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Weekly Roundup |
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The latest news from the State Capitol |
How Can Tech Save Tax Dollars?
The House Majority Policy Committee recently learned more about ways in which technology can be better managed to save taxpayers money while still providing quality services.
Already, state agencies have spent millions of taxpayer dollars to upgrade and build technology systems and databases to make government run more efficiently and effectively. Yet, despite the money being spent, the data collected may not be used to its fullest potential, personnel costs are climbing, fraud and system abuse continues, and Pennsylvania is still years behind in its technology capabilities.
The committee heard from several technology companies about ways in which technology can do a better job of detecting welfare fraud, saving money within Medicaid or allowing agency databases to instantly share information.
To watch the hearing, click here and select the March 22 date.
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Applications Available for Rural Fire Assistance Grants
Applications for federal grants to help Pennsylvania’s rural communities better guard against the threat of fires in forested, undeveloped and underprotected areas will be accepted until May 18.
The grants are designed to organize, train and equip local forces in preventing, controlling and suppressing fires that have the potential to threaten human life, livestock, crops, pastures, woodlands, orchards and farmsteads.
Grants can be used for the purchase of wildfire suppression equipment, wildfire protective gear, wildfire prevention and mitigation, wildfire training, mobile or portable radios, and installation of dry hydrants. The funds may also be used for conversion and maintenance of federal surplus property vehicles. The vehicles are presented to local departments exhibiting the greatest needs and those that commit to outfitting them for fire suppression.
For more information, click here.
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LIHEAP Deadline Extended to April 7
Gov. Tom Wolf announced this week that Pennsylvanians struggling to pay home heating bills will now have until April 7 to apply for financial help through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
The federally funded program was slated to end March 31, 2017, but the Wolf Administration decided that given the unpredictable weather this winter, Pennsylvania would extend the program, giving people extra time to apply for funding.
LIHEAP offers assistance in the form of a cash grant sent directly to the utility company or a crisis grant for households in immediate danger of being without heat. Some households are eligible for both types of assistance. Cash grants are based on household income, family size, type of heating fuel and region. In addition to proof of income and household size, applicants must provide a recent bill or a statement from their fuel dealer verifying their customer status and the type of fuel used.
Individuals can apply for a LIHEAP grant online at compass.state.pa.us or in person at their local county assistance office. They may also call the statewide toll-free hotline at 1-866-857-7095 with questions about the program.
For more information about LIHEAP, visit dhs.pa.gov.
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Protecting Children Against Abuse
Thousands of Pennsylvanians in schools, social service agencies, churches and neighborhood groups throughout Pennsylvania are working hard to nurture and support the victims of child abuse and prevent future mistreatment.
In 2015, more than 4,200 cases of child abuse or maltreatment were investigated in Pennsylvania, with an estimate that one of every 1,000 children is a victim of abuse.
While the General Assembly passed more than two dozen laws a few years ago to help prevent, investigate and prosecute abuse cases, the House is currently working to help victims of child sexual abuse hold their abusers accountable.
With April designated as Child Abuse Awareness Month by House Resolution 173, several activities are planned statewide throughout the month to equip residents with the information they need to recognize and report suspected child abuse in their communities. Those events include free training programs for community members, mandated reporters (those who, by reason of their occupation or profession, must report suspected child abuse) and trainers. Click here for that list of events.
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State Veterans Agency Seeks Vietnam Veterans
As a way to pay tribute to all of the men and women from Pennsylvania who died as a result of the Vietnam War, the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) is asking the public for help in finding the remaining 105 Vietnam veterans from Pennsylvania who are not yet included in the agency’s Wall of Faces project.
For the past two years the DMVA has partnered with the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) in Washington, D.C., to find a photo of every Pennsylvanian whose name appears on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall. The VVMF is posting the photos on a virtual Wall of Faces to put a face and a story to every name, allowing these Vietnam veterans to be honored by family, friends and others from around the world.
A complete list of Pennsylvania Vietnam Veterans whose photos are still needed can be found by going to www.veterans.pa.gov, and clicking on Wall of Faces. Instructions on how to submit a photo can be found here.
To view the virtual Wall of Faces, go to vvmf.org/Wall-of-Faces.
On Wednesday, March 29, the first National Vietnam War Veterans Day, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was unveiled and dedicated at Courthouse Square in Stroudsburg. This memorial is dedicated to all those who served from Monroe County, and the 10 residents from the county who did not return home from Vietnam.
In 2017, Sen. Pat Toomey authored a bill that would permanently designate March 29 as Vietnam Veterans Day nationwide. This bill passed unanimously in both houses of Congress and was signed into law by President Donald Trump.
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Monroe County Conservation District to Offer Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Workshop
The Monroe County Conservation District will offer a dirt and gravel road maintenance workshop on Saturday, April 8, from 9-11 a.m. at Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center.
Homeowner associations and homeowners are encouraged to attend to learn how to identify signs and causes of erosion. Time will be allotted after the program for site-specific questions. Attendees are welcome to bring photos. This is a free event but space is limited. To reserve a seat, call 570-629-3060. The workshop is sponsored by the Monroe County Conservation District Dirt, Gravel and Low Volume Road Program.
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Bowl for Kids’ Sake
Last weekend, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Monroe County held its annual Bowl for Kids’ Sake fundraiser at Skylanes Bowling Center in East Stroudsburg. Big Brothers Big Sisters provides children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one relationships that change their lives for the better, forever.
For more information about Big Brothers Big Sisters of Monroe County, visit its website at bbbsnepa.com/monroe or call (570) 421-2877.
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Office Locations |
Capitol: Room 423, Irvis Office Building, P.O. Box 202176, Harrisburg, PA 17120-2176 | Phone: (717) 787-7732 |
Districts: 2785 Route 115, Suite 103, Carriage House Square, Effort, PA 18330 I Phone: (570) 620-4341 |
Tobyhanna Township Building, 105 Government Center Way, Pocono Pines, Pa 18350 I Phone: (570) 643-7683 |
Email: jrader@pahousegop.com |
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