State Senator Lindsey M. Williams, Your District 38
Update

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*Upcoming Events**

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*Sharing
the Warmth*

The Township of Hampton's Social Services Department is
holding a Valentine's Day blanket drive to benefit local nursing
homes, and we're excited to offer our District Offices as collection
sites!

Drop off your new blankets now through Wednesday, February
12th:

Ross Township Office

5000 McKnight Road, take the elevator to
the fourth floor!

Pittsburgh PA 15237

(412) 364-0469

Monday-Friday
9-5pm

Harrison Township Office

1826 Union Avenue

Natrona Heights,
PA 15065

(724) 224-2131

Monday-Thursday 9-5pm

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*Good
News**

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*Defending
Civil Liberties and the PA Constitution*

Last week, our new and
returning members were sworn into the Pennsylvania Senate, swearing an
oath to uphold both the United States and Pennsylvania
Constitutions.

I'm incredibly proud to be named a 2023-24 ACLU PA
Constitutional Champion for the Senate. I take my oath of office very
seriously, and I will continue to uphold the civil and constitutional
rights and liberties of all Pennsylvanians every day.

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*Swearing
In Days Throwback*

Last Tuesday marked my fourth official Swearing In
Day in Harrisburg, and was a great chance to look back on some fond
memories of the last six years! The past six years have included two
of my own Swearing In Days, and two midterm ones, where Senators from
the odd-numbered districts in the state were elected.

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*Swearing
In and Starting the 2025-26 Session*

Last Tuesday marked the start of
the 2025-26 Session. The Senate Democratic Caucus welcomed two new
members, Sen. Nick Pisciottano and Sen. Patty Kim, and eight returning
members.

As in previous years, my colleague Senator Muth and I
introduced an alternate set of operating, ethics, and financial rules
to govern this session. These rules reforms would have ensured
government transparency, encouraged public participation in the
legislative process, and held senators accountable to the
public.

Specifically, the ethics rules that I introduced would have
protected everyone who comes in contact with the Senate from sexual
harassment, racial discrimination, and other forms of harassment and
discrimination. I also reintroduced rules that would require the
Senate Chief Clerk to post all Senate expenses on a central website in
an easily searchable format. (To see the past six years of expenses
from my office, check out my expenses [link 1] webpage.) You can read
more about these rules reforms on my website [link 2].

Unfortunately,
these resolutions were rejected on a party line vote and referred to
committee. Instead of taking this new Session as an opportunity to
create Rules that better reflect what Pennsylvanians want from their
government, the Senate chose to adopt rules that uphold the status quo
and concentrate power in the hands of a few. Pennsylvanians expect and
deserve a transparent and accountable legislature that actually works
for them, but that is not what they got.

Deal keeps Democrats in
charge of Pa. House as Legislature swears in members [link 3]

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*Exploring
Pennsylvania Agriculture at the Farm Show*

I had a great time at the
Pennsylvania Farm Show! We kicked the morning off with the traditional
Milk Toast celebrating our PA Dairymen's Association farmers and made
our way around, checking out the exhibits, animals, and delicious
food-- hello half mint, half vanilla milkshakes!

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*Learning
More about Agriculture and Technology*

While at the Farm Show, I had
the chance to participate in a panel discussion on how technology
powers Pennsylvania Agriculture. I learned so much during this
discussion, and I'm looking forward to working this legislative
session on ways we can get our K-12 students more career ready in the
agricultural and technological spaces!

Farm Show roundtable examines
technology's impact on PA agriculture [link 4]

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*2025-26
Committees*

I'm excited to announce my committee assignments for the
coming session! In addition to serving as the Democratic Chair for the
Education Committee, I'll also sit on:

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Agricultural & Rural
Affairs

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Game & Fisheries

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Transportation

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Veterans Affairs &
Emergency Preparedness

I've been fortunate enough to sit on all of
these committees for at least two years, including being with the
Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Committee since 2019. I'm
looking forward to continuing my work on all of these committees this
year!

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*Legislative
Update**

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*Putting Universal Lunches Back on the Table*

My colleague
Senator Judy Schwank and I will be reintroducing our Universal School
Meals legislation [link 6] again this session. This bill will expand
the current successful Universal School Breakfast Program to include
lunches for all students.

Parents, teachers and students talk to me
all the time about how much they love the breakfast program. Expanding
the program to include lunch will help parents and families even more,
especially with grocery costs climbing. No kid should go hungry at
school.

You can read more about the legislation and its benefits for
the entire community in this recent Valley News Dispatch article: Free
school lunches could be on the table again for all students beginning
in the fall [link 7]

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*News
You Can Use**

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*New
Year, Whoooo Dis?*

Join the Allegheny County Park Rangers for a
Guided Hike Owl Prowl and learn all about our feathered friends!

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Saturday, January 18 from 6:00 - 8:00 pm at Hartwood Acres Park [link
8]

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Sunday, January 19 from 6:00 - 8:00 pm at Harrison Hills Park
[link 9]

Register at the links above, or check out all of the
upcoming events at the County Park near you at Activity search |
Allegheny Parks [link 10].

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[link 11]

*In Person Job Fair!*

Join PA CareerLink for an In-Person
Job Fair on Wednesday, January 22, 2025 from 10 AM - 12 noon.
University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority, Levy
Restaurants, Pittsburgh Cares, and more employers will be on site to
discuss open positions. Please bring multiple copies of your updated
resume and two forms of identification with you. For more information,
visit PA CareerLink's website [link 12].

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*Getting
to the Heart and Soul of Etna*

Etna Heart and Soul, a
community-driven initiative that works to gather residents' stories,
is hosting a free night of storytelling and snacks on Friday, January
24 from 7-9 PM at CoStar Brewing!

Heart and Soul is looking for
people to attend and for a few people willing to share a 5-minute
story in front of the group about what they love about Etna. Stories
should be like a Moth Story- true and as remembered by the
storyteller. If you need examples, check out The Moth [link 13]. RSVP
with the QR code in the above graphic or email
[email protected]. Free snacks and a drink ticket
included.

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*Don't Forget to Vote!*

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Check out the Allegheny
County "I Voted" sticker finalists and vote for your favorite before
Monday, January 27th! (One vote per device.) We're super proud that so
many of these amazing designs come from schools within Senate District
38!



Votes can be cast at "I Voted" Sticker Contest [link
15].

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*Join the 1000 Books before Kindergarten Initiative with
CLAV!*

Start your child's reading journey before they take their
first step with the Community Library of Allegheny Valley! This
national program was designed to approach reading in a simple and fun
way to establish strong, early literacy skills and kick-off a child's
love of learning. For more information check out the library website
[link 18] or stop in and ask a staff member. It's never too late to
start!

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*Honoring
the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.*

Monday is Martin Luther
King Jr. Day! There are lots of meaningful local activities to honor
Dr. King's legacy:

Sunday, Jan. 19th:

Carnegie Museum of Art [link
19]

Charles "Teenie" Harris Archive Drop-In Program. Observe Harris'
trailblazing photographs of African American life and share
reflections about Dr. King's legacy

Monday, Jan. 20th:

Carnegie
Museum of Art [link 20]

Day Off at the Museum: Martin Luther King Jr.
Day event invites young artists ages 6-10 to get immersed in art,
learning and fun.

Pittsburgh Glass Center [link 21]

Hands-on
activities illuminating the importance of teamwork and watch glass,
neon and plasma demonstrations

Kelly Strayhorn Theater [link
22]

Please join me at the Spirit of Rev. Dr. King Celebration Through
Art & Advocacy, with lobby activities and dance, theater and music
performances and "Let Freedom Sing" concert.

Children's Museum of
Pittsburgh [link 23]

SLB Radio audio programs, maker activities,
story times, and performances.

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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 24] (Ross Office), 724-224-2131 [link
25] (Harrison Office) or by email at
[email protected] [link 26]. My staff will return
your call/email within 24 hours (Monday-Friday).

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Senator
Lindsey Williams

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ttps://www.alleghenyvalleylibrary.org/1000-books-before-kindergarten
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tel:412-364-0469
[link 25] tel:724-224-2131
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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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