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In this Update:
Continued Opposition to Closing Penn State Campuses
Strong opposition to closing Penn State campuses, including our two local campuses in Hazleton and Schuylkill Haven, continues to reverberate throughout Pennsylvania. Locally, this was clearly demonstrated when 96% of the more than 5,400 people who took my legislative survey said they did not support closing Penn State Schuylkill or Penn State Hazleton. This week, the Penn State Faculty Senate weighed in by passing a resolution by a vote of 97-62 opposing the proposal to potentially close 12 of Penn State’s 19 commonwealth campuses. This is just the latest example of the statewide pushback to this plan. According to The Daily Collegian, the resolution “criticized the proposed closures as disproportionately affecting rural and economically disadvantaged students, destabilizing local economies and lacking sufficient justification.” The resolution calls on university leadership to “engage more transparently with faculty, provide clearer justification and consider less disruptive alternatives before proceeding with any final decisions regarding the future of the Commonwealth Campuses.” I agree! During our public roundtables about the future of Penn State Schuylkill and Penn State Hazleton, we heard similar concerns from students, faculty, administrators, and other local leaders. The May edition of my monthly tv program covers these two events. Watch it here. Addressing the Teacher Shortage in Hazleton
One of the most serious issues confronting our schools here in Schuylkill, Carbon, and Luzerne counties, as well as across Pennsylvania, is a shortage of teachers. There is no one-size-fits-all solution to this problem – it will take innovative ideas to ensure our schools are properly staffed and our children receive a quality education. To address this issue here, Luzerne County Community College, Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania, and the Hazleton Area School District (HASD) announced a new partnership this week that allows students to earn an associate degree and bachelor’s degree in education without leaving Hazleton. Participants will earn these degrees at the Luzerne County Community College Hazleton Center and train at HASD. Following graduation, students will have the opportunity to work at HASD. Congratulations to all who worked to bring this idea to life! Learn more about the program here. Happy Birthday, John Tym!
Please join me in wishing a very happy 100th birthday to John Tym of Shenandoah! John served in the United States Navy with honor during World War II and was very active in the community upon his return. He and his wife Eleanor were married for 60 years and were blessed with seven children, twelve grandchildren, fourteen great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild. Rep. Tim Twardzik and I presented John with official Senate and House citations earlier this week to celebrate this incredible milestone. Pioneer Tunnel Coal Mine & Steam Train Opens This Weekend!
The Pioneer Tunnel Coal Mine and Steam Train in Ashland opens for the season on Saturday! They will be open weekends only from May 3 through May 18, before resuming daily operations on May 24 (Memorial Day weekend). Mine tours run on Saturday and Sunday at 10:30 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 1:30 p.m., and 3:00 p.m. Train rides run on Saturday at 11:15 a.m., 12:45 p.m., and 2:15 p.m. If you’ve never visited, it’s a great place to learn more about the backbreaking and dangerous labor that our parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents performed in the mines to feed their families. America would not be what it is today without them! Plan your visit here. Saturday, May 3: Lehighton Downtown Initiative Hosts Wine on the River
Visit Baer Memorial Park in Lehighton from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday for the 6th annual Wine on the River! Fifteen wineries, food trucks, crafters, and other vendors will be there. A new stage was added this year, and live music will play throughout the day. Proceeds from the event will benefit multiple revitalization and beautification projects throughout downtown Lehighton. Rep. Doyle Heffley and I were pleased to support these efforts by securing a highly competitive state grant of $250,000 to update the facades of downtown buildings. Learn more here. May 15: Senior Scam Seminar in Lehighton
Rep. Doyle Heffley and I are hosting a scam seminar on Thursday, May 15 at 5:30 p.m. at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lehighton. With scammers becoming increasingly brazen and creative, we all need to be aware of how to protect ourselves from falling prey to these criminals. David Shallcross, the Director of the Senior Protection Unit of the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, will lead the discussion. RSVPs are required for this event. Please call 610-377-6363 to reserve your spot today. Federal ID Requirements Change on May 7: Get REAL ID Now
Beginning May 7, standard driver’s licenses will no longer permit you to board flights, visit military bases and enter certain federal facilities. Then, acceptable options will be a passport, military ID or a REAL ID. If you’re not sure whether a REAL ID is right for you, this REAL ID online wizard may be able to help. You do not need to wait until your driver’s license renews to get a REAL ID. To get one, you must provide documents proving your identity, lawful status, Social Security number and Pennsylvania residency. All acceptable documents must be original versions or certified copies (if applicable). While documents can be verified for customers who want a REAL ID at any of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s (PennDOT) driver license centers, only certain locations can provide your REAL ID the same day. Otherwise, expect to receive your REAL ID within 15 business days after successful document verification. To make it more convenient for Pennsylvanians to get a REAL ID, PennDOT is offering dedicated time at specific driver license centers on May 5 and 12 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Pennsylvania Law Protects Patients from Surprise Medical Bills
The No Surprises Act protects patients from surprise medical bills in situations where they have little to no control over who provides their care. A surprise medical bill is an unexpected medical cost incurred when a patient unknowingly obtains health care services by an out-of-network provider. The No Surprises Act protects patients who receive emergency and non-emergency services from being billed for more than they would have paid if the providers were in-network. Learn more and submit a bill for review here.
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