State Senator Lindsey M. Williams, Your District 38 Update

*


*
*

*Upcoming Events**
*

[image =
[link removed]]
[link 1]*

*Township of Hampton Community Day!*

Monday, July 3
1:00 PM - Fireworks

3101 McCully Road, Allison Park, PA
15101*

The Township of Hampton [link 2] is hosting its annual
Community Day at the Hampton Community Center Soccer Fields again this
year. Bring the family to enjoy the inflatables, community and food
vendors, and three music groups performing live. Stop by our table to
pick up information on state resources and say hello! Hope to see you
there!

[image =
[link removed]]

*

*Good
News**

*
[image =
[link removed]]*

*Justice
for Janitors 32BJ SEIU Event *

Thank you so much to the 32BJ SEIU
[link 3] members for inviting me to their recent Justice for Janitors
event to learn about the history of the movement here in Pittsburgh,
from the 1985 lockouts through today. We stand with our union brothers
and sisters as they recommit and gather strength from this history and
recommit to the work ahead-- to fight for a contract that reflects the
dignity and respect that all workers deserve.

[image =
[link removed]]

*New
West Deer Municipal Complex*

On June 15, I joined West Deer
Township [link 4] Supervisors and staff, PA State Rep. Rob Mercuri
[link 5], Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, Councilwoman
Anita Prizio, and so many members of the West Deer Community for a
groundbreaking ceremony for the new West Deer Municipal
Complex!

Groundbreakings are always a fun step forward in a
project, but the staff and Board of Supervisors in West Deer have done
an amazing job of securing grant funding and budgeting to make this
new project a reality. I'm incredibly proud to have supported them in
securing $2.5 million in state funding toward this project. This new
municipal complex will be an amazing asset for the entire
community!

[link removed]
[link 6]

[image =
[link removed]]

*Visit
From Our 2022 Intern!*

I was thrilled to welcome my former intern,
Alex Hodge, to Harrisburg last Tuesday. Alex was an incredible help to
my district office last summer and was always willing to tag in
wherever he was needed. Since his internship ended in my office, Alex
has continued his public service across Allegheny County. I'm excited
to see where his career will take him next-- I have no doubt he will
have a lasting impact wherever life takes him!

[image =
[link removed]]

*Student
Journalism Advocates*

Thank you to Hannah, Maya, and Kohan from New
Voices of Pennsylvania [link 7] for meeting with me last Wednesday to
talk about the importance of protecting student journalism in our
schools. I appreciate their advocacy to strengthen protections for
students, teachers, and schools, all while promoting quality ethical
journalism education at the highest standards!

[image =
[link removed]]

*Celebrating
Tom Wiley's 100th Birthday*

Last week, my office was fortunate to
join family, friends, and loved ones to celebrate Tom Wiley's 100th
Birthday and present him with a citation from the Pennsylvania Senate.
Mr. Wiley served in World War II, where he flew 50 missions as a B-17
bomber pilot. After the War, he returned home to Pittsburgh, where he
lived for most of his life and raised a family.

It was wonderful to
share time with Mr. Wiley and his family-- including great
grandchildren from across the country-- and friends celebrating his
life and accomplishments! Thank you to the staff at Atria McCandless
[link 8] for helping organize the party!

[image =
[link removed]]

*Supporting
the Childcare Workforce*

Thank you to Start Strong PA [link 9] and
Trying Together [link 10] for helping bring childcare workers and
child care facility owners like Lesely Crawford of ABK Learning &
Development Center to Harrisburg today to meet with me and other
lawmakers!

Without quality, affordable childcare options, our
workforce and our families can't thrive-- that's why I support the
workforce behind the workforce!

[image =
[link removed]]

*A
Legacy of Pride*

The 1696 Stonewall Riots in New York represented a
breaking point, when the LGBTQ+ community and their neighbors
organized and began to fight back against the systemic oppression and
open violence. The people of Stonewall fought that summer so that they
could live freely, love freely, and be who they were without fear of
persecution. They laid the groundwork so that we could celebrate an
entire month of Pride. But their work continues. It is in their memory
and in their footsteps that we continue that work today, in our homes,
our neighborhoods, and on the steps of the Capitol, fighting for
legislation like the PA Fairness Act, that will guarantee housing and
employment protection for ALL Pennsylvanians. We see you, we
acknowledge you, and we will fight for you. Stonewall was a riot--a
rebellion, an uprising. Let's rise up and meet this moment, just as
they did.

[image =
[link removed]]

*

*Legislative
Update**

*
[image =
[link removed]]*

*Opposing
the Privatization of Our Public Schools*

Last night, the Senate
passed HB 479, legislation that creates a new program that sends
public taxpayer dollars to private and religious schools.

We cannot
allow the first action this legislature takes in response to the
Commonwealth Court's decision declaring our public education funding
system unconstitutional to be the creation of a program that sends
$103.7 million public tax dollars to unaccountable private
institutions.

HB 479 is a part of the long-term plan to defund,
destabilize, and destroy public education. Voucher programs only came
about after the Supreme Court's Brown v. Board of Education decision
so that white families could attend segregated private schools and
avoid integration, all on the taxpayer's dime. Rebranded as "school
choice" in the 1990s, current data in states with voucher programs
show that these programs only exacerbate racial segregation.

The
"Pennsylvania Award for Student Success Scholarship Program" creates
another system of education that holds one set of schools to a
different set of standards. PRIVATE schools aren't required to hire
certified teachers, nor are they required to evaluate those teachers.
For private schools, accreditation is optional. Private schools don't
have democratically elected school boards that are accountable to the
public. Only our PUBLIC schools continue to be subject to these
necessary accountability measures.

This legislation does not
require the Auditor General to audit this program. In states where
voucher programs like this have been enacted, we see rampant fraud,
waste, and abuse of taxpayer dollars. The Auditor General has already
made it clear that their office does not have the time or interest to
perform routine, required school audits. How will they find the time
to perform optional audits on these individual family accounts? The
answer is, they won't. There won't be any oversight over how this
money is spent.

Regardless of what you call this bill, it is what
it is: a brand new program that takes $103.7 million public taxpayer
dollars and diverts it to unaccountable private schools. And it is
only a foot in the door. In other states that have created voucher
programs, they have started small and then over a short number of
years have grown between 300 to 800 times the starting amount. We have
seen the same thing here in Pennsylvania with EITC - a program that
started at $25 million has ballooned to $340 million.

I'm
disappointed that this bill passed the Senate by a vote of 29-21. I
hope my House colleagues continue to hold the line and vote down this
legislation if it comes up for a vote.

*
[image =
[link removed]]
[link 11]*

Sen. Lindsey Williams Releases Statement Criticizing
Senate Passage of School Privatization Bill
[link 12]

Pa. public
school advocates are furious at Gov. Josh Shapiro for supporting
school choice vouchers [link 13]

Mumin confirmed as Pa. education
secretary despite criticism from both sides - pennlive.com [link
14]

School choice overtakes Pa. education secretary confirmation
(audacy.com) [link 15]

[image =
[link removed]]

[image
=
[link removed]]
[link 16]

*Free Summer Meal Locator*

We know that many families
rely on free and reduced meals at school to help feed their families,
but what happens when school is out? Luckily, there are neighborhood
summer meal programs across the area that are able to help. No kid
should go hungry!

[image =
[link removed]]

To
find one near you

[image =
[link removed]]

Text:
FOOD or COMIDA to 914-342-7744

[image =
[link removed]]

Visit:
fns.usda.gov/meals4kids [link 17]

[image =
[link removed]]
[link 18]

*East End Farmers Market in Larimer*

Did you know
there is a weekly farmers market in the East End? You can shop fresh
and local every Monday at the East End Farmers Market in Liberty Green
Park [link 19] located at 100 Larimer Ave, in the heart of
Pittsburgh's Larimer neighborhood.

[image =
[link removed]]
[link 20]

*Register for the LAMP Summer Reading Program*

On June
26th, the Library of Accessible Media for Pennsylvanians (LAMP) [link
21] started its *All Together Now! Lets Read! Summer Reading Program,
*which runs through August 11. There is a program for youth patrons 0
- 21 years and one for adults 21 years and older. To take part,
contact LAMP by phone at 800-242-0586 or email [email protected] [link
22] to register.

The LAMP Program circulates over 1.5 million
titles to partner libraries throughout the state to serve people who
cannot access the printed word. LAMP provides accessible formats like
digital, digital download, Braille, print/Braille, large-print and
audio described DVDs. If standard print has become difficult to read
for you, a friend, or a family member, you may be eligible for this
service. Learn more at
How LAMP Works | LAMP (mylamp.org) [link
23].

[image =
[link removed]]

*Cheers
for D38 Grads!*

Congratulations to the Class of 2023 Graduates from
across Senate District 38! We're incredibly proud of your hard work
and your accomplishments. Wherever life takes you next, we know you're
going to do great things!

-
Allegheny Valley School District
(Official District Site) [link 24]

-
Deer Lakes School District
[link 25]

-
Fox Chapel Area School District [link 26]

-
Hampton Township School District [link 27]

-
Highlands School
District [link 28]

-
North Allegheny School District [link
29]

-
North Hills School District [link 30]

-
Pine-Richland
School District [link 31]

-
Pittsburgh Public Schools [link
32]

-
Shaler Area School District [link 33]

[image =
[link removed]]

In
honor of the 4th of July holiday, my offices will be closed to
walk-ins on Monday, July 3 and closed on Tuesday, July 4th. I wish you
and your families a safe and Happy 4th!

[image =
[link removed]]

As
always, please feel free to reach out with any questions you may have
by phone at 412-364-0469 [link 34] (Ross Office), 724-224-2131 [link
35] (Harrison Office) or by email at
[email protected] [link 36]. My staff will return
your call/email within 24 hours (Monday-Friday).

[image =
[link removed]]

Senator
Lindsey Williams

[image =
[link removed]]


----------------------
footnotes
----------------------
[link 1]
[link removed]
[link 2]
[link removed]
[link 3]
[link removed]
[link
4] [link removed]
[link 5]
[link removed]
[link
6]
[link removed]
[link
7]
[link removed]
[link
8]
[link removed]
[link
9] [link removed]
[link 10]
[link removed]
[link 11]
[link removed]
[link
12]
[link removed]
[link
13]
[link removed]
[link
14]
[link removed]
[link
15]
[link removed]
[link
16] [link removed]
[link 17]
[link removed]
[link 18]
[link removed]
[link 19]
[link removed]
[link 20]
[link removed]
[link 21] [link removed]
[link 22]
mailto:[email protected]
[link 23]
[link removed]
[link 24]
[link removed]*F
[link
25]
[link removed]*F
[link
26]
[link removed]*F
[link
27]
[link removed]*F
[link
28]
[link removed]*F
[link
29]
[link removed]*F
[link
30]
[link removed]*F
[link
31]
[link removed]*F
[link
32]
[link removed]*F
[link
33]
[link removed]*F
[link
34] tel:412-364-0469
[link 35] tel:724-224-2131
[link 36]
mailto:[email protected]

Contact
Information:

Website:
[link removed]

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

Unsubscribe:
[link removed]
Privacy
Policy: [link removed]