We must put an end to absurd boilerplate contracts

(Sep 05, 2024)

A man signs up for a free trial of a streaming platform and agrees to the terms of service. Years later, the man and his wife dine at a restaurant after receiving assurances from an app owned by the streaming service that the restaurant can accommodate his wife’s allergies. Read more

 

Grant Memo: Agricultural, Environmental, Public Safety, Redevelopment and Additional Grant Opportunities

(Sep 04, 2024)

NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Department of Community and Economic Development: Local Share Account Statewide Who May Apply: Counties, municipalities, municipal authorities, economic development agencies, redevelopment authorities, land banks, or councils of government. Non-profits may partner with an eligible applicant to apply on their behalf. Use: Projects in the public interest. Projects that improve the quality of life of citizens in the community. Eligible projects must be owned and maintained by an eligible applicant or a nonprofit organization. See program guidelines for specific eligible uses of funds. Funds: The PA Race Horse Development and Gaming Act provides for the distribution of gaming revenues through the Commonwealth Financing Authority to support projects in the public interest. Grant requests must be at a minimum $25,000 and no more than $1,000,000. Application Deadline: November 30, 2024 More information: DCED Website Department of Education: Hunger-Free Campus Grants Who May Apply: Institutes of Higher Education. Use: Funding may be used to ensure students have access to healthy, nutritious food. Funds: Institutions with 3,000 or fewer students are eligible for $20,000 awards. Institutions with 3,001 to 7,000 students are eligible for $40,000 awards. Institutions with greater than 7,000 students are eligible for $60,000 awards. Application Deadline: September 23, 2024 More information: PDE website PROGRAMS OPEN FOR Read more

 

Grant Memo: Agricultural, Environmental, Public Safety, Redevelopment and Additional Grant Opportunities For Your District

(Aug 13, 2024)

NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Commission on Crime and Delinquency: School Safety and Mental Health Grants Who May Apply: Eligible school entities as defined under 24 P.S. §13-1314.1-B of the PA Public School Code. Use: Funding may be used to assist schools with physical safety and/or behavioral health needs. Funds: $100 million is available to be distributed via a formula that stipulates school districts are to receive $100,000 base average and an additional amount based on their 22/23 Adjusted Average Daily Membership. Other eligible school entities are to receive $70,000. Application Deadline: September 26, 2024 More information: PCCD Website Commission on Crime and Delinquency: Targeted School Safety Grants for Nonpublic Schools Who May Apply: Nonpublic schools as defined under Section 924.3-A of the PA Public School Code, municipalities, law enforcement agencies, or approved vendors. Use: Funding may be used to assist schools with physical safety and/or behavioral health needs. Funds: A total of $19,665,000 in state school safety and security funds is being announced to support this initiative. Application Deadline: September 26, 2024 More information: PCCD Website PennDOT: Rail Freight Assistance Program/Rail Transportation Assistance Program Who May Apply: Railroad company, transportation organization, municipality, municipal authority, user Read more

 

Summer 2024 Newsletter

(Jul 25, 2024)

Dear Neighbor, As this legislative session winds down, I find myself looking back on some of our achievements over the past two years, both of the legislature as a whole and as an individual legislator. Read more

 

Agricultural, Environmental, Public Safety, Redevelopment and Additional Grant Opportunities For Your District

(Jul 02, 2024)

NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Local Share Account: Monroe County Who May Apply: Municipalities, economic development agencies, or redevelopment authorities within Monroe County or the five contiguous counties to Monroe (Carbon, Lackawanna, Northampton, Pike, and Wayne). Use: Public interest projects, community improvement projects, economic development projects, or roadway improvement projects. Funds: Funded by gross terminal revenues of certain licensed gaming facilities. Application Deadline: September 30, 2024 More information: DCED Website Local Share Account: Category 4 Facilities Program (Berks, Cumberland, Westmoreland, and York Counties) Who May Apply: Municipalities, counties, redevelopment authorities, or economic development agencies in a county hosting a Category 4 licensed gaming facility. Use: Projects in the public interest. Funds: Funded by gaming revenues from Category 4 licensed facilities. Application Deadline: September 30, 2024 More information: DCED Website Local Share Account: Luzerne County Who May Apply: All Luzerne County municipalities and the Luzerne County Redevelopment Authority. Use: Projects in the public interest. Funds: Funded by 2% of gross terminal revenues of certain licensed gaming facilities. Application Deadline: September 30, 2024 More information: DCED Website Local Read more

 

Secure our rights, pass the Reproductive Freedom Act

(Jun 20, 2024)

Two years ago, in overturning Roe v. Wade, the United States Supreme Court declared that it was for each state to decide just how many rights women ought to have, and how equal we ought to be. Three generations of women had come of age believing that the Constitution guaranteed our freedom to decide motherhood for ourselves, that it was not expected that our primary—and often only—role in the world was motherhood. Read more

 

Spring 2024 Newsletter

(Jun 03, 2024)

It’s Budget Season in Harrisburg, but that also means summer is heating up! As we debate the budget, I am doing all within my power to guarantee that our district gets all that it needs for the coming fiscal year and to ensure that Pennsylvania government works for all of us. Read more

 

Grant Memo: Agricultural, Educational, Environmental, Redevelopment and Additional Grant Opportunities

(May 15, 2024)

NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Department of Conservation and Natural Resources: Wild Resource Conservation Program Who May Apply: Counties, municipalities, educational institutions, non-profit organizations, conservation districts, and municipal authorities. Individuals, state government agencies, and for-profit businesses may be eligible depending on the project. Use: Grant applications will be accepted for species surveys, conservation, and management. Funds: Funding comes through the Wil Resource Conservation Fund and a portion of the Environmental Stewardship Fund. Grant size varies, but the average grant award is $30,000. Application Deadline: July 1, 2024 More information: DCNR website Department of Community and Economic Development: Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP) The NAP is broken down into five components: The Neighborhood Assistance Program Tax Credit, the Special Program Priorities, the Neighborhood Partnership Program, the Charitable Food Program, and the Enterprise Zone Program Tax Credit. Please visit the link below for specific information on each component. Who May Apply: Depending on the program, eligible applicants include neighborhood organizations that hold a ruling from the IRS as nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organizations, and organizations operating as food banks, food pantries, or emergency food providers. Use: Use varies by program, but priorities for this funding Read more

 

Grant Memo: Agricultural, Educational, Environmental, Redevelopment and Additional Grant Opportunities

(May 07, 2024)

NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Department of Education: Public School Environmental Repairs Program Who May Apply: School districts, area career and technical schools, charter schools, and regional charter schools that operate school buildings. Use: Eligible projects include, but are not limited to, the remediation and/or abatement of lead in water sources and paint, asbestos, and mold inside school buildings of eligible school entities. Funds: Up to $75 million in state funds will be competitively awarded. There is no minimum funding request. The maximum funding request is $10 million. One application per entity will be accepted, but the application may consist of more than one project in more than one school building. Application Deadline: June 30, 2024 More information: PDE Website Department of Agriculture: Farm-to-School Grant Program Who May Apply: Any school district, school, charter school, private school, or center with pre-K classes, kindergarten classes, elementary classes, or middle school classes through 8 th grade that participates in a Federal Child Nutrition Program. Use: The purpose of the Farm-to-School Program is to educate prekindergartners through eighth graders and their families about the importance of choosing healthy, locally produced foods and increase awareness of Pennsylvania agriculture. Eligible projects will achieve this purpose. Funds: $500,000 is available for Read more

 

Agricultural, Educational, Safety, Redevelopment and Additional Grant Opportunities

(May 01, 2024)

NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Commission on Crime and Delinquency: Indigent Defense Grant Program Who May Apply: Counties Use: Salaries and benefits for staff, recruiting efforts to find/retain staff, training and development courses for staff, efforts to improve data collection, and any cost associated with gaps or needs in providing indigent defense, among other things. Funds: A total of $6,750,000 is expected to fund up to 67 grants (one in each county). Application Deadline: , May 23, 202d4 More information: PCCD Website Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (via Department of Homeland Security): Nonprofit Security Grant Program Who May Apply: Non-profit organizations may apply as a sub applicant through PEMA. PEMA is the direct applicant to the Department of Homeland Security. Use: Funds are to be used to enhance the protection of soft targets/crowded places. Funds: $274,500,000 in federal funds are available for this national funding opportunity. $3,277,500 in funding is targeted toward Pennsylvania. Application Deadline: May 29, 2024, at 5 p.m. More information: PEMA Website Historical and Museum Commission: Historical & Archival Records Care Grant Who May Apply: Local government entities and nonprofit organizations Use: Projects must relate to some aspect of Pennsylvania’s history and funds may be used for preservation of Read more

 

The Reproductive Freedom Act

(Apr 16, 2024)

In the past two months, not only did Arizona’s Supreme Court allow for the enforcement of an anti-abortion law dating back to the Civil War banning virtually all abortions, but Alabama’s Supreme Court managed a de-facto ban on in-vitro fertilization, which the state legislature swiftly tried to reverse by passing a law unlikely to pass constitutional muster. Read more

 

Shredding Events

(Mar 14, 2024)

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Winter 2024 Newsletter

(Jan 29, 2024)

Dear Neighbor,With the new year already well underway, I wanted to provide an update on the exciting and important legislation I’m working on in Harrisburg, as wellas ensure you are aware of the many services my office provides right here in the district. Read more

 

Holiday Closures, New Years Open House & more!

(Dec 21, 2023)

Happy Holidays! In observance, my District Office will be closed Friday, December 22nd through Monday, December 25th! Read more

 

Community Center Grand Opening, Fishing Licenses, & Road Safety

(Dec 01, 2023)

This past Wednesday, the Great Valley Community Center in East Whiteland Township celebrated its grand opening. This new recreation space is set to host youth sports activities, as well as adult and senior programs for the Great Valley region. Read more

 

Fall 2023 Newsletter

(Nov 28, 2023)

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New Pollinator License Plate to Support Habitat Program

(Nov 20, 2023)

“Protecting our pollinators is imperative,” Howard said. “By creating roadside native grass and perennial wildflower-filled habitats along our state highways, we will not only reduce maintenance costs, but beautify our state and protect our crops.”  Read more

 

Bipartisan Anti-Hate Crime Bills Pass House

(Nov 03, 2023)

Pennsylvania saw a sharp increase in hate crimes in 2021, with 255 reported last year, according to data maintained by the Pennsylvania State Police. That’s more than any other year since cases began being tracked in 1997 and almost as many as the previous three years combined. Read more

 

Howard applauds local school for national recognition

(Sep 20, 2023)

“I am especially proud that the Saints Philip and James School has received this recognition,” Howard said. “The hard-working students and teachers all deserve praise for this honor. The fact that a school in the 167th District was worthy of being called one of the best academic schools in the country, it fills me with pride.” Read more

 

HB 841 passes the House & DCNR wants to hear from you!

(Jul 21, 2023)

Dear Friends,I want to provide you with an exciting update from Harrisburg, as well as share some news about a new park in our area. I hope you are having a fun and relaxing summer. Read more