Senator Langerholc E-Newsletter

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In this Update:

  • Langerholc Calls on House to Pass Emissions Reform Bills
  • Senate Passes Langerholc’s Denise Williams Act
  • Langerholc to Host Veterans Appreciation Breakfast
  • Upcoming License Plate Replacement Events
  • Upcoming Senior Expo
  • Tour of Centre Helps in State College
  • Ribbon Cutting at JR’s Sports Den in Johnstown
  • Centre County Council for Human Services Legislative Luncheon
  • Centre County State of the County Address
  • Senate Approves RGGI Electricity Tax Repeal
  • PA Senate Urges Congress to Pass the TREAT PTSD Act
  • September is College Savings Month

Langerholc Calls on House to Pass Emissions Reform Bills

This week, I spoke on the floor of the Senate to call on the House to pass my emissions reform bills. 

Senate Passes Langerholc’s Denise Williams Act

This week, the Senate passed the Denise Williams Act, a bill I sponsored to create a grant program to be used to establish Safe Exchange Zones throughout Pennsylvania. The bill is named in memory of Denise Williams, a Cambria County resident who went to purchase an item on Facebook Marketplace and was brutally murdered during the exchange.

This legislation would help establish safe areas in public view and close proximity of law enforcement for individuals to exchange goods purchased through an online marketplace, carry out child custody exchanges, and conduct similar interactions.

The establishment of Safe Exchange Zones will be voluntary and contingent upon approval of the participating law enforcement agencies. These zones will be equipped with video surveillance and be located either within 100 feet of a law enforcement office or near a public area with an active public presence.

Safe Exchange Zones have been created in Johnstown and other areas to ensure the safety of individuals during transactions and exchanges, protecting them from potential threats or assaults. This legislation codifies the work of District Attorney Greg Neugebauer and various law enforcement agencies in Cambria County. It will strengthen the safety of communities across the commonwealth by providing the necessary assistance to establish more of these zones.

The Denise Williams Act is headed to the House of Representatives for consideration.

Langerholc to Host Veteran’s Appreciation Breakfasts

Next month, I will be hosting Veterans Appreciation Breakfasts across the 35th Senatorial District. If you are a veteran in Clearfield County or within the 35th Senatorial District of Centre County, you are inviting to my annual Veterans Appreciation Breakfast on October 24, 2024, at the VFW Post 1785 in Clearfield. The doors open at 8am.  Please use the following link or call my office to register for this breakfast by October 7th: https://www.senatorlangerholc.com/vet-breakfast-clearfield/

 

If you are a veteran in Cambria County, you are inviting to my annual Veterans Appreciation Breakfast on October 29, 2024, at the Young Peoples Community Center in Ebensburg.  The doors open at 8am. Please use the following link or call my office to register by October 15th: https://www.senatorlangerholc.com/vet-breakfast-cambria/

If you have any questions or would like to register, please contact my office at 814-266-2277.

Upcoming License Plate Replacement Events

Next month, I will be holding multiple license plate replacement events across the 35th District. If your license plate is damaged and needs to be replaced, stop by one of my upcoming events to receive help from my office in replacing your plate for free! A police officer will be present at each event to sign off on the replacement applications. If you have any questions or cannot attend one of these events and need your plate replaced, feel free to contact my office at 814-266-2277.

Upcoming Senior Expo

On Friday, October 4th, I will be hosting my annual Senior Expo from 10:00am to 12:00pm at the Penn Highlands Community College Gymnasium in Johnstown, PA. Stop by to meet with government agencies and senior citizen organizations and learn about the many services that may be available to you. If you have any questions, please give my office a call at 814-266-2277.

Tour of Centre Helps in State College

Last week, my staff joined Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Secretary Valerie Arkoosh on a tour of Centre Helps in State College. Centre Helps is a volunteer-based, non-profit organization that provides services, resources, education, training, and information to people in need. Services include basic needs funds, case management services, and a 988 crisis call center.

Ribbon Cutting at JR’s Sports Den in Johnstown

My staff attended a ribbon cutting this week to celebrate the remodeling and grand re-opening of JR’s Sports Den in Johnstown.

Centre County Council for Human Services Legislative Luncheon

Last week, my staff attended the Legislative Luncheon and participated in a legislative panel hosted by the Centre County Council for Human Services.

Centre County State of the County Address

This week, my staff attended the Centre County State of the County address.

Senate Approves RGGI Electricity Tax Repeal

The Pennsylvania Senate approved legislation to repeal the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) electricity tax enacted through an executive order by the Wolf administration in 2019. The bill now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration.

RGGI, a multi-state compact, would increase electricity rates for consumers, cut energy and manufacturing jobs and lead to the closure of Pennsylvania power plants. No new investments in baseload generation have come to Pennsylvania in the five years since the Wolf administration attempted to enter the state into RGGI. Govs. Tom Wolf and Josh Shapiro have faced sharp criticism for pushing Pennsylvania to participate in RGGI despite bipartisan objections from the General Assembly.

Last year, the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court ruled Pennsylvania’s entrance into RGGI may only be achieved through legislation duly enacted by the General Assembly, not merely through rulemaking by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Environmental Quality Board (EQB). This ruling has been appealed to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court by Shapiro, and that appeal remains pending.

Senate Bill 1058 will repeal the CO2 Budget Trading Program regulation that was put into effect by DEP and EQB.

PA Senate Urges Congress to Pass the TREAT PTSD Act

The state Senate adopted a measure urging Congress to provide lifesaving therapy to Americans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Senate Resolution 311 calls on Congress to pass the Treatment and Relief through Emerging and Accessible Therapy for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Act, also known as the TREAT PTSD Act.

The TREAT PTSD Act would require the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and U.S. Department of Defense to provide veterans suffering from PTSD with access to a lifesaving therapy known as stellate ganglion block (SGB). SGB works by applying an injection into the bundle of nerves that send signals of fight or flight to the body. The treatment relieves feelings of stress quickly for those with PTSD and provides them with a renewed chance to heal. This procedure has been used for nearly 100 years for pain conditions, including shingles and phantom limb pain.

The federal legislation, House Resolution 3023, is now before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Health.

September is College Savings Month

Saving for your child’s higher education can be daunting, but starting early – even if you are only able to set aside a little – can make a big difference.

You can prepare for your child’s future and enjoy tax advantages using the PA 529 College and Career Savings Program. The two plans, the PA 529 Guaranteed Savings Plan and the PA 529 Investment Plan, do not impact Pennsylvania state financial aid eligibility.

Both plans can be used to pay for education costs like tuition and fees, books, supplies, and room and board at technical schools, community colleges, four-year institutions and apprenticeship programs.

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