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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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Helping Those in Need
Last week, I had the privilege of delivering turkeys to the Wayne and Pike County Area Agency on Aging, where they’ll be distributed to local food pantries and shared with folks throughout the holiday season. A special thank you to local businessman Mr. Bolus for his generosity in providing the turkeys for donation. I’m especially grateful to him for providing me with the turkeys so they can be shared with folks who need them most.
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Veteran Assistance Available
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New Law Protects Senior Citizens’ Prescription Coverage
Medications play a vital role in preserving health and improving quality of life, but they can be costly, especially for our senior citizens. That’s why I was pleased to support a new law that will protect thousands of Pennsylvania seniors from losing access to affordable prescription drug coverage.
Act 49 of 2025 extends the current Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) moratorium for the PACE and PACENET programs through Dec. 31, 2027. Without this extension, more than 22,000 older Pennsylvanians would have faced disruptions in their benefits due to modest increases in Social Security income.
The PACE and PACENET programs serve over 250,000 Pennsylvanians age 65 and older. To learn more about the programs, who qualifies and how to apply, click here.
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District Happenings
Be sure to check out my Facebook page for a recap of all district events and celebrations, including:
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Attending the Charles W. Grimm Construction 50th Anniversary Celebration and Christmas party. |
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Chowing down at the Blooming Grove Township Fire Department Auxiliary’s Roast Pork Dinner. |
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Participating and observing in training with the Milford Fire and Westfall Township Fire Departments. |
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Supporting the Greene-Dreher Volunteer Fire Association’s Turkey Raffle. |
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Lawmakers Discuss Child Custody Reforms
The House Republican Policy Committee held a hearing recently to review House Bill 1499, a proposal that seeks to establish a presumption of shared parenting when both parents are deemed fit, aligning the state with others that have adopted similar reforms.
The hearing featured emotional testimony from parents, legal experts and judges, all highlighting the personal and systemic challenges of the current custody system. Experts presented research showing that shared parenting improves children’s academic, emotional and social outcomes. Judge Micah Pence of Kentucky, where shared parenting has been law since 2018, testified that the reform has reduced conflict and improved family dynamics.
The hearing drew bipartisan interest, with lawmakers agreeing on the need for custody laws that reflect modern family realities.
More information and full testimony are available at www.policycommittee.com.
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Deadline Nears for Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program
Older adults and Pennsylvanians with disabilities have until Dec. 31 to apply for the state’s 2024 Property Tax/Rent Rebate program. Remember, assistance through my office is always free. You need not pay a private firm for assistance.
Income limits increased again this year to $46,520 for both homeowners and renters. This is due to a 2023 law that calls for adjusting the income limit based on annual increases in the Consumer Price Index. Remember to exclude 50% of Social Security when determining your income. The maximum rebate is $1,000.
The program is open to residents age 65 years and older; widows and widowers 50 years and older; and people with disabilities 18 years and older.
Click here for additional information or to apply online or contact my office for assistance. If you applied previously but have not received your rebate, click here. The 2025 Property Tax/Rent Rebate program will open for applications in mid- to late January.
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Heating Assistance Program Now Open
As cold weather has arrived, residents who struggle with their home heating bills are reminded they can now apply for assistance from the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
LIHEAP is a federally funded program that helps individuals and families pay their heating bills through home heating energy assistance grants. It also provides crisis grants to help in the event of an emergency or if a resident is in danger of losing his or her heat due to broken equipment, lack of fuel or termination of utility service.
To qualify for LIHEAP in Pennsylvania, you must meet income requirements, which are set based on your household size. For example, the maximum annual income for an individual is $23,475 and for a family of four it is $48,225. For each additional person, add $8,250 to the income limit.
Residents may apply for LIHEAP online at www.dhs.pa.gov/COMPASS, by phone at 1-866-857-7095 or by contacting the County Assistance Office in their county of residence.
Click here for additional information. The program runs through April 2026.
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Remembering Pearl Harbor
This Sunday, we pause to remember Dec. 7, 1941 – the “date which will live in infamy” – and honor the lives lost 84 years ago. The attack on Pearl Harbor near Honolulu, Hawaii, killed 2,403 Americans, wounded 1,178 others and led to the United States’ entrance into World War II.
As President Ronald Reagan stated in his 1986 proclamation for Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, “Every honor is appropriate for the courageous Americans who made the supreme sacrifice for our Nation at Pearl Harbor and in the many battles that followed in World War II. Their sacrifice was for a cause, not for conquest; for a world that would be safe for future generations. Their devotion must never be forgotten.”
The National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day Ceremony will be held at 7:30 a.m. Hawaii Standard Time, which is 12:30 p.m. local time. Learn more here.
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Avoid Holiday Shopping Scams
If you’re planning to shop online for gifts this holiday season, how can you avoid accidentally running into a scam?
Scammers are everywhere online, especially on social media. They sometimes impersonate real companies and run ads for brand-name products at unusually low prices. But if you click the link in the ad, it could send you to a scam website designed to take your money in exchange for a counterfeit item, something that looks completely different from the picture in the ad or nothing at all.
When you’re shopping online, here are some ways to protect yourself during the holidays and year-round:
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Do some research. Before you buy, search online for the seller’s name and the website URL the ad sends you to, plus words like “review,” “complaint” or “scam” to see what others have to say.
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Pay by credit card, when possible. If you’re charged twice, billed for something you never got or get a wrong or damaged item, you can dispute the charge with your credit card company. And if the seller says you can only pay with a gift card, wire transfer, payment app or cryptocurrency, it’s probably a scam.
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Keep records. If something goes wrong, having your receipt and order confirmation number can help you get your money back from the seller. Also, sellers have to ship your order by the time they or their ads say they will or give you the chance to get your money back.
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Click here to learn more. And if you spot a scam, tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
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