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In this Update:
Senior Expo Sept. 6 at KnoebelsI am co-hosting a Senior Expo with state Rep. Joanne Stehr on Friday, Sept. 6, from 10 a.m. to noon at Knoebels Amusement Resort, 391 Knoebels Blvd., Elysburg. The event will feature free health screenings, door prizes and vendors from government and community organizations with information about programs, services and products for senior citizens. Lunch will be provided for FREE at noon following the conclusion of the Senior Expo. Tour Highlights Camp Victory’s ProgramsRecently, I visited Camp Victory outside Millville. Staff from Camp Victory gave a tour of the facilities and showed the outdoor recreation and team-building challenge activities. Camp Victory offers camping experiences for children, families, and individuals who face chronic or catastrophic health problems, or physical or developmental challenges. If you want to learn more about Camp Victory, you can visit its website. Bloomsburg Children’s Museum Celebrates 40th AnniversaryHappy 40th anniversary to the Bloomsburg Children’s Museum. The museum was founded in 1985 and is dedicated to its mission of fostering a lifelong love of learning. I presented them with a Senate citation in honor of the anniversary. TYM Opens New Columbia County LocationCongratulations to TYM for opening its new location in Columbia County. TYM designs, produces, and sells tractors, combines, cultivators, rice transplanters and diesel engines. The company’s early tractors were based on designs from Japan’s Iseki, and in 1972, TYM introduced Western farming equipment in Seoul. TYM has operations in more than 40 countries, including regional headquarters in North Carolina for the U.S. and Canadian markets. Great Dane Employees Visit Capitol for Leadership ExperienceI met with Great Dane employees from across the country who were attending the company’s Leadership Experience during a visit to the Capitol. We discussed manufacturing’s impact on the commonwealth and the importance of leadership in the workplace and the community. It was my pleasure to show them the Capitol. Supporting Services in Our Local CommunitiesProviding Pennsylvanians increased access to important health care and emergency services from birth to older age was one of our key priorities as we worked to implement the 2024-25 state budget. I am pleased that, because of our efforts, neonatal and obstetric services provided through the Medical Assistance Program are receiving an additional $7 million to help support mothers and their babies. In addition, the enacted budget also includes a $134 million increase for nursing home facilities. To benefit people of all ages, an additional $20 million was dedicated to emergency medical services (EMS) rates. Quality and reliable health care must reach every corner of our commonwealth, which is why we worked to ensure the final budget agreement also included a $10 million supplemental payment for rural hospitals and $17.5 million for rural health redesign and distressed hospitals. We believe in the future of Pennsylvania and strengthening our local communities through these substantial investments. A Closer Look at Efforts to Improve Water QualityWe have led efforts in Pennsylvania to ensure access to clean water now, and to preserve this critical resource for future generations. Supporting clean water in Pennsylvania communities benefits our downstream neighbors as well. This year’s state budget includes $50 million in recurring funding for the Clean Streams Fund, which helps farmers reduce sediment in waterways through the Agricultural Conservation Assistance Program. To date, the program has supported more than 700 projects to reduce sediment in waterways throughout the state. Because of the initiative, water quality has improved in Pennsylvania and downstream. In fact, the Chesapeake Bay recently earned its best rating in more than 20 years in the University of Maryland’s Center for Environmental Science Chesapeake Bay Report Card. Financial Assistance is Available to Struggling VeteransSometimes the people who defended our country fall on hard times and need a little help. Veterans who are experiencing unforeseen circumstances causing a financial burden can benefit from the Veterans Temporary Assistance (VTA) Program. The VTA provides temporary financial assistance of up to $1,600 in a 12-month period to veterans or their surviving spouses who reside in Pennsylvania for basic necessities like food, shelter, fuel and clothing. Eligibility guidelines are available here. Veterans interested in applying for a VTA grant should contact their county director of Veterans Affairs. Veterans Assistance Outreach Hours Begin at Shamokin Dam in SeptemberVeteran Assistance Outreach Hours with American Legion Service Officer Bill McGovern will be held in my Shamokin Dam district office on the third Friday of each month beginning on September 20. Local veterans and their families can schedule appointments by calling the Shamokin Dam office at 570-743-1918. Wondering How to Check the Status of a PTRR Rebate?Checks and direct deposit payments from the state’s 2023 Property Tax/Rent Rebate program started being issued July 1 and will be mailed on a rolling basis through the Dec. 31 deadline. If you filed for a property tax or rent rebate and would like to know the status of it, check online or call 1-888-PATAXES (728-2937). The Property Tax/Rent Rebate is available to senior citizens and people with disabilities who meet income guidelines. Claim forms are available by contacting my district offices, where assistance in applying for the program is also available at no charge. Find more information, including eligibility guidelines, here. Celebrating Pennsylvania’s Workforce on Labor DayMillions of men and women who are members of Pennsylvania’s workforce keep our economy thriving. Their hard work benefits communities all across the state and even country. On Labor Day, let’s recognize their accomplishments and wish them some well-deserved relaxation.
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