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In this Update:
Join Me at Upcoming EventsThere’s still time to R.S.V.P. to join me at my upcoming Coffee and Conversation event on April 11 in Salem Township and license plate replacement event on April 4. Coffee and Conversation events are an opportunity for you to share your thoughts and ideas about state government in a casual setting with light refreshments. If you weren’t able to make it to one of these events in the past, I have another Coffee and Conversation scheduled in April. Salem Township Coffee and Conversation In addition to our Coffee and Conversation events, I also am co-hosting with Rep. Cabell a license plate replacement event. Stop by this event to check if your license plate is damaged and eligible for a free replacement. Damaged license plates include those that have lost some or all of their reflectivity; are peeling, blistering or discolored; and are unreadable from 50 feet away. Damaged License Plate Replacement Event The police will determine if the license plate is damaged and needs to be replaced. There is no fee for this service and those who need a new license plate can receive help filling out the necessary paperwork. Once the forms are submitted to PennDOT, the new replacement license plate will arrive by mail to the applicant’s home address. Mobile Office Hours in Columbia and Luzerne CountiesIn an ongoing effort to make state government programs and services more accessible and convenient, my staff and I offer mobile office hours and locations in Columbia and Luzerne Counties. Beginning April 2, we will host regular office hours on the first Tuesday of each month from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Northern Columbia County Community and Cultural Center, 42 Community Drive, Benton. Residents who wish to make an appointment and reserve time with staff during the Benton outreach hours should call our Bloomsburg office at 570-784-3464. The new northern Columbia County office hours are in addition to the following weekly office hours in Luzerne County. Drums Office Hours Berwick Office Hours Mountain Top Office Hours My staff provides the same services at these mobile office hours that we provide at our traditional district office locations. Bloomsburg Social Work Students Visit My OfficeStudents from Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania – Bloomsburg’s Department of Social Work visited my office this week. March is National Social Work Month. Social workers serve as catalysts for positive change, offering support, advocacy and empowerment to individuals and families facing various challenges. Penn State Hazleton Students Visit Capitol for Advocacy DayIt was an honor to speak with students and faculty this week from Penn State Hazleton during their annual advocacy day. I always enjoy speaking with students from the 27th Senatorial District and learning about the issues important to them. Local Cheerleader and Coach Make Big 33 TeamFootball players and cheerleaders of the 2024 Pennsylvania Scholastic Football Coaches Association Big 33 Football Classic visited the Capitol to be honored for their achievement of making the team. I would like to give a special congratulations to Sidney of PA Elite for making the cheer squad and Coach Hicks from Selinsgrove Area High School for being named an assistant coach. Good luck at the game! Calling on the Governor to Send PA National Guard to Defend Texas BorderThe Senate approved a measure calling on Gov. Josh Shapiro to protect Pennsylvania communities by supporting Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s request to respond to America’s illegal immigration crisis. Senate Resolution 251 implores the governor to deploy the Pennsylvania National Guard along Texas’s southern border with Mexico as part of Operation Lone Star. The border security initiative has led to more than 500,000 illegal immigrant apprehensions, more than 40,000 criminal arrests and the seizure of more than 468 million lethal doses of fentanyl, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety. A 2023 report indicates at least 251,000 illegal immigrants reside in Pennsylvania with an annual burden of more than $1.6 billion on taxpayers. That equates to a cost of approximately $318 per Pennsylvania household annually, according to the Federation for American Immigration Reform. Senate Passes Public Safety Bills Targeting Opioid Overdoses, Human TraffickingThe Pennsylvania Senate approved two measures this week boosting community safety by targeting opioid overdoses and human trafficking. Both bills, which head to the House of Representatives for consideration, are part of an effort to improve community safety across Pennsylvania. Senate Bill 1054 strengthens the Overdose Information Network (ODIN) law, which requires all law enforcement in Pennsylvania to input reports of an overdose within 72 hours of the incident into the ODIN system. The ODIN database enables law enforcement agencies to quickly record, analyze and share information concerning fatal and non-fatal drug overdoses and naloxone administrations. The bill would ensure overdose reporting by EMS providers is incorporated into the statewide mapping system. EMS providers are responsible for handling more than 80% of overdoses annually in Pennsylvania. Senate Bill 1111 would ensure that individuals who are convicted of certain human trafficking offenses – as well as attempt, conspiracy or solicitation to commit those offenses – are subject to the same Megan’s Law reporting and evaluation requirements as other sexual offenders. Struggling Homeowners Can Apply for AssistanceTo help homeowners struggling as a result of pandemic-related financial hardships, the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) reopened a program that had been paused to address a backlog of applicants. The majority of pending applications has been processed and an assessment of remaining American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 funds has been made, so PHFA is accepting additional applicants until the remaining monies are exhausted. New applicants can use the funds for pandemic-related mortgage reinstatement, forward mortgage assistance, tax assistance and delinquent utility bills. Interested Pennsylvania homeowners can find more information, eligibility requirements and instructions about how to submit an application here. Help Available for High-Priority Specialty Crop FarmersTo stimulate market growth or boost the competitive position for high-priority crops, grants are available for projects that benefit Pennsylvania’s growers as a whole, rather than an individual grower. Specialty crops eligible for Pennsylvania’s grant program and deemed high priority include hardwoods; honey; hemp and flax for fiber; and hops, barley, rye and wheat for brewing, distilling and malting. Proposals must be submitted through the Department of Community and Economic Development’s Electronic Single Application by Friday, April 19, at 5 p.m. Full grant guidelines are available here. Recognizing Agriculture’s Impact on Our LivesIn Pennsylvania, we are blessed that agriculture is one of our top industries as it helps to provide us with food security without having to rely as much on other states or even other countries. National Agriculture Week, observed March 17-24, encourages every American to understand how food products are produced; appreciate the role agriculture plays in providing safe, abundant, and affordable products; value the essential role of agriculture in maintaining a strong economy; and consider career opportunities in the agriculture, food, and fiber industries. This morning, I was honored to attend Rep. David Rowe’s Community Agriculture Breakfast in Middleburg to meet with and show appreciation to many involved in agriculture in our community. Rep. Rowe and I are pictured here with S.U.N. Area Dairy Ambassador Anna Mabus.
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