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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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Remember the Fallen This Memorial Day
Today is Memorial Day – a day set aside to honor the more than 1.1 million Americans who have died in wars which the United States entered.
Please take a moment to remember these men and women who sacrificed their lives for us and for our country and consider participating in Memorial Day events in our community.
For more information about Memorial Day and its history, click here.
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Grant Dollars Headed to the District
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Congratulations to the following community improvement projects in Pike and Wayne counties who will receive more than $700,000 in state funding through the Commonwealth Financing Authority’s (CFA) Local Share Account (LSA) Program:
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Pike County - $196,200 to conduct a feasibility study and begin planning for a regional Career Technology Education and Training Center and $92,500 to upgrade the District Attorney’s case management system for improved digital evidence storage and access. |
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Wayne Economic Development Corporation - $100,500 to develop Lot 2 of the Sterling Business Park, including grading, stormwater controls and site stabilization. |
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South Canaan Township - $80,000 to upfit a previously acquired municipal truck for road maintenance operations. |
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Paupack Township, on behalf of PPH Ambulance - $75,000 to purchase a new quick-response emergency vehicle. |
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The Pike County Economic Development Authority - $65,000 on behalf of Milford Water Authority for treatment plant site improvements to support future expansion, $50,000 for engineering and design work for the Choosing Integrity Facility, a support and training center for justice-involved individuals and $50,000 on behalf of Matamoras Volunteer Fire Department to install a new ventilation system and non-slip flooring to improve fire station safety. |
To read the full press release, click here.
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Handheld Devices Ban Takes Effect June 5
A new Pennsylvania law banning the use of handheld devices while driving takes effect on June 5.
Paul Miller’s Law limits the use of handheld cellphones or other communication devices while operating a motor vehicle. The law is named for a young man who was killed in a crash involving a distracted tractor-trailer driver in Monroe County, Pennsylvania, in 2010.
Under the law, driving while holding a mobile device is a primary violation, meaning police can pull over drivers solely for the violation. For the first 12 months, the penalty is a written warning. Effective in June 2026, the penalty is a summary offense, which carries a $50 fine, plus court costs and other fees. If a driver is convicted of homicide by vehicle and driving while distracted, they may be sentenced up to an additional five years in prison.
Drivers can still use their phones if using hands-free technology, such as a docking station, Bluetooth or speaker technology. You may also use your phone to contact emergency responders.
According to PennDOT, more than 11,000 crashes were the result of distracted driving, leading to 65 deaths and 6,700 injuries in 2023. Pennsylvania joins 28 other states with hands-free laws.
Read more here.
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District Happenings
Be sure to check out my Facebook page for a recap of recent district events and visits, including South Canaan, Church the Ridle Memorial Rotary and Ghiggeri’s Fine Olive Oils & Balsamics.
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Prevent Lyme: Check for Ticks
May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month. As you spend time outdoors, it is important to check yourself, loved ones and pets for ticks and be aware of the symptoms of Lyme disease and other tick-related ailments.
The first line of defense against Lyme is to take precautions outdoors by treating clothing and gear with products containing 0.5% permethrin, using insect repellent, and avoiding wooded and brushy areas with high grass or leaf litter. When you return indoors, check your clothing, gear and pets for ticks; shower as soon as possible after being outdoors; and check your body for ticks, particularly in areas such as under the arms, in and around the ears, back of the knees and other similar areas.
If bitten, an individual should monitor the area for the appearance of a bull’s eye rash, though the rash does not develop in all cases. Early symptoms of Lyme disease include fever, fatigue, headache and muscle aches. However, symptoms may progress to arthritic, neurologic and cardiac symptoms if not treated.
Lyme disease is caused by the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi and is transmitted by the bite of a blacklegged tick or deer tick. If you pull a tick from yourself, a loved one or your pet, you may have it tested to determine if it carries Lyme or other tick-borne diseases. More information about how to get a tick tested at the East Stroudsburg University Tick Lab is available here.
Learn more about Lyme disease symptoms, treatment and prevention here.
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New Sextortion Scam Blackmails Children
A disturbing new scam involves organized groups of Nigerian cybercriminals targeting American children online. After befriending them – sometimes even posing as their classmates – and exchanging nude photos, the criminals blackmail them and demand money.
Organized Nigerian criminals have increased this practice, known as sextortion, by 1,000% in the last 18 months. It can cause unthinkable consequences, including suicide, after a child is told the images will be sent to their family, friends and everyone in their school if they don’t pay.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children offers a helpful tool to anyone facing this overwhelming scenario. Take It Down is a free service that allows a child to have a “hash value” – essentially a digital fingerprint – assigned to the photo being used against them. The “hash value” is then sent out to participating sites such as Instagram, Snapchat and even pornography sites that put a block on the image so it cannot be seen, shared or spread, rendering it useless for the blackmailer. A child never has to upload the photo to the service, nor does anyone ever view the image in the process.
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Win Money for Your Child’s Education
In honor of PA 529 Day on May 29, the Pennsylvania Treasury is inviting families to contribute $10 or more to their child’s PA 529 account in May to be automatically eligible for one of six regional awards of $5,529.
PA 529 plans allow families to use their savings to pay for a wide variety of education expenses, including at any qualified educational institution, from K-12 to college and career training programs.
Anyone – parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and family friends – can contribute to a PA 529 plan. Saving with PA 529 does not impact a student’s eligibility for Pennsylvania state financial aid. Learn more here.
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Upcoming District Events
My staff and I have a lot of events planned in the coming months. More details to follow, but here is a sneak peek:
July 12th – Damaged License Plate Event, Pike County Training Facility
July 19th – Paper Shredding Event, Hemlock Farms
August 9th – Damaged License Plate Event, Evergreen School
September 5th – Senior Expo, Dingman Fire Department
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