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| The Barb Wire |
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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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Barb’s Weekly Update
My staff recently attended the Eagle Scout Court of Honor for Jackson Doyle and presented him with a House citation and a United States flag for his Eagle Scout achievement. To fulfill the community service requirement, Jackson constructed a wood storage crib for the fire pit at Saint Patrick Church in Carlisle. Jackson has served in the leadership positions of quartermaster and senior patrol leader.
Prior to Thanksgiving, I attended the ribbon cutting for commissioning of the UGI Energy Services liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility in Carlisle. With a capacity of 4 million gallons, this is UGI’s second largest LNG facility and will store natural gas at exceptionally cold temperatures. During peak demand periods (typically the coldest winter days), the stored LNG is warmed and converted back into gas, then delivered into the pipeline system.
We also held a staff meeting to begin planning events for 2026.
On Thursday, my staff visited The Residence at Carlisle for its grand opening. Located just minutes from downtown Carlisle, The Residence at Carlisle offers personal care, memory care and respite care. It includes 80 apartments and amenities such as therapy, a salon, a theater, a library, dedicated outdoor spaces and activity rooms.
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Remembering Pearl Harbor
This Sunday, we pause to remember Dec. 7, 1941 – the “date which will live in infamy” – and honor the lives lost 84 years ago. The attack on Pearl Harbor near Honolulu, Hawaii, killed 2,403 Americans, wounded 1,178 others and led to the United States’ entrance into World War II.
As President Ronald Reagan stated in his 1986 proclamation for Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, “Every honor is appropriate for the courageous Americans who made the supreme sacrifice for our Nation at Pearl Harbor and in the many battles that followed in World War II. Their sacrifice was for a cause, not for conquest; for a world that would be safe for future generations. Their devotion must never be forgotten.”
The National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day Ceremony will be held at 7:30 a.m. Hawaii Standard Time, which is 12:30 p.m. local time. Learn more here.
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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 2024 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 again this year to $46,520 for both homeowners and renters. This is due to a 2023 law I supported that calls for adjusting the income limit based on annual increases in the Consumer Price Index. Remember to exclude 50% of Social Security when determining your income. The maximum rebate is $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 assistance. If you applied previously but have not received your rebate, click here. The 2025 Property Tax/Rent Rebate program will open for applications in mid- to late January.
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Heating Assistance Program Now Open
As cold weather has arrived, residents who struggle with their home heating bills are reminded they can now apply for assistance from the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
LIHEAP is a federally funded program that helps individuals and families pay their heating bills through home heating energy assistance grants. It also provides crisis grants to help in the event of an emergency or if a resident is in danger of losing his or her heat due to broken equipment, lack of fuel or termination of utility service.
To qualify for LIHEAP in Pennsylvania, you must meet income requirements, which are set based on your household size. For example, the maximum annual income for an individual is $23,475 and for a family of four it is $48,225. For each additional person, add $8,250 to the income limit.
Residents may apply for LIHEAP online at dhs.pa.gov/COMPASS, by phone at 1-866-857-7095 or by contacting the County Assistance Office in their county of residence.
Click here for additional information. The program runs through April 2026.
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New Law Protects Senior Citizens’ Prescription Coverage
Medications play a vital role in preserving health and improving quality of life, but they can be costly, especially for our senior citizens. That’s why I was pleased to support a new law that will protect thousands of Pennsylvania seniors from losing access to affordable prescription drug coverage.
Act 49 of 2025 extends the current Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) moratorium for the PACE and PACENET programs through Dec. 31, 2027. Without this extension, more than 22,000 older Pennsylvanians would have faced disruptions in their benefits due to modest increases in Social Security income.
The PACE and PACENET programs serve over 250,000 Pennsylvanians age 65 and older. To learn more about the programs, who qualifies and how to apply, click here.
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Arche Classical Academy Tuition Assistance
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Public Input Hearings Scheduled for PPL Proposed Rate Increase
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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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