Upcoming
Events
Larimer
Alive!
We can’t wait for Larimer Alive
this Saturday! Come on out to celebrate the Larimer neighborhood and
stop by our table for an opportunity to talk with Senator Williams or
to pick up some information and resources from her staff. Hope to see
you there!
Good News
Prescription Benefits Manager Reform
Legislation Signed Into Law!
Earlier
this week I joined my colleague Representative Jess Benham to
celebrate the passage of HB 1993, which will reform Pharmacy Benefit
Managers (PBMs). This legislation will save Pennsylvanians money on
their prescription medications, support our local pharmacies, and
protect a vital link in our health care chain.
I have been
fortunate to partner with local pharmacies throughout my time in the
Pennsylvania Senate. These incredibly knowledgeable individuals have
participated in my office’s Senior Fairs, Community Baby
Showers, and other events to ensure that residents have access to
vaccines and other important health information.
One of the
pharmacists I’ve worked with closely throughout my time in the
Senate, Kaitlyn Sullivan, the owner of Russellton
Palmer Pharmacy in West Deer, said
“PBM reform continues to be needed to ensure that patients will
always have access to local brick and mortar & include all the
unique services we provide as community pharmacies. Today was a small
step in the right direction, but local pharmacies are still in danger
of going away. We thank the lawmakers that have worked hard with us
and we hope to continue to work towards better solutions.”
Senator
Lindsey M. Williams Applauds Senate Passage of Pharmacy Reform
Legislation - Senator Lindsey Williams
Homelessness is not a
Crime
Last week I joined my Senate and House
colleagues in a public response to the recent Supreme Court decision
criminalizing homelessness. Jail is not a housing program and
incarcerating people for not having housing will not solve any of our
problems-- it will only make them significantly worse. Thank you to my
colleagues Rep. Lindsay Powell, Senator Nikil Saval, Senator Amanda
Cappelletti, and Rep. Joanna McClinton for your inspiring words and
leadership on this issue.
Policy
Hearing on PA Property Reassessment System
On
Monday I was grateful to have had the opportunity to participate in a
Senate Democratic Policy Committee hearing requested by Senator Wayne
Fontana. This hearing took a hard look at the lack of a statewide
system of regular property reassessment in Pennsylvania. We heard
from experts and advocates on the incredibly significant impact
Pennsylvania’s inequitable property tax reassessment system has
on residents and our public institutions.
We heard from
experts and advocates on the incredibly significant impact
Pennsylvania’s inequitable property tax reassessment system has
on residents and our public institutions.
Without regularly
scheduled reassessments like the rest of the country, our local
governments and school districts are stuck with a system that taxes
residents and families unfairly. We can’t appeal our way to
fairness, so I’m looking forward to working with Senator Fontana
to find a legislative solution that benefits all Pennsylvanians.
For more information on this policy hearing and to access all
submitted testimony and a full recording of the hearing, visit www.SenatorMuth.com/policy.
Tour of the
Benedum Center for the Performing Arts
Last week while I was in Harrisburg working on the budget, a member of
my staff attended a Pittsburgh Cultural Trust (PCT) tour of the
Benedum Center. The tour showcased the Benedum as a prime example of
the benefits of financial support for PTC’s eight theaters,
galleries, and varied performance spaces.
At nine
stories up and very deep, the Benedum Center boasts one of the biggest
stages in the country. In fact, many national tours prefer to start in
Pittsburgh because it's such an effortless experience for traveling
teams to get acclimated since there is so much backstage storage.
Funding for the Benedum has been used for recent safety and
modernization upgrades that also attract Broadway’s top shows
which in turn keep our downtown restaurants and culture
vibrant.
As an annual season ticket subscriber to the
Broadway in Pittsburgh series at the Benedum, I take every opportunity
to support the arts in Harrisburg and hope everyone in the Pittsburgh
region takes advantage of its world-class venues that continue to draw
the best shows and talent in the country.
Fresh
Access Program at Farmers Markets
On Monday,
to kick off Urban Agriculture Week, I took a trip to the City of
Pittsburgh East
End Farmers Market at Liberty Green Park in Larimer to highlight
the importance of Just Harvest’s Fresh Access Program. I also
was excited to pick up some produce and fish for
myself!
The Fresh
Access Program improves access to fresh, locally grown fruits and
vegetables for everyone by expanding payment options at local farmers
markets. Shoppers are able to pay using SNAP benefits, SUN bucks, Food
Bucks, WIC or Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program vouchers, EBT
cards, credit and debit cards, and cash.
A full listing of
farmers markets participating in the Fresh Access Program is available
at Just Harvest’s website.
Participants should look for a red Fresh Access tent or ask for the
market manager’s tent.
The Senior Farmers Market
Nutrition Program is accepting paper wait list applications by mail
through the end of July. Participants who meet income guidelines (at
or below $27,861 for a one-person household or $37,814 for a
two-person household) can request an application from my office by
calling or emailing 412-364-0469 (Ross), 724-224-2131
(Harrison), [email protected].
Full information on the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program is
available at Farmers Market Nutrition Program - Allegheny
County, PA.
Legislative Update
FirstEnergy’s Rate Increase
Should be Denied
I've asked the Pennsylvania
Public Utility Commission to deny FirstEnergy's proposed rate
increase. People in our region are facing skyrocketing costs at the
grocery store, the gas pump, and when they open their utility bills.
As corporate profits soar, our families and seniors are struggling to
make ends meet. Penn Power and West Penn Power proposing to increase
monthly electric bills 10-12% is extreme, especially because
the Pennsylvania
Office of Consumer Advocate has flagged that this increase
may result in excessive returns to FirstEnergy.
Read more
at https://senatorlindseywilliams.com/senator-lindsey-m.../
Deadline
for the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Voucher Waitlist is July
30th!
Allegheny County Senior Community
Centers had a very large and successful turnout for their in-person
Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program voucher distribution on June
25th. Unfortunately, there were not enough vouchers allocated to meet
the demand. We are reminding seniors that the Allegheny County Area
Agency on Aging (AAA) responded by moving to a waitlist for vouchers
managed by a first-come, first-served mail-in application process.
Vouchers will be mailed after August 1, 2024, so if you haven’t
mailed yours in yet, applications must ARRIVE in the mail by
July 30, 2024!
If you need assistance or need our
office to mail you an application, please call 412-364-0469 (McKnight)
or 724-224-2131 (Harrison).
Full information on the Senior
Farmers Market Nutrition Program is available at Farmers Market Nutrition Program - Allegheny
County, PA.
Welcome
to the Neighborhood!
A warm welcome to our new
neighbors in the Heights Plaza! The new Natrona Heights Social
Security Administration office opened on Monday, July 15!
The
new location is at 1721 Union Avenue, just a hop, skip and a jump from
our district office at 1826 Union Ave!
Their office hours are
9am-4pm, Monday through Friday.
Join
the DCNR NextGen Advisory Council!
The PA
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is seeking applicants
for their NextGen Advisory Council. Members will work together to
assist DCNR in their mission of expanding access to outdoor recreation
and ensuring public lands are welcoming to all.
Applications
will be accepted through Wednesday, July 31. Learn more and apply at
Diversity,
Equity, and Inclusion (pa.gov).
Pittsburgh Fair Housing Ordinance
Update
The City of Pittsburgh has released the
public draft of its new Fair Housing Amendment. You can review the
draft, ask questions, and sign up for updates on the process at https://engage.pittsburghpa.gov/fair-housing-amendments.
The next step in this process is a Planning Commission Briefing on
July 23.
This work is needed to ensure that the City's Zoning
Code complies with the federal Fair Housing Act and state regulatory
standards, as well as provides flexibility and opportunities for
development while still being easy to understand.
Allegheny GoatScape to Clear Natrona
Water Trail
Did you know goats are great lawn
mowers? You can see them in action when Allegheny
GoatScape, Friends
of the Riverfront, and Natrona
Comes Together Association team up to tackle the vegetation along
the riverbank around the Natrona Water Trail Launch between Monday,
July 22 - Friday, July 26!
The goats will be fenced in and
munching on invasive weeds and bushes to help create a safer and more
visible area along the riverfront. Pop by during the week to greet the
goats and walk along the short river trail stretch from the Army Corps
lock and dam to the kayak launch. The entrance to the mosaic
trail is across from Natrona Park and extends along Veterans Way Road
to the kayak launch and back to River Avenue.
An
official Meet & Greet with the goats will take place on Wednesday,
July 24th from 12:30pm-1:30pm at the Three Rivers Water Trail Launch-
Natrona Access.
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
