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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 via RepGaydos.com. |
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What an exciting week! Days after participating in a public hearing about prescription drug prices and hosting a telephone town hall, I had the privilege of announcing the investment of more than $350,000 into the safety and security of our local school districts. All this, course, comes amidst the ongoing budget hearings in which my colleagues continue to examine Gov. Wolf’s budget proposal for the 2020-21 fiscal year.
Be sure to read about all these stories and more below, and don’t forget to sign up to keep receiving these emails if you haven’t done so already. Tomorrow marks the beginning of a mandatory 60-day blackout period which limits what I can send you prior to an election. You won’t receive these emails unless you sign up, so be sure to do so today!
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Sincerely,
Valerie Gaydos |
In this edition:
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Local Schools to Receive More Than $350K in Safety Grants |
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Local Spotlight: Dog Park on the Horizon for Moon Township |
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My Telephone Town Hall was a Success |
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Health Committee Examines Prescription Drug Pricing |
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Lawmakers Continue Study of Governor’s Budget Proposal |
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Local Schools to Receive $350K in Safety and Security Grants
This week, I was proud to announce that the School Safety and Security Committee has awarded $356,450 in School Safety and Security Grants to school districts in the 44th Legislative District.
Those schools receiving grants are:
• Avonworth School District – $35,000.
• Moon Area School District – $45,000.
• West Allegheny School District – $40,000.
• Quaker Valley School District – $236,450.
No family should have to fear for their child’s safety at school. From the moment they step onto the school bus, it is our responsibility to protect them from harm. This funding represents an essential investment into the wellbeing and security of our children and will go a long way toward ensuring our schools are safe havens for learning
More information is available on my website, www.RepGaydos.com.
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Local Spotlight: Dog Park on the Horizon for Moon Township
My dog Tessa was delighted to take part in joining me and Senator Pam Iovino in presenting the Moon Township Department of Parks & Recreation with a check for $81,267 from the Gaming and Economic Development Fund (GEDF) toward the construction of a community dog park.
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My Telephone Town Hall was a Success!
I would like to thank everyone who participated in my Telephone Town Hall event on Tuesday evening. I always cherish the opportunity to speak directly with you about the state issues that matter most in our community.
In case I didn’t get to your specific question, please know that you can always call my office at 412-262-3780. My friendly staff are available weekdays from 8:30 to 4:30 to assist you. Alternately, you can find lots of useful information on my website, www.RepGaydos.com.
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Health Committee Examines Prescription Drug Pricing
Due to government interference in the drug marketplace, Pennsylvanians currently face an out-of-control pricing situation with respect to their medication. What we need is a marketplace that is more transparent, more competitive and more affordable.
I joined my colleagues in the House Health Committee to hold a public hearing Tuesday to examine the steps we can take to get government out of the way and provide greater options for consumers.
The hearing featured testimony from Sarah Edmond, executive vice president of the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review; Jane Horvath, senior fellow at the National Academy for State Health Policy; Lauren Neves, director of policy for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA); and Antonio Ciaccia, CEO of 46 Brooklyn Research, which studies prescription drug pricing.
To watch the hearing in its entirety, click here.
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Lawmakers Continue Study of Governor’s Budget Proposal
This week, my colleagues in the House Appropriations Committee continued our work to dissect the governor’s $36 billion budget proposal for the 2020-21 fiscal year. We set our sights on eliminating waste and standing up for the taxpayers who foot the bill for the state’s spending.
I spoke about these grants in a video posted to my Facebook page today, I invite you to watch that video here.
Several departments with major impacts on the budget and the lives of all Pennsylvanians appeared before the committee this week, including the departments of Environmental Protection, Conservation and Natural Resources, Transportation, Agriculture, Health, and Community and Economic Development.
The final week of hearings is focused primarily on education and human services, the two largest state agencies in terms of funding.
To view a schedule of future committee hearings, or to access live streams and archived video, click here.
Additional information about the 2020-21 state budget proposal may be found here.
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Website Helps Voters Learn New County Voting Systems
With the Commonwealth’s April 28 primary election only two months away, the Department of State has launched 67 new webpages – one for each county – where voters can learn specifics about their county’s voting system and how to use it.
The county webpages are part of the Department of State’s Ready to Vote 2020 initiative, which aims to educate voters about new voting systems and other changes enacted by the Legislature under Act 77 of 2019. Those changes include:
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Vote by mail-in ballot. |
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Extended periods of time to submit absentee ballots and applications. |
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Extended periods of time to register to vote. |
For more information on voting in Pennsylvania, including key dates for upcoming elections, visit the Department of State’s website at www.votespa.com.
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Office Locations |
District Office: |
1009 Beaver Grade Road, Suite 220, Moon Township, PA 15108 | Phone: (412) 262-3780, Fax: (412) 262-3783 |
Capitol Office: |
Room 428, Irvis Office Building, PO Box 202044, Harrisburg PA 17120-2044 | Phone: (717) 787-6651 | |
Email: vgaydos@pahousegop.com |
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