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Capitol Report
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#Listrak\DateStampLong#
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The latest news from the State Capitol
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Please do not reply directly to this email, as it returns to an unmanned account.
You are welcome to contact me through this link.
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Upcoming District Events
Thursday, September 12 – Concealed Carry Seminar
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District Happenings
Last weekend I attended a shred event held at the Hemlock Farms Conservancy. It was a great event, and I was glad to lend Kelly Stagen, executive director for the Conservancy, a helping hand.
I recently had the pleasure to visit and tour the Pike County Veterans Center and the Honesdale VA Clinic to discuss operations and how each facility is helping our veteran community. I am sincerely thankful to everyone taking time with me. Your input is helping me to get a better understanding of the scope of veteran care and service in Pike and Wayne counties. Pictured with me are Pike County Veteran Mike Barth, Pike County Veterans Affairs Executive Director Jesiah Schaefer, Susan Mowatt, MD, and Jessica Woodmansee, MSN FNP.
Last Wednesday was the PA Game Commission’s Cadet Training Day at the Rockport Hunting Club. The cadets worked with dogs and did skill training in the morning and in the afternoon broke up into two groups. I believe there may be a future Game Warden or two in the photos!
It was a pleasure to join Sen. Lisa Baker at the Pike County Commissioner’s meeting to honor and induct six Pike residents into the PA Voter Hall of Fame. These individuals have voted for 50 consecutive years in the November elections. What an amazing accomplishment! Pictured is: Nadeen Manzoni- Pike Elections Office, Senator Lisa Baker, Commissioner Matt Osterberg, Hall of Fame inductees James Jennings, Donna Jennings and Linda Harding, Commissioner Ron Schmalzle, Commissioner Christa Caceres. Not Pictured: Marilyn Dellert, Patricia Greeves and John Kiesendahl.
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Education Initiatives Featured in 2024-25 State Budget
One of the most important responsibilities we face as a society is the education of our children. As such, the 2024-25 state budget adopted by the General Assembly last week includes several initiatives aimed at both PreK-12 and post-secondary education in the Commonwealth.
For PreK-12 education, the budget increases overall funding by $1.3 billion. Special education funding is increased by $100 million; school safety and security and mental health by $50 million; career and technical education (CTE) by $25 million; and CTE equipment grants by $5 million.
The highly successful Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program, which provides scholarships to help families send their children to schools that best meet their needs, receives an additional $70 million, while the Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit Program receives $5 million more, bringing total funding for the two programs to a record $630 million.
For higher education, the budget includes elements of the Grow PA plan, which aims to attract more students to Pennsylvania schools and connect them with quality careers in their communities after graduation.
Specifically, scholarships of $5,000 would be available to students enrolled in high-demand education programs if they agree to live and work in these industries in Pennsylvania after graduation. And starting in fiscal year 2025-26, the “Grow Pennsylvania Merit Scholarship Program” will allow the PA State System of Higher Education to charge the in-state tuition rate for non-resident students who are seeking degrees in a high-demand industry and commit to work in Pennsylvania after graduation.
In addition, $36 million in new funding is allocated for the Ready to Succeed Scholarship Program, which provides scholarships to high academic achievers.
The budget package also includes some much-needed accountability for our state-related institutions by creating a Performance-Based Funding Council under the State Board for Higher Education. The council would be charged with developing a new process to distribute funding for these universities – which include Penn State, the University of Pittsburgh, Temple University and Lincoln University – using performance-based metrics designed to increase degree attainment, encourage affordability, meet workforce needs and grow the economy.
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Attention Veterans: DMVA Helps Locate Lost Military Documents
The Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) is reminding veterans it can help locate their lost DD Form 214 (DD-214) and other military documents so they can get credit for time served and receive important benefits they have earned.
The DD-214 contains information needed to verify military service for benefits, retirement, employment and membership in veterans’ organizations. Without this key document, there could be significant delays when a veteran seeks benefits earned through their service to our nation. The DMVA can also assist with locating the DD-215, which is used to correct errors or make additions to a DD-214, helping to assure that veterans have accurate discharge documentation.
Anyone needing assistance from the DMVA to locate their DD-214/215, or other military documentation, can call toll-free 1-800-547-2838 or e-mail RA-REQ@pa.gov. More information about locating military documents can be found through the Records Request Program.
Another way to stay in touch is for veterans, family members and people who work with veterans to sign up for the DMVA’s Veterans Registry by visiting www.register.dmva.pa.gov.
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PA Turnpike Warns of Smishing Scam Back on the Rise
The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) is advising a smishing scam is again being sent to random individuals, aiming to deceive them to share their personal financial information to settle outstanding toll amounts.
The texts purport to be from “Pennsylvania Turnpike Toll Services” and center on urgent requests with the account that would result in additional charges if the overdue balance does not get settled. Similar scams have been reported by toll agencies across the country over the past several days.
People who receive an unsolicited text, email, or similar message suggesting it is from the PA Turnpike or another toll agency should not click on the link. E-ZPass account holders and Toll by Plate customers can use approved safe methods to check their accounts such as the official PA Turnpike E-ZPass website or the PA Toll Pay app available from the Apple App Store, or Google Play store.
Those who receive a fraudulent text can file a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov. That is a site dedicated to sharing information on Internet crimes across law enforcement agencies.
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PGC Expands Mentored Hunting Program
Continuing its efforts to get more people involved in hunting in the Commonwealth, the Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners recently approved a plan to allow mentors hunting with a mentored youth to accompany up to two additional hunters, be they mentored youth, junior hunters or mentored adults.
Previously, no additional junior or mentored hunters could accompany a mentor hunting with a mentored youth. There was a required one-to-one mentor/mentee ratio. That limit has now changed to three.
The requirement that limits mentors and mentored youth to possessing only one sporting arm between them remains. The mentor must carry the sporting arm at all times while moving. Junior hunters and mentored adults may possess their own sporting arms while accompanied by a common mentor.
This change will be in place in time for the fall hunting seasons.
Learn more about mentored hunting at www.pgc.pa.gov.
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