 |
|
|
|
|
| A Look Back at 2023 |
| |
| 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# |
As 2023 comes to a close, I wanted to take some time to look back at how my team and I worked to serve the 44th Legislative District.
Last November, you elected me to serve for a third term as your voice in Harrisburg. Our district office, located on Beaver Grade Road, has responded to thousands of constituent inquiries and PennDOT issues, and connected residents with vital state resources. I have also hosted several events to try to make life easier and happier in our part of Allegheny County.
| • |
Annual open house and numerous town hall meetings gave you a chance to discuss state government-related issues, provided district updates, garnered feedback on pending legislation, and relayed what our office can do for you. |
| • |
Our Cybercrimes Legislative Breakfast gave you the opportunity to learn from the experts on how to safeguard individuals and organizations from cyber-attacks and understand how to prevent identity theft, data breaches and other types of cybercrime.
|
| • |
Identity Theft/Shredding event hosted with Sen. Devlin Robinson which allowed you to SAFELY destroy old documents that contain personal information.
|
| • |
National Kid’s Healthy Day where organizations gathered at the Sewickley Valley YMCA to promote the overall health of our children. |
| • |
Seminars on Pennsylvania’s Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program and have visited our seniors to discuss services available to them. |
Our children’s education has been a main priority. I enjoyed visiting the school districts that make up the 44th District. The education of our children – from pre-K to high school to college or other post-secondary school and beyond – is one of the most important responsibilities we share as a Commonwealth. For our kids to thrive, we need to prepare them for all the challenges life presents.
In recognition of my strong support for pro-business legislation, I earned consecutive “Guardian of Small Business” awards from the Pennsylvania chapter of the National Federation of Independent Business and was named by the Speaker of the House of Representatives to serve on the Small Business Council within the Department of Community and Economic Development to assist with developing policies and regulations that might affect small businesses, which contain fewer than 100 employees. In addition, the Institute for Legislative Analysis (ILA) recognized me as one of 73 members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly who is a Defender of Limited Government. The rating was based on 50 votes cast on a full spectrum of policy issues.
Recently, I was honored to be named by City & State Pennsylvania to this year’s Fifty Over 50 power list. The list recognizes 50 of the most distinguished public servants in Pennsylvania. Even more special and humbling was to be selected to be on the front cover of the publication!
You can read all about it by visiting their website.
In Harrisburg, I vowed to stand up for our rights to keep and bear arms, the sanctity of human life, women in sports and parental rights to fully direct the upbringing of our children without government getting in the way. I believe my voting record shows I have kept that promise.
I have proposed legislation that would make the Commonwealth a better place. Over the summer at two town hall meetings, Rep. Emily Kinkead (D-Allegheny) and I discussed House Bill 589, legislation that would create a new insurance program for homeowners living in landslide-prone areas, as well as assistance to local governments that wish to mitigate the risk of landslides within their communities. The turnout was excellent at both meetings. The bill has been referred to the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee for consideration.
Most recently, legislation I sponsored that would restore dental coverage for Medical Assistance recipients passed the House of Representatives. House Bill 1417 would ensure Medical Assistance provides a dental benefit package that includes those coverages that existed before cuts were made in 2011 without removing any existing dental coverage. House Bill 1417 now moves onto the Senate for consideration.
Other legislation I have proposed includes:
| • |
Eliminating the Inheritance Tax –would eliminate the Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax, otherwise known as the “death tax.” |
| • |
Reducing the Size of the Legislature –would reduce the size of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives to 151 members. By increasing the population size of House districts by approximately one-third, this measure would bring the ratio of lawmakers in Pennsylvania more in line with other states and save taxpayer dollars. |
| • |
Affordable Health Care for Small Business Employees –would require a group or association health plan being offered is fully insured, provides essential health benefits, and protects small businesses and employees. The association health plan coverage would be guaranteed issued and renewable. |
| • |
Prescription Drug Cost Transparency –would create transparency in benefits, eligibility and costs for prescription drugs. The bill would require health plans and pharmacy benefit managers to share certain information with enrollees and health care providers upon request, in the format in which it was requested. |
•
|
‘Voter Motor’ Legislation – Updating Information Promptly - would save taxpayers money by interconnecting government information systems so data and information from new voter registration applications would be transmitted to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, as well as to other state and local agencies, taxing authorities and political subdivisions, so data updates can be made timely and across the board.
|
| • |
Correcting Improper Payments - would require state agencies to review their programs and expenditures and assess whether they are highly, moderately or unlikely to be susceptible to an improper payment. |
| • |
Equity in Education –would require school districts to begin to compile information listing the number of gifted children they serve. The students would be captured in the school district’s weighted special education student headcount, which would allow additional compensation to school districts to fund gifted students.
|
My team and I are proud of the work we’ve done to serve you during our first year. We hope to offer even more events and services in 2024.We have more events in the works, and we can’t wait to announce them once we nail down all the details.
You can get the latest news from my offices both at home and in Harrisburg by following my Facebook page at facebook.com/RepGaydos, Instagram at RepGaydos and Twitter (X) at twitter.com/RepGaydos. You can also head to my website at www.RepGaydos.com.
While you’re there, be sure to sign up to receive emails under the “Resources” tab to get news delivered right to your inbox.
Warm wishes to you and your family this holiday season. Wishing you much happiness and prosperity in the year ahead.
Sincerely,
Valerie Gaydos
|
|
| 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 |
|
|
|