Capitol Update By Rep. Martin Causer (R-Turtlepoint)
 FacebookWebsiteBioLatest NewsState FormsPhoto GalleryContact Capitol Update Thursday, April 6, 2023 The latest news from the State Capitol You are welcome to contact me through this link. Celebrating New Opportunities for Students, Employers   It was so exciting to take part in the ribbon cutting last week for the George B. Duke Engineering and Information Technologies Building at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. What a great opportunity for our students, our community and our employers who will benefit from some great graduates of the program!Visiting W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery Company   It was a pleasure to visit W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery Company this week to tour the factory and celebrate passage of legislation I sponsored that will allow the company to produce automatic knives. Thank you to Brian Piscitelli, director of manufacturing, and Todd Yonker, vice president of operations, for the informative tour and conversation.Discussing Infrastructure in Roulette   Thank you to Roulette Township, Potter County, officials for the opportunity to see and discuss their water system infrastructure. The township has a plan for infrastructure upgrades and is working hard to maintain clean drinking water for the community. I am glad to work with them and support state assistance for their project.Spotted Lanternflies Hatching Soon  Starting later this month, many of us will encounter spotted lanternflies (SLF), an invasive insect that has now spread through 51 of 67 Pennsylvania counties since its initial discovery in 2014. Locally, SLF has only been reported in Cameron County, but not in McKean and Potter counties. Unfortunately, its spread is expected to continue. SLF feeds on the sap of many different plants and trees including grapevines, maples, black walnut and other important plants in PA. If you see SLF, Penn State Extension encourages you to report it online here or call their hotline at 1-888-422-3359. To learn more about this nuisance pest, including how to identify and manage it, click here. State Budget Hearings Resume Next Week  As lawmakers continue to review the governor’s $46 billion spending proposal for the 2023-24 fiscal year, members of the House Appropriations Committee will hold a final week of budget hearings next week.The sessions begin on Tuesday, April 11, with the Department of Human Services. As one of the largest segments of the budget, a full day has been allotted for this hearing. On Wednesday, April 12, the committee will hear from the Department of Labor and Industry in the morning, followed by the Department of Revenue and Office of Inspector General in the afternoon. Thursday, April 13, will feature the Department of Community and Economic Development in the morning and the state employee and school employee retirement systems in the afternoon. House budget hearings will conclude on Friday, April 14, with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission in the morning and the governor’s budget office in the afternoon. All hearings are streamed live at www.PAHouseGOP.com. For a schedule of upcoming hearings and video of completed hearings, click here. Protecting Children from Abuse  April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. While state laws have identified people, such as teachers, health care providers and clergy members, who are mandated to report suspected cases of abuse, we all have a role to play in protecting our children.Signs of potential physical, sexual or emotional abuse or neglect may include sudden changes in a child’s behavior or school performance; being overly compliant, passive or withdrawn; always watchful, as though preparing for something bad to happen; and a reluctance to be around a particular person or to return home from school or activities. If you suspect a child is being abused or neglected, call PA ChildLine at 1-800-932-0313. Boosting Autism Awareness, Acceptance  April is Autism Acceptance Month, formerly known as Autism Awareness Month. The month is designed to help empower autistic individuals and their families, and to ensure improved support and opportunities in education, employment, accessible housing, affordable health care and long-term support services. The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services’ Office of Developmental Programs works to provide an array of support services for individuals of all ages, as well as their families. The Autism Services, Education, Resources and Training Collaborative (ASERT) is a statewide initiative to provide streamlined access to information for Pennsylvanians living with autism. To learn more, visit www.paautism.org. Call Before You Dig  April is Safe Digging Month, an opportunity to raise awareness of the importance of calling 8-1-1 before digging to ensure the safety of excavation projects across the state. Every time an underground utility line is hit, there is a risk to the contractors or homeowners who are doing the digging; to utility workers and emergency responders who are mobilized to deal with the damage; and to bystanders who live, work or travel near the locations of the incidents. State law requires contractors and residents to contact PA One Call at least three business days prior to excavation – triggering alerts to all utilities within an intended digging area and prompting utilities to mark where their lines are located. Pennsylvanians can dial 8-1-1 to connect with the One Call system, while out-of-state residents or businesses can call 1-800-242-1776. Learn more at www.PA1call.com.  Happy Easter and Happy PassoverI want to wish everyone celebrating Easter this weekend a blessed and holy day filled with hope and peace. And to all who celebrate the Jewish holiday of Passover, Chag Pesach Sameach! Let’s Get Connected Our District Web Site RepCauser.com |