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Senator Elder Vogel

Dear Friend,

I am pleased to present my electronic newsletter. These e-newsletters enable me to provide information about issues, events and activities in Harrisburg and around the 47th Senatorial District to you in a timely manner while saving postage costs.

If you find this e-newsletter useful, I invite you to visit my website www.senatoreldervogel.com for more information about your state government. If you do not wish to receive these e-newsletters, please click the “unsubscribe” button at the bottom of the page.

Sincerely,

Elder Vogel


 

I’m hosting my annual Veterans Salute Breakfast in conjunction with CCBC on November 12, 2016. See flier for more information.


Unemployment Compensation for Seasonal Workers Restored

More than 40,000 seasonal workers will once again be eligible for unemployment compensation benefits thanks to legislation recently signed into law.

In 2012, legislation signed into law (Act 60 of 2012) made sweeping changes to Pennsylvania’s Unemployment Compensation (UC) Law in an effort to ensure the solvency of the state’s UC fund. One provision of the bill increased the amount of wages an individual must earn outside of their highest-paying quarter from 20% to 49.5% of total wages. This provision almost guaranteed that seasonal employees, such as those employed in road construction and the building trades, would not be eligible for unemployment during the winter offseason. For this reason, I voted against the bill at that time.

Fortunately, I and my colleagues in the Senate were able to work together and deliver a bipartisan compromise that lowers the aforementioned threshold from 49.5% to 37% earned outside of the highest quarter while also generating savings to ensure the viability of the UC fund into the future. As a result of Act 144 of 2016, more than 40,000 seasonal workers will once again be eligible for the unemployment compensation that so many rely upon in the offseason when work is sparse.


Legislature Approves Liquor Law Reforms

I voted for and the Legislature approved legislation boosting consumer convenience for responsible adults looking to purchase beer and other malt beverages.

House Bill 1196 permits beer distributors to now sell malt or brewed beverages in any amount. For the first time in Pennsylvania, consumers can now buy six packs, growlers, and mix-and-match beer packs from the same place you go to buy cases.

This was just the latest measure in a series of initiatives to reform Pennsylvania’s antiquated liquor laws. Earlier this year, legislation was signed into law permitting the sale of wine and beer at licensed grocery stores and restaurants, as well as legalizing the shipment of wine directly to private residences from wine wholesalers throughout the country.


Senate Approves Comprehensive Animal Abuse Prevention Measure

I voted for and the Senate approved legislation to combat animal abuse and neglect.

House Bill 869 includes measures to prevent tethering dogs in unsafe conditions, strengthen penalties for animal abusers, and include horses under Pennsylvania’s animal cruelty laws. Additionally, it would require the forfeiture of any animals by persons convicted of animal abuse.

The legislation still requires passage by the House of Representatives before being sent to the Governor for signature into law. As one of the law’s sponsors has pointed out, there is still time to pass this into law.


It’s an honor to be recognized by Friends of McGuire Memorial with their Community Star Award. Thank you for the wonderful work you do in our community.


Thousands Take Part in Telephone Town Hall on Heroin/Opioid Crisis

Over 19,000 households recently took part across 14 southwestern Pennsylvania counties for a Telephone Town Hall meeting hosted by myself and other area legislators to discuss Pennsylvania’s heroin and opioid addiction epidemic. This meeting was a great opportunity for me to hear from constituents with policy solutions for this critically important issue as well as hear personal stories about how opioid addiction has impacted their lives.

The discussion included a panel of experts ranging from law enforcement to addiction psychology who answered questions about heroin and opioid addiction.

Click here to listen to this tele-town hall meeting in its entirety.

Because of meetings like this and many others before it, the Legislature has begun to take steps to proactively address the root causes of opioid addiction. Just recently, I voted for, the Legislature approved, and the Governor signed into law four pieces of legislation doing just that:

  • Senate Bill 1202 requiring medication dispensers and prescribers to continue their education in pain management practices.
  • Senate Bill 1367 limiting the amount of opioids that children may be prescribed, with exceptions.
  • Senate Bill 1368 implementing safe opioid prescription curriculum in PA medical schools.
  • House Bill 1699 limiting the amount of opioids which may be prescribed in emergency rooms.

It was great to welcome Miss Erica Young, a student at Freedom Elementary, and her family to Harrisburg. Erica’s poster for PennDOT’s School Bus Safety Poster Contest won 3rd place in her age group of over 600 submissions!

Summer Gas Update

Good news: My legislation to repeal the “Summer Gas” regulation recently took one more step forward in the lengthy regulatory process, meaning we’re one step closer to cheaper gas prices in Western Pennsylvania.

For many years, low Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) gasoline has been mandated for counties in in the Pittsburgh region. This long-standing rule from the Environmental Protection Agency has made gasoline more expensive in Western Pennsylvania by anywhere from 10-15 cents per gallon compared to anywhere else in the state. My legislation, Act 50 of 2014, eliminated that requirement.

On October 18, the Department of Environmental Protection’s Environmental Quality Board approved the repeal of the “Summer Gas” regulation. The next steps in the process are a public comment period, consideration by the Independent Regulatory Review Commission, and then back to the DEP for final action.

It’s been a long road but we’re almost at the finish line. I’ll keep you updated on its progress.


Congratulation to Anderson's Candies in Baden, recently celebrated 100 years of business in Beaver County! Family-owned business for 4 generations! Congratulations and I wish you many more years of success!

Local Districts Receive Safe School Grants

I’m pleased to report that several Beaver and Lawrence county school districts in the 47th Senatorial District were selected to receive Safe School Initiative grants for the training and compensation of school resource officers and to prevent and reduce violent incidents through programs and security equipment.

These funds were a portion of the $6.5 million in competitive grants announced by the Pennsylvania Department of Education last week.

Beaver County recipients include:
Ambridge Area School District, $15,950
Big Beaver Falls Area School District, $60,000
Midland Borough school District, $24,889
New Brighton Area School District, $10,497

Lawrence County recipients include:
Laurel School District, $25,000
Lawrence County CTC, $25,000
New Castle Area School District, $24,475
Shenango Area School District, $57,104


Local Camp Awarded Greenways, Trails, and Recreation Grant

The Salvation Army’s Camp Allegheny & Retreat Center, located just outside of Ellwood City along the Slippery Rock Creek, has been awarded a state grant for camp improvements.

The 110-acre public campground will receive a Greenways, Trails, and Recreation grant for $225,000 to supplement an ambitious overhaul of campground accommodations totaling $1.4 million. Improvements include updating the dining hall kitchen, shingle replacements on cabins, bathroom renovations, and more.

Funding for the grant comes from the Marcellus Legacy Fund, a revenue stream established by Act 13 of 2012 and paid into by unconventional well drillers in Pennsylvania.


I’m hosting a healthcare specialist at my Rochester office in the coming months. See flier for more information.


Yellow Ribbon Girls

As in previous years, my office is once again serving as a collection site for donations for local military service members serving overseas.

Donations will be delivered to the Yellow Ribbon Girls, an Ellwood City based group, who put together care packages to be sent all over the world. Currently, they are working on putting together Christmas care packages. They ask that anyone that wishes to donate for Christmas drop off the supplies before November 10th.

Popular items include: travel size toiletry items, batteries, pens, pencils, beef jerky, snack size nuts, crackers and trail mix, to name a few. For a complete list of items requested, please visit

www.yellowribbongirls.com.
Do you have old prescription drugs collecting dust in your cabinet? Heroin addiction usually starts with prescription drugs; you can make sure that your old pills don’t fall into the wrong hands by dropping them off at one of the many drug take-back boxes in our area. Click here to find one near you.  

Find Where to Vote

The General Election is tomorrow! Do you know where your polling location is? Click here to find it.

Follow Me on Twitter!

I have a Twitter account to better connect with my constituents and provide daily updates on my voting record, whereabouts, state government, and local news affecting the 47 S.D. To access my Twitter page, click here

Please contact me to provide input on any state-related matter, or to receive help in dealing with a state agency.
 

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Contact Me

Offices

Senate Box 203047
362 Main Capitol Building
Harrisburg, PA 17120-3047
Phone: (717) 787-3076
FAX: (717) 772-2756

District
Monday-Friday
8:30 - 4:30

Rochester
488 Adams Street
Rochester, PA 15074-1940
Phone: (724) 774-0444
FAX: (724) 773-7384

New Castle
1905 W. State Street
New Castle, PA 16101
Phone: (724) 654-1444
FAX: (724) 656-3182

 

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