EMT Injury Reminds Us All to Move Over and Slow Down

Our hearts and well-wishes go out to Kelly Jackson, a Citizens Hose EMT who was struck by a vehicle while responding to an accident on Burtner Road in Harrison during Saturday’s icy weather. Kelly sustained numerous serious injuries in the accident, which is a painful reminder of why in Pennsylvania drivers are required by law to move over and slow down when approaching an emergency response area.

We need our first responders, construction workers, tow truck operators, and others who work to keep us safe on the road to go home to their families uninjured. Please remember to drive responsibly this winter.

Surviving crash ‘truly a miracle’ for Citizens Hose EMT | TribLIVE.com

Slow Down, Move Over Law

Pennsylvania’s Slow Down, Move Over Law requires drivers approaching an emergency response area who are unable to safely merge into a lane farther away from the response area to "pass the emergency response area at a speed of no more than 20 miles per hour less than the posted speed limit and reasonable for safely passing." An emergency response area is where an emergency vehicle has its lights flashing, or where road crews or emergency responders have lighted flares, posted signs, or try to warn travelers.

To read about Pennsylvania’s Slow Down, Move Over Law law click here.

Chief McIntire Memorial

Last week I joined the Brackenridge community, along with the other members of the Allegheny Valley communities, to remember Brackenridge Police Chief, Justin McIntire on the one-year anniversary of his death in the line of duty. My heart and thoughts go out to the family and loved ones of Chief McIntire as they mourn his loss. I offer my heartfelt thanks to those first responders who continue to face incredibly dangerous and demanding situations every time they answer the call.

Brackenridge remains resilient 1 year after death of Chief Justin McIntire | TribLIVE.com

Upcoming Events

2024 Event Planning Survey

We’re planning our 2024 Events Schedule, but need to know what types of events would be most beneficial to you and your families! Please help us plan by filling out a brief survey by visiting https://senatorlindseywilliams.com/survey/. We look forward to seeing you in 2024!

Library Days with Lindsey

Library Days with Lindsey are back for 2024 and we are kicking them off at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh’s East Liberty Branch on Wednesday, January 24! Appointments are strongly encouraged, but limited walk-in spots may be available. Please call or email to make an appointment: 412-364-0469 (Ross); 724-224-2131 (Natrona); [email protected].

We look forward to meeting with you on the 24th!

VSO Appointments Available!

My office is offering American Legion Veterans Service Officer (VSO) appointments every 3rd Tuesday of the month from 9 am - 1 pm! Appointments will rotate between my two district offices each month.

Upcoming Dates:

• Tuesday, January 16, Ross Township office, 5000 McKnight Road, Suite 405.
• Tuesday, February 20, Natrona Heights office, 1826 Union Ave.

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 (Ross) 724-224-2131 (Harrison). Appointments fill up quickly!

Good News

Pittsburgh Glass Center Expansion Tour

Last Thursday, I toured the Pittsburgh Glass Center’s new facility expansion, which will provide affordable artist housing and meeting and event space for the community and non-profits. So much progress has been made since their groundbreaking last March and I am thrilled that this premier glass facility will soon be able to provide even more public access and education to the community and the region!

An Evening with the PSO and Afro-American Music Institute

On Tuesday evening, I joined the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra's Marty Bates in partnership with Dr. Johnson (Dr. J.) and the Afro-American Music Institute for Discovery & Drinks - Finding Home at St. James AME Church - Pittsburgh. I'd like to thank the symphony's quartet Kristina Yoder and Dennis O'Boyle, violins; Andrew Wickesberg, viola; and Allie Lee, cello for an absolutely inspiring performance. The audience was THRILLED with the evening, and the orchestra already has requests to repeat this program in other communities!

Legislative Update

Basic Education Funding Commission Wrap-Up

The Basic Education Funding Commission completed its work this week by releasing its final report. A full copy of the report, all Commission hearings, and all testimony and materials can be found on my website at SenatorLindseyWilliams.com/BEFC.

My vote against this final report was rooted in a moral conviction that the future of Pennsylvania depends on getting our system of public education to not only pass constitutional muster, but exceed it – from Pre-k to higher ed.

We have spent decades defining the problems in education. And while legislators have talked in circles, generations of kids continue to suffer under an unconstitutional system. I wanted this Commission to define the solutions and fight for those solutions to happen now. The majority report doesn’t go far enough in doing that.

I could not in good faith vote for a compromise report that will ultimately serve as the starting point for upcoming budget negotiations. I did not want the public to look at a unanimous Democratic-only report and think that it represents our shared goals for the 2024-25 budget. It does not. A unanimous Democratic-only report risks setting the ceiling for negotiations—and this report is closer to my floor.

Thank you to all of the Senate and House staffers who worked incredibly hard over the last several months, and to all of the testifiers who offered their expertise to this Commission.

You can read my full statement here: Sen. Lindsey Williams Releases Statement Following BEFC Vote Today (senatorlindseywilliams.com).

Pennie Open Enrollment Ends January 19!

If you need health insurance for the coming year, there is still time to get covered!

The Annual Open Enrollment period for Pennie, Pennsylvania’s Health Insurance Marketplace, has been extended to next Friday, January 19, 2024 for coverage starting February 1. This is your only opportunity to shop and sign up for a 2024 plan. If you miss the deadline you will need to wait until next November to enroll unless you have a qualifying life event like losing other health coverage or moving!

Pennie is the only place Pennsylvanians can get financial savings to reduce the cost of coverage and care from top insurance companies. Currently, 9 in 10 enrollees qualify and save over $500 a month on average with Pennie. All health plans offered through Pennie provide comprehensive coverage, including care for pre-existing conditions and many free preventive screenings and vaccines.

Waiting until an illness or injury strikes will be too late, so visit pennie.com or call Pennie Customer Service at 1-844-844-8040 from 8 am - 7 pm and get coverage and peace of mind for the rest of the year!

Public Input on Flood Insurance Access and Affordability Needed!

In response to the devastating floods of 2023 and the alarming number of residents without flood insurance, Pennsylvania’s House and Senate passed bi-partisan legislation to create the  Pennsylvania Flood Insurance Premium Assistance Task Force. This Pennsylvania Insurance Department (PID) Task Force is charged with making recommendations for policies that increase awareness of and access to affordable flood insurance coverage in the Commonwealth. Submit your comments today and be a part of the effort to protect more Pennsylvanians from flood loss. 

Public comments on flood insurance are due by February 5, 2024 and may be emailed to [email protected], or mailed to:

Caroline Beohm, Director of Policy and Planning
Office of the Insurance Commissioner
1326 Strawberry Square
Harrisburg, PA 17120

Click on the link below for more information on the Task Force and how to submit your comments:
Pennsylvania Bulletin (pacodeandbulletin.gov).

Keystone Historic Preservation Grant Applications Open!

The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) is now accepting applications from nonprofit organizations and local governments for the Keystone Historic Preservation Grant Program!

Grants support projects that identify, preserve, promote, and protect historic and archaeological resources in Pennsylvania for both the benefit of the public and community revitalization. The grants receive funding from the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund. A total of $2 million has been set aside for this program.

Two categories of grants – construction and planning – are available for historic resources in Pennsylvania that are listed, or eligible for listing, in the National Register of Historic Places. Applicants may apply for only one type of grant.

Applications are due Friday, March 1. Grants will be awarded through a competitive selection process and are contingent on the availability of funds.

Applicants are invited to join the Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office (PA SHPO) for webinars on Keystone Historic Preservation Grant applications:

• Thursday, January 18 ? 3 - 4pm (Construction)
• Friday, January 19 ? 3 - 4pm (Planning)

For more information on the webinars or to register, click here.

Violence Intervention and Prevention Grants Still Available!

$40 million in Violence Intervention & Prevention (VIP) grant funding is available through two competitive grant programs administered by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) :

• VIP Competitive Grants Program: Under this solicitation, eligible applicants can request funding for a wide range of programs that address community violence intervention and prevention efforts.
• Coordinated Community Violence Intervention (CVI) Strategies Grants Program: This initiative invests in collaborative community violence intervention and response strategies within focused service areas. Grants will support local planning and implementation of short-term intervention, mid-term prevention, and long-term strategies designed to increase local coordination to more effectively prevent, intervene, and respond to gun and group-related violence.

Eligible applicants are Community-based or nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status, institutions of higher education, municipalities, counties, and district attorney’s offices.

Deadline to apply: Thursday, January 18, 2024 at 9:00 PM.

For details and more information go to Gun Violence Grants & Funding (pa.gov).

Youth Opportunities

Deadline for PennDOT’s 2023-2024 Innovations Challenge is January 26, 2024

If you formed a team this fall at your school to find a solution to this year’s PennDOT Innovations Challenge, the deadline is Friday, January 26. If you didn’t, you still have 2 weeks to create and submit your plan!

This year’s Innovations Challenge asks students 9-12 to develop a plan for the replacement of an aging multi-lane roadway that reconnects previously separated neighborhoods and incorporates community needs, such as accommodating bicycle and pedestrian traffic, allowing for new business development and ensuring the smooth flow of traffic. The proposed solution has to consider additional costs to restore the affected community. Winning teams receive $4000 donated by contest sponsors!

For details on PennDOT’s Innovations Challenge go to Innovations Challenge (pa.gov).

We can’t wait to see what our region’s young people come up with this year! 

2024 Litter Hawk Youth Award Program

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful is looking for students grades 2-6 to become “Litter Hawks” in order to bring attention to public litter. Students are invited to create a poster, essay, or video that shows the damage litter causes in our communities:

• Grades Kindergarten through 4 - Poster
• Grades 5 – Essay
• Grade 6 – Video

First place and second place will receive ribbons and a certificate. All participants will receive a litter hawk sticker. Deadline to participate is January 31st. Winners will be announced in May in coordination with a display of winning entries at the PA State Capitol Building.

For more information and an application, visit Litter Hawk 2023-2024 - Keep PA Beautiful.

 

PennDOT 2024 Summer Employment Program Posted!

The postings for PennDOT’s 2024 Summer Employment Program are now open and accepting applications through September 2024.  PennDOT offers seasonal opportunities for both students and non-students across the Commonwealth looking for internships or work for the summer.

• College students seeking an Engineering Internship should apply to the Engineering Internships – PennDOT (College) posting here.
• College students seeking an Non-Engineering Internship (Press Office, Safety) should apply to the applicable posting within the Non-Engineering Internships – PennDOT (College) posting here.
• College students seeking a hands-on summer job with a competitive rate should apply to the Student Summer Worker - PennDOT (College) posting here.
• Non-students seeking a seasonal position with PennDOT over the summer that may lead to permanent employment should apply to the Summer Employment Program – PennDOT (Non-Student) posting here.

Offices Closed in Observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day

In observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, our offices will be closed on Monday, January 15. We will reopen on Tuesday, January 16!

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