Senator Vogel E-Newsletter

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In this Update:

  • Our Offices will be Closed Tomorrow in Observance of Memorial Day
  • Thank You to All Who Came to Our Kids Extravaganza
  • Highlights in the 47th
  • Pre-Register Today for Our Butler County Senior Expo!
  • Senate Passes Bills to Help Veterans
  • Job Seekers and Employers Can Connect on Free Job Board
  • Unemployment Compensation Hints for School Bus Drivers
  • Win Money for Your Child’s Education

Our Offices will be Closed Tomorrow in Observance of Memorial Day

Tomorrow marks the solemn occasion of Memorial Day, when we honor the men and women who gave their lives serving our nation with dignity, bravery and distinction.

Today and every day, remember the valuable contributions and tremendous sacrifices members of our Armed Forces have made on behalf of our country and the freedoms we so deeply cherish. The legacy of the veteran cannot be lost.

In observance of Memorial Day, my Harrisburg, Rochester, and Cranberry Township offices will be closed tomorrow and will reopen on Tuesday, May 28 at 8:30 a.m.

Thank You to All Who Came to Our Kids Extravaganza!

Thank you to all who attended our annual Kids Extravaganza last weekend as well as the vendors who dedicated their time to sharing important information and activities with the families who came! It was a great time with some great conversations!

See more photos here.

Highlights in the 47th

I had the pleasure of attending the Butler County Chamber of Commerce’s recent “State of the Commonwealth” event where PA officials and business professionals gather to discuss how we can best help the business community in Butler County!

Pre-Register Today for Our Butler County Senior Expo!

Our Butler County Senior Expo is just two weeks away! Join us on Friday, June 7, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Discovery Church (170 Scharberry Lane in Mars).

You can pre-register for this event here.

If you are unable to make this expo, we will be holding a senior expo in Beaver County on Friday, Sept. 27, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Community College of Beaver County.

If you have any questions, you can reach out to our Cranberry Township office at 878-978-2575.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Senate Passes Bills to Help Veterans

The Senate has focused on helping living veterans by passing bills to award them with new benefits and make sure their families are aware of benefits that have already been granted. Both bills await consideration from the House of Representatives.

Senate Bill 973 would provide Korean Americans who served in the Vietnam War with the same state veterans benefits as their U.S. counterparts. There are more than 3,000 naturalized Korean American citizens who served in the Vietnam War as a part of the Korean Armed Forces, including hundreds who now call Pennsylvania home.

Senate Bill 1139 would help grieving families of deceased U.S. military veterans access their federal Department of Veterans Affairs burial benefits. Funeral directors, funeral parlors or cemetery companies would be required to notify the director of the county veterans assistance office when a veteran living in the county passes. They would also have to provide the deceased veteran’s family with contact information for the county director.

Job Seekers and Employers Can Connect on Free Job Board

Veterans, National Guard members and military family members can use a free job board that has nearly 10,000 employment and internship postings. While it is Pennsylvania-centric, there are listings in dozens of other states.

It’s easy to manage your job search process with application history and saved jobs. The system even allows applicants to store multiple versions of their resume for flexibility when applying to different jobs. The Pennsylvania National Guard Associations’ job board also offers employers the opportunity to post jobs, search the resume database and create resume alerts.

Unemployment Compensation Hints for School Bus Drivers

It continues to be challenging to find bus drivers so children can safely and reliably travel between home and school each day. When the problem is bad enough, it can even shorten the school day and limit the learning students can accomplish.

To avoid impacts to students’ education, it’s important to retain as many bus drivers as possible. Of course, they are not needed in the summer and aren’t able to collect a paycheck during that time. Unemployment compensation (UC) helps to bridge the gap until the school year begins so bus drivers aren’t forced to abandon their critical roles to pay their bills.

Information is available to help school bus drivers who will be laid off during the summer successfully claim their unemployment compensation. First, it’s crucial to claim during the correct week: the first week in which they are actually unemployed. Second, understand that UC and workers’ compensation are different when filling out the UC claim form. Please reach out to my office if you still have issues with your claim.

Win Money for Your Child’s Education

In honor of PA 529 Day on May 29, new PA 529 Guaranteed Savings Plan (GSP) accounts opened between May 1 and May 31 with at least $10 in contributions are eligible for a chance to win $5,529 or $2,529. Current PA 529 GSP account owners are also eligible to win $5,529 if they had a balance of at least $10 as of April 30 and receive a contribution of at least $10 in May.

The PA 529 GSP helps families save for future college and career education expenses by keeping pace with rising college tuition. They offer tax-advantaged savings and the flexibility to pay for a wide variety of education expenses, including at any qualified educational institution, from K-12 to college and career training programs. Funds can also be used for room and board, tuition and books.

Anyone – parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and family friends – can contribute to a PA 529 plan. Saving with a PA 529 plan does not impact a student’s eligibility for Pennsylvania state financial aid.

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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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