State Senator Lindsey M. Williams, Your District 38
Update

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*Federal Shutdown Means No SNAP Payments for
November!*

Earlier this month, the United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA) notified Pennsylvania [link 2] that it will not
fund November Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
benefits because of the federal shutdown*.* *This means that without
the White House and/or Congress taking immediate action to reopen the
federal government, two million Pennsylvanians go without their
November SNAP payments.* Pennsylvania is unable to cover SNAP
costs.

I have talked to so many people lately who are scared about
how they are going to make ends meet and feed their family. I have
seen our communities try and meet this money. I have seen the spike in
donations to food banks. And certainly, I want to encourage everyone
to donate and volunteer at their local food pantry. But make no
mistake--charitable food pantries cannot fill the demands or the
infrastructure that the SNAP program is leaving behind.

The feds
are counting on our sense of decency to not let people starve, while
they spend our taxpayer dollars on a giant golden ballroom. This "let
them eat cake" attitude coupled with our nearly 5-month long state
budget impasse means that Pennsylvanians are being hit hardest by this
SNAP cut.

My Senate colleagues and I are working on legislation
that would allocate $60 million from the Rainy Day Fund to support our
food banks and Meals on Wheels programs. This fund is for emergencies.
Our neighbors are certainly facing an emergency right now, and it is
up to us to help ensure that the working families, children, seniors,
and individuals with disabilities who rely on SNAP to put food on
their table every day can continue to do so.

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*If
You Need Assistance*

For immediate needs during the shutdown,
Pennsylvanians can use:

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PA Navigate at pa-navigate.org/ [link
4] to help find food and other resources.

-
the United Way of SW
Pennsylvania by calling 2-1-1 or visiting www.pa211.org [link 5] to
find local food assistance and other resources.

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www.feedingpa.org [link 6] to find local food banks and other food
assistance programs.

-
findhelp.org [link 7] to find food
assistance and other resources.

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[link 8]

*You Can Help!*

You can take action! Contact your
federal officials (contact information is above) and urge them to end
this shutdown by passing a federal budget that funds essential
services and releases critical food assistance to the millions of
Pennsylvanians who rely on SNAP to feed themselves and their families.
Your voice makes a difference!

Also, if you are able, please
consider assisting at or donating to your local food banks, food
pantries, and other helping organizations who will see increased
demand. Consider donating to our food drive at one of our district
offices. Donated items will be accepted through December and go to two
local food banks (see graphic above for details).

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*Constituent
Stories**

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*Government
That Works for You*

This week, I want to take a moment to share
some of the feedback our office has received recently.

Our mission
is to build community with our constituents and to show you that your
government works *for you.*We're grateful to hear that we're being
successful in our mission, and that it is also serving so many of you
well.

"Thank you so much. You have been the only one to reply
quickly and continue to help with my problem."

-- *Shaler Township
Resident*

"Thank you for the continued consideration and kindness
throughout your communications. It truly feels like you care, which is
rare. I appreciate you immensely. I can't quite express how refreshing
your helpfulness and heart have been to me. You're renewing my faith
in the State."

-- *Ross Township Resident*

"Every time I come
to the office, you all are so helpful and nice. Please tell the
senator how much I appreciate her office."

-- *Natrona Heights
Resident*

These kind words mean so much to us. They reflect the
dedication and compassion my team brings to every phone call, email,
and visit.

If you ever have a question, need help with a state
agency, or simply want to share what matters most to you, please don't
hesitate to reach out. You'll always be met with kindness, respect,
and the professional service you deserve from your
government.

While we can't promise to solve every issue, my
experienced staff will do their best to connect you with the right
resources and organizations that can help.

Together, we'll keep
striving to prove that good government can be responsive, caring, and
community driven.

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*Upcoming
Events**

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*Get
the Support You've Earned: VSO Appointments Available!*

Do you have
questions about or need a review of your Veterans benefits? We still
have appointment slots open with a Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)
Veterans Service Officer (VSO) at both of my District Offices through
the end of the year!

*Ross Township Office*

5000 McKnight Road,
Suite 405

Pittsburgh, PA 15237

1st Monday of each month from
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

*Upcoming Dates:*

-
Monday, November
3rd

-
Monday, December 1st

*Harrison Township Office*

1826
Union Ave.

Natrona Heights, PA 15065

Last Wednesday of each
month from 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM - except November and December where
dates change for the holidays!

*Upcoming Dates:*

-
Wednesday,
November 19th

-
December - No VSO

Appointments are required to
meet with a VSO. Call or email us today to make an appointment at
412-364-0469 (Ross) or 724-224-2131
(Harrison),
[email protected] [link 9]!

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*Monthly
Community Office Hours at the Kingsley Association*

*Friday,
November 7th, 2025, from 9:00 AM -1:00 PM*

My office hosts monthly
office hours on the first Friday of every month at the Kingsley
Association. Stop by and say hello to our staff between 9:00 AM -1:00
PM to get access to all the services that our District Offices
provide.

We will also have free notary service available by
appointment at our Kingsley Community Office Hours this month! For an
appointment call:

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412-364-0469 (Ross)

-
724-224-2131
(Harrison)

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[link 10]

*$camJam*

*Friday, November 14th, 2025, from 9:30 AM -
11:30 AM*

Please join us for our annual $cam Jam presentation with
the PA Department of Banking and Securities and other guests! This
informative and entertaining event will keep you up to date on how to
spot a scammer and keep yourself--and your money--safe from the latest
tricks and schemes. This free event is a great refresher or for
seasoned veterans, but space is limited, so please call or email to
reserve your space today! Register by email at
[email protected] [link 11] or call 412-364-0469. We
hope to see you there!

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*Good
News**

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*Lawrenceville
LIVE!*

Earlier this month, I joined friends, families, and local
businesses at Lawrenceville LIVE! This community block party hosted by
Lawrenceville United and the Lawrenceville Corporation celebrates the
vibrant thriving community that Lawrenceville is today, while honoring
its historic roots. We enjoyed music, games, art, and more at Bay41,
home of the famous Farmers Market!

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*Celebrating
the New NaturePlay Space in Aspinwall*

Earlier this month, I was
proud to join community members for the ribbon cutting of the new
NaturePlay Space at Allegheny RiverTrail Park in Aspinwall.

I've
long supported the park's efforts because I share their core mission
of improving the quality of life in the community with projects that
reclaim spaces that have been lost to industry for years. This play
space inspires creativity and connection to the outdoors - values I'm
sure children will pass on to the next generation!

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*Fawn
VFD Turns 75!*

Congratulations to the Fawn Township Volunteer Fire
Department #2 for 75 years of service! I had the pleasure of
celebrating with them on October 11th and was honored to meet one of
the founding members of the Department.

Local departments like Fawn
VFD are always looking for neighbors to help--everything from becoming
a firefighter yourself to performing administrative work to keep the
department running. If you are looking for a way to give back to your
community, contact your local fire department to see how you can help!
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*Advocating
with PAAR/PCAR *

I joined survivors and advocates from Pittsburgh
Action Against Rape (PAAR) and Pennsylvania Coalition to Advance
Respect (PCAR) to rally in support of a Pennsylvania budget that
recognizes and funds the work of our rape crisis centers statewide.
These advocates have been doing more work with less funding for years,
but now Harrisburg is asking them to do more with nothing--to borrow
money to stay afloat, or to close their doors. But none of the
organizations that are funded by the PA budget should be doing
this--they shouldn't be borrowing the money that the legislature was
constitutionally obligated to allocate back in June, nearly 5 months
ago. It's time to get a budget passed and stop playing games with
people's lives.

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*Standing
with Workers at Greco Steel *

I was proud to stand alongside the
striking workers of Greco Steel Products, who voted to unionize over a
year ago following the tragic death of one of their own. These brave
workers are standing up for what we all deserve-- the ability to take
care of their family, and safe working conditions so they can come
home to their family every night.

It's time for Greco Steel to sit
down at the table and negotiate a fair contract and safe working
conditions with the workers who helped build this company.

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*BikePGH
Vision Zero Summit*

On October 17th, I joined Rep. Lindsay Powell,
PennDOT's Ngani Ndimbie, and Councilperson Erika Strassburger at
BikePGH' s *Vision Zero Summit* to discuss how decisions made in
Harrisburg impact Pittsburgh's goal of reducing traffic fatalities to
zero.

In addition to adequately funding Pennsylvania's public
transportation systems, Harrisburg needs to think beyond cars. That
means ensuring state transportation policy and funding reflect a
"complete streets" approach--one that supports all modes of travel,
including pedestrians, cyclists, transit riders, and drivers alike. If
we can refocus that policy, we will create roadways that get everyone
to their destination safely, no matter how they are traveling--and
that should be our #1 goal.

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*Legislative
Update**

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*Protecting
Pennsylvania Student's Civil Rights*

I'm introducing legislation
[link 12] that will create an Office of Civil Rights within the
Pennsylvania Department of Education. This will authorize the state to
investigate and enforce students' federal civil rights under the
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and other federal
education laws.

In order to protect their right to public
education, students and parents need a real place to go when they are
being discriminated against or harassed. Instead, the federal
government has gutted the Department of Education and shuttered the
Pennsylvania Office of Civil Rights. This means if a student in
Pennsylvania files a complaint about not receiving the resources they
are legally entitled to, it would be handled by an office in Atlanta,
if investigated at all.

Eliminating the enforcement of students'
rights is part of the plan to defund, dismantle, and destroy public
education being carried out by the Trump Administration. According to
ProPublica, former World Wrestling Entertainment CEO turned Secretary
of Education Linda McMahon has brought on at least 20 political
appointees from ultraconservative think tanks and advocacy groups
"eager to de-emphasize public schools" and push students into private
and religious schools, neither of which are required to educate
students with disabilities.

Our students and parents are running
out of places to turn for help. My legislation will allow Pennsylvania
to do what the federal government refuses to do and investigate and
enforce students' federal civil rights to education.

If the
Federal government won't stand up for our most vulnerable students, I
will.

Senator Lindsey M. Williams Announces Legislation to Protect
Students; Enforce Federal Education Laws - Senator Lindsey Williams
[link 13]

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*News
You Can Use**

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*2025-26 LIHEAP Season Open Date Delayed!*

In addition
to SNAP benefits not being paid due to the federal shutdown, we've
also learned that Pennsylvania must delay the start of the 2025-26
Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) by one month -- *it
will now open on December 3rd.*

LIHEAP is a federal program run by
the Department of Human Services (DHS) that helps Pennsylvanians pay
their heating bills in the winter. The money goes straight to a
household's utility company or fuel provider. Each year, Pennsylvania
gets more than $215 million in LIHEAP funding -- $216 million in 2023
and $229 million in 2024.

The state cannot cover these costs on its
own if federal funding is cut or reduced.

If you need immediate
assistance during the shutdown, please:

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Contact your utility
provider about any Customer Assistance Programs they provide;

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Call the United Way of SW Pennsylvania by dialing 2-1-1;

-
PA-Navigate.org [link 15]

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*Haven't
Returned Your Mail-In Ballot Yet? Use a County Ballot Return Site Near
You!*

If you have your mail-in or absentee ballot and want to
return it without relying on the mail, Allegheny County is offering 10
ballot return sites for your convenience. These sites are not
drop-boxes and are staffed by County employees.

*Ballot Return Site
Hours*

-
Friday, October 31 and Monday, November 3:
*11:00 a.m.
- 7:00 p.m.*

-
Saturday, November 1 and Sunday, November 2: *9:00
a.m. - 5:00 p.m.*

*Ballot Return Locations*

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*Allegheny
County Emergency Services Building*

150 Hookstown Grade Road,
Coraopolis, PA 15108

-
*Boyce Park Four Seasons Lodge*

901
Centerview Drive, Plum, PA 15239

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*Carnegie Library - Squirrel
Hill Branch*

5801 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15217

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*North Park Ice Rink*

1200 Pearce Mill Road, Wexford, PA
15090

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*South Park Ice Rink*

30 Corrigan Drive, Bethel Park,
PA 15102

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*Dormont Pool*

1801 Dormont Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA
15216

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*CCAC Homewood-Brushton Center*

701 N. Homewood
Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15208

-
*Greater Pittsburgh Community Food
Bank*

1 N. Linden Street, Duquesne, PA 15110

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*Avalon Public
Library*

317 S. Home Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15202

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*County
Office Building Lobby*

542 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA
15219

*Election Day Ballot Return Option*

On Election Day --
Tuesday, November 4, voters can return their completed mail-in or
absentee ballot to the *County Office Building lobby (Ross Street
entrance)* between *7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. *There will be a
designated drive-up area for voters on Ross St. to park temporarily
and drop off their ballots.

*Important Reminders*

-
*Each
voter must return their own ballot.* If you need to return a ballot
for someone else who is physically unable to do so, you must complete
an authorization form [link 16].



-
The deadline to apply for
an absentee or mail-in ballot [link 17] to apply for a mail-in or
absentee ballot *is today, Tuesday, October 28.*

-
All completed
ballots must be *received by the Elections Division by 8:00 p.m. on
Election Day, November 4 *-- postmarks do not count.

For more
information on returning your ballot go
to:
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[link 18].

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[link 19]

*General Election Day: Tuesday, November 4, 2025*

If
you plan to vote in-person on Election Day, next Tuesday, polling
places are open from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm. Anyone in line as of 8:00 pm
on Election Day will be allowed to vote. First time and newly
registered voters will be asked to show an approved form of ID upon
arrival at the polling place.

You can find your polling place,
list of approved forms of ID, a video of what to expect on Election
Day and more at:
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[link 20].

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*Shaler
Library GIANT Used Book Sale*

*Friday-Sunday, October 31, November
1&2, 10am - 4pm*

If you are looking to freshen up your book
collection you shouldn't miss the Shaler North Hills Library's annual
Used Book Sale this weekend! Scan the QR code above for a
preview.

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*Trick-or-Treat
in the 38th!*

Halloween is Friday, and we've compiled the
trick-or-treat dates and times for Senate District 38 municipalities
for your reference. Have a safe and fun Halloween!

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

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Senator
Lindsey Williams

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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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