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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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Coffee and Conversation
This past Friday, my office had our first monthly Coffee and Conversation, and hosted the local police chiefs in our district. There, we were able to discuss the challenges to the 5th district’s local law enforcement, so that I may better represent our district’s interests in Harrisburg.
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Touring the Fran and Doug Tieman Center for Research
Last week, I was happy to tour the facility at Caron Treatment Centers that focuses on brain chemistry and medical research to help guide prevention and treatment.
The Fran and Doug Tieman Center for Research in Wernersville is the first-of-its-kind to be located at a nonprofit addiction treatment facility. I am grateful to the staff for inviting me to tour the facility and sharing some of their work.
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2024 Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program Now Open
The application period for the state’s 2024 Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program is now open for eligible Pennsylvanians to begin claiming rebates on property taxes or rent paid last year.
Income limits increased again this year to $46,520 for both homeowners and renters. This is due to a 2023 law that calls for adjusting the income limit based on annual increases in the Consumer Price Index. Remember to exclude 50% of Social Security when determining your income. The maximum rebate is $1,000.
The program is open to residents aged 65 years and older; widows and widowers 50 years and older; and people with disabilities 18 years and older.
Remember – you do not need to pay anyone for assistance to apply for the rebates. Apply online at mypath.pa.gov, or contact my office for help. Additional information about the program is available here.
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January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month
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Human trafficking is one of the fastest growing crimes in the nation. While many may not realize it, it is happening right here in the Commonwealth, not only in big cities but also in our suburban and rural communities.
In fact, according to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, Pennsylvania consistently ranks among the top states in reported trafficking cases.
One of the most persistent myths about human trafficking is the assumption that it exclusively involves abduction or kidnapping. In reality, fewer than 10% of trafficking cases nationwide involve kidnapping. Instead, traffickers often groom their victims over time, exploiting vulnerabilities like age, poverty, substance abuse or unstable housing. Many victims know their trafficker, whether it’s a family member, romantic partner or someone embedded in the local community. These relationships of trust make trafficking more difficult to detect.
Children and adults of all ages and demographics can become victims. Through force, fraud and coercion, traffickers push their victims into demeaning forms of abuse, including domestic servitude and commercial sexual exploitation.
If you are a victim of human trafficking in need of help, or you suspect someone else is a victim:
• Call 911 if you are in immediate danger.
• Call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.
• Text HELP or INFO to BeFree (233733) to reach the National Human Trafficking Resource Center.
Click here to learn more.
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Applications for 2025 Pennsylvania House Scholarship Available
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High school seniors interested in receiving financial assistance to help pay for college can now apply for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives’ Scholarship.
Each year the program awards a four-year scholarship to two students preparing for post-secondary education. It is open to graduating high school seniors who are Pennsylvania residents with plans to attend a Pennsylvania college, university or career school as a full-time student.
To qualify, students must have attained a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average in high school. Other factors taken into consideration for the awards are a student’s commitment to community, leadership qualities, extracurricular activities and financial need.
The scholarship program is administered through the Foundation for Enhancing Communities. Click here for more information and an application. The deadline to apply is April 15.
The scholarship is privately funded by individual and corporate donors; no tax or other public funds are used. Scholarships are awarded through an independent panel of judges chosen by the foundation.
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Attention Students: House Fellowship Program Taking Applications
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The Pennsylvania House Legislative Fellowship Program is accepting applications for its summer 2025 semester.
The program is based at Pennsylvania’s Capitol Building in Harrisburg where fellows are assigned to work in House standing committees or leadership offices; are compensated for their work (which may also include college credit); and are provided the opportunities to draft and present their own legislation, attend meet-and-greets with various public officials and staff, and tour some of the Commonwealth’s historic public spaces, to name a few.
Qualified applicants must be undergraduate juniors and seniors, graduate students or law school students; enrolled in a Pennsylvania college/university or a Pennsylvania resident enrolled in an out-of-state institution; and students of any major with a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
For more information or to apply, visit www.pahousefellowship.us. Applications can be submitted via email to pahousefellowship@pabmc.net. The deadline to apply is March 1.
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Let's Get Connected
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Our District
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Web Site
rep .com
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| Office Locations |
| District Office: Reading Regional Airport - Main Terminal, 2501 Bernville Road, Box 4, Reading, PA, 19605 | Phone: (610) 378-4407, FAX: (610) 378-4412 | Open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
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| Capitol Office: 432 Irvis Office Building, Harrisburg, Pa 17020-2005 | PO Box 202005 | Phone: 717-772-9940 |
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