State Senator Lisa Boscola

The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) approved $655,848 in grants to local governments and organizations that address violence and delinquency prevention, response to the opioid epidemic as well as gun violence reduction.

The funding awards were approved through the State Violence and Delinquency Prevention Program Funds, Federal State Opioid Responses (SOR) Funds, State Opioid Response Funds and Gun Violence Reduction Grant Program.

State Violence and Delinquency Prevention Program Funds:

• Wilson Area LINCS Family Center: $150,000

Federal State Opioid Responses (SOR) Funds:

• Valley Youth House Committee, Inc. for its Life Skills Training at Easton Area Middle School: $98,346

• Colonial Intermediate Unit #20 for its Total School Improvement Project: $31,571

State Opioid Response Funds:

• Northampton County for its Northampton County Recovery Court Initiative: $152,631

Gun Violence Reduction Grant Program:

• Promise Neighborhoods of the Lehigh Valley to implement its Cure Violence Model: $223,300.

Also, on the eve of the 34th year of the Celtic Classic Highland Games & Festival, she has secured $50,000 in state funding for the Celtic Cultural Alliance in support of the internationally known event that brings over a quarter million people to Bethlehem for the three-day event.

State Rep. Steve Samuelson

Rep. Samuelson hosted a Pennsylvania House public hearing Sept. 1 regarding fair funding. Pennsylvania regularly falls at the bottom nationally when it comes to adequately funding basic education. The hearing included discussion on how the fair funding formula could help better serve students and the economy. Education investments ultimately result in economic returns to the state in the form of a more prepared workforce and productive citizens. Level Up funding from the current fiscal year was also discussed. Sean Brandon, budget analyst for the House Appropriations Committee, began his presentation noting the importance of that constitutional commitment and shared how the Fair Funding Formula and budget practices allocate funds to school districts across the state.

Joseph Roy, Bethlehem Area School District Superintendent, and Karen Beck-Pooley, Bethlehem Area School District Director, shared a district-level perspective of how they use the state funds received, noting challenges with charter school reimbursements and rising special education costs. Communities of color are disproportionately impacted by a lack of equitable state education funding. Regional tax capacity often determines the quality of education students receive. Beck-Pooley called attention to the unfortunate statistic that Pennsylvania remains the state with the largest per pupil spending gap between richest and poorest districts.

Samuelson was joined by Policy Committee Chairman Ryan Bizzarro and members of the House Democratic Policy Committee.