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Yaw Announces Investment to Enhance Broadband Access in Tioga County

I am pleased to announce the Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority (PBDA) recently approved nearly $2 million in grant funding for the Church of the New Covenant in Mansfield, Tioga County to help bolster internet access within the community.

This funding will help bridge the digital divide and ensure our communities in Tioga County have a well-connected hub to serve as the backbone for economic growth, access to education and improved healthcare. I’m pleased to see this significant investment in equitable broadband service in our region.

The grant, funded through the federally backed Multi-Purpose Community Facilities Program, is part of a $45 million competitively awarded initiative to support projects that bolster high-speed broadband access for essential services, including work, education, and health monitoring, using community anchor institutions.

Read more HERE.

‘Talking Sense’ with Pittsburgh Works Together

Photo Credit: Pittsburgh Works Together

Recently, I sat down with Darice Nagy of Pittsburgh Works Together, a cooperative venture of business and labor consisting of union leaders, economic development professionals and executives from the manufacturing, energy and utility sectors. 

We had a great discussion on the essential role the reliability of our electric grid plays in our daily lives, the stark reality our state faces and the short window of opportunity we have to address this critical issue.

The operators of the PJM electric grid warn that power plant retirements and restrictive energy policies are handcuffing their ability to keep the lights on. As early as 2030, our state could face a massive shortfall of up to 80,000 megawatts.

You can watch part one of our conversation HERE and stay tuned for part two!

Yaw Bill to Encourage Responsible Solar Development Approved by House Committee

The state House of Representatives Environmental Resources and Energy Committee recently approved legislation I sponsored to encourage responsible solar development and protect landowners.

This bill provides uniformity and certainty statewide for solar generation facilities and landowners, which are often multi-generation. It is important that Pennsylvania offers a regulatory framework to ensure these facilities are safely and appropriately retired.

The bill has moved to the full House of Representatives for consideration. Read more HERE.

TODAY: Downtown Williamsport Street Closures

There will be several street closures in the City’s downtown area on Wednesday, October 16th, 2024. The following streets will be closed to vehicle traffic from approximately 7:30 am until 5:00 pm:

• Hepburn Street between Second Street and West Edwin Street
• Elmira Street between West Third Street and West Edwin Street
• Center Place between Center Street and Elmira Street
• Government Place between West Third Street and West Fourth Street
• West Street between West Third Street and West Fourth Street
• West Third Street between Center Street and Williams Street
• West Fourth Street between Center Street and Williams Street

If you plan to travel through these areas during this period, please consider taking an alternative route.

Sourced via CRIMEWATCH®: https://lycoming.crimewatchpa.com/williamsportpd/15317/events/downtown-street-closures-wednesday-october-16th

One Month Left to Register with FEMA

If you reside in Lycoming, Potter, Tioga or Union County and are looking for federal help to recover from losses you suffered during Tropical Storm Debby August 8-9, you have one month to register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

FEMA provides eligible homeowners and renters with disaster assistance grants under the Individuals and Households Program (IHP). As of the close of business October 10, FEMA had granted over $4.9 million to eligible applicants. However, you will only know you are eligible if you register by FEMA’s November 12, 2024 deadline.

Remember that registering with state, volunteer or religious agencies won’t make you eligible for federal disaster funds. Only registering with FEMA can do that, and it is a simple process. There are four ways to do it:

• Call the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-3362. The Helpline is staffed by multilingual operators from 7 a.m. to midnight EST.  Those who use a relay service such as a videophone should provide FEMA with their specific phone number assigned to that service.

• Go online to www.disasterassistance.gov.
• Download the FEMA App.

• Visit one of the three Disaster Recovery Centers operating in the state for in-person help. The centers are open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday and are located at: 
  • Lycoming County, Hepburn Township Volunteer Fire Company, 615 East Route 973 Highway, Cogan Station;
  • Potter County, Penn-York Retreat Center,266 Northern Potter Road, Ulysses. Closing permanently October 16 at 6 p.m.
  • Tioga County, Valley Christian Church, 146 Maple Street, Westfield.

Local Brewery Grand Opening

Congratulations to Jackass Brewing Company on the grand opening of their new location in Williamsport! Elizabeth Vollman and Janenne Goliash of my district office were there to celebrate the official ribbon cutting.

Jackass Brewing Company started as a homebrewing hobby between founders Skip Kratzer and Larry Winans. They opened their first brewery in Lewisburg in May of 2019.

Athens Township Volunteer Fire Company Open House

Last week, the Athens Township Volunteer Fire Company in Sayre hosted an open house to raise awareness for National Fire Prevention Week. It was a great opportunity to learn about fire safety and meet some of our fantastic first responders. My district director, Matt Wise, joined them for the event.

SBDC Welcomes CycleUp Café

The Bucknell University Small Business Development Center (SBDC) joined with members of the community and partners, including my chief of staff, Nick Troutman and representatives from the office of Congressman GT Thompson to welcome new business CycleUp Café to downtown Lewisburg with a grand opening and ribbon cutting.

Downtown Williamsport Fall Festival

Shaw Park Trunk or Treat

Senate Committee Votes to be Prepared for Natural Disasters

As hurricanes Helene and Milton remind us of the importance of being prepared to respond to natural disasters and other emergencies, the Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee advanced three bills to support Pennsylvania’s emergency responders. All three bills now advance to the full Senate for consideration. 

House Bill 843 would establish a second urban search and rescue team in western Pennsylvania. Funding for the team was included in this year’s state budget. The bridge collapse and East Palestine train derailment demonstrated the need for emergency response in minutes, not hours.

House Bill 1304 would update the language in the 911 Law to increase penalties for misuse of the 911 system and ensure communications service providers report service outages as specified by the Federal Communications Commission or Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission.

House Bill 2407 would update the state Fire and EMS Grant Program by enabling fire and EMS companies to use grants for preventative health measures, mental health awareness and treatment. The legislation also would allow testing after each of the four training modules that total 188 hours for the Firefighter 1 certification, as opposed to requiring firefighters to pass a cumulative test covering all modules as is currently the case. Finally, the bill would increase the thresholds that fire and EMS companies can borrow from the low-interest Fire and EMS Loan Program.

PA’s Credit Rating Upgraded Because of Strong Budget Reserves

 Pennsylvania received yet another upgrade to its credit rating because of strong budget reserves and prudent financial management of Senate Republicans. Moody’s Investor Services raised the rating to Aa2.

The announcement was the fourth significant upgrade to the state’s financial outlook in the past 13 months. Previous upgrades helped Pennsylvania and its taxpayers save nearly $100 million during the December 2023 bond sale.

Senate Republicans have been dedicated to building the state’s Rainy Day Fund, allocating nearly $740 million more in this year’s budget – bringing the total balance to more than $7 billion. Above the national average, the fund directly influenced the rating upgrades.

What Do You Think of PennDOT’s Construction and Maintenance Services?

Motorists have until Tuesday, Oct. 22, to provide feedback regarding PennDOT’s construction and maintenance services via an online survey.

The survey asks respondents how they receive PennDOT roadway information and how often PennDOT meets or exceeds expectations regarding construction and maintenance services. Respondents are also asked about experiences with reporting concerns to their department, and whether or how they use the state’s 511PA traveler information services.

Act 1 of 2023

Act 1 of 2023, a landmark law we passed in Pennsylvania, eliminates all costs associated with screening breast MRI, ultrasound, genetic testing and counseling for individuals at high risk of breast cancer who are insured under state-regulated plans. High-risk factors include a personal or family history of breast cancer, abnormal breast screenings or dense breast tissue. Individuals with gene mutations like BRCA1 or BRCA2, or those with a first-degree relative carrying these mutations, are also covered for additional screenings and genetic counseling.

The law will be fully in effect for all state-regulated insurance plans by the end of 2025, though many plans will begin coverage between 2024 and 2025. To find out if your plan qualifies, check with your insurer or employer’s human resources. For uninsured or underinsured women who need immediate screenings, Pennsylvania offers no-cost options through the Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program.

Learn more about Act 1.

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