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Dear Friends, Hello! Thank you for subscribing to my E-newsletter. I am honored to serve the 23rd Senate District and look forward to working with you toward building a better future for Pennsylvania! This E-newsletter serves to keep you updated on what is happening throughout Bradford, Lycoming, Sullivan, Tioga and Union counties and what I am doing as your state senator in Harrisburg. I hope that you will find this E-newsletter helpful, and if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me. Gene Yaw
Click here to find the latest information on coronavirus from the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention UpdatesBREAKING: PA Supreme Court has picked a new congressional map. PA Senate Appropriations Committee kicks off four weeks of public hearings this week to review the Wolf Administration’s spending plan and question administration officials in preparation for developing a more responsible budget prior to the June 30 constitutional deadline. Act 13 mini-grant program open for Lycoming County municipal governments and non-profits – Deadline February 28th. Susquehanna County Farm and Home Day Set – April 18th. The Weatherization Program at SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) has received additional funding from UGI to help residents of our area not only stay warm this winter, but to prepare their homes for cold weather throughout the year. TUNE IN: Senator Yaw Joins WKOK’s “On The Mark” Program Friday, February 25
On Friday, February 25th, I will join Program Director and Host Mark Lawrence as a “Co-Host” to WKOK’s “On The Mark” Program. The program will air live beginning at 8:30AM on Newsradio 1070 WKOK. I will be discussing a number of important state-related issues and take calls from area listeners. Listeners can participate in the live program by calling 1-800-795-WKOK or by email at onthemark@wkok.com. You can live stream the discussion “On The Mark” by visiting http://wkok.com/on-the-mark/. Keeping Track of Non-Budgeted State Tax Dollars
While the process of passing a responsible state budget gets underway, a new resource is available highlighting state spending that occurs after the budget is enacted. A webpage recently launched by state Treasurer Stacy Garrity explains Ledger 5, which is used to account for non-budgeted expenditures incurred during a fiscal year that are legally mandated or necessary to maintain public health, safety or welfare. Before Ledger 5 can be used, the Governor’s Office of the Budget must provide Treasury with documentation, known as an Expenditure Symbol Notification (ESN) memo, to explain and justify the expenditure. Treasury reviews the ESN memo and other expenditure documentation to ensure the payment is legal and correct. All ESN memos will be posted on the new webpage. Help for Families Navigating the College Aid Process
The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency is offering several free webinars in February, March and April to help students and families plan for college and fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). FAFSA Overview (Feb. 28, April 18) Financial Aid 101 (March 7, March 28) Financial Aid Junior Jumpstart (April 13) Click here for times and registration. New Helpline Available for Farmers Seeking Mental Health Services
Pennsylvania farmers and farm families seeking mental health support can now access a free helpline for assistance. The AgriStress HelpLine for Pennsylvania is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Farmers can call 833-897-AGRI (2474) to speak to a health care professional. According to the American Farm Bureau Federation, financial challenges, farm or business problems and the fear of losing the farm are top contributors to farmers’ mental health challenges. Cost, embarrassment and stigma often prevent farmers from seeking help or treatment for a mental health condition. The Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee explored the topic in several public forums in recent years. Halting the Rise in Pennsylvania Traffic Fatalities
In Pennsylvania, 2021 preliminary data shows deaths on our roadways increased by as much as 10%, including increases in fatalities in speeding crashes, distracted driving crashes, crashes involving teen drivers, as well as unrestrained fatalities. Pennsylvania Highway Safety Law Awareness Week is next week, Feb. 20-26, and it’s an opportunity to think about the laws and driving habits that increase traffic safety. Highway safety laws that can prevent traffic fatalities include: Distracted Driving – State law prohibits any driver from using an Interactive Wireless Communication Device to send, read or write a text-based communication while his or her vehicle is in motion. Seat Belts – Any occupant younger than 18 must buckle up when riding in a vehicle, as well as drivers and front-seat passengers. Children under the age of two must be secured in a rear-facing car seat, and children under the age of four must be restrained in an approved child safety seat. Children must ride in a booster seat until their eighth birthday. Impaired Driving – Individuals are prohibited from driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs. Penalties for driving while impaired depend on the individual’s level of impairment and prior offenses and can include up to $10,000 in fines, up to five years in prison, up to 18 months license suspension, one year of ignition interlock and more. Speeding – Motorists are required to drive at reasonable and prudent speeds for the current conditions. This law is sometimes called the “assured clear distance” rule because it requires motorists to operate at a speed at which they can stop within an “assured clear distance.” Drivers may be ticketed for rear-ending another vehicle because they violated this law by not stopping within the following distance they allowed. You can read more about highway safety at www.PennDOT.gov/safety. |
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