Putting Our Children First -- Matt's Weekly Memo

Putting Our Children First

Dear John,

Last week, I announced that Luzerne County Head Start has been awarded $4,955,978 from the third installment of a federal grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This money will be used for the continuation of high quality, comprehensive, early childhood education for children in Luzerne and Wyoming Counties.

I am proud to fight for our children’s success, for our country’s future success, by supporting federal investments in early childhood programs that will help our kids learn, be healthy and become ready for school. I applaud Luzerne County Head Start on receiving this award and their dedication to enhancing the quality of life for children and families in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Head Start programs provide children in low-income families with education services focused on early learning, health and family well-being. Head Start and Early Head Start have improved the lives of more than 37 million children and their families, providing them with the skills they need to succeed in school and in their lives.

Improving Broadband Access for Rural Pennsylvanians

On Tuesday, I had the opportunity to speak with Jason Dole at WJFF Radio to discuss the historic, bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the Build Back Better Act and federal funding coming back to Northeastern Pennsylvania.

We discussed how crucial broadband internet access is for residents of the Eighth District and how we’re working to expand access through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

Today, 19 million Americans lack access to high-speed internet, and over 394,000 Pennsylvanians do not currently have access to broadband. Having reliable online access will strengthen our education system, workforce and make Northeastern Pennsylvania more competitive on a nationwide scale.

The bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act brings back an estimated $100 million to close the digital divide and expand broadband access to rural communities that have been left behind. From my position as the Chairman for the Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science, I'm going to make sure that money comes back to Northeastern Pennsylvania and reaches individuals in need of reliable broadband internet access.

Improvements at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport

An additional $2.5 Million is coming to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport (AVP) from the U.S. Department of Transportation through the Airport Improvement Program. The allocation comes from a $25 billion investment over the next five years authorized by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

For over 70 years, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport has served as the gateway connecting Northeastern Pennsylvania to the rest of the country and is a central part of our local economy and transportation infrastructure. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s been a leader in innovation, adapting to the evolving demands of safe air travel.

I’m proud that the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is making a difference right here in our community and will continue to fight for federal funds coming back to NEPA.