|
|||||
|
In this Update:
109th Farm Show Starts Saturday!
Did you know that Pennsylvania hosts the largest indoor agricultural exposition under one roof in our nation? The 109th Farm Show showcases the quality and breadth of Pennsylvania’s agriculture industry and our people who make it thrive! This show offers visitors a tiny slice of the industry that employs nearly half a million folks and contributes over $132 billion to our economy here in Pennsylvania each year. This year’s Farm Show runs from Saturday, January 4, until Saturday, January 11. You will be able to watch a rodeo, see an animal show, enjoy one of the famous farm show milkshakes and snuggle with a mini-Highland cow! For more information on this year’s Farm Show and the schedule click here. Hopefully I will see you there! FAFSA Now Available
The 2025-26 Free Application for Federal Student Aid, FAFSA, is now available. Students and families can access the form on StudentAid. Families should create their StudentAid account prior to completing the FAFSA. As part of the two-step authentication, families can also download an authenticator app which can be used to assist families with logging in even when cell and internet service isn’t available. This two-step verification method offers more security than other methods against phishing, hacking, and interception of text messages or email. For more information on financial assistance or help, you can check out PHEAA, which provides webinars and virtual help on affordable access to higher education. PennDOT Innovations Challenge
Students in grades 9-12 have until January 31, to submit entries in the 8th PennDOT Innovations Challenge. Your challenge is to develop a cost-effective and innovative solution to more effectively increase awareness of seat belt safety in a way that changes behavior and improves road safety. The statewide winning team will be chosen from among regional winning teams across the state. Each PennDOT regional office’s winning team members will receive certificates. The regional winners will be invited to present their innovative solutions to the PennDOT Secretary and a panel of judges, who will determine the statewide winner. The statewide winning team members will receive certificates, and their school will receive a traveling trophy and permanent trophy engraved with the school’s name. For more information on the Innovations Challenge, click here. Family-Sustaining Jobs Give Pennsylvanians Great Opportunity
Access to family-sustaining jobs give Pennsylvanians the opportunity to thrive, so Senate Republicans focused on creating an environment to attract and retain great employers. That’s why we worked to continue the phase-down of the jobs-killing Corporate Net Income Tax and began eliminating the start-up penalty that thwarts entrepreneurship. We also funded scholarships to encourage young people to fill high-demand job openings and enacted the Max Manufacturing Initiative so Pennsylvania can produce high-value products and create family-sustaining jobs. Because high energy prices mean fewer jobs, we fought the RGGI electricity tax and streamlined the permit-review process for job creators. The budget we passed ensures business sites are prepared to welcome new jobs and created new Keystone Opportunity Zones to bring new businesses to underutilized parcels of land. Read more about how we have protected PA jobs. Senate Republicans Vote for Healthy Communities
To support families, Senate Republicans passed bills in the 2023-24 legislative session that foster healthy communities. Landmark legislation eliminated out-of-pocket costs for breast cancer screening and testing for women at high risk – the first bill of its kind in the nation. Pennsylvanians also have greater access to licensed addiction treatment programs because of a bill we passed. From babies who are just a few days old to people who have lived a long life, new laws help Pennsylvanians with the medical care they need. Struggling babies now have critical access to life-saving care provided by medically prescribed pasteurized human donor milk. Another new law prevents senior citizens using Pennsylvania’s prescription drug programs from losing their benefits due to a Social Security cost-of-living increase. Learn more about our efforts to improve health care, including tackling health care staffing shortages, improving patient care options and reducing administrative burdens for health care providers. Home Heating Assistance Takes the Chill Out
Residents struggling with their home heating bills may apply for assistance from the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) through April 4. LIHEAP is a federally funded program that helps individuals and families pay their heating bills through home heating energy assistance grants. It also provides crisis grants to help in the event of an emergency or if a resident is in danger of losing his or her heat due to broken equipment, lack of fuel or termination of utility service. The income eligibility guidelines for LIHEAP are $22,590 for an individual, $30,660 for a couple and $46,800 for a family of four. Find limits for other family sizes here. Residents may apply for LIHEAP online or by contacting their local county assistance office. Free Drug Overdose Prevention Supplies Available
Naloxone and drug-checking strips designed to detect xylazine and fentanyl are available at no cost through the Pennsylvania Overdose Prevention Program. The program’s goal is to improve community-based distribution and harm reduction efforts while focusing on individuals who face the greatest risk of experiencing overdose. Organizations can use an interactive map, which can be filtered by product, distribution methods and trainings offered. It will display contact information for getting supplies. If organizations aren’t able to get supplies using the map, they’re encouraged to use this form.
If you are not already subscribed to this newsletter please sign up here. |
|||||
|
|||||
Want to change how you receive these emails? 2025 © Senate of Pennsylvania | https://senatorjudyward.com | Privacy Policy |
