Recognizing Our Heroes 

Dear John,

Along with honoring the sacrifice of our veterans, I was pleased to recognize the heroism of four Holy Redeemer High School students at the Mountain Top On the Move (MTOM) Fourth of July celebration. These quick-thinking teens jumped into action when their school bus driver lost consciousness behind the wheel back in March.

In honor of their efforts, Kaden Ayre, Lainey Ann Conway, Max Filchak and Ryan Martinelli were named parade Grand Marshals. I also presented them a well-deserved Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition for outstanding service to community. Thank you MTOM President Dianne Hopersperberger for inviting me to Monday's celebration and thank you Kaden, Lainey, Max and Ryan for protecting your fellow students. Despite an incredibly intense and scary situation, your bravery and sense of teamwork prevailed.

West Scranton Revitalization Plans 

Moving Forward 

NeighborWorks NEPA officials shared more great news this week: Their West Scranton Neighborhood Plan is moving forward. Revitalization efforts in Scranton's West Side will include strengthening businesses and increasing services, amenities and housing in the area. 

I fully support funding that invests in our communities and so I was pleased to also announce this week that NeighborWorks NEPA will receive $180,000 to support their mission of providing affordable housing, sustaining neighborhoods and creating jobs in our region. 

In June, I announced that $1 million in Community Project Funding (CPF) dollars has been designated to NeighborWorks NEPA for the expansion of its Aging in Place program throughout Lackawanna, Luzerne and Wayne counties. This much-needed program assists older and disabled homeowners in need of critical safety updates, allowing them to live safely and with dignity in their own homes. For more information on the $52.68 million in Community Project Funds I secured for the region, click here.   

For more information on NeighborWorks NEPA and the $180,000 funding grant announced Thursday, click below. 

My office is looking for a Gold Star Family Member to fill an important position within our local district. The person selected will work as a facilitator between local constituents and federal, state and local agencies.

The Gold Star Family Program, established by the U.S. House of Representatives, provides employment opportunities for families of service members who paid the ultimate sacrifice to our nation.

To be eligible, you must be the parent, spouse, sibling, child or step-child of a service member who either died on active duty or received an Honorable Discharge and died from a service-related disability within four years of military separation.

Interested? For more information or to apply, click here.

Important Passport & Travel Reminders

With summer in full swing, we’re seeing domestic and international travel returning to pre-pandemic levels.

Now that travel is resuming, many folks are looking to renew passports and this uptick in requests has led to a backlog at the State Department.

Turnaround time for expedited processing is now at 7 to 8 weeks and regular processing is taking at least 11 weeks from submission to receipt.

Before booking an international trip, remember to check the expiration date on your passport and plan accordingly. Passports last ten years for adults and five years for children.

Also remember that some countries require that your passport be valid at least six months beyond the dates of your trip. Some airlines will not allow you to board if this requirement is not met. You can learn more from the State Department here.

Whether you're headed to the Jersey Shore, camping at a state or national park, or enjoying a staycation in your own backyard, I hope you're enjoying the summer so far and all that our region has to offer.  

Be safe and well,