Capitol Update by Rep. Martin Causer (R-Turtlepoint)
 FacebookWebsiteBioLatest NewsState FormsPhoto GalleryContactCapitol Update Friday, May 19, 2023 The latest news from the State Capitol You are welcome to contact me through this link. Talking Government in Northern Potter  Thank you to Mrs. Hamilton and her eighth-grade class at Northern Potter School District for welcoming me to their classroom last week! We had a great discussion about state government and my job as a state representative. They had so many great questions!  Senior Centers in Cameron County Awarded Grants  The Pennsylvania Department of Aging today announced grants for the Driftwood and Emporium Senior Centers in Cameron County. They are among 48 senior centers statewide to receive funding. Driftwood Senior Center was awarded $9,480 and the Emporium Senior Center was awarded $24,765, both for nutrition services. Funding for the grants comes from the Pennsylvania Lottery. Awarded through a competitive process, the grants will help senior centers fund projects based on the needs expressed in their applications. Recognizing Emergency Medical Services Providers  This Sunday, May 21, marks the start of the 49th annual National EMS Week, a time to recognize and appreciate the life-saving services provided by our emergency medical responders, emergency medical technicians, paramedics and more.In response to the growing challenges facing our EMS system, the General Assembly has advanced policies designed to boost funding and personnel. Specifically, we have twice increased the Medicaid reimbursement rates for Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Life Support services, increased funding for the Emergency Medical Services Operating Fund to reduce training costs, provided additional grant funding, and created training scholarships and active volunteer tuition and loan assistance. We also eased minimum staffing requirements for BLS services and authorized local governments to offer tax benefits to volunteers. But there is more work to do, especially for our rural EMS agencies. That’s why I hosted a town meeting last week to discuss solutions to help strengthen the EMS system and ensure our ambulance companies can keep their doors open to meet the needs of our communities. This year’s theme for EMS week is “EMS: Where Emergency Care Begins.” Thank you to all of our volunteer and career emergency medical responders who provide care in those critical early moments of an emergency. Creating Opportunities for Students, Employers  To attract quality career opportunities to the Commonwealth, it is vital to have a qualified workforce at the ready.To help our students succeed in a family-sustaining career, it is important we provide educational opportunities to match workforce needs. Those two cornerstones of our Keystone Commitment to Pennsylvania were highlighted this week in a hearing of the House Republican Policy Committee titled “Career and Technical Education: A Pathway to Opportunity.” The hearing featured testimony about educational opportunities by officials at Upper Bucks County Technical School (UBCTS), as well as career and technical education outcomes by a UBCTS graduate and workforce development advisor. For more information about the hearing, visit www.PAGOPPolicy.com. To learn more about our people-driven, future-focused Keystone Commitment, click here. Armed Forces Day Saturday  This Saturday, May 20, is Armed Forces Day, a day set aside to recognize and honor the men and women who are currently serving in a branch of our armed forces.The day was first celebrated in 1950, soon after the branches of the military were united under the leadership of the U.S. Department of Defense. In his proclamation marking the day, President Harry S. Truman called upon fellow citizens to “display the flag of the United States at their homes on Armed Forces Day and to participate in exercises expressive of our recognition of the skill, gallantry, and uncompromising devotion to duty characteristic of the Armed Forces in the carrying out of their missions.” In other words, seek out opportunities to thank our men and women in uniform, not just this Saturday but every day. Fish for Free Coming Up Next Weekend!  On Sunday, May 28, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) will host a Fish for Free day to allow anyone (resident or non-resident) to legally fish on all Pennsylvania waterways. No license is required, but all other fishing regulations still apply.This is the first of two dates set by the PFBC to enhance fishing opportunities. The next day is Independence Day, Tuesday, July 4. This is a great way to expose the next generation of anglers to the outdoors. More information about fishing in Pennsylvania is available here. Have You Checked Out Your Local Farmers Market?  Pennsylvania leads the nation in the number of farms that sell direct to the consumer. You can find the markets closest to you through the Pennsylvania Farm Market Finder offered by the Penn State Extension.The PA Farm Market Finder is an interactive map that allows you to search for farmers markets, on-farm retail markets and public markets, or all three. The markets are color coded to identify what kind of market it is and you can zoom in to any area on the map to locate them. Simply click on a dot on the map and the information about that market will appear, including contact information and website if they have one. Many on-farm markets and farmers market vendors are members of the PA Preferred® program or carry PA Preferred products. PA Preferred is the statewide branding program for agricultural products grown, produced and processed in Pennsylvania. When purchasing items with the PA Preferred checkmark, consumers are supporting locally grown and processed Pennsylvania agricultural products and directly supporting Pennsylvania farmers. Click here to find the farm markets near you! |