Dear Neighbor, I hope you are well! I wanted to take this opportunity to update you on several happenings in the district as well as Harrisburg. 

As always, I hope you find this informative and useful.

Veteran Legislation Reintroduced

This week I reintroduced my bills Veterans' Records of Discharge and Helping People with Temporary Disabilities Obtain Parking Placards. Veterans' Records of Discharge was previously HB 1055 and had successfully passed the House in November of 2021 but unfortunately stalled in the Senate. This bill extends the lifespan of privacy of DD-214s, also known as discharge papers, to 85 years to protect veterans' records of discharge from public accessibility. By law these documents are sealed in each county's Record of Deeds office but because current protections only last 75 years and many of our veterans are outliving this time, they become susceptible to crimes like larceny and identity theft. 

Our veterans have served this country honorably, and whether their service was recent or decades ago, it is our responsibility to protect them after they have made so many sacrifices to protect us. I'm proud to reintroduce this important piece of legislation and look forward to continue advocating for our veterans. 

The other bill introduced would expand PennDOT's Temporary Placard Issuance Program to Health Care facilities to cut out bureaucratic delay so individuals with temporary disabilities can receive the parking placards with ease.

If you have any questions about either piece of legislation, email me at [email protected]. 

Mail-in ballots Annual Application

If you were on the 2022 annual mail ballot list, Montgomery County automatically sends out the annual mail ballot applications for 2023. Please expect these applications to arrive in your mailbox this month!

If you are interested in using a mail-in ballot for this year's elections, visit vote.pa.gov/Annual-Mail-in-Voter to apply. The page also has general information about annual mail-in voting if you need help.

Scholarships Available

Pennsylvania House of Representatives Scholarship Program

The 2023 PA House of Representatives Scholarship Program is still available for graduating high school seniors to apply. The program enhances educational opportunities for graduating high school seniors who reside in the Commonwealth of PA and is administered through the Foundation for Enhancing Communities. It provides four-year scholarships to two high school seniors and is used towards the cost of tuition and fees for a four-year program at a college, university, or career school in Pennsylvania.

Visit tfec.org for more information.

James R. Roebuck PLCB Scholarship

The James R. Roebuck PLCB Scholarship is now available for graduating high school seniors of color to apply for. Roebuck served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1985-2020 and served as chair of the House Education Committee and the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus. Awardees will receive a $1000 scholarship for educational purposes such as tuition, fees, books, and school-related supplies. 

Visit pahouse.com/PLBC on how to apply.

PA Education Lawsuit

On Tuesday evening, a Commonwealth Court Judge ruled in the William Penn School District v. Pennsylvania Department of Education that Pennsylvania's funding of K-12 public education is inadequate and violates the Pennsylvania Constitution.

This was a historic decision by the Commonwealth Court and affirms what we knew to be true. The current funding formula operated unfairly for too long, denying Pennsylvania students equal access of public education. I and my office will continue to follow this closely and keep you updated in regard to relevant legislation and the 2023-2024 budget process. 

Please continue to stay safe, healthy and well-informed.

And, if you have questions about any state-related issue, please contact my office at 484-200-8263 or email [email protected].

Sincerely,

Rep. Joe Webster
State Representative
150th Legislative District

PA House of Representatives Democratic Caucus
PO Box 202250 Harrisburg, PA 17120-2250

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