|
|
| |
|
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.
|
District Happenings
I was at Dutch’s Market in Greentown last weekend to support the Girl Scout Troop 52287 sell cookies. Proceeds from the cookie sales help support the Troop’s camping trip and other good causes! Once again, I got my favorite chocolate peanut butter cookies! Great job, Scouts, and volunteers.
Earlier this week, Doug Miller and I attended the Annual St. Patty’s Day dinner for the Pike County Council of Republican Women. It was a great event and wonderful opportunity to catch up with so many great people. Thank you for your hospitality!
|
Meet the District Office Staff
Hi, I’m Gina. I’m here to help you with things like PennDOT, property tax and rent rebate applications, unclaimed property, and birth or death certificates – to name a few. I’m a proud graduate of Wallenpaupack High School and Bloomsburg University. When I’m not in the office, I enjoy anything and everything the great outdoors has to offer, like hiking, biking, waterskiing, snow skiing, kayaking and traveling with my husband and two adult children, and cheering on my Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Mets. Stop in and say “hi” next time you visit the office!
|
Embrace Efforts to Right-Size Government
Last week, Gov. Josh Shapiro issued an executive order regarding the state civil service system, inviting federal employees who were let go by the Trump administration to come to work in the Commonwealth.
Given the exorbitant growth in spending we’ve seen in Shapiro’s state budgets, the last thing he should be doing is trying to grow our government even further. Rather than automatically fill any vacancy, each open position should be reviewed to determine if it is even necessary to fill.
We should also be encouraging these former federal employees to put their skills to work in the private sector, as many businesses continue to face significant hiring challenges and many in-demand jobs are going unfilled due to workforce shortages.
Let’s work together to right-size our government.
|
Application Deadline Approaching for 2025 Pennsylvania House Scholarship
High school seniors interested in receiving financial assistance to help pay for college still have time to apply for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives’ Scholarship. The deadline is April 15.
Each year the program awards a four-year scholarship to two students preparing for post-secondary education. It is open to graduating high school seniors who are Pennsylvania residents with plans to attend a Pennsylvania college, university or career school as a full-time student.
To qualify, students must have attained a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average in high school. Other factors taken into consideration for the awards are a student’s commitment to community, leadership qualities, extracurricular activities and financial need.
The scholarship program is administered through the Foundation for Enhancing Communities. Click here for more information and an application.
The scholarship is privately funded by individual and corporate donors; no tax or other public funds are used. Scholarships are awarded through an independent panel of judges chosen by the foundation.
|
PennDOT Wants to Know Your Feedback on Transportation Projects
Recognizing the importance of a safe, reliable and efficient transportation system, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is inviting residents to review and comment on the agency’s 12-Year Transportation Program.
Public comments can be submitted through the department’s transportation survey until Wednesday, April 30. PennDOT will also host an online public forum about the plan on Thursday, April 10, from 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Further details are available here.
|
PA ABLE Helps Save for Disability-Related Expenses
The PA ABLE Savings Program, an initiative created to help people with disabilities and their families save for future expenses, continues to grow in the Commonwealth. The Pennsylvania Treasury, which oversees the program, recently announced it has surpassed $150 million in assets.
ABLE stands for Achieving a Better Life Experience. The program offers multiple savings and investment options, including an interest-bearing checking account. PA ABLE accounts owners can contribute up to $19,000 per year. Contributions can be deducted on PA state income taxes, and PA ABLE account owners pay no federal or state income tax on account growth when used for qualified withdrawals.
The money can be used for everything from groceries, rent, health care and transportation to longer-term expenses including education and assistive technology.
Learn more at www.PAABLE.gov.
|
March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
Colorectal cancer is the second deadliest cancer in the United States despite it being highly preventable with screening.
One in 24 people will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer in their lifetime, according to the Colorectal Cancer Alliance. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports the most effective way to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer is routine screening, beginning at age 45, for people who are at average risk.
Screening tests can find precancerous polyps so they can be removed before they turn into cancer. Colorectal cancer can also be found early by the screenings, when treatment is most effective.
You can find more resources about early and regular screenings here. There are various types of screening tests available; talk to your doctor about which test is right for you. To prepare yourself for a conversation with your physician, a helpful collection of information supplied by the CDC can be found here.
|
Upcoming District Events
In addition, my staff and I have a lot of events planned in the coming months. More details to follow, but here is a sneak peek:
May 15th – Senior Expo
July 12th – Damaged License Plate Event
July 19th – Shredding Event
August 9th – Damaged License Plate Event
September 5th – Senior Expo
|
|
|
