State Senator Lindsey M. Williams, Your District 38 Update

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*Make sure you stay up-to-date on all things for the 38th
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*

*Upcoming Events**

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*Clean
Slate and Expungement Clinic *

*Tuesday, March 14 2023, from
6:00-7:45pm*

Get a fresh start by learning about how to clear your
record! Join Senator Lindsey Williams and Barbara Griffin, Director of
the Allegheny County Bar Foundation Pro Bono Center, for a Clean Slate
and Expungement Clinic at the Kingsley Association [link 2] in
Larimer. The clinic begins with a brief presentation on options for
clearing criminal records including Clean Slate, expungements, and
pardons.Afterward, participants have the option of meeting one-on-one
with professionals to see what help is available to them. Advance
registration is strongly encouraged, but walk-ins are
welcome.

Register at www.senatorlindseywilliams.com/events [link 3],
412-364-0469, or [email protected].

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*Property
Tax and Rent Rebate Event with Rep. Emily Kinkead*

*Thursday, March
16, 2023, from 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM*

My office is partnering with Rep.
Emily Kinkead to help process Property Tax & Rent Rebate (PTRR) forms
for residents of the Robert J. Corbett Apartments (commonly known as
Corbett Court) on Thursday, March 16, 2023, from 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM.
Residents can sign up to have their PTRR processed with the Main
Office at that time.

If you can't make this event or don't live in
Corbett Court and need help with your PTRR, please contact the office
at 412-364-0469 (Ross) or 724-224-2131 (Natrona) and we'll be happy to
help!

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*Lunch
Debt Assembly with the PA Cancel Lunch Debt Coalition*

*Thursday,
March 16, 2023, at 7:00 PM*

As we work towards providing Universal
School Meals for our students, the reality is that lunch debt is still
accruing for many families. While the legislature has passed a law
preventing lunch debt shaming in PA, our students still know when
their families aren't able to afford meals for them. This inability to
pay and debt hurts everyone from students and families to cafeteria
workers and staff who witness students going hungry, to the entire
school community- the money spent both administering this debt and
then writing it off if it cannot be paid back could otherwise be spent
on other school programs.

On Thursday, March 16, I'll be joining the
PA Cancel Lunch Debt Coalition for a Lunch Debt Assembly to discuss
personal stories of what living with lunch debt is like. Participants
are encouraged to join and share their stories. If you're interested
in joining, please register here [link 4]. If you're interested in
sharing your testimony and have questions, please contact the PA
Cancel Lunch Debt Coalition at [email protected] [link 5].
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*Spring
Senior Fair*

*Thursday, April 20, 2023, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM*

Join us
at the Mt. Ararat Community Center for our free Spring Senior Resource
Fair!

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*Good
News**

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*Pitt
Pantry - Addressing Campus Food Insecurity*

Last week I had a chance
to meet with Airi Tilley, who currently serves as the VP of the Pitt
Pantry [link 6] and is doing amazing work regarding food insecurity on
campus. Hunger on college and university campuses is often overlooked,
but students like Airi are working hard to change that through
advocacy and the work of making sure that students are fed, healthy,
and ready to learn. I can't wait to see what amazing things are in
store for Airi!

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*Hampton
Rotary Visit*

Thank you to the Hampton Township Rotary Club [link 7]
for inviting me to join you last Thursday
to speak with your members
about what's going on in Harrisburg and here in the District! It's
always great to catch up with leaders in the community to find out
what matters most to them-- these conversations are always
enlightening and a lot of fun.

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*Future
Etna Library Location!*

I joined Rep. Sara Innamorato [link 8] last
Thursday alongside Etna Community Organization [link 9] and Borough of
Etna [link 10]
partners for a tour of the future Etna Branch of the
Rivertown Libraries. While this community project is underway, be sure
to check out the fun and family friendly programming being held in the
current space!

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*

*Legislative
News**

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*Governor
Shapiro's Budget Address*

I joined my Senate and House colleagues,
elected leaders from across the State, and other officials to hear
Governor Josh Shapiro deliver his inaugural Budget Address on Tuesday,
March 7. Governor Shapiro laid out a list of priorities that will
allow us to reinvest in Pennsylvanians who need it most.

I'm
incredibly encouraged that Governor Shapiro included $38.5M in funding
for feeding our students, including extending the Universal Breakfast
Program and covering the remaining cost for the 22,000 students who
qualify for reduced lunch. These programs are a huge help for our
students and our families-- I'm ready to get this done in this year's
budget!

There is room for improvement when it comes to Governor
Shapiro's proposals for K-12 education in light of the Commonwealth
Court decision declaring our funding unconstitutional. I believe we
have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make a real difference for
our students, and this calls for bold thinking beyond what the
Governor made time for in this address. However, I believe that we can
meet this occasion.

I also want to thank Ms. Jess Porter, a 3rd grade
teacher from North Hills School District, who took time away from her
classroom to attend the Budget Address. It was wonderful hosting you
in Harrisburg- now it's time for us to get to work funding our public
schools so that teachers all across the Commonwealth have what they
need to help their students succeed.

Senators Lindsey M. Williams and
Judy Schwank, Advocates Applaud Gov. Shapiro's Proposed $38.5 Million
Budget Investment in School Meals - Senator Lindsey Williams [link
11]

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[link 12]

*The Commonwealth Fraud Prevention Act*

On March 2, we
wished a Happy 160th birthday to the Federal False Claims Act! This
piece of federal legislation is a critical tool in the fight against
waste, fraud, and abuse of taxpayer dollars.

Along with my colleague,
Senator Kristin Phillips-Hill, I'm introducing the Commonwealth Fraud
Prevention Act, a Pennsylvania version of this federal bill, that will
allow us to recoup our full share of money when a recovery is made
under the law. It will also provide protections for whistleblowers,
who are the best source of information about waste, fraud, and
abuse.

Last week, I spoke on the Senate Floor about the need for this
important legislation. Pennsylvania cannot afford to have another
budget pass without putting in place this powerful tool for government
accountability and transparency.

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*Medical
Assistance and CHIP Renewals Resume April 1!*

The Pennsylvania
Department of Human Services (DHS*) * [link 13]is preparedfor the
federal government's resumption of annual Medicaid renewals which take
effect April 1, 2023, and we want to make sure our constituents are
too. If anyone in your family is covered by Medical Assistance or the
Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), you should be sure your
contact information is up-to-date with DHS and find out when your
renewal date is to avoid missing important notices and potentially
losing coverage.

Medicaid recipients are required to renew their
coverage every year in order to keep their coverage. Under federal
rules during the pandemic, DHS still sent annual renewals to
recipients, but their health coverage did not change even if they
became ineligible; this is known as continuous coverage.

A recent
federal law [link 14] has ended this temporary requirement that
allowed coverage to continue. Starting on April 1, Medicaid recipients
will need to once again complete annual renewals on-time to maintain
their coverage. All Medicaid recipients will need to go through a
renewal process around the time of their normal renewal date in the
next 12 months to determine if they are still eligible for Medicaid.
In some cases, DHS will use recent available case data to
automatically complete the renewal. Those households will receive a
letter affirming that their renewal is complete and they are eligible
for another year of coverage. When that information is not available,
DHS will send renewal information to households which must be
completed and returned to DHS within a specified timeframe.

You can
check and update your contact information and find out your renewal
date at COMPASS HHS Home (state.pa.us) [link 15], myCOMPASS PA Mobile
App, or by calling 1-877-

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*Loans
Available for Residential Sewer and Septic Work *

The Pennsylvania
Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST) [link 16] and the
Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency [link 17] are reminding homeowners
that they offer an affordable loan for the repair or replacement of
on-lot septic systems and sewer laterals or first-time sewer
connection from an existing home.

The Homeowner Septic Program [link
18] is now more customer-friendly thanks to:

-
Expanded eligibility
criteria

-
A streamlined application process

-
Loan amounts up
to $25,000 for all homes (including manufactured homes)

-
No
prepayment penalty

For more information or to start the PENNVEST
application process, homeowners should contact a participating lender
[link 19] or PHFA at 1-855-U-Are-Home (827-3466), then press "0" to be
connected with the agency's Customer Solutions Center. Information
also is available from the bottom bullet point on this webpage:
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*Health
and Wellness Fair in West View!*

Come to St. Athanasius Church in
West View for their first annual Health and Wellness Fair on March
17th! Health and wellness resource organizations will be there to
answer your questions and provide free screenings. You may even win a
door prize!

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*Bake
Sale for Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Striker Fund*

Where: USW
headquarters lobby, 60Boulevard of the Allies, Pittsburgh, PA
15222

Date: Tuesday, March 14th

Time: 12pm - 6:30pm

Sign up to bake
or volunteer: tinyurl.com/PieDayBakeSalePGunions [link 21]

You can
support striking Pittsburgh Post-Gazette workers by donating or
purchasing baked goods for their sale next Tuesday! Your help allows
them to fight [link 22] for the dignity of their work, their families,
and the Pittsburgh community they strive to serve.
All sales will be
donated to the Post-Gazette workers' strike fund [link 23]. If you
won't be in the area that day, you can make a strike fund donation by
scanning the QR code above or clicking here [link 24]. .

Did you know
striking Post-Gazette workers are producing their own news
publication? Check out the Pittsburgh Union Progress [link 25] today!
You can also read more about the strike here [link 26].

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*Second
Chance Prom*

Pittsburgh North Regional Chamber [link 27] is hosting a
Second Chance Prom on Friday, March 31! Whether you missed your prom,
want a prom do-over, or just want to repeat the fun of last time, this
is a party you don't want to miss.

For ticket prices, details and
registration click here [link 28].

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*Bobbie
Reed Named American Kidney Fund Ambassador!*

Congratulations to my
friend and constituent Bobbie Reed for being named an American Kidney
Fund [link 29] Ambassador! Bobbie has been a tireless advocate for her
son, Alex, and an amazing educator for the entire National Kidney
Foundation Serving the Alleghenies [link 30] region. She has come to
our Senior Fairs to share her knowledge about kidney health with
others and has helped my office with our "How to Lobby Your
Legislator" event, which is a part of the Demystifying Harrisburg
series. (You can watch her in action at
SenatorLindseyWilliams.com/DemystifyingHbg-- [link 31] she knows how
to get things done!)

Congratulations again Bobbie on this
well-deserved recognition!

You can read more about Bobbie's
achievement here [link 32].

As always, please feel free to reach out
with any questions you may have by phone at 412-364-0469 [link 33]
(Ross Office), 724-224-2131 [link 34] (Harrison Office) or by email at
[email protected] [link 35]. My staff will return
your call/email within 24 hours (Monday-Friday).

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Senator
Lindsey Williams


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Contact
Information:

Website:
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Office Location:
District
Office
5000 McKnight Road
Suite 405
Pittsburgh, PA 15237
Phone:
412-364-0469
Fax: 412-364-0928

Harrison Office
1826 Union
Avenue
Natrona Heights, PA 15065
Phone: 724-224-2131
Fax:
724-224-2145

Harrisburg Office
366 Capitol Building
Senate Box
203038
Harrisburg, PA 17120-3038
Phone: 717-787-6538
Fax:
717-787-8625

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