

05:30 - It is about telling these stories, elevating our shared values,

05:34 - and reminding Pennsylvania about what unites us.

05:38 - This anniversary is about learning from our history, embracing

05:41 - how far we have come, and reimagining what the future can be.

05:46 - So we're proud that Pennsylvania is the national gold

05:49 - standard among the America 250 Commission's America.

05:53 - EPA is so appreciative to have the continued support of all of our former

05:57 - governors serving as our co-chairs, governor Josh Shapiro and his team,

06:01 - and the members of the General Assembly who make this work possible.

06:06 - You'll soon hear from Pennsylvanians who have truly stepped up for this

06:10 - historic anniversary.

06:11 - Leaders who've engaged rural communities connected with young people

06:16 - and brought the Spirit of America to 50 to life across our Commonwealth.

06:21 - Their stories reflect the impact we've already made

06:24 - and the pride that we can all share in this progress.

06:28 - America to 50 takes our mission to engage

06:31 - every Pennsylvanian in every county very seriously.

06:35 - As we want all Pennsylvanians

06:37 - to have the opportunity to be part of something so special.

06:41 - We've created two key advisory groups one to bring diverse voices

06:45 - to the table, and another with a dedicated representative of every county

06:50 - to make sure that no part of Pennsylvania is left out.

06:54 - We were proud to be the first state in the nation

06:57 - to have all counties sign on as partners and adopt our epic mission.

07:01 - To date, 414 local municipality

07:05 - and nearly 300 nonprofits across over 50 counties have signed on as partners.

07:10 - And we know that there's still more work to do.

07:13 - Back in 2019, we asked everyday Pennsylvanians what they wanted to see

07:17 - through this historic anniversary, and 14 focus areas were identified,

07:21 - and they continue to guide everything we do from programs to projects to events.

07:27 - We wanted to ensure that there were options for every Pennsylvanian,

07:31 - and so that they felt that they was a meaningful way to engage.

07:34 - Launched in 2019, our Direct Effect Innovation Challenge, presented

07:38 - with the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission and supported by UGI, invites students

07:42 - to develop integrated marketing concepts around a new theme.

07:46 - Each year.

07:47 - We've partnered with over 40 colleges and universities across Pennsylvania,

07:51 - and more than 350 students have taken part.

07:54 - It's helping us

07:55 - retain the next generation of talent right here in the Commonwealth.

07:59 - Our Bells Across PA project is a statewide arts initiative that will place

08:03 - at least one fiberglass Liberty Bell in each of Pennsylvania's 67 counties.

08:08 - Designed by local artists and commissioned by America Do 50 PA,

08:12 - each bell will reflect the unique spirit of its community.

08:15 - In partnership with visit PA, these bells will form the bells of Across

08:19 - PA trail, a chance for Pennsylvanians to explore the Commonwealth, discover

08:24 - the stories behind each bell,

08:26 - and connect with the places and people that they represent.

08:29 - Our Liberty Tree Project, in partnership with the Pennsylvania Freemasons,

08:33 - will allow us to plant a certified Liberty Tree in each of our 67 counties.

08:37 - These trees are propagated from the original Liberty Tree

08:41 - the revolutionaries used to gather under 250 years ago.

08:44 - Our road to 2026 presented by Independence Blue Cross, Highmark Blue Cross Blue

08:49 - Shield, and Capitol Blue Cross, encourages Pennsylvanians to get active

08:53 - and get healthy by 2026, all while enjoying the beauty of our state parks.

08:59 - Our Quinn Centennial bells are permanent bronze installations

09:04 - that honor the stories of communities whose contributions to Pennsylvania's

09:08 - history have often gone untold or unrecognized.

09:12 - Our Pennsylvania Day volunteer efforts celebrated each year on July 20th

09:16 - and presented by Giant Natural Food Source and Act,

09:20 - is one of the only volunteer driven initiatives tied to a Semicolon

09:24 - Centennial Commission in the country and encourages Pennsylvanians to give back

09:29 - by helping their neighbors and communities in partnership with Feeding

09:32 - Pennsylvania local food banks and Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful.

09:35 - Volunteers support local food distribution efforts and take part in beautification

09:39 - projects across the state,

09:41 - ensuring our Commonwealth is ready to welcome the world in 2026.

09:45 - To date, we've awarded nearly $40,000 in mini grants to help

09:49 - fuel these localized efforts.

09:51 - Our Memorial Flags Initiative is our way of honoring Pennsylvania service members

09:55 - by working with county veterans offices, the American Legion,

09:58 - and VFW, and by providing both flags and volunteers.

10:02 - We're helping to ensure more grave sites across

10:05 - the state are marked with the respect they deserve.

10:07 - Next year, and our Service Member Spotlight Series honors Pennsylvania

10:11 - service members on our social media, newsletters and website.

10:14 - And in 2026, will be bringing this recognition to life by hosting

10:18 - these individuals and their families at a special Veteran's Day event.

10:21 - Our Keystone Classroom Initiative is a storytelling and visitation program

10:25 - that brings the history of Pennsylvania to life for pre-K through fourth

10:29 - grade students visiting classrooms, children's hospitals, and summer camps

10:33 - across our Commonwealth.

10:35 - It's our way of making sure that the next generation understands

10:39 - the role that Pennsylvania has played in shaping our nation,

10:43 - because when you know where you've come from,

10:45 - you have a better idea of where you're going.

10:48 - So far, we've reached over 30,000

10:51 - Pennsylvania students and are an hour and are on track.

10:54 - Excuse me, to reach 50,000 by the end of this year.

10:58 - The children's smiles and excitement truly make your day.

11:01 - And last but certainly not least, we will be awarding $250,000 in semi-colon

11:06 - scholarships in 2026 to Pennsylvania seniors who decide

11:10 - to continue their education here in Pennsylvania for the 2627 school year.

11:15 - Pennsylvania will be the place to be in 26.

11:19 - With so much happening, especially in the sports world,

11:22 - but we're focused on making sure the local stories and community led efforts

11:26 - earn almost as many chairs as a Bryce Harper home run in the All-Star game.

11:31 - We are appreciative to the legislature and to the governor for Art, for support

11:35 - for our semi grants, where we awarded $490,000 in the fall

11:41 - and round to just opened last week to award another 510,000

11:45 - to organizations, counties

11:47 - and municipalities who are planning events and programs for next year.

11:51 - Our first round supported 33 worthy submissions in 18 counties,

11:56 - and we're so excited to see what your constituents submit for round two.

12:01 - We're also thrilled to see the governor's proposed $64 million investment in 2026.

12:05 - Includes additional support for our work in this upcoming budget,

12:09 - as we continue to create impact in all 67 counties.

12:13 - We must also stay focused about building a lasting legacy.

12:17 - That's why the proposed 36.5 million

12:20 - in dedicated funding is absolutely crucial to ensuring Pennsylvania continues

12:25 - to lead the nation in this historic effort,

12:28 - with our mobile unit and concert series will be bringing the celebration directly

12:32 - to your districts, reaching every county, every community,

12:36 - and making sure everyone feels seen and heard.

12:40 - Pennsylvania has always been a state of ingenuity.

12:43 - Our railroads and steam engines drove progress.

12:46 - Our suspension bridges connected communities.

12:49 - Our steel scraped the sky from sea to shining sea.

12:53 - Our discoveries saved countless lives.

12:55 - Pennsylvanians didn't just witness history.

12:58 - We drove it.

12:59 - We shaped this nation.

13:01 - We changed the world.

13:03 - And we're not done yet.

13:05 - This historic milestone anniversary is our call to action.

13:09 - What will Pennsylvania's next great innovation be?

13:13 - From Independence Hall, where our nation was born,

13:15 - to this very building where Pennsylvania led the way.

13:18 - Declaring women's right to vote seven years before the rest of the country.

13:22 - From the depths of our coal mines, where generations carved prosperity

13:26 - from solid rock to the skies above where Pennsylvania's

13:29 - own Guy Bluford became the first African American to orbit the Earth.

13:32 - From the scorching heat of the blast furnaces, where workers

13:36 - forged the backbone of America to the bitter

13:38 - cold of Valley Forge, where Washington's troops forged a nation.

13:42 - Every county, every community, and every person here is part of this story.

13:47 - I promise you, this America

13:50 - is committed to making sure that Pennsylvania's legacy

13:54 - is celebrated across this nation and is accessible to everyone.

13:58 - And with your partnership, the best is yet to come.

14:02 - I want to thank you again for having me today, and it is now my honor

14:05 - to introduce you to former governor Mark Schweiger, a co-chair of America 250.

14:09 - Thank you. Thank you.

14:12 - Thank you. Carson.

14:13 - And, I hope you, sense the, the fervor,

14:18 - that cast delivers, to this effort, across the state.

14:23 - And I say this fondly. She is a machine.

14:26 - When it comes to, the programmatic side

14:30 - and not reluctant to get that car and reach all 67 counties.

14:35 - And as someone who has been to all 67 counties, that's a hell of an achievement.

14:39 - I want you to know. So, in that regard.

14:42 - Cass is the right executive at the right time for this very ambitious undertaking.

14:47 - And I hope you've sensed, or at least filed away,

14:50 - some of these important, aspirations and commitments.

14:54 - So let me just say this, friends, just a couple of thoughts

14:58 - and then write to your reactions or Q and A that

15:01 - I speak for many of the folks behind me.

15:04 - Who will I think in in impressive

15:08 - depth.

15:09 - Talk about some of these programmatic commitments that have reached all counties.

15:13 - Think about it.

15:14 - We've come to know this.

15:15 - I mean, last fall, Pennsylvania was the trendsetter

15:20 - when it comes to the idea of celebrating America's birthday.

15:23 - We had 18 states visit Philadelphia

15:27 - looking for ideas, looking for the type of leadership that would be effective.

15:32 - What works?

15:33 - In that regard, they could have gone anywhere that particular weekend.

15:36 - They came here to Pennsylvania because they wanted to understand,

15:40 - how is it, what's occurred dynamically?

15:43 - That allowed all of us, to celebrate and give them guidance.

15:48 - And as an important parent, static remark, let me just look

15:50 - you in the eye and say thank you for your support and leadership.

15:54 - Both the folks who are present today and connected remotely.

15:58 - Truly, without that vision some years back.

16:02 - And of course, folks like, chairman,

16:05 - James and Chairwoman Mary Jo Daley.

16:08 - I don't think we've reached this point.

16:10 - But because of that kind of support and I know we have a, former House

16:14 - member, Greg Rothman, here.

16:15 - State Senator Greg Rothman, thank you for that kind of stalwart backing,

16:19 - because it allows us to tell the story,

16:22 - in a way that it drew 18 other states here to Pennsylvania.

16:26 - And just when you

16:27 - when you see folks from other places, take a look at that Liberty Bell

16:32 - and as

16:32 - Pennsylvania, maybe you think, well, it's kind of same old stuff. No.

16:36 - When they when they look at it, they realize this is

16:39 - this is an incredibly unique place called Pennsylvania.

16:43 - Going back

16:43 - to the days of William Penn, when he said, let's try the holy experiment.

16:47 - So in that regard, we're doing our best to capture that sentiment.

16:52 - We're doing our best to distinguish this state

16:54 - and not just in in the legacy and historical review sense.

16:58 - Incredibly important to all of us, but really in a way that we build

17:02 - on that legacy so that there's economic return of great measure for your residents

17:07 - and your fellow neighbors and in a civic sense as well.

17:11 - So it's not only about a history lesson.

17:13 - And believe me, I know about history lessons.

17:15 - I'm a Bucks County guy,

17:17 - raised not too far from the Washington Crossing Historic State Park.

17:22 - You know, without that, as I've often said to folks,

17:26 - the Battle of Trenton, maybe not the biggest counteroffensive,

17:31 - the most significant.

17:33 - Had we not succeeded?

17:35 - There is no United States of America.

17:37 - And that's not being melodramatic.

17:39 - And so the kind of the hand-me-down, as the Bucks County guy is that.

17:44 - Yeah, we are rich and an accomplishment and rich in history.

17:48 - As I mentioned to, chairman, Christian Lynn Bock.

17:53 - Interesting.

17:54 - I could take you there and see. Really?

17:57 - Valerie, good to see you.

17:59 - Is this the.

18:01 - There is a tomb of unknown soldiers.

18:05 - Now, we know where, many of those are, but for the Revolutionary War,

18:09 - it's right there in a Washington Crossing historic state park.

18:12 - And as the the legend goes,

18:15 - you know, Washington and the cover of that night prior to that big counteroffensive

18:19 - kind of walked up to many of the encampments and said, this is it, man.

18:25 - He literally said, victory or death.

18:28 - He knew the end was at hand.

18:31 - If we had not succeeded, he had confided that to his brother.

18:34 - In six days the enlistments were up.

18:38 - You got to be a pretty good pitch, man

18:39 - to say, look, I know you can walk out of here in seven days,

18:43 - but if you want the Republic, you want the United States of America.

18:45 - It is game time right now.

18:48 - And so one of the unknown soldiers they found in his pocket,

18:52 - it said victory or death.

18:53 - He wrote that down.

18:54 - He committed that to his spirit.

18:57 - And in my mind, I think in our mind, this is what motivates us

19:00 - as we gather today and really try to inspire other members of the House

19:04 - and the Senate and leadership across Pennsylvania.

19:07 - What what a commitment.

19:10 - What kind of effort did it require for him to walk into the darkness

19:13 - in zero degrees and say, this is bigger than me?

19:17 - We're going to we're going to go do it here.

19:18 - And they did it twice, so to speak, given the Battle of Trenton.

19:23 - How significant was it as we talked about history and legacy?

19:26 - Lord Cornwallis, after we took him out in Yorktown,

19:30 - confided to a family member and said

19:32 - we had him at Trenton

19:35 - and we countered and and, you know, the rest is history.

19:39 - So in my mind, I think we have a profound obligation as Pennsylvania leaders.

19:44 - Certainly you as ranking leaders, to engage our fellow citizens

19:48 - and our neighbors and say, you know, this is more than the birthday party, man,

19:52 - even though it's going to

19:53 - be one hell of a July 4th next summer.

19:56 - This is a massive civics lesson that we're trying to endow

20:00 - and inspire about what it means to be free people,

20:04 - what it means to engage in free enterprise.

20:07 - You know, the notion of democracy.

20:09 - And do I need to click with you today knowing all that's around,

20:12 - especially over this raucous weekend where we saw the signs and demonstration?

20:17 - In my mind, it's the sound of democracy

20:21 - free people voicing what they believe is right and wrong.

20:26 - That's what's at stake.

20:27 - It's not just a birthday party.

20:29 - And so.

20:29 - So when someone asked me, as a former governor

20:32 - and someone who labored here in Harrisburg for eight years, what

20:35 - this is about, I said, this is about this is about your families.

20:38 - This is about your kids.

20:39 - This is about a hand-me-down called democracy.

20:43 - And it's not a it's not a creation to say

20:45 - we're the longest running democracy in the history of the world.

20:50 - Not possible without your Pennsylvania.

20:54 - Not possible without those folks

20:56 - gathering in 1776 and saying the hell of King George.

21:00 - We're going to duke it out with him.

21:02 - And I love.

21:03 - And Cass has talked about this many times, and my wife and I are into it, too,

21:06 - because we did it at the Washington Crossing Historic State Park

21:09 - by one of the Liberty Trees.

21:12 - It's truly a botanical hand-me-down

21:15 - from a tree where John Hancock said to Adams very quietly in whispers,

21:19 - because, you know, because they they could take your life

21:21 - then if they thought you were going against the crown.

21:25 - And John Adams said, I'm not a creature of the crown, I'm not a subject.

21:28 - I'm a free American.

21:30 - We're going at this and and the rest again is history.

21:33 - So it's more than a history lesson.

21:35 - Friends, in my mind, is kind of like your dinner table

21:38 - where you, your father and mother talked about what was important in a value sense,

21:43 - what distinguished, the family and that hen be down.

21:48 - So it's more than a birthday party,

21:50 - and I think we're doing it in a pretty savvy way.

21:52 - And I'll just finish with a couple of quick notes.

21:55 - One, it is about history, but it's about finding an economic

21:59 - and civic advantage in what we emphasize those projects.

22:04 - And I'm not suggesting that, you know, you're good for 36 million,

22:08 - which was, you know, looking at future projects.

22:11 - We love your suggestions.

22:13 - We love your many constituents who said, well, we can do this, this and this.

22:17 - But the idea is once activated or constructed,

22:20 - the idea is the hand-me-down continues.

22:23 - The notion of free people in the United States of America

22:26 - continues in ways that families define it,

22:30 - not just the, you know, the the, the ranking folks.

22:34 - So in that regard, I think we're doing good work.

22:36 - And as someone who did work in a steel mill two summers in the open hearth.

22:41 - I can tell you it was hot.

22:43 - And the idea is there were folks working there 30, 40 and 50 years

22:48 - and because they were going to have it any other way,

22:49 - I mean they didn't have the opportunity and an education,

22:53 - and professional sense to do anything other than that.

22:56 - But they were fired up and they were determined in their mind.

23:00 - I'm a free person.

23:01 - This is how I earn my paycheck, and I'm proud of it.

23:04 - So that legacy is something which to nurture

23:07 - and shine and project to the world.

23:09 - Because if we do it well,

23:11 - the whole country pays attention, a whole planet pays attention.

23:15 - And I can show you a place where they solve the, you know, the the,

23:19 - you know, the, the rebellious scourge in Philadelphia

23:22 - or Jonas Salk work in Pittsburgh relative to what we've done,

23:26 - not just in winning World wars, but for winning the fight for health,

23:30 - really just situated and destined,

23:33 - for an entire world to come to know that's right here in Pennsylvania.

23:37 - And it's not only about Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

23:40 - I hope that that's been registered.

23:42 - That's our efforts to reach these counties.

23:45 - And think about it.

23:46 - It was a proud moment when we could turn to all of those,

23:49 - groups from 18 other states

23:52 - and say every county in a formal resolution

23:56 - census has said we're in, including over 400 municipalities.

24:00 - In fact, I know that the executive director of the Pennsylvania

24:04 - State Association of Township Supervisors here really kind of chronicle

24:08 - that the lay out, because the idea is we want to endow them.

24:12 - It's not just the big cities,

24:14 - it's about small communities and villages and boroughs.

24:17 - And I think, we've managed I think, I think to stimulate this now,

24:22 - I'll finish, with, with this, it's

24:26 - it's really starting to come at us now, organizationally, an internal note.

24:30 - I mean, this executive to my left is 24 and seven member.

24:36 - Three years ago, had four people.

24:39 - As far as the head count, it's up to eight now.

24:42 - And it's in a in a demand sense,

24:47 - it's really starting to come out the organization.

24:50 - And we're not looking to build a bureaucracy.

24:51 - We know, so to speak, on July 5th, 2024 or 2026, it goes away.

24:58 - We're not looking for permanence.

25:00 - We're not suggesting that I happen to believe that

25:03 - we've done this in a very enterprise fashion.

25:06 - What you provided, we've managed to raise

25:09 - in the commercial sector three times that,

25:13 - capable of doing more.

25:14 - But if I might ever so respectfully say, having run big organizations

25:18 - that, we've got to keep an eye on how much we can get done between now

25:22 - and July 4th of 2026.

25:27 - A second note and I'll finish with this.

25:29 - And I know you might have some reactions for us.

25:31 - Is is this, you know,

25:34 - you've all got your own communication networks.

25:38 - I mean, that is kind of an everyday preoccupation

25:41 - of officeholders in Pennsylvania.

25:44 - We'd love to leverage that.

25:47 - We can only do so much with the limited personnel

25:50 - we've got, because on a communications level, it is.

25:53 - It's a growing inflow now,

25:56 - and I think it's going to be a tsunami when the year turns into January of 2026.

26:01 - So if you might,

26:04 - we'd love to be able to click with you

26:07 - on some of these, this, this kind of effort.

26:11 - We think there's some handoffs to some key personnel

26:14 - and constituents in your district

26:15 - that would want to know what could be accomplished here.

26:18 - That's important to us as well.

26:20 - As we're really beginning to feel taxed,

26:24 - in light of, our momentum out there in the communities

26:28 - and some of the success we've had in capacity building.

26:30 - But we're we're facing our limits now.

26:33 - So love to have your, your backing and your your, your affinity there on on

26:38 - how you can

26:39 - help, deal with some of these increases that come our way,

26:42 - especially on the communications level.

26:44 - So with that, Madam Chair, I'll.

26:46 - I'll,

26:48 - I've finished.

26:51 - Thank you so much.

26:52 - I think the words that you, shared with us really important.

26:58 - But we have a tight, you know, time.

27:01 - So I'd like to call because.

27:03 - And we're going to save,

27:04 - because I've already written down two questions that I have for you, too.

27:08 - So we will get back to that.

27:10 - But if if, we bring up the first panel,

27:13 - 250 across the Commonwealth, that would be Commissioner

27:18 - Christian Leinbach.

27:19 - Michael Loomis, Dawn Smith and Brian Tate.

27:28 - I. After each

27:57 - of the panels, we will have a Q and a, time for that.

28:01 - But we are going to still try to keep within our guidelines for time,

28:05 - because the House is in session today and we start at noon,

28:09 - so we have to be finished before that.

28:11 - Commissioner Leinbach, do you want to go first? Yes.

28:15 - Thank you.

28:17 - Chairwoman Daly.

28:18 - Chairman James, members of the house tourism, recreation,

28:22 - economic development Committee, thank you for the opportunity to present

28:28 - this on July 8th, 1776, that a lone bell

28:32 - rang out from the Berks County Courthouse in downtown Redding.

28:36 - That sound gathered the people of Redding and Berks County

28:39 - for the very first public reading of the Declaration of Independence.

28:44 - It is believed that Sheriff Henry Vanderslice

28:47 - stood before the crowd and read the entire document,

28:51 - proclaiming the birth of a new nation built on the promise of life, liberty,

28:56 - and the pursuit of happiness for all people.

29:00 - That same Liberty Bell now rests in the Berks

29:03 - County Services Center, on loan from the Berks County History Center

29:08 - since 2023, we've gathered

29:10 - each July 8th to recreate that historic moment.

29:14 - Reading the declaration aloud and in its entirety

29:19 - include portions of the declaration in German and Spanish

29:23 - to reflect the diversity of our 18th century

29:26 - and 21st century communities that legacy of patriotism and pride

29:32 - is deeply woven into the fabric of Berks County.

29:35 - On June 10th of 2021, we became the first county

29:40 - in the Commonwealth to adopt a resolution

29:43 - recognizing America 250 PA.

29:46 - That resolution wasn't just symbolic.

29:49 - We put real support behind it.

29:52 - It established the Berks County, America two and 50 PA committee

29:56 - and allocated public funding to help us turn ideas into action.

30:01 - Redding also stepped up early and became the first municipality

30:06 - in Pennsylvania to pass a resolution of its own.

30:09 - That early leadership helped spark a growing movement

30:13 - that now has taken root in communities across Pennsylvania.

30:18 - Our local America 250 PA Berks County Committee is composed

30:22 - entirely of volunteers who meet monthly and coordinate events and programs

30:28 - that engage the public and celebrate the upcoming Semi Quinn's centennial.

30:33 - To help with that outreach, we've launched a dedicated website,

30:37 - America 250 PA berks.com, where community members can learn more,

30:43 - get involved, and follow along as we approach 2026.

30:48 - At the heart of everything we do is a simple idea.

30:52 - All people are created equal

30:55 - and endowed with God given rights that cannot and should not be taken away.

31:01 - That's the true spirit of 1776.

31:05 - It's what our events, our programs, and our outreach efforts

31:09 - try to bring to life for every resident of Berks County.

31:13 - In 1858, Abraham Lincoln urged,

31:17 - now, my countrymen, if you have been taught doctrines

31:20 - conflicting with the great landmarks of the Declaration of Independence,

31:25 - if you have been inclined to believe that all men people

31:29 - are not created equal in those inalienable rights

31:33 - enumerated by our chart of liberty, let me entreat you to come back.

31:38 - Return to the fountain whose waters spring close by.

31:42 - The blood of the revolution.

31:46 - The work of America, 250 and America 250.

31:51 - Berks is about bringing those founding ideas to life

31:55 - so that every generation and every community can experience

32:00 - the promise of the declaration for all Americans.

32:04 - Today,

32:06 - I come before you to say that now more than ever,

32:09 - we need to point ourselves, our neighbors, our Commonwealth

32:14 - and our nation back to the core tenets of the declaration through America.

32:20 - 250 PA we are doing just that.

32:22 - Yes, we are celebrating our heritage,

32:25 - but we are also remembering and reminding our nation

32:29 - that the price of liberty is eternal vigilance.

32:33 - America 250 PA in America

32:36 - 250 PA are part of that eternal vigilance so necessary to preserve

32:42 - freedom and liberty for future generations of Pennsylvanians and Americans.

32:48 - Thank you.

32:52 - Thank you, thank you.

32:53 - Mr. Newman's

32:56 - thank you, thank you. Chair. Daly.

32:58 - And, James,

33:00 - given that you have my written testimony, I'll just speak very briefly.

33:03 - Many familiar faces.

33:05 - But for those who are meeting for the first time,

33:07 - I'll just briefly introduce myself.

33:08 - I'm Michael Newman's,

33:10 - 2026 director for the city of Philadelphia under Mayor Israel Parker.

33:14 - Prior to this role, I was leading philanthropy for office

33:16 - investments, a $100 billion asset management firm in Pennsylvania.

33:19 - And then prior to that, I was chief of staff at Visit

33:21 - Philadelphia, where I got to work on some major events,

33:23 - including the papal visit, the NFL draft, and others.

33:27 - Nothing.

33:28 - Nothing will compare to what we're about to see over

33:31 - the next 16 months for Philadelphia and the Commonwealth.

33:35 - I mean, just imagine before we welcome millions of fans

33:39 - and visitors for the World Cup, including a July 4th knockout

33:43 - round for the MLB All-Star game, for citywide art festivals,

33:47 - for major exhibitions across museums galore.

33:51 - We're going to roll out the red carpet for America's Bravest by hosting

33:54 - the 250th anniversary.

33:56 - It's not only the United States Army founded in Philadelphia,

34:00 - but also the United States Navy and Marines.

34:02 - You know, for one week, we will have Nasdaq ringing their bell

34:06 - aboard one of the eight ships docked in Philadelphia.

34:09 - As Blue Angels fly over our city, we welcome 30,000 veterans

34:13 - for an incredible parade that transforms into a nationally televised concert.

34:18 - And at the core of everything we're doing, the youth will be central

34:23 - because for us, 2026 is about so much more than hosting an event.

34:29 - It's about bring the country together around that, what unites us

34:32 - and inspiring the next generation

34:35 - to not only have an appreciation for,

34:38 - service and citizenship, but to really realize their role

34:42 - in co-creating the future of our great country.

34:46 - And that's why, for Philadelphia mayor Cheryl Parker, our charge is to ensure

34:50 - that the spirit of celebration reaches every corner of our great city,

34:54 - including our neighborhoods outside of the downtown corridors.

34:58 - And that's why we're going to be making incredible investments to transform

35:01 - not one, not two, but 20 commercial corridors

35:04 - and driving folks, driving our tourism, driving the economic impact out there

35:09 - while concurrently working with our shoulder counters.

35:12 - So we convene our shoulder counties.

35:14 - We convene in our regularly marketing committee meetings to align our messaging,

35:18 - to make sure that we can spread that beyond Philadelphia, because 2026

35:23 - for the nation's birthplace is about so much more than just Philadelphia.

35:28 - It's about hosting a celebration worthy

35:31 - of all Americans, and we are working to that end.

35:34 - We're working across our leadership at both the city, the state,

35:38 - as well as with, Congress. Right.

35:40 - Last week, I was pleased to meet with former Treasury Secretary Rosey Rios,

35:45 - and we're about to announce a really incredible and invigorating partnership

35:49 - to bring a national time capsule to Philadelphia that doesn't honor

35:54 - Philadelphia.

35:55 - But it honors Pennsylvania's role in the founding of our great nation

35:59 - while also working with the Presidential Task Force, who recently provided

36:02 - incredible assistance to help align the resources necessary to restore,

36:08 - one of our first cultural World Heritage sites, Independence Hall.

36:11 - We are working arduously because we do view 2026

36:15 - as the greatest opportunity in modern history

36:19 - to set a catalytic vision that doesn't just end in 2026,

36:25 - but it really leverages the 50th to set a bold vision for the next 150 years.

36:30 - So thank you for your leadership to that.

36:32 - And we are so pleased.

36:33 - Our mayor has provided a $100 million commitment

36:37 - across beautification, across

36:40 - providing for the various events that will take place,

36:43 - but really importantly, also public safety infrastructure.

36:47 - Because for 2026, we're hosting these incredible

36:50 - major events and small neighborhood gatherings.

36:53 - We want to make sure that everyone

36:55 - can do so safely and that we can really inspire, right?

36:59 - Inspire the world about what America is, what we can be,

37:03 - and how we can each play a role in that.

37:05 - So thank you for your leadership and driving forward.

37:07 - The two 50th, and thank you for calling for this such an important

37:10 - hearing to help educate others about the opportunity that is before us.

37:16 - Thank you.

37:17 - Miss Lambeth.

37:21 - Good morning.

37:23 - We're going to be moved

37:23 - across the state to Westmoreland County, western Pennsylvania.

37:27 - I'm here to represent the great Laurel Highland region,

37:30 - which is Westmoreland, Somerset and Fayette counties.

37:34 - I'm the advisor for Westmoreland County, but I also represent our region

37:39 - because it is our goal to promote locally and regionally, to get people

37:45 - to visit our side of this state after they visit Philadelphia.

37:50 - America's birthday party has actually already started in Westmoreland County.

37:54 - We're gearing up to celebrate the Hanna's Town Resolve,

37:57 - which celebrate their 250th anniversary next month on May 17th.

38:03 - Because in 1775, a group of Frontier's people

38:07 - united and joined forces to write

38:11 - one of the very first written testimonies against British tyranny.

38:16 - So we're gearing up to have a big party, and a big commemoration

38:20 - in Westmoreland County.

38:21 - One of the things we're trying to do is to engage more young people

38:25 - and engage the broader community by having A5K race

38:28 - and going beyond the regular reenactments that we typically do.

38:34 - We're

38:34 - also participating in the Belzer Cross PA initiative, creating a fiberglass bell

38:39 - that is going to be a glass mosaic

38:41 - that will be at the Westmoreland Museum of American Art.

38:44 - And we're going to be unveiling that in August of 2025.

38:49 - So I hope that you all join us in our side of the state.

38:53 - And I would welcome you to visit and tour any of our local, local historical sites.

38:59 - The Laurel Highlands are uniquely positioned

39:04 - to attract visitors and encourage to 250 celebrations.

39:09 - We are joining together as three counties to do so.

39:14 - And with that in mind, we're also partnering with the William G.

39:16 - Pomeroy Foundation

39:17 - to create a Laurel Highlands Heritage Trail of historical markers.

39:22 - In 2023, we saw the highest level of visitor spending, a $2 billion.

39:28 - And this year we're hoping to attract more visitors

39:31 - and keep that momentum going into 2026.

39:35 - Before the revolution, Westmoreland had resolve, and we still do,

39:38 - and we hope to keep that momentum going. Thank you.

39:42 - Thank you very much.

39:43 - And, Mr.

39:44 - Tate, yes, thank you to the Chair and Committee

39:47 - for the opportunity to testify on behalf of America.

39:50 - 250 PA and York County.

39:52 - My name is Brian Tate, and I serve as the York County Register of Wills

39:56 - and Clerk of Orphan's Court, York County Representative to America, 250 PA

40:00 - and the chair of the York County Semi Quinn Centennial Commission

40:04 - in York County.

40:04 - We're proudly championing championing history made here

40:07 - a multi year celebration of three significant anniversaries

40:11 - York County's 275th birthday, which we celebrated last summer

40:15 - on August 19th, the 250th anniversary of American independence,

40:19 - which we will be celebrating next year, and the 250th anniversary

40:23 - of the signing of the Articles of Confederation in York, November 15th.

40:28 - And we'll be celebrating that in 2027.

40:31 - So we're very excited about all of our efforts,

40:33 - which have brought us together a diverse and growing committee of local leaders

40:38 - with strong engagement from municipalities, school

40:40 - districts, nonprofits and community groups.

40:43 - We launched History Made here.com, hosted by Explorer York

40:47 - with a countywide calendar of events, powered by York

40:50 - 365.com and the Cultural Alliance of York County.

40:54 - And both of those will live well beyond our celebrations

40:57 - thanks to funding support from DCD and Explore York, we installed

41:01 - beautifully designed boulevard banners in communities across the county.

41:06 - The brand New York County History Center opened in August 2024,

41:09 - with a weekend of free admission and events kicking off.

41:12 - History made here.

41:14 - Local historian Jim McClure launched a special edition of his book

41:18 - Never to Be Forgotten, and his book tour continues

41:21 - through our celebrations for the county's 275th birthday.

41:25 - Last summer, we hosted a series of community events,

41:28 - including a block party at WellSpan Park, a celebratory York

41:31 - Revolution baseball game, a community created mural installation,

41:35 - a birthday showcase at the Apple Center, a formal reading of York County's

41:39 - founding act, and the ringing bells across the county

41:43 - led by the Bell in the York County Administrative Center dome, a remembrance

41:47 - of the original proclamation of being the first county west of the Susquehanna.

41:52 - Last October, York proudly hosted the America 250

41:55 - PA Commission Board meeting and planted a certified Liberty Tree

41:59 - near the replica colonial courthouse, where the Articles of Confederation

42:03 - were adopted.

42:04 - We're currently gearing up for the installation of six bells

42:07 - across across Pennsylvania, sponsored by First Energy and local private

42:12 - foundations including the Powder Mill Foundation and Glad Folder Foundation.

42:17 - Six York County artists will decorate the fiberglass

42:19 - bells at the Cultural Alliance's warehouse, and once finished,

42:23 - the bells will be installed at sites across the county.

42:26 - Especially notable will be the installation of York's

42:29 - full sized bronze Quinn Bell at Camp Security,

42:32 - our nation's only remaining undeveloped revolutionary War P.O.W.

42:37 - site.

42:37 - This bell, distinct from the fiberglass installations

42:40 - elsewhere, represents a major local investment

42:44 - of more than $250,000 raised by our community

42:48 - and those same private foundations, and will serve

42:50 - as a lasting tribute to York County's role in our nation's founding.

42:54 - Additional local initiatives include a municipal quilt

42:58 - representing all 72 municipalities,

43:01 - and a tree planting effort across all 72 by local rotary clubs,

43:05 - both celebrating our shared heritage

43:08 - as we gear up for major events in 2026 and 2027,

43:11 - we're calling on local organizations to create their own events

43:15 - that reflect their community's unique role in our nation's story,

43:18 - and to help those across our community to celebrate

43:22 - posting those events, to York, three 65.com helps

43:25 - make sure they're part of the broader celebration happening across York County.

43:30 - Thank you for the opportunity to share your county's contributions to America.

43:33 - 250 PA.

43:35 - We're proud to be a part of this once in a generation effort.

43:38 - Thank you.

43:41 - Yeah.

43:42 - Thank you all.

43:43 - And, chair James, I hear

43:46 - you have a question.

43:50 - I'm interested

43:51 - because you put so much time and effort into getting ready for this event.

43:56 - What what is your estimate of the number of folks who are going to visit here

44:00 - in 2026 from all over the planet?

44:05 - I think he's asking Philadelphia.

44:08 - We have a few different estimates. Right.

44:10 - So the World Cup alone, a minimum of 500,000.

44:13 - But we're expecting millions across our array of events.

44:17 - We also have 20 citywide festivals that are generating

44:21 - an estimated economic impact of $1 billion all in.

44:25 - But, you know, you can't underestimate,

44:27 - and this is the one thing that we're really

44:31 - leaning towards as we think through our public safety

44:34 - of how many people would be willing to travel

44:37 - just for the sacred honor of experiencing the 250th birth

44:41 - place of the nation in the nation's birthplace.

44:44 - Right?

44:44 - Even if you don't have a ticket,

44:46 - just showing up so that you can experience the memory that so many may have felt

44:50 - for the bicentennial. Right.

44:52 - And the one key thing about that is you may remember where you were,

44:56 - you may remember who you were with, but you likely won't remember

45:00 - the name of the organization that founded it or helped to drive that.

45:04 - Which is why it's so important

45:05 - that every organization here, have the resources necessary to succeed.

45:14 - That answer it did.

45:15 - Thank you.

45:18 - You're going to need western Pennsylvania for space, so

45:22 - come on in.

45:23 - The water's warm.

45:34 - Coming.

45:39 - Right now,

45:40 - I really don't have a question, but I did want to make a comment.

45:43 - When I think about this,

45:45 - as I look around the room, I'm not going to bring out anybody's age,

45:49 - but I was one that was in first grade and in 20, 76.

45:53 - And what is important about that, to me

45:57 - is that we really are going to bring out patriotism, what we did

46:02 - in 2076 by saying this in 1976,

46:06 - I said no wrong in 1976.

46:09 - I remember the patriotism we had and what I did

46:12 - that day or that actually that whole year in school.

46:15 - Not specifically everything, but I do remember a lot, and I know that

46:19 - that's what instilled my appreciation of where I live, the country I live in.

46:24 - So my goal from all this and listening today and hoping

46:28 - everybody understands that, is we have the chance here

46:31 - to make a difference in this country and make everybody

46:35 - understand where we come from and where we need to go in the future.

46:38 - So thank you very much.

46:44 - We have two more people with questions.

46:46 - Representative young.

46:51 - So thank you all for your testimonies.

46:53 - Cassandra.

46:53 - I'll ask you a question later offline, because I'm about to leave soon.

46:57 - But given the, current climate, where we are now in America.

47:02 - Right. Let's just face it.

47:03 - It's a little, concerning for a lot of people.

47:06 - Have you pivoted your approach

47:08 - to recruiting people to attend such events, and if so, how?

47:12 - And if not, is that something you will consider?

47:15 - And what would that look like?

47:22 - From the beginning of our planning.

47:24 - And I'll, I'll echo, the Berks County, which is that

47:27 - my committee is made up of people throughout my county

47:30 - from a lot of different organizations,

47:31 - a lot of different perspectives, all volunteers.

47:34 - And that would be the same in all three counties in the Laurel Highlands.

47:38 - Our message has been from the beginning

47:40 - that we are starting our celebration now in 2025.

47:44 - Going into 2026, we want to just keep driving that momentum.

47:47 - And I'm actually making plans for 2027, if you can imagine that.

47:51 - But we we've welcomed all people, all stories, trying to uncover untold stories.

47:57 - That's been our message from the beginning.

47:59 - And that hasn't changed at all.

48:00 - In fact, I think it's probably more earnest than ever before.

48:06 - I'd like to

48:06 - add that while we also are celebrating multiple years of of anniversaries

48:10 - in York County, one of the signatures of what we're doing

48:13 - is asking all groups in our community to plan their own events.

48:17 - We don't want to tell everybody how to celebrate.

48:19 - We don't want to tell everybody, what is the best way, to be an American?

48:24 - So we're inviting everybody

48:26 - to create their own celebrations and then upload them to York three

48:30 - York 365.com so that anybody can participate.

48:33 - It's all about making all of us proud to be American representative young.

48:37 - We get often asked the question of how do you inspire a spirit of celebration

48:41 - at a time when the country

48:42 - can sometimes feel fraught and we can't lose sight of that reality?

48:46 - But for Philadelphia, we're not letting it give us a reason

48:50 - to not celebrate all that brings us together, which is precisely why

48:54 - we are making sure that we offer a slate of programs that really unites people.

48:58 - But concurrent with that, we are actively engaged

49:00 - with our marketing partner to provide, consumer sentiment studies

49:04 - across the country to realize where people are and align our messaging

49:08 - in a way that will help to not only educate people about the opportunity.

49:12 - In about 2026, but help to really convert them

49:15 - to the opportunity to be a part of the solutions,

49:18 - that they feel necessary for their communities

49:20 - by celebrating, all that the richness that we do have.

49:26 - From the beginning,

49:27 - the focus in Berks County has been around the core principles of the declaration,

49:34 - and that is, if you're a human being,

49:37 - you are entitled to the rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

49:41 - Our committee is very reflective of our community.

49:45 - Our activities are very reflective of our, community.

49:50 - And I'm proud of the message.

49:51 - But I will tell you, I think all of us on all sides.

49:55 - That's why I said, first, I point to myself

49:59 - where I need to remind myself it's being a human being.

50:03 - That's the only class that matters.

50:05 - It's not race.

50:06 - It's not religion, it's not ethnicity, it's not gender.

50:10 - It's being a human being.

50:12 - And we need to start treating our fellow human beings.

50:16 - The way they deserve to be treated

50:18 - based on their guarantee of life, liberty and pursuit of happiness.

50:29 - Representative securities.

50:35 - Good morning and thank you for the hard work,

50:37 - because I know in Berks County you've been at this for quite some years,

50:40 - and it is very reflective of our community.

50:42 - So thank and I just want to commend everyone for the efforts and the support,

50:45 - because I think it is important to celebrate our history.

50:48 - Right.

50:49 - And the folks who who have led us here, I do have some questions.

50:54 - And I want to thank you to the chairwoman, Cassandra and former governor.

50:58 - Okay.

51:01 - Mark,

51:03 - is that okay?

51:05 - Okay.

51:06 - So I'm fascinated by the whole bells throughout the 67 counties.

51:11 - Is there some type of visitors guide that highlight that for people

51:16 - both living in Pennsylvania and those that may be visiting in terms

51:19 - of where they can go see these bells, I don't know if that would be

51:22 - a great marketing strategy to lure people to the burrows

51:26 - and towns and smaller areas that that have contributed to the history.

51:31 - And I say that

51:31 - because I was recently a few weekends ago, I visited some friends in Bucks County,

51:37 - and I was just a I want so I have a friend

51:40 - who loves to preserve historic properties

51:43 - and I was able to visit some cottages

51:46 - or properties that I mean, wow,

51:49 - I was amazed by by the historic pieces in these homes

51:54 - and, combined with the, you know, modern world.

51:58 - But also she purchased this general store under a Durham road

52:03 - across the second oldest post office in the United States.

52:07 - And I was just, you know, as I'm visiting and I'm chatting and I'm looking at all

52:11 - the artifacts and things that she has in this general store, I'm like,

52:14 - are you working with your visitors bureau?

52:17 - Right.

52:17 - So that leads me to my question as to what is the role

52:21 - of the visitors bureau and how are they maximizing on this?

52:24 - And because, right, this is also an economic boost,

52:27 - right, to, to our communities.

52:29 - And, there's just so much to discover here in Pennsylvania.

52:33 - And oftentimes I find that, as residents, we don't take pride

52:38 - in where we come from and, you know, the beauty of our commonwealth.

52:42 - So I kind of want to get a sense of what can we do better

52:47 - to help promote what we have right in our backyard so that our children

52:51 - start, having that pride that us adults have.

52:57 - I know

52:57 - I asked a lot of questions and I said a quick thing.

53:00 - We are kicking off a passport to Berks County history.

53:03 - May the 1st.

53:05 - It will be going out in a magazine that we distribute to about 85,000 households,

53:10 - and it will go from May 1st to August 15th and encourages

53:14 - people to go to historic locations throughout Berks

53:18 - County, get a stamp and learn about Berks County history.

53:21 - That's one of the ways that we're doing it within the county.

53:31 - It's nice that you were in Bucks County.

53:33 - Let me know next time.

53:34 - I'll give you a personal effort on the tour.

53:39 - Yeah, I, I'll give you a an a, b.

53:41 - The A is, you know, we're you're all into this.

53:45 - We're into this, too.

53:46 - So to speak.

53:48 - The citizens, the masses just kind of coming around to this,

53:52 - I think we've done a super job over the last, number of months.

53:55 - The last two years.

53:56 - But they're now residents.

53:59 - Pennsylvanians are beginning to pay attention and tuning in.

54:02 - So it's prime time, certainly over the next 16 months.

54:05 - So your question is not just an insightful one.

54:08 - It's a timely one.

54:10 - So the communication aspect, for all of this,

54:13 - and what I call positive expectation or pressures

54:18 - to our different affiliate groups to begin to talk about it,

54:22 - to begin to, point not just to July 4th, 2026, but, you know,

54:27 - programmatically on the calendar, what do you what do you got in mind?

54:30 - I think urging them now that the proverbial them is behooves us all.

54:36 - And I think it will be great reward to it.

54:38 - So, in addition, any cash?

54:40 - Why don't you talk about, the bells?

54:43 - I mean, we need more integration of of the many venues

54:48 - and stops and, places you could visit to.

54:51 - So just very quickly.

54:52 - I know, so we are working with visit PA so ultimately there all of the bells

54:57 - that are placed on there's 108 total across the Commonwealth

55:01 - will be on the visit Pennsylvania, as well as the America PA website.

55:05 - There will be a map for folks again.

55:07 - Encouraging them to go and find the bells will gamify it

55:10 - to really let them learn about the stories behind them.

55:13 - That's funny that you said about Durham Road

55:14 - because I was actually just at that post office last month as we awarded

55:18 - the Durham Historical Society of Semi-Colon grant for the new or so.

55:22 - I know exactly where you were talking about,

55:24 - but yes, we are working hand in hand with tourism.

55:27 - And can I just

55:28 - make one more remark, which is I actually work for the Laurel Highlands,

55:32 - Visitors Bureau, and I'm the director of Community and Culture Connections.

55:36 - So the local tourism bureaus are very,

55:40 - very interested in connecting with all of these events.

55:43 - And they're it's very much something that they are committed to,

55:47 - supporting and driving tourism in that respect.

55:52 - It's really a great opportunity.

55:54 - One of the things that we're doing with our summit, Quinn Grant, $20,000,

55:59 - is creating activation boxes, which we are pushing out

56:03 - to all of our cultural partners, all of our municipal ities,

56:07 - to give them resources so they can plan their own events.

56:12 - So there will be some, symmetry

56:14 - and, inspiration that we can share with them.

56:18 - So there's a lot of a lot of interest.

56:21 - And I would encourage everybody to network.

56:23 - You know, it's it's all about making those connections.

56:27 - Thank God.

56:28 - I was just going to add real quick that in York I mentioned, Explorer

56:32 - York being one of our major partners,

56:33 - but also the Cultural Alliance and our York 365.com community calendar.

56:37 - It's just now launching its first public art, map,

56:41 - which the bells will be included on, as well as all of our other art

56:44 - assets across the county. So that will live forever.

56:47 - So we're enthusiastic about including of our creative as part of it.

56:52 - And I just want to make one quick comment that,

56:54 - Governor Schleicher talked about leveraging our communications.

57:00 - And I had jotted down that that's something

57:03 - that we're going to want to talk about when it gets to be time

57:06 - to bring Cassandra and the governor back.

57:10 - But I think it's a really good conversation.

57:12 - I think, because the reason we added economic development

57:16 - to the name of this committee instead of just tourism or recreation

57:19 - because tourism, recreation or both economic drivers for the Commonwealth.

57:23 - And it's really important that we all remember that.

57:26 - And so I think you've got I know a lot of members have left,

57:30 - but they probably have other committee meetings that they're required

57:33 - to, you know, because everybody's juggling around here all the time.

57:37 - So, I think the conversation

57:40 - can extend beyond even today's hearing.

57:43 - It's something that I think we're all really interested in.

57:46 - And we may be doing a tour down

57:49 - to the Laurel caverns, which I think may be near the Laurel Highlands.

57:56 - It's in the Laurel Highlands.

57:57 - So, and we're always interested in doing tours

58:01 - to Gettysburg just because it's such an amazing spot.

58:05 - But one of the problems we have as a committee is there's like,

58:09 - I think about 25 members of the committee, and it's really difficult

58:12 - to get us all together to go to some place for three days.

58:15 - Not that we don't like spending those three days together, but people just have

58:19 - their own schedules that they have to keep.

58:21 - So we're going to keep working on this.

58:24 - Because I think this is going really well.

58:26 - I don't want to talk any more right now because,

58:28 - we're way past 1045 for the next panel.

58:31 - So, we have three people

58:34 - in this next panel who are going to be virtual.

58:37 - But, Denise, Dennis could come up

58:40 - to the table and Andre Castillejo

58:44 - and we'll start with the third panel.

58:49 - Actually, the second panel.

58:54 - Laura's virtual she's.

58:57 - Yeah.

58:59 - So Laura Soucek,

59:01 - you are going to be the first testifier for this group.

59:04 - And my understanding is you're doing this virtually.

59:07 - Are you. Yes. I'm here.

59:09 - Is it useful that I have my camera on or,

59:13 - okay. We

59:16 - it doesn't matter is what I'm being told.

59:20 - Oh, no.

59:21 - This is great to have you on camera.

59:23 - Some of us have to turn around, though.

59:27 - Hi, here I am.

59:27 - I'm able to be here from my second grade classroom, so I really appreciate

59:31 - the opportunity to be here virtually.

59:36 - Is it okay to be in? Yes.

59:38 - Yes, please. Okay.

59:40 - My name is Laura Soucek.

59:42 - I'm a second grade teacher in the Scranton School District, and I'm very happy

59:46 - to be here today to share a little about our experience with Kaci.

59:50 - Our beautifully diverse student body is made up of students from around the world

59:55 - whose families make their homes here in the beautiful state of Pennsylvania.

01:00 - 00.697 Each year,

01:00 - 05.134 I have the opportunity to help my students understand their roles in society

01:00 - 08.471 and how they can make choices that impact history.

01:00 - 13.776 I also get to help them discover how events of the past shaped our lives today.

01:00 - 17.780 This understanding is pivotal as these very students

01:00 - 20.683 will grow to become the future of this world.

01:00 - 23.052 When we first became one of the selected schools

01:00 - 28.925 for the Keystone Classroom Initiative, I knew that America 250 statewide outreach

01:00 - 33.363 and storytelling would be perfect for my K to fourth grade school building.

01:00 - 38.134 The program builds awareness and excitement around the 250th

01:00 - 41.404 anniversary of the United States, while helping students

01:00 - 44.707 learn about Pennsylvania's pivotal role in American history,

01:00 - 47.210 it can sometimes be hard to

01:00 - 51.214 generate excitement about history, especially with fourth graders.

01:00 - 53.383 And if anyone in here knows and loves

01:00 - 56.386 a fourth grade student, you know what I'm talking about.

01:00 - 01.257 So the fact that HCI combines age appropriate historical re-enactors,

01:01 - 05.128 storytellers, mascots, and local figures to deliver

01:01 - 09.666 interactive educational experiences was hugely attractive.

01:01 - 13.836 Our learners went wild for the mascot and the swag bag.

01:01 - 17.440 Our gray wolves still love wearing those America

01:01 - 20.910 250 t shirts and telling stories about the event

01:01 - 24.681 I just passed, which is that I was wearing her t shirt just today.

01:01 - 30.787 Our 650 students here at Isaac Elementary are so lucky to have been part

01:01 - 36.225 of the over 30,000 students that have participated in KCA experiences,

01:01 - 41.030 and I cannot overstate how impactful the experience was for our students

01:01 - 45.334 through a live historical reenactment of Henry Box Brown

01:01 - 50.506 from escape from slavery, our students engage directly with history.

01:01 - 54.444 They made complex, complex subjects like slavery

01:01 - 57.513 and the Underground Railroad access and age appropriate.

01:01 - 01.551 The program encouraged empathy, critical thinking,

01:02 - 05.088 and an appreciation for Pennsylvania's role in the fight for freedom,

01:02 - 06.622 which are character traits

01:02 - 09.826 that we instill here in our gray wolves each and every day.

01:02 - 14.964 Our younger learners shared a beautiful story time with members of our community.

01:02 - 19.769 It was heartwarming to see the community volunteers engage and connect

01:02 - 23.740 with our students, and the kids still ask us to read K is for Keystone,

01:02 - 28.144 but my students always remind me that our community reader, Mister Drew,

01:02 - 29.212 read it better.

01:02 - 31.748 And if you know drew, you know they're right.

01:02 - 34.117 KCCI connects young Pennsylvanians

01:02 - 37.286 to their shared heritage and meaningful, memorable ways.

01:02 - 41.090 And this is because the experience of Casey I go far beyond

01:02 - 42.992 the traditional curriculum.

01:02 - 46.362 It's a transformative experience that transports students

01:02 - 50.299 to critical moments in history to help them deeply understand

01:02 - 54.036 how these moments changed the trajectory of human life.

01:02 - 55.738 Programs like

01:02 - 59.976 KCCI are building the next generation of engaged citizens.

01:03 - 03.913 As we approach the 250th anniversary in 2026,

01:03 - 09.819 it is my sincere hope that my students will still carry these memories in 2076,

01:03 - 13.956 when Pennsylvania and the rest of the country celebrate the tricentennial,

01:03 - 17.293 and maybe I'll be lucky enough to talk about it with them.

01:03 - 21.764 As an educator, it is my hope that my students grow to become strong,

01:03 - 24.667 successful, empathetic knowledge seekers

01:03 - 27.036 who believe that they can change the world.

01:03 - 30.239 And it's programs like Casey that help to get them there.

01:03 - 33.609 Thank you so much for your time.

01:03 - 35.511 Thank you.

01:03 - 38.281 Laura. Denise.

01:03 - 41.617 Dennis, you are the next person on my list.

01:03 - 45.087 Thank you very much for having me.

01:03 - 48.357 It's an honor to speak on the other than there to 50.

01:03 - 50.893 Excuse my voice.

01:03 - 53.896 And I'm going to talk about the impact

01:03 - 59.402 on America to 5050 to, I think, nationwide and of course, on the Commonwealth

01:03 - 03.306 and more personally on the Dennis Farm Charitable Land Trust.

01:04 - 07.176 I didn't know if many of you know about the Dennis farm,

01:04 - 10.479 but it was my house, my family's property.

01:04 - 13.482 It dates back to 1793,

01:04 - 18.387 when my ancestors came to what was then still a part of Connecticut,

01:04 - 23.192 but is was fought over by Connecticut and Pennsylvania settlers.

01:04 - 26.729 It's now northeast Pennsylvania, but they came from Connecticut

01:04 - 30.733 with the famous first wave of settlers after the American Revolution

01:04 - 34.170 and settled there. They were free people.

01:04 - 37.139 They passed the farm down through the family.

01:04 - 40.610 The gentlemen pictured here married into the family.

01:04 - 45.414 He was a veteran of the revolution and he is buried on the farm.

01:04 - 49.619 And I based this book on his Revolutionary War

01:04 - 53.756 Pension file, which I found in the National Archives.

01:04 - 57.059 I say this to point out

01:04 - 00.062 why we are very much a part of

01:05 - 03.366 what America 257 celebrates

01:05 - 07.603 American democracy for all people

01:05 - 11.440 because they were free African Americans

01:05 - 14.977 in a county where people don't really think

01:05 - 19.315 there are African-Americans, it's now Susquehanna County.

01:05 - 23.419 It was, for a while part of Luzerne County until 1810.

01:05 - 25.021 That excuse my voice,

01:05 - 29.725 my breath goes out and they sometimes.

01:05 - 33.396 Anyway, we are so pleased to be a part of this

01:05 - 38.734 because my family, from the revolution onward and even before the revolution,

01:05 - 42.438 I very much a part of what this event is about.

01:05 - 46.008 And Pennsylvania enabled my family

01:05 - 49.445 to have the American dream

01:05 - 52.848 long before most African Americans out it.

01:05 - 56.152 Indeed, when they bought their property,

01:05 - 01.223 90% of African Americans were enslaved, only ten were free,

01:06 - 04.627 and my family lived in that area

01:06 - 08.030 and this commonwealth for over 200 years

01:06 - 12.902 as neighbors and friends and all the local history books,

01:06 - 16.505 and we were very much a part of the fabric of that community.

01:06 - 23.045 So when I met with Cassandra several years back and she told me that,

01:06 - 28.985 she gave me her overview of America 250 PA we did that,

01:06 - 32.588 and she was very specific.

01:06 - 35.758 She told me she planned to include

01:06 - 39.061 all 67 counties in this celebration.

01:06 - 42.665 Well, I live in Philadelphia today,

01:06 - 47.103 and appropriately, Philadelphia's usually what one thinks about

01:06 - 50.539 when one thinks about 1776

01:06 - 54.510 and the Constitutional Convention in 1787.

01:06 - 58.547 But I grew up in northeast Pennsylvania.

01:06 - 03.219 I grew up in Wilkesboro, which is about 40 miles from the dentist farm.

01:07 - 05.688 And we would go to the farm in the summers.

01:07 - 10.326 Someone, Cassandra, told me that you would be inclusive.

01:07 - 14.263 And in this sense, inclusivity meant the whole

01:07 - 18.801 the whole Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, not just a few counties.

01:07 - 21.137 I thought, this is for me.

01:07 - 24.040 People don't know that there was a revolution,

01:07 - 27.877 Lord, that in Luzerne County that that that that old White Hill.

01:07 - 28.744 Excuse me.

01:07 - 31.313 My voice is really going up out today.

01:07 - 34.383 But Cassandra, as you know, has been true to her word.

01:07 - 38.621 Her committee or this committee has brought together leaders

01:07 - 42.658 from business, education and cultural organizations

01:07 - 46.095 as well as local and state governments,

01:07 - 49.565 from the Alleghenies to the Poconos

01:07 - 52.334 who otherwise might not have met.

01:07 - 56.839 I met so many people from around the Commonwealth to America to 50

01:07 - 02.378 PA that it has broadened my love for PA, which was already pretty deep.

01:08 - 06.382 I had the event last fall

01:08 - 11.454 in Philadelphia, the National America 250 event.

01:08 - 16.025 I met some of the executive directors who were there visiting.

01:08 - 18.794 And Cassandra, I don't want to embarrass you,

01:08 - 22.698 but they praised you and said you were the model.

01:08 - 27.036 You are the gold standard for how to do this, and I'm not.

01:08 - 30.172 I don't make stories up high.

01:08 - 32.208 This is true.

01:08 - 35.344 It has been my privilege to be directly involved

01:08 - 39.615 with to America, to 50, to initiatives.

01:08 - 44.019 For three years, I've served as a judge for the annual

01:08 - 47.423 Direct Effect and Innovation Challenge.

01:08 - 52.328 The contest, as it has been already alluded to with college and university

01:08 - 55.798 students from all honey come

01:08 - 58.801 and they present

01:08 - 00.903 design and present original

01:09 - 06.075 marketing plan plans for specific themes to raise awareness of

01:09 - 09.545 and engage young Pennsylvanians

01:09 - 12.515 in America to 50 PA.

01:09 - 17.253 And these kids are so creative, so bright, so enthusiastic.

01:09 - 21.957 I've heard of colleges and universities I didn't even know existed.

01:09 - 25.294 That is a joy to look at.

01:09 - 29.698 The future of this common world through the young people

01:09 - 32.935 who participate in this challenge.

01:09 - 34.703 They are our future.

01:09 - 39.942 Most personally significant to me, to us

01:09 - 43.078 is that in 2023,

01:09 - 45.514 the Denny's farm was honored

01:09 - 49.318 to receive America to 50%

01:09 - 52.955 first Semi Quinn Centennial Bill.

01:09 - 56.692 And if any of you have seen the film, I look horrible

01:09 - 00.229 because I start to cry and my makeup smears

01:10 - 03.933 and I look even older than I sound, and that's pretty old.

01:10 - 10.072 I was around You were won in Stem in 1976.

01:10 - 13.175 You in first grade.

01:10 - 16.545 I won't even tell you what I was doing in 1976.

01:10 - 20.649 I was more than around.

01:10 - 22.218 Believe me.

01:10 - 25.221 And the Denny's farm is listed

01:10 - 28.924 on the National Register of Historic Places.

01:10 - 31.627 It has been recognized as.

01:10 - 34.630 Some of our artifacts are in the Smithsonian.

01:10 - 36.065 We've been recognized.

01:10 - 39.635 We won the Chairman's Award for the National Endowment for the Humanities.

01:10 - 42.972 We receive grants, then the HMC

01:10 - 46.408 and also the National Trust for Historic Preservation,

01:10 - 50.913 the National Endowment for the Humanities said when they researched us,

01:10 - 54.783 they didn't find any farm comparable

01:10 - 58.287 to the Denny's farm in the United States.

01:10 - 02.024 A property that was purchased by three

01:11 - 05.027 African-Americans more than 200 years ago.

01:11 - 06.028 That is made.

01:11 - 09.331 It remained in the stewardship of the same family.

01:11 - 14.536 And what they don't know is that that is a largely white community,

01:11 - 18.274 and we're in all the local history books because we were so much

01:11 - 20.209 a part of that community.

01:11 - 21.810 At least my ancestors were

01:11 - 25.514 in the family cemetery.

01:11 - 28.884 You should know our catron's of the American Revolution,

01:11 - 32.521 the War of 1812, and the Civil War.

01:11 - 37.626 Having the Semi Quinn Centennial bill on the farm

01:11 - 40.696 has greatly enhanced

01:11 - 43.699 the historical significance of the farm,

01:11 - 46.702 and it has furthered our efforts.

01:11 - 47.303 We offer.

01:11 - 50.306 We have tours, we have educational programs.

01:11 - 52.274 We partnered with schools.

01:11 - 56.045 We've partnered with Penn State, Binghamton University in New York,

01:11 - 59.948 a number of schools for programs, academic programs.

01:12 - 02.484 I mean, I could give you more schools.

01:12 - 05.020 So but having the bell now,

01:12 - 08.157 people gravitate, they come to see the bell.

01:12 - 12.428 We've had visitors already from different countries

01:12 - 17.333 and different states, from as far away as Hawaii and California.

01:12 - 21.603 And with the NIH told me, the more people know about this,

01:12 - 24.640 they will come to see it,

01:12 - 28.744 because it's like it's the best of America

01:12 - 32.514 and it's right here in Pennsylvania.

01:12 - 36.485 It's a place where it's not a dirty word.

01:12 - 39.088 These days, the word diversity really worked,

01:12 - 41.023 and where people were

01:12 - 44.026 treated as equals with respect.

01:12 - 48.364 And the land and the beautiful cemetery

01:12 - 52.134 surrounded by stone walls, they attest to this.

01:12 - 55.738 You can't erase the land.

01:12 - 58.173 So I honoring Dr.

01:12 - 01.977 Dennis farm with the first semicolon.

01:13 - 04.179 Centennial Bell,

01:13 - 07.182 Pennsylvania has stood up big time.

01:13 - 10.819 America to 50 year has recognized

01:13 - 15.224 that from our nation's earliest days.

01:13 - 18.594 You know, my voice never goes out like this.

01:13 - 21.597 But from our nation's earliest days,

01:13 - 24.933 this Commonwealth and the Dennis farm

01:13 - 29.304 have been a living symbol of freedom

01:13 - 32.975 and justice for all.

01:13 - 36.345 Well, you don't have to say that we're a dye farm.

01:13 - 39.615 We just are an American farm.

01:13 - 42.317 That is represented the diversity of this

01:13 - 45.320 great nation from the beginning.

01:13 - 48.690 And now we have opened it to the public

01:13 - 53.095 and America to a has said, we see you,

01:13 - 57.499 we recognize you, and we respect what you're doing.

01:13 - 59.368 So thank you.

01:13 - 03.906 And if we're here to make you fun, continue to fund this.

01:14 - 04.973 Do it.

01:14 - 08.710 It's my honor to speak to all of you, and I invite you all to visit the farm.

01:14 - 12.047 And we're still raising money to have our farm house,

01:14 - 15.484 20 year old farm has turned into a sort of

01:14 - 18.787 we can't call the museum because there's less funding for museums.

01:14 - 23.759 So we're just calling it a historic site open to the public.

01:14 - 27.229 But you can see the grounds 153 acres.

01:14 - 28.997 My fellow alumni,

01:14 - 32.734 if you have come up,

01:14 - 34.703 you got to come to invite.

01:14 - 37.473 You're invited.

01:14 - 39.374 So thank you.

01:14 - 40.843 And, you know, you gotta come.

01:14 - 41.944 Amen, Amen.

01:14 - 44.313 We went to the same college.

01:14 - 44.746 Many.

01:14 - 47.683 He went there many years after I'd been.

01:14 - 49.318 Anyway. I'm finished.

01:14 - 52.321 My brother left when I told at the time limit

01:14 - 56.725 said they expect you to talk for 2 or 3 minutes.

01:14 - 58.660 You have no idea.

01:14 - 00.162 You're getting off easy.

01:15 - 03.031 But thank you very, very much.

01:15 - 03.465 Denise.

01:15 - 06.468 Dennis, thank you so much for being here today.

01:15 - 09.304 I'm really glad that you were here.

01:15 - 13.408 So, we are going to move to, commissioner,

01:15 - 17.446 Fritz Lecker, who is going to be, virtual.

01:15 - 22.885 And can you just make.

01:15 - 36.532 I think you're on mute.

01:15 - 45.140 Try again.

01:15 - 48.377 This is good.

01:15 - 54.216 It's it's good to go to the next person.

01:15 - 57.986 The next person is Claire Chea.

01:15 - 02.090 She. No, we're skipping you.

01:16 - 08.897 Can you hear me?

01:16 - 11.767 Yes, we can hear you, Claire.

01:16 - 12.768 Now we're okay.

01:16 - 13.068 Sorry.

01:16 - 13.802 This is Claire.

01:16 - 16.805 She, Who is next?

01:16 - 19.508 Apparently, the prior person

01:16 - 22.511 was having a problem with getting through.

01:16 - 24.279 Okay.

01:16 - 26.949 Good morning.

01:16 - 28.250 Good morning everyone.

01:16 - 29.751 My name is Claire Chea.

01:16 - 34.323 I had the privilege of interning with America 250 PA in the past,

01:16 - 37.926 and I am thrilled to be returning as an intern this summer

01:16 - 42.130 to continue our critical progress of honoring our Commonwealth

01:16 - 45.133 and country for this American centennial.

01:16 - 50.439 As a state Board of Education Student Representative from 2022 to 2024,

01:16 - 54.476 I had the honor of representing the 1.7 million

01:16 - 57.679 K-through-12 students in our Commonwealth.

01:16 - 02.017 During this term, I interacted with over 1000 students,

01:17 - 06.788 policymakers, and stakeholders by directing the Pennsylvania Department

01:17 - 10.926 of Education Student for Education in Pennsylvania Advisory Council

01:17 - 14.796 and representing Pennsylvania as a US Senate Youth Delegate,

01:17 - 18.600 I have learned that the key to sustainable, meaningful

01:17 - 21.637 impact is intergenerational partnership,

01:17 - 24.873 especially when celebrating

01:17 - 28.644 Pennsylvania's role in the founding of the United States of America.

01:17 - 31.713 I have seen and been part of the efforts

01:17 - 35.317 America makes to reach all communities.

01:17 - 39.488 For instance, when visiting schools for the Keystone Classroom Initiative,

01:17 - 42.557 I read to, danced with, and gave countless

01:17 - 46.962 high fives and classrooms and studies farm towns and everything

01:17 - 53.402 in between together, we will engage a 50,000 students by 2026.

01:17 - 58.340 America 250 PA has always fulfilled its commitment to serve individuals,

01:17 - 02.944 no matter their age, zip code, identity, and political affiliation.

01:18 - 06.314 I continue to hear from both adults and children

01:18 - 10.052 about how this initiative has touched and inspired them.

01:18 - 14.489 America 250 PA is not only making a memorable impact,

01:18 - 17.492 but also making history

01:18 - 22.064 one of the most exciting events in 2024 for me in Pennsylvania

01:18 - 23.832 was the Little League World Series

01:18 - 27.502 parade, in which we marched with 40,000 people in attendance.

01:18 - 32.274 Looking ahead to 2026, Pennsylvania will be making a splash

01:18 - 36.244 with the NFL draft, the MLB All-Star game and the FIFA World Cup.

01:18 - 39.548 America 250 PA will play a vital part

01:18 - 42.551 in highlighting significant events such as these.

01:18 - 46.054 I've also been involved in several other initiatives, including

01:18 - 49.091 leading food bank volunteers on Pennsylvania Day

01:18 - 52.661 and organizing the National Convening for some of the most influence

01:18 - 56.765 leaders in the US, America 250 PA has inspired

01:18 - 01.336 young people like me to pursue a lifetime of public service.

01:19 - 05.607 At the same time, it fosters a transformative culture

01:19 - 08.777 of appreciation and hope for the Keystone state.

01:19 - 12.514 America 250 is a powerfully inclusive

01:19 - 16.184 and impactful movement to recognize our journey,

01:19 - 21.656 engage all 67 counties, and inspire the future of our nation.

01:19 - 25.026 In essence, it is creating and commemorating

01:19 - 28.396 a historic moment that all generations can embrace.

01:19 - 33.368 I am proud of what America 250 has already accomplished,

01:19 - 35.504 and I know that it will continue

01:19 - 39.141 to be deeply empowering to communities across our Commonwealth.

01:19 - 44.613 Let's ensure that Pennsylvania remains at the heart of this national celebration.

01:19 - 46.014 Thank you.

01:19 - 47.816 Thank you, Claire.

01:19 - 49.251 Appreciate that very much.

01:19 - 52.254 Next, we'll call on Andre Castillo.

01:19 - 54.222 Did I pronounce that properly?

01:19 - 57.225 Yes. Castillo. Correct.

01:19 - 58.794 Hello, everyone.

01:19 - 02.197 I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to share

01:20 - 06.668 just how much participating in a direct effect innovation challenge in 2022

01:20 - 10.639 has impacted not only my professional, but my personal life.

01:20 - 15.844 Looking back, I can confidently say that that experience became the launching pad

01:20 - 19.915 for everything I've accomplished since and truly set the foundation for my career.

01:20 - 23.585 When I first entered the dike competition,

01:20 - 26.588 I had no idea what was waiting for me on the other side.

01:20 - 29.424 I was simply hoping to challenge myself,

01:20 - 33.195 but what I gained was so much greater than I could have ever imagined.

01:20 - 37.299 The competition didn't just sharpen my skills, it taught me patience,

01:20 - 40.535 perseverance, and most importantly, the power of collaboration.

01:20 - 44.773 Working alongside people with different backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives

01:20 - 48.510 showed me that that that diversity is what drives innovation forward

01:20 - 51.847 and allows us to create something truly special together.

01:20 - 54.683 Even though I didn't win the competition,

01:20 - 57.686 America did and FPA still saw potential in me,

01:20 - 58.486 and they offered me

01:20 - 02.490 an internship that quickly turned into one of the most transformative experiences

01:21 - 03.592 of my life.

01:21 - 07.295 It was through that opportunity that I was able to grow,

01:21 - 10.498 learn, and eventually land my first full time professional role

01:21 - 14.569 as the engagement and volunteer coordinator with America to FDP for

01:21 - 18.406 this role has completely changed the way I view work.

01:21 - 23.745 It's no longer about clocking in and out or earning a paycheck.

01:21 - 28.917 It's about passion, purpose and making an impact in the lives of that of others.

01:21 - 32.053 It has given me the chance to connect with people, serve

01:21 - 35.257 communities and fall in love with the work I do every day.

01:21 - 38.526 It didn't just teach me about Pennsylvania's history.

01:21 - 41.763 It, it allowed me to walk through it, through my role.

01:21 - 44.766 I've had the incredible privilege of traveling to various counties

01:21 - 48.503 all across the Commonwealth, meeting Pennsylvanians of all generations

01:21 - 51.506 and all walks of life, and witnessing firsthand

01:21 - 54.709 just how impactful this organization is to every single person,

01:21 - 58.079 no matter their age, race, background, or story.

01:21 - 02.050 As a proud son of immigrant parents and a first generation college student,

01:22 - 05.353 I never imagined I'd be given an opportunity like this.

01:22 - 08.823 Growing up, opportunities like these often felt distant

01:22 - 12.627 or out of reach, but America and PA created a space where

01:22 - 16.531 all stories, experiences, and voices matter and beyond.

01:22 - 20.268 Excited to continue this journey, leading into 2026 to celebrate

01:22 - 24.039 Pennsylvania's rich history while helping build an even brighter

01:22 - 28.843 future for all those who call this this Commonwealth a home.

01:22 - 32.013 And I would also be remiss if I didn't take a moment to thank

01:22 - 35.183 two people who have played such a pivotal role in my journey

01:22 - 38.586 our executive Director, Cassandra Coleman, and our chairman, Patrick Burns.

01:22 - 42.590 Thank you both for your leadership, your guidance, and your and for creating

01:22 - 46.227 opportunities for all Pennsylvania's all Pennsylvanians to lead

01:22 - 49.664 and to give back to a commonwealth we all care so deeply about.

01:22 - 53.568 This experience has reminded me that when passion meets purpose, work

01:22 - 55.537 becomes so much more than just a job.

01:22 - 58.173 It becomes a calling, and I'm honored to be a part of it.

01:22 - 58.606 Thank you.

01:23 - 04.346 Thank you so much for your testimony.

01:23 - 07.015 My sense is

01:23 - 10.085 that we should probably skip the Q&A unless anybody has

01:23 - 12.153 a question.

01:23 - 16.825 And do we know why the commissioner wasn't able to get on, which could skip?

01:23 - 20.462 Like, one of my team members is on the phone with our

01:23 - 23.598 great okay through, and hopefully she can.

01:23 - 25.834 She can. All right, all right.

01:23 - 26.434 Thank you.

01:23 - 29.738 So thank you, Andre, for your testimony.

01:23 - 34.175 The final panel, panel number three with the Y.

01:23 - 38.213 We're going to hear from Dave Sanko, Representative

01:23 - 42.751 Valerie Gaydos, Gene Barr and Representative Jared Solomon.

01:23 - 46.554 And, the agenda's had Bill DeRose years from,

01:23 - 49.424 Katara Energy.

01:23 - 52.827 And he is not feeling well today, so will not be joining us.

01:24 - 06.041 And I hate to do this.

01:24 - 11.479 This always happens with the final panel that you don't get as much time, but.

01:24 - 14.849 So if you can keep your remarks and then we will still have

01:24 - 19.421 a little bit of time to do Q&A, which I think is also really helpful.

01:24 - 21.656 But we do don't make it think.

01:24 - 25.160 We don't really appreciate your presence here today, but

01:24 - 28.396 you get that, okay.

01:24 - 30.231 Dave. Sanka.

01:24 - 30.965 Thank you.

01:24 - 31.900 Chair. Daly. Chair.

01:24 - 32.634 James.

01:24 - 34.969 Members of the committee, thanks for the opportunity to

01:24 - 37.138 to talk with the committee on this important topic.

01:24 - 37.839 I'm Dave Senko.

01:24 - 41.910 I'm the executive director of the of the state Association of Township Supervisors.

01:24 - 44.813 More affectionately known as P sets.

01:24 - 48.817 We represent, nearly 1500 townships across Pennsylvania.

01:24 - 49.951 We're a nonprofit,

01:24 - 53.755 nonpartisan organization dedicated to preserving local government.

01:24 - 57.992 You know, townships cover 95% of Pennsylvania's land

01:24 - 01.129 mass and represent, nearly 6 million people,

01:25 - 04.165 more than any other type of, type of local government.

01:25 - 07.035 In just over a year, we're going to be celebrating the 250th

01:25 - 09.404 anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

01:25 - 13.241 But the celebration extends beyond a single day, as we've heard.

01:25 - 16.744 And and certainly far beyond the streets of Philadelphia.

01:25 - 19.080 Peace has joined the Partnership of America.

01:25 - 24.119 250 early on, because we believe that the shadow of Independence Hall stretches

01:25 - 28.356 across every township and borough and county, across the Commonwealth

01:25 - 32.527 and our communities were the the backdrop, for the revolution hosting,

01:25 - 36.331 the varied geography and spirit that gave rise to our independence.

01:25 - 40.135 Local municipalities are, in effect, the the patchwork quilt,

01:25 - 45.306 if you will, the fabric, the of America that was woven here in Pennsylvania,

01:25 - 48.443 local government, local democracy,

01:25 - 51.479 not not Democrat, not Republican, just patriots.

01:25 - 53.148 Intent on serving.

01:25 - 58.786 We, Pennsylvania's renowned for the history,

01:25 - 03.258 that shaped the, the Americas, numerous historical sites and,

01:26 - 07.562 battlefield cemetery barns, all across Pennsylvania.

01:26 - 10.798 As we approach the anniversary, history is on everyone's mind.

01:26 - 14.669 But a lot of townships have adopted hundreds of adopted resolutions

01:26 - 15.470 in support of America.

01:26 - 19.274 250, and many more are preparing, for their own semi Quinn

01:26 - 21.242 centennial celebrations.

01:26 - 23.011 And why are townships so invested?

01:26 - 26.014 Well, Pennsylvania is home to some of the most historic events.

01:26 - 29.984 From Ben Franklin overseeing the construction of the frontier forts

01:26 - 33.121 in the 1750s, to militias drilling

01:26 - 36.191 in open fields, forges, munition

01:26 - 40.295 forges, manufacturing cannons, and George Washington crossing the Delaware.

01:26 - 42.363 As Governor Schweitzer indicated,

01:26 - 45.967 our townships are rich in the history, and stories that are both well known.

01:26 - 49.571 A couple examples, East Pike, Lynn Township in, Chester County,

01:26 - 53.341 recently added to the National Register of Historic Places, discovered

01:26 - 57.679 the Continental powder works, years ago in cooperation with the Park Service.

01:26 - 01.616 Those townships uncovered structures dating back to the Revolutionary War,

01:27 - 04.619 including a dam, mill race and a powder mill.

01:27 - 07.355 Those powder works supplied the Continental Army

01:27 - 11.626 with two ton of powder and thousands of gun locks each week.

01:27 - 13.428 When the British located

01:27 - 16.731 the site, General Washington moved much of the supply north.

01:27 - 21.236 But the British and Hessian forces eventually destroyed those buildings.

01:27 - 24.372 Turning to mid-state, Northumberland County.

01:27 - 28.876 Delaware Township is home to the historic Warrior Run Church and its cemetery.

01:27 - 34.215 The current church was constructed in 1835 after the previous one was burned.

01:27 - 38.119 The log structure, The cemetery, is the final resting place

01:27 - 41.122 for 77 veterans of the Revolutionary War.

01:27 - 43.891 13 veterans of the war of 1812, one

01:27 - 46.894 from the Mexican War and ten from the Civil War.

01:27 - 50.765 Nearby, the Hower Sloat House, owned by the Warrior Run School.

01:27 - 54.335 Work has two memorial markers honoring those who fought in the Battle

01:27 - 57.338 of Fort Freeland, which was fought in the property.

01:27 - 01.476 Buffalo Township in Washington County, western Pennsylvania, passed a resolution

01:28 - 05.213 last year endorsing the America 250 efforts in celebrating,

01:28 - 08.316 the 250th anniversary of the first settlers,

01:28 - 11.319 who in the area that would become Buffalo Township.

01:28 - 15.723 James Wolfe built one of the first forts, appropriately named Wolf's Fort, where

01:28 - 20.928 local settlers took refuge during attacks by Indians from the Ohio Country.

01:28 - 22.897 Led by British officers.

01:28 - 26.734 Townships played a critical role, in America's 250th.

01:28 - 30.171 Each township has something unique to offer, whether it be

01:28 - 33.174 a historical location or no notable individuals,

01:28 - 36.544 the passion and pride that we're seeing in these communities

01:28 - 40.081 prove that it isn't just a celebration for Philadelphia.

01:28 - 43.584 It's a chance for every Pennsylvania to feel connected to the Commonwealth.

01:28 - 44.886 Shared history.

01:28 - 48.456 As an organization, we've asked all of our townships to join in the celebration

01:28 - 52.026 by exploring their local history from revolutionary times, from beyond.

01:28 - 55.963 Encourage them to reach out to their local historical societies.

01:28 - 58.800 Their chapters of the Daughters of American Revolution,

01:28 - 02.437 the sons of the American Revolution, and talk with them.

01:29 - 05.707 While some suggest that history is being lost to development or neglect,

01:29 - 08.910 I think there are others that know much of our history is preserved,

01:29 - 11.913 and the books, lectures and the very buildings and barns,

01:29 - 14.415 that housed the stories of our nation's history.

01:29 - 17.552 We appreciate the funding that the legislature,

01:29 - 21.289 has provided and the private sector to commemorate this fantastic journey,

01:29 - 25.860 as well as the support of all, all living governors, not only was Pennsylvania

01:29 - 29.797 integral to the American Revolution, but we led the Agricultural Revolution,

01:29 - 33.101 the Industrial Revolution and the energy revolution.

01:29 - 36.104 Big oil or big coal or big steel, you name it.

01:29 - 40.908 Pennsylvania has been on the front line of every revolution for the past 250 years.

01:29 - 45.480 In just 30 days, we're going to be bringing together 3500 of our members

01:29 - 48.516 in Hershey for our annual conference, where we will again,

01:29 - 52.487 talk with them about the America to 50 Pennsylvania celebration.

01:29 - 55.957 This celebration, the anniversary of Declaration independence,

01:29 - 59.794 is an opportunity for all of our townships to reflect on their unique contribution.

01:30 - 03.631 And by actively participating in the initiative, we can ensure that

01:30 - 06.300 the rich heritage of Pennsylvania is celebrated

01:30 - 08.236 and preserved for future generations.

01:30 - 11.739 So we'd encourage everyone to come together to honor our past

01:30 - 16.377 inspired pride in our shared history and chart a course for future generations.

01:30 - 17.645 Thank you.

01:30 - 21.516 Thank you.

01:30 - 24.519 Representative Gaydos.

01:30 - 26.721 Thank you, Madam Chair.

01:30 - 28.623 And thank you, Cassandra, for being here.

01:30 - 30.925 And, governor, appreciate it.

01:30 - 33.694 So, you know, I want to answer the question, why?

01:30 - 36.798 What is the why? It is for me personally.

01:30 - 41.869 I came on to the the commission as a commissioner in 2023,

01:30 - 45.306 so I was somewhat already into the whole process.

01:30 - 48.443 It was founded in 2018, I believe, with legislation.

01:30 - 50.344 Is that right, 2018.

01:30 - 53.948 And, of course, you know, we faced Covid, some other things that that, you know,

01:30 - 57.852 was a real challenge that our leaders, you know, had to to get out there.

01:30 - 00.087 But I can certainly answer the why.

01:31 - 06.594 What I'd like to do, is play a video that I, that I made early on.

01:31 - 07.328 But I'm not.

01:31 - 08.796 We're just going to play the audio right now.

01:31 - 13.100 But, you know, for me, what was really important is celebrating,

01:31 - 16.871 not just the future, but also the past and the present.

01:31 - 21.175 And and I think that, you know, what I like to see,

01:31 - 24.779 is that it is incumbent upon all of our legislators

01:31 - 28.115 to actively engage, because think about this.

01:31 - 30.451 What is really unique about America?

01:31 - 33.454 250 and that is our governance.

01:31 - 36.324 And that's why that every single member,

01:31 - 39.126 of the House, Senate, legislature, etc.

01:31 - 40.928 should be actively involved.

01:31 - 43.631 I can tell you that how I am participate in that.

01:31 - 47.435 I looked in at the Pennsylvania Historic, Museum Commission,

01:31 - 52.039 has markers all over the entire state of Pennsylvania.

01:31 - 55.309 Every single legislator should be looking at

01:31 - 58.312 where are their historic markers in their district.

01:31 - 59.447 Make a visit.

01:31 - 02.783 Invite Cassandra, invite you know, other people in the commission,

01:32 - 05.786 and maybe make a video telling people about the history of

01:32 - 09.223 what's in your district and those people who founded,

01:32 - 13.494 their communities, because our roots are our strength.

01:32 - 17.031 And, this is a once in a lifetime,

01:32 - 21.002 at least for many of us right now, to to celebrate this,

01:32 - 24.772 but I would like to, to play this and, and I'm going to play the audio

01:32 - 26.674 if I can get this working.

01:32 - 30.144 But I know we're we're short on time, but I think it's.

01:32 - 33.714 Let's see if we can.

01:32 - 36.117 45 minutes. Yeah.

01:32 - 39.120 The challenge that we have is the,

01:32 - 41.556 the,

01:32 - 43.591 internet is not great in these rooms.

01:32 - 45.393 Sometimes.

01:32 - 48.396 Okay, let's see if we can get this started.

01:32 - 56.103 It might be the problem that I expected.

01:32 - 57.939 Should we move to the next speaker? Yeah.

01:32 - 00.541 And while you get that worked out. Absolutely. All right.

01:33 - 03.544 The next speaker would be gene bar

01:33 - 07.548 on the Wi-Fi.

01:33 - 16.857 76 is coming up on a big celebration.

01:33 - 20.394 In 2026, the United States of America

01:33 - 23.698 will be celebrating its 250th birthday.

01:33 - 24.632 That's right.

01:33 - 28.869 250 years since our founding fathers claimed our independence

01:33 - 30.471 and our rights as U.S.

01:33 - 31.172 citizens.

01:33 - 33.641 With the Declaration of Independence.

01:33 - 35.509 The Declaration of Independence states

01:33 - 38.646 the sacred principles on which our government was founded.

01:33 - 42.950 While the celebration of 250 years is four years away,

01:33 - 48.189 federal and state agencies, local museums, the nation's history enthusiasts,

01:33 - 51.459 and many more have already started planning for this event.

01:33 - 54.829 With our Commonwealth of Pennsylvania taking a leading role.

01:33 - 58.566 Recently, I was pleased to join the America 250 IPA Committee

01:33 - 03.771 for a reception to kick off this largest and most inclusive anniversary observance.

01:34 - 06.974 Pennsylvania, the first official state partner

01:34 - 10.611 to join the national celebration effort, has set a positive precedent

01:34 - 14.015 to further this vision of engaging every American

01:34 - 19.153 and representing the diverse perspectives and contributions our state has to offer.

01:34 - 23.658 I am excited to join in to help celebrate the many years of opportunity

01:34 - 26.761 and freedom that this country has afforded to so many people,

01:34 - 30.031 including my own grandparents, who came to Pennsylvania

01:34 - 33.567 in the 1920s to find a new life and new opportunities.

01:34 - 38.072 The nationwide America 250 commemoration has the opportunity

01:34 - 41.409 to engage nearly 350 million Americans

01:34 - 46.447 and millions more friends, and celebrating the rich history of independence through

01:34 - 49.550 signature programs, educational outreach

01:34 - 52.386 and grassroots initiatives.

01:34 - 55.956 In the past several years, 21 states have established commissions

01:34 - 01.662 tasked with the planning of this 250th anniversary commemoration and 11 more have

01:35 - 05.599 introduced legislation to create state commissions just this year.

01:35 - 10.438 In addition, we cannot celebrate the 250th anniversary of our nation

01:35 - 14.041 without the brave service and sacrifice of our U.S.

01:35 - 18.646 Armed Forces, veterans and all those who have worn our nation's uniform.

01:35 - 22.683 We should all look forward to celebrating the year 2026

01:35 - 26.320 when we celebrate America's 250th birthday.

01:35 - 31.025 This event promises to be a once in a lifetime experience for all Americans.

01:35 - 35.296 In the words of commission members, this celebration will be epic.

01:35 - 39.300 It will educate, it will preserve, it will innovate,

01:35 - 42.103 and it will celebrate our nation's great history.

01:35 - 44.972 I look forward to participating and I hope you will too.

01:35 - 47.374 Ever.

01:35 - 49.610 So, the reason why I wanted to play that is because,

01:35 - 53.581 you know, this is something that, is near and dear to my heart.

01:35 - 57.785 And again, I challenge every single House member to look at

01:35 - 02.323 what is going on in their districts, connect with the commission, connect

01:36 - 03.290 with the commissioners.

01:36 - 07.027 But it is very, very important for this legislature to engage

01:36 - 10.364 because it is what makes this country unique.

01:36 - 12.433 Thank you.

01:36 - 13.167 Thank you.

01:36 - 15.669 We have 15 minutes left.

01:36 - 20.407 And so, Gene, I can talk fast.

01:36 - 23.110 Okay. Not a problem.

01:36 - 24.845 Go ahead.

01:36 - 27.248 Chairwoman. Thank you. Chairman. Thanks.

01:36 - 30.785 Good to see many of you who I'm familiar with from my days at the state chamber.

01:36 - 34.054 I am a legislative appointee to the commission.

01:36 - 36.257 I have been since its inception in 2018.

01:36 - 38.726 As you've heard today,

01:36 - 43.964 Pennsylvania is on a national and in fact, an international stage.

01:36 - 49.570 It's why it is so critical that we get this right, that we do it the right way.

01:36 - 53.174 And I think that's what this commission and particularly the staff have done

01:36 - 56.310 since the inception, they have pushed us in that

01:36 - 59.280 one of the things that we get asked about a lot,

01:36 - 01.448 how is this going to differ from 1976?

01:37 - 04.385 And it seems like everyone wants to say where they were in 1976.

01:37 - 06.487 Okay. I was in college in Philadelphia.

01:37 - 09.156 I remember it, but I was not on the commission.

01:37 - 13.160 And I think what you heard today, in my view, is the biggest difference

01:37 - 14.161 in how we're going to celebrate.

01:37 - 19.300 We appropriately talked about Independence National Park and those related events,

01:37 - 22.369 what we, I believe, are doing here in the Commission

01:37 - 26.373 and the committee in the staff has done a phenomenal job, is identifying

01:37 - 30.945 the diverse stories that have often not been told as part of this.

01:37 - 34.181 I never knew about the Dennis form until I was on this commission.

01:37 - 36.050 It is an incredible story.

01:37 - 39.086 We're hearing other incredible stories across this Commonwealth,

01:37 - 43.224 this broad and diverse fabric of the stories that are being told

01:37 - 46.927 by people whose stories, in fact, have not been told before.

01:37 - 50.764 I was particularly glad to hear that we had a teacher on here today,

01:37 - 54.201 because my own interest in history, lifelong study and scholarship

01:37 - 59.106 and interest in history was started, one with a commemoration in my small town.

01:37 - 02.109 I grew up in the borough of upland, which in fact is the second oldest

01:38 - 06.413 community, arguably in Pennsylvania, founded by the Swedes, right

01:38 - 10.517 next to the city of Chester, which in fact is older than the city of Philadelphia.

01:38 - 15.890 It has the oldest courthouse, I believe, continuously used in the United States.

01:38 - 19.026 Upland has the only house left

01:38 - 21.896 that William Penn is known to have visited.

01:38 - 22.930 The only one.

01:38 - 26.300 These are things that I remember from because I had a teacher fortunate enough

01:38 - 29.670 to talk about the heritage and to bring the local side.

01:38 - 30.137 And my view.

01:38 - 33.574 You build from the local to the state to the national and then go from there.

01:38 - 36.644 I was fortunate to have people who were willing to do that

01:38 - 38.846 today, in addition to my work on the commission.

01:38 - 43.384 One of the other things I'm doing, as I'm failing retirement miserably,

01:38 - 45.519 is I'm also the vice chair

01:38 - 48.555 of the Gettysburg Foundation, which is a public private partnership

01:38 - 52.559 that, along with the National Park Service, administers and oversees

01:38 - 55.562 the museum and visitor center and also assists the Park Service

01:38 - 58.933 in their operation of telling the story not only of the Battle of Gettysburg,

01:38 - 01.936 but of the Eisenhower National Site there as well.

01:39 - 04.705 And yes, we will be coming.

01:39 - 06.307 I think back to all of you.

01:39 - 09.109 We want to get the Gettysburg Address back in Pennsylvania,

01:39 - 12.913 where it should be on the site of what I would argue is the most famous speech

01:39 - 14.214 in American history.

01:39 - 15.816 It needs to be here next year.

01:39 - 17.551 We are working on that already.

01:39 - 20.521 Finally, is chamber president, former chamber president.

01:39 - 25.192 I fully understand what tourism means to this Commonwealth and its businesses.

01:39 - 27.461 In many cases, particularly its smaller businesses.

01:39 - 29.330 We are going to

01:39 - 32.366 attract national and international attention here.

01:39 - 36.103 We are going to work to get people to travel this commonwealth.

01:39 - 40.374 Yes, to Philadelphia, Independence Park, to all the events

01:39 - 43.477 that are going there, yes to Gettysburg, yes to Pittsburgh, but also

01:39 - 48.082 everywhere where they can appreciate the historical, the cultural

01:39 - 51.752 and the tremendous natural resources that this Commonwealth has.

01:39 - 56.523 As I said, we have a singular and lifetime opportunity here to do that.

01:39 - 58.058 And I firmly believe

01:39 - 01.061 we on the commission, and particularly our staff, is doing everything they can

01:40 - 02.830 to make this a successful event.

01:40 - 08.335 I encourage all of you as elected officials to talk with your local groups.

01:40 - 10.738 When I go back to Gettysburg and talk to people down there,

01:40 - 13.774 they are excited beyond belief at what's happening

01:40 - 16.744 because they know we're looking to bring in other stories as well.

01:40 - 18.645 I encourage you to talk to your local folks.

01:40 - 20.581 They're not involved. Please get them involved.

01:40 - 22.216 Thanks for the opportunity to talk today.

01:40 - 25.486 Thank you very much.

01:40 - 27.054 Turn myself up.

01:40 - 30.257 Jared Solomon, I'm going to give you two minutes.

01:40 - 34.995 I can't cut your mind off.

01:40 - 38.766 Because we think that we can get, Well, you're taking my two minutes.

01:40 - 41.869 Yes, I am, I'm glad you realize that.

01:40 - 42.936 Chair. Daly.

01:40 - 45.539 Thank you so much, chair. James. Thank you.

01:40 - 49.476 And to the great staff, Josh Janney and all of you.

01:40 - 54.548 I know how hard you work to make America 250 this committee

01:40 - 57.818 run well, so thank you.

01:40 - 01.355 I think on the values piece

01:41 - 06.593 on freedom, on the importance of citizenry, on liberty.

01:41 - 09.596 We are all bought in, am I right?

01:41 - 13.901 There's no question on Pennsylvania America values.

01:41 - 18.906 And in fact I've been brought in since 2018.

01:41 - 23.110 I've been drinking the America 250 Kool-Aid

01:41 - 26.914 since 2018, and now we're one year away.

01:41 - 30.150 Rep Smith said

01:41 - 32.920 he remembers 1976 and what he how

01:41 - 35.923 he felt, and I think that's an important point.

01:41 - 37.624 I feel good right now.

01:41 - 41.829 I don't know how you feel or how the members of the committee feels,

01:41 - 47.367 but what I am more interested in is not how we feel, but what we do.

01:41 - 51.505 And that is what I'm challenging each member,

01:41 - 56.043 the commission and this committee is to do,

01:41 - 00.047 because other states are doing

01:42 - 03.517 transformational big things.

01:42 - 08.255 New Jersey $25 million investment in infrastructure.

01:42 - 13.427 Virginia $47 million investment in infrastructure.

01:42 - 19.633 And if you go back to prior celebration, they understood the importance

01:42 - 24.338 of these American moments to do transformational things.

01:42 - 29.643 In 1876, one out of every four U.S.

01:42 - 32.646 citizen came to Philadelphia,

01:42 - 37.284 and what they saw was a chapel of innovation

01:42 - 42.523 that was built near Memorial Hall, which is now the Police Touch Museum.

01:42 - 45.726 And under that chapel of innovation

01:42 - 50.264 was Machinery Hall, where Alexander

01:42 - 55.035 Graham Bell was right here was in Philadelphia to.

01:42 - 56.670 You're cutting me off.

01:42 - 59.139 I am I'm so sorry,

01:43 - 02.943 I we have time.

01:43 - 05.946 Yeah. We're not in session till noon.

01:43 - 07.814 It's 1152.

01:43 - 09.850 Go ahead. I'm going to I'm going to finish.

01:43 - 12.452 It's getting good. It's getting good. I promise.

01:43 - 14.588 I'm just warming up. I'm counting on you.

01:43 - 17.591 I'm going to deliver.

01:43 - 21.428 That that machinery hall.

01:43 - 22.930 Typewriter.

01:43 - 25.566 Alexander. Graham. Bell. Telephone.

01:43 - 26.700 Annie. Sepsis.

01:43 - 32.706 Where we now sterilize medical instruments that have saved millions of lives.

01:43 - 35.209 Doctor Lister was in Philadelphia.

01:43 - 38.011 That stuff we love to hate Listerine.

01:43 - 40.314 That's named for him.

01:43 - 41.782 And they kept on going.

01:43 - 44.985 1926 1/50

01:43 - 48.155 FDR Park Municipal Stadium,

01:43 - 52.025 which became JFK Stadium, 1976

01:43 - 55.262 African American Museum, Seaport Museum,

01:43 - 58.565 and on and on and on.

01:43 - 01.668 Now we come to 2026.

01:44 - 04.705 What are the big transformational things

01:44 - 07.874 we have planned to the two chairs?

01:44 - 12.346 What's going on in Montgomery and Venango counties?

01:44 - 13.981 What are we building?

01:44 - 18.485 Anyone on the committee?

01:44 - 21.455 What are you building in your county?

01:44 - 25.125 We planted the Liberty Tree.

01:44 - 27.527 Okay, I'll take a tree.

01:44 - 29.896 That's a start, chair.

01:44 - 31.798 That's a start.

01:44 - 34.968 But we could do much better than just that tree.

01:44 - 40.907 And that's what I am challenging us all to do, so that we leave

01:44 - 47.648 a lasting legacy in each of your counties that everyone can point to.

01:44 - 53.320 And to say this happened in 2026 and 2027

01:44 - 58.091 to commemorate liberty and freedom and citizenry.

01:44 - 03.263 I believe that is our mission, that is our core,

01:45 - 06.667 and we all need to be united to do that work.

01:45 - 09.870 Thank you.

01:45 - 12.673 Thank you, Representative Solomon.

01:45 - 13.940 Okay.

01:45 - 17.577 Do we really think we have a, way to get through with the commissioner?

01:45 - 19.146 I think she's fixed.

01:45 - 21.581 I'm not sure. We think we believe she's saying.

01:45 - 26.787 I can try this one more time.

01:45 - 29.790 Can you hear me? Yes.

01:45 - 31.124 Okay. I'll be.

01:45 - 34.394 You have to keep it really, really short, but I will.

01:45 - 34.995 Thank you.

01:45 - 37.597 Thanks for trying again.

01:45 - 40.100 Sure. Thanks for allowing me to speak today.

01:45 - 43.070 My goal as commissioner is simple.

01:45 - 45.005 To leave the county better than I found it.

01:45 - 46.306 But if I have a legacy,

01:45 - 49.810 I hope it's this to make a lasting impact on our younger generations.

01:45 - 54.381 As Elk County Advisory Board member to the America to 50 PA delegation,

01:45 - 56.616 I'm excited to share this experience

01:45 - 59.619 with all our citizens, especially the next generation.

01:45 - 03.824 I want to send a sample of pride and love of county, state, and country.

01:46 - 07.227 That mission to engage as many citizens as possible

01:46 - 10.263 inspired the concept were built across PA projects.

01:46 - 14.601 We partner with Elk County resident John Schlamme to create something bold

01:46 - 15.769 and far reaching,

01:46 - 20.006 something that could serve as a 250th birthday gift to the United States.

01:46 - 23.410 From every corner of our 181 year old county.

01:46 - 24.978 But we

01:46 - 28.415 came up with this, participatory, interactive art installation

01:46 - 31.518 to have each one of our 4000 K

01:46 - 34.521 through 1212 students across the county

01:46 - 37.624 at splashes of color to our Libertyville.

01:46 - 41.862 Right now, Orange County Libertyville is traveling on an 11 week

01:46 - 44.865 tour, visiting all 14 of our K through 12 schools

01:46 - 48.034 where students are entering their favorite colors to it.

01:46 - 50.504 Our local papers regularly

01:46 - 54.040 publish photos to keep our residents updated on the progress.

01:46 - 56.810 When I'm at the grocery store post office,

01:46 - 59.846 people are always telling me they're excited to see the final product.

01:47 - 02.883 Let me share what a few students had to say.

01:47 - 05.886 A third grader at FSG elementary told us

01:47 - 09.623 he couldn't wait to be 59 years old on America's 300th birthday,

01:47 - 11.925 so he could take his own kids to see the bell.

01:47 - 13.527 He helped paint.

01:47 - 14.361 A sixth grader

01:47 - 17.931 from Saint Mary's Area Middle School said, I'm proud to live in America.

01:47 - 19.366 It was fun splattering

01:47 - 22.369 the Liberty Bell, and I can't wait to show my family when it's done

01:47 - 26.940 and the Johnson Burg Area High School students said it's not very often

01:47 - 28.975 that we get to participate in collaborative

01:47 - 33.013 and his real proud historical projects like this ones that are fun,

01:47 - 37.417 creative, energetic, and authentic and that celebrate Pennsylvania and America.

01:47 - 40.454 What struck me most is how many students already knew

01:47 - 43.590 about the Liberty Bell and Philadelphia's role in our founding.

01:47 - 47.727 That connection between past and present is exactly what we hope to spark

01:47 - 52.232 when completed our upcoming Liberty Bills and proudly on the courthouse lawn.

01:47 - 56.536 Bell County is rural, but we are rich in community pride and tradition.

01:47 - 00.574 Our residents have deep roots, big hearts, and strong connection

01:48 - 02.008 to our shared history.

01:48 - 04.845 This project has shown that the Semi-Colon Centennial

01:48 - 07.948 is not just for big cities like Pittsburgh or Philadelphia.

01:48 - 11.251 It's for all of us in every corner of the Commonwealth.

01:48 - 14.554 I can tell you honestly, our Liberty Bell project has already

01:48 - 17.824 made a huge impact on our students and our citizens.

01:48 - 20.560 Thank you so much for allowing me to speak.

01:48 - 23.497 Commissioner.

01:48 - 25.131 Thank you.

01:48 - 26.766 That's a very good message.

01:48 - 30.070 So we really, don't have time for questions.

01:48 - 33.573 But, Jill, did you have a question?

01:48 - 37.544 Okay.

01:48 - 40.213 So what I would like to do

01:48 - 43.683 is, continue this conversation.

01:48 - 47.454 Maybe not in a hearing, but we'll figure something out.

01:48 - 51.124 So, Josh, I know you've been working to put this together.

01:48 - 54.394 I really appreciate it, because I thought that the testimony

01:48 - 57.464 the people provided really gave a really, in my view,

01:48 - 00.700 really great view of how you're doing this.

01:49 - 03.670 And I think the focus on

01:49 - 06.773 all Americans is actually great.

01:49 - 09.409 And I'm not talking about in the sports kind of way,

01:49 - 13.246 but in the real life that we all live, that when all Americans are included.

01:49 - 15.815 And I, I heard that from numerous people.

01:49 - 18.852 So, I do want to know

01:49 - 22.188 how you want to leverage us

01:49 - 25.191 as elected representatives at state level.

01:49 - 27.093 If you have a plan on that.

01:49 - 29.729 I think we should talk about that.

01:49 - 30.163 Sorry.

01:49 - 34.134 It just really don't let us just decide that we need to do this all by ourselves

01:49 - 36.603 because we need help. No, you know, we do.

01:49 - 41.207 I want to make a very specific, direct ask which flows from my comments.

01:49 - 45.178 The governor has proposed $65 million,

01:49 - 48.615 our great mayor in Philadelphia, $100 million.

01:49 - 52.118 What I am asking everyone on this committee to do

01:49 - 57.157 is urge your leadership in your caucus

01:49 - 01.561 to step up and provide additional resources.

01:50 - 03.563 Very simple.

01:50 - 05.865 We can do it as a letter

01:50 - 09.336 to the respective caucuses or a bipartisan letter.

01:50 - 14.174 But every caucus house, the House, our Senate,

01:50 - 18.511 the Senate are to step up and provide the infrastructure funding we need.

01:50 - 23.416 Ask that the two commissioners who are sitting in this room

01:50 - 27.754 are also members of the House of Representatives draft that,

01:50 - 33.126 and we will circulate it amongst the entire group.

01:50 - 34.394 I think that's

01:50 - 37.998 you've been working on this, and I think if you can put that together,

01:50 - 41.835 I can see no reason to not chair happy to get support

01:50 - 44.838 for that.

01:50 - 46.206 You know,

01:50 - 49.843 and, and, and also to, to get the engagement of our House members

01:50 - 52.912 because I think that people, if they're not have their hands in it

01:50 - 56.616 and they're not invested, they're not going to understand the gravity of this.

01:50 - 00.954 I would ask the committee respective sides to, perhaps,

01:51 - 03.523 you know, find those historic markers

01:51 - 07.293 and all the members, at least of the committee, and assign them

01:51 - 11.297 as a committee and just say, you know, go visit your historic marker.

01:51 - 14.968 I know that sounds like something really, really simple, but I think that

01:51 - 20.106 when you're standing there in a spot that something significant

01:51 - 23.743 happened in Pennsylvania, it's going to really have an impact.

01:51 - 29.849 So I will tell you that in my town, we have a historic marker for Bert Bell,

01:51 - 33.753 who was one of the founders, was the founder of the National Football League.

01:51 - 36.956 And when I told,

01:51 - 42.095 On when I told Art Rooney

01:51 - 46.299 that he then really supported

01:51 - 50.070 something that we were doing with the letter to leadership.

01:51 - 56.042 So there's also a book that has been written, it's called,

01:51 - 01.214 Black History The Philadelphia Landscape, and it's an amazing book

01:52 - 04.751 talking about where the historic markers are in Philadelphia

01:52 - 07.387 that honor black people with their history.

01:52 - 10.390 And it goes back to the revolutionary times up

01:52 - 13.760 until, probably the 1970s.

01:52 - 16.262 And I think they'll probably do another version.

01:52 - 19.132 It's really interesting and something that

01:52 - 21.000 I live eight

01:52 - 24.871 miles from the center of Philadelphia, and see some of these.

01:52 - 28.074 But this was really, you know, so guides are really helpful.

01:52 - 31.544 But.

01:52 - 34.814 I wasn't yes.

01:52 - 36.082 He's arguing with me.

01:52 - 37.584 Was that Art Rooney or Dan Rooney?

01:52 - 40.520 It was Art Rooney

01:52 - 41.788 because we were in Pittsburgh.

01:52 - 45.024 So the other thing is that one of the things that we could do with

01:52 - 49.129 the organizations is we do tours with the tourism committee,

01:52 - 53.032 and maybe we focus on what's coming up in the different areas.

01:52 - 57.270 So, I know we have talked already about visiting Gettysburg,

01:52 - 59.672 even though we did it last year. It's kind of place.

01:52 - 01.775 We have new committee members this year.

01:53 - 04.444 It's an easy drive down from Harrisburg.

01:53 - 08.014 So we and that's part of the reason we did this hearing.

01:53 - 12.452 And we invited members, all the members of the House to join us.

01:53 - 15.455 So and I was really glad that a number of them did.

01:53 - 19.459 And I really appreciate those of you who stayed for the whole,

01:53 - 22.962 you know, the whole time, because I think we're all torn

01:53 - 26.232 in a lot of different directions, which doesn't mean we don't care.

01:53 - 30.036 But I think helping us,

01:53 - 33.506 your video or your audio, it was a little bit long

01:53 - 37.744 maybe for today, but I think the message was really a good one.

01:53 - 42.148 The video of you see the video, pictures that come with it, it really loses

01:53 - 44.350 its feel. Yeah.

01:53 - 47.687 So but I think that we can all brainstorm on,

01:53 - 50.824 getting people excited in their own areas.

01:53 - 55.562 So I really appreciate

01:53 - 59.666 everybody who was here today, even the ones who had to leave early.

01:53 - 00.900 Thank you so much

01:54 - 04.871 because I thought it was just really informative and interesting and

01:54 - 08.141 I feel more inspired.

01:54 - 10.743 Lee, do you have anything?

01:54 - 12.912 I'm almost as inspired.

01:54 - 13.446 Yes.

01:54 - 14.080 Thank you.

01:54 - 16.516 I have notes from all the panels.

01:54 - 21.120 I just want to say one of my favorites was from the wiki category to leave

01:54 - 25.058 a lasting impression on our children, and I think that's pretty critical.

01:54 - 28.995 It. Thank you on this.

01:54 - 33.566 Oh. Yeah.