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In this Update:
Tele-Town Hall
Please join me for my first Tele-Town Hall on Tuesday, March 28 at 6:00pm. This is a great opportunity to get to know me, get up to date information on state-related issues and more importantly, an opportunity to hear your viewpoints on public issues from the comfort of your own home. 𝐑𝐄𝐆𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐍𝐎𝐖 https://redesign.senatorpennycuick.com/access-live/ I look forward to connecting with you! Veterans Suicide Hearing
“We owe it to our future military members to make sure that we have a plan in place, and that they know they will not be forgotten if they stumble. Everybody stumbles and they should not be held to a different standard by anyone else.” Communication and Technology Hearing
The Senate Communications & Technology Committee held a hearing on cyber security for cloud based government applications. As committee chair, assuring the security of Pennsylvanians’ sensitive information is one of my top priorities. 2023 Municipal Meeting: Lower Salford
I had the pleasure of hosting my second Municipal Meeting in Lower Salford Township. Topics of discussion included parks and recreation, implementing senior centers, sewer systems, and more. Our goal as elected officials is to establish a shared vision for the future and develop goals and implement plans that make that future possible. Souderton Area High School Performances at State Capitol
Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA), this month is sponsoring concerts at the State Capitol building for Music In Our Schools Month! This week I got the pleasure of welcoming Souderton Area High School choir and jazz band students. Thank you for sharing your musical talents! Keep up the fantastic work! Eagle Scout: CJ Hackett
This past weekend we celebrated and recognized BSA Troop 303, CJ Hackett. CJ is Troop 303’s 67th Eagle. CJ was presented with a Senate citation to serve as a testament to his hard work and dedication. Becoming an Eagle Scout is an admirable accomplishment, and I applaud your extraordinary commitment to the principles of the Boy Scouts of America. You have gained the skills and knowledge that will equip you to meet the opportunities ahead! Budget Hearings Begin March 20
Three weeks of budget hearings held by the Senate Appropriations Committee will begin next week with appearances by the Department of Revenue, Independent Fiscal Office, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, State Treasurer, Department of Environmental Protection, Auditor General and Office of Attorney General. The hearings will be used to review Gov. Josh Shapiro’s spending plan and ask administration officials about the need for any proposed expenses. From there, a budget that more appropriately reflects the needs of taxpayers can be developed before the constitutional deadline of June 30. Livestreams of the hearings and daily recaps will be available here, and I will share updates on this important process each week. Examining Government Cloud-Based Cybersecurity
The Senate Communications and Technology Committee brought together information technology experts this week for a public hearing about securing cloud-based data held by state and local governments. With cloud storage, digital data is stored on servers in off-site locations. The servers are maintained by a third-party provider responsible for hosting, managing and securing data. This data includes personally identifiable information such as tax records, unemployment claims, social security numbers, driver’s licenses and more. Testifiers said the threat to cybersecurity is constant. Pennsylvania’s acting Chief Information Security Officer Christopher Dressler testified that, in a recent month, there were approximately 38 billion unauthorized attempts to connect to the state network. He said cloud computing presents cybersecurity benefits for the commonwealth, such as intrusion prevention, malware protection, identity and access controls and encryption. View video and written testimony from today’s hearing here. Strengthening Guardianship Laws, Preventing Elder Abuse
The Senate Judiciary Committee held a joint public hearing with the Senate Aging and Youth Committee on strengthening guardianship laws and preventing elder abuse in Pennsylvania. When an adult of any age is deemed incapacitated by a court, a professional or family guardian may be appointed to become responsible for making certain decisions on their behalf, including financial, medical and personal matters. During the hearing, testimony was given by professionals in the elder and disability law fields to provide input on the flaws in Pennsylvania’s guardianship process. Guardianship issues discussed included the lengthy time to receive mandatory legal counsel and costs, necessary training of guardians, abuse, rights to counsel and more. DMVA Mobile Outreach Vans to Serve Vets
The Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) operates Mobile Veterans Outreach Vans to assist the state’s more than 700,000 veterans. DMVA accredited veteran service officers travel the state to help veterans obtain information and initiate benefit claim paperwork. There is a wide range of federal, state and county benefits available to qualified veterans and their families, and DMVA’s team can be an excellent source of information and assistance. Such benefits include service-connected disability compensation, pensions, VA health care benefits, burial benefits, education benefits, vocational rehabilitation, active service bonuses and state nursing home care. PennDOT Invites Public Feedback on Transportation
Pennsylvanians are encouraged to submit their feedback using this transportation survey or by emailing comments to RA-PennDOTSTC@pa.gov. Public feedback and survey results will help identify needs and prioritize transportation projects across the state. PennDOT will also host an online public forum on Wednesday, April 12, from 6:30-8 p.m. Pennsylvanians can ask transportation-related questions to PennDOT leadership and members of the State Transportation Commission during the forum. The feedback provided will be used to inform Pennsylvania’s 12-Year Program, which is updated every two years. It is the first step in the state’s transportation program planning process and helps to evaluate the system’s performance and opportunities for progress. Learn more about how transportation projects are planned and funded. Beware of the Secret Shopper Scam
In a current scam, Pennsylvanians are getting text messages, emails and letters inviting them to participate in a research project as a secret shopper without the need for an interview. A recruiter typically sends a check worth more than the items you buy, so you get to keep the rest as a bonus. They instruct you to deposit the check right away, buy gift cards and provide the scammer with the number and pin on the gift cards. Unfortunately, the check they send is fraudulent and will take a few days to clear. In the meantime, you’ve made the purchases out of your account and sent them off to the scammer. Read more about the warning signs of this scam. Consumers with any questions or feel they have been victimized by this scam or any similar scams may submit a complaint with the Office of Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection by visiting the website here, emailing scams@attorneygeneral.gov or calling 1-800-441-2555. Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
What began as a religious holiday for the Irish is now celebrated on March 17 annually by people all across the world. Saint Patrick, who lived in the fifth century, was credited with bringing Christianity to the people of Ireland. “May your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow, and may trouble avoid you wherever you go.” – Irish blessing
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