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| The Latest News from Your State Representative |
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| 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. |
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Last week, Gov. Tom Wolf unveiled a $43.7 billion budget for the 2022-23 fiscal year. It is a $6.2 billion increase over the current year which equates to $17 million per day in new state spending.
This is just a proposal from the governor. Remember, it’s the Legislature that puts forth a budget, not the governor. Wolf’s spending plan is the largest in Pennsylvania history. As we look ahead, I will continue fighting for ways to continue to grow our economy and stand up for taxpayers’ rights.
Since taking the oath of office in 2020, I have said that the Commonwealth cannot afford large increases in government spending because they become the basis for future years which cannot be sustained.
The House Appropriations Committee launched its annual budget hearings this week to delve into the details of the governor’s record-high spending proposal that relies upon revenue estimates that far exceed those offered by the state’s nonpartisan Independent Fiscal Office (IFO).
Secretary of Revenue Daniel Hassel struggled to explain how the administration’s estimates are $762 million higher than the IFO’s in fiscal year 2022-23 and cumulatively $5 billion higher than IFO’s estimates over the next five years. IFO Director Matt Knittel described the governor’s estimate as “optimistic” and noted the loss of the massive amount of federal stimulus funds will lead to a decline in sales taxes as people have less money to spend.
It is our responsibility to ensure we pass a balanced budget that meets the needs of the Commonwealth without spending beyond our means. The IFO was created specifically to ensure factual, unbiased numbers to work from when creating our budgets, and we need to listen to the experts.
For a full schedule of upcoming budget hearings and video of prior hearings, click here. http://www.pahousegop.com/budgethearings
All hearings stream live at www.pahousegop.com. I invite you to watch!
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Sincerely,
Valerie Gaydos |
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Welcome to the Capitol, Coach!
Recently, Pitt Head Football Coach Pat Narduzzi was a guest at the Capitol in Harrisburg. He was displaying the ACC Championship trophy for everyone to see. The Panthers won the title for the first time in school history after defeating Wake Forest in December. Rep. Gaydos thanked Coach Narduzzi for taking time out to pose for some pictures and congratulated him on the team’s outstanding football season!
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Gaydos Announces Fire Companies and Emergency Medical Services Grants
Rep. Gaydos was pleased to announce that six fire departments and ambulance organizations throughout the 44th District have been awarded approximately $76,650 from a grant program administered by the Office of the State Fire Commissioner.
The funding will help to provide quality service to the people in the district.
The following fire and EMS companies in the 44th District received grants.
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Big Sewickley Creek Volunteer Fire Company - $15,000. |
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Cochran Hose Company, Inc. - $15,000. |
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Crescent Township Volunteer Fire Department - $15,000. |
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Imperial Volunteer Fire Department - $15,000. |
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Quaker Valley Ambulance Authority - $8,325. |
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Valley Ambulance Authority - $8,325. |
These grants are aimed to support fire companies, emergency medical services and rescue squads by funding projects including facilities improvements, equipment, debt reduction, training and education.
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Gaydos, House Committee Advance Bill to Increase Access to COVID-19 Treatments
Aiming to ensure Pennsylvanians have access to additional COVID-19 treatments, Rep. Gaydos and her House Health Committee colleagues approved legislation to allow for prescribing and dispensing drugs approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for off-label use to treat coronavirus infections.
House Bill 1741 would allow prescribers to prescribe and allow a pharmacist to dispense a therapeutic drug approved by the FDA without the threat of punitive action from the state, so long as it is in accordance with a prescription drug order and with the patient’s consent.
In addition, the bill would allow for health care professionals to use FDA-approved, repurposed drugs for preventative and early-stage outpatient treatment, as well as hospital inpatient treatment, to meet the needs of a patient infected with COVID-19. Physicians and pharmacists are being threatened and investigated by the state for merely treating COVID-19. This bill would put a stop to such punitive action.
During the committee meeting, Gaydos went in-depth on this legislation. She discussed off-label and prescription medications. Click here to watch her comments.
House Bill 1741 now goes to the full House for consideration.
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Gaydos Supports Funding for Emergency Medical Services Statewide
Continuing the effort started three weeks ago to support the state’s health care heroes, the House and Senate have approved legislation to provide $25 million in funding for an Emergency Medical Services COVID-19 Recovery Grant Program. As a former Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), Rep. Gaydos supports this legislation.
The funding may be used for recruitment and retention; construction or renovation of an EMS company’s facilities; purchase or repair of equipment; debt reduction; training and certification; public education; or revenue loss. EMS companies that qualified for similar grants in the 2019-20 fiscal year would be eligible for these funds through the Office of the State Fire Commissioner. The funding would be divided evenly amongst all applicants.
In late January, the General Assembly voted to provide $225 million in funding to support the state’s health care workers and encourage new nurses to enter the field. A total of $210 million is being directed to hospitals and behavioral health providers to provide recruitment and retention payments to nurses and other employees, while an additional $15 million is being invested in nurse student loan forgiveness.
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$2.5 Million in ‘Schools-to-Work’ Grants Available
The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry (L&I) is seeking applicants for its “Schools-to-Work” grant program to continue fostering partnerships between schools, employers, organizations and associations that lead to career pathways for students.
Eligible applicants must be any entity that is registered with the department as a pre-apprenticeship program or is connected with a registered apprenticeship program. Other eligible applicants include entities that have an established connection with a registered apprenticeship program and are working on pre-apprenticeship registration, and which will have the full responsibility for the administration and operation of the program.
Project proposals must create learning opportunities for participating students and should focus on the coordination of people and resources to help individuals on a continuous path to family-sustaining employment and career growth. The proposal must also focus on building pre-apprenticeship programs to fill current and anticipated labor market needs in the given geographical area.
The maximum award per project is $250,000, and grants will be awarded and funded based on availability of funds. This grant is funded by reemployment funds, which may be used to fund programs and services to assist individuals to become employed or improve their employment, including, without limitation, job search and placement services, educational enhancement, job training and job readiness, and workplace skills training.
Proposals are due by Tuesday, March 15, at 4 p.m., with contracts starting July 1, 2022, and ending Dec. 31, 2024. Click here for more information.
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First Phase of New Terminal at Pittsburgh International Airport Underway
The Pittsburgh Airport Terminal Modernization Project will incorporate new technologies emerging from our region’s many creative centers of education and industry. The project will be an example of Pittsburgh pioneering with projects like the energy microgrid, which provides an independent electricity source to Pittsburgh International Airport and the surrounding development, including Neighborhood 91, a global hub for 3D printing and advanced manufacturing.
The $1.4 billion airport modernization project involves construction of a new 700,000-square-foot terminal that will include ticketing, security checkpoints and baggage claim. An adjacent complex includes a new 3,300-space parking garage, rental car facilities and new roadways.
Rep. Gaydos, who has been instrumental in the entire modernization project, would like to give you an update on what has been happening.
Before the new terminal is erected, construction has started by digging 130 holes, about three feet in diameter, reaching 35 and 90 feet underground. They will hold caisson cages that are dropped in until they hit bedrock and then filled with cement, with the top end of each cage barely above the surface.
That is a critical phase of the construction process that will allow crews to attach cement and steel anchors that will allow the building to stand. The new terminal building will connect to the airside terminal between concourses C and D.
This phase of the project will be completed within the next six weeks, and in April, the first vertical steel beams will anchor into place.
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Need Assistance Filing Your Taxes? Free Help Available
Representatives from the Department of Revenue will visit senior and community centers over the next several weeks to help Pennsylvanians who need help filing their Pennsylvania personal income tax returns and Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program applications.
In addition to the community centers in Allegheny, Northumberland and Westmoreland counties, state personal income tax assistance is available at the Department of Revenue’s district offices. Assistance at district offices is available from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Appointments are strongly encouraged.
For more information, click here.
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Property Tax/Rent Rebate Applications Available Now
Stop by Rep. Gaydos’ office at 1005 Beaver Grade Road, Suite 106 in Moon Township to pick up a Property Tax/Rent Rebate Application or to get assistance with completing your application. Call 412-262-3780 with any questions about eligibility and what documentation is needed to complete the application. Gaydos and her staff are here to help!
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State and Federal Tax Forms
State and federal tax forms are available at Rep. Gaydos’ Moon Township office. Constituents are welcome to stop by or call to obtain the proper form. The office has many different forms and the 1040 instruction books.
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Gaydos Hosts Veterans Outreach Hours
Without question, the debt and gratitude we owe to our veterans is immeasurable and can never be repaid. Rep. Gaydos wants to help our veterans who need assistance. She will be holding veterans outreach hours on Thursday, Feb. 24,
Gaydos feels it is important that all veterans and their families in our area have convenient access to a veterans liaison who can provide personal service with helping them to resolve issues such as difficulties in obtaining benefits, answering questions regarding services and connecting them to available resources.
Call her district office in Moon Township at 412-262-3780 to schedule an appointment.
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Gaydos Invites All Constituents to Her Open House
Rep. Gaydos feels that one of the most important parts of being a lawmaker is to be of assistance to the people. She encourages everyone to attend her open house on Friday, April 29, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at her district office, which is located at 1005 Beaver Grad Road, Suite 106, in Moon Township.
Gaydos is hosting this event to give you the opportunity to meet her and the staff, learn about the variety of services available, and share any legislative concerns or suggestions a person may have.
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Gaydos Cuts the Ribbon at UPMC’s New Facility in Edgeworth
Recently, Rep. Gaydos and Sen. Devlin Robinson participated at UPMC’s ribbon-cutting event at its new Edgeworth location in Edgeworth Square, 111 Hazel Lane.
UPMC occupies the second floor of the building with its UPMC Children's Community Pediatrics, which opened in November, on one half of the floor, and UPMC's new primary and specialty care facility on the other.
In addition to primary care, the new location will offer heart and vascular, neurosurgery, obstetrics and gynecology, orthopedics, thoracic surgery, and urology services.
With specialty and primary care services housed under one roof, patient referrals will be more straightforward and accessible as patients won't have to drive across multiple counties to receive care.
The Edgeworth location opened for primary care patients the first week of February, and specialty care appointments started on Monday, Feb. 14.
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Virtual Veterans Town Hall Series
The Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) announced its Virtual Veteran Town Hall Series. The Series will provide the Commonwealth’s nearly 800,000 veterans with a convenient platform to learn and ask questions about programs and benefits earned through their military service.
The following are the dates, times and topics for the 2022 Virtual Veteran Town Hall Series:
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Wednesday, March 16 – Veteran Suicide Prevention. |
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Wednesday, May 18 – Serving Older Veterans. |
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Wednesday, July 13 – Resources for Homeless Veterans. |
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Wednesday, Sept. 14 – Transportation Issues Facing Veterans |
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Wednesday, Nov. 2 – Honoring Veterans for Their Service and Sacrifice. |
Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions of the presenters live during the WebEx through the chat feature.
Two weeks prior to each town hall, the WebEx link will be available by visiting DMVA’s website, Twitter, or Facebook pages two weeks prior to each town hall for the WebEx link.
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Gaydos’ Office, Driver License Centers Closed for Presidents Day Holiday
Rep. Gaydos’ office, which is located at 1005 Beaver Grade Road, Suite 106 in Moon Township, will be closed on Monday, Feb. 21, in observance of Presidents Day. In addition, PennDOT’s driver license and photo centers will be closed Saturday, Feb. 19, through Monday, Feb. 21, for the holiday.
Customers may still obtain a variety of driver and vehicle products and services, including all forms, publications and driver training manuals, online through PennDOT's Driver and Vehicle Services website.
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| 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 |
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