State Senator Lindsey M. Williams, Your District 38 Update

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*New Property Tax/Rent Rebate Expansion!**

I was
incredibly proud to support the first expansion of Pennsylvania's
Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program (PTRR) [link 2] last year which makes
thousands more older and disabled Pennsylvanians eligible for rebates
on their rent and property taxes. The expansion increases both the
maximum rebate and the income cap for eligibility, and provides for
automatic annual increases to the income cap. It is an important step
toward providing property tax relief to the most vulnerable among us.
To qualify for the program, you must be 65 or older, a widow or
widower age 50 or older, or a disabled person age 18 or older. The
program also continues to exclude one-half of Social Security income.
The expansion:

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Increases the maximum standard rebate from?*$650
to $1,000.*

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Increases the income cap?*from $35,000 to
$45,000*?for homeowners.

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Increases the income cap?*from
$15,000 to $45,000*?for renters.

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Automatically increases the
income cap to?*grow with inflation*?in years to come.

The standard
rebate changes are reflected below:

Income:

Maximum
Rebate:

$0 - $8,000

$1,000

$8,001 -
$15,000

$770

$15,001 - $18,000

$460

$18,001 - $45,000
$380

The PTRR application period is open now and the Department of
Revenue is encouraging eligible residents to submit an application as
soon as possible. Doing so will help the Department verify and process
applications from first-time applicants, who are required to submit
supporting documentation to verify their age and eligibility. To apply
and for more information on the program go to Property Tax/Rent Rebate
Program (pa.gov) [link 3].

My office helps hundreds of individuals
file for their rebates every year. If you need assistance applying or
have a question about the new expansion, call us at 412-364-0469
(Ross) or 724-224-2131 (Harrison) or email us at
[email protected]. We are here to help!

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*Upcoming
Events**

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*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.
[link removed] [link 4] We look forward to
seeing you in 2024!

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*My
office is now scheduling AARP Tax-Aide appointments!*

The AARP
Tax-Aide Program is up and running at the Shaler Undercliff Fire
Company and the Ross Township Community Center. This program provides
free tax assistance and tax preparation services to low- and
moderate-income taxpayers, with an emphasis on those 50 or older. To
schedule your free appointment, please call the office at
412-364-0469.

For more information, visit AARP Tax-Aide Allegheny
County, PA (taxaide-pittsburgh.com) [link 5].

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[link 6]

*Whole-Home Repairs Program Policy Hearing*

On February
2nd, Senators Nikil Saval, Katie Muth, Wayne Fontana, Jim Brewster,
and I will host a hearing to take a deep dive into how PA's Whole-Home
Repairs program is working one and half years after passage.
Whole-Home Repairs is a comprehensive home repair and workforce
development program. Specifically, we will explore a case study of how
the program is working in Allegheny County, from which we can pull
best practices and lessons learned. We will also get a broader view of
the program and common themes across the state.

This hearing will
be at the Allegheny County Courthouse 4th Floor - Gold Room 436 Grant
Street Pittsburgh, PA 15219. You can also attend virtually by
registering in advance at:
[link removed]
[link 7]

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*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 every month.

Upcoming Dates:

-
Tuesday,
February 20, Natrona Heights office, 1826 Union Ave.

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Tuesday,
March 19, Ross Township office, 5000 McKnight Road, Suite
405.

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!

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*Good
News**

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*2023
Throwback - Marine Birthday Ball*

In November I had the privilege
to be the Guest of Honor at the Marine Corps League, Allegheny Valley
Det. 827 [link 8] Marine Birthday Ball. It was a wonderful evening
spending time with the leadership and members. Thank you all for your
service to our country and for all you continue to do for our
community.

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*Meeting
with Undercliff VFC and Peebles VFC*

This month, I met with Ryan
Pontzloff from Shaler Undercliff Volunteer Fire Company and Lou Flores
and other members of Peebles Volunteer to talk about the ongoing needs
of our local volunteer fire departments. Each of these departments is
looking to expand their facilities and their capacities so that they
can meet the ever-evolving needs of their communities. I'm incredibly
proud to support our local volunteer fire fighters, who spend
thousands of hours away from their families every year to train,
prepare, and keep our communities safe.

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*Supporting
Adda Coffee Workers Unionizing Efforts*

I was proud to join Adda
Coffee's former employees, labor leaders, and local elected officials
last Tuesday. We rallied in support of these workers, who were
terminated when Adda Coffee closed shortly after employees stated
their intent to unionize. Even in freezing weather, Pittsburgh stands
up for workers!

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*Medical
Coverage for Donated Human Milk*

Tuesday was Maternal Health
Awareness Day. Maternal mortality rates and complications during
pregnancy and childbirth remain significant challenges. In 2022 in
Pennsylvania, the overall pregnancy-associated mortality rate was
reported as 82 deaths per 100,000 live births. Black women were twice
as likely to die of pregnancy-related deaths, with 163 deaths per
100,000 live births in 2022.

We are taking some steps to help
protect new families, including the recent passage and enacting of Act
32, which provides medical coverage for pasteurized donor human milk
for those families who need it. Last week, we celebrated the passage
of this important legislation at the Home - Mid-Atlantic Mothers' Milk
Bank (MAMMB) [link 9]. MAMMB does an amazing job of processing, safely
storing, and distributing donated milk so that medically fragile
babies can receive the milk that they need to survive and
thrive.

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*Legislative
Update**

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[link 10]

*Senate Rules Reform*

It has been a year since Senator
Katie Muth [link 11] and I proposed new operating rules [link 12] for
the Senate that would promote transparency and good governance, as
well as protect everyone who interacts with Senators and Senate staff
against sexual harassment.

Unfortunately, in that year, we've
gotten no closer to enacting these rules. As we enter the second half
of the 2023-24 Session, I'm asking my colleagues to join me in
supporting rule changes that ensure we are getting things done for the
people of Pennsylvania and protecting victims of sexual harassment in
the Senate.

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*Reminder to Apply for LIHEAP*

January has been very
cold and snowy! If you are struggling with your heating bills you
should consider applying for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance
Program (LIHEAP) [link 16], a federally-funded program that helps
low-income Pennsylvanians with home heating bills. This year the
2023-24 LIHEAP season runs from November 1, 2023 - April 5, 2024.
Don't delay, apply today!

See the graphics above for outlines of
the program and ways to apply. Apply online and read more about
LIHEAP, including crisis grants, at LIHEAP (pa.gov) [link
17].

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*Ways
to Cut Your Energy Costs*

Cutting your energy use doesn't have to
be complicated. See the graphics above for some simple tips and tricks
provided by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission [link
18].

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*Mail-in Ballot Applications Explained*

On January
9th, the Allegheny County Elections Division mailed out the first
batch of mail-in ballot and absentee ballot applications for the 2024
election cycle. This application process can be a little confusing, so
we thought an explainer in this week's newsletter would be
helpful!

Act 77 of 2019 requires county elections offices to
automatically mail a Pennsylvania
Application for Mail-in Ballot
[link 20] or
Pennsylvania Applications for Absentee Ballot [link 21]
by the first Monday in February to voters who were "permanent" mail-in
voters the previous year. Voters can complete the paper application
and return it to their county elections office or complete the same
application online [link 22].

Note that a "permanent" mail-in or
absentee ballot voter is a person who submitted an application
requesting to vote by mail for the entire year. The Pennsylvania
election calendar year runs from February to February.

*I want to
keep voting by mail all year.*

To vote in every election for the
year by mail, you must complete a mail-in or absentee ballot
application online [link 23] or on paper *every year*. Be sure to
check box 7 on the paper form or "Yes" in the Annual Mail-in Request
section of the online form. You will receive ballots by mail for every
election until February of the following year.

*I want to be able
to choose whether to vote in person or by mail during the
year.*

When you want to vote by mail, you must complete a mail-in
or absentee ballot application online [link 24] or on paper at least a
week before the Primary or General Election. The deadline is always
the Tuesday before Election Day at 8 pm, but we recommend submitting
your application well before the deadline to give the Elections
Division plenty of time to verify your voter registration and mail you
a ballot, which must be received back in the Elections Division by
Election Day.

*I want to vote in-person all year.*

Do not
complete the application. You will not receive mail-in ballots for the
year and you can vote in-person.

*I changed my mind and I am a
permanent mail-in voter. *

You can cancel your annual mail ballot
request. Fill out a Request to Cancel My Ballot Form [link 25] (en
espanol [link 26]). You will no longer receive mail-in ballots for the
year. You will no longer receive a paper request form by February for
mail ballots the following year. If you change your mind and want to
vote by mail ballot in the future, you will need to submit a new
request [link 27].

For more information on voting by mail go to
Mail-in and Absentee Ballot (pa.gov) [link 28].

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[link 29]

*Free Review of Denied Medical Claims*

The
Pennsylvania Insurance Department [link 30] has a new website where
individuals can file to request an independent external review of a
medical claim that has been denied by their health insurance plan and
has gone through their internal insurance appeal process.

For full
info and or to start a claim: [link removed] [link
31]

There is no cost for consumers to submit a review
request.

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[link 32]

*CPF Multi-Purpose Community Facility Grant Program
Opened*

NEW GRANT OPPORTUNITY! The
[link 33]Pennsylvania
Department of Community and Economic Development [link 34] has
announced the CPF Multi-Purpose Community Facility Grant Program! The
application window opened Monday, January 22nd and closes April
20th.

The CPF Multi-Purpose Community Facilities Improvement
Program Guidelines is a $45 Million competitive grant program to
provide grants to Community Anchor Institutions and local governments
for community projects to construct, acquire, or improve facilities
that are, or will be open to the public and will directly enable work,
education, and health monitoring at the respective facility.

Grants
will range from $250K to $2 million with no matching requirements.
Examples of Community Anchor Institutions include but are not limited
to K-12 schools, colleges and universities, hospitals, health centers,
rec centers, municipal or county government owned buildings, and
public libraries.

Check out details here: COVID-19 ARPA PA
Multi-Purpose Community Facilities Program - PA Department of
Community & Economic Development.
[link 35]

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*Feedback
on Medical Debt Needed!*

The Pennsylvania Health Access Network
[link 36] & Just Harvest [link 37] are working together on listening
sessions for anyone affected by medical debt. See above for additional
information. You can share your story by calling/texting 412-643-2349
or emailing [email protected] [link 38].

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As
always, please feel free to reach out with any questions you may have
by phone at 412-364-0469 [link 39] (Ross Office), 724-224-2131 [link
40] (Harrison Office) or by email at
[email protected] [link 41]. My staff will return
your call/email within 24 hours (Monday-Friday).

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Senator
Lindsey Williams

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[link 39] tel:412-364-0469
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[link 41]
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
Monday ? Friday 9-5

Harrison
Office
1826 Union Avenue
Natrona Heights, PA 15065
Phone:
724-224-2131
Fax: 724-224-2145
Monday ? Thursday 9-5

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


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