Capitol Update by Rep. Martin Causer (R-Turtlepoint)
 FacebookWebsiteBioLatest NewsState FormsPhoto GalleryContact Capitol Update Friday, February 3, 2023The latest news from the State Capitol Think Spring! Trout Stocking Schedules Available  The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) announced this week its 2023 trout stocking schedules are now available online and on the FishBoatPA mobile app.The PFBC will stock approximately 3.2 million adult trout in 697 streams and 126 lakes open to public angling. Stocking is set to begin the week of Feb. 21 in advance of the statewide Mentored Youth Trout Day on Saturday, March 25, and the statewide opening day of trout season on Saturday, April 1. The 2023 adult trout stocking schedule is searchable by county, lists the waterways in alphabetical order, and indicates stocking dates and the species of trout that will be stocked. For more information about stocking, fishing and licensing, click here. Property Tax and Rent Rebate Clinics Start This Month  Now that the 2022 Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program is open, my office is hosting a series of events to help you apply. There is no cost for assistance, and no appointments are needed. If you are unable to attend any of the clinics, assistance is also available at my offices in Bradford, Coudersport and Kane.The first of the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Clinics will be held on Wednesday and Thursday, Feb. 15-16. The schedule is as follows: Wednesday, Feb. 15 • Eldred Senior Center, 169 Main St., Eldred – 9:30-11 a.m. • Ulysses Senior Center, 522 Main St., Ulysses – 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. • Smethport Senior Center, 119 W. Main St., Smethport – noon to 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16 • Galeton Senior Center, 111 Germania St., Galeton – 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. • Kane Senior Center, 100 N. Fraley St., Kane – 1-3 p.m. Click here to view the full schedule. The rebate program benefits eligible Pennsylvanians age 65 and older; widows and widowers age 50 and older; and people with disabilities age 18 and older. The income limit is $35,000 a year for homeowners and $15,000 annually for renters, and half of Social Security income is excluded. The maximum standard rebate is $650, but supplemental rebates for certain qualifying homeowners can boost rebates to $975. The Revenue Department automatically calculates supplemental rebates for qualifying homeowners. The deadline to apply for a rebate is June 30. Rebates will be distributed beginning July 1, as required by law. Additional information, as well as claim forms and a link to apply online, are available at www.revenue.pa.gov. Leading House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee  I am honored to be appointed Republican chairman of the House Environmental Resources and Energy (ERE) Committee for the 2023-24 Legislative Session.Now more than ever, Pennsylvania’s role as an energy producer is vital to the future of our Commonwealth and our nation. I look forward to advancing policies that will grow our energy industry and opposing those that seek to crush it. The Environmental Resources and Energy Committee has broad jurisdiction over the state’s energy resources and development. This includes regulations and conservation efforts; initiatives related to public lands and their renewable resources; policies affecting surface mining, coal, oil and gas, forestry, and mineral leasing; and oversight of air and water resources. The committee also has legislative oversight of the departments of Environmental Protection (DEP) and Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR). I was also reappointed to the Pennsylvania Grade Crude Development Advisory Council, which was created to advise and assist the DEP to prevent overregulation of the conventional oil and gas industry, and to develop a plan to increase production of Pennsylvania grade crude. I was also appointed to serve on the Environmental Quality Board, a 20-member board which is responsible for reviewing and giving final approval to DEP regulations. Did You Hear? Mount Jewett to Kinzua Bridge Trail Selected As Pennsylvania’s 2023 Trail Of The Year  The Pennsylvania Trails Advisory Committee has named the Mount Jewett to Kinzua Bridge Trail Pennsylvania’s 2023 Trail of the Year. The annual designation aims to help build enthusiasm and support for trails across the state, and to raise public awareness about the value of Pennsylvania’s land and water trail network. The Commonwealth is home to approximately 12,000 miles of trails. The Mount Jewett to Kinzua Bridge Trail is a 7.8-mile-long section of the larger Knox and Kane Rail Trail in McKean County. The former rail line now provides a level trail for walking, jogging, biking and horseback riding. In winter months, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling are also popular. Congratulations to the Mount Jewett to Kinzua Bridge Trail Club and its partners, the Knox and Kane Rail Trail and Kinzua Bridge State Park, for this important recognition! Learn more here. |