Sara Innamorato, Allegheny County
Executive!
Congratulations to our new Allegheny
County Executive (ACE), Sara
G. Innamorato, who was sworn in on Tuesday! ACE Innamorato and I
were elected to the General Assembly at the same time, and she has
been an amazing partner here in our legislative districts and in
Harrisburg. I am excited to see what she has in store for our region
and look forward to working with her in her new role as she works to
build an Allegheny County that is truly for All.
But we
can’t do that without hearing from you. Take a minute to fill
out the Community
Survey and share your thoughts, priorities, and ideas about how
Allegheny County can be a better place for us all.
As
ACE Innamorato said in her inaugural remarks, “Pittsburgh loves
our traditions. I love them too. You won’t find anyone more
enthusiastic than me about fries on salads and cookie tables. But
nothing about loving tradition means you have to fear change.
Embracing new ideas is what makes us better. Welcoming new communities
is what makes us stronger. Being open to a better path – and
being willing to imagine it, to design it, and to make it real –
that’s what will make us the best place to live in America
– for everyone.”
Upcoming Events
Monthly
Community Office Hours
We have community
office hours at the Kingsley Association this Friday, January 5th from
10am - 3pm. My staff is ready to help you with:
- Senior
Photo Connect Cards
- PennDOT Forms
- Unclaimed
Property Searches
- Voter Registration
- Free Notary
Services
- Connections to Resources
- And much
more!
Stop by to see a Constituent Relations Specialist
- no appointment necessary!
Veterans
Service Officer Appointments are Back!
I am
happy to announce that our office will be offering American Legion
Veterans Service Officer (VSO) appointments again! A VSO will be
available every 3rd Tuesday of the month from 9 am - 1 pm, alternating
between our Ross Township office (5000 McKnight Road, Suite 405) and
our Harrison Township office (1826 Union Avenue).
Whether you have a question or just need a fresh review of the
benefits you’ve earned, call or email our office to schedule a
one-on-one appointment: 412-364-0469, 724-224-2131, or [email protected].
Legislative Update
New Water Infrastructure Grants
Awarded!
I'm proud to announce that
communities across Senate District 38 received over $7 million in
grant funding for clean water, sewer, and stormwater infrastructure
projects!
This funding was made possible thanks to the federal
American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). In 2021, Senator
Maria Collett, Senator
Katie Muth, and I introduced legislation
to ensure Pennsylvania invested in these kinds of projects with ARPA
funding. Thanks to this legislation, Pennsylvania allocated $320
million to ensure the continued safety and maintenance of our
infrastructure.
The impact of the climate crisis is real, and
we need real, substantive investments in our aging water
infrastructure systems to ensure that all Pennsylvanians have access
to clean and safe water. I will continue to fight for more funding for
these projects because there is more work to do!
You can learn
more about these programs at Programs
and Funding - PA Department of Community & Economic
Development.
Social
Security COLA Exclusions Extended for
PACE/PACENET
I was proud to vote for SB
607 in the Senate last year so that the 20,000 Pennsylvania
seniors who currently use PACE or PACENET could maintain their
prescription medication benefits in spite of Social Security
cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) this year.
The
Pharmaceutical Assistance Contract for the Elderly (PACE) program and
the Pharmaceutical Assistance Contract for the Elderly Needs
Enhancement Tier (PACENET) programs were created in 1984 and are
funded by revenue from the Pennsylvania Lottery. These programs make
prescriptions affordable for Pennsylvania seniors, many of whom
require multiple medications for chronic conditions. Exempting the
annual COLA from income calculations allows seniors to maintain their
eligibility for these life-saving prescription benefits.
To
learn more about the PACE and PACENET programs or to apply, go to PACE
Program.
The PA
Statewide Digital Equity Plan Needs Your Input!
This Monday, January 8th, at 12pm is the deadline to provide your
comments on the Pennsylvania
Broadband Development Authority (PBDA)'s draft of the Statewide
Digital Equity Plan. Digital equity means that every Pennsylvanian can
access reliable and affordable high-speed internet to participate in
education, healthcare, employment, and today’s economy. Input on
this plan is crucial to ensure that the PBDA hears and incorporates
the needs and experiences of people across the state.
Learn more and submit your comments at Digital
Equity (DE) Act - PA Department of Community & Economic
Development!
News
from PHEAA
2024-25 FAFSA Soft
Launch
The new and streamlined 2024-25
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form was launched
on December 31, 2023. This new online form will be available for a
short period of time to monitor and improve its performance and allow
families to get a head start on the process for NEXT year. All forms
and information submitted during the soft launch will be saved if
families need more time to complete the application. Below are some
changes to look for:
- IRS Data Exchange to link tax
information to applications.
- Expanded access to Federal Pell
Grants.
- Updated student aid calculations.
- Parents
and students will need their own StudentAid.gov Account with their own
FSA ID to complete the 2024-25 FAFSA.
If you
have questions about the 2024-25 FAFSA, the Pennsylvania
Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) is offering their first
webinar on the new application on Wednesday, February 21 from 6-7 pm.
To sign up, go to Financial
Aid Webinars (pheaa.org).
Visit Our
Toolkit Helps you Complete the FAFSA | PHEAA for additional
information on the entire financial aid process.
January
PHEAA Webinars
Join the Pennsylvania
Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) for one of their
January webinars below to learn more about the financial aid process
and the assistance available as you and your family prepare for higher
education.
Borrowing for Education – Which Loan
is Right for Me?
Thursday January 11,
6:30 pm & Thursday, January 25, Noon
I’ve
found the schools I’d like to attend and after filing the FAFSA,
State Grant Form, Scholarships and researching higher education costs
and calculating the funding gap, I see that education loans are a
necessity, but where do I go from here? What loan programs are
available? What are the advantages and disadvantages of the various
types? Join Suzanne Sparrow and Daniel Wray of the Pennsylvania Higher
Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) for a 1 hour webinar to review the
different borrowing options and answer your questions..
Deep Dive Into Credit Related to Education
Funding
Tuesday, January 9, Noon & Tuesday,
January 23, 6:30 pm
For most families, borrowing for
education is part of the equation and can be confusing as families
look for the best options to fit their needs. Join Dan Wray and
Suzanne Sparrow of Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency
(PHEAA) for a 1 hour webinar to increase your financial literacy and
knowledge on the process of credit, how to maintain or improve
ratings, and comparison points to help make informed and affordable
education borrowing decisions.
To register for one of both of
these webinars, click here.
Private
Student Loan Debt Management
In October, the
federal student loan payment pause ended and many borrowers are
wrestling with fitting payments back into their budgets. If you or
someone you know is struggling to pay your student loans, you should
contact the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) to
see if a
PA Forward Refinance Loan is right for you. Refinancing helps
manage student loan debt, including private student loans, many of
which have high or variable interest rates. PA Forward Refinance loans
offer competitive fixed rates to make payments manageable and
predictable.
PHEAA’s refinance option allows borrowers
in repayment to consolidate multiple loans into one loan, with one
lender, and one monthly payment. Refinancing usually lowers payments
and fixes interest rates while providing flexible repayment terms.
There are no prepayment penalties and no application or origination
fees as well.
To learn more about a PA Forward Refinance
Loan and to apply, visit
www.pheaa.org/refi or call 1-800-PA-FORWD.
DCNR
Internships
Attention college students! Apply
now for an internship with the Pennsylvania
Department of Natural Resources (DCNR). There are positions with
Pennsylvania’s state parks and forests, the Pennsylvania
Geological Survey, the DCNR main office in Harrisburg, and more!
Opportunities are still being added, so keep checking and apply here.
Recycle
your Christmas Tree at a County Park!
The
Allegheny County Parks Department is once again offering its annual
Christmas Tree Recycling Program. Residents may drop off Christmas
trees from Tuesday, December 26, 2023, through Sunday, January 14,
2024, at all nine County parks from 8:00 am until dusk. All lights,
decorations, tinsel, and stands must be removed from trees prior to
drop-off. Trees will be mulched and used in the county parks. Last
year over 3000 trees were received, recycled, and used for mulch
throughout the park system’s 12,000+ acres!
See the list
of drop-off locations above or online at Christmas
Tree Recycling Program - Allegheny County, PA.
Winter Safety Tips
Snow is in the forecast this weekend! Winter weather creates many
challenges, whether you are walking or driving. The key to staying
safe during the winter is to be prepared, dress warmly, and follow the
safe tips above for walking and driving.
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
