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In this Update:
- Partnering with PHEAA to Host a Financial Aid Webinar on 1/29
- Game Commission Provides Avian Influenza Information
- $6.1 Million in State Funding to Benefit Sellersville and Perkasie
- Statewide Row Officers Begin Serving PA
- Assistance Available for Local Historic Preservation
- Winter Emergency Travel Kit Tips
- January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month
Partnering with PHEAA to Host a Financial Aid Webinar on 1/29
The college application process can be confusing for both students and parents. I’m pleased to partner with the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) to offer families this valuable informational webinar as they navigate applying to college.
The presentation, which will provide information about financial aid and college planning, will be made on Wednesday, Jan. 29, from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Following the presentation, additional time will be used for a question-and-answer session. The event is open to anyone interested in pursuing higher education, regardless of grade or age.
Michael Burke, PHEAA Higher Education Access Partner, will provide in-depth information about college planning, available programs and the necessary steps to apply for aid.
Register online and call my office at 484-861-4964 with any questions about the event.
Game Commission Provides Avian Influenza Information
Earlier this year, the Pennsylvania Game Commission announced that highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is the suspected cause of death for wild geese in the Lehigh Valley. As geese and other waterfowl migrate through our area, it’s important to know what to do if we see sick or dead birds.
To best protect the health of wildlife, domestic animals and humans, the Game Commission asks the public to assist them by doing the following:
- Report sick or dead wild birds to the commission by calling 1-833-PGC-WILD (1-833-742-9453), emailing pgc-wildlifehealth@pa.gov or using the online Wildlife Health Survey
- Dispose of a dead wild bird found on your property – if the commission hasn’t responded within 24 hours – by burial or commercial/residential trash. Both methods will protect scavenging wildlife. If electing to dispose of the carcass, the following guidance is provided:
- Before picking up the wild bird carcass, put on disposable or washable gloves. If gloves are unavailable, a plastic bag can be used as a makeshift glove.
- If performing on-site burial, a burial hole at least two feet deep will discourage scavenging. Do not bury the carcass in an area that could contaminate a water supply.
- If disposing of the carcass in commercial/residential trash, place the carcass in a plastic bag along with any disposal gloves that were used. Then place everything in a second plastic bag before disposal.
- Once disposal is complete, immediately wash your hands and any non-disposable gloves that were used.
Because HPAI impacts more than just wildlife, please also report any sick or dead domestic bird to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture at 717-772-2852. Anyone who isn’t feeling well after having contact with sick or dead birds is encouraged to contact their primary care physician or the Pennsylvania Department of Health at 877-724-3258.
$6.1 Million in State Funding to Benefit Sellersville and Perkasie
Sellersville and Perkasie will receive more than $6.1 million from the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority to remove chemicals from the water supply and improve the reliability of wastewater service.
Perkasie Regional Authority will receive more than $668,00 in a low-interest loan and a grant of nearly $3.2 million to improve water quality by removing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and increase system reliability.
Drinking water with levels of PFAS that are too high may cause health issues, including an increased risk of cancer. The $3.8 million in state funding will play a critical role in addressing this problem without raising the rate of Perkasie Regional Authority’s residential, commercial and industrial customers.
Sellersville Borough will receive nearly $2.3 million in a low-interest loan to address a faulty gravity sanitary sewer main, which has been in service for more than 65 years. It experiences significant infiltration and inflow during rain events. A video inspection also showed pipe sags, leaking joints and lateral break-ins.
Learn more about the specifics of both projects.
Statewide Row Officers Begin Serving PA
Congratulations to new PA Attorney General Dave Sunday and reelected PA Treasurer Stacy Garrity and PA Auditor General Tim DeFoor on their inaugurations on Tuesday. My colleagues and I stand ready to work together to move our commonwealth forward.
As the state’s top law enforcement official, the attorney general works to protect and serve citizens and agencies of the commonwealth. The position is served by several hundred prosecutors, attorneys, investigators, agents and support staff.
The Treasury Department is the custodian of more than $160 billion in state funds and oversees all withdrawals and deposits from state agencies. It also administers programs, including the PA 529 college and career savings plan, that help families prepare for the future. In her first term, Garrity returned record amounts of unclaimed property and reduced fees multiple times for PA 529 and PA ABLE, which is a program that gives individuals with qualifying disabilities a tax-advantaged way to save without impacting their government benefits.
The auditor general is the state’s fiscal watchdog. The role is tasked with ensuring state government lives within its means and every taxpayer dollar is spent wisely. In addition to completing nearly 4,000 legally required audits per year, DeFoor also conducted several high-profile performance audits during his first four years in office. The audits determine how state government programs are working and ensure tax dollars are being spent appropriately.
Assistance Available for Local Historic Preservation
The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission is now accepting applications from nonprofit organizations and local governments for the Keystone Historic Preservation Grant Program.
The grants support projects that identify, preserve, promote and protect historic and archaeological resources in Pennsylvania for the benefit of public and community revitalization.
Two categories of grants – construction and planning – are available for historic resources in Pennsylvania that are listed, or eligible for listing, in the National Register of Historic Places. Applicants may apply for only one type of grant. Learn more and apply online by March 3.
Winter Emergency Travel Kit Tips
Winter travel can bring extended traffic stops. You can ensure your safety and comfort by packing an emergency travel kit.
Be sure to include a blanket, ice scraper, flashlight, warm clothing and gloves, sand, jumper cables, cellphone charger, small shovel, first aid kit, water and nonperishable food. A printable winter emergency kit list from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is available here.
Your winter emergency kit should also include the personal items you need to accommodate the family members who travel with you, such as special medication, baby supplies and pet food.
January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month
Human trafficking often goes hand in hand with violence and social issues. If you suspect someone is being trafficked, call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.
Technology, the desire for connection and lack of financial stability all play key roles in the most common ways human trafficking begins. By looking out for those around us, we can help to prevent exploitation before it happens.
While the new legislative session just began, Senate Republicans passed multiple bills last session to help people who were victims of human trafficking. One law ensures that sexually exploited children who are human trafficking victims always have full access to appropriate services and support. Another subjects individuals convicted of certain human trafficking offenses to the same reporting and evaluation requirements as any other sexual offender.
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