State Senator Lindsey M. Williams, Your District 38
Update

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*Upcoming Events**

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*Senior Social*

*Pittsburgh Mills Mall, 590 Pittsburgh
Mills Circle, Tarentum

Thursday, May 23, Noon - 3:00 pm*

We're
hosting a Senior Social! This isn't your parents' senior fair- come
ready to meet new people and learn new things.

Vintage Center for
Active Adults will be there to provide Digital Navigation Services and
support for your smartphone, laptop, or tablet.

The PA Department of
Banking and Securities will be playing Fraud Bingo, a fun and easy way
to learn how to keep yourself and your loved ones safe from frauds and
scams.

Representatives from the PA Fish and Boat Commission, a
Veterans Service Officer from the Department of Military and Veterans
Affairs, and more vendors will be there to answer questions and share
information on programs you can take advantage of.

We'll also have
music, dancing, games, and light refreshments made by the students of
A.W. Beattie for you to enjoy!

We hope to see you at our Senior
Social on Thursday, May 23 from Noon until 3:00 pm at Pittsburgh Mills
Mall!

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*Property Tax/Rent Rebate Filing Event*

*Shaler North
Hills Library, 1822 Mt. Royal Boulevard, Glenshaw, PA 15116

Friday,
May 24, 10:00 am - Noon*

Rep. Lindsay Powell and I are co-hosting a
Property Tax/Rent Rebate Event at the Shaler North Hills Library on
Friday May 24 from 10:00 am until noon. For the first time in almost
20 years, the Property Tax/Rent Rebate has been expanded. Nearly
175,000 more Pennsylvanians now qualify for a rebate and the maximum
rebates available have nearly doubled.

The new income eligibility
threshold is $45,000 for both homeowners and renters. To calculate
income, only half of Social Security income is included.

At this
event, we're able to answer questions and help you file for your
rebate online! Please bring along your:

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Proof of identity (first
time filers only)

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Documentation showing all income received in
2023, including Social Security income, retirement funds, or other
interest bearing accounts

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A completed PA rent certificate (for
renters only--please contact our office if you need assistance
obtaining this)

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Bank account and routing information if you would
like direct deposit

For homeowners only:

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Proof of payment/receipt
for Allegheny County taxes

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Proof of payment/receipt for local
municipality taxes

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Proof of payment/receipt for school district
taxes

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*Good
News**

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*Thank
You AARP Tax-Aide Volunteers!*

We send a heartfelt thank you to the
volunteers who made the 2024 AARP Tax-Aide Program possible. Between
the Ross and Shaler sites, our office scheduled 742 senior tax
appointments for the 2024 tax season.

AARP Tax-Aide Tax Preparers
are trained volunteers who graciously offer months of their time to
make free tax preparation a reality for seniors. The number of tax
appointments AARP can offer is dependent on how many folks volunteer
each season. Many people ask our office about meaningful volunteer
opportunities, and this program is one of the most direct ways we know
of to help people in our community!

To volunteer and learn more go
to: [link removed] [link
3].

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*Demystifying
Harrisburg with the Office of Consumer Advocate*

Last month, I was
joined by Patrick Cicero, Pennsylvania's Consumer Advocate to discuss
your rights as a utility customer. We covered a wide variety of
topics, including what utility rate increase cases are and how they
impact all of us, the best way to research electric rates
([link removed] [link 4]), and how your voice can be
heard through the OCA.

Stay tuned for upcoming information on how you
can get involved in upcoming rate cases that affect residents in our
area!

If you missed the program, you can view it at:
www.SenatorLindseyWilliams.com/DemystifyingHbg [link 5].

You can
contact the Office of Consumer Advocate, including to sign up for
updates about upcoming rate cases that affect you at:

Phone:
1-800-684-6560

Email: [email protected]

Web: PA Office of Consumer
Advocate - Pennsylvania Office of Consumer Advocate [link 6]

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*Visiting
Northgate School District's College in High School Program*

State
officials and local education leaders joined Northgate Middle and High
School students and educators to learn about their College in High
School (CIHS) program last month. Northgate offers high school
students an opportunity to earn college credits through 21 CIHS
courses in partnership with Robert Morris University, Pitt, and Carlow
University.

College in High School programs allow students to get a
head start on earning college credits at low or no cost to them. These
programs are an incredible benefit to our students, and I was excited
to learn more about how Northgate is creating partnerships with local
universities. Their program can serve as an example to other districts
and can give guidance to legislation that would support College in
High School programs statewide.

Following our conversation about
College in High School, we were joined by Governor Josh Shapiro to
discuss plans to move standardized testing online in order to minimize
the time that our students spend on state testing. Every student,
educator, and parent knows it's long past time to reform the way we
administer these federally mandated standardized tests in
Pennsylvania. I look forward to working with PDE to ensure this
transition is smooth and equitable for students across all
districts.

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*Replace
Your Hard to Read License Plate!*

We had a fantastic turnout for last
month's Hard-to-Read License Plate Replacement Event with AAA East
Central on McKnight Road! Thank you to AAA East Central, Port
Authority of Allegheny County Police and PA State Police for
hosting!

If you weren't able to make it to the event but you still
need a free replacement, you can stop by our office or give us a call
to get a form to fill out at your convenience!

Ross Township
Office

5000 McKnight Road, Suite 405, Pittsburgh, PA 15237 (Next to
Half Price Books)

412-364-0469

Natrona Heights Office

1826 Union
Avenue, Natrona Heights, PA 15065 (Next to J&S
Pizza)

724-224-2131

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*Sourcing
and Eating Local Food*

Thank you to Harvie [link 7] for hosting the
Department of Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding, Senator Jay
Costa, Don Mahaney from Scratch & Co [link 8], and me for a
conversation about the economic and environmental impacts of sourcing
and eating local, Pennsylvania-produced and grown food.

Harvie's
unique farm-share/delivery service connects local farms with consumers
seeking fresh, high-quality ingredients. And it's that commitment to
local, fresh produce that is key to their success. The care placed in
both the products they distribute and the 350+ farmers they
collaborate with is truly commendable.

We also had a delicious lunch
made by Harvie Kitchen, which was completely sourced by local
producers!

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*Visiting
the Western PA School for the Deaf*

Thank you to The Western
Pennsylvania School for the Deaf for welcoming me to the school for a
tour and discussion of their programming, including their media
studio, young student classrooms, and their drone program!

Special
thanks to Executive Director Carrie Rain and Superintendent Kevin
McDonough for their time and work with our students.

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*Indiana
University of Pennsylvania Luncheon*

Last week, I joined Indiana
University of Pennsylvania for a discussion about the work they're
doing to teach the next generation of cybersecurity experts, nurses,
AI/Robotics techs, and teachers. We also heard from students about how
these programs are working for them. Thank you to Senator Joe Pittman
for hosting us!

This week is Higher Education Week and I'm incredibly
proud of the work that our PA State System Higher Education Foundation
Schools do to educate students. I look forward to funding our PASSHE
System in the upcoming budget so more students can achieve their
educational goals with less student debt.

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*Shredding
Event in Shaler*

Saturday's torrential downpour didn't stop our
shredding event with Rep. Lindsay Powell from being a giant success! A
big thank you to Shaler Township officials and the Shaler Township
Police Department for all your help in making the event run smoothly.
A special shoutout to Lieutenant Benko for taking on traffic control;
you were the MVP!

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*Legislative
Update**

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*Standing
Up for Workers on May Day*

May Day, or International Workers Day, is
recognized every May 1st. This year, I had hoped that the Senate could
pass my amendment [link 9] to Senate Bill 1109 [link 10] that would
extend unemployment compensation eligibility to striking workers in
honor of this day of celebration. Historically, only workers
experiencing a lockout have received unemployment
compensation.

Instead, my amendment failed by a vote of 27-23, with
nearly all Republican Senators voting against the measure.

The
language in the amendment is identical to my Senate Bill 434 [link
11], which was referred to committee last March. I introduced the same
bill last session. Even so, this legislation has yet to receive a
committee hearing or vote.

I originally introduced the legislation
after the 2021 Allegheny Technology Incorporated (ATI) Steelworkers
strike, where 1300 Steelworkers were forced to strike due to unfair
labor practices for over 3 months. Since then, we've seen numerous
other workers go on strike in our area, including the Post-Gazette
newsroom and production workers, who have been on strike for the last
18 months. These workers are still on strike, even after the National
Labor Relations Board ruled that the Post-Gazette management failed to
bargain in good faith and illegally imposed work conditions on the
unions.

These workers spent months and months navigating a
complicated unemployment system, trying to secure benefits. They came
to my office seeking help. They were frustrated, disheartened, and
often desperate. But they *knew *that they were doing the right thing
by exercising their federally protected right to strike against
employers who were bargaining in bad faith and committing unfair labor
practices. Even though it came at great personal cost.

In
Pennsylvania, employers have a significant advantage over employees in
a strike because they can bring in scabs (non-union workers) and
continue to turn a profit. ATI stockpiled materials and brought in
scabs to keep the plant running. The Post-Gazette still has scabs
producing their paper. This tactic is used to break workers and force
them back to the negotiating table to accept less.

By extending
unemployment benefits to otherwise qualified striking workers, we can
help level the playing field just a little bit. But instead of doing
so, my Republican colleagues voted to leave striking workers out in
the cold while siding with their employers. I'm extremely disappointed
that Republicans chose to pay lip service to supporting workers and
working families while invoking May Day, as they voted against
policies that would help workers.

You can view Senator Williams' full
remarks here: Sen. Williams attempts to extend unemployment to
striking workers (SB1109) - Senator Lindsey Williams [link
12].

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*Thank
You Poll Workers*

Thank you to the Allegheny County poll workers who
worked 13+ hours on Primary Election Day to ensure a fair and
transparent election process. We appreciate your service and
dedication. You are democracy heroes!

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[link 13]

*FAFSA Deadline for PA State Grants Extended to June 1,
2024*

The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA)
[link 14] has extended the deadline for students and families to
submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) [link 15]
for PA State Grant eligibility to June 1, 2024 -
just in time for
Higher Education Week!

Historically the FAFSA deadline for PA State
Grant awards was May 1, but this year the new streamlined FAFSA launch
was delayed for 3 months. In response, PHEAA adjusted the deadline to
June 1 to ensure that PA State Grant dollars get into the hands of the
students who need it most. Don't wait until the last minute, PHEAA is
urging students to submit their FAFSA for the upcoming 2024-25
academic year as soon as possible!

After the FAFSA is completed and
data is transmitted to PHEAA, first-time applicants will fill out the
PA State Grant Form using PHEAA's new "GrantUs" platform. Notices
should go out in the next few weeks to students with instructions on
how to set up their GrantUs accounts and complete required PA State
Grant documentation. Renewal applicants only need to submit a FAFSA
and set up a GrantUs account.

First time FAFSA applicants who plan
to enroll in a community college; business, trade, or technical
school; a hospital school of nursing; a designated Pennsylvania Open
Admission institution; or a non-transferable 2-year degree program at
a community, 2-year, or 4-year college have an August 1, 2024,
submission deadline.

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*All In Allegheny Survey Results*

Between November 2023
and April 2024, the Office of the Allegheny County Executive [link 17]
Sara Innamorato heard from residents countywide through the "All In
Allegheny" survey, which was the largest, most diverse, and most
inclusive community engagement initiative Allegheny County has ever
seen.

Have you taken a look at the survey's findings? Nearly 19,000
residents contributed 648,000 data points, providing a comprehensive
view of community priorities.

From expanding childcare to addressing
housing needs, the survey highlights actionable areas for improvement.
The initiative marks a historic milestone in community engagement,
demonstrating residents' eagerness to actively shape the future of
Allegheny County.

To view survey results *click here* [link
18]!

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[link 19]

*RAD Free Admission Reservations Begin May 1!*

On a tight
budget and want to see more of Pittsburgh's amazing attractions like
the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium, the Frick Pittsburgh, or the Phipps
Conservatory? With the Allegheny Regional Asset District's (RAD) new
RAD Summer Staycation program all you need is an Allegheny County
library card and a reservation to see them for FREE.

The RAD Summer
Staycation program gives Allegheny County library card holders access
to RAD-funded attractions that typically charge for daily admission
thanks to generous donations from participating attractions. There are
over 100,000 free admissions available, but to secure your spot, make
a reservation today at RADPass.org [link 20]. Reservations opened on
May 1!

Learn more at RAD announces expansion of free days with new
RAD Summer Staycation - Allegheny County Library Association
(aclalibraries.org) [link 21].

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*Avoid
Tow Truck Scams - Know Your Tow!*

On April 18, 2024 the Pennsylvania
Office of Attorney General charged a local Pittsburgh towing company
owner with inflating tow costs and billing thousands of dollars in
fraudulent fees [link 22].

The Pennsylvania Insurance Fraud
Prevention Authority recommends visiting www.knowyourtow.org [link 23]
to learn how to make sure your tow operator is legitimate and to print
the list below to keep in your vehicle.

Know Your Tow Tips:

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Make
sure the tow truck that arrives is the one dispatched for you by the
police.

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Take control of the situation. Ask for identification with
the towing company's information -- a business card with the company's
name, address and phone number on it. Then, provide all of the info
you gather to your insurance company.

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Write down or take a photo
of the tow truck's license number and any identifying info on the
truck's exterior.

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Don't sign any towing slip or other paperwork
unless the fees are filled in.

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If police have not responded to
your accident -- or if the tower has not provided the info you
requested -- call 911 and tell them you're not comfortable with the
tower and ask them for assistance at your location.

CHARGES: Western
Pa. Tow Truck Operator Inflated Costs, Charged 27 Vehicle Owners
Nearly $300K for Short-Trip Tows - PA Office of Attorney General [link
24]

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*EMS Public Education Event in Shaler*

Shaler North Hills
Library will host "But I Never Thought I'd Need an Ambulance!" with
Shaler Hampton EMS [link 26] on Friday, May 17 at 1:30 PM. Learn about
how to handle emergency situations and how your EMS serves you!
Following the presentation, Shaler Hampton EMS staff will show you
firsthand the equipment they carry every day and why they can
comfortably say "On your worst day, we'll be at our BEST!

Register
online at But I Never Thought I'd Need an Ambulance! with the
Shaler/Hampton EMS | Shaler North Hills Library (librarycalendar.com)
[link 27] or call 412-486-0211.

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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 28] (Ross Office), 724-224-2131 [link
29] (Harrison Office) or by email at
[email protected] [link 30]. My staff will return
your call/email within 24 hours (Monday-Friday).

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Senator
Lindsey Williams

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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
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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