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Upcoming Events
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.
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.
.
Free
Shredding Event
Saturday, April 15, 9am -
12pm
Do you have personal documents piling up?
Rep.
Sara Innamorato 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!
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 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.
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 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.
Good
News
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.
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!
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.
https://wtae.com/article/muslim-association-greater-pittsburgh-interfaith-iftar-ramadan/43501573
Grubbs Road
Sidewalk Connector and Devlin Park Tennis Courts
Congratulations to the Town
of McCandless 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
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. I’ll be urging the
Federal Government to increase their reimbursement rates to schools
participating in Community Eligibility.
My Universal
School Meals legislation 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
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,
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 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:
Complete your renewal and stay covered!
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) 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.
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. 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!
Free
Admission to the Zoo in April
“Electronic April” at the Pittsburgh
Zoo and Aquarium 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
As always,
please feel free to reach out with any questions you may have by phone
at 412-364-0469
(Ross Office), 724-224-2131
(Harrison Office) or by email at [email protected].
My staff will return your call/email within 24 hours
(Monday-Friday).
Senator Lindsey Williams
