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The latest news from the State Capitol |
In this Edition:
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‘Tis the Season! |
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More Retirees Eligible for Reduced-Fee Vehicle Registration |
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New Military-Themed License Plates Honor PA Veterans |
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Applications Open for Broadband Funding |
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Art of the State Showcases PA’s Talents |
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‘Tis the Season!
Community Christmas trees across the 106th District are now illuminated to usher in the holidays. Linda and I greatly enjoyed all the tree-lighting ceremonies. See some of the pictures below or visit my Facebook or Instagram pages.
On Tuesday, Capitol staff and visitors gathered for the official lighting of the Capitol Christmas tree. The 24-foot Douglas Fir comes from Crystal Spring Tree Farm in Carbon County and is adorned with 1,250 LED lights and more than 700 handmade ornaments donated by Pre-K for PA students and older adults from across the Commonwealth. This is the tallest tree to grace the Capitol Rotunda in at least 10 years
The tree in the Rotunda will be lit daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. through Jan. 8. An additional tree, located outdoors on the Capitol steps, will be lit daily from 5 p.m. to midnight, also through Jan. 8.
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More Retirees Eligible for Reduced-Fee Vehicle Registration
A new state law I supported to allow more Pennsylvania retirees to qualify for a reduction in their vehicle registration fee takes effect this Sunday.
The benefit now will be available to retired persons earning up to $29,906, an increase of more than $10,000 from the prior income eligibility limit. Those who qualify will pay an $11 processing fee to register their vehicle each year, rather than the standard $45 registration fee.
Qualified applicants must be retired and receiving Social Security or other pension payments. Please note, 100% of a veterans' benefit payment or payment to the unmarried surviving spouse, upon the death of a veteran, should be excluded from the income calculation.
The applicant must be listed as an owner on the vehicle’s registration and only one vehicle per qualified applicant may be registered for the reduced fee. Qualifying vehicles must be a passenger car or truck with a registered gross weight of not more than 9,000 pounds.
Click here to learn more about the program or contact my office for assistance.
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New Military-Themed License Plates Honor PA Veterans
Six new license plates honoring the service of the Commonwealth’s veterans are now available from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. The new plates were authorized under Act 60 of 2024.
Three of the new plates recognize service members who received medals or honors for individual achievements or deployments. They include the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal Registration Plate, Operation Inherent Resolve Veterans Plate, and Borinqueneers Congressional Gold Medal Registration Plate.
The other three new plate designs recognize women veterans. Two are available for motorcycles and the third is for passenger cars or trucks with a registered gross weight of not more than 14,000 pounds. They include the Honoring Our Women Veteran Motorcycle Registration Plate, Women Veteran Motorcycle Registration Plate and the Women Veteran Registration Plate.
To learn more about all license plate options, fees and how to apply for them, click here.
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Applications Open for Broadband Funding
The Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority (PBDA) recently announced the $1.16 billion Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program will accept its first round of applications through Jan. 21. BEAD is a federal grant program that provides states with funding to deploy broadband infrastructure and connect residents to the internet.
The goal is to expand broadband in unserved and underserved areas of the state to make sure high-speed internet is available to every resident by the end of the decade. It is estimated that over 100,000 Pennsylvanians in 42 counties currently have no service or struggle with poor service.
Eligible BEAD applicants include cooperative organizations; not-for-profit organizations; public-private partnerships; private companies; public or private utility companies; public utility districts; municipalities or units of local government; and internet service providers registered through the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
For more information about the program, how funding can be used and how to apply, click here.
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Art of the State Showcases PA’s Talents
The State Museum of Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Heritage Foundation are inviting artists and craftspeople to submit applications to exhibit their work in Art of the State 2025. Now in its 58th year, this prestigious juried exhibition boasts a tradition of presenting highly creative art by Pennsylvanians, chosen by a distinguished panel of jurors.
The call for entry for Art of the State 2025 is open to Pennsylvania residents who are at least 18 years of age. Artists may submit work in one or more of five categories: painting, work on paper, sculpture, craft and photography/digital media. More than $5,000 in cash awards will be presented.
The deadline for entries is Friday, Jan. 17, 2025. The exhibition will be open from Sunday, June 8, 2025, through Sept. 14, 2025.
The Art of the State 2024 exhibition is currently in place at the state museum and will close Sunday, Jan 5, 2025.
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