Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon, who represents Pennsylvania’s 5th district in the U.S. Congress, posted a series of statements on social media between March 12 and March 13, 2026, addressing civic engagement, religious violence, and national policy concerns.
On March 12, Scanlon shared her experience meeting with students at the University of Pennsylvania: “I enjoyed visiting with high school students participating in the Emerge Youth Leadership Fellowship at UPenn’s Fels Institute to speak about my work as a Member of Congress and how they can be civically engaged.”
Later that day, she responded to an incident at a Michigan synagogue: “Today’s attack on Temple Israel, a synagogue in Michigan, is horrifying. Everyone has a right to worship in peace without fear of violence and bigotry. I am praying for all those affected and am thankful for the quick response from law enforcement and first responders.” The statement followed reports of an attack targeting Temple Israel in Michigan.
On March 13, Scanlon commented on broader national issues: “AMERICANS are also paying a BIG PRICE for this administration’s recklessness: A growing number of servicemembers killed or injured. BILLIONS of dollars are spent DAILY on Trump’s war, while costs are rising even higher for gas, groceries, and energy. U.S. alliances and our”
Scanlon has represented Pennsylvania’s 5th District since 2018 after succeeding Pat Meehan. She was born in Watertown, New York in 1959 and currently resides in Swarthmore. Scanlon holds degrees from Colgate University (BA) and the University of Pennsylvania (JD).
