Promoting Self-Sufficiency with Welfare Work Requirements
To ensure that public assistance programs can benefit those in legitimate need, the House is advancing three measures designed to encourage self-reliance through work experiences. In other states with work requirements, families have seen their incomes double and have been able to follow their dreams of self-sustainability.
Passing the House this week was House Bill 2138, which would require the Department of Human Services (DHS) to institute work or community engagement requirements for able-bodied Medical Assistance recipients. The work requirements include being employed or attending a job training program for 20 or more hours a week or completing 12 job training program-related activities in a month. Exceptions do apply for those unable to work.
Also before the House is House Bill 1659, which would require healthy (able-bodied) adults without children to work, perform community service, participate in a work program or be enrolled as a full-time student in order to receive SNAP (food stamp) benefits.
Another bill advancing to help ensure maximum efficiency of welfare programs is House Bill 1618, which would require the forfeiture of any assistance allotments that are unused after a six-month period.
Keeping Students Aware of College Debt
To help college students track their student loan debt and make more informed decisions about borrowing, legislation passed the state House unanimously this week to require colleges and universities to annually notify students about their debt obligations.
House Bill 2124 would require colleges and universities, which receive federal student loan information for their students, to send letters to students with loans each year, updating them on their current student loan debt level and obligation. The letters would be mailed or emailed in advance of a student’s acceptance of additional funding and would include estimates of the student’s total debt at graduation and projected monthly payments.
Similar legislation in other states has substantially reduced student borrowing and helped students and their families to make more enlightened financial choices.
Outstanding student loan debt in this country has reached an unprecedented $1.3 trillion.
The measure is now with the state Senate for review.
‘The Wall That Heals’ to be Displayed at State Capitol May 9-13
“The Wall That Heals,” a replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., and an accompanying mobile Education Center, will be displayed on the State Capitol Grounds Wednesday, May 9, through Sunday, May 13.
The display will begin with an opening ceremony at 7 p.m. on May 9, and closing at 2 p.m. on May 13. The display will be open 24 hours each day, and admission is free.
Constructed of powder-coated aluminum, the wall features 24 individual panels bearing the names of more than 58,000 men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in Vietnam. Since many Americans have not been able to visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF), creators of both the original wall and the replica, want to give all citizens, veterans and their family members an opportunity to see the memorial.
Additional information about the mobile replica can be found at www.thewallthatheals.org. For more information about the Capitol event, or to volunteer to watch over the wall while it’s on the Capitol grounds, please visit www.legis.state.pa.us/TWTH.
April is ‘Donate Life Month’
To encourage people to give the gift of life, House Resolution 821 was adopted by the House this week to declare April 2018 as Donate Life Month in Pennsylvania.
In Pennsylvania, about 8,000 people are on the organ donation waiting list and, on average, every 18 hours one of them will die waiting for the call that never comes.
The encouraging news is that more people are making the decision to “donate life.” About 4.7 million Pennsylvanians have said yes to organ and tissue donation by adding the donor designation on their driver’s license. More than 138 million Americans are registered donors.
In addition, Pennsylvania driver’s license and ID card holders can support organ donation programs with a $1 donation at the time of application or renewal. To date, nearly $14 million has been generously donated to the fund.
More information is available at www.donatelifepa.org.
Working for You
Rep. Jerry Knowles has proposed legislation regarding the regulation of sewer sludge and I have signed on as a co-sponsor. Specifically, the legislation he is proposing would permit a municipality to develop ordinances regulating the deposit, testing and disposal or land application of biosolid materials. Additionally, this legislation would permit a municipality to veto a permit application approved by the Department of Environmental Protection for the deposit or land application of this material.
Around the Capitol
Pictured with me is Weatherly Area School Board member Brian O’Donnell, who visited the Capitol this week as part of the Pennsylvania School Boards Association’s Advocacy Day.
Members of the Carbon County Chamber and Economic Development Corporation visited the Capitol this week. It was my pleasure to host them for the day! |