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In this update:

• Pennsylvanians Deserve the Truth about Electricity Costs
• Fighting Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in Public Assistance Programs
• Renaming the President Biden Expressway
• Building a New Fire Station in Orwigsburg
• Rabid Bear Attack Update
• Hazleton’s Anthracite Coal Heritage Examined at Eckley Miners’ Village
• Gen. John Pippy: Our Next Adjutant General
• Game Commission Provides Avian Influenza Information
• Feb 6: State Funding Seminar for Municipalities, Businesses, and Non-Profits

Pennsylvanians Deserve the Truth about Electricity Costs

This week, Gov. Josh Shapiro made multiple announcements about the cost of electricity in Pennsylvania. One of those claims is that customers will save billions of dollars through an agreement he made with PJM, a regional transmission organization that coordinates the movement of wholesale electricity in all or part of 13 states and the District of Columbia.

The reality is that none of the governor’s announcements will save any of us a single dollar on our electric bills. His administration’s misguided policies have directly contributed to higher prices. Now, he’s trying to take credit for lower prices that won’t even happen.

We will continue working to enact energy policies which reduce costs for hardworking Pennsylvanians, ensure the future stability of our power grid, and help expand access to good, family sustaining jobs here in Pennsylvania.

Fighting Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in Public Assistance Programs

Three bills I introduced to stop waste, fraud, and abuse in Pennsylvania’s Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program and Medical Assistance program were passed by the Pennsylvania Senate with bipartisan support this week.

Criminals and dead people should not receive millions of taxpayer dollars year after year. These dollars are meant to provide critical assistance for those struggling to make ends meet. We need stronger laws on the books to stop blatant fraud and abuse.

Senate Bill 155 would prevent dead people from receiving benefits by requiring the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) to check death certificates at the Bureau of Vital Statistics against recipients of public assistance. A state audit previously found 2,324 deceased public assistance recipients received benefits totaling $700,000 in a 12-month period. The bill was approved by a bipartisan vote of 30-19.

Senate Bill 156 requires DHS to compare wage records held by employers and the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue with public assistance recipients quarterly to prevent fraud. From 2019-23, the Pennsylvania Office of State Inspector General filed more than 2,900 criminal complaints of welfare fraud, with more than $15 million owed in restitution. The bill was approved by a bipartisan vote of 30-19.

Senate Bill 157 would update the Public Assistance Integrity Act to require DHS to issue a yearly report on their efforts to ensure lottery winners are not receiving cash benefits. The Public Assistance Integrity Act, a bipartisan initiative signed into law in 2018, closed a loophole that did not require lottery winnings to be considered as income when determining eligibility for benefits. The bill was approved by a bipartisan vote of 29-20.

Renaming the President Biden Expressway

Sen. Lisa Baker, Sen. Judy Ward, and I are introducing legislation to strip former President Biden’s name from a Scranton-area highway. Our bill will restore its name to the Central Scranton Expressway.

Many people throughout our region were outraged after the former president commuted the sentence of a key figure in the “Kids for Cash” scandal, during his final days in office. For the families affected by these crimes, the past few weeks have reopened old wounds.

I hope to see quick action on this important legislation for northeast Pennsylvania.

Building a New Fire Station in Orwigsburg

I visited the Orwigsburg Fire Department to support their efforts to construct a new, state-of-the-art fire station. The department is growing significantly yet has utilized the same station since 1969.

Led by Chief Scott Rarick, the company does an excellent job protecting the community. As the photo above from many years ago indicates, I have supported them for a long time and will continue to – thank you for your work to keep us all safe.

Rabid Bear Attack Update

Last week, a bear infected with rabies attacked a man in Jim Thorpe. Fortunately, he is expected to make a full recovery, in part because his neighbor quickly shot and killed the bear during the attack.

According to an update by Rep. Doyle Heffley, this was an isolated and very uncommon event. Black bears do not commonly behave aggressively toward people. Anyone who observes wildlife displaying abnormal behavior should report it to the Pennsylvania Game Commission immediately at 1-833-PGC-WILD. We must all remain vigilant and act quickly when encountering wildlife acting strangely.

Hazleton’s Anthracite Coal Heritage Examined at Eckley Miners’ Village

Last weekend, Hazleton Mayor Jeff Cusat and I visited Eckley Miners’ Village to review the history of the anthracite coal industry in the Hazleton region. The packed auditorium enjoyed a lecture by Justin Emershaw about the origins of Hazleton followed by a screening of WVIA’s “The Secret Beneath Hazleton,” a fascinating 10-minute film directed by Tim Novotney that explores the abandoned underground mine tunnels that still exist below the city.

Brig. Gen. John Pippy: Our Next Adjutant General

This week, I met with Brigadier General John R. Pippy about his role as the Acting Adjutant General of Pennsylvania and head of the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. In addition to running the department, he is responsible for commanding the nearly 18,000 members of the Pennsylvania Army and Air National Guard.

Brig. Gen. Pippy previously served in many roles with the Pennsylvania National Guard, which included two deployments to the Middle East. He graduated from the United States Military Academy in West Point, NY in 1992.

The Senate is expected to consider his confirmation soon, as is required by the Pennsylvania Constitution for all the governor’s cabinet-level appointees. I served with Brig. Gen. Pippy in both the House and the Senate and has my full support.

Game Commission Provides Avian Influenza Information

Earlier this year, the Pennsylvania Game Commission announced that highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) was the cause of death for wild waterfowl in northeastern Pennsylvania.

To best protect the health of wildlife, domestic animals and humans, the Game Commission asks the public to assist them by doing the following:

1. Report sick or dead wild birds to the commission by calling 1-833-PGC-WILD (1-833-742-9453), emailing pgc-wildlifehealth@pa.gov or using the online Wildlife Health Survey tool.
2. Dispose of a dead wild bird found on your property – if the commission hasn’t responded within 24 hours – by burial or commercial/residential trash. Both methods will protect scavenging wildlife. If electing to dispose of the carcass, the following guidance is provided:
   1. Before picking up the wild bird carcass, put on disposable or washable gloves. If gloves are unavailable, a plastic bag can be used as a makeshift glove.
   2. If performing on-site burial, a burial hole at least two feet deep will discourage scavenging. Do not bury the carcass in an area that could contaminate a water supply.
   3. If disposing of the carcass in commercial/residential trash, place the carcass in a plastic bag along with any disposal gloves that were used. Then place everything in a second plastic bag before disposal.
   4. Once disposal is complete, immediately wash your hands and any non-disposable gloves that were used.

Because HPAI impacts more than just wildlife, please also report any sick or dead domestic bird to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture at 717-772-2852. Anyone who isn’t feeling well after having contact with sick or dead birds is encouraged to contact their primary care physician or the Pennsylvania Department of Health at 877-724-3258.

Feb. 6: State Funding Seminar for Municipalities, Businesses, and Non-Profits

Reps. Jamie Barton, JoAnne Stehr, Tim Twardzik, Dane Watro, and I are hosting a seminar about best practices for local governments and organizations looking to apply for state funding through the Neighborhood Assistance Program and other popular grant programs on Thursday, Feb. 6 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Penn State Schuylkill. Joining us will be the Pottsville Area Development Corporation and the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.

Please call my office at 570-773-0891 to reserve your spot by Jan. 31. RSVPs are required for this event.

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