HARRISBURG, April 4 – As an advocate for customer protections in Pennsylvania, state Rep. Joe Ciresi, D-Montgomery), announced today he has introduced legislation (H.B. 2186) that would help people avoid falling victim to gift card scams. Read more
NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Office of the State Fire Commissioner: Fire Company and Emergency Medical Services Grant Program Who May Apply: All fire companies, emergency medical services, and volunteer rescue squads Use: Eligible projects include but are not limited to facility renovations, equipment purchases, debt reduction, training, education, and recruitment and retention. Funds: Awards may range from $2,500 to $20,000 for fire/rescue companies and $2,500 to $15,000 for EMS companies. Application Deadline: October 20, 2024 More information: OSFC Website Drug and Alcohol Programs: Substance Use Disorder Drop-In Centers Who May Apply: Applicant must have at least two years of experience as of July 1, 2024, in providing SUD prevention, intervention, harm reduction, treatment, or recovery support services, drop-in center services or relevant services and shall have the capacity to provide SUD drop-in center services to individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) and other concurrent SUD. Use: DDAP will provide funds from the Opioid Settlement to drop-in centers or other human service organizations looking to expand their community-driven harm reduction support services to increase overdose prevention and linkage to SUD treatment and recovery support services. The goal is to provide hope, support, and resources to assist those on their road to recovery Funds: DDAP expects to award approximately 14 grants totaling $1,875,000 each. Application Read more
HARRISBURG, Sept. 16 – Pottstown Borough has received $39,935 in funding from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency to provide for critical law enforcement equipment upgrades and support crime victims, state Rep. Joe Ciresi said. The funds can be used to address the following: improve crime reporting, help law enforcement upgrade equipment, support victims of crime and victim service providers, and support county jail-based medication-assisted treatment for individuals with substance use. “This state funding will address two critical needs: the necessity for better crime reporting and funding to support victims of violent crimes. The FBI has a fantastic reporting system that enables local and state police to track and therefore crack down on crime trends,” Ciresi said. “Thanks to this grant, Pottstown Borough will be able to upgrade its law enforcement equipment so it can report its data to the FBI to get more accurate data so the Pottstown Borough police can do their jobs more efficiently and effectively and Pottstown will be a safer place to live and work.” By upgrading its law enforcement system so it can report crime statistics to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Incident-Based Reporting System, Pottstown Borough will be able to accurately capture and track jurisdiction and state-specific crime trends. Pottstown Borough can use the funding to support victim service providers who aid Pennsylvanians Read more
HARRISBURG, Sept. 12 – State Rep. Joe Ciresi, D-Montgomery, secured an $80,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development for emergency structural repairs at Friendship Ambulance. Friendship Ambulance is the EMS division of the Royersford Fire Department. “When Friendship Ambulance contacted me with their urgent request, I immediately started looking for state funding so that the company could continue to serve our communities,” Ciresi said. “This is an example of government responding as it should to emergency situations – quickly and efficiently. I am glad and proud that I was able to secure this grant without delay so these important repairs can happen, and Friendship Ambulance can continue its focus on the health and well-being of our residents.” “In our time of need, we reached out to state Representative Joe Ciresi,” said George Gilliano, president and director of EMS and chief of EMS Operations. “He came to our aid and was able to secure an $80,000 grant so we could get this emergency repair done as soon as possible.” According to Friendship Ambulance, the concrete used for the main structural support across all three ambulance bays had deteriorated, harming the structural integrity of the building and creating a risk of collapse. With funding secured by this state grant, construction is now underway to replace the concrete with steel beams to re-support the Read more
Tuesday, October 29 10am – 12pm (noon) Pottstown Borough Hall, 3rd Floor 100 E High St, Pottstown Apply to get a SEPTA Senior Key card or renew your expiring card! SEPTA Senior Key cards allow free travel on SEPTA trains and transit for seniors (65+): please bring ID showing proof of age or your expiring SEPTA Senior Key card if you are renewing. Read more
Co-hosted with Congresswoman Madeleine Dean Saturday, October 12 Location in the Pottstown area TBA Save the date for this event with information on state and federal tax credits and rebates, and other resources to help you prepare for the tax filing season! Read more
Co-Hosted with Lower Pottsgrove Township Sunday, October 6 11am – 2pm (or until the truck is full) Pottsgrove Senior High School 1345 Kauffman Rd, Pottstown Please keep to a limit of five boxes of paper per household. We also cannot accept binder clips, spiral notebooks, hard-bound books, plastic, trash, binders, photos, batteries, or compact disks. Read more
Veterans Discount ID Card Sign-Up Event Read more
HARRISBURG, Aug. 27 – State Reps. Joe Ciresi and Joe Webster, both D-Montgomery, together with Upper Providence Township Police Department, will hold a hard-to-read license plate replacement event from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 5 at Anderson Farm Park, 499 Hopwood Road, Collegeville. “Our license plate replacement event last year was such a success that I wanted hold it again this year, but this time to work with my friend and colleague, Joe Webster, to help an even larger pool of residents,” Ciresi said. “At this License Plate Restoration Event, police from the Upper Providence Township Police Department will check residents’ plates, determine whether residents are eligible for a new plate and complete the paperwork needed to replace the old license plate. I encourage all residents to come if they have faded or damaged license plates.” “In order to avoid potential fines and complications, vehicle owners can utilize this event to order replacement plates,” Webster said. “I am looking forward to bringing this service to our community and I encourage everyone to call my office to pre-register or if you have any questions. Many thanks to Rep. Joe Ciresi and the Upper Providence Police Department for your partnership on this event." A license plate is considered illegible if any of its numbers or letters can’t be recognized from 50 feet, or if it shows any blistering, peeling, discoloration or loss Read more
HARRISBURG, Aug. 22 – State Rep. Joe Ciresi, D-Montgomery, introduced two bills earlier this summer to make it easier for residents to remain informed and participate in Pennsylvania Utility Commission rate cases: H.B. 2495 which would allow ratepayers to submit public comments to the PUC online, and H.B. 2496 which would require the outside of envelopes to indicate if they contain a notice of a proposed rate change. “Utility services such as water, wastewater and electricity are essential to modern daily life,” Ciresi said. “As our residents’ health and well-being are dependent on these services being safe, reliable and affordable, they need to be able to easily communicate to the PUC their concerns about utility rate changes and acquisitions which will have a direct and substantial impact on their quality of life.” Utilities are currently required to send ratepayers notice of proposed rate changes and include instructions on how to submit public comments by mail. According to Ciresi, the current notification system is neither efficient nor effective as notices can get lost in the volume of other notices sent by utilities and other companies. “We’re in the 21st century, and we are still expecting the public to send comments through the mail,” Ciresi said. “My legislation would modernize the PUC ratemaking process, making it more accessible to the public. These bills would call additional attention to Read more
ROYERSFORD, Aug. 9 – State Rep. Joe Ciresi, D-Montgomery, announced that $92,994 in state funding has been awarded to five Pottstown School District Pre-K and elementary schools to provide fruits and vegetables to students under the federal Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program. Schools receiving the grants are: Barth Elementary School $20,196 Franklin Elementary School $22,308 Lincoln Elementary School $20,856 Pre-K Counts Annex Building $6,666 Rupert Elementary School $22,968 Through the program by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the schools will receive reimbursement for the cost of making free fresh fruits and vegetables available to students during the school day. These fresh fruits and vegetables must be provided separately from the lunch or breakfast meal in one or more areas of the school during the school day. “This funding will help Pottstown schools provide healthy snack alternatives to our students during the day, helping to make healthy eating a habit,” Ciresi said. “This funding will also help give Pottstown’s school children the tools to make healthy choices for themselves. Students will learn that fruits and vegetables are not only the smart choice, but also the tastiest.” The goal of FFVP is to introduce children to fresh fruits and vegetables, to include new and different varieties, and to increase overall acceptance and consumption of fresh, unprocessed produce. Read more
HARRISBURG, July 23 – State Rep. Joe Ciresi’s bill that will make it easier for relatives to claim a deceased person’s property being held by the state has been signed into law by Gov. Josh Shapiro as Act 65 of 2024. “The process of claiming unclaimed property as an heir can be complicated, expensive and burdensome – so much so that many would rather give up than continue with the process, especially if the sum is small,” said Ciresi, D-Montgomery. “Act 65 will slice through the red tape and simplify the current process of claiming unclaimed funds to help the people of Pennsylvania get what’s rightfully theirs.” According to Ciresi, the Pennsylvania Treasury holds some $4 billion in unclaimed property, such as uncashed checks, lost stocks or bonds, or closed bank accounts. Due to an inconsistency in inheritance law, some categories of relatives have had a harder time legitimately claiming that property on behalf of their deceased relatives. Surviving spouses, children, parents and siblings could file for unclaimed property using a notarized sworn relationship affidavit, saving them the effort and expense of having to open or re-open the deceased’s estate. But grandchildren, nephews, nieces and others could not claim by affidavit even if they are the closest surviving relative. Act 65 will allow grandchildren and their descendants, nieces and nephews and their descendants, and grandparents of the deceased Read more
HARRISBURG, July 18 – At state Rep. Joe Ciresi’s request, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission has agreed to hold two hearings in Limerick Township on the proposed $126.7 million rate hike for Aqua Pennsylvania Inc and Aqua Pennsylvania Wastewater Inc. on Monday, Aug. 12 at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. at the Spring-Ford Area High School (Auditorium), 350 S. Lewis Road, Royersford 19468. Aqua Water proposes to increase its annual operating revenues for water services by approximately $112 million (18.7%). Aqua Wastewater seeks a corresponding increase in its annual operating revenues for wastewater services by $14.6 million (20.1%). In total, the proposed rate increase requests would increase the company’s total annual operating revenues by approximately $126.7 million. “The time is now to act and have our voices heard about how these proposed skyrocketing rate hikes will have a devastating impact on our monthly household budgets, particularly on our seniors who live on a fixed income,” Ciresi said. “I am grateful that the PUC has scheduled two hearings in Limerick Township, where wastewater rates already doubled just a few years ago, so as many of our residents as possible can share how these outrageous rate increases will affect their quality of life.” Although Aqua made the request to the PUC saying the rate increase was necessary to pay for infrastructure investments, Ciresi pointed out that customers’ bills already Read more
HARRISBURG, July 22 – Pottstown School District was awarded a $17,200 workforce grant from the PA Department of Education to develop a new generation of special education teachers, state Rep. Joe Ciresi, D-Montgomery, announced today. “Kids in special education classes need teachers who are specially trained to understand their unique needs and provide the necessary support so they can flourish intellectually, socially and emotionally in school,” Ciresi said. “Especially important in light of a statewide teacher shortage, this money will create new learning opportunities for Pottstown School District students. By raising awareness of career paths and job opportunities in special education, this will help recruit the teachers needed to provide a top-notch education for all students.” The Developing Future Special Educator grants will help local education agencies design and implement student-focused experiential learning opportunities for supporting students with disabilities and learning about career opportunities in the field of special education. The program builds on the department’s efforts to develop a teacher pipeline and retention program to guarantee that learners of all abilities across the state are guaranteed access to a top-notch education for years to come. Read more
HARRISBURG, July 17 – State Rep. Joe Ciresi, D-Montgomery, will host multiple events in July and August for residents to apply for the state’s and Pottstown School District’s property tax and rent rebate programs. The state’s Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program provides rebates of up to $1,000 on rent or property taxes paid by eligible applicants. Residents who are 65 or older, widows or widowers 50 or older, and residents with disabilities 18 and older with a household income of $45,000 or less (counting only half of Social Security) are eligible to apply. Ciresi noted that income limits are now higher for the program, so residents may be eligible this year even if they weren’t in previous years. Ciresi’s events will also highlight the new Pottstown School District’s rebate program that is available to all qualifying Pottstown Borough residents who receive the state Property Tax/Rent Rebate. Residents can apply for this local rebate program after receiving their rebate from the state. “For people on fixed incomes like our seniors, property taxes or rent payments can be a hardship,” Ciresi said. “That’s why I am very glad to support the state’s important rebate program and help raise awareness of the Pottstown School District’s new rebate program among residents. With our upcoming PTRR events, our goal is to help people understand if they qualify for the state and PSD rebates and how to Read more
State Rep. Joe Ciresi (D-Montgomery) will host multiple events in July and August for Pottstown residents to apply for the state and school district Property Tax/Rent Rebate programs. Read more
HARRISBURG, July 11 – After his vote to approve the state budget tonight, state Rep. Joe Ciresi highlighted its progress in delivering historic education funding and investing in Pennsylvanians without raising taxes as the reasons for his support. Pennsylvania’s 2024-25 budget includes $1.3 billion in funding for public schools statewide, including reforms to the state’s cyber charter school law to require transparency in advertising and reducing special education overpayments by better aligning tuition to the real cost of educating students. Ciresi had proposed cyber charter reforms in his H.B. 1422, which passed the House with bipartisan support last year. “This budget delivers historic progress for public education, investing more than a billion new dollars in our schools and relieving overburdened property taxpayers,” Ciresi said. “Even though we have more work to do, we’ve also taken an important step for the first time in reforming our broken charter school law by ensuring transparency in cyber charter school advertising, providing relief to school districts paying for mandatory charter school costs, and returning $60 million each year back to the taxpayers. Our successes in delivering more funding for local schools has given them more resources for students and let them rely less on property taxes, and I look forward to seeing that continue with this budget.” Locally, the budget increases funding for Montgomery Read more
HARRISBURG, July 10 – An omnibus transportation bill (HB 2301) including language from a bill introduced by state Rep. Joe Ciresi, D-Montgomery, to waive vehicle title and registration fees for veterans who were captured, injured or received the Congressional Medal of Honor while serving has been sent to the governor’s desk. The proposal had been previously introduced by Ciresi as a standalone bill (HB 105), which passed the House unanimously in April. With its inclusion in and the passage of HB 2301, it is now on its way to be signed into law. “When veterans return home, the impact of their traumatic experiences are further compounded by financial hurdles such as relocation, finding new homes, applying for jobs and registering their vehicles,” Ciresi said. “These heroes deserve our compassion and gratitude, and that’s why I introduced this legislation to help relieve some of the pressure by waiving vehicle registration fees. By permanently removing registration fees for veterans who were injured, captured, or received our highest military decoration, we would show our permanent appreciation for their sacrifices and service.” Currently, recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor, seriously injured veterans, and former POWs pay a $10 vehicle registration processing fee. Under the recently passed legislation, this fee will be removed, and they will no longer be subject to titling fees. For recipients of the Purple Heart, Read more
HARRISBURG, July 9 – Bipartisan legislation ( H.B. 1526 ) introduced by state Reps. Joe Ciresi, D-Montgomery, and Kristin Marcell, R-Bucks, which would allow Intermediate Units to own facilities for instructional space passed the state House today. IUs are regional educational service agencies created by the legislature in 1970. IUs provide high-quality programs to K-12 public school districts and non-public/private schools. Intermediate units also serve as liaisons between school districts and the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Pennsylvania’s 29 intermediate units provide special education, professional development, and technical assistance services to school districts, charter schools and private schools. Every year, more than 175,000 students and 50,000 educators receive services and training from IUs, meeting a variety of needs for students and school districts. Currently, IUs are only permitted to own office space and warehouse facilities, a limitation that prohibits them from owning facilities used for instructional space; a limitation that does not apply to school districts, area career and technical schools, or charter schools. Many IUs operate classrooms and other instructional spaces as providers of important special education, pre-school programs and other educational services. All these instructional facilities must be leased, burdening IUs with rental costs that sometimes greatly exceed what it would cost the IU to purchase and own the Read more
HARRISBURG, July 2 – State Rep. Joe Ciresi’s bill that protects a deceased person’s family or estate from being charged early termination fees when canceling certain service contracts and vehicle leases was signed into law last Friday as Act 29 of 2024. “Death comes with many burdens for the survivors, but one of them shouldn’t be termination fees,” Ciresi said. “It’s hard enough to lose a family member, but it is just salt in the wound for a grieving relative to have to pay an early termination fee because the customer has died. And it is simply gross that companies profit off a person’s death through these fees. My legislation prohibits cable, phone, telecommunications, utility, and other companies from imposing early termination fees on a recently deceased person’s family for services that would no longer be used.” Act 29 requires that written notice along with a copy of a death certificate be provided to end such leases or contracts without financial penalty. Ciresi has championed the legislation in previous sessions. This session, the bill had 24 co-sponsors, including both Democrats and Republicans. Ciresi said he was grateful to his colleagues for their support of this bill to provide additional protections for consumers. “Act 29 is going to help many, many Pennsylvania families during their time of grief by removing one less hassle as they settle their loved one’s Read more
HARRISBURG, June 26 – State Rep. Joe Ciresi’s bill that will protect a deceased person’s family or estate from being charged early termination fees when canceling certain service contracts and vehicle leases passed the PA Senate today and is now headed to the governor’s desk. “Death shouldn’t come with fees, and companies shouldn’t be making money off a customer’s death.” Ciresi said. “It’s hard enough to lose a family member, but it is just salt in the wound for a grieving relative to have to pay an early termination fee because the customer has died. My legislation, which will hopefully become law soon, would prohibit cable, phone, telecommunications, utility, and other companies from imposing early termination fees on a recently deceased person’s family for services that would no longer be used.” Once signed into law, bill will require that written notice along with a copy of a death certificate be provided to end such leases or contracts without financial penalty. Ciresi has championed the legislation in previous sessions. This session, the bill had 24 co-sponsors, including both Democrats and Republicans. Ciresi said he was grateful to his colleagues for their support of this bill to provide additional protections for consumers. “This legislation will help Pennsylvania families by removing one less hassle during their time of grief as they try to settle their loved Read more
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