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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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Senior Expo Right Around the Corner!
Make plans to join me, my staff and more than 70 exhibitors at my Senior Expo next month at Dingman Township Fire Hall. Check out the graphic and video for more details!
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District Happenings
Behind the scenes! Last week my staff and I hit the streets for a district walking tour—spotlighting the small businesses that keep our community strong. Stay tuned!
And as always, be sure to check out my Facebook page for a recap of district events and celebrations!
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Avoid Scams During Back-to-School Shopping
The Office of Attorney General is warning parents and students that scammers often try to take advantage of back-to-school shoppers by posing as online vendors or assistants for financial aid. Follow these tips to protect yourself:
• Watch the websites you visit. Be mindful that the first result on a search engine isn’t always the best choice; it is just that the website paid to be the first result.
• Be wary of a deal that seems too good to be true. Be sure to thoroughly check sellers and product reviews on websites like Amazon, eBay and Facebook Marketplace.
• Many installment plans come with hidden fees and other fine print.
• Be wary of sellers asking for payment in gift cards, money orders, cryptocurrency or wire transfers, especially over the phone. Use your credit cards when possible.
• Keep your personal data safe.
In addition to posing as sellers of school supplies, scammers can also attempt to steal your personal information by impersonating financial aid services or test preparation companies. If someone is offering to “assist” you with financial aid or tests, but is pressuring you to act quickly or overpromising, they could be attempting to steal your personal information. The best website to obtain information about federal student aid is www.studentaid.gov.
Read more here.
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Attention Students: House Fellowship Program Taking Applications
The Pennsylvania House Legislative Fellowship Program is accepting applications for its spring 2026 semester.
The program is based at Pennsylvania’s Capitol in Harrisburg where fellows are assigned to work with House standing committees or leadership offices; are compensated for their work (which may also include college credit); and are provided the opportunities to draft and present their own legislation, attend meet-and-greets with various public officials and staff, and tour some of the Commonwealth’s historic public spaces, to name a few.
Qualified applicants must be college undergraduate juniors or seniors, graduate students or law school students; enrolled in a Pennsylvania college/university or a Pennsylvania resident enrolled in an out-of-state institution; and have a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
For more information or to apply, visit www.pahousefellowship.us. Applications can be submitted via email to pahousefellowship@pabmc.net. The deadline for applying is Oct. 1.
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Grant Opportunity for Small Businesses
Applications for the Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Small Business Advantage Grant program are now open for Pennsylvania-based, for-profit small businesses with fewer than 100 full-time equivalent employees.
The program provides reimbursement grants ranging from 50% to 80% of eligible project costs to Pennsylvania small businesses to improve energy efficiency or reduce pollution or waste by upgrading or replacing equipment or supplies; improving processes; or reducing runoff into affected waterways.
More information is available here.
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Crackdown on Impaired Driving
Now through Labor Day, the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) and local municipal police agencies will be conducting impaired driving enforcement details as part of the National Crackdown on Impaired Driving enforcement and education campaign. This effort is funded through PennDOT's statewide annual distribution of more than $6.2 million from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for impaired driving enforcement. The goal of targeted enforcement is to reduce the number of impaired driving-related crashes, injuries and deaths on roadways throughout the state.
Over the Labor Day holiday weekend last year there were 1,002 crashes statewide, resulting in 13 fatalities and 722 injuries. Of those crashes, 106 were alcohol related, resulting in four fatalities and 65 injuries; and 27 were drug-related, resulting in three fatalities and 22 injuries.
PSP troopers also made 514 DUI arrests and investigated 65 impaired-driving related crashes, three of which were fatal throughout last year’s Labor Day holiday weekend.
Impaired driving enforcement goes beyond checking for alcohol impairment. Law enforcement continues to work to identify motorists impaired by illegal drugs and prescription medication or some combination of substances that impact Pennsylvanians’ ability to safely operate their vehicle. Pennsylvania has approximately 250 drug recognition experts or specially trained officers who look for impaired drivers and assist in DUI investigations when drug-impaired driving is suspected.
To learn more about PennDOT’s efforts to prevent impaired driving or other safety initiatives, visit www.penndot.pa.gov/safety.
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Elk Cam Fires Back Up!
With the September peak of Pennsylvania’s elk rut right around the corner, you can get a jumpstart on viewing some of those bugling bulls through the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Elk Cam.
The camera is located in the heart of Pennsylvania’s elk range, an area totaling over 220,000 acres including State Game Lands 311 and Elk State Forest. Video and sound from the camera will be livestreamed here, and viewers can expect not only to see elk, but turkeys, deer and other wildlife, as well. The best time to view elk on camera is late in the afternoon.
If you’d like to see the bugling season in person, the PA Game Commission reminds visitors to always be “Elk Smart.” Give elk space, never feed elk and do your part to ensure the welfare of the herd. Learn more here.
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Upcoming District Event
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