State Senator Lindsey M. Williams, Your District 38 Update

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*The
Vitamin K Shot - Essential Healthcare for Newborns**

Two-month-olds
are so cute. They're slowly getting better at holding up their
disproportionately massive heads, giving some sweet smiles, and cooing
like it's going out of style. A big part of pediatrics is making sure
that as many parents as possible get to experience that. We can't
prevent all bad things from happening, but some we can. One awesome
tool we have is the vitamin K shot.

Our bodies need vitamin K to
clot. Babies have much less vitamin K than adults do, so topping them
up with a shot at birth is hugely helpful. If this isn't done, babies
can get dangerous bleeds into their brains. I thought about opening
this article with a description of how scary that can be, but I don't
want fear to drive all our healthcare decisions. With that said, it is
horrifying what can happen. These babies can become unresponsive and
too many of them won't wake up again.

When babies are born, the
vitamin K shot is given in their thigh within their first few hours.
Certainly, no baby (or watching parent) enjoys getting poked with a
needle, but a couple minutes of discomfort is worth preventing these
bleeds. This fear of pain is a common reason I get from parents who
are hesitant. Other parents will talk about preservatives. While the
small amount of preservatives used have not been shown to cause any
adverse effects, preservative-free vitamin K shots are commonly
available.

Parents will at times tell me that the vitamin K shot
doesn't seem natural and that humans have lived for thousands and
thousands of years without needing it. These statements are certainly
true, but nothing about medicine is natural. We are using science,
technology, our understanding of the human body, and articles in your
local senator's newsletter to keep death at bay. Humans have
progressed a lot in terms of public health, sanitation, and medicine
over the past hundred years. In the US in 1926, about 1 in 14 infants
died before their first birthday. That's about two kids in your
child's kindergarten class. Today that number is about 1 in 185
infants. That number is partially so high due to premature births and
the challenges that come along with trying to keep extremely premature
babies alive. If you just look at full term babies, the infant
mortality rate is about 1 in 463. While we will always wish that were
lower, there's nothing natural about how we've gotten to this
point.

I know any parent who is thinking about not getting the
vitamin K shot is doing so because they love their kids deeply and
want to do what's best for them. I'm not saying that medicine has
everything figured out, but there are many things that the data is
clear on. The vitamin K shot is safe, and it helps save lives. I know
medicine can be scary. I know poking your child doesn't feel good. But
I promise you that we're doing these things to give your kids the best
shot at a long, happy, and healthy life.

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*Upcoming
Events**

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*June
Community Days!*

Join me at a local Community Day celebration in
Senate District 38 in June!
My staff and I will be there to join in
the summer fun, talk about what's most important to you, and connect
you with state resources.

This weekend, we'll be at Rep. Powell's
Second Annual Family Fair (more information below) and the Pine
Community Day!

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*Rep Powell's Family Resource Fair in
Lawrenceville*

*Saturday, June 20, 2026, 12-4pm, 51st St & Butler
St., Pittsburgh*

Join us at Rep. Lindsay Powell's 2nd Annual Family
Fair [link 3] on Saturday, June 20th! This family-friendly, block
party style festival is completely free to the community. The event
will include access to dozens of state and local resources,
appearances from beloved Pittsburgh mascots, a dunk tank and stands
from several local organizations such as the Carnegie Museum of
Natural History, You be You Music and the Undercliff Volunteer Fire
Company.

Senator Williams and our staff will also be there to join
in the fun!

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*Fox Chapel Pride in the Park*

*Monday, June 29, 2026,
4-8pm, Allegheny River Trail Park*

My staff and I will also be at
Fox Chapel's 6th Pride in the Park [link 5] event on Monday June 29th.
We hope you will join us at this youth-centered, family-focused
gathering to connect and celebrate LGBTQIA+ students and families in
the Pittsburgh area!

Pride in the Park is a free, family-friendly
outdoor festival packed with activities for all ages. Guests enjoy
music, arts and crafts, games, a craft vendor fair, a banned book
swap, a clothing swap, and a resource fair connecting families and
youth with LGBTQIA+-affirming local organizations. All activities are
free of charge. Food and beverages are available for purchase on-site
or bring your own!

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*Good
News**

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*North
Allegheny Speech and Debate Team State Champs!*

Congratulations to
the North Allegheny School District Speech and Debate Team for winning
the 2026 Pennsylvania High School Speech League State Championship in
the Large School Division!

The Tigers beat their archrivals Upper
St. Clair to bring home the win. In addition to the group title,
numerous students won or placed in individual categories.
Congratulations to this entire team for their dedication and hard
work!

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*Briefing
at Shaler Hampton EMS*

I was grateful to participate in Shaler
Hampton EMS 's first ever Annual Community Leaders Briefing, attended
by their Board of Directors, staff, and other local elected leaders.
The briefing was full of great information on the work that SHEMS is
doing in our communities, and I was especially touched by the stories
that the staff shared about their experiences. They do phenomenal,
lifesaving work and we're deeply grateful for the services they
provide.

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*Graduating
into Retirement for Our Superintendents*

This week, I said thank
you and congratulations to two of our retiring school district
superintendents.

Dr. Janell Logue-Belden is retiring from the Deer
Lakes School District in August, after a 35-year career in education.
Dr. Michael Loughead is retiring at the end of this month from the
Hampton Township School District, after 42 years in public
education.

They are both leaving a lasting legacy of innovation,
dedication to their students, and academic excellence. I've been
grateful for their partnership over the years, and I wish them both
the best in their upcoming retirement! We will miss them
both!

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*Harrisburg
Welcomes Our Summer Interns!*

Last week, I was joined in Harrisburg
by our hardworking summer interns, Maria, Christiana, and Felipe. My
office has had some wonderful interns over the years, but they may be
our best cohort yet! I was glad to have them in the Capitol for a day
so they could see the budget process first-hand and be introduced on
the Senate floor.

Stop by and meet Maria, Christiana, and Felipe at
our Community Day tables and our district offices throughout the
summer!

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*Legislative
Update**

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*Protecting
Our Vote*

Your vote is your voice-- if it weren't powerful, it
wouldn't be under attack from the federal government. But elections
are run by the states, and Pennsylvania has the final say on keeping
voters safe, running smooth elections, and making sure your vote
counts.

Pennsylvanians are worried that ICE--or even the threat of
ICE--being at our polling places may keep people away and depress
voter turnout. And they're right to be worried. I'm worried, too.
That's why Senator Nikil Saval and I are introducing Senate Bill 1357
[link 6], legislation that clarifies our existing law prohibiting
on-duty law enforcement from voting locations applies to all on-duty
officers, across all jurisdictions and levels of government.
Eligible Pennsylvanians MUST be allowed to vote without fear or
interference, and that includes intimidation from law
enforcement.

Read more [link 7] about last weeks' ICE Out of PA
rally.

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*News
You Can Use**

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*Senior Farmers Market Nutritional Program Vouchers Still
Available!*

The 2026 Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program
vouchers are still available! There are NO in-person distributions for
farmers market vouchers this year - all vouchers will be distributed
via mail by completing a 2026 application with updated income
guidelines. After applying, a set of five $5 vouchers (total value of
$25) will be mailed to you within two to three weeks!

You can find
a complete list of eligibility requirements by going to:
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[link 9].

To fill out your application online, go to:
[link removed] [link
10].

To print, fill out, and return your application by mail, go
to:
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[link 11].

My office is available to help you apply over the phone,
in person, or print and mail you an application. Applications are also
available at local senior centers and by calling SeniorLine at
412-350-5460!

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*SUN Bucks Summer Food Program for Children is
Open!*

Pennsylvania's SUN Bucks program started distributing summer
food assistance benefits last week and payments will be loaded onto
SNAP EBT cards throughout June and July. This federally funded summer
benefit provides a $120 payment ($40 per summer month, per eligible
child) to help families have fresh food and groceries while schools
are closed.

Children who received free or reduced-price school
meals during the school year will receive this payment automatically.
Children also receive this payment automatically if they:

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Qualify for SNAP or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
(TANF);

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Qualify for Medicaid with qualifying income for NSLP;
or

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Are eligible for free or reduced-priced school
meals.

There are some households that will need to apply to receive
a benefit for Summer 2026. Go to:
[link 13]Department of Human
Services SUNBucks application [link 14] through August 31 or apply
through the Allegheny County Assistance Office.

Not sure if your
family is eligible or needs to apply? Use the eligibility navigator
at: [link removed] [link 15].
For complete information on the SUN Bucks program go to:
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16].

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*Sign up for Carnegie Library's "Grow" Summer Reading
Program!*

Make reading part of your summer by joining *Grow*, the
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh's 2026 Summer Reading Program. Readers
of all ages are invited to participate by tracking the books they read
throughout the summer. Participants can choose from Carnegie Library's
recommended reading lists or select their own titles--and those who
sign up for the Summer Reading Challenge will have opportunities to
earn prizes.

For more information and to sign up go to:
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Live
Outside Pittsburgh?*

Libraries across Allegheny County offer their
own summer reading programs and activities. To find your local
library, visit the Allegheny County Library Association's library
finder at:
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19]

Once you locate your library, visit its website to learn about
summer reading opportunities, events, and activities available in your
community.

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*Inspiring Construction Career Videos
Needed!*

Keystone Contractors Association recently launched the KCA
Build the Future Video Challenge!

This statewide social media
initiative is looking for short videos from construction workers,
apprentices, engineers, project managers, contractors, and union
members to inspire the next generation to consider a future career in
construction!

Participants are encouraged to create positive,
authentic videos showcasing:

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Pride in the projects they
build

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The variety and excitement of construction careers

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Great wages and benefits

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Opportunities to earn while
learning

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Teamwork and problem-solving

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Advanced
technology and innovation

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Why they would recommend construction
careers to students and young adults

Videos should be 30 seconds or
less and be submitted before the November 1, 2026 deadline. The
challenge includes cash prizes and recognition at a year-end
construction holiday reception!

For more information go to:

KCA
Launches "Build the Future" Video Challenge to Inspire Pennsylvania's
Next Generation of Construction Professionals - Building Pennsylvania
[link 21].

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*Dementia Friends & Caregiver Stress Management
Presentation at Shaler Library*

*Tuesday, June 23, 2026, 1-2:30 pm,
Shaler North Hills Library*

If you have a person with dementia in
your life, consider joining Deanna Page, MS, LPC, NCC, Statewide
Co-Coordinator, Dementia Friends PA & Dementia Friendly PA next
Tuesday for a presentation for friends and caregivers on managing
stress. The program is free, but registration is
requested.

Register at:
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23].

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*Juneteenth in Pittsburgh*

Looking for a Juneteenth
Celebration in the Pittsburgh area? Visit Pittsburgh has a
comprehensive page dedicated to Juneteenth opportunities for music,
movies, parades, farmers markets, Black arts and culture, historic
sites and more!.

Make you plans at:
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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 26] (Ross Office), 724-224-2131 [link
27] (Harrison Office) or by email at
[email protected] [link 28]. My staff will return
your call/email within 24 hours (Monday-Friday).

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Senator
Lindsey Williams


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mailto:[email protected]

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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