|
|
| |
|
Capitol Report
|
#Listrak\DateStampLong#
|
The latest news from the State Capitol
|
Please do not reply directly to this email, as it returns to an unmanned account.
You are welcome to contact me through this link.
|
Supporting Our Local Fire, EMS Agencies
More than $425,000 was awarded to fire and emergency medical services (EMS) companies in the 139th Legislative District through the 2024-25 Pennsylvania Fire Company and Emergency Medical Services Grant Program. Local fire and EMS companies, especially in the rural parts of the state, work tirelessly to protect us – no matter the time of day or season of the year. This funding will surely go a long way to make sure our brave first responders have the resources they need to keep us safe.
The funding comes from an ongoing grant program created by the Legislature and administered by the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency and Office of the State Fire Commissioner (OSFC). All funding comes from the proceeds from slot machine gaming, not General Fund tax revenue.
Projects eligible for funding include construction or renovation of a fire or ambulance company facility, purchase or repair of equipment, training, recruitment and retention, public education about fire prevention, and reduction of existing debt. All companies that apply and meet requirements outlined by OSFC receive funding. Companies must file a grant agreement with OSFC by May 30 to receive their grants.
For the full list of recipients, check out my press release.
|
A Closer Look at the Governor’s $51.47 Billion Budget
The House Appropriations Committee’s examination of the governor’s proposed 2025-26 state budget gets underway next week with the start of budget hearings.
The committee will hear from officials with the Department of Community and Economic Development and the Department of Revenue on Tuesday, followed by the Department of Transportation and Pennsylvania State Police on Wednesday. Higher education will be the focus on Thursday, while public health and safety will close out the week on Friday.
The governor proposed a $51.47 billion budget last week, representing a $3.57 billion, or 7.5%, increase over the current fiscal year. The proposed spending increase is significantly more than the anticipated $1.3 billion revenue increase.
Budget hearings will stream live at www.PAHouseGOP.com. For a full schedule of hearings, click here.
|
District Office Services
|
Planning to Pursue Higher Education?
February is Financial Aid Awareness Month, and the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) is reminding students and their families of a series of webinars that aim to help with understanding financial aid.
The webinar titled “Advance Planning for Financing Higher Education” is offered Tuesday, Feb. 25, at 6:30 p.m. This one-hour session will help participants understand education costs and what is available to help them plan and make affordable decisions.
The webinar titled “Improve Your Credit – Get Your Loan” is offered Thursday, Feb. 27, at noon. This one-hour session will help participants increase their financial literacy and knowledge on the process of credit, how to maintain or improve ratings, and comparison points to help make informed and affordable education borrowing decisions.
Webinars highlighting financial aid timelines and understanding offer letters are scheduled in March. For a full schedule, and to register your participation, visit www.pheaa.org/virtual.
|
|
|
