![]() |
||
Dear Friends, As you’ll read below, I’m excited to announce that my 4th Annual Youth Fishing Derby is coming up on Saturday, April 12 from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Camp Wawa Park in Schwenksville! This is a great event for families to enjoy a morning of fishing and the chance to win some fun prizes. All are welcome, and I can’t wait to see you there! Registration details are below. Sincerely, In this Update:
Legislation to Support Korean American Veterans AdvancesI am pleased to report that my bill, Senate Bill 173, has passed out of the full Senate unanimously and is now headed to the House for consideration. This important legislation ensures that Korean American veterans of the Vietnam War receive the same state veterans benefits as their U.S. counterparts. These brave veterans served alongside American forces with tremendous valor, and it is long overdue that we recognize their contributions and sacrifices. Ensuring they receive the benefits they have rightfully earned is a matter of fairness and gratitude. If approved by the House, the bill will move to the governor’s desk for final approval. I will continue to provide updates as we work toward final passage. Teletown Hall – March 24I’m excited to invite you to a special Teletown Hall on Monday, March 24, 2025, at 6 PM. I will be joined by State Senator Scott Martin, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and IFO Director Matt Knittel to discuss the state budget, fiscal priorities, and how these decisions impact us in Pennsylvania. This is a great opportunity to hear directly from key leaders about where our tax dollars are going and how we can ensure fiscal responsibility in the state budget. You will also have the chance to ask questions and share your thoughts. I look forward to hearing from you. To ensure you receive the call and can take part, please register here. Grow PA Scholarship Grant Applications Now AvailableThe Grow PA Scholarship Grant Program, created by Senate Republicans as part of last year’s state budget, provides grants of up to $5,000 per year for in-state students pursuing a degree or certification in an in-demand occupation. The application period is now open, and grants will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Included in that package was a measure I sponsored legislation to expand the Fostering Independence Tuition Waiver Program, making it easier for children in foster care and those who were adopted in Pennsylvania to attend Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) schools. Currently, children in the foster care system and those adopted in Pennsylvania are eligible for financial aid and tuition waivers. While this provision did not pass the House of Representatives last year, I plan to reintroduce it this year to further support these students. To qualify for the Grow PA grant, applicants must agree to live and work in Pennsylvania in the occupation they study after graduation. For every year they receive the grant, recipients will be required to live and work in Pennsylvania for 12 months. If they fail to meet this requirement, the grant will be converted to a loan requiring repayment. Eligible fields of study include agriculture, computer science, business, education, special education, STEM education, engineering, nursing, allied health, criminal justice, and other programs approved by the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA). Learn more or apply here. Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program Assistance at Boyertown Area Multi-ServiceMy office will be providing in-person assistance for the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program at the Boyertown Area Multi-Service (The Center at Spring Street), located at 200 W. Spring Street, Boyertown. This assistance will be available every Thursday through April 10. The Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program helps eligible Pennsylvanians receive rebates on property taxes or rent they paid in the previous year. The program benefits seniors aged 65 and older, widows and widowers aged 50 and older, and individuals with disabilities aged 18 and older. In 2024, the income limits were raised to $46,520 per year for both homeowners and renters, which means more people may now qualify for this valuable assistance. Applications for 2024 Property Tax/Rent Rebates are due by June 30, 2025. To schedule an appointment, please call my Red Hill office at (215) 541-2388. For more information on the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program, visit here. 4th Annual Youth Fishing Derby – April 12I’m thrilled to invite you to my 4th Annual Youth Fishing Derby on Saturday, April 12, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Camp Wawa Park in Schwenksville! This event promises to be a day of fun and learning for all ages, with activities designed to engage the community and educate participants about the rich diversity of Pennsylvania’s wildlife. You’ll have the chance to learn about our native birds, mammals, and the importance of environmental conservation, while enjoying some time on the water. Whether you’re a seasoned angler or new to fishing, everyone is welcome to join in on the fun! Don’t forget to bring your own fishing poles and bait to make the most of the experience. This event is open to all youth, and I encourage families to come out, explore the outdoors, and connect with others in the community. For more information or to register, please visit my website or contact my Red Hill office at (215) 541-2388. I look forward to seeing you there for a morning of fishing, fun, and learning! Nonprofit Grant Seminar – April 24I am pleased to announce my upcoming Nonprofit Grant Seminar, hosted in partnership with TriCounty Community Network (TCN), on April 24, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. The event will take place at the Copperfield Inn at Lakeside, located at 594 W Ridge Pike, Limerick, PA. This seminar offers a valuable opportunity for regional nonprofit organizations to enhance their grant application skills for securing federal, state, and private funding resources. We are excited to offer this resource to help your organization succeed in navigating the grant process. I look forward to seeing you there and working together to strengthen our local nonprofits! To register, please visit here. Women Veterans Celebration – June 10, 2025I am proud to announce that I’ll be hosting my third annual Women Veterans Celebration at the Capitol on June 10, 2025. This event, which began following the passage of my 2022 legislation designating June 12 as Women Veterans Day in Pennsylvania, is dedicated to honoring the service of women veterans across our great Commonwealth. I truly believe that the contributions of women in the military deserve the recognition they’ve earned, and I’m thrilled to provide a platform where we can celebrate the incredible women who have served our country. I hope all women veterans from every branch of the military will join us for this special tribute. The Women Veterans Celebration has grown year after year, and this time, we’re offering a digital display at the Capitol so that an even larger audience can experience and celebrate the stories of these remarkable women. The display will also be available online, and will go live on June 9, 2025, at www.senatorpennycuick.com. If you were featured in last year’s display, you can easily update your submission form here. For new participants, I encourage you to share your service story by completing the required submission form. The deadline for entries is May 9, 2025. This event is a chance to honor the extraordinary contributions of women throughout our history, and I can’t wait to continue recognizing their exceptional service and unwavering dedication. I look forward to seeing you there! Exploring Groundbreaking Biotech Innovation at the Pennsylvania Biotechnology CenterEarlier this week, I had the pleasure of visiting the Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center of Bucks County, where I had the opportunity to meet with Louis P. Kassa, President and CEO of Incite Health. Incite Health, located within the Center, is making tremendous strides in biomarker testing—a technology that has the potential to bring significant advancements in healthcare, especially for our veterans. The work being done here could have a profound impact on the future of medical treatments and how we support those who have served our country. It was inspiring to see firsthand the innovation and dedication driving this important research. As Chair of the Communications and Technology Committee, I look forward to seeing how this technology evolves and how it can help improve the lives of our veterans and many others. A Visit with Schwenksville Cub ScoutsI had a wonderful time recently meeting with the Webelos Den from Schwenksville Cub Scout Pack 105. It was an inspiring experience to speak with these young leaders about the importance of civic engagement and the role of elected officials in our community. Their curiosity and enthusiasm were truly impressive. A special thank you to their Den Leader for inviting me to be part of their “My Community” adventure. It’s always a privilege to connect with the next generation and encourage them to become active, informed citizens. I look forward to seeing these Scouts continue their journey, and I’m confident they will do great things in the future. Keep up the excellent work, Scouts! Supporting Veteran Entrepreneurs in Montgomery CountyAs a veteran and former small business owner, it was an honor to serve as the keynote speaker at the recent Veterans in Business event, where I had the opportunity to encourage and support veteran entrepreneurs in Montgomery County. Our veterans possess the leadership, discipline, and resilience that are key to thriving in business. I am committed to ensuring they have the resources, tools, and mentorship necessary to succeed in their entrepreneurial endeavors. A special thank you to the Montgomery County Commerce Department for their unwavering dedication to providing free, expert mentoring to veterans looking to start or grow their businesses. Their work plays a crucial role in helping veterans transition into the business world and achieve their goals. Welcoming Korean Delegates to PAIt was a privilege to attend the welcome dinner reception for the Korean Delegation. This event provided a valuable opportunity to engage with the delegation and discuss potential partnership opportunities in Pennsylvania. I look forward to fostering continued collaboration and strengthening these important ties. Visiting Quarry View Farm in Berks CountyI had a wonderful visit to Quarry View Farm, a family-owned farm and store in Berks County! They offer a fantastic selection of products, and the blueberry ice cream is a must-try. It’s always a joy to support local businesses like this that put so much heart into what they do. PA Recovers $11.3 Million in Medicaid FraudOne of my top priorities is fighting fraud throughout state government, and I’m pleased that Attorney General Dave Sunday’s Medicaid Fraud Team recovered more than $11.3 million in misused Medicaid funding in fiscal year 2024. In fact, a federal annual report ranked Pennsylvania first in the nation for number of Medicaid fraud charges filed against individuals and third in convictions secured. The report also states that Medicaid Fraud units across the country recover $3.46 for every $1 spent by the units. Retrieving this funding gave limited-income and vulnerable populations access to health care as intended. The Medicaid Fraud Team prosecutes those who defraud the program through unlawful billing or failure to provide services. It also prosecutes those who neglect or abuse Pennsylvanians dependent on their care and those who financially exploit older adults or care-dependent persons. Online Unclaimed Property Auction – March 26 and 27Pennsylvania’s next auction of unclaimed property – including jewelry, collectible coins, currency and more – will take place on March 26 and 27. Treasurer Stacy Garrity said more than 5,500 items will hit the auction block, and anyone interested in bidding can register on the website of the Pennsylvania Treasury Department’s auctioneer partner, Pook & Pook. Unclaimed tangible property, like the items being auctioned, comes to Treasury most often from forgotten safe deposit boxes. Treasury works to find the rightful owner for at least three years before auctioning an item but holds auctions twice a year to make room for incoming property in Treasury’s vault – the largest working vault in the country. All items sold at auction are carefully documented, and net proceeds remain with Treasury until a rightful owner comes forward to claim the property – no matter how much time passes. Treasury is working to return more than $4.5 billion in unclaimed property that is owed to more than one in 10 Pennsylvanians. The average value of a claim is about $1,600. This money can belong to individuals, businesses, nonprofits, local government entities and other organizations. Anyone can search for unclaimed property online. My office is also always glad to help you file a claim or to answer any of your questions. Job Openings for Lifeguards at State ParksApplications are being accepted through March 31 for summer job opportunities at 13 of Pennsylvania’s state parks. Lifeguards will be paid $17 an hour and must have proper certifications. Full-time and part-time schedules are available. Lifeguards are essential in safeguarding the health and safety of park visitors. Duties will include overseeing the swimming zones, upholding park policies and addressing emergencies. Find information about required qualifications and apply online here. Protect Your Home from a FloodFlooding is the most frequent and expensive U.S. natural disaster. Yet, it’s not typically covered through most homeowners and renter’s insurance. More than 20% of the National Flood Insurance Program’s claims come from outside high-risk flood areas. Those who live in areas with low-to-moderate flooding risk are five times more likely to experience a flood than a fire in their home in the next 30 years. You can determine your risk using this flood map. Checking your policy and consulting your agent to confirm that flood perils are included in your insurance can save you. Review flood insurance basics so you know how to protect your home. Celebrating National Agriculture WeekAgriculture – one of Pennsylvania’s top industries – directly impacts our health, economy and communities. It also preserves open space. Farmers work tirelessly to provide us with fresh produce and dairy products. Supporting them is as easy as enjoying the wonderful foods they offer. As the weather begins to improve, farmers markets will pop up all over the state. Read more about Pennsylvania’s farmers markets. In addition to farming, many other jobs play an important role in our state’s agricultural success. Pennsylvania’s more than 500,000 jobs in agriculture also include the fields of business, technology, science and more.
If you are not already subscribed to this newsletter please sign up here. |
||
|
||
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Want to change how you receive these emails? 2025 © Senate of Pennsylvania | https://senatorpennycuick.com | Privacy Policy |