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In this Update:
April 19 – Patriots Day
I recently took to the Senate floor to kick off the America 250 celebration and to honor the beginning of the American Revolution. April 19th marks the 250th anniversary of the battles of Lexington and Concord—an event that has been commemorated as a holiday in Massachusetts since 1894. During my remarks, I shared Ralph Waldo Emerson’s Concord Hymn to reflect on the enduring spirit of freedom that defines our nation. “The shot heard round the world” still echoes today as a symbol of principled self-rule and lasting courage. Let us remember the patriots who risked everything for liberty 250 years ago. Senate Passes Bill Reforming Nomination Process for Agency Heads
To restore balance and transparency in state government, the Senate passed a bill reining in the use of unconfirmed state agency leaders. Senate Bill 472 advanced to the House of Representatives for consideration. Former Gov. Tom Wolf appointed 11 individuals to lead various state agencies in the “acting” capacity and never nominated them to the Senate as part of the official confirmation process. Additionally, 21 cabinet officials served in “acting” capacity longer than 90 days. This allowed key decisions to be made without public scrutiny. With the passage of the bill, an individual serving in a leadership role without official confirmation by the Senate would be designated as “Deputy Head of Department.” The designation could be used once during a governor’s term. These individuals would have to appear before the General Assembly during the annual budget process. They would not receive elevated compensation or additional benefits beyond their peers. Most importantly, they would not be allowed to remain indefinitely without Senate review and would not be permitted to serve longer than 90 days. Voter Registration Deadline is May 5
The deadline to register to vote in Pennsylvania’s May 20 primary election is Monday, May 5. Your county election office must receive your application for a mail-in or absentee ballot by Tuesday, May 13, at 5 p.m. To legally register, individuals must be a citizen of the United States, reside in their local voting precincts at least 30 days prior to the election and be at least age 18 on Election Day, Tuesday, May 20. Once registered to vote, you are not required to register again unless you change your residence, name or political party affiliation. Voter registration forms, mail-in ballot applications and absentee ballot applications are available here or from your local county’s Board of Elections. You can also use the site to check your registration status. REAL ID to Replace Driver’s License as Federally Acceptable ID on May 7
Beginning May 7, Pennsylvanians who wish to board flights, visit military bases and enter certain federal facilities will be required to present a form of federally accepted identification. Options include a passport, military ID or a REAL ID. You do not need to wait until your driver license renews to get a REAL ID. To get one, you must provide documents proving your identity, lawful status, Social Security number and Pennsylvania residency. Review the list of acceptable documents. All documents must be original versions or certified copies (if applicable). While any of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s (PennDOT) driver license centers can verify these documents for customers who want a REAL ID, only certain locations can provide your REAL ID the same day. Otherwise, expect to receive your REAL ID within 15 business days after successful document verification. To make it more convenient for Pennsylvanians to get a REAL ID, PennDOT is offering dedicated time at some driver license centers on April 28 and May 5. Both REAL ID Days are on Mondays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Best Wishes for a Happy Easter
Easter represents joy, hope and redemption. Warmest wishes to all families who celebrate this holy holiday and rejoice in eternal life. Happy Easter!
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