Gov. Josh Shapiro

In an effort to boost environmental literacy and sustainability across the Commonwealth, the Shapiro Administration has announced that applications are now being accepted for the U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools (ED-GRS) and the PA Pathways to Green Schools awards.

Each state may nominate up to five Pre-K-12 schools or districts and one postsecondary institution for the annual ED-GRS program. USDE then selects and announces awardees in the spring. Eligibility requirements are located on the U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools website.

Pennsylvania schools, districts, and institutions of higher education are invited to submit their self-nomination materials for the 2023-24 the ED-GRS program and PA Pathways to Green Schools Program awards via the dual application, available on the PDE website.

ED-GRS nominees must show progress in the following areas: reducing environmental impacts, such as waste, water, greenhouse gases and transportation; improving health and wellness with consideration to air quality, lighting, thermal comfort, school nutrition and outdoor physical activity; and offering effective environmental and sustainability education that emphasizes hands-on, real-world learning, civic engagement, STEM connections and green career preparation.

Visit the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s Pathways to Green Schools Web page to apply.

State Sen. Lisa Boscola

Boscola has announced that she has secured an additional $1 million for the Bethlehem Area School District through the Ready to Learn Block Grant.

The purpose of the Ready to Learn Block Grant is to enhance learning opportunities for students and provide resources for schools to innovate at the local level. The Commonwealth’s approved 2023-24 budget allocated $295 million to Ready to Learn Block grants and the Fiscal Code approved in December 2023 set the formula for the distribution to school districts in the Commonwealth.

Under the formula, Bethlehem Area School District was slated to be awarded $1,797,733. Sen. Boscola’s efforts to secure the additional funding brings the total to $2,797,733. The seven school districts within the 18th Senatorial District will be receiving a total of $5,788,392 in Ready To Learn Block Grant funding.

Boscola announced in late January that PENNVEST has approved a total of $7,647,000 in state investment for projects by the Bethlehem Township Municipal Authority to improve stormwater retention to aid in flood prevention and the Easton Suburban Water Authority to replace an estimated 200 water lines.

The Bethlehem Township Municipal Authority was approved for a low interest loan in the amount of $4,354,000. Specifically, the financing will allow BTMA to construct a new storm sewer system to help manage stormwater runoff, including installation of 3,619 feet of new storm sewer with 55 inlets, and replacement of existing culverts on cross streets between Walnut and Turner streets. Vertical curbing will also be installed as part of the project to help capture runoff.

The Easton Suburban Water Authority was approved for a total of $3,293,000 in financing (a grant of $1,102,099 and a low interest loan of $2,190,901). This state investment will allow the ESWA to review approximately 300 public and private lead and/or galvanized service lines to determine which lines need to be replaced. Based on prior experience, ESWA estimates that 195 lines will need to be replaced. The project will include all necessary appurtenances related to the service line replacements including valves, water mains, and test pits.

Boscola has announced the advancement of her legislation, SB473, which goes after drivers with unpaid tolls on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. The Senate, in a 50-0 vote, favorably passed SB473 on final passage. The bill proposes the garnishment of Pennsylvania Lottery winnings and state income tax returns from offenders to recover unpaid tolls. With bipartisan backing from the Senate, SB473 now advances to the House of Representatives.

Initially introduced in 2022, SB473 was prompted by a report from the Pennsylvania Turnpike, revealing a concerning projected loss of $155 million in unpaid tolls from April 2021 to March 2022 - a 49 percent increase from the prior year’s $105 million.

State Rep. Jeane McNeill

McNeill announced she is expanding the assistance available through her office by resuming her monthly satellite hours at the Fountain Hill Borough Hall in Fountain Hill. Beginning Sept. 8, McNeill will have staff at Fountain Hill Borough Hall - 941 Long St. from 9 a.m. to noon. McNeill said residents wishing to avoid potential wait times can schedule an appointment by calling her office at 610-266-1273, located at 1080 Schadt Ave. in Whitehall.

McNeill congratulates several fire companies and emergency medical services within the 133rd Legislative District on receiving grant funding to continue to support their ability to provide emergency response, support and treatment. These include: Bethlehem City Emergency Medical Service Fire - $15,000; Bethlehem City Emergency Medical Service EMS - $6,094

McNeill released a statement on the passage of H.B. 1500 - the minimum wage bill.

This legislation would increase the minimum wage in Pennsylvania to:

• $11.00 per hour effective Jan. 1, 2024.

• $13.00 per hour effective Jan. 1, 2025.

• $15.00 per hour effective Jan. 1, 2026

There would be annual cost-of-living increases beginning in 2027. The bill would also set the minimum wage for tipped workers at 60 percent of the hourly minimum wage - which has been stuck at $2.83 per hour since the 20th century.

McNeill has announced state funding totaling $940,000 to improve the safety and accessibility at the Lehigh Valley International Airport by reconfiguring the existing terminal roadways that serve the Multimodal Transportation Center and the Airport Terminal at ABE, to meet the latest design, safety and capacity standards.

The funding comes from the Multimodal Transportation Fund, which is intended to provide financial assistance to municipalities, councils of governments, businesses, economic development organizations, public transportation agencies, and ports and rail freight entities to improve transportation infrastructure that enhances communities, pedestrian safety and transit revitalization. For more information about the program, visitpenndot.pa.gov and click on Multimodal Program under the “Projects & Programs” button.

State Rep. Bob Freeman

State Rep. Robert Freeman said the Commonwealth Financing Authority has approved $214,850 in state grants for various projects throughout his legislative district.

Greenways, Trails and Recreation Program grants $100,000 for Hellertown’s Reinhard Park Development Phase I.

Freeman said $469,000 in funding from the Pa. Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has been awarded to two parks in Northampton County. Hellertown Borough will use its $219,000 to rehabilitate and further develop Reinhard Park. The work will include renovating the baseball field, building pedestrian walkways, gazebo, and stormwater management measures, installing fencing, making the park accessible to people with disabilities, landscaping, and other related site improvements.

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed Freeman’s HB450, which will allow communities to extend their participation in the state’s Main Street program for up to a total of 10 years, according to Rep. Robert Freeman, House Bill 450’s author. The Main Street Act was created to provide grants for commercial downtown revitalization efforts, including infrastructure improvements, marketing and promoting the established commercial downtown within the Main Street area, and façade grants, all under the direction of a Main Street manager.

House Bill 450 would give the state Department of Community and Economic Development authority to grant a period of up to an additional five years for administrative costs associated with employing a Main Street manager if it determines that it would be beneficial to the community in reaching its revitalization goals. The bill now heads to the state Senate for consideration.

The state Senate Education Committee approved by a bipartisan vote June 6 House Bill 100, written by Freeman. The legislative program would provide academic credit to high school juniors and seniors for tutoring students in lower grades. This legislation is not a state mandate; it is a program public school entities can choose to utilize at little or no cost to taxpayers. It would require the state Department of Education to establish tutoring program guidelines, which would provide academic credit to grade 11 and 12 students for tutoring students in lower grades. The bill now goes to the full state Senate for consideration.

State Rep. Steve Samuelson

Of $52.5 million in grants for 225 Recreation and Conservation projects around the state, Samuelson said two are for the City of Bethlehem. These include $500,000 to help the city connect the South Bethlehem Greenway with the Saucon Rail Trail, allowing access from Bethlehem to Quakertown, and $250,000 toward improvements at Friendship Park on North Street, including pedestrian walkways, a plaza, pavilion, basketball court and splash pad.

A $108,650 state grant awarded today will allow the city of Bethlehem to update its recreation plan, announced state Reps. Steve Samuelson and Jeanne McNeill.

Samuelson said the grant was provided through the Greenways, Trails and Recreation Program, which funds projects that involve development, rehabilitation and improvements to public parks, recreation areas, greenways, trails and river conservation. Grants can be awarded for up to $250,000 for any project. A 15 percent match of the total project cost is required.

The CFA is an independent state agency that oversees the distribution of Pennsylvania’s economic stimulus packages to support public projects.

State Rep. Susan Wild

Congresswoman Susan Wild announced that Pennsylvania has been awarded $193,486,298 in funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. This investment will help individuals and families with low incomes pay home heating costs this winter, as well as prevent energy shut-offs, weatherize homes to increase energy efficiency, and make minor energy-related home repairs.

Pennsylvania was awarded a total of $193,486,298.

• $193,080,868 from the regular LIHEAP block grant funding.

• $3,405,430 in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding for Fiscal Year 2024.

Visit energyhelp.us to learn more about how to apply for LIHEAP and identify if you are eligible for assistance using the LIEAP Eligibility Tool or call the hotline at 1-866-674-6327.

Wild announced Nov. 7 over $2.2 billion in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding has been slated for Pennsylvania. These investments will fund repairs to roads and bridges in our commonwealth and invest in our electric vehicle charging network.

The resources Pennsylvania will receive from the U.S. Department of Transportation for Fiscal Year 2024 include:

• $1.9 billion for road replacements and improvements.

• $353 million to repair and rebuild bridges.

• $36.5 million to build electric vehicle chargers.

Pennsylvania is expected to receive over $13.2 billion over the next five years to fund improvements to our roads and bridges. These investments will address the 3,353 bridges and over 7,540 miles of highway in or commonwealth currently in need of repair.

whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Pennsylvania-Fact-Sheet-E3.pdf for more information about how the Bipartisan Infrastrucure Law is getting to work for Pennsylvania.

U.S. Sen. Bob Casey

Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) introduced the Safe Schools Improvement Act to safeguard against bullying and harassment in K-12 schools. The bill would require school districts to adopt codes of conduct specifically prohibiting bullying and harassment on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics), disability, and religion. Companion legislation has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. Linda T. Sánchez (D-CA-38).

Te Safe Schools Improvement Act will require schools and school districts receiving federal funding to specifically prohibit bullying and harassment; provide annual notice to parents, students, and education professionals on prohibited conduct and procedures for students or parents to report incidents of bullying or harassment; and support efforts to prevent and respond to incidents of bullying and harassment both in school and online through prevention programs and policies with proven effectiveness.

Casey announced in early November new federal initiatives to support economic revitalization and workforce development for Pennsylvania energy communities and workers. With the announcement of a Rapid Response Team, Pennsylvania energy communities will be able to access federal resources to train workers and invest in an energy economy of the future more easily. The announcement was followed by panels by Administration and state officials on how local Pennsylvania communities can better compete for federal investments. Sen. Casey was joined by U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Jennifer Granholm, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, and Biden Administration officials to tout the Rapid Response Team announcement.

Casey and Rick Scott (R-FL) Nov. 9 introduced the Disclosing Investments in Foreign Adversaries Act to provide transparency into investments made by American hedge funds and private equity firms in countries of concern like China and Russia. Currently, private equity, hedge funds, and venture capital firms can invest Americans’ savings and pensions in China without the American people’s knowledge. The legislation would require these private investment funds to annually disclose any assets invested in countries like China to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC); require the SEC to publicly release a report of firms investing assets in countries of concern and the percentage of those invested assets; entities selling stock in the private markets would also be required to disclose the recipient of the investment, the intended location of the investment, and the investment’s intended purpose.

State Treasurer Stacy Garrity

Garrity has announced it is National Unclaimed Property Month, that the Pennsylvania Treasury returned more than $211 million in unclaimed property in 2022. Treasury also returned 90 military decorations and memorabilia to veterans or their families. Treasury is working to return more than $4 billion in unclaimed property to the people it rightfully belongs to veterans or their families. To search Treasury’s unclaimed property database, visit patreasury.gov/unclaimed-property.

Unclaimed property can include dormant bank accounts, abandoned stocks, uncashed checks, and more. Property is always available for the rightful owner to claim.

Northampton County Executive Lamont G. McClure

McClure the Northampton County Farmland Preservation Board celebrated the 250th preserved farm in Northampton County June 26 at the Good Work Farm property in Upper and Lower Nazareth Townships. This small but crucial working farm is a testament to show even smaller farms add value to the agricultural output and stability of Northampton County’s working farms