Capitol Up[date Representative Martin Causer (R-Turtlepoint)
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| Capitol Update Saturday, May 13, 2023The latest news from the State Capitol Please do not reply directly to this email, as it returns to an unmanned account. You are welcome to contact me through this link. EMS Town Meeting Highlights Challenges, Potential Solutions  Nearly 80 people gathered Thursday night at the Smethport Fire Department to talk about how we can help our emergency medical services agencies deal with rising costs, declining revenue and a shortage of providers. You may watch video coverage of the meeting here. While money is always tight and getting additional funding is a challenge, many people expressed concern about the societal changes that have led to a decline in volunteerism in all types of organizations, not just EMS. But with the cost and time involved in training to be a provider, it is especially difficult to get people into the system and then to keep them there. An assessment of training requirements, as well as the cost, availability and flexibility of training opportunities, is needed. It’s also important to build camaraderie and make sure young people joining the service have mentors to help them learn, grow and gain confidence in their skills. On the funding side, the Legislature has twice in the last seven years passed laws to increase Medicaid reimbursements for ambulance services, but reimbursements still don’t meet actual costs. Increased reimbursements are necessary, as is more of a commitment from local governments. Thank you to Aaron Rhone, director of the Bureau of EMS within the Pennsylvania Department of Health; Heather Sharar, executive director of the Ambulance Association of Pennsylvania; Tom McElree, executive director of EMS West; Gary Watters, executive director of EMS of AMED in Altoona; and Sean Harris of the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee for serving on our panel. And a special thank you to the EMS folks, local officials and citizens who took the time to participate in this important discussion. There is no easy solution, or one-size-fits-all solution, to the challenges facing our ambulance services. To help ensure they have the tools they need to succeed, I plan to reinstate the EMS Task Force we formed several years ago to flesh out some of the ideas offered at Thursday’s meeting. We all need to work together to ensure our emergency responders can continue providing the life-saving services we depend upon. The Future is Bright!  Congratulations Otto-Eldred FFA students! I had the honor of attending their award ceremony this week to celebrate all their hard work and accomplishments this school year. Special recognition to seniors Sarah Beaver and Ethan VanCamp for earning Keystone Degrees. The future of Pennsylvania Agriculture is bright!  Happy Anniversary!  Congratulations to Gary and Laura Isadore of Smethport who are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary! I was honored to present them with a congratulatory citation from the House of Representatives. Happy anniversary to this special couple! Denton Hill Update I had the opportunity to meet with Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) officials this week to get an update on efforts to reopen Denton Hill State Park as an all-season recreation area. After issuing its second request for proposal seeking a concessionaire to partner with, DCNR received two proposals that remain under consideration. While neither proposal scored highly in the agency’s initial review, they are talking with both parties to examine their options. I stressed the importance of the agency being “all in” on the project, as no one wants to invest in it only to see it fail. I suggested the millions of dollars Potter County contributes in oil and gas, as well as timber revenue to the state, would be a great place to look to fund the project. Let’s bring some of that revenue back home to benefit the people who live here. Denton Hill has been closed since 2014 and it’s such a loss to those of us who live in the region, as well as those who may look to visit here. I will continue working to advance this project for the benefit of our area. Primary Election Day Tuesday, May 16  This Tuesday, May 16, is the municipal primary election. Voters will have the opportunity to choose their party’s candidates for positions such as county commissioner, county row offices, school board, borough and township officials, judges and more. Voters may cast their ballots in person at their local polling place. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Additional information about in-person voting is available here. Voters who have chosen to vote by mail-in or civilian absentee ballot must have those ballots back to their county Board of Elections no later than 8 p.m. on election day. Only voters registered as Republicans or Democrats are eligible to vote for candidates in the primary election, unless you reside in a community where a special election is taking place or a referendum is on your ballot. Check with your county elections office for details about what is on your ballot. For comprehensive information about the state’s elections, visit vote.pa.gov. Policy Hearings Highlight Keystone Commitment to All Pennsylvanians Click here to view video. Last week, House Republicans outlined our Keystone Commitment to all Pennsylvanians. This is a people-driven, future-focused platform that delivers hope through the opportunity to experience earned success. It is built on four cornerstones: a thriving economy, affordable living, safer communities, and a child-first, family-focused education. As we seek to identify paths to achieve these goals, the House Republican Policy Committee has been and will continue to be hosting hearings on key issues and challenges facing our communities. In recent weeks, the committee has discussed issues of funding for local police, hospital pricing transparency and student transportation. On the agenda next week is a hearing about the opportunities created by career and technical education. Click here for more information about the Policy Committee hearings. Learn more about our Keystone Commitment to all Pennsylvanians at www.KeystoneCommitment.com. Peace Officers Memorial Day Monday  This Monday, May 15, is Peace Officers Memorial Day. It is a day, first established by President John F. Kennedy in 1962, designed to pay tribute to the brave local, state and federal peace officers who have died or been disabled in the line of duty. The day falls during National Police Week, which is being marked from May 14-20. We are blessed by the men and women who have taken an oath to serve and protect and particularly those who have sacrificed their lives to protect public safety. Mental Health Awareness Month  May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about mental health and continuing the fight against the stigma people face when seeking help. This year’s theme is “More than Enough.” It seeks to highlight the inherent value each person holds, regardless of diagnosis, appearance, socioeconomic status, background or ability. Showing up, just as you are, for yourself and the people around you is more than enough. In Pennsylvania, mental health services are administered through county Mental Health and Developmental Services programs. To learn more about mental health care in Pennsylvania, click here. If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988. Let’s Get Connected Our District Web Site | |