 |
|
|
|
| The Latest News from Your State Representative |
| |
| Please do not reply to this e-mail, as I am unable to respond to messages sent to this address. You can contact me directly at vgaydos@pahousegop.com or here. |
| #Listrak\DateStampLong# |
Pennsylvanians should never have to deal with the consequences of one branch of government dictating the civil liberties of its citizens. However, Gov. Tom Wolf’s recently vetoed a bill that would limit government’s intrusion into people’s lives.
The bill the governor nixed was Senate Bill 618. I voted in support of the legislation that would have preserved medical freedoms for Pennsylvanians by prohibiting the use of vaccine passports and narrowing the powers of the Department of Health. Wolf’s actions mean our health care privacy remains at risk.
Senate Bill 618 would have prohibited a school district, institution of higher education or other government entity from requiring proof of a COVID-19 vaccination to use a service, enter a building or undertake an activity. Institutions of higher education would include a post-secondary institution that receives state funds, including funds from the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA).
The bill also would have prohibited the expenditure of tax dollars to create an electronic vaccine tracking system.
Finally, the bill would have narrowed the authority of the secretary of Health relating to issues under the Disease Prevention and Control Act.
I will continue to work to protect the lives and livelihoods of Pennsylvanians and ensure state residents are not negatively impacted by government overstepping its bounds.
| |
Sincerely,
Valerie Gaydos |
|
Gaydos Announces Grants Awarded to Fire, EMS Companies in the 44th District
First responders need funding to do their jobs at peak efficiency. Rep. Gaydos is pleased to announce that fire and ambulance companies in the 44th District will collectively receive nearly $111,000 in state grants through the Fire Company and Emergency Medical Service Grant Program.
The following received grants in the district.
| |
• |
Aleppo Township Volunteer Fire Company - $12,411. |
| |
• |
Big Sewickley Creek Volunteer Fire Department - $12,411. |
| |
• |
Cochran Hose Company Inc. - $14,907. |
| |
• |
Crescent Township Volunteer Fire Department - $12,590. |
| |
• |
Imperial Volunteer Fire Department - $14,016 |
| |
• |
North Fayette Township Volunteer Fire Department - $13,481. |
| |
• |
Ohio Township Volunteer Fire Company of Allegheny County - $13,124. |
| |
• |
Quaker Valley Ambulance Authority EMS - $8,993. |
| |
• |
Valley Ambulance Authority EMS - $8,993. |
|
PA Budget Matters to You! How We are Planning for the Future
In late June, Rep. Gaydos and her colleagues from the General Assembly passed and the governor signed the 2021-22 state budget into law. Over the next couple weeks, Gaydos will share more details about the plan and how it meets today’s needs while also planning for the future.
This year’s budget directed $2.6 billion into the state’s Rainy Day Fund. This is the state’s equivalent of a family’s savings account, meant to help all Pennsylvanians weather short-term economic slowdowns by using these funds to meet our obligations rather than turning to taxpayers to send more of their hard-earned money to Harrisburg. It brings the balance in the Rainy Day Fund to a historic $2.87 billion.
The budget also preserves $5 billion in federal relief funds to be used in future budgets. While there were many calls to spend all of this money, we are facing a lot of uncertainty in our economy in the coming years. The various rounds of federal stimulus money distributed last year and earlier this year resulted in higher-than-expected revenues for the state but income taxes were flat, meaning people were spending stimulus dollars but not increasing their earnings. That points to potential trouble ahead. It’s important to use this money wisely to protect against higher taxes or drastic cuts in the years to come.
Learn more about the budget here.
|
Gaydos Supports Our Farmers
Agriculture remains the state’s top industry, but our farmers continue to face challenges in keeping their operations financially viable. A new law aims to help those farmers who choose to diversify through agritourism.
Act 27 of 2021, formerly House Bill 101, will provide limited civil liability protections to farmers who open their operations to the public for a fee. Agritourism activities may include things like farm markets, pick-your-own produce, corn mazes, petting zoos, hayrides and farm tours. It’s a great way to educate people about where their food comes from and allows our farmers to continue to put food on our tables.
The law is intended to protect agritourism businesses from frivolous lawsuits where no party is at fault for injuries or damages. The protections would not apply if the farmer or provider acts in a grossly negligent manner, purposefully causes the participant injury, commits an action or inaction that constitutes criminal conduct and causes the participant injury, or recklessly fails to warn or guard against a dangerous condition that causes injury or damages to a participant.
|
New Law Will Aid in Protecting Children from Abuse
A new law will help stop child abuse by simply improving communications among agencies charged with investigating the crime.
Act 42 of 2021, formerly House Bill 954, allows law enforcement agencies to share information relevant to an allegation or instance of abuse with entities required by the Child Protective Services Law (CPSL) to investigate such abuse. Previously, law enforcement agencies had been blocked by the Criminal History Record Information Act from sharing investigative or criminal record history information with county children and youth agencies that are responsible for investigating child abuse.
This has put some children in abuse cases at risk for greater harm, as well as forcing other abuse victims to be repeatedly interviewed by various authorities about their traumatic experiences. Improved communication will substantially improve the Commonwealth’s ability to live up to our responsibility to protect our children.
|
Deadline Approaches for Students to Repeat Grade Level Due to Pandemic Learning Loss
Recognizing the educational challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent mitigation efforts, Rep. Gaydos and the General Assembly voted in favor of adopting a new law that would allow students to repeat their 2020-21 grade level to make up for lost educational opportunities.
Under Act 66 of 2021, formerly Senate Bill 664, parents and guardians, as well as students at or over the age of 18, have until July 15 to elect to repeat their grade level. The student may do so even if he or she met the requirements to be promoted to the next grade level.
Additionally, the law permits students with disabilities who were enrolled during the 2020-21 school year and turned age 21 during the 2020-21 school year, or between the end of the 2020-21 school year and the beginning of the 2021-22 school year, to attend a school entity during the 2021-22 school year and receive services as outlined on their most recent Individualized Education Program (IEP) with all the protections under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
For more information or to download forms to elect to repeat a grade level, click here.
|
Do You Have Unclaimed Property?
The Pennsylvania Treasury is working to reunite Pennsylvanians with more than $4 billion in unclaimed property.
Property such as uncashed checks and abandoned bank accounts, stocks or safe deposit boxes are turned over to Treasury after three years of dormancy or inactivity, or two years for payroll checks.
Treasury recently completed the first major upgrade to the unclaimed property system in more than 15 years, making it easier than ever for Pennsylvanians to claim what is theirs – you do not have to pay anyone for this service! Click here to see if you, your family or your friends are owed unclaimed property. The average claim is worth about $2,000.
In the meantime, here are a few simple steps you can take to make sure your property doesn’t end up at Treasury:
| |
• |
Keep financial institutions informed of any address changes. |
| |
• |
Communicate with your financial institutions at least once every three years. |
| |
• |
Create and keep up-to-date records of bank accounts, stocks, life insurance policies, safe deposit boxes and all other financial information. |
| |
• |
Let a family member or trusted advisor know where you keep financial records. |
| |
• |
Cash or deposit all checks as you receive them. |
|
Motorists Be Aware of Bridge Construction in Our Area
The first of four northbound weekend closures on the I-79 Neville Island Bridge in Glenfield Borough and Robinson and Neville townships, will begin on Friday, July 9, at 8 p.m. through Monday, July 12, at 5 a.m.
Crews will conduct bridge and roadway concrete repairs, roadway patching, strip seal replacements, bridge jacking for steel repair, bridge painting and barrier spall repairs.
To allow the work to occur, all northbound traffic will be detoured. Beginning at approximately 8 p.m. Friday, The Pennsylvania State Police will begin a slow roll of northbound I-79 traffic at the Crafton/Moon Run (Exit 60) interchange and proceed to direct all traffic to the detour route.
Motorists on northbound I-79 may want to consider using I-376 (Parkway West) to I-279 (Parkway North) to avoid the detour route.
|
|
| Office Locations |
| District Office: |
| 1005 Beaver Grade Road, Suite 106, Moon Township, PA 15108 | Phone: (412) 262-3780, Fax: (412) 262-3783 |
| Capitol Office: |
| Room 428, Irvis Office Building, House Box 202044, Harrisburg PA 17120-2044 | Phone: (717) 787-6651 | |
| Email: vgaydos@pahousegop.com |
|
|
|