As the business manager and secretary-treasurer of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 21, I represent the proud and hard-working unionized glaziers, drywall finishers and industrial and commercial painters in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. Our members have helped build and maintain the vital infrastructure that makes our tri-state area functional and beautiful, but some of that work is now at risk. President Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” plans to slash powerful federal tax credits for energy development. These tax credits help support good, local jobs for Pennsylvania’s working families on a broad range of energy projects, such as geothermal, nuclear, carbon capture, battery storage, hydropower, solar and wind. The utility-scale projects in the development pipeline in Pennsylvania would benefit from these tax credits. These potential projects represent billions of dollars in investment, more than 15,000 megawatts of power generation and/or storage , and most relevant to my members, thousands of jobs. These projects, supported by federal tax credits, would give our state energy independence, and crucially, put Pennsylvanians to work — including the most trained, skilled and efficient glaziers, painters and drywall finishers in the state.

As a union leader, my job is to deliver for my members — each day, my goal is to ensure that all of our members have 40 hours of work per week. Construction isn’t like most jobs — you work on a project until it’s complete, and then you move onto the next. But sometimes, in times of economic instability, there is no “next,” and that’s why these tax credits are so important. Anyone in the trades knows what it’s like to go through layoffs during economic downturns and other times of uncertainty. We need to make it as easy as possible to continue growing our economy; maintaining, improving and building out our infrastructure; and creating good, family-sustaining, union jobs. It’s not always easy, but I am proud to maintain an organization based upon camaraderie and respect, despite differences in race, gender, religion, sexuality and of course, political beliefs. I represent thousands of members, so of course their opinions span the entire political spectrum, and that’s normal. Politics can sometimes divide us, but one thing is certain: every single member of my union is united around the need for good jobs.

Anyone in the trades knows what it’s like to go through layoffs during economic downturns and other times of uncertainty. We need to make it as easy as possible to continue growing our economy; maintaining, improving and building out our infrastructure; and creating good, family-sustaining, union jobs. It’s not always easy, but I am proud to maintain an organization based upon camaraderie and respect, despite differences in race, gender, religion, sexuality and of course, political beliefs. I represent thousands of members, so of course their opinions span the entire political spectrum, and that’s normal. Politics can sometimes divide us, but one thing is certain: every single member of my union is united around the need for good jobs.

Politics can sometimes divide us, but one thing is certain: every single member of my union is united around the need for good jobs. As a union leader, I am always fighting to create family-sustaining careers, and to protect and expand our market share. This isn’t only important for the members of my union, it’s important for every single Pennsylvanian, our communities, and our state’s economy. There’s an old saying, “we all do better when we all do better,” and it’s true. Ultimately, this is not about politics. This is about jobs. Jobs are not partisan, and they’re not a Democrat or Republican thing — they’re a commonsense thing. And whether we like it or not, our energy markets are changing and expanding to include more home-grown energy including solar, wind and nuclear. And to be honest, our members don’t care whether the jobs are “green” or any other color — they just want to work and to provide for their families. Members of District Council 21 are the ones who should be working on these jobs; there is no one better suited.

Members of District Council 21 are the ones who should be working on these jobs; there is no one better suited. IUPAT’s industrial painters are trained to prepare and coat surfaces to protect and increase the lifespan of these vital structures — they already do this at Limerick Generating Station, Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station, Susquehanna Steam Electric Station and more. Our glaziers have the preparation and skills for new technologies such as photovoltaic glazing, which turns sunlight into electricity and decreases energy usage (and cost) in cooling. The interior finishing that our drywall finishers handle can measurably reduce energy expenditures. The budget bill has passed the House and is in the Senate, being discussed and debated on by our senators in Pennsylvania and all across the country. I hope Sens. Fetterman and McCormick look at the raw numbers and see what a no-brainer these tax credits are. Forget the politics — let’s keep investing in our state’s energy sources and workforce. Let’s maintain these tax credits, and let’s get to work.

Ultimately, this is not about politics. This is about jobs. Jobs are not partisan, and they’re not a Democrat or Republican thing — they’re a commonsense thing. And whether we like it or not, our energy markets are changing and expanding to include more home-grown energy including solar, wind and nuclear. And to be honest, our members don’t care whether the jobs are “green” or any other color — they just want to work and to provide for their families. Members of District Council 21 are the ones who should be working on these jobs; there is no one better suited.

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