Sen. Casey launches resource guide for grandparent caregivers

WILKES-BARRE — U.S. Sen. Bob Casey this week said an estimated 2.7 million children in the United States are being raised by grandparents, other relatives, or close family friends.

Casey, D-Scranton, said “grandfamilies” face unique challenges and often are eligible for support from federal programs, but awareness of benefits is not widespread.

In honor of National Kinship Care Month, Casey, chairman of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, has launched a new resource guide for grandparent caregivers.

Though so-called “grandfamilies” or “kinship families” are often eligible for federal support due to unique challenges and disproportionate risk of poverty, awareness of these benefits is often not widespread among grandparents.

Last month, Casey introduced the bipartisan Informing Grandparents Act, which would require states to provide grandfamilies with information about the resources available to them — all of which is contained in Casey’s new resource guide.

“Grandparents raising grandchildren face unique challenges under difficult circumstances,” said Casey. “In recent years, the need for ensuring these families are supported has become even more dire as the opioid crisis and COVID-19 pandemic have forced more and more grandparents to take on unexpected caregiving duties. I am releasing this resource guide to ensure that grandparent caregivers know about and can take advantage of the resources they need and deserve.”

Casey has been a strong advocate for grandfamilies and kinship families for years, with a particular focus on ensuring they are able to access the benefits and resources they need to thrive.

He led the passage of the bipartisan Supporting Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Act, which established the Advisory Council to Support Grandparents Raising Grandchildren, tasked with providing recommendations to Congress on how best to support grandparent caregivers.

In May 2023, he introduced the bipartisan Grandfamily Housing Act, which would finance the upkeep and retrofitting of inter-generational housing and provide supportive services for grandfamilies and kinship families.

Casey also introduced the Grandfamilies Act to improve the financial security of grandfamilies by expanding access to benefits.

Casey’s Informing Grandfamilies Act would not only require states to provide all of the resource guide’s vital information to grandfamilies, but also to hire staff or contract with a community-based with the necessary expertise to guide grandfamilies and kinship families through the benefit process.

Attorney General Henry announces new protections for Pa. car buyers

Attorney General Michelle Henry this week announced an amendment to the Pennsylvania Automotive Industry Trade Practices regulations that provides new protections to Pennsylvanians when shopping for and purchasing motor vehicles.

This amendment was published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin in August.

“These sensible updates to Pennsylvania’s Automotive Regulations will make the process of purchasing a new vehicle more transparent,” Henry said. “My office has worked closely with the public and regulatory agencies in finalizing these much-needed changes to deal with one of the largest sources of consumer complaints that our Bureau of Consumer Protection receives each year.”

The amendment modernizes the regulatory definition of “advertisement” to clearly include online statements and representations.

Motor vehicle dealers will now be required to inspect each motor vehicle within 30 days of when it enters their inventory for certain unsafe conditions.

Motor vehicles that accumulate 500 or more miles on a dealer lot before sale will require an additional inspection.

If a dealer finds any of the unsafe conditions — such as a flood-damaged vehicle or a vehicle with a bent frame — listed in the regulation, they will be required to disclose them in writing prior to sale. This written disclosure is required even if the motor vehicle is being sold “As Is.”

The amendment began to take effect on Aug. 19, 2024.

Meuser co-sponsors legislation to stop terrorists at our borders

U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser, R-Dallas, this week co-sponsored H.R.9373 — the Safeguarding Americans from Extreme Risk (SAFER) at the Border Act — to block the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from paroling migrants who are designated as Known and Suspected Terrorists (KST) or Special Interest Aliens (SIA).

Meuser said the bill is a direct response to recent events, including the arrest of a Peruvian gang leader and 23-time murderer who was released at the Southern Border.

Meuser said this incident stresses the misuse of parole authority and insufficient oversight — a concern that is heightened by the fact that 1.8 million known “gotaways” have evaded the U.S. Border Patrol, and since FY21, 357 individuals on the terrorist watch list have been apprehended crossing the Southern Border illegally.

The SAFER at the Border Act strengthens national security by preventing the DHS from granting parole to migrants designated as KST or SIA, Meuser said. He said this legislation closes the loophole that has been critical in allowing dangerous individuals from terrorist-affiliated countries to enter the U.S. He said it also enables states to sue DHS for violations of this prohibition, with expedited judicial review to ensure swift enforcement and accountability.

“This legislation addresses this issue by ensuring that individuals who pose a risk — such as Known or Suspected Terrorists — can no longer exploit our borders,” Meuser said. “It also empowers states to hold the federal government accountable, demanding swift action when our safety is at stake. Protecting the lives of Americans is our top priority, and the SAFER at the Border Act is a crucial step toward securing our borders and curbing lawless immigration policies.”

H.R. 9373 was referred to the House Judiciary Committee for further consideration.

Pa. marks investment in registered apprenticeship programs, career opportunities

Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) executive deputy secretary Bill Trusky this week visited one of Pennsylvania’s most innovative hubs for building trades apprentices who are earning a paycheck while they learn the necessary skills to be successful in the heating, piping and air conditioning industry.

With support from Gov. Josh Shapiro’s Administration and L&I’s Apprenticeship and Training Office, Steamfitters Local Union No. 449 and the Allegheny County Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (JATC) of the Heating, Piping and Air Conditioning is currently preparing and training dozens of Pennsylvania workers in its state-of-the-art facility for jobs with union benefits and a middle-class lifestyle.

The bipartisan 2024-25 budget includes a $30 million increase for vo-tech and Career and Technical Education (CTE) programming and equipment and a $2 million increase in funding for nursing apprenticeships.

Since taking office in January 2023, Gov. Shapiro has been focused on creating opportunities for hardworking Pennsylvania workers to obtain good-paying jobs with an emphasis on skills-based hiring.

These investments in career and technical training and vo-tech education, registered apprenticeship programs, and on-the-job training build on the critical investments made last year. Taken together, Gov. Shapiro and a bipartisan group of legislators have increased funding for workforce development by $61 million in the governor’s first year and a half in office — a more than 50% increase.

With the significant increase in funding and support for programs like Steamfitters Local Union No. 449, we are paving the way for a stronger, more skilled workforce,” Trusky said. “Our continued investment in these vital training programs ensures that hardworking individuals across the state have the opportunity to build successful careers and achieve economic stability without the burden of debt. By investing in our workforce, we are investing in Pennsylvania’s future.”

Since Gov. Shapiro took office, the Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) has supported the creation of more than 50 new registered apprenticeship programs in Pennsylvania with 15,665 registered apprentices currently active. The Shapiro Administration is working hard to promote these opportunities to historically under-served populations because apprenticeship is a career pathway to family-sustaining wages without the crippling burden of debt.

The 2024-25 bipartisan budget makes investments to open doors of economic opportunity and give Pennsylvanians the freedom to chart their own course — investing in all paths to success, from vo-tech and apprenticeship programs to college and continuing education.

After Governor Shapiro last year signed into law Act 33 establishing the $10 million Educator Pipeline Support Grant Program, which provides up to $15,000 to eligible student teachers in Pennsylvania — the budget secures an additional $10 million for student teacher stipends, doubling last year’s investment.