Getting Ready for the 2024 General Election!

Demystifying Harrisburg: Election 2024 Edition
Thursday, September 12, 2024, 6-7:30pm, Powers Room, McCandless Town Hall

To cut through all the noise around the upcoming General Election, we're hosting Demystifying Harrisburg: Elections. Demystifying Harrisburg is our ongoing informational series designed to help people better understand their government and how to be more informed and engaged citizens.

Hear from officials about the ins and outs of the election process. This knowledge will empower you to cast your ballot confidently, whether by mail or at the voting booth. Get equipped to share accurate information with your friends and neighbors, becoming a trusted source in your community!

You can register for the event and submit questions in advance at Demystifying Harrisburg - Senator Lindsey Williams.

Voter Registration in Pennsylvania

Make sure your voice is heard! For the 2024 General Election, the deadline to register to vote is October 21st.

To register to vote in Pennsylvania, you must:

• Be a citizen of the United States for at least one month before the next primary, special, municipal, or general election.
• Be a resident of Pennsylvania and the election district in which you want to register for at least 30 days before the next primary, special, municipal, or general election.
• Be at least 18 years of age on or before the day of the next primary, special, municipal, or general election.

Pennsylvanians can register to vote online, by mail, or at a number of government agencies, including PennDOT Photo License and Driver’s License Centers.

Helpful websites:

• Check voter registration status at: Voter Registration Status (pa.gov).
• Update voter registration at: Update My Registration | Voting & Election Information | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (pa.gov). You are required to update your registration if you:
  • move or change your address,
  • change your name,
  • or wish to change your party.
• Register to vote online at: Voter Registration Application (pa.gov)
• Download and print an application to register to vote by mail (available in three languages) at: Register to Vote | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (pa.gov).
• Register to vote in person at these government agencies or:

Allegheny County Elections
County Office Building
542 Forbes Avenue Room 312
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Office hours are Monday-Friday, 8:30am-4:30pm.
Call 412-350-4500 for more information.

For complete information on voting in Pennsylvania including registering to vote go to Voting & Election Information | Voting & Election Information | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (pa.gov).

Become a Poll Worker

The Allegheny County Elections Division is looking for poll workers for the November 5th General Election! Poll workers get paid for training and working on Election Day and make our elections possible. Thousands of your friends and neighbors make our elections happen every single year.

Poll workers earn from $150.00-175.00 for the day. Also referred to as election officers, poll workers can serve in various capacities on Election Day, including Judge, Inspector, or Clerk of Elections.

Interested in working?

• Call the Elections office at 412.350.4500, and select option 5.
• Stop by suite 312 in the County Office Building, 542 Forbes Avenue, downtown Pittsburgh.
• Complete the online application.

For complete information on being a poll worker go to Poll Workers - Allegheny County, PA.

Students can serve as poll workers too!

Allegheny County’s Student Poll Worker Program works with students and school districts to give young people the opportunity to participate in democracy. Students 17 years or older get paid or receive community service hours in return for serving on Election Day.

If you or someone you know are interested in this program, more information is available at Student Poll Worker Program - Allegheny County, PA.

Our elections are made possible by thousands of regular citizens. Become a democracy champion today!

Good News

Kayak Trip Highlights the Allegheny River’s Beauty and Needs

On Friday, Friends of the Riverfront, the Port of Pittsburgh Commission, and the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission organized an amazing opportunity to kayak through the CW Bill Young Lock on the Allegheny River. Thanks to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission for keeping everyone safe on our trip!

A decrease in staffing in these locks would be devastating to our river communities and to every Pittsburgher who boats, kayaks, takes a walk with their families, or uses the Allegheny River (Pennsylvania’s River of the Year!) for recreation. I'm so grateful to be a part of the Save the Allegheny River (STAR) coalition and had a great time sharing the morning with so many of my colleagues and friends out on the water.

https://www.wesa.fm/.../lock-through-kayaking-allegheny...

Shredding Event in Ross Township

We had beautiful weather for our shredding event on Saturday at Ross Township’s Department of Public Works. Thank you to the Ross DPW employees who worked tirelessly alongside my and Rep. Emily Kinkead’s staff to fill Shred America’s truck with destroyed documents!

Remember that we have our next free shredding event on Saturday, September 7 at my Harrison Township office! Hope to see you there!

Support West Penn Nurses!

Pennsylvania has the worst nursing shortage in the country, with 20,000 unfilled nursing positions. That’s why West Penn nurses have been negotiating for a fair contract that invests in nurse retention and recruitment. They know how important it is to keep our hospitals staffed so they can work safely and meet the needs of their patients every single day. And we know that an investment in nurses is an investment in ALL of us.

Join me in standing up for our West Penn Nurses the same way that they stand up for their patients at Stand With West Penn Nurses! (everyaction.com).

Legislative Update

Energy Savings Equal Utility Savings

A new report released this week by PIRG and Penn Environment showed that a typical household in Pennsylvania stands to save an average of $128 annually on their utility bills over the next two decades, thanks to newly updated national appliance efficiency standards!

I’ve partnered with Rep. Jennifer O’Mara and Rep. Tom Mehaffie to introduce legislation here in Pennsylvania that would help our households and businesses save even more on their utility bills by improving state appliance efficiency standards. Our bill would cover appliances that don't already have federal standards and help Pennsylvanians experience even more benefits.

HB1615 passed the state house earlier this year and is awaiting a vote in the state senate. We are asking the Senate to take this legislation up before the end of the year so Pennsylvanians can experience even more utility bill savings, cleaner air, and less pollution!

News You Can Use

SUN Bucks Application Deadline is August 31!

Applications for the new USDA SUN Bucks program in Pennsylvania close this Saturday, August 31! This summer grocery benefit for children will be issued automatically on an EBT card to most children who participate in the National School Lunch Program, but some families will need to apply (see Just Harvest’s graphic above). Families can also use the PA Department of Human Services Eligibility Navigator to see if they qualify.

The SUN Bucks benefit is for school aged children who are income eligible for the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). Families are provided with $40 per month per eligible child to cover the three summer months – June, July, and August. Pennsylvania will issue its Summer EBT/Sun Bucks benefit as a single $120 issuance by October 2024. Sun Bucks benefits will be loaded on a family’s existing EBT card or a new EBT card will be issued to newly eligible families.

The following children are eligible and will automatically receive SUN Bucks:

• Any child ages 6-18 who received SNAP, TANF, or Medical Assistance with qualifying income during the school year or during the summer of 2024, including home schooled and cyber school students.
• Any child who attends a school that participates in the National School Lunch Program and either:
  • applies for and is approved for Free and Reduced-Price School Meals during the school year;
  • receives SNAP, TANF, or Medical Assistance with qualifying income at any time during the school year or summer; OR
  • is directly certified for free school meals as a foster child, migrant, or someone experiencing homelessness.

To ensure you receive the SUN Bucks benefit, be sure your child’s school has your current mailing address. If you receive SNAP, TANF or Medical Assistance with a qualifying income, make sure that the Department of Human Services has your current address.

Ways to apply for SUN Bucks:

• Complete a simple school meals application at your child’s school if it is available there.
• Just Harvest enrolls families in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Contact Just Harvest online here or call 412-431-8960.
• Apply online through COMPASS or at one of ?DHS’ County Assistance Offices for:
  • National School Lunch Program
  • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
  • Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
  • Medical Assistance?
• Complete a paper application and submit it to the Allegheny County Assistance Office before August 31. If your application arrives after August 31, the application will be processed for 2025 SUN Bucks.

For more information see SUN Bucks - Just Harvest or Summer EBT | Department of Human Services | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Schools that do not currently participate in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast programs are encouraged to do so and can find information for applying on?the Department of Education’s website.?

Visit Historic Sites for FREE with an Experience Kit

On a budget and want to see our region’s historic sites? Now library card holders can check out an Experience Kit at an Allegheny County Library Association library and get free admission to eight regional historical sites! The Allegheny County Library Association (ACLA) and the Senator John Heinz History Center teamed up to create the Experience Kit program which provides free admission for up to two adults and six children at the following sites:

• Historic Fort Steuben, Steubenville, OH;
• Braddock’s Battlefield History Center, Braddock, PA;
• Fort Ligonier, Fort Ligonier, Ligonier, PA;
• Pennsylvania Trolley Museum, Washington, PA;
• Fort Pitt Museum, Pittsburgh, PA;
• Heinz History Center, Pittsburgh, PA;
• Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Historic Village, Avella, PA;
• and the Depreciation Lands Museum, Allison Park, PA.

The kits can be checked out for up to one week at a time and include virtual access to educational support materials and suggestions on other activities for each site to maximize the overall experience.

The Experience Kit program is being coordinated through the Heinz History Center’s Affiliates Program (HCAP), which includes more than 125 regional historical societies and organizations. Members include history, genealogy, and library organizations located primarily within Western Pennsylvania counties.

If you are interested in the program, visit your local library to check out a kit. Libraries participating in Senate District 38 are listed below:

Reserve an Experience Kit in Advance at:

• Cooper-Siegel Community Library
• Shaler North Hills Library
• Springdale Free Public Library

Check Out an Experience Kit Today on a First-Come, First-Served Basis at:

• Hampton Community Library
• Millvale Community Library
• Northern Tier Regional Library
• Northland Public Library

For a complete list of libraries participating in the Experience Kit program go to Experience Kits – Allegheny County Library Association (aclalibraries.org).

Check Out These Senior Discounts!

We did some research and put together the list of senior discounts in the graphics above. Be sure you or the seniors you know take advantage of these cost-cutting opportunities!

Fall Internships Available

Our office is hiring interns for the fall semester!

• Positions are open to College Juniors and Seniors in the following degree fields: Political Science, Business Management, Communications/Media Relations, Journalism, Community Relations or any other relevant fields.
• Full and Part time positions, August/September through December with option to extend.
• Office hours are from 9:00 am until 5:00 pm with evening and weekend hours expected.
• Paid position, $15/hour

To apply for an internship or for more information, go to Internships - Senator Lindsey Williams.

Our Beloved Dogs

Monday was National Dog Day!  Our team is very dog friendly, and some of these guys even help us with constituent services at the office from time to time. Check out these pawsitively adorable pictures of our D38 doggos:

• Posha
• Chandler
• Coco, Gallo, and Benny
• Moose
• Remy
• Addy

Share a picture of your favorite furry friend with us at [email protected] or on Senator Williams’ Facebook page. We love to feature our four-legged constituents!

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