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The Weekly Roundup
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The latest news from the State Capitol
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Are You Ready for Summertime Fun?
I’m partnering with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission to offer a two-night basic boating safety course on Monday, April 24, and Wednesday, April 26, from 6-10 p.m. at Beltzville State Park’s Environmental Education and Interpretation Center, 2950 Pohopoco Drive, Lehighton. A second course will be offered on Saturday, April 29, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Lake Harmony Fire Company, 257 Lake Harmony Road, Lake Harmony.
The courses are free and open to the public but registration is required, and participants must attend both nights of the two-night course to receive the Boating Safety Education Certificate. The certificate is required of all operators of a personal watercraft, and for those born on or after Jan 1, 1982, to operate boats powered by motors greater than 25 horsepower.
Registration is required for both events and course handbooks may be obtained at my office prior to the course. For more information and to register, call (610) 377-6363.
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Outreach Hours Offered Next Week
I will host outreach hours for U.S. Congressman Lou Barletta (R-Hazleton) at my Albrightsville district office on Tuesday, April 25, from 10 a.m. to noon. The office is located at 2681 State Route 903, Unit 3, in Albrightsville. The goal of this event is provide answers for people with questions best addressed by the federal government. Please call my Albrightsville office at (570) 722-8700 to schedule an appointment.
An American Legion outreach specialist will visit my Lehighton district office on Friday, April 28, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The office is located at 110 North Third St., Second Floor. Area veterans may seek assistance during those hours for information pertaining to specific benefits and programs. Please call my Lehighton office at 610-377-6363 to schedule an appointment.
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Shull-David Elementary Students Complete Lehighton History Walk
This week, I had a chance to visit with fourth-grade students at Shull-David Elementary as they completed the Lehighton Borough History Walk. The students learned about the history of the borough and visited several significant landmarks.
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Allowing Terminally Ill Patients the Right to Try
Legislation that would permit eligible patients with a terminal illness to use investigational drugs, biological products and devices not yet approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) passed the House on Tuesday.
With the FDA approval process often too slow to save patients suffering from terminal illness, 31 other states allow these patients the right to try medicines, products and devices.
House Bill 45 would permit a manufacturer to make these products available to eligible patients once the products successfully complete the first phase of clinical trials. Under the bill, physicians would not be held liable for recommending experimental products to their terminally ill patients, nor would the bill create a private cause of action against the manufacturers that make the drugs. While the bill does not require insurers to cover these products, they may do so at their own discretion.
The bill now moves to the state Senate.
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House OKs Bill to Get Unemployment Centers Back Open
As a way to reopen unemployment centers and get people the unemployment compensation (UC) benefits they have earned in a timelier manner, the House passed Senate Bill 250 that would provide $15 million in funding to the Department of Labor and Industry.
The governor laid off about 450 employees and closed three UC centers late last year after state funding was halted due to complications arising from a failed computer system upgrade. As a result, residents seeking to submit claims or obtain information from the bureau have experienced lengthy delays or lack of response.
This funding is intended to be temporary to improve operations of the UC system. The legislation contains specific provisions the department must meet to regain more permanent funding.
After the bill moved back to the Senate on concurrence, it now heads to the governor’s desk.
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State Grant Deadline is May 1 for PA College Students
The deadline for students and families to submit their applications for the 2017-18 Pennsylvania State Grant program is May 1. This deadline applies to all renewal applicants and first-time applicants who plan to enroll in colleges, universities or a college transfer program at two-year public or private colleges (except community colleges and designated Pennsylvania Open Admission institutions).
To apply for a Pennsylvania State Grant, applicants must first complete the 2017-18 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Applicants can access the FAFSA online at PHEAA.org/FAFSA or fafsa.gov. Completing the FAFSA online saves time and reduces application and processing errors.
Students and families with questions about the FAFSA or the State Grant Program can call 800-692-7392 for personal assistance.
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| Office Locations |
| 110 North Third Street, 2nd Floor, Lehighton, PA 18235 | (610) 377-6363 |
| 2681 State Route 903, Unit 3, Albrightsville, PA 18210 | (570) 722-8700 |
| Room 403 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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