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The Weekly Roundup
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The latest news from the State Capitol
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First Responders Need Our Help
With fire and ambulance services continuing to struggle across the Commonwealth, a 39-member commission created by lawmakers to study the situation has issued dozens of recommendations. You can read the commission’s report here.
Statistics show the number of volunteer firefighters has shrunk from about 300,000 in the 1980s to 38,000 today. Ambulance services are facing similar challenges for both volunteers and paid staff, leaving communities potentially vulnerable in emergency situations.
To reverse this trend, the commission suggests several strategies to boost recruitment and retention, including providing Length of Service Award Payments (LOSAP) and other benefit programs, funding basic fire and EMS training at the state level, and offering incentives to employers to permit trainees to attend fire and EMS training.
To further enhance training accessibility, the commission recommends including public safety as a trade/career preparatory program at career and technical education centers across the state and restoring funding for public safety training courses at community colleges.
Action on recommendations in the report would build on two important initiatives enacted earlier this year to boost funding for the state’s ambulance services: increasing Medicaid reimbursements for Basic Life Support and Advanced Life Support services and requiring both private insurers and Medicaid to reimburse for treatment provided regardless of whether transport takes place.
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Remembering President George H.W. Bush
A grateful nation said its final farewell to former President George H.W. Bush this week. The 41st president laid in state at the Capitol prior to his state funeral, held Wednesday at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.
Bush was also a decorated naval aviator in World War II, a congressman, a director of the CIA and vice president to President Ronald Reagan.
In his honor, flags in the state of Pennsylvania will fly at half-staff for the remainder of the year.
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Airport Awarded State Grant
This week, the Jake Arner Memorial Airport in Lehighton was awarded a $995,250 state grant to rehabilitate the airport’s aviation gas and jet fuel facility.
Small regional airports are critical to the continued growth of local economies. I’m pleased to see our airport was able to make the short list for funding that will go toward an important project to enhance its facilities.
Twenty-six airports across the state received over $6 million in state funding through programs administered by PennDOT.
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Skilled Students in the Spotlight
I was impressed by the talents of these students from six area career and technology schools who took part in Tuesday’s second annual machine shop competition at the Carbon Career and Technical Institute. The event helps to highlight the need for a skilled workforce to fill the high-demand jobs of the future. Congratulations to all!
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Economic Update
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s General Fund revenue collections for November were nearly $100 million greater than anticipated. Collections so far this fiscal year are also higher than expected. Learn more here.
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Christmas at the Capitol
The Christmas tree lighting ceremony was held on Thursday to mark the official start of the holiday season at the state Capitol. I am proud to report that the 18-foot Douglas fir was grown by Crystal Spring Tree Farm in Lehighton, where other Capitol trees have come from in recent years. It’s decorated with handmade ornaments created by senior citizens and young children from all around Pennsylvania.
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Get Your 2019 Fishing License!
Fishing licenses for 2019 are now available from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission and its more than 700 issuing agents and county treasurers’ offices.
The price of a resident fishing license this year is $22.90. The most popular add-ons, a trout-salmon stamp and a Lake Erie permit, cost $9.90 each, or $15.90 for a combination permit.
For more information about fishing in PA, and how to give the gift of fishing by purchasing a gift voucher, visit www.fishandboat.com
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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 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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