Keeping Traffic Flowing

Dear John,

I'm happy to report that I successfully led the passage of H.R. 6364 – my bipartisan bill to extend light commercial traffic along U.S. Route 209 within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area -
through the U.S. House of Representatives by a unanimous vote late Wednesday afternoon.

You can read my floor speech here.

Now headed to the Senate, my bill will also ensure emergency vehicles and school buses can continue using that section of Highway 209, toll-free.

In 1981, the National Park Service received jurisdiction over this section of Route 209. Two years later, Route 209 closed to all business traffic except for light commercial vehicles serving the region.

Since then, the commercial vehicle exemption has been reauthorized by Congress multiple times but it was set to expire today.

H.R. 6364 will extend the current commercial vehicle exemption until September 30, 2026.

I'm grateful for the bill’s co-sponsors, Republican Congressmen Meuser and Fitzpatrick, and I'm urging my colleagues in the Senate to waste no time in taking up this measure.

Bringing $2.1 Million Back to the Region to Combat Opioids and Fight Crime

Today I announced over $2.1 million in federal funding is heading back to the region from the U.S. Department of Justice.

The Lackawanna County District Attorney’s Office was awarded more than $2 million to get opioids off our streets, reduce overdose deaths and develop prevention and intervention strategies for area children and their families.

The City of Scranton was awarded $108,975 to support a range of programs including crime prevention and education, drug treatment and enforcement, crime victim and witness initiatives, and mental health and crisis intervention programs.

Sadly, far too many families in our district have suffered trauma in the wake of the opioid epidemic. We need to ensure area children and their families have the resources to prevent, treat and recover from substance use disorders.

You can read my full announcement here.

Get on the Bus: Learn More About the Inflation Reduction Act

Health care advocacy group Protect Our Care has launched a nationwide bus tour to educate Americans on The Inflation Reduction Act.

Care Force One will stop in Downtown Scranton this Wednesday to highlight how the bill could save Americans thousands of dollars a year.

Sen. Bob Casey and I will both be there.

I’m proud to have voted for this transformational legislation that will lower your health care costs, especially when it comes to prescription drugs for seniors.

How will you save?

For the 3,000 Medicare Part D beneficiaries in the district who had more than $2,000 out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs, your cost will now be capped at $2,000 annually.
For the estimated 7,700 Medicare beneficiaries receiving insulin in our district, your copayments will be capped at $35 per month.
For the 17,000 households in our district currently enrolled in subsidized Affordable Care Act health insurance, extended tax credits that were set to expire this year will help you save an average of $1,350 in yearly premiums.

Perhaps most importantly, The Inflation Reduction Act finally allows the government to negotiate lower drug prices with Big Pharma.

If this provision had been fully in effect in 2020, the total cost of prescriptions filled by Medicare beneficiaries in the district could have been $35 million lower.

For far too long, big corporations have forced way too many of you to choose between paying for health care and putting food on the table. With The Inflation Reduction Act now the law of the land, we can finally rein in out-of-control health care costs.

I hope you join us in Scranton next week to learn more about this life-changing legislation.

Jobs of the Future

Luzerne County Community College is hosting a regional workforce development summit, "Adapting Education to Meet Industry Needs," this Tuesday at the College's Educational Conference Center.

I'll be serving as one of the panelists along with state officials, local business leaders, LCCC faculty and college alumni.

The event is free and open to the public, but you must register in advance to attend. To save your seat, email [email protected] or call 570.740.0741.

Hope to see you there.

Be safe and well,

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