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In this Update:
Hutchinson Takes Oath of Office, Appointed Chairman of Senate Finance Committee
On Tuesday, both chambers of the General Assembly convened at the state capitol to reorganize and swear in newly elected members. Scott E. Hutchinson took the oath of office as state senator for the 21st District, which includes all or parts of six counties in northwest Pennsylvania: Butler, Clarion, Erie, Forest, Venango, and Warren. He has represented the 21st District since 2013. “I am humbled and honored to have been reelected to continue serving the citizens of the 21st District,” said Hutchinson. “Our region of Pennsylvania has long played a unique and vital role in the history of both our commonwealth and our nation. I am incredibly proud to represent those who call it home.” Throughout his time in the legislature, Hutchinson has championed policies that reduce regulations on businesses, lower taxes for both individuals and businesses, prioritize taxpayer spending on essential government functions, and uphold the values that have made the nation strong. Additionally, Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward has appointed Hutchinson chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, a position he has held since 2017. “Sen. Hutchinson’s longstanding experience and knowledge of financial matters makes him an excellent choice to continue in his role as chair of the Senate Finance Committee,” Ward said. “His insight will not only help make Pennsylvania’s tax structure simpler, but also help position our commonwealth for economic success now and for future generations of Pennsylvanians.” “I am grateful for the opportunity to continue serving as Finance Committee Chairman and to advance the goal of making Pennsylvania’s tax structure simpler, more efficient, and more taxpayer-friendly,” said Hutchinson. Scholarships Available Soon for Students Earning Degrees in In-Demand Jobs
Pennsylvania students pursuing a degree for an in-demand occupation will soon be able to apply for a $5,000 scholarship through the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) because of a law passed by Senate Republicans. To bolster industries with lots of open positions, the law requires them to agree to live and work in Pennsylvania in an in-demand occupation for at least one year for each year they accept the scholarship. Those occupations include agriculture, computer science, business, education, special education, STEM education, engineering, nursing, allied health, criminal justice and other programs approved by PHEAA. The list of in-demand occupations will be adjusted regularly to reflect Pennsylvania’s workforce needs. Out-of-state students are eligible for scholarships that allow them to pay in-state tuition rates. If a student receives a scholarship but does not complete the educational program or fails to meet other terms of the agreement, the scholarship will be converted to a loan and must be repaid by the student. The application is expected to be available on PHEAA’s website in the coming weeks, and more information will be shared then. Online Resource Tracks State Plows
Winter weather can impact safety on the roads, particularly before snow is cleared and salt is spread to mitigate icy spots. As the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) crews work to keep roads passable, you may be wondering where the plow is in your area. All of PennDOT’s roughly 2,200 owned and rented plow trucks are equipped with automated vehicle location systems, which use in-truck technology to log and share data in real time for that truck. View the routes of these interstate and expressway trucks here. PennDOT maintains nearly 40,000 miles of roads and 25,400 bridges statewide, which translates to more than 95,000 snow-lane miles. More Veterans are Eligible for Free Birth and Death Certificates
New this year, more veterans and their families are eligible for free birth and death certificates from the Pennsylvania Department of Health because of legislation passed by Senate Republicans. All veterans who were discharged or released from services under conditions other than dishonorable can receive a veteran fee waiver. Previously, they were only available for military members who were in active service or who were honorably discharged. Normally, there is a non-refundable $20 fee per copy, but with this law, up to 10 free copies will be available. The fee waiver may be applied to applications for the veteran, spouse and dependent children. To be eligible for the waiver, applications for birth and death certificates must be submitted with documentation proving military status. Schedule Your Free State Capitol Tour
If you’re looking for a fun educational activity for your family, you can tour the state Capitol for free. During a 30-minute guided tour, Capitol tour guides point out architectural and artistic highlights as they make the Capitol’s history come alive. There is also an Interactive Welcome Center and Capitol Gift Shop to enjoy during your visit. Guided tours are offered every half hour Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Weekends and most holidays, tours are offered at 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Schedule a tour online or by calling the Tour Guide Office at 1-800-TOUR-N-PA (868-7672). Groups of 10 or more require advanced reservations. For your safety, group size is limited to 40. If you are unable to make the trip to Harrisburg, you can experience a virtual tour of the capitol building by clicking here.
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