State Senator Lindsey M. Williams, Your District 38
Update

*

*What We Can Do When Our Rights are Under Attack
**

I've heard from so many of you over the past few weeks who are
angry and scared about the ICE attacks happening around the country,
especially in Minnesota. Like you, I have read first-hand accounts
from people on the ground in Minneapolis detailing ICE's abuse of
power. I watched the videos of the murders of Renee Good and Alex
Pretti. I saw the photo of ICE detaining 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos.
I have read about the lack of oversight of ICE agents who are
terrorizing families just as they were hired to do. I saw the leaked
photos coming out of immigration detention facilities around the
country. It is hard to think of anything else after you see it.
The violence happening in Minnesota is not unprecedented in our
country's history. Nor is the surveillance of its dissenters. But the
way the federal government is using our personal data from government
and social media databases to surveil and police us is new and deeply
concerning to me. Minnesota is an ugly testing ground for what could
happen in any city in this country, including ours. I want to
acknowledge that there are likely more horrors happening that we don't
know about, especially in immigration detention facilities.

What is
happening in Minnesota goes beyond just hatred of immigrants. It is
about undermining our civil liberties, our democracy, and our
elections. It's about control and power and making people feel scared
to stand up and show up for each other.

And to be honest, I am
scared. But I also find hope in the resistance in the people of
Minnesota, who have marched in below-freezing temperatures and
inspired anti-ICE actions across the country. And I'm motivated by the
knowledge that states are not without recourse and can act to protect
their people.

I see Governor Shapiro preparing for action here in
Pennsylvania.

I have sponsored legislation to unmask ICE agents,
ban ICE from Pennsylvania state property, limit state and local police
from cooperating with federal immigration authorities, and allow
Pennsylvanians to bring state lawsuits against federal officials for
constitutional violations.

I'm also looking towards the good
efforts in other states to see what more we could do - like Illinois'
commission to document ICE misconduct and legislation that would bar
states from employing anyone hired by ICE under Trump.

I am talking
to advocates to find out which of these avenues is the most helpful
right now so I can focus my energy. Republicans control the PA Senate,
but legislation is not the only way to make change. I will strive to
continue to lead with empathy and show up for our neighbors to help
build a community that is more capable of taking on the challenges we
are facing together.

For those of you who have called and emailed
me, thank you. Holding your elected officials accountable is a
worthwhile use of your time. Keep pushing me, keep pushing your other
legislators, and please know that it makes a difference.

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[link 1]

*Wondering what you can do?*

We have compiled some
options below:

-
To support efforts in Minnesota:

-
go to:
[link removed]
[link 2].



-
*Pittsburgh Organizations that are Helping
Immigrants: *

-
*Casa San Jose* [link 3]*:* connects, supports,
and advocates for the Latino Community.

-
*Emergency Response
Program*. This team of volunteers assist with court accompaniments as
well as other immigration related supports.

If someone witnesses or
experiences an ICE detention, they should call the *Emergency Response
Organizer: 412-736-7167*.

For more information contact
[email protected] [link 4] or go to
[link removed] [link
5].



-
Attend the weekly *Interfaith Vigil* on Pittsburgh's
South Side hosted by Sisters of St. Joseph, Pax Christi, and Casa San
Jose:

-
Fridays 8:30 - 9:30 am

-
Pittsburgh ICE Facility:
3000 Sidney Street,
Pittsburgh, PA, 15203, 3000 Sidney St - Google
Maps [link 6].

-
If you can't give your time, consider a donation
to Casa San Jose
[link removed]
[link 7].



-
*Hello Neighbor* [link 8]: matching refugee and
immigrant families with caring neighbors to guide and support them in
their new lives.

-
Volunteer to be a mentor at:
[link removed]
[link 9].



-
If you can't give your time, consider a donation
to Hello Neighbor: [link removed] [link 10].


-
*Right to Be* [link 11] offering free online public trainings that
support immigrants.

-
To attend a Right to Be free public
training go to: [link removed] [link
12].



-
To *print cards* that can be presented to immigration
agents to formally assert a person's constitutional rights under the
4th and 5th Amendments go to: [link removed] [link
13].

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*

*Upcoming
Events**

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*AARP
Tax-Aide Appointments Available!*

We're scheduling appointments for
the AARP Tax-Aide program at Shaler Undercliff Fire Department and the
Ross Community Center!

The AARP Tax-Aide program provides free tax
assistance and tax preparation services to low and moderate-income
taxpayers, with an emphasis on those 50 or older. To schedule your
free appointment, please call the office at 412-364-0469.

For more
information on the AARP Tax-Aide program, visit
[link removed] [link 14].

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[link 15]

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[link 16]

*United Way Can Also File Your Taxes for Free!*

If it
is inconvenient for you to get to a tax appointment at the Shaler or
Ross AARP Tax-Aide locations, consider scheduling an appointment with
one of the United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania's free tax
preparation sites across Allegheny County. Appointments are available
for families making less than $70,000 each year.

This year in
Senate District 38 the United Way has partnered with North Hills
Community Outreach and Allegheny Valley Association of Churches (AVAC)
and has free tax-prep locations in Brackenridge, Tarentum, and Natrona
Heights (see graphic above for addresses).

To schedule an
appointment:

-
Call 2-1-1

-
Go to:
[link removed]
[link 17].

Want to file your federal and state taxes online
yourself? Go to:
[link removed] [link 18].

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*Get
the Support You've Earned: VFW Service Officer Appointments
Available*

How can a Veterans Service Officer (VSO) help Veterans
and their families? These accredited and certified professionals are
able to:

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Help identify issues and develop evidence

-
Answer requests for assistance

-
File claims with the VA in a
timely manner

-
Review rating decisions for accuracy

They have
a 90% success rate in correcting errors, helping you avoid a lengthy
appeals process! They can also help with appeals if you are unhappy
with the outcome of your claims.

Call or email us today to schedule
an appointment at either our Ross Township or Natrona Heights
Office!

*Harrison Township Office: *1826 Union Ave, Natrona
Heights, PA 15065

-
Last Wednesday of each month from 10:00 AM -
2:00 PM

-
Next Date: February 25, 2026!

*Ross Township Office:
*5000 McKnight Road, Suite 405, Pittsburgh, PA 15237

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

-
Next Date: March
2, 2025!

Contact us at 412-364-0469 (Ross), 724-224-2131
(Harrison), or email us at [email protected] [link
19] to book your one-on-one session - appointments fill up quickly, so
don't delay!

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*Information
Session: Russellton Neighborhood Facade Improvement Program*

*West
Deer Volunteer Fire Hall, Monday, February 16, 6pm*

Join Senator
Williams at a Russellton community information session with the Deer
Lakes Regional Revitalization Corporation (DLRRC) on Monday, February
16th at 6:00 PM at the West Deer Volunteer Fire Hall #1, 1520
Saxonburg Blvd. The DLRRC, working with the Russellton Business Group,
will discuss a potential neighborhood facade improvement program that
could support both residential and business properties.

Senator
Lindsey Williams is attending to hear directly from the community.
This meeting is informational only and no financial commitment is
required.

Residents, property owners, and business owners are all
encouraged to attend!

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*

*Good
News**

*
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*PA
Construction Meeting*

I had a great conversation a couple of weeks
ago at the Construction Legislative Coalition meeting. We talked about
the need for funding for our highways and public transit systems,
apprenticeship programs, our career and technical schools, and
permitting reforms. Thanks to everyone in the industry who attended
and their officers!

*
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*Bringing
World Class Care to Our Neighborhoods*

Earlier this month, I joined
the ribbon cutting celebration for the new expanded in-patient
rehabilitation unit at Allegheny Valley Hospital. Bringing
state-of-the-art medical and rehabilitation care to a neighborhood
facility like this emphasizes how important community is in the
recovery process.

Quality rehab means getting back to your life,
and that's easier to do if you can stay close to home, surrounded by
your friends, family, and support system. I'm grateful that AHN has
made this investment in the health and well-being of our neighbors
here in the Allegheny Valley and shown that everyone can and should
have easy, local access to world-class care.

Check out the
Tribune-Review's coverage of the expansion [link 20].

*
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*Spirit
of King Awards*

I was grateful to participate in this year's Spirit
of King Awards, held by the Kingsley Association, Pittsburgh Regional
Transit, and The New Pittsburgh Courier.

These Awards are given
every January to acknowledge Pittsburgh-area citizens who have
followed in the footsteps of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and advanced
civil rights through a life dedicated to the service of
others.

This year's awards honored Rev. Samson M. Cooper, who used
his role to promote unity across divisions and address racial issues,
and Wendell G. Freeland, a prominent leader in the community and
distinguished attorney in the fight for civil rights.

I appreciated
the opportunity to listen and learn about these members of our
community and to celebrate their lives and work. Their constant
advocacy that every Pittsburgher should be able to learn, pray, swim,
and live with dignity alongside their community in peace is a guiding
example to us today.

I look forward to continuing this work as we
move forward into 2026 and beyond.

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*Celebrating
the Opening of Cooper-Siegel 2.0*

Congratulations to the entire
Cooper-Siegel Community Library community on the grand opening of the
new library expansion!

I was proud to advocate for the over $1.4
million state grant investment in this project. Public libraries
change our lives and communities for the better. An investment in our
libraries is an investment in all of
us.

[link removed]
[link 21].

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*Pittsburgh
Water Lead Line Replacement Grant Awarded!*

I'm proud to join
Senator Jay Costa and Senator Fontana to announce that PA
Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST) has awarded Pittsburgh
Water $31.5 million in combined grant and loan funding to replace lead
service lines across Bloomfield, Shadyside, Highland Park, and Central
Lawrenceville.

By putting state funding toward these projects,
we're making sure PWSA can ensure safe, lead-free drinking water,
without passing the cost onto people who are already dealing with high
utility bills.

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*Water
and Sewer Grants Awarded!*

Congratulations to our local Small Water
and Sewer Grant award recipients: Fox Chapel Authority, Town of
McCandless, Blawnox Borough, Deer Creek Drainage Basin Authority,
Township of Hampton, Tarentum Borough, Fawn-Frazer Joint Water
Authority, Harmar Township, Harrison Township, and Springdale
Township.

The projects that are being funded today will ensure that
our drinking water is safe and clean, and that wastewater and other
pollutants stay out of our natural waterways. This ensures that
residents have continued access to pure water both at home and out in
nature, as guaranteed by the Pennsylvania Constitution.

Read more:
[link removed] [link
22]

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*Transportation
Grants Awarded!*

Congratulations to our Multimodal Transportation
Fund Grant recipients: Cheswick, City of Pittsburgh, Township of
O'Hara, Borough of Sharpsburg, and West View Borough!

These grants
will help support projects that improve road safety for
everyone--drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, and public transit riders
alike. By installing sidewalks and improving streetscapes, we can keep
our neighborhoods safely connected to the schools, businesses, and
outdoor recreation that are so important to our daily lives.

Read
more: [link removed] [link
23]

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*

*Legislative
Update**

*
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*Senator
Williams and Governor Shapiro introducing Commonwealth Fraud
Prevention Act in January 2020*

*Celebrating a Budget Proposal That
Protects Taxpayer Dollars and Invests in Working Families*

Governor
Shapiro officially kicked off the 2026-27 Budget Season on Tuesday
with his Budget Address. I'm hopeful that leadership will be able to
get together and negotiate an on-time budget this year for all
Pennsylvanians.

I want to applaud Governor Shapiro for recognizing
that we must protect whistleblowers to stop fraud, waste, and abuse of
taxpayer money. A state False Claims Act has been a top priority for
me since I took office. Senator Kristin Phillips-Hill (R-York) and I
have reintroduced Senate Bill 38 again this session. This legislation
encourages whistleblowers to come forward and report false or
fraudulent claims against the Pennsylvania government in order to
protect taxpayer dollars.

Each year, the General Assembly
establishes a budget that spends billions of taxpayer dollars on
programs that benefit the people of Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth
Fraud Prevention Act will help us make sure that tax dollars are spent
as intended and provide real protection for whistleblowers both inside
and outside the government. Study after study has proven that the best
way to detect and deter fraud is to protect the employees who see it
and who come forward to report it. For too long, Pennsylvania has
allowed whistleblowers to be silenced, and our taxpayers have paid the
price.

That money could be invested in some of Governor Shapiro's
and my shared budget priorities:

-
Continuing our Universal
School Breakfast Program [link 24] that keeps students fed, nourished,
and ready to learn.

-
Increasing investment in Career and
Technical Education [link 25] to open up pathways for all career
opportunities for students.

-
Expanding the Child Care
Recruitment and Retention [link 26] grant program that was established
in the FY2024-25 budget that I was proud to champion alongside Senator
Judy Schwank in the Senate.

-
Investing in our fire and EMS
agencies and public infrastructure [link 27], like housing, schools,
libraries, and municipal facilities that our communities cherish.

-
Improving our energy generation capacity and energy efficiency [link
28], adding reliability, lowering utility bills, [link 29] and
increasing oversight on utility companies through a Special Counsel
for Energy Affordability.

-
Ending corporate tax loopholes by
instituting Combined Reporting [link 30], which requires companies
making profits in Pennsylvania to report those profits and pay their
fair share.

Our working families are stretched thin. It's time we
show that government can and should work for them, not just for
billionaires and tech bros. We do that by protecting their tax dollars
and by investing in programs that benefit their lives.

Governor
Shapiro has known since he was Attorney General Shapiro that
protecting whistleblowers through the Commonwealth Fraud Prevention
Act is the best way to safeguard taxpayer dollars. He supported this
legislation then, and I'm grateful for his continued support in his
budget address.

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*

*News
You Can Use**

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[link 31]

*PA Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program Filing Season is
Open!*

The PA Department of Revenue (DOR) has opened applications
for older Pennsylvanians and individuals with disabilities to apply
for the Property Tax/ Rent Rebate Program (PTRR). This lottery-funded
program gives up to a $1000 rebate on rent or property taxes paid in
2025. *Applications are due on June 30, 2026.*

*To apply you must
be:*

-
65 and older

-
a widow or widower 50 and older

-
or a person with a disability 18 and older

The *household income
eligibility is $48,110* or less - a more than $1,500 increase from
last year's income limit! Note that *half of Social Security income is
excluded*.

The maximum standard rebate went up this year as well.
Check the table below to see the rebate amount for each income
level:

*INCOME*

*MAXIMUM
REBATE*

$0-$8,550

$1000

$8,551-$16,040

$770

$16,041-$19,240

$460

$19241-$48,110

$380

DOR
recommends filing your PTRR online for fastest review. If you don't
feel confident about filing online, don't worry,* call our office for
an appointment and we will file your application for you*!

-
412-364-0469 (Ross)

-
724-224-2131 (Natrona Heights)

-
Or
email us at [email protected] [link 32]

To apply
online yourself, go to: [link removed] [link 33].

To print
an application and file by mail go
to:
[link removed]
[link 34].

For complete information on the PTRR program go to:
[link removed] [link 35].

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[link 36]

*New HOME-ARP Program*

*Supporting Affordable Rental
Housing for At-Risk or Homeless Pennsylvanians*

The Pennsylvania
Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) opened its new HOME-ARP program with $35
million in funding! This U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development program funds the construction or rehabilitation of rental
properties in order to increase the supply of affordable housing for
at-risk or homeless Pennsylvanians. The HOME Investment Partnerships
Program - American Rescue Plan (HOME-ARP) was part of the American
Rescue Plan Act of 2021, passed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Eligible applicants include housing developers, municipalities, and
nonprofit organizations committed to expanding affordable housing.
*All applications must be received no later than 2 p.m. on Wednesday,
April 1.*

For more information on the HOME-ARP program, including
eligibility requirements and application details, go to:
[link removed] [link 37].

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*Winter
Safety Tips*

The extended forecast says we will continue to endure
temperatures in the teens and get some more snow! As this icy weather
persists, it is a good time to brush up on how to stay safe this
winter with the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency's (PEMA)
handy winter safety tips.

-
Check on your senior neighbors and
make sure they're warm and safe!

-
Stop frozen pipes and costly
repairs by keeping air circulating and insulating exposed pipes.

-
Shovel safely-- stay hydrated, take breaks, and let someone know
you're outside working.

-
Clear ice and snow from the outside of
your car to increase visibility and avoid hitting other vehicles with
potentially lethal objects.

Stay safe out there!

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[link 38]

*Pittsburgh's Snow Angels Program Needs
Volunteers!*

The City of Pittsburgh Snow Angels program has a lot
of unfilled support requests-- can you help out our older and disabled
neighbors?

The areas with the highest needs are The South Hills.
West End, Northside, East Hills, and Lincoln-Lemington. But everything
helps.

Sign up to volunteer at:

-
Online:
[link removed]
[link 39]

-
Call: 311 or 412-255-2917

Want to assist in
another Allegheny County municipality? Contact your local municipal
government to see if they offer a similar program.

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[link 40]

*Benefit Concert for Highland Hose Fire
Company*

*Brackenridge American Legion, Saturday, February 7,
6-8pm** *

Join me at Kaley's Kops & Heroes for a benefit concert
this Saturday at the Brackenridge American Legion from 6-8 pm to
support Highland Hose Fire Company! Scott Blasey, lead singer of The
Clarks, will be performing live. Come for the great music and support
our local heroes at the same time!

All proceeds benefit Highland
Hose. Ticket prices and more event information can be found at:
[link removed] [link
41].

[link removed]
[link 42].

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*Try
an Allegheny County Park Activity this February!*

If you are
feeling claustrophobic during these chilly days spent indoors,
consider signing up for one of your Allegheny County Park Ranger
events. There are three coming up in Senate District 38 in
February:

*Winter Birds Guided Hike:* Saturday, February 7th, 10
am-noon, Harrison Hills Park

Learn about the region's year-round
and winter resident birds. Binoculars recommended but not required.
This hike will be approximately 2 miles with moderate elevation
changes. Wear winter-ready shoes, dress warmly, and bring
water.

For details and to register go to:
[link removed]
[link 43].

*Superbowl Weekend Hike, *Sunday, February 8th,
10am-noon, Deer Lakes Park

Get some exercise before the big game!
Learn about the five native PA animals that are also NFL team mascots.
Can you name them all? This hike will be approximately 2 miles with
moderate elevation changes. Wear winter-ready shoes, dress warmly, and
bring water.

For details and to register go to:
[link removed]
[link 44].

*History Presentation on North Park *- Thursday,
February 19th, 6-7pm at North Park.

The Park Rangers will be
exploring the past, present, and future of North Park! This is an
indoor stationary presentation.

For details and to register go to:
[link removed]
[link 45].

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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 46] (Ross Office), 724-224-2131 [link
47] (Harrison Office) or by email at
[email protected] [link 48]. 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:
[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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