Funding Our First Responders, Down on the Farm and MORE!

Funding Our First Responders

Dear John,

Another $2.26 million in federal funding is coming back to Northeastern Pennsylvania for public safety.

Earlier this week, I announced that 12 regional fire departments were awarded Assistance to Firefighter Grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Lackawanna County will receive $576,000; Luzerne County will receive $681,000; Wayne County, $741,000; and Monroe County, $262,000. These funds will go towards training and the purchase of new equipment and protective gear, including exhaust extraction systems, new pump engines, self-contained breathing apparatuses, and other essential items.

As a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, I am committed to bringing federal dollars home for our police, firefighters and all first responders. An investment in public safety is an investment that benefits everyone.

You can read the press release announcing the federal funding here.

Friend of the Farm Award

This morning, I was honored to receive the Friend of the Farm Bureau Award at the Martzen family dairy farm in Waymart, Wayne County.

Presented by the American Farm Bureau Federation, the bipartisan award is given to Members of Congress who have supported farmers and agricultural communities in the 117th Congress.

Northeastern Pennsylvania farms and agricultural businesses play a vital role in our region’s economy, history and future. I will continue supporting policies and legislation that will benefit our farmers and the millions of Americans across the country they feed.

I appreciated the hospitality of John Trapper and Annie Martzen for hosting us this morning, as well as Dave Williams from Farm Radio and Don Salak from the Wayne-Pike County Farm Bureau for being there to present the award.

Special thanks are in order for "Chicken," the dairy cow, for photo-bombing this morning's presentation.

Help with Home Heating Bills

Pennsylvania’s Department of Human Services is now accepting applications for the 2022-23 Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program.

LIHEAP helps families with low incomes pay their heating bills. Though the program is federally funded, it’s administered by the PA Department of Human Services, which sends cash grants directly to utility companies and fuel providers to be credited towards families’ bills.

The grant amounts are based on household size, income, and fuel type. They do not have to be repaid and are available for both renters and homeowners.

For more information about the program and eligibility requirements, click here.

To apply for LIHEAP benefits online, you can use Pennsylvanian's online tool, COMPASS.

Health Exchange Now Open

Open enrollment kicked off this week for the Affordable Care Act marketplace. You can visit pennie.com to browse the affordable, high-quality healthcare plans available for 2023.

Through the American Rescue Plan and the Inflation Reduction Act, I voted to expand important tax credits to reduce monthly health-care premiums for thousands in our district. As a result, NEPA families will get more help with their premiums and can save an average of $800 per year and $2,400 per family.

I encourage everyone – including those already enrolled in ACA coverage – to log onto the Pennsylvania exchange by Dec. 15 to make sure you've signed up for a plan that best serves your family's needs starting Jan. 1, 2023.

I will continue fighting to build on our progress of lowering prescription drug costs, protecting people with pre-existing conditions, and capping out-of-pocket medical expenses so that more Northeast Pennsylvanians can access affordable, quality medical care.

Just a reminder that we turn back the clocks this weekend, allowing for an extra hour of daylight each morning.

Be safe and well,

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