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Capitol Report
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#Listrak\DateStampLong#
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The latest news from the State Capitol
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Please do not reply directly to this email, as it returns to an unmanned account.
You are welcome to contact me through this link.
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Honoring Our Veterans
This Monday, Nov. 11, we celebrate Veterans Day by remembering the sacrifices these men and women made on behalf of our citizens and people around the world.
Veterans Day, originally known as Armistice Day, first marked the one-year anniversary of the end of World War I, on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, and sought to honor the veterans of the World War – the only world war to have occurred at that time. Armistice Day was declared a national holiday in 1938 to acknowledge world peace, and then was renamed Veterans Day in 1954 to celebrate the contributions of veterans of all wars.
For more about the history of Veterans Day, click here.
For more information about programs and benefits to support our veterans in Pennsylvania, visit the state Department of Military and Veterans Affairs here.
To help honor the veterans in our community, I hosted my second annual Veterans Breakfast last Friday, Nov. 1. You can watch a video from that event here.
I am also speaking at Silver Spring’s annual Veterans Day ceremony on Sunday, Nov. 10 at 1 p.m. at Willow Mill Park. I hope to see you there!
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Thank You for Exercising Your Right to Vote
Our Commonwealth saw a great turnout of voters for Tuesday’s election, and I want to take a moment to commend everyone who participated. Making your voice heard by casting your ballot is truly foundational to our government.
I also want to extend my thanks and appreciation to the hard-working men and women in our county elections bureaus and at the polls for their commitment to helping the election run as smoothly as possible.
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$9.5 Million in Grant Funding Awarded for 87th District Projects
Last week, I announced that $9.5 million in grant funding from the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) and Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) was awarded to projects benefiting residents of the 87th Legislative District.
These awards are a major win for those who call Cumberland County their home. Multiple important projects are now funded, which will create family-sustaining jobs, foster economic development and provide much-needed infrastructure improvements in our fast-growing communities.
Between the recent announcement of $3.7 million in statewide Local Share Account grants (LSA), Public School Facility Improvement Grants (PSFIG) and this announcement, projects in our community have been awarded over $13 million in funding. It has been a privilege to advocate for these dollars for our growing communities.
To learn more about these grant awards, please click here.
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Veteran Saves Week Nov. 12-15
Veterans across the Commonwealth are encouraged to learn more about the Pennsylvania Treasury Department’s great savings programs during the first-ever Veteran Saves Week, Nov. 12-15. The week is dedicated to helping increase financial wellness and confidence for veterans, their families, caregivers and the military community at large.
Treasury has two powerful savings programs that can help veterans, the PA 529 College and Career Savings Program and the PA ABLE Savings Program for Pennsylvanians with disabilities. Both programs provide great tax incentives and benefits, and PA ABLE provides a way to save without losing access to important disability-related benefits.
Starting in January 2026, the federal ABLE Age Adjustment Act will expand ABLE account eligibility to millions more Americans, including 1 million veterans, by increasing the age of disability onset from 26 to 46.
Learn more about Treasury’s programs at patreasury.gov/consumer.
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PennDOT Service Center Closures for Veterans Day
All PennDOT driver license and photo centers will be closed on Saturday, Nov. 9, through Monday, Nov. 11, in observance of Veterans Day.
During the closures, customers may still obtain a variety of driver and vehicle products and services, including all forms, publications and driver training manuals, through PennDOT's online Driver and Vehicle Services website.
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You’re Invited to My Legislative Open House!
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America250PA Launches First Round of Semiquincentennial Grants
America250PA is now accepting applications for the first round of semiquincentennial grants to help celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the birth of the United States of America.
The grants are available to any Pennsylvania municipal entity, county or registered nonprofit organization to be used toward programming, projects or events that focus on education, preservation, innovation and celebration of the semiquincentennial. The grants require an equal match from the recipient.
The deadline to apply for the first round of grants is Sunday, Dec. 15. A second round will be held in the spring.
For additional information about how to apply, including a schedule of virtual office hours to answer questions about the program, click here.
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Funding to Boost Housing Initiatives
The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) is seeking applications from organizations for projects to improve the availability and affordability of housing across the Commonwealth. Funding is being provided through the Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement (PHARE) Fund.
PHARE receives its funding from the impact fee levied on natural gas drilling companies and a portion of the Realty Transfer Tax. Funding is available for housing initiatives in all of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties. PHFA is charged with administering the allocation of PHARE dollars.
PHARE applications are completed and submitted entirely online, eliminating the need for paper submissions and simplifying the process for applicants. The request for proposal is located on PHFA’s website here. The online application is accessible on the PHARE website here. The deadline to apply is 2 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 15.
For additional details, click here.
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