State Senator Lindsey M. Williams, Your District 38 Update

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Connected!*

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time?*

*Make sure you stay up-to-date on all things for the 38th
District and throughout the Commonwealth by clicking below! **


Click Here [link 1]

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*

*Upcoming Events**

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*Neuro-Affirming
Education In Our Schools Policy Hearing*

*Friday, April 14,
1pm*

This Friday, April 14, Rep. Jess Benham and I are co-hosting a
joint Senate and House Democratic Policy Committee Hearing on
Neuro-Affirming Education in Our Schools.

You can attend in person at
the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers building, 10 S. 19th Street,
Pittsburgh, PA or register to join us on Zoom at
SenatorMuth.com/policy [link 2].

The hearing will raise awareness of
the need to create public schools that are affirming, inclusive, and
safe for neurodivergent students - this includes children with ADHD,
Autism, Intellectual Disabilities, PTSD, Learning Disabilities,
Epilepsy, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and others. This public
hearing will advance an expansive vision of education where all
students and educators have the resources they need and state and
local policies that foster school environments that are affirming,
inclusive, and safe for neurodivergent students.



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*Free
Shredding Event*

*Saturday, April 15, 9am - 12pm*

Do you have
personal documents piling up? Rep. Sara Innamorato [link 3] and I are
hosting a Free Shredding Event on Saturday, April 15 from 9am-12pm at
the Lawrenceville Goodwill at 118 52nd Street. Bring your box of docs
so you can shred it and forget it!



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*Spring
Senior Fair*

*Thursday, April 20, 10am - 12pm*

Come meet Senator
Lindsey Williams and her staff at our Senior Resource Fair at the Mt.
Ararat Community Center [link 4] in Highland Park on Thursday, April
20th from 10 am - 12 pm! This FREE event includes health screenings,
information for seniors and caregivers, light refreshments, and much
more! Staff from our office will also be available to process Port
Authority Senior ConnectCards and help with Pennsylvania Treasury
Unclaimed Property searches.



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*Evening
with the Women of the Allegheny County State Legislative
Delegation*

*Chatham University's Mellon Board Room *

*Thursday,
April 20, from 5-7pm*

The Pennsylvania Center for Women and Politics
[link 5] is hosting a networking reception and panel discussion with
women from the Allegheny County Delegation. If you are interested in
running for office or just want to hear from your representatives, you
won't want to miss this event. It is free and open to the public.
Registration is required.

Register for this event here [link
6].

*

*Good News**

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*Hard-to-Read
License Plate Event*

We had an AMAZING turn out last week for our
Hard-to-Read License Plate replacement event at our Natrona office!
Thank you to the Harrison Police Department for coming out to help
fill out forms!

If you couldn't make it to the event but still need a
replacement, you can stop by our office or give us a call to get a
form to fill out at your convenience.

Our Harrison Office is located
at 1826 Union Avenue, Natrona Heights, PA 15065 (next to J&S Pizza).
The phone number is 724-224-2131. Our Ross Office is located at 5000
McKnight Road, Suite 405, Pittsburgh, PA 15237 (next to Half Price
Books). The phone number is 412-364-0469.



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*AARP
Tax Season Comes to an End*

As tax season winds down, I want to
recognize the dedicated AARP volunteers who made this year's AARP Tax
Aide Program successful. This year our office scheduled over 1,000 tax
appointments!

A special thank you to AARP volunteer coordinators
Roger, Gloria, and Julie. We've received so many compliments about
peoples' wonderful experiences this year. Thank you also to D38
staffer Ryan for leading the scheduling aspect of the program, which
is no small task!

We're grateful to the Ross Community Center and
Shaler Undercliff Volunteer Fire Department for hosting the program
again.

We're proud to partner with the AARP to offer this fantastic
service.

Remember that Tuesday, April 18 is this year's tax
deadline!



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*Community
Interfaith Iftar*

I was incredibly grateful to the Muslim Association
of Greater Pittsburgh for inviting me to their Interfaith Iftar, for
sharing their table, and extending their offer of community to all.
I spoke recently to a group of middle and high school students about
the importance of being involved in your local community. We talked
about how community isn't just who you live next to, it's who you
choose to share your time and space with. I'm thankful to the Muslim
Association of Greater Pittsburgh for providing the opportunity for
all of us to share time and space in community.

Ramadan Mubarak to
all those observing this Holy
month.

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*Grubbs
Road Sidewalk Connector and Devlin Park Tennis
Courts*

Congratulations to the Town of McCandless [link 8] on the
opening of the Grubbs Road sidewalk connector and the Devlin Park
tennis courts! I was proud to advocate for state funding for both of
these projects. I can't wait for residents to enjoy these new
facilities!

*

*Legislative News**

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*Share
your Comments on Free School Meals!*

A new Federal proposal may make
it easier for more schools to take advantage of the "Community
Eligibility Provision," which allows all students to receive free
breakfast and lunch.

Currently, if 40% of all students in a school
qualify for free or reduced meals, that school can offer free meals to
all students. However, not all schools participate in this program
because the Federal government doesn't provide full reimbursement for
meals until 62% of students are eligible.

The new proposal would
lower the Community Eligibility threshold and allow schools to offer
free meals to all students when only 25% of students qualify for free
or reduced meals. The downside- reimbursement rates are not expected
to change with this proposal, which means that many schools won't be
able to afford to change their participation, despite being
eligible.

This proposal is still in the comment period until May 8.
You can submit your comments here: Federal Register :: Child Nutrition
Programs: Community Eligibility Provision-Increasing Options for
Schools [link 9]. I'll be urging the Federal Government to increase
their reimbursement rates to schools participating in Community
Eligibility.

My Universal School Meals legislation [link 10] with
Senator Judy Schwank requires that all schools maximize their
participation in the National School Breakfast and Lunch Program. This
new Federal proposal, if paired with increased reimbursement rates,
would be a huge benefit to our students across Pennsylvania.

Federal
proposal would expand free meals for all kids to more schools | 90.5
WESA [link 11]

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*Medical
Assistance and CHIP Renewals*

Do you or a loved one get Medicaid or
CHIP coverage through the state? As of April 1, 2023, changes to
federal law mean that you MUST renew your coverage every year or risk
losing your coverage.

You will not lose your state health coverage
without a chance to complete a renewal or update your information.
When you complete your renewal, if you are no longer eligible for
Medicaid or CHIP, you will automatically get connected to low- or
no-cost health coverage through Pennie [link 12], Pennsylvania's
health insurance marketplace, so you can choose another health plan
that's right for you.

Take these steps *right now* to make your
renewal easier:

-
Update your contact information with the
Department of Human Services. Having the correct address makes it
easier to send you timely information in the mail.

-
Sign up for
email and text alerts so you get important information about your
health coverage and your renewal.

-
Check your renewal date [link
13] then complete your renewal on time so that you do not risk your
coverage.

You can do all these things online or on the phone:

-
Going online to www.dhs.pa.gov/COMPASS [link 14]

-
Using the free
myCOMPASS PA Mobile App [link 15]

-
Calling 1-866-550-4355
Complete your renewal and stay covered!

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*Financial
Literacy Event: Allegheny County Elder Justice Fair*

*Allegheny
County Law Library, Saturday, April 15, 10am - 2pm*

April is
Financial Literacy Month and the Pennsylvania Department of Banking
and Securities (DoBS) [link 16] will be hosting and participating in
numerous presentations for groups of senior citizens, service
providers and the public throughout the month to promote financial
literacy and provide investor education.

Here in Western PA, there
will be an Allegheny County Elder Justice Fair- attendees will learn
about free legal and community resources available to Pennsylvania
seniors, caregivers, and family members. It will be presented at
Allegheny County Law Library at 414 Grant Street #921 in
Pittsburgh.

For more information, visit the Allegheny County Law
Library website [link 17].

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*Pick
up Pennsylvania Events in SD 38!*

Earth Day is April 22 and there are
many clean up events scheduled this month in Senate District 38. If
you have the time, consider volunteering at one or more of these
community events. Many hands make light work! Contact municipalities
for details.

If you want to organize your own event, it is easy.
Gather a few (or many!)
volunteers and register your event on the Pick
Up Pennsylvania web page [link 18]. If you hold your event between now
and May 31, you're eligible to receive free work gloves, safety vests,
and trash bags while supplies last!

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*Free
Admission to the Zoo in April*

"Electronic April" at the Pittsburgh
Zoo and Aquarium [link 19] offers free daytime admission through the
month of April for guests who bring small electronics to the Zoo to
recycle. This program is offered in cooperation with the Association
of Zoos and Aquariums' Gorilla SAFE (Saving Animals from Extinction)
conservation program. Things like cell phones, tablets, smartwatches,
digital cameras, GPS and gaming devices will be accepted, however,
laptops will not be. Guests will get one admission for every device
they bring!

For more information go to: Event: Electronic April |
Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium [link 20]

As always, please feel free to
reach out with any questions you may have by phone at 412-364-0469
[link 21] (Ross Office), 724-224-2131 [link 22] (Harrison Office) or
by email at [email protected] [link 23]. My staff
will return your call/email within 24 hours (Monday-Friday).

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Senator
Lindsey Williams


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mailto:[email protected]

Contact
Information:

Website:
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Office Location:
District
Office
5000 McKnight Road
Suite 405
Pittsburgh, PA 15237
Phone:
412-364-0469
Fax: 412-364-0928

Harrison Office
1826 Union
Avenue
Natrona Heights, PA 15065
Phone: 724-224-2131
Fax:
724-224-2145

Harrisburg Office
366 Capitol Building
Senate Box
203038
Harrisburg, PA 17120-3038
Phone: 717-787-6538
Fax:
717-787-8625

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