Dear Neighbor,

In this email, I share with you important information about government programs, scholarship opportunities and more:

  • District Office Closed in Observance of MLK Day
  • In the District
  • Pennie’s Final Deadline Is Extended: January 31st is the Last Day to Enroll in a Quality 2026 Health Plan
  • New tool launched to help SNAP recipients meet new work requirements
  • 2025 PTRR application opens Jan. 15
  • Pennsylvania Turnpike 2026 toll increase
  • The Pennsylvania Farm Show
  • The KCA Scholarship Award
  • Applications for home heating help
  • Multimodal transportation grants available
  • State Grant Funding Available
  • College Financial Aid Webinars
  • College Scholarship Opportunities for PA students
 

District Office Closed in Observance of MLK Day

Please note that my office will be closed on Monday, January 19 in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

We will reopen on Tuesday, January 20 for normal business hours.

 

In the District

Celebrating Our New Firefighters

When things go wrong, our first responders are often the difference between life and death. I was honored to swear-in new officers of the Lafayette Fire Co. and look forward to helping them secure state funding for new apparatus.
Video
 

Pennie’s Final Deadline Is Extended:

January 31st is the Last Day to Enroll in a Quality 2026 Health Plan

Pennie’s 2026 Open Enrollment’s deadline to enroll in 2026 health coverage has been extended to January 31.

Pennie, Pennsylvania’s official state-based health insurance marketplace, offers quality health plans for individuals and families who don’t have other coverage options. If you or someone you know does not currently have health coverage, now is the time to act and visit pennie.com to explore your options to get enrolled.

You can enroll here: pennie.com.
 

 New tool launched to help SNAP recipients meet new work requirements

The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) has introduced a new feature on PA Navigate to help SNAP recipients find volunteer opportunities in their communities and comply with federal work and reporting requirements.

Under the new rules, certain SNAP participants must work, volunteer, or engage in education/training for at least 20 hours per week to maintain benefits. PA Navigate now allows recipients to search for local volunteer roles, connect with organizations, and track hours to stay eligible.

This initiative is part of Pennsylvania’s broader effort to support Pennsylvanians facing new bureaucratic hurdles, alongside the 2025–26 budget, which includes an $11 million increase for food security programs statewide.

SNAP recipients can visit pa-navigate.org to find volunteer opportunities and learn how to report their hours. Questions can be directed to local County Assistance Offices or DHS’ Customer Service Center at 877-395-8930.
 

PTRR for 2025 Is Now Open

2025 PTRR application filing period is now open.

You may be eligible for a rebate of up to $1,000. Please contact my office if you require assistance applying for this program.

To schedule an appointment, please use our Bookings link and select either “PA 1000 Rent Rebate” or “PA 1000 Property Tax Rebate.” 
 

Pennsylvania Turnpike 2026 toll increase

The PA Turnpike’s 2026 toll schedule went into effect on Jan. 4, including a 4% increase, the lowest toll hike since 2014.

In 2026, the most common toll for a passenger vehicle goes from $1.86 to $1.94 for E-ZPass users, and from $3.72 to $3.88 for Toll By Plate users.

For Class 5 tractor trailers, the most common toll increases from $23.16 to $24.12 with E-ZPass, and from $46.32 to $48.24 with Toll By Plate.

For more information visit here.
 

The Pennsylvania Farm Show

The 110th Pennsylvania Farm Show runs daily from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. except Saturday, Jan. 17, when it runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

It is held at 2300 North Cameron Street in Harrisburg. This year’s theme is “Growing a Nation” and will feature special America250PA events and celebrations.

Parking is $15 and a map of available lots can be found here.

General admission is free, but some events and attractions may charge admission or be ticketed separately. A full day-by-day schedule of events can be found here.
 

The KCA Scholarship Award

The Keystone Contractors Association is committed to providing quality educational programs designed to enhance the success of the construction industry. 

Its Keystone Contractors Association (KCA) Scholarship Program awards up to $10,000 yearly to a deserving student. The program’s goal is to provide the Pennsylvania construction industry with a diverse pool of highly qualified candidates to fulfill its employment needs in areas such as Project Managers, Project Engineers, Estimators and Field Supervisors.  Assuming the recipient maintains career ambitions and excels in school, this scholarship is renewable up to three years.

Qualifications:

  • Applicants must be Pennsylvania residents
  • Students with a construction degree focus must attend a Pennsylvania college, university or trade school
  • Recipients pursue education and careers with the goal of building and strengthening Pennsylvania's communities, economy and infrastructure

The scholarship is an investment in Pennsylvania’s workforce, our construction industry, and the next generation of leaders who will design, build, and maintain our buildings and homes.

The deadline for this year’s KCA Scholarship Program is March 1. To provide advice on applying and answer any questions that students may have, the KCA is hosting a virtual discussion on Tuesday, January 27, 10 a.m.; for more details head here: KCA Scholarship Program Informational Session. 
 

Applications for home heating help

Applications for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program are available. Through the program, you can apply for a cash grant to help pay your heating bill—from $200 to $1,000 based on your household size, income, and fuel type.

For more information, click here. You can also contact my office if you need help applying for LIHEAP or need help with any utility-related issues.
 

Multimodal transportation grants available

PennDOT announced recently that they are accepting applications for a new round of Multimodal Transportation Fund (MTF) grants. Applications are due by February 13.

The MTF provides grant funding to municipalities, councils of governments, businesses, economic development organizations, public transit agencies, and ports and rail freight entities to improve transportation assets that enhance communities, pedestrian safety, and transit access.

More information about applying for the MTF grants is available by clicking here.
 

State Grant Program Funding Available

The latest state grant opportunities are available on my website! My office is happy to help connect you with government funding like this, so please reach out if you have any questions or need a letter of support.
 

College Financial Aid Webinars

Interested in attending college? Check out these helpful webinars.
 

College Scholarship Opportunities for PA students

To honor Pennsylvania’s long-standing commitment to education, the state commission planning America’s 250th anniversary will award $250,000 in scholarships to deserving Pennsylvania students attending in-state colleges next school year.

 

Any Pennsylvania high school senior planning to attend a PA college for 2026–27 is eligible to apply. Twenty-five scholarships of $10,000 each will be awarded by the America250PA commission.

 

Applications are due Jan. 31. More details can be found here.
 

District Office

150 East King St., Suite B
Lancaster, PA 17602

(717) 283-4218

Pennsylvania State Capitol
103-A East Wing
Harrisburg, PA 17120

(717) 772-0752