State Senator Lisa Boscola

The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) approved $1,827,284 in grants to Lehigh and Northampton counties, as well as to local nonprofits to assist with criminal justice programs. Northampton County was approved for three grants:

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives has passed Senator Lisa Boscola’s legislation (Senate Bill 115) that would cut red tape and qualify more nurses for licensure in Pennsylvania through authorizing the Commonwealth to join the Nurse Licensure Compact.

Final passage in the House was by a vote of 146-55, and having been passed by both chambers with the same language, Senate Bill 115 now goes to the governor for his review. The Nurse Licensure Compact is an updated licensure solution for the 21st century that allows nurses to have one multistate license with the ability to practice in all compact states – via telemedicine or in person. The compact offers a flexible and adaptable solution to streamlining care while maintaining the public’s protection at the state level. Nurses who practice in a compact state must meet 11 uniform licensure requirements, including state and federal criminal background checks.

Boscola voted in June to support both HB854, extending waivers needed to address the COVID crisis as a matter of legislation, and HR 106, ending the emergency declaration, saying, “I viewed my decision as an opportunity to de-escalate and de-politicize the rhetoric surrounding our response to the pandemic.”

Six affordable housing projects in the 18th Senatorial District have been approved for up to $1,148,628 in funding through the Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement Fund (PHARE), which is managed through the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency. The six projects approved for funding are:

• Redevelopment Authority of Bethlehem ($400,000) for Blight Remediation

• Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley ($250,000) for Energy Efficient Housing Rehabilitation & ($60,000) for its Capacity Building Project.

• United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley ($200,000) for Landlord Engagement Program

• The Lehigh Conference of Churches ($177,000) for the Lazarus House Packard Avenue Apartment Rehabilitation

• Community Options, Inc. ($61,628) for the Rehabilitation of Housing for Individuals with Disabilities

State Rep. Jeane McNeill

Lehigh Valley International Airport has been awarded $1,778,500 to continue its terminal connector and security checkpoint expansion project. The over $30 million Security Checkpoint and Terminal Connector project will provide the commonwealth’s fourth largest airport serving the third largest economy with much needed increase in capacity for TSA checkpoints; and therefore, increased safety for passengers, crew and airport staff. Currently, LVIA only has two checkpoints, which do not meet TSA safety standards.

McNeill is supporting legislation [H.B. 526] that would end the financial deficit currently limiting the Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement’s ability to operate effectively, saying, “it would again return the department to self-solvency with operating costs covered by licenses, unlike last year, when taxpayers were responsible for an additional $1.2 million to keep the department operating. This year, it’s estimated that cost will rise to $1.5 million.”