State Senator Lindsey M. Williams, Your District 38 Update

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*PUC
Seeking Your Comments on Data Center Impacts*

As Pennsylvanian's
energy bills, continue to rise - data centers are playing a big role
in driving up prices. I worry about their impacts on energy bills, our
environment, and the strength and reliability of our energy grid.
Pennsylvania families should not be left footing the bill and bearing
the public costs of big tech's latest bubble.

Now the Pennsylvania
Public Utility Commission (PUC) is giving the public a chance to weigh
in on how data centers and other "large load" energy customers should
be handled.

Through December 22, the PUC will accept public
comments on its proposed model tariff [link 1]. (A "tariff" is an
official document that spells out how the electric utilities will
structure their rates, charges, and terms of service for large,
high-energy-use customers.)

I plan to take this opportunity to
submit a public comment on behalf of constituents and ratepayers. If
you are concerned about the financial, environment, and community
impacts of data center development, I encourage you to contact the PUC
and make your voice heard, too!

Here are some points that I will
ask the PUC to include in its model tariff:

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Ensure that data
centers are responsible for all their own infrastructure costs and
local, union labor is used to build and service them.

-
Prevent
utilities from shifting expenditures across the general rate base, so
residential households are not forced to absorb costs created by data
centers.

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Ensure that data centers are liable for any stranded
costs if a facility closes or ends up needing less energy than it
asked the utility to supply.

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Require that data centers
contribute to all utility universal service programs, not just
hardship funds, to help residents keep up with rising energy
costs.

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Require data centers enter into Community Benefits
Agreements (CBAs) to specify up front how the local community will
benefit and be protected.



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Ensure transparency, public
accountability, and stakeholder participation in the final adoption of
this model tariff by having a public hearing.

Submit your own
comment electronically via the PUC's e-File System:
*[link removed]* [link 2]

For help setting up an
e-File account, follow these instructions: How to submit public
comment on the PUC model tariff for Large Load Customers [link
3]

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*Constituent
Stories**

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*Supporting
Libraries, Supporting All Pennsylvanians*

I've always been an
advocate for public libraries, which--along with our parks and
recreation centers--provide community spaces where people of all ages
and abilities can gather, learn, and connect. Strong libraries make
stronger, civically engaged communities.

That's why I supported the
recent state budget, which included a *$433,000 increase for library
services for the visually impaired and disabled*--the first funding
increase for these services in over 12 years!

One of the
organizations benefiting from this funding is the *Library of
Accessible Media for Pennsylvanians (LAMP)* in Bloomfield. LAMP serves
anyone who cannot use standard print materials because of a
disability. A member of their staff recently shared their appreciation
for this long-awaited support:

*Dear Senator Williams,*

*You
have always been such a great supporter of Libraries - and LAMP's
advocate in Harrisburg! Thank you for voting to increase funding for
the* *Library of Accessible Media for Pennsylvanians* [link 4]*. It is
the first funding increase we have received in over 12 years, and we
appreciate it so much. Our staff, patrons and volunteers also are
truly grateful for your support and your recognition of our work to
ensure that Pennsylvanians with print disabilities can access the
books, equipment, and services they need to Read for Life.
*

*We
will use the added funds to pursue innovative ways to reach people
across the state who are blind, have low vision, dyslexia, or
difficulty handling print materials.
*

*I look forward to your
next Senior Resource Fair or dropping by your Office in Harrisburg to
say thank you! You have an open invitation to record another book at
LAMP anytime.*

*With sincere gratitude, *

*Administrator,
Library Services*

*Library of Accessible Media for Pennsylvanians
(LAMP)*

In 2023, I recorded an audiobook for their Library of
Congress accessibility project [link 5], which has already added over
800 audiobooks to the National Library Service catalogue. They focus
on books with a Pennsylvania connection, meaning the subject matter or
the authorship is related in some way to our Commonwealth.

LAMP is
an invaluable community resource, and we're looking forward to
celebrating this budget increase with a special event in the new
year!

To learn more about LAMP or access services like *BARD
downloads* or *free mailbox delivery* of large-print, audio, and
braille materials, visit [link removed] [link 6].

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*2025
Senate District 38 Events Roundup**

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*Senior
Social at Pittsburgh Mills, May 15, 2025*

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*Senior Fair at Ross Community Center October 30,
2025*

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*Senior
$cam Jam, November 14, 2025*

*2025 Events for Our Seniors*

In
2025, we held a *Senior Social* at the Pittsburgh Mills Mall in May, a
*Senior Fair* at the Ross Township Community Center in October, and a
*Senior $cam Jam* at the Morningside Senior Center in November. To
those who were able to join us, we hope you found useful information
and enjoyed the day. If you couldn't attend, stay tuned for next
year's schedule!

We enjoy hosting these events and offering in
person access to the resources, information, and assistance older
adults need to navigate daily life- with a little fun built in along
the way.

We are always looking for ways to better serve our
constituents. If you have an idea for a future event, we would love to
hear from you.

Contact us at *412-364-0469 (Ross)* or
*724-224-2131 (Harrison)*, or email
*[email protected]* [link 7]*.*

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*Good
News**

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*Broad
Street Plaza Renovation in East Liberty*

Last month, I was excited
to join Rep. La'Tasha D. Mayes, Councilman Khari Mosley, the ELDI,
URA, Catapult, and the East Liberty Community as we celebrated the
grand opening of the newly renovated Broad Street Plaza. I treasure
having outdoor space to relax and recharge, and I hope that residents
of East Liberty feel the same way about this new space. I'm looking
forward to using this third space in the spring to gather with the
community and spend time together!

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*Hampton
Rotary Lunch*

I joined the Hampton Township Rotary Club for their
November meeting to share an update on how the recently passed budget
will impact residents here at home.

I shared speaking duties with
Jamie Clendening, Pennsylvania's 2026 Ms. Wheelchair! Jamie is a
healthcare access advocate and the founder of I Can and I Wheel! [link
8], a blog and online support community. I'm looking forward to
continuing my conversation with Jamie about healthcare access in the
coming year.

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*Celebrating
Kathy Ulanowicz*

Blawnox's Manager, Kathy Ulanowicz, is retiring at
the end of the year, and our entire office is going to miss her! Kathy
has been an incredible asset to her community, and we have loved
working with her.

But don't worry- she'll still be managing the
Blawnox Food Pantry which she created in October 2023 and is located
in the municipal building. The Food Pantry serves 40-45 people monthly
and is open the last Friday of the month from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Patrons do not need proof of residency or income. People can drop off
donations for the pantry at the borough office during normal business
hours. Items in most need include paper products, peanut butter,
laundry soap, dish soap, tomato sauce and monetary
contributions.

Congratulations on your well-earned retirement,
Kathy! We'll miss you!

Blawnox food pantry to remain under current
leadership after borough manager retires |
[link 9]TribLIVE.com [link
10]

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*26th
Annual Allegheny-Fayette Labor Council Stuff the Bus*

The weather
outside was frightful, but inside the bus was delightful! Thank you to
everyone who came out and donated toys to the 26th annual
Allegheny-Fayette Labor Council Stuff the Bus and to ATU Local 85 and
PRT for the two festive buses we packed with toys and gift
cards!

Donations will benefit the United Way of Southwestern
PA.

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*Legislative
Update**

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*Celebrating
Our Public Libraries*

We were so excited to celebrate the $5
million increase to public libraries in the 2025-26 state budget at
Northland Public Library on December 5th! This is a more than 7%
increase from previous years.

Local libraries like Northland Public
Library will use these funds to invest in our communities with more
resources and incredible programming, like their monthly Tea and
Stitches group, which was kind enough to let me join them last week.
Our libraries give people a space to feel welcome and included,
without asking anything in return.

Libraries are those
all-important third spaces-- not home, not work, but a community space
that builds civic engagement. These spaces fight loneliness and
depression and give people a sense of belonging. We hear about the
need for this kind of place all the time from calls to our office.
People are searching for a sense of community and belonging. Your
local library is a great start. Check out what programs they have to
offer or just check out a book and read in a comfy chair.

We also
recognized two local library champions during this event-- Northland
Public Library director Amy Steele who will retire in February and
Kimberley Hrivnak, Allegheny County Library Association COO and
Pennsylvania Library Association (PaLA)'s 2025 Distinguished Service
Award winner! It was my honor to surprise them both with Senate
citations recognizing their service and dedication to the greater
community. Libraries are magical places because of the incredible work
of people like Kimberley and Amy!

Thank you to Rep. Arvind Venkat,
Kimberley Hrivnak from Allegheny County Library Association, Amy
Steele and Dana Getz from Northland, and Sean from Rep. Emily
Kinkead's office for joining us for this celebration!

Local
lawmakers, librarians celebrate $5M increase in Pa. budget for public
libraries | TribLIVE.com [link 11]

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*News
You Can Use**

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*PA Property Tax Rent Rebate Deadline is December
31!*

The deadline to apply for rebates on rent and property taxes
paid in 2024 through the Department of Revenue's Pennsylvania Property
Tax/Rent Rebate Program (PTRR) is *December 31, 2025*. My office has
helped more than 540 people apply for this program this year, and we
can help you too!

To qualify for PTRR, you must meet both age and
income qualifications.

Age Qualifications (must meet one):

-
65 and older OR

-
A widow or widower 50 and older OR

-
Disabled and 18 and older

Income Qualifications: Household income
of less than $46,520. (Note: half of Social Security income is
excluded). This income cap is more than $1,500 higher than last
year!

The maximum standard rebate amounts have also been increased
and are listed below:

INCOME

MAXIMUM
REBATE

$0-$8,270

$1,000

$8,271-$15,510

$770

$15,511-$18,610

$460

$18,611-$46,520

$380

To
apply you need proof of age (driver's license or PA ID), all 2024
income documents (1040 or Social Security statement, 1099-R, etc.),
and a completed 2024 rent certificate [link 14] or 2024 property tax
receipts (county, municipal, school district).

For fastest review,
applicants are encouraged to apply online at [link removed]
[link 15].

If you are unable to file online, or if you would like
assistance filing, *my staff is available to file your application for
free!*

Gather your documents and contact my office to schedule an
appointment* before December 23, 2025, when we change our District
Office hours for the holidays:*

-
*Our offices will be closed:
*Wednesday, December 24, Thursday, December 25, and January 1.

-
*We will be closed to walk-ins with limited staff working remotely:*
Monday, December 23 and Thursday, December 26 - Tuesday, December
31.

Call 412-364-0469 (Ross) or 724-224-2131 (Harrison) or email us
at
[email protected] [link 16] for an appointment
or if you have any questions.

For complete information on the
Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program go to:
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[link 17].

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*Allegheny County Financial Empowerment Center Now Offer
FREE Long-Term Financial Planning!*

A new program at all Allegheny
County Financial Empowerment Center sites offers *FREE* one-on-one
long-term financial counseling to Allegheny County residents. These
legacy planning services help people improve their financial health
and prepare for what happens to large assets -- such as a house or
bank account -- when they die. Counselors offer assistance organizing
assets, reviewing insurance and titles and updating beneficiaries on
bank accounts, as well as connecting people to other resources to help
them prepare a will or power of attorney documents.

*Allegheny
County Financial Empowerment Center sites* in and near Senate District
38 include:

-
North Hills Community Outreach in Millvale;

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UPMC Neighborhood Center in East Liberty;

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Goodwill-Lawrenceville;

-
Homewood Community Engagement Center in
Homewood.

The *Financial Empowerment Center also offers general
financial counseling* to help people take control of their financial
futures including debt reduction, savings building, credit score
improvement, and more!

Financial Empowerment Centers offer free
services to anyone 18 or older living in Allegheny County--no income
restrictions. Clients can return for as many sessions as needed to
overcome financial challenges and reach their goals.

To learn more
and to make an appointment, visit www.myfinancialpower.org [link 20]
or call 1-800-298-0237!

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*Applications Open for 2026 Governor's Award for
Environmental Excellence*

The Pennsylvania Department of
Environmental Protection (DEP) is accepting applications for the 2026
Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence, the state's top
environmental honor. Any Pennsylvania business, farm, government
agency, educational institution, or nonprofit organization that has
developed or participated in a project that promotes environmental
protection and stewardship in the Commonwealth may apply.

DEP
oversees the award selection process and evaluates projects on seven
criteria: commitment to protecting the environment, partnership,
environmental education and outreach, innovation, climate change,
sustainability, and environmental justice. The Governor's Office will
select the awardees.

Projects must have been completed between
November 1, 2024, and November 19, 2025.

Applications are submitted
online and will be accepted through Friday, January 16. For more
information or to apply, go to:
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*Food Insecurity Resources*

If you are facing food insecurity,
there are local food banks and organizations that can help! The
graphics above list the food banks in and around Senate District 38.
While food banks are an invaluable resource, there are other
organizations and programs that may be able to provide additional
help:

-
SNAP recipients who are pregnant or have kids under 5 may
be able to get help buying food from PA WIC. You can call
1-800-WIC-WINS or apply online at: [link removed] [link 24].
-
To connect with various local food resources, call 211 or visit
[link removed] [link 25]. Or, go to: [link removed] [link
26].

-
Visit [link removed] [link 27] to find all
local food banks and other food assistance programs.

-
Go to
[link removed] [link 28] and
[link removed] [link 29] for information on
assistance programs and other resources.

-
If you are a
SNAP-eligible senior citizen, the Senior Food Box Program can also
provide you with additional shelf-stable groceries:
[link removed]
[link 30].

To secure long-term food assistance, consider applying
for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the program
formerly known as "food stamps":

-
Enroll with Just Harvest by
calling 412-431-8960 (option 3) or go to their website at:
[link removed] [link 31].

-
Or, apply online at:
[link removed] [link 32].

Call or email our
office if you need additional assistance or have any questions:
412-364-0469 (Ross), 724-224-2131 (Harrison),
[email protected] [link 33].

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*Hunters
Sharing the Harvest Accepting Deer Donations!*

If you are a hunter
and looking for a way to give back to your community, consider
donating deer to Hunters Sharing the Harvest (HSH). This charitable
organization runs a venison donation program where hunters share their
extra venison via a statewide network of participating butchers to
food pantries and community assistance centers across Pennsylvania.
HSH has distributed 2.5 million pounds of donated venison since 1991
and is the number one game donation program in the country with
Allegheny County the top donator to HSH!

For complete information
on HSH and how to donate go to: [link removed] [link
34].

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*District
Office Holiday Hours*

Happiest of holidays -- My District &
Harrisburg Offices will be closed Wednesday, December 24, Thursday,
December 25, and Thursday, January 1.

*We will be closed to
walk-ins with limited staff working remotely:* Monday, December. 23
and Thursday, December 26 - Tuesday, December. 31.

As 2025 winds
down, I'm grateful for my hardworking staff who've assisted thousands
of constituents this year!

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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 35] (Ross Office), 724-224-2131 [link
36] (Harrison Office) or by email at
[email protected] [link 37]. 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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