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The Weekly Roundup
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The latest news from the State Capitol
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Thanks for Coming!
We had an outstanding turnout of 900 to 1,000 people at our annual Senior Citizens Expo on Thursday!! It was great to see so many familiar faces as well as many new ones. Thank you to our exhibitors who came out to provide such helpful information to our seniors. And a special thank you to the many people and businesses who volunteer and donate in support of the expo….it would not be so successful without you!
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Educating All Students for Success
Working to ensure Pennsylvania’s special education students have access to the quality education they deserve, the General Assembly recently reestablished a Special Education Funding Commission to review the formula that determines payments to school districts across the Commonwealth.
First formed in 2012, the commission conducted several meetings to gather information and made recommendations to improve the special education funding formula by better reflecting student need, as well as community differences such as market value/personal income aid ratio, equalized millage rate, and small and rural school districts.
The changes were adopted by the General Assembly and since the 2013-14 fiscal year, lawmakers have continued their commitment to supporting all students, increasing funding for special education by 15.6% or $160 million. Total education funding has jumped by 29.5% from $9.85 billion to more than $12.75 billion this year.
The newly reestablished commission features a bipartisan group of House and Senate lawmakers, as well as the secretary of education and other representatives of the Wolf administration. The group will meet throughout the fall and intends to issue its report to the General Assembly no later than Nov. 30.
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Prepared. Not Scared.
In recognition of September being National Preparedness Month, the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency is encouraging all of us to take steps to plan for emergencies by participating in September’s 30 Days/30 Ways preparedness event.
This year’s theme for National Preparedness Month is “Prepared. Not Scared.” Much like a fire drill, knowing what to do in an emergency makes the situation a little less frightening for everyone.
Some simple steps to boost your preparedness include taking a basic first aid or CPR class, creating a family emergency plan, assembling a small kit of emergency supplies for your home and car, reviewing insurance coverage, and building up an emergency fund.
PEMA is inviting anyone who wants to participate to register here for weekly updates with helpful hints and tips to get them started on their journey to preparedness. At the end of the month, participants who fill out a brief survey about their experience will be entered to win a random drawing of a wind-up radio, flashlight or phone charger.
More information about how to prepare for an emergency, including specific information for people with access and functional needs or pets, is available on the ReadyPA webpage.
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Schedule Your Capitol Tour!
President Theodore Roosevelt called Pennsylvania’s state Capitol “the handsomest building” he ever saw. Tours of the historic building, which highlight its artistic and architectural features as well as provide information about state government, are offered daily for individuals and groups of up to 80 people.
Reservations are required for groups of 10 or more, but all visitors interested in touring the Capitol are encouraged to make reservations through the Capitol tour office. Tour dates fill up quickly in the spring due to school field trip season.
Tour reservations may be made by calling my Harrisburg office at 717-260-6139. When you call, have your group name, total number of participants and contact information ready.
Tours are available Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday, Sunday and most holidays at 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. The Capitol is closed for tours New Year’s Day, Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. Weekday tours begin at the top of the hour and every half hour. The tours last between 30 and 45 minutes depending on the size of the group.
You may also explore the Capitol using the self-guided tour mobile app available at Google Play and the App Store. Self-guided tours may only be done on regular weekdays.
More information about visiting the Capitol is available here.
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Fighting Back Against Spotted Lanternfly
Recognizing the devastating impact the ongoing spread of spotted lanternfly could have on key sectors of the state’s agriculture industry, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture is again inviting students to help spread the word about this threat.
For the second year in a row, first- through eighth-grade students are being invited to submit entries in a calendar contest designed to educate people about this invasive insect that was first identified in Berks County but has since spread to more than a dozen counties in the eastern and central regions of the state. Spotted lanternfly could be devastating to the state’s grape, hops and hardwoods industries.
All entries must include one fact about spotted lanternfly with artwork created by the student in an 11-by-17-inch, horizontal poster format. A completed contest submission form must be attached or emailed with each entry. All entries must be original artwork; no copies will be accepted.
More than 800 entries were received for the 2018 calendar contest. This year’s competition runs through Oct. 31. For contest rules and additional information, click here.
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| Office Locations |
| 204B Bridge St., Weissport, PA 18235 | (610) 377-6363 |
| 2681 State Route 903, Unit 3, Albrightsville, PA 18210 | (570) 722-8700 |
| Room 420 Irvis Office Building, PO Box 202122, Harrisburg, PA 17120-2122 | (717) 260-6139 |
| Email: dheffley@pahousegop.com |
| TTY: 855-282-0614 |
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