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In this Update:
ICYMI: Pennsylvania Leads in Fight Against Pediatric Cancer
With more than $40 million invested in funding specifically for pediatric cancer research at Pennsylvania hospitals over the past four years, our commonwealth has become a national leader in the effort to find better treatments for young people facing a cancer diagnosis. The driving force behind this progress are the families who are most impacted by childhood cancer. There are no more passionate advocates than the parents, loved ones and the young cancer warriors themselves who fight these battles every day. In a recent opinion piece in LNP Lancaster Online, I detailed how far we’ve come in supporting families affected by this terrible disease. The op-ed is available here. Next Veteran Service Officer Day Scheduled for August 13
My office hosts monthly Veteran Service Officer Days to help connect veterans with benefits they’ve earned through their service to our nation. The next VSO Day at my Strasburg office will be held on Tuesday, August 13, from 9 a.m. until noon. These monthly office hours feature a VFW Veteran Service Officer who can assist veterans and their families who have questions about health care, disability claims, GI bill assistance and other veteran benefits. Local individuals or family members who need assistance are encouraged to schedule an appointment by calling my office at 717-397-1309. More information is available here. PennDOT Offers Winter Maintenance Jobs
Individuals seeking seasonal employment can apply for a variety of winter maintenance positions now open through the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT). The program runs September through April and includes positions for transportation equipment operators, diesel and construction equipment mechanics, radio dispatchers, auto mechanics, tradesman helpers, semi-skilled laborers and tunnel maintainers. Individuals in these positions supplement the permanent workforce and have the potential to lead to permanent full-time employment. Additional details about the positions, along with the job application, are available here and then go to “PennDOT Winter Maintenance Program.” Free Webinars Provide Helpful Financial Aid Info
The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) is holding free webinars to assist college-bound students and their families with navigating the financial aid process. On Tuesday, Aug. 20 at noon, speakers will discuss web resources for effective research before, during and after your student makes postsecondary decisions. On Thursday, Aug. 22 at 6:30 p.m., speakers will focus on available loan programs, if there are costs not showing on the bill that must be paid and more. Register to attend the one-hour webinars. How Pennsylvanians with Disabilities Can Benefit From PA ABLE
PA ABLE gives individuals with disabilities a way to save money for the future without impacting important benefits like Medical Assistance (Medicaid) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Tax benefits for saving with PA ABLE include:
PA ABLE accounts can be used to pay for a wide variety of disability-related expenses including rent, groceries, health care, vehicle adaptations, assistive technology and more. Treasurer Stacy Garrity and PA ABLE professionals are hosting free webinars on how to start saving:
For more information, visit paable.gov or call 855-529-ABLE (2253). Keep Cool at the Pool or Lake
The dog days of summer are upon us. If you’re looking for a fun way to stay cool on a hot day, visit a Pennsylvania state park to go swimming. Many have pools and lakes. State park beaches are open and free to the public for swimming from before Memorial Day to after Labor Day, unless otherwise posted. The “open swim” policy allows people to swim at their own risk within the buoy line at designated beaches – 35 across the state – from 8 a.m. until sunset daily. Fifteen state parks have swimming pools for the public to enjoy. Pools are usually open from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. Admission fees vary based on the type of operation. Lifeguards are on duty when state park pools are open. Find a park with a pool and learn more. Recognizing National Financial Awareness Day
Wednesday, Aug. 14, marks National Financial Awareness Day. With recent estimates showing families in the United States have nearly $1 trillion in credit card debt and more than $15 trillion in debt overall, the day is a useful reminder of the impacts financial decisions can have for many years to come. Senate Republicans recognized that young adults face financial decisions that can come with long-term consequences and passed legislation to arm high school students with money management skills. The new law requires completion of a half-credit personal finance course to graduate high school. The course will give high school students the understanding they need about topics like credit and credit scores; savings and investments; college, home and auto loans; and planning for postsecondary education and retirement.
If you have a question about the information in this e-newsletter or other state related matters that you would like a response to, please click HERE to submit your inquiry through my website. This will help to ensure that we are able to respond to your question in a timely fashion due to the high volume of emails and the ever growing amount of computer generated spam mail we receive daily. |
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