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| Weekly Roundup |
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The latest news from the State Capitol |
Shredding Event Scheduled for April 6
As a free service to the community, I am co-hosting with South Whitehall Township a shredding event to give residents of the 183rd Legislative District a chance to safeguard themselves against identity theft by having their personal documents securely destroyed.
The event will be held on Saturday, April 6, from 10 a.m. to noon, at Covered Bridge Park, 2465 Wehr Mill Road, Allentown. Acceptable items include all paper and manila folders. No more than four bags or boxes per household are permitted, and no businesses, please. Staples or paper clips do not need to be removed. For more information, please call one of my district offices at 610-502-2701 or 610-760-9805.
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Concealed Carry Seminar Scheduled for April 11
My concealed carry seminar to give residents an opportunity to learn about Pennsylvania’s concealed carry laws and firearms safety is happening soon.
The seminar will be held on Thursday, April 11, from 6:30-9 p.m., at Bethany Wesleyan Church, 675 Blue Mountain Drive, Cherryville. Doors open at 6 p.m. The program includes information from the district attorney and a director of security and intelligence operations.
The event is free, but space is limited. Residents should RSVP by calling my office at 610-760-9805 or by filling out a form on my website by clicking here.
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Helping Our First Responders
Last week, I hosted a Fire/EMS Roundtable at the Diamond Fire Company Social Hall in Walnutport. Issues touched upon included state and federal grant programs, training requirements and a legislative update. Thank you to all our first responders.
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Keeping Vaping Products Out of the Hands of Minors
To help keep harmful vaping products out of the hands of minors, the House this week passed legislation that would add “electronic nicotine delivery systems” (ENDS) to the law that currently makes it illegal to sell tobacco products to minors. House Bill 97 also would make it illegal for students to use tobacco products on school grounds. The devices include, but are not limited to, e-cigarettes, JUULs and vape pens.
While the products are touted as harmless by some, medical experts have warned that the high doses of nicotine available in many products negatively affect the developing adolescent brain, and the long-term effects of inhaling vaporized chemicals are unknown.
The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration.
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Ensuring Seniors Stay Eligible for PACE and PACENET
This week, the House Aging and Older Adult Services Committee approved a package of bills designed to help eligible seniors continue to receive PACE and PACENET prescription drug benefits.
House Bill 754 would ensure any individual enrolled in PACE and PACENET as of Dec. 31, 2018, remains eligible if their maximum income limit is exceeded due solely to a Social Security cost-of-living adjustment.
House Bill 375 would exclude the cashing of savings bonds for seniors ages 65 and older from being counted toward income when applying for lottery-funded programs, including PACE and PACENET.
The final part of the package, House Bill 684, would remove the value of federal veterans’ disability payments and the value of all state service-connected payments from income eligibility calculations for the PACE and PACENET programs.
The bills now go to the full House for consideration.
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How Much Do My Prescriptions Cost?
The state Department of Aging maintains an online database to help consumers compare the cost of frequently used medications.
The cost of prescriptions for cash-paying customers can vary widely between pharmacies, as each pharmacy sets its own prices for cash payers. Patients with prescription insurance coverage will also find price shopping useful if their coinsurance is based on a percent of the total cash price.
The online tool updates prices weekly, lists prices by ZIP code or distance from location, includes pharmacy store details, and lists pharmacies with low-cost generics and those that match lower prices.
You can learn more about the tool by clicking here or calling 1-800-835-4080.
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Safety Tips for Kids on the Internet
The internet comes with benefits, as well as risks, especially for children. Parents are encouraged to help kids follow safe and responsible computer practices.
The best way to keep kids safe online is to start conversations about being online early and continue to monitor their internet use and discuss how to use it responsibly. It is important children know that some people online have bad intentions, including bullies, predators, hackers, scammers and those sharing inappropriate content.
Ensuring children use cell phones responsibly and safely means establishing what responsible use looks like, including if calls or texting are allowed during dinner or while doing homework, ensuring they treat others the same way they want to be treated, and deciding on the privacy settings, web filters and child safety controls you want on your child’s phone.
Teens and tweens communicate online using social media, chat rooms and virtual worlds, and it is important they know how to safely navigate these spaces. They should understand that after they post something, it cannot be taken back. Even if they delete it, they should limit what they share.
You can learn more about keeping your kids safe on the internet by clicking here.
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| Office Locations |
2030 Center Street, Northampton, PA 18067 | Phone: 610-502-2701
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Slatington Borough Hall, 125 S. Walnut Street, First Floor, Slatington, PA 18080 | Phone: 610-760-9805
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402A Irvis Office, PO Box 202183. Harrisburg, PA 17120-2183 | (717) 772-5398
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| Email Address: ZMako@pahousegop.com |
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