Ensuring Public Benefits Are Reserved for Legal Residents
To help prevent the fraudulent use of public assistance benefits, the House passed my legislation this week to further crack down on welfare fraud by requiring proper documentation of citizenship and residency when applying for local and state benefits.
Under House Bill 1095, individuals who apply for benefits directly must provide an acceptable form of identification, or an affidavit certifying their citizenship. The bill would not change any eligibility criteria for the receipt of public benefits. It merely would update Pennsylvania law to ensure compliance with federal law.
The bill would also prohibit individuals from possessing multiple ACCESS cards. Any person who violates this prohibition would be charged with a third-degree felony.
House Bill 1095 now goes to the state Senate.
Click here to hear my comments about the bill.
Celebrate PA Manufacturers
Pennsylvania Manufacturing Week will be observed Sept. 30 through Oct. 6, and will recognize the vital role manufacturers play in our state’s economy and the variety of job opportunities and career paths open to the next generation of Pennsylvania’s workforce.
In total, manufacturing has an economic impact of $84 billion in Pennsylvania, and we are home to the eighth largest manufacturing industry in the United States.
Throughout the week, Pennsylvania manufacturers and partners will hold events to give students and their families an inside look at today’s modern manufacturing. The weeklong celebration will conclude with National Manufacturing Day on Oct. 6. More information about the industry and events are available here.
Pennsylvania Manufacturing Week and Manufacturing Day are part of a movement to build positive perceptions about manufacturing, draw attention to the variety of career opportunities available, and highlight the industry’s important contributions to our economy.
In helping to promote manufacturing, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives has spearheaded a new law to allow career and technical students to demonstrate proficiency on exams developed by the National Occupational Competency Testing Institute in lieu of demonstrating proficiency on a Keystone Exam. Act 6 of 2017 gives them greater flexibility in meeting high school graduation requirements so they can be ready to enter the workforce.
Congratulations, Tahlulah!
Congratulations to Tahlulah Sahara Bravo, of Lehighton, who won first place in the age 12-and-under painting category in the Art: The Universal Language art contest, which was a collaboration between the Department of Human Services, The Arc of Pennsylvania, PA Mental Health Consumers' Association, Pennsylvania Statewide Independent Living Council, and the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts.
Tahlulah's art was displayed in the state Capitol this week.
September Named Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
A House resolution designating September 2017 as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month passed the House of Representatives this summer with unanimous, bipartisan support.
House Resolution 382 is intended to bring awareness to childhood cancer, to encourage young Pennsylvanians who are fighting cancer, and to honor young people who have lost their lives to childhood cancer.
The resolution also expresses gratitude to the doctors and nurses who provide special care to patients and families affected by childhood cancer and encourages all residents in this Commonwealth to join the fight against childhood cancer.
According to the American Cancer Society, childhood cancers make up less than 1 percent of all cancers diagnosed each year. An estimated 10,270 new cases are expected to be diagnosed in children under the age of 15 in the United States this year. Childhood cancer rates have been slightly increasing for the past few decades.
Because of major treatment advances in recent decades, more than 80 percent of children with cancer now survive five years or more. Overall, this is a significant increase since the mid-1970s, when the five-year survival rate was less than 60 percent. Still, survival rates vary depending on the type of cancer and other factors.
Although pediatric cancer death rates have decreased by nearly 70 percent over the past four decades, it still remains the leading cause of death from disease among children. About 1,190 children are expected to die from cancer in 2017.
Sen. Toomey, Carbon County VA Office Join Forces to Honor Korean War Veterans
U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey’s office is partnering with the Carbon County Veterans Affairs Office to honor Korean War veterans with the Korean Ambassador for Peace Medal. Toomey is working with the Korean Consul General to provide medals for United States veterans for their honorable service in the Korean War who reside in Carbon County.
My office will join the offices of state Sen. John Yudichak (D-Luzerne/Carbon) and Rep. Jerry Knowles (R-Berks/Carbon/Schuylkill) to assist Toomey’s office in recognizing Carbon County’s Korean War Veterans at this event.
To receive the Korean Ambassador for Peace Medal, an eligible veteran must have served in country during the Korean War from June 25, 1950, to July 27, 1953, or have participated in UN peacekeeping operations until the end of 1955. Members of the U.S. Navy are also eligible if they had served aboard a naval vessel that was assigned to Korean waters during the 1950 to 1953 timeframe. It may also be awarded posthumously. The only document required is the Notice of Separation or DD-214 discharge document showing service in Korea.
Applications for the Korean Ambassador for Peace Medal must be received by Oct. 1.
For applications, please contact Marta Gabriel in Toomey’s office at Marta_Gabriel@toomey.senate.gov and (610) 434-1444, or Bonnie Gawlik, Carbon County Veterans Affairs Office, at BonnieGawlik@carboncounty.net and (570) 325-3986.
Applications will also be available through my office as well as the offices of Sen. Yudichak and Rep. Knowles.
Recovery Day Advocacy Rally
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I had the opportunity to speak at a Recovery Day Advocacy Rally held in the Capitol Rotunda. It was wonderful to see and speak with so many folks who have achieved recovery. You have my support!
Honoring Betty Mullen Brey
On Saturday, Sept. 23, I attended the dedication for this statue of Betty Mullen Brey, a Weissport native who represented the United States at the 1956 Summer Olympics. She also competed at the Pan American Games and won gold and silver medals. Betty’s statue’s toenails are painted her signature pink color – a ritual she completed before every swim meet.
I’m pictured here with Mike Brey, son of Betty Brey and head coach of the Notre Dame basketball team.
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