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| The Barb Wire |
| #Listrak\DateStampLong# |
The latest news from the State Capitol |
Please do not reply directly to this email, as it returns to an unmanned account.
You are welcome to contact me through this link.
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Barb’s Weekly Update
My team recently attended a book launch and signing event for “Operation Desert Storm” by Col. Frank Hancock at the Whistlestop Bookshop in Carlisle. During the event, Col. Hancock, along with fellow veterans, shared personal accounts of their experiences during the Desert Storm campaign. The book highlights a pivotal moment when two young soldiers grew concerned about intelligence reports indicating an unoccupied trench within their landing zone. Their subsequent actions proved critical, ultimately saving their entire battalion.
We are pleased to welcome Kim Lehman to our team. Kim brings valuable experience from her previous roles at Rite Aid Corporation and is a certified notary. We’re excited to have her on board and look forward to the contributions she will make. Welcome Kim!
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Honoring Our Veterans
This Saturday, Dec. 13, is Wreaths Across America Day, a program which has been honoring our country’s veterans since 1992.
Here is a list of cemeteries that will be participating and looking for volunteers to help lay wreaths:
• Locust Grove Cemetery - N. Queen St., Shippensburg (2:30 p.m.).
• Middle Spring Presbyterian Church - 135 Middle Spring Road, Shippensburg (10 a.m.).
• Old Public Graveyard - South Bedford and East South Sts., Carlisle (11 a.m.).
• Prospect Hill Cemetery - 124 Carlisle Road, Newville (noon).
• Rehoboth Cemetery and Jacksonville Cemetery - 511 Walnut Bottom Road, Walnut Bottom.
• Spring Hill Cemetery - 114 N. Morris St., Shippensburg (noon).
More than 3 million sponsored veterans’ wreaths were placed on headstones of our nation's service members last year at more than 4,900 locations across the country.
Volunteers play a huge role in making this happen. If you're interested in helping with wreath laying, your help is greatly appreciated.
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Online Voting Open for Paint the Plow Program in South Central PA
Students from Carlisle Area High School, as well as Central Dauphin East, Susquenita, Trinity, and West Perry high schools are competing in PennDOT’s annual “Paint the Plow” program. This is Carlisle’s entry under this year’s theme, “Don’t race. Allow some space.”
Paint the Plow is a statewide initiative that highlights safe winter driving while showcasing the artistic talents of students across Pennsylvania. It encourages motorists to keep a safe distance from plows and other vehicles during winter weather conditions.
You can vote for your favorite design through an online survey posted on the PennDOT website, penndot.pa.gov/PaintthePlow. The voting form can be found by clicking on the county names within the table. Participation is limited to one vote per person per district and voting ends this Sunday, Dec. 14.
The plow with the most votes in each district will earn the title of “Fan Favorite,” while PennDOT staff will also select a “Judges’ Pick” based on creativity, theme execution, and overall appearance.
Winners will be announced later this month.
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Mailing Delays from Some State Agencies
The Shapiro administration recently announced the termination of a vendor responsible for handling outbound mail from some state agencies. This vendor failed to deliver a significant volume of documents, and it remains unclear how many Pennsylvanians may have been impacted.
Among the affected agencies was the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), which indicated some invitations to renew driver licenses and vehicle registrations, driver license camera cards, vehicle registration cards and address update cards were delayed.
A new vendor has been hired, and all previously unsent mail should be delivered within 7-10 days.
If you are waiting for official paperwork from a state agency and believe your mail has been delayed, you are welcome to contact my office(s). We may be able to assist in determining the status of missing materials or help facilitate communication with the appropriate agency.
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More Retirees Eligible for Reduced-Fee Vehicle Registration Next Year
The income eligibility limit for Pennsylvania’s reduced-fee Retired Status Vehicle Registration will increase next year due to a change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Currently set at $29,906, the annual income limit will increase to $30,778 effective Jan. 1.
Retirees who qualify pay $12 rather than the standard $48 registration fee.
Qualified applicants must be retired and receiving Social Security or other pension payments. Please note, 100% of a veterans' benefit payment or payment to the unmarried surviving spouse, upon the death of a veteran, should be excluded from the income calculation.
The applicant must be listed as an owner on the vehicle’s registration and only one vehicle per qualified applicant may be registered for the reduced fee. Qualifying vehicles must be a passenger car or truck with a registered gross weight of not more than 9,000 pounds.
A new state law I supported in 2024 increased the income eligibility rate by more than $10,000 for the current calendar year and directed the income limit be adjusted annually based on CPI.
Click here to learn more about the program or contact my office for assistance.
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Wreaths Across America
I was honored to attend the Wreaths Across America ceremony at the Capitol with the Cumberland County Honor Guard. “Grace Notes” from The Christian School of Grace Baptist Church performed a wonderful rendition of the National Anthem. Thank you to Sen. Devlin Robinson (R-37) and Major General John R. Pippy for hosting the event.
State leaders, capitol staff and visitors of all ages gathered earlier this week for the official lighting of the Capitol Christmas tree! The 25-foot Douglas Fir comes from Crystal Spring Tree Farm in Carbon County and is adorned with 2,440 LED lights and more than 1,700 handmade ornaments created by children and senior citizens from across the Commonwealth. This is the tallest tree to grace the Capitol Rotunda in at least 10 years.
If you’d like to see it in person, the tree in the Rotunda will be lit daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. through Jan. 8. An additional tree, located outdoors on the Capitol steps, will be lit daily from 5 p.m. to midnight, also through Jan. 8.
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Happy Chanukah!
As we gather around the Chanukah candles, their light reminds us of how powerful hope and unity can be. This year, I hope we all find renewed strength to choose peace in our homes, communities and the world. May the light of Chanukah guide us toward days free of all forms of violence. Wishing everyone a safe, peaceful and joyful Chanukah.
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| Office Locations |
| District Office: 437 E North Street | Carlisle, PA 17013 | Phone: 717-249-1990 |
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| 427 Irvis Office Building | House Box 202199 Harrisburg, PA 17120-2199 | 717-772-2280 |
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