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Capitol Report
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#Listrak\DateStampLong#
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The latest news from the State Capitol
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Please do not reply directly to this email, as it returns to an unmanned account.
You are welcome to contact me through this link.
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Harrisburg Happenings
This week in the Capitol I participated in Diwali, the festival of lights celebrated by Hindus, Jains and Sikhs throughout the world.
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DVE News TV in the People’s House
In its 33rd season with news by the kids, for the kids, a group of 5th graders from Delaware Valley Elementary School were my special guests in Harrisburg last week.
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Around the District
A ribbon cutting ceremony was held recently to celebrate Sycamore Point Park. We are so blessed to have such wonderful waterways in our district.
I recently had the chance to speak with Grethen Eifert with the Motherly Grace Project. If you or someone you know is in need of resources, or if you can donate items, scan the QR code to learn more.
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Do You Have Unclaimed Property?
The Pennsylvania Treasury works hard to return unclaimed property to the citizens of Pennsylvania. From May through October this year, my staff contacted residents in our district, and Jesse Bakker found out that he had unclaimed property - to the tune of over $13,000. To see if any unclaimed property if available for you, your business, nonprofit or local government agency, visit the PA Treasury website. It takes less than a minute to search. Or, feel free to call our office and my staff can assist in claiming this money for you.
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Time is Running Out to Vote by Mail
This Tuesday, Oct. 29, is the deadline for applying to vote by mail in the upcoming Nov. 5 election.
To apply online, or to download a paper copy of the application, click here.
You may also apply in person at your county voter registration office. If your county’s ballots are available, you could also vote at that time, assuming your mail-in ballot application is approved. Check the availability of ballots in your county here.
Applicants for mail-in ballots must provide a driver’s license or PennDOT identification number, if you have one. If not, you must provide the last four digits of your Social Security number and upload your signature (if applying online).
Once you receive your mail-in ballot, the deadline to return it to your county election office is 8 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5. Additional information about voting by mail is available here.
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Protecting Consumers from Auto Renewals
We’ve all dealt with the frustrations of automatic renewals for services we may or may not still want. The state House unanimously approved legislation this week that aims to help consumers avoid those frustrations by requiring companies to be more transparent about the terms of such contracts.
House Bill 116 would amend the Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law by requiring businesses that offer automatic renewals to:
• Provide renewal terms, cancellation policy and how to cancel.
• Allow a customer who signs up online to cancel online.
• Require any material changes in the automatic renewal be provided in a clear and conspicuous manner.
For subscriptions including a free trial period, businesses would also be required to disclose the price that would be charged after the trial period ends and the deadline to cancel to avoid charges, as well as give customers the ability to cancel before being charged.
The bill now heads to the Senate for consideration.
To learn more about Pennsylvania’s drug take-back program, including finding a take-back location near you,
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Stay Safe this Halloween
Halloween is a fun time for many kids and families, but safety must always remain a top priority. According to the National Safety Council, the following are some tips to keep in mind while trick-or-treating:
• All costumes, wigs and accessories should be fire-resistant.
• If children are out after dark, fasten reflective tape to costumes and bags, or give them glow sticks.
• Opt for non-toxic Halloween makeup over masks, which can obscure vision.
• A responsible adult should accompany young children on neighborhood rounds.
• If older children are going alone, plan and review a route and establish a return time.
• Teach children never to enter a stranger’s home or car.
• Instruct children to travel only in familiar, well-lit areas and stay with friends.
• Tell children not to eat any treats until they return home, where they can be inspected by an adult.
• Motorists traveling on neighborhood trick-or-treat nights should remember to stay alert, slow down, and enter and exit all driveways and alleys carefully.
For more on these and other safety tips, click here.
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DCNR Seeks 2025 River of the Year Nominations
The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) is calling on Pennsylvanians to nominate their favorite waterway for the 2025 River of the Year. The winner is featured in a year-long series of events and activities to celebrate the river, including the popular River of the Year Sojourn.
All Pennsylvania waterways are eligible for nomination, except for the past five years of winners: Allegheny River (2024), Susquehanna North Branch (2023), French Creek (2022), Shenango River (2021) and Lackawanna River (2020).
The nomination period is open through Monday, Nov. 11, at 5 p.m. Selected nominations will be voted on by the public beginning in late November. For more information about the River of the Year program, visit the Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers’ (POWR) website.
To nominate a river or waterway, visit the Grants and Awards webpage and scroll down to “Apply.”
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DCNR to Host Virtual Workshop for Recreation, Conservation Grant Program
The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) will host a free, virtual grant workshop next month for those seeking funding assistance for a new park, trail or conservation project.
The workshop will be held Thursday, Nov. 7, from 9 a.m. to noon., and is especially suited for municipal officials, consultants, board members, trail managers, land trust staff, and park and recreation professionals.
The workshop is free, but pre-registration is required to ensure participants receive needed materials. To register, visit the DCNR Calendar of Events and choose Nov. 7 as the date.
Anyone interested in applying for DCNR grants in 2025 is strongly encouraged to attend. Videos of workshop presentations will be made available on the DCNR YouTube channel for those who cannot participate.
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Bringing Dollars to the District
Over $3.75 million in Local Share Account (LSA) grants and Public School Facility Improvement grants from the Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA) was recently awarded to projects throughout the 139th. This funding will support a range of improvement projects that directly benefit residents and enhance the quality of life across the area. Helping our schools and municipalities thrive is always a central aim, and I am thrilled to bring these dollars home to our rural communities.
The projects and dollar amounts are as follows:
• Delaware Valley School District: $300,000 for a roof replacement at Delaware Valley Middle/High School.
• Matamoras Borough: $150,000 to renovate the borough’s municipal building.
• Milford Borough: $200,000 to improve Ann Street Park.
• Milford Township: $100,000 for improvements to the Milford Township Municipal Facility.
• Wayne County: $425,000, on behalf of Cherry Ridge Township, for a utility expansion project that will extend a sewer line to a 40-acre parcel of undeveloped land.
• Wayne Economic Development Corporation: $200,000 for roadwork and utility extensions. |
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