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In this Update:

• Senate Passes Bills to Help Veterans
• Servicemembers, Military Families and Employers Can Connect on Free Job Board
• Fish for Free on Sunday, May 26
• Save for Education, Win Prizes with New Promotion
• Inspired by Our Youth

Senate Passes Bills to Help Veterans

On Memorial Day – which is Monday, May 27 – we will pay tribute to the fallen warriors who fought to preserve our American ideals. Let us say a prayer in gratitude and remembrance.

The Senate has also focused on helping veterans by passing bills to provide 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.

Servicemembers, Military Families 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.

The job board is user-friendly, offering advanced functionalities for application history and saved jobs. The system also 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.

‘Fish for Free’ on Sunday, May 26

On Sunday, May 26, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) will host a “Fish for Free” day to allow anyone (resident or non-resident) to legally fish on all Pennsylvania waterways. No license is required, but all other fishing regulations will still apply.

This is the first of two dates set by the PFBC to enhance fishing opportunities. The next day is Independence Day, Thursday, July 4.

This is a great way to expose the next generation of anglers to the outdoors.

Save for Education, Win Prizes with New Promotion

To encourage participation in PA’s 529 Guaranteed Savings Plan (GSP), the Pennsylvania State Treasury has established a promotion that coincides with 529 Day on May 29, that gives qualifying accounts a chance to win  $5,529 or $2,529. 

PA 529 Guaranteed Savings Plan (GSP) accounts opened between May 1 and May 31 with at least $10 in contributions are eligible for the $2,529 prize. 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.

Inspired by Our Youth

I always appreciate the opportunity to visit with young people from across the district.  Whether they’re coming to the Capitol for a school tour or are involved in community events, or are being recognized for a special achievement, I’m inspired by their current pursuits, future plans, and limitless potential. 

This week, I was pleased to honor our newest Eagle Scouts, Jared, Gabe, and Ethan from Troop 333, Andrew C. from Troop 195, and Andrew S. from Troop 171 at their respective Courts of Honor.  Each has an incredible story and each has demonstrated remarkable service-oriented leadership. Congratulations, again, to them and their families.

Also this week, I was delighted to welcome students, teachers and parents from both Newport Elementary and Iron Forge Elementary to the Capitol. Engaging with young learners on the subjects of government, civics, and our beautiful Capitol building is always a joy. I hope they had as much fun as I did!

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