State Senator Lindsey M. Williams, Your District 38
Update

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*Upcoming Events**

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*August
Community Days*

We had a fantastic time at Aspinwall's Big Night
Out last week and are looking forward to East Deer's Summer
Celebration this Saturday! Come on out to enjoy the food and fun and
while you are there, stop by our table. Senator Williams will be there
with her staff to hear what is important to you and to provide you
with information on state resources.

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*Free Upcoming Paper Shredding Events!*

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*Saturday,
August 24th from 10 am - Noon *

*With Rep. Emily Kinkead *

*Ross
Department of Public Works, 225 Cemetery Lane, Pittsburgh, PA
15237*

-
*Saturday, September 7th from 9 - 11 am *

*With Rep.
Mandy Steele*

*Senator Williams' Harrison Township Office, 1826
Union Avenue, Natrona Heights, PA 15065*

Have you been cleaning out
your old paperwork and need a way to safeguard your personal data?
Come to our August 24th shredding event in Ross with Rep. Kinkead or
our September 7th shredding event in Harrison with Rep. Steele (see
graphics above for details). Shredding is the safest way to securely
dispose of your personal documents and both events are FREE!

Each
car can shred up to two bankers boxes of paper (for reference a
bankers box is about the size of a microwave). Please remove all metal
fasteners other than staples before the event! Shredding will be
performed on site. Bags and boxes will be returned to your car after
they are emptied.

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*Save the Date! Demystifying Harrisburg: Election 2024
Edition*

*Thursday, September 12, 2024, 6-7:30pm, Powers Room,
McCandless Town Hall*

Mark your calendars for the next installment
of my Demystifying Harrisburg series - Election 2024 Edition! Get your
questions answered about the upcoming 2024 General Election and what
to expect when you cast your ballot. Special guests will be announced
soon.

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*Good
News**

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*Burgh
Bits and Bites Food Tour!*

Earlier this month, Visit Pittsburgh
[link 3] invited Senator Williams to a 'Burgh Bits & Bites Food Tour.
The Senator couldn't make it, so D38 staffer Jessica was happy to go
in her place!

Per Jess, "I'm a native Pittsburgher, but Burgh Bits
and Bites Food Tours [link 4] had me looking at my city with new eyes.
We sampled a variety of delicious foods and had the opportunity to
chat with the owners of each small business and get a
behind-the-scenes look at their restaurants.

Sylvia was a
phenomenal tour guide; she thoughtfully chose each destination and
shared many interesting Pittsburgh historical anecdotes and facts
along the way. I recommend the 'Burgh Bites Tour to folks who want to
show off some hidden gems from Pittsburgh to visiting friends and
family, or if you're a yinzer and want a taste of different places
you've driven by dozens of times but have yet to try."

Along the
tour we had bites from:

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Salonika Imports

-
Senti

-
Driftwood Oven

-
Mikkusu

-
Pita My Shawarma

-
Millie's

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*Aspinwall
Big Night Out*

Last week we attended Aspinwall's Big Night Out with
Rep. Mandy Steele's office and couldn't believe the great turnout! It
was fun to chat with residents and enjoy the food, music, and endless
activities for kids and adults. Our intern Bre couldn't resist joining
Camp Guyasuta's foam party! Thank you to all the hard-working
volunteers who make this event possible!

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*Congressman
Chris Deluzio's Veterans Resource Fair*

Thank you to Congressman
Chris Deluzio for hosting this week's Veterans Resource Fair in West
View! My office was thrilled to participate and help Veterans connect
with state services.

If you missed the event, but still need
assistance with your Veterans benefits, please call our office to make
an appointment with our Veterans Service Officer at 412-364-0469 or
724-224-2131.

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*Fighting
for a Fair Contract for Our Nurses and Our Community*

I was proud
to join SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania West Penn Nurses yesterday as
they rally for a fair contract! Our local nurses have been working to
negotiate a contract that invests in nurses, patients, and all of
us.

Thank you to Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato and
Rep. Summer Lee for always showing up and speaking out for our working
families.

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*Legislative
Update**

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*Focusing
on the Future of our Waterways*

The Port of Pittsburgh Commission
[link 6] awarded $75,000 in funding to 9 local organizations as part
of the Senator James Ferlo Memorial Grants last month. This grant
program promotes our region's three rivers, education and advocacy,
and water safety.

I'm incredibly proud to follow in Senator Ferlo's
legacy in representing the 38th Senate District. This small grant
program promotes projects that reflect our shared priorities of
promoting our rivers while focusing on the future of our
waterways.

12 applications were received, with requests totaling
more than $170,000.
Nine local applicants were awarded funding
including:

-
Allegheny Clean Ways - $10,000

-
Allegheny
River Development Corporation - $10,000

-
PA Fish & Boat
Commission - $9,985

-
Point of Pittsburgh Sailing League -
$5,000

-
Sewickley Creek Watershed - $5,000

-
Synthomer/Jefferson Hills - $8,500

-
Three Rivers Rowing
Association - $10,000

-
Three Rivers Waterkeeper - $6,428

-
Watersmith Guild/First Waves - $10,000

Congratulations to the
recipients! I'm looking forward to seeing the results of their
projects.

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*News
You Can Use**

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*You Might Qualify for Pennsylvania's EXPANDED Property
Tax Rent Rebate Program! *

We want to remind everyone that
Pennsylvania's Property Tax Rent Rebate Program was expanded this year
so that thousands more Pennsylvanians are eligible. As of last week,
more than 100,000 first-time filers had submitted applications to the
program. These rebates are a lifeline for Pennsylvania's seniors and
our neighbors who are disabled. If you didn't qualify for this rebate
in the past, you may qualify this year. Don't leave money on the
table!

The PTRR program is for eligible Pennsylvanians aged 65 and
older; widows and widowers aged 50 and older; and people with
disabilities aged 18 and older. The PTRR program changes this year
include:

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Income cap for renters and homeowners is now
$45,000.

-
NOTE: When calculating income, only 1/2 Social
Security income is included

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Maximum rebate increased from $650
to $1000.

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Income cap increases annually to grow with
inflation.

Rebate Calculation:

*Income*

*Max Standard
Rebate*

$0 - $8000

$1,000

$8,001 - $15,000

$770
$15,001 - $18,000

$460

$18,001 - $45,000

$380


*Application deadline is December 31, 2024.*

If you need
assistance, our office is here to help you apply for your rebate. Call
412-364-0469 or 724-224-2131 for an appointment.

If you prefer to
file on your own go to the links below:

-
Online Application:
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-
Online Assistance:
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*Feedback
Requested on 2025 PA Health Insurance Rate Increase Requests*

Last
week the Pennsylvania Insurance Department (PID) announced 2025
insurance rate increases requested by the companies operating in
Pennsylvania's individual and small group markets. These plans comply
with the Affordable Care Act and are subscribed to by thousands of
individuals and small businesses on Pennie, Pennsylvania's Health
Insurance Marketplace.

In the interest of transparency, PID
announces proposed rate increases [link 10] to the public each year in
August and offers public comment before plans can be sold to consumers
(see link below). PID has been working with insurers since May to
review the proposed rate increases to ensure rates are adequate and
fair. The proposed increases were announced last week. The rate
increases for 2025 average around 8% and are generally attributable to
rising drug costs, increased labor costs, and increases in utilization
of medical services and medical unit costs. Final approval is slated
for the fall.

You can view the rate increase requests at ACA
Health Rate Filings (pa.gov) [link 11].

*Please submit your
comments on the rate requests!* Public comments will be accepted
through September 2, 2024, and can be emailed to [email protected]
[link 12].

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*School Safety & Security Grants*

The School Safety
and Security Committee of the PA Commission on Crime and Delinquency
(PCCD) has just opened the FY24-25 school safety grant process. Don't
miss out on nearly $120 million in state school safety funding
--
applications are due by Thursday, September 26, 2024.

-
*School Safety and Mental Health Grants:* $100 million in
noncompetitive funds for 779 eligible school entities. Funds must be
used for baseline physical security or behavioral health needs, unless
baseline is already met.* *

-
*Targeted School Safety Grants for
Nonpublic Schools:* $19.665 million in competitive grants available,
with up to $75K per project for addressing school violence and mental
health. Eligible entities include municipalities, law enforcement, and
approved vendors*. *

The grants are designed to
advance the School
Safety and Security Committee's goal to ensure all Pennsylvania
students can learn in a safe, healthy school environment by helping
school entities address basic safety needs and mental health services
as identified in the Committee's Revised Baseline Criteria Standards
[link 14]. * *

*Applications accepted until September 26, 2024*,
with rolling awards for public schools and announcements for nonpublic
schools expected in November.

For complete information on the grant
solicitations, application instructions, and eligibility go to PCCD's
School Safety and Security webpage [link 15]. Questions regarding the
School Safety and Security Grant Program can be emailed to PCCD staff
at [email protected] [link 16].

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*School
is Starting - Review Your School Bus Safety!*

Many Allegheny County
schools are back in session next week! We've compiled the list of
start dates for the school districts in Senate District 38 below. That
means the return of bright yellow school buses with their flashing red
stop signs on our roadways is around the corner, so this is the
perfect time to review Pennsylvania's School Bus Stopping Law.
*School District Start Dates in Senate District 38:*

-
Allegheny
Valley: Aug. 19

-
Deer Lakes: Aug. 22

-
Fox Chapel: Aug.
22

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Hampton Township: Aug. 22

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Highlands: Aug. 27

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North Allegheny: Aug. 22

-
North Hills: Aug. 21

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Pine-Richland: Aug. 22

-
Pittsburgh: Aug. 26 for grades 1-12,
Aug. 29 for kindergarten

-
Shaler Area: Aug. 21

*Pennsylvania
School Bus Stopping Law:*

-
Motorists must stop at least 10 feet
away from school buses that have their red lights flashing and a red
stop sign extended.

-
Motorists must stop when they are behind a
bus, meeting the bus, or approaching an intersection where a bus is
stopped.

-
Motorists following or traveling alongside a school
bus must also stop until the red lights have stopped flashing, the
stop sign is withdrawn, and all children have reached safety.

-
If physical barriers such as grassy medians, guide rails, or concrete
median barriers separate oncoming traffic from the bus, motorists in
the opposing lanes may proceed without stopping.

-
Do not proceed
until all the children have reached a place of safety.

The
penalties for Pennsylvania School Bus Stopping Law violations are
severe and can include as much as five points on your driving record,
a 60-day license suspension, and a $250 fine.

For complete
information on Pennsylvania's School Bus Stopping Law including
violations as well as parent and bus driver tips go to School Bus
Safety (pa.gov) [link 17].

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*Footbridge
to Connect Three Rivers Heritage Trail in
Brackenridge*

Brackenridge has been working on connecting the Three
Rivers Heritage Trail along the Allegheny Riverfront since 2016. The
latest addition to the Trail will be a wooden footbridge at First
Avenue that will span a water intake well. This bridge will connect
the existing first half of the trial, which runs from ATI to Morgan
Street, to a new section that will continue on through Brackenridge
Memorial Park to the Tarentum boarder.

Friends of the Riverfront is
working with Brackenridge on this project, which organizers hope can
start next spring. They are also working with Tarentum and Harrison
Township on additional Three Rivers Heritage Trail connectors along
the Allegheny
River.

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*Senate
District 38 Cats!*

Fitting that International Cat Day fell on a
Purrsday this year - August 8! Here's the meow-ment you've been
waiting for, a D38 cat collage!

Listed claw-wise:

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Stevie,
Titus, Zuri

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Kate, Libby, Smidgen

-
Evan, George, Banana,
Cherry

-
Rory and Peach!

Take a paws and email us a picture of
your fur-end to [email protected] [link 19] or add a
picture on my Facebook post [link 20] in the comments. We litter-ally
can't wait to see them!

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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 21] (Ross Office), 724-224-2131 [link
22] (Harrison Office) or by email at
[email protected] [link 23]. 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:
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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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