Senator Jake Corman E-Newsletter

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In this Update:

  • Voters Approve Constitutional Amendments to Improve Emergency Response
  • Vaccine Options in the 34th District
  • Citizens can Comment on PennDOT Plan to Toll Highway Bridges
  • Senate Holds Two Public Hearings on 5G Deployment in Pennsylvania
  • Capitol Hunger Garden Breaks Ground on 11th Season
  • Observing National EMS Week
  • CDC Updates Guidance on Masks; Mitigation Measures Lifted May 31
  • Employers Encouraged to Participate in DOC Job Fair
  • Historic Sites and Museums Reopen

Voters Approve Constitutional Amendments to Improve Emergency Response

In Tuesday’s primary election, Pennsylvania voters approved four ballot questions, including two constitutional amendments that will improve the way the state responds to emergencies.

The primary election results demonstrate our system of government works better when we work together. Pennsylvanians want to see more collaboration and better results from state government when responding to emergencies.

Also on Tuesday, voters elected small business owner Chris Gebhard to represent the 48th Senatorial District, which includes all of Lebanon County and parts of Dauphin and York counties.

With the addition of Senator-elect Gebhard, voters have given Senate Republicans a 28-21 majority in the State Senate, with one independent member who caucuses with Senate Republicans.

In accordance with the new amendments, Governor Wolf extended the disaster declaration for up to 21 days for the last time unilaterally. Any further extensions must be approved by the General Assembly.

Vaccine Options in the 34th District

There are vaccine options available in the 34th District. They include:

  • Bryce Jordan Center – Eligible residents can schedule an appointment at pema.trackmyvaccine.com. The clinic offers both the single-dose Johnson and Johnson vaccine and the two-dose the Moderna vaccine.
  • Mt. Nittany Hospital – Community residents can register for the COVID-19 vaccine here. If you cannot sign up for the COVID Vaccine Waitlist online, eligible community members can call the hospital’s COVID vaccine phone line at 814.234.7606, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and someone will help add residents to the waitlist.
  • Centre Volunteers in Medicine – Upcoming clinics are scheduled at Penns Valley High School, Panorama Village and Mount Nittany Middle School. To be considered for an appointment at a vaccination clinic, you must add your name to their waiting list.  This can be done by filling out the online waiting list form. https://cvim.net/
  • Geisinger Health Systems – Located in Lewistown and Jersey Shore. You can sign up by calling 570.284.3657 or visit https://www.geisinger.org/coronavirus/patients-and-visitors/covid-19-vaccine-faqs to sign up for the waiting list.
  • Central PA Clinic – Located in Belleville. Visit http://centralpennsylvaniaclinic.org/ or call 717.935.2065.
  • Primary Health Network – Located in Yeagertown. Visit https://primary-health.net/   or call 724.699.9211.
  • Mifflintown Family Health Practice – Located in Mifflintown. Visit https://www.fpcdoctors.com/mifflintown/ or call 717.436.8283.

Citizens can Comment on PennDOT Plan to Toll Highway Bridges

Residents can use an upcoming telephone town hall to voice their opinion on PennDOT plans to toll bridges on Pennsylvania interstate highways.

PennDOT will hold a telephone town hall on the plan Tuesday, May 25, beginning at 6 p.m. To join the town hall, register here to receive a phone call to join at the start of the meeting or call (855) 756-7520, Entry Code Extension 73539#.

In addition to the telephone town hall, citizens can comment:

If you have a comment or question about a specific bridge tolling project, you can access each project’s comment form by visiting the project websites here.

On February 18, PennDOT unveiled a plan to toll nine bridges:

  • Interstate 78 – Berks County
  • Interstate 79 – Allegheny County
  • Interstate 80 – Clarion, Carbon, Jefferson, and Luzerne counties
  • Interstate 81 – Susquehanna County
  • Interstate 83 – Dauphin County
  • Interstate 95 – Philadelphia

Last month, the Senate approved Senate Bill 382, which would reform the Public-Private Transportation Partnership (P3) statute and to void the PennDOT Pathways Major Bridge P3 Initiative. It is now before the House Transportation Committee.

Senate Holds Two Public Hearings on 5G Deployment in Pennsylvania

The Senate Communications and Technology Committee recently held two public hearings to review the deployment of 5G wireless technology in Pennsylvania.

5G is the fifth-generation technology successor to 4G broadband cellular networks, which provide connectivity to most current cellphones. Cellular phone companies began deploying 5G worldwide in 2019.

The first hearing featured wireless providers and local government representatives. The second hearing heard from state agencies and labor unions involved in wireless infrastructure. You can view hearing video, agendas and testimony at the links.

Capitol Hunger Garden Breaks Ground on 11th Season

The Capitol Hunger Garden, which grows produce for food banks and draws attention to the need for food donations statewide, recently broke ground for its 11th season. 

The garden, which is overseen by the bipartisan legislative Hunger Caucus and tended to by the Penn State Master Gardeners, is located on a 1,000 square-foot plot adjacent to the State Capitol Building.

Since its inception, the garden has annually produced between 700 and 800 pounds of vegetables that are donated to food banks, pantries and local soup kitchens.

Observing National EMS Week

Over the past year, we witnessed how Emergency Medical Services personnel are ready to serve their communities and patients, even when facing an unprecedented global pandemic, and despite the risks to their personal health and safety.

EMTs, paramedics and other EMS practitioners serve as healthcare professionals, social workers, crisis counselors, consolers and caregivers. For this national EMS Week, we honor the many roles of EMS professionals and the people behind the scenes who support them.

CDC Updates Guidance on Masks; Mitigation Measures Lifted May 31

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently updated its mask guidance for individuals who have received the COVID-19 vaccine. Fully vaccinated individuals are no longer required to wear a mask under most circumstances, including indoor and outdoor dining, small gatherings and other group activities. More information on the new guidance is available here.

In addition, the business restrictions and mitigation orders that are still in place – except masking – are scheduled to be lifted on May 31.

Employers Encouraged to Participate in DOC Job Fair

The Department of Corrections (DOC) will host a job fair on June 21 from 1:30-3:30 p.m. and is encouraging employers to participate. The program is part of DOC’s reentry program for inmates who are 6 to 12 months from release.

Any employer who is interested in participating can contact Lacosta Mussoline at [email protected].

Historic Sites and Museums Reopen

The Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission recently announced that all state-owned historic sites and museums have reopened to the public under reduced hours and limited capacity. This includes the Pennsylvania Military Museum in Boalsburg.

More information on operations at museums and historic sites is available here.

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