|
|||||
|
In this Update:
It’s PA Farm Show Week!
I interviewed Pennsylvania Secretary of the Department of Agriculture Russell Redding this week at the Pennsylvania Farm Show. I appreciated meeting with Redding and his willingness to speak with me about the 108th Farm Show, agriculture in the commonwealth and its impact on the 27th Senatorial District. You can watch my interview with the secretary here.
I had to stop by the Pennsylvania Co-Operative Potato Growers food stand to visit Troutman’s Food Service and have a potato donut! While I was there I ran into a few familiar faces from back home.
I stopped by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources exhibit at the PA Farm Show. Our commonwealth is blessed by its abundance of natural resources, which have fueled economic growth and progress in Pennsylvania. There is so much to see at the PA Farm Show. Thank you to all the dedicated individuals who took part in the creation of this year’s Farm Show. From the team at the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture to the volunteers and exhibitors, thank you for making the 2024 Farm Show an amazing presentation of agriculture in the commonwealth. I can’t wait for the 2025 Farm Show! Join Me for Coffee and Conversation Jan. 18 in Herndon
You’re invited to join me at a Coffee and Conversation event I’m hosting on Thursday, Jan. 18, from 1:30-2:30 p.m. at Home Towne Café, Herndon, where you can share your thoughts and ideas about state government. Light refreshments will be available for participants. Home Towne Café is located at 4144 State Route 147. I held similar events in other parts of our district – like the one in the photograph above from our Coffee and Conversation gathering in Berwick – and enjoyed the discussions with local residents. I will be joined at the Herndon event by special guest state Rep. Joanne Stehr. To participate, please RSVP by Jan. 16 by calling 570-743-1918 or emailing TCampbell@PaSen.Gov. Veterans Assistance Hours at Mount Carmel Office
Local veterans or their families are invited to schedule appointments to meet with an American Legion officer at our Mount Carmel district office on Friday, Jan. 19, for help applying for programs, services and benefits. There are many programs and services available to help Pennsylvania military veterans and their families. This is an excellent opportunity for veterans to learn about their benefits and determine their eligibility. American Legion Department Service Officer Bill McGovern will be at our office on Jan. 19, from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Veterans or their family members can call our Mount Carmel office at 570-339-5937 to schedule an appointment. Our office will host veterans assistance hours with McGovern at the same time on the third Friday of each month. We appreciate everything our veterans have done to protect and defend our nation. We want to help our veterans access every benefit they earned through their service to our country. Our Mount Carmel office is located at 10934 State Route 61. Shamokin Dam District Office Hosted Open House
Thank you to everyone who attended the open house and ribbon-cutting ceremony at our new Shamokin Dam district office. The Shamokin Dam district office is in Suite 1 at 48 Orchard Drive, located on the side of the UNB loan office in front of the Orchard Hills Plaza along Route 11 and Route 15. It was a pleasure to see everyone, meet new members of the community and learn more about the issues and concerns important to the people who attended this event. If you were unable to attend our open house and need assistance with any state government-related issue, please contact one of my offices for assistance. We recommend calling ahead to schedule an appointment before coming to our offices to ensure we are prepared to assist you. 2023 Review: Empowering Parents with Their Children’s Education
As part of one of the priorities of the Senate Republican caucus, we focused on increasing parents’ involvement in the education of their children. After all, the people who know their child best and love them most should not be barred from playing an active role in their lives in any environment. We passed a bill to empower parents to protect their own child from accessing sexually explicit content at school, without impacting the books available to other students. Schools should not have the ability to show our children content adults are barred from viewing at their jobs if their parents don’t support it. Another bill would expand parents’ access to what students are learning. A new law makes it easier for parents to enroll their children in school when they move because of the family’s involvement in the military. It would help students avoid delays that can require them to take summer classes or graduate later than expected. 2023 Review: Supporting Pennsylvania Veterans
Our military members and veterans made the selfless decision to serve our country and preserve the American way of life we hold so dear. The Senate passed several measures in 2023 to support military families and veterans. Act 13 of 2023 ensures Pennsylvanians entering military service can retain professional licenses and certifications. Previously, veterans had a much more challenging transition from military life to civilian life because certain skills they obtained during the service were not recognized. Now, veterans don’t have to waste time duplicating the training they already received. Senate Resolution 46 establishes the Task Force on Women Veterans’ Health Care, which will study the unique health care and access issues facing female veterans and make recommendations to the governor and General Assembly for action. Other measures we passed exempt disabled veterans’ benefit payments from income eligibility calculations for government programs, provide educational support for children of National Guard and Reserves members, establish the Veteran-Owned Business Loan Guarantee Program and more. Check Out My New Website
My website was recently redesigned to improve its speed, make it more user-friendly – particularly on mobile devices – and give it a fresh look so it is easier for you to get the state-related information you need. My goal is always to make your experience dealing with your government as positive as possible, whether you prefer to interact online or in person. My offices are available to serve you in many ways, including status reports on legislation, applications for Pennsylvania birth and death certificates, PennDOT forms, assistance with applying for the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program, expediting issues with state agencies, and much more. PA Youth: Become a Litter Hawk
Kids in grades kindergarten through sixth grade who want clean places to live and play are invited to become litter hawks to help people see how litter and trash hurt the environment through art, words or video. Individuals, school classrooms, homeschoolers, scout groups, clubs and other organized groups are all welcome to participate. Prizes will be awarded to two entries per grade. Categories are poster (K-4), essay (5) and video (6). Apply online by Jan. 31, and winners will be announced in May. Helping First Responders Access Federal Dollars
Federal assistance grants are available to support firefighter and emergency medical service organizations, but only a fraction of the first responders who apply do so successfully. Giving organizations the information they need to access this critical funding for vehicles, gear and more will help local governments avoid raising taxes to cover the costs associated with keeping our communities safe. The Federal Emergency Management Agency offers free webinars about how to apply for funding under the Assistance to Firefighters grant program and workshops covering the Assistance to Firefighters grant program, Fire Prevention and Safety grant program and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response grants. Learn more. Monday is Martin Luther King Jr. Day
“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a time for reflection on his peaceful contributions to the civil rights movement. Many people also spend time honoring Dr. King’s legacy by participating in community service to better their neighborhoods. No matter how we spend the day, let us remember his desire to unify our country as he shared in historic speech in Washington, D.C. more than 60 years ago. My offices, certain government buildings and some private businesses will be closed Monday in recognition of this holiday. Additionally, PennDOT driver license and photo centers will be closed Saturday through Monday in observation of the holiday.
For anyone who hasn’t already signed up to receive my e-newsletters, you can get on the mailing list here. |
|||||
|
|||||
2024 © Senate of Pennsylvania | https://senatorculver.com | Privacy Policy |
