Rep. Burns highlights need for Harrisburg to cut red tape for municipalities

WILKES-BARRE — Officials from small, local municipalities this week detailed the difficulty they have encountered in applying for the state funding they need to complete long sought-after projects and address essential needs like fixing closed bridges.

“The officials we heard from today do not have dedicated attorneys or grant writers sitting on their boards,” said Rep. Frank Burns, a Democrat who represents portions of Cambria County. “State grant money is a lifeline for many of these communities, it can help provide the money they need to upgrade water lines or purchase the equipment first responders need. But we know there are headaches, and we want to be able to cut the red tape for these smaller municipalities.”

Officials detailed how overwhelming the grant process can be, especially for a municipality that does not have a dedicated grant writer. Officials explained they do not know where to find the best grant options for their municipality or know what went wrong when they do not receive grant funding.

“Grant writing is very detail-oriented, it can be challenging, and years of experience can often make the difference,” said Policy Committee Chairman Ryan Bizzarro, who represents portions of Erie County. “A key point we heard today was having an open line of communication with your state representative and state offices, but we also need to continue to listen to officials from our rural boroughs and find a way to cut more red tape.”

The House looked at this issue during the current legislative session, and it passed Rep. Abigail Salisbury’s Municipal Grant Assistant Program — H.B. 1216 — in 2023. The bill would have helped eliminate the economic challenges and lack of expertise in grant writing for rural municipalities — which many times have an older or aging population.

The program would provide municipalities with grant writing training and allow for professional grant writers to connect with municipalities to provide their services.

The state Senate has not acted since the bill passed the House in June 2023.

Yaw, Miller measure to expand Neighborhood Assistance Program included in state budget

Legislation to expand the Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP) was included in the 2024-25 state budget, according to Sen. Gene Yaw, R-23, and Sen. Nick Miller, D-14, sponsors of the original measure.

The cap on the allocation for the NAP program is now set to be raised from $36 million to $72 million in the coming fiscal year.

“The Neighborhood Assistance Program allows businesses, communities and organizations to work together to revitalize our neighborhoods and improve access to job opportunities, quality education and affordable housing,” Yaw said. “I’m pleased to see this significant investment in the program and I’m grateful to Sen. Miller for his collaboration in getting this across the finish line.”

“This legislation helps both local businesses and our communities thrive,” said Miller. “We are investing in our neighborhoods and supporting economic development by providing affordable housing programs, community services, crime prevention, education, job training or neighborhood assistance. I’d like to thank Sen. Yaw for his dedication to increasing the NAP cap.”

In November 2023 alone, more than $3.5 million in NAP funding was awarded in Yaw’s district. Among the awardees was the Pennsylvania College of Technology Foundation, which received $1,056,250 in partnership with Coterra Energy to enhance labs and instructional spaces, according to Yaw, who serves as chairman of the Penn College Board of Directors.

Since he started his term in 2023, more than $1.3 million in NAP funding was awarded in Miller’s district, including several projects to bring more affordable housing to the Lehigh Valley.

The Program was created by the General Assembly in 1967 and serves as a key resource for businesses, nonprofits and under-served neighborhoods. The goal of NAP is to improve distressed areas and support neighborhood conservation through the creation of a productive partnership between community-based entities and the business and corporate communities.

Rep. Meuser supports full accountability for 9/11 terrorists

U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser, R-Dallas, this week co-sponsored H.R. 9311 — the Justice for 9/11 Act.

The legislation would ensure that those responsible for the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks face full accountability under the law.

Specifically, Meuser said this legislation ensures that the mastermind behind the attack, Khalid Shaikh Mohammad, and his accomplices, Walid Muhammad Salih Mubarak Bin ‘Attash and Mustafa Ahmed Adam al Hawsawi, can be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Additionally, it imposes strict confinement conditions for these terrorists at Guantanamo Bay and prohibits their transfer to the continental United States or any other country.

Meuser said Khalid Shaikh Mohammad, Walid Muhammad Salih Mubarak Bin ‘Attash, and Mustafa Ahmed Adam al Hawsawi all played crucial roles in planning and executing the September 11th terrorist attack. All three terrorists have been held at Guantanamo Bay for years as they are the subject of ongoing military commission proceedings.

Meuser said the Biden-Harris Administration recently negotiated plea deals with all three terrorists, although it was pulled by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

“As we approach the 23rd anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks, it is imperative that Congress reaffirms our commitment to justice for the victims and their families,” Meuser said. “This legislation ensures that those responsible for this horrific attack, which claimed nearly 3,000 American lives, can be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

The Justice for 9/11 Act has been referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.

Lt. Gov. Davis hosts roundtable on childcare; highlights work to lower costs, expand access

Lt. Gov. Austin Davis this week joined business leaders, parents, and providers for a roundtable conversation in Philadelphia to discuss how to expand access to childcare and highlight how the Shapiro-Davis Administration is working to lower the cost of childcare for families and support childcare providers.

“As a new dad, I’ve seen firsthand how important it is for working families to have access to high-quality and affordable childcare,” said Davis, who is co-chair of the Early Learning Investment Commission (ELIC), a public-private partnership that brings together leaders to make recommendations and policy for early learning. “Childcare is infrastructure — much like roads, bridges and internet — and without it, our economy is crippled. That’s why the Shapiro-Davis Administration has increased the childcare tax credit for Pennsylvania families and, with the new bipartisan state budget, is creating a tax credit for employers that help their workers pay for childcare. But there’s more work to be done on this issue, and today’s roundtable provided valuable insights and perspectives.”

The bipartisan 2024-25 state budget recently signed by Gov. Josh Shapiro includes a new tax credit for employers that contribute to their employees’ childcare costs, as well as a $17.7 million increase in funding for early childhood education.

All of this work builds on the significant progress made last year to relieve the burden of childcare costs for working parents when Gov. Shapiro signed into law an expansion of the state’s childcare tax credit for more than 200,000 families in Pennsylvania and increased funding for Child Care Works by $66.7 million to provide 75,000 low-income families with affordable and accessible childcare.

Davis said lack of access to affordable childcare is a significant workforce issue in Pennsylvania and across the country.

PennDOT driver license, photo centers closed for Labor Day

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) this week announced that all driver license and photo centers, including its full-service center in Harrisburg, will be closed Saturday, Aug. 31, through Monday, Sept. 2, in observance of Labor Day.

Customers may still obtain a variety of driver and vehicle products and services, including all forms, publications, and driver training manuals online through PennDOT’s Driver and Vehicle Services website.

Driver and vehicle online services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and include driver’s license, photo ID, and vehicle registration renewals; driver-history services; changes of address; driver license and vehicle registration restoration letters; ability to pay driver license or vehicle insurance restoration fee; driver license and photo ID duplicates; REAL ID pre-verification; and driver exam scheduling. There are no additional fees for using online services.

A complete listing of PennDOT driver and photo license center closings in 2024 is available online. If you are planning to visit one of PennDOT’s On-Line Messenger Service Centers, please call ahead for hours of operation during holidays.