Capitol Update by Rep. Martin Causer (R-Turtlepoint)
 FacebookWebsiteBioLatest NewsState FormsPhoto GalleryContactCapitol Update Friday, September 15, 2023 You are welcome to contact me through this link. Happy Anniversary!  Congratulations to Gary and Lynda Schul of Kane, who celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary last week! The couple was married on Sept. 7, 1963, at Mt. Tabor Lutheran Church in Kane. They have been blessed with two children and four grandchildren. I was honored to present them with a citation from the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in recognition of this special milestone! Thank You for Coming to the Expo!  Thank you to everyone who came out to the Kane Senior Citizens Expo last Friday. We had a great turnout from seniors and exhibitors. Mark your calendars for our final expo of the year on Friday, Oct. 13, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Roulette Fire Hall, 12 River St., Roulette. Great News for Denton Hill State Park  The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) announced this week it will work with locally based Denton Go, LLC, to grow recreational opportunities in all four seasons at Denton Hill State Park in Potter County. This is great news for our region! I often hear from people who share how much they miss skiing at Denton Hill and while it may still be a while yet until we can hit the slopes, it’s exciting to know the park is moving in the right direction. Revitalizing Denton Hill and expanding it to a four-season destination also will bring significant benefits for economic growth, drawing more customers into our existing small businesses and encouraging the development of others. With Cherry Springs State Park just 20 minutes away, the upgrades at Denton Hill are sure to benefit both parks. To read DCNR’s full announcement, click here. Veteran Rural Outreach Coming to Cameron County Area veterans in need of assistance have another opportunity coming up next month when Veteran Community Initiatives comes to Emporium. The Veteran Rural Outreach event will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 4, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Cameron County Vets Club, 427 E. Third St., Emporium. My office is among those participating, so I encourage you to stop by! Check out the flyer for details.  Keeping Kids Safe in the Car  Car crashes are a leading cause of death for children. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 40% of children who died in 2021 were riding in a vehicle unrestrained. On average, three children, age 14 and under, were killed in traffic crashes each day in 2021.As we mark Child Passenger Safety Week next week, Sept. 17-23, parents and caregivers are reminded of the importance of properly restraining children in vehicles. The Commonwealth’s primary seat belt law requires all vehicle occupants younger than 18 to wear a seat belt when riding anywhere in a vehicle. Children up to the age of 2 must be secured in a rear-facing car seat, and children under the age of 4 must be restrained in an approved child safety seat. Children must ride in a booster seat until their eighth birthday. Parents are also reminded that due to potential dangers associated with air bag deployment, children 12 and younger should always ride buckled in a vehicle’s back seat. This year’s theme is “Car Seat Safety Comes in Many Shapes and Sizes” to highlight the importance of selecting a size-appropriate car seat for every child and using it correctly. For more information about finding the right car seat and additional safety tips, visit PennDOT’s Safety Page. Seeking School Funding Solutions  The Basic Education Funding Commission launched a series of hearings this week to gather testimony to help improve the state’s basic education funding system.Earlier this year, the funding system was declared unconstitutional by Commonwealth Court, and lawmakers were directed to develop a remedy with attention to adequacy, equity and timeliness. Hearings held in Allentown, Harrisburg and Philadelphia this week provided feedback from public school finance experts, education advocates and others. Additional hearings are planned over the next several weeks, concluding with one in Bedford on Thursday, Nov. 9. For more information, or to submit comments to the commission or watch the hearings, visit www.basiceducationfundingcommission.com. The Basic Education Funding Commission is comprised of three members of each party from both the House and Senate, as well as three members of the administration. Searching for Scholarships?  The cost of a postsecondary education can add up quickly for students and families. The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) will hold a webinar to help students and their families learn how to cover those expenses. PHEAA will share tips to help students successfully search and apply for scholarships. After attending this webinar, students will understand the different types of scholarships, resources for finding them, and tools to help increase their chances of earning those scholarships. The webinar will be held Monday, Sept. 18, from 6-7 p.m. To register, click here. Counties Seek Poll Workers for Upcoming Election  To ensure elections run smoothly across the Commonwealth, the Department of State is calling on citizens to consider serving as poll workers in the upcoming election on Tuesday, Nov. 7.Open positions vary by county but may include judge of elections, majority inspector and minority inspector, which are elected positions. Counties also need clerks and machine operators/inspectors at each precinct. These positions are filled by appointment. Counties train poll workers on their election day duties. Workers receive payment for training and for their service on election day. In order to serve, you must be registered to vote in the county where you wish to work. Exceptions exist for 17-year-old high school students; contact your county election office for more information. Government officials and government employees generally are not allowed to serve as poll workers. Likewise, you are not permitted to serve if your name appears on the ballot. Poll workers generally work for the entire day on election day, from before the time the polls open at 7 a.m., until after the polls close at 8 p.m. People interested in serving as poll workers should start by filling out this form. If you have questions, call 877-VOTESPA (877-868-3772) or email re-voterreg@pa.gov. September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month  Suicide claims the lives of over 2,000 Pennsylvanians each year. That’s an average of five lives lost EACH DAY.Nationwide, suicide is the 10th leading cause of death, with one suicide occurring every 11.1 minutes. There are more than 1 million suicide attempts each year. This tragedy affects ALL ages, races, genders, sexuality, denominations, incomes and educational levels. It can affect anyone and everyone. September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, a time to remember and honor those lost to suicide, as well as support suicide attempt survivors and all who experience suicidal ideation, mental health challenges and crisis every day. It is important to remember help is available. Just dial 988 to connect with the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Learn more about Prevent Suicide PA’s work around Pennsylvania at www.preventsuicidepa.org. |