| Mehaffie Message |
Thank You, Veterans
This morning, 200 of the 106th District’s veterans joined me for breakfast. This event touches my heart every year. I’m so thankful for the freedom (won by these very men and women) to gather together. Each veteran left with a pin and packet of state-related information. If you served in our armed forces and were unable to attend, please contact my office at 717-534-1323 to have a packet sent to you.
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Election Day This Tuesday
This Tuesday, Nov. 8, is Election Day! Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Click here to verify your polling place for in-person voting.
Voters who have chosen to vote by absentee ballot must have those ballots back to their county Board of Elections no later than 8 p.m. on Election Day.
More information about voting is available at www.vote.pa.gov.
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Supporting Our First Responder Organizations
Continuing the effort to help the state’s vital emergency response agencies, the House and Senate have approved and sent to the governor’s desk legislation designed to help address financial and personnel challenges within our fire and ambulance companies. Gov. Tom Wolf signed that bill into law Thursday as Act 104 of 2022, formerly House Bill 397.
To boost recruitment and retention of personnel, the law provides funding for tuition and loan assistance for higher education to students who volunteer for fire and EMS services. It also allocates $1 million to fund scholarships for EMS providers who successfully complete approved training to make that training more affordable to build the EMS workforce.
Other components of the law include:
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$1.5 million in additional funding for EMS companies through the annual Fire Company and Emergency Medical Services Grant Program. |
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$500,000 for a grant program to support capital improvements to first responder emergency services training facilities. |
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$500,000 for a municipal fire department capital grant program to build, renovate or otherwise modernize facilities, and purchase or repair equipment. |
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$250,000 for the current firefighter online training program. |
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$500,000 to bomb squads for the safe removal, transportation, storage and destruction of confiscated fireworks. |
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$250,000 for a public service campaign on the safe operation of fireworks. |
The measure also will ensure fire and/or EMS companies that have consolidated will continue for a period of 20 years to receive the same level of grant funding they would have had they not merged.
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Honoring Officer Michael L. Henry Jr.
An interchange on the border of Hummelstown Borough and Derry Township in Dauphin County will be named for Michael L. Henry Jr., a Derry Township Police Department officer who died of injuries suffered during training in October 2019.
I sought the commemorative naming of the interchange between U.S. Route 322 and Pa. Route 2005 in remembrance of the 22-year patrol officer. Dauphin County suffered a tragic loss three years ago when Officer Henry was injured during motorcycle training and subsequently died. Signage on this busy interchange will help to preserve the memory of a dedicated public servant who not only served in the U.S. Army and Pennsylvania National Guard, but also gave so much of his time and talents to Derry Township. I was humbled to partner with his widow, Jackie, and their children on this initiative.
The interchange naming was incorporated in House Bill 2637, which passed both the House and Senate before being sent to the governor’s desk.
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Heating Assistance Program Now Open
Residents who struggle with their home heating bills can now apply for assistance from the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
LIHEAP is a federally funded program that helps individuals and families pay their heating bills through home heating energy assistance grants. It also provides crisis grants to help in the event of an emergency or if a resident is in danger of losing his or her heat due to broken equipment, lack of fuel or termination of utility service.
The income eligibility guidelines for LIHEAP are set at 150% of the federal poverty income level. For example, the income limit for an individual is $20,385 and for a family of four it is $41,625.
Residents may apply for LIHEAP online at www.compass.state.pa.us, by phone at 1-866-550-4355 or by contacting the County Assistance Office in their county of residence.
Click here for additional information. The program runs through April 28, 2023.
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Don’t Forget to ‘Fall Back’ Saturday Night
Daylight saving time will end at 2 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 6. Be sure to turn your clocks back one hour before going to bed on Saturday night.
It’s also a good time to check or change the batteries in smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms in your home. In addition to regular battery changes, experts say the alarm devices should be replaced every 10 years to better ensure your safety.
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As I explained to the House Consumer Affairs Committee last week, we need to study how to spur development of small modular reactors, which are nuclear fission reactors that can provide clean energy despite weather conditions and sunshine. I'm hopeful we can get a study authorized before our legislative session ends Nov. 30.
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Great things are happening at Penn State College of Medicine! I was thrilled to continue helping them obtain Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program funding.
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I joined with the Dauphin County Commissioners to note all 50+ county-owned bridges are now listed as "good condition" in inspections. Important partnerships made this happen.
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