Cumberland Valley News

State Representative Barb Gleim from Carlisle has been appointed as a deputy chair of the House Republican Policy Committee for the 2025-26 Legislative Session. The appointment was made by Rep. David Rowe, who chairs the committee.

Gleim expressed her gratitude to Chairman Rowe for the opportunity. "I appreciate Chairman Rowe asking me to serve in this capacity," she stated. Gleim's focus will be on education, an area where she has extensive experience. She has been a member of the House Education Committee for six years and has served as the Basic Education Subcommittee chair. Additionally, she currently leads a national education task force.

In her new role, Gleim plans to engage with parents and students across the state to understand their expectations from the education system. "I’m looking forward to traveling the state with the committee and hearing directly from parents and students about what they want and expect out of our education system," she said. She emphasized that legislators should act as advocates for parents' insights into their children's needs: "Parents know what’s best for their children," Gleim added. "It’s our job as legislators to be their voice in Harrisburg and enact legislation that gives our students the tools and choices they need to succeed."

The House Republican Policy Committee is responsible for conducting hearings both in Harrisburg and throughout communities statewide on significant issues. It gathers testimony and information from stakeholders while collaborating with other members of the House Republican Caucus to develop policy.

Gleim highlighted the importance of ensuring that taxpayer dollars allocated to education are effectively utilized. “Since education funding is a large portion of our state budget through taxpayers’ hard-earned dollars, it is important to make sure there is a return on their investment,” she remarked.