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| The Barb Wire |
| #Listrak\DateStampLong# |
The latest news from the State Capitol |
Please do not reply directly to this email, as it returns to an unmanned account.
You are welcome to contact me through this link.
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Gleim to Serve as House Republican Policy Committee Deputy Chair
I have been appointed to serve as a deputy chair with the House Republican Policy Committee for the 2025-26 Legislative Session by its chairman, Rep. David Rowe (R-Snyder/Union/Mifflin/Juniata). My focus will be on education.
I’ve been a member of the House Education Committee for six years, served as the Basic Education Subcommittee chair and currently lead a national education task force. I appreciate Chairman Rowe asking me to serve in this capacity and am looking forward to traveling the state with the committee to hear directly from parents and students as to what they want and expect out of our education system.
Parents want and know what’s best for their children. It’s our job as legislators to be their voice in Harrisburg and enact legislation that gives our students the tools and choices they need to succeed.
The House Republican Policy Committee conducts hearings about important issues in Harrisburg and in communities statewide, gathers testimony and information from stakeholders and works with other members of the House Republican Caucus to develop policy. Democrat legislators also have a majority policy committee and do similar work. Since education funding is a large portion of our state funding through your tax dollars, it is important to ensure there is a return on your investment, and I look forward to serving in this capacity.
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‘Tis the Season!
Capitol staff and visitors gathered Tuesday for the official lighting of the Capitol Christmas tree! The 24-foot Douglas Fir comes from Crystal Spring Tree Farm in Carbon County and is adorned with 1,250 LED lights and more than 700 handmade ornaments donated by Pre-K for PA students and older adults from across the Commonwealth. This is the tallest tree to grace the Capitol Rotunda in at least 10 years.
The tree in the Rotunda will be lit daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. through Jan. 8. An additional tree, located outdoors on the Capitol steps, will be lit daily from 5 p.m. to midnight, also through Jan. 8.
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On Wednesday, it was my pleasure to welcome my constituents from Carlisle Events to the Capitol for a tour. We started out in my Harrisburg office and discussed everything from the Carlisle business climate since the pandemic to the future of driving economic growth in our area. Thank you for the time.
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District Office Work and News
District office staff and I dealt with many local and state issues this week. We attended the Western Cumberland County Council of Governments and gave an update. We helped constituents with unemployment issues, Department of Environmental Protection concerns and Property Tax/Rent Rebate questions. We spoke on the topic of Title IX, and I was a guest speaker at a girls’ athletic team banquet. I also worked on reintroducing bills for the next legislative session and directed legislative education policy to our Republican policy chair.
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Lane Restrictions This Saturday on SB I-81 in Cumberland County
PennDOT announced that lane restrictions for asphalt pavement repairs are planned for this Saturday on southbound Interstate 81 near Carlisle. Weather permitting, there will be right lane closures tomorrow from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on southbound I-81 from Exit 52 (Route 11) to Exit 48 (Route 74/York Road).
Motorists should be alert and drive with caution through the work zone.
This work is part of a 12.85-mile resurfacing project that consists of milling, base replacement, concrete pavement patching, minor drainage, ADA ramps, paving and traffic counter site repair from Route 15/Enola in East Pennsboro Township to Route 581/Lambs Gap Road in Hampden Township.
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REAL ID Day at Chambersburg Driver License Center
To help ensure Pennsylvanians are prepared for the upcoming federal REAL ID enforcement deadline of May 7, 2025, PennDOT will hold special REAL ID service hours at its Chambersburg Driver License Center, 1320 Lincoln Way East, Chambersburg, this Monday, Dec. 16, from 10 a.m. to noon.
More than 2.5 million Pennsylvanians have chosen to opt into the REAL ID program. Getting a REAL ID is optional in Pennsylvania, but beginning May 7, 2025, Pennsylvanians will need a REAL ID-compliant license/identification card or another form of federally acceptable identification (such as a valid passport or military ID) to do the following:
• Board domestic commercial flights.
• Enter a military base.
• Enter certain federal facilities that require a federally acceptable form of ID.
For a full list of driver license centers, REAL ID Centers, and services offered, please visit the PennDOT Driver and Vehicle Services website at dmv.pa.gov and click on “Find A Location.”
For more information on REAL ID, visit PennDOT.pa.gov/REALID. REAL ID is optional for Pennsylvanians but will be required for domestic air travel and entry to certain federal facilities after the May 7 deadline. A passport will still be required for international travel.
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More Retirees Eligible for Reduced-Fee Vehicle Registration
A new state law I supported to allow more Pennsylvania retirees to qualify for a reduction in their vehicle registration fee takes effect this Sunday.
The benefit now will be available to retired persons earning up to $29,906, an increase of more than $10,000 from the prior income eligibility limit. Those who qualify will pay an $11 processing fee to register their vehicle each year, rather than the standard $45 registration fee.
Qualified applicants must be retired and receiving Social Security or other pension payments. Please note, 100% of a veterans' benefit payment or payment to the unmarried surviving spouse, upon the death of a veteran, should be excluded from the income calculation.
The applicant must be listed as an owner on the vehicle’s registration and only one vehicle per qualified applicant may be registered for the reduced fee. Qualifying vehicles must be a passenger car or truck with a registered gross weight of not more than 9,000 pounds.
Click here to learn more about the program or contact my office for assistance.
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New Military-Themed License Plates Honor PA Veterans
Six new license plates honoring the service of the Commonwealth’s veterans are now available from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. The new plates were authorized under Act 60 of 2024.
Three of the new plates recognize service members who received medals or honors for individual achievements or deployments. They include the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal Registration Plate, Operation Inherent Resolve Veterans Plate, and Borinqueneers Congressional Gold Medal Registration Plate.
The other three new plate designs recognize women veterans. Two are available for motorcycles and the third is for passenger cars or trucks with a registered gross weight of not more than 14,000 pounds. They include the Honoring Our Women Veteran Motorcycle Registration Plate, Women Veteran Motorcycle Registration Plate and the Women Veteran Registration Plate.
To learn more about all license plate options, fees and how to apply for them, click here.
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Applications Open for Broadband Funding
The Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority (PBDA) recently announced the $1.16 billion Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program will accept its first round of applications through Jan. 21. BEAD is a federal grant program that provides states with funding to deploy broadband infrastructure and connect residents to the internet.
The goal is to expand broadband in unserved and underserved areas of the state to make sure high-speed internet is available to every resident by the end of the decade. It is estimated that over 100,000 Pennsylvanians in 42 counties currently have no service or struggle with poor service.
Eligible BEAD applicants include cooperative organizations; not-for-profit organizations; public-private partnerships; private companies; public or private utility companies; public utility districts; municipalities or units of local government; and internet service providers registered through the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
For more information about the program, how funding can be used and how to apply, click here.
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Art of the State Showcases PA’s Talents
The State Museum of Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Heritage Foundation invite artists and craftspeople to submit applications to exhibit their work in Art of the State 2025. Now in its 58th year, this prestigious juried exhibition boasts a tradition of presenting highly creative art by Pennsylvanians, chosen by a distinguished panel of jurors.
The call for entry for Art of the State 2025 is open to Pennsylvania residents who are at least 18 years of age. Artists may submit work in one or more of five categories: painting, work on paper, sculpture, craft and photography/digital media. More than $5,000 in cash awards will be presented.
The deadline for entries is Friday, Jan. 17, 2025. The exhibition will be open from Sunday, June 8, 2025, through Sept. 14, 2025.
The Art of the State 2024 exhibition is currently in place at the state museum and will close on Sunday, Jan 5, 2025.
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Deadline Nears for Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program
Older adults and Pennsylvanians with disabilities have until Dec. 31 to apply for the state’s 2023 Property Tax/Rent Rebate program. Remember, assistance through my office is always free. You need not pay a private firm for assistance.
Income limits increased this year to $45,000 for both homeowners and renters, so if you were earning too much to qualify before, you may be eligible now. Remember to exclude 50% of Social Security when determining your income. The maximum rebate also increased to $1,000.
The program is open to residents age 65 years and older; widows and widowers 50 years and older; and people with disabilities 18 years and older.
Click here for additional information or to apply online or contact my office for an application. If you applied previously but have not received your rebate, click here.
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| Office Locations |
| District Office: 437 E North Street | Carlisle, PA 17013 | Phone: 717-249-1990 |
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| 427 Irvis Office Building | House Box 202199 Harrisburg, PA 17120-2199 | 717-772-2280 |
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