(12/2023) Treating Avian Flu is a Dicey Proposition for Farmers
The House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, of which I am Republican chairman, held an informational meeting this week on Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). HPAI is a highly volatile foreign animal disease that, once detected, requires the costly destruction of affected flocks and intense sanitation to prevent its spread. Agriculture officials, including Dr. Michael Kornreich, USDA Pennsylvania area veterinarian in charge, testified Monday that vaccinating the birds is also problematic because it signals our foreign customers that the disease is present here, prompting them to close their markets to us.
PA Insurance Marketplace Now Open
Pennsylvania’s official health insurance marketplace, Pennie, is now open for Pennsylvanians to enroll in health coverage for 2024. This annual open enrollment period permits Pennsylvanians to compare quality health plans at the lowest costs through Pennie. The deadline to enroll is Dec. 15. Coverage begins on New Year’s Day. Plans and prices change every year, so please be sure to review your options.
Current enrollees should make sure their family size, income and contact information are up to date. Pennie is the only place where Pennsylvanians can get financial savings to reduce the cost of health coverage and care. The program coordinates with Pennsylvania’s Medicaid program and picks up where Medicaid leaves off. Pennsylvanians who no longer qualify for Medicaid because of changes in income can see large savings on private health plans through Pennie.
For anyone who is no longer eligible for Medicaid and still needs coverage, the open enrollment period is the last chance to enroll for 2024. For more information, click here. Pennsylvanians interested in shopping for and purchasing health coverage through Pennie can visit pennie.com or call Pennie customer service at 1-844-844-8040. Individuals in need of assistance navigating coverage options, can go to pennie.com/connect to find help.
Heating Assistance Program Now Open
Low-income residents who struggle with their home heating bills can now apply for assistance from the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). LIHEAP is a federally funded program that helps individuals and families pay their heating bills through home heating energy assistance grants. It also provides crisis grants to help in the event of an emergency or if a resident is in danger of losing his or her heat due to broken equipment, lack of fuel or termination of utility service.
The income eligibility guidelines for LIHEAP are set at 150% of the federal poverty income level. For example, the income limit for an individual is $21,870 and for a family of four it is $45,000. Residents may apply for LIHEAP online at compass.state.pa.us, by phone at 1-866-550-4355 or by contacting the County Assistance Office in their county of residence. Click here for additional information. The program runs through April 5.
Education Bills Take Center Stage
This week, the House passed two bills to help improve the cost and transparency for students attending one of Pennsylvania’s state-related universities. The bills promote greater accountability and a commitment to keeping in-state tuition more affordable for Pennsylvania students. House Bill 1461 maintains level state funding for Penn State and Temple universities and the University of Pittsburgh.
Lincoln University would receive a 21% increase over last year and the Pennsylvania College of Technology (under Penn State) would receive 12% more, amounting to approximately $3.2 million for each school. To boost transparency, the governor also signed into law House Bill 1556, fully subjecting the schools to disclosures under the state’s Right-to-Know Law. Unfortunately, a last-minute maneuver by House Democrats stripped $150 million out of the Education Code bill for the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) and the Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC) programs. This prompted me to vote against the bill. This funding had been agreed to in the state General Fund budget to provide a lifeline for many students in low-income families and those attending the state’s poorest performing schools.
The funding would have enabled those students to attend a school of their choice and have a fighting chance at a good education. Instead, House Bill 301 is now back in the Senate, further delaying final completion of the state budget.
Hunters Can Share Their Harvest
The state Department of Agriculture and Pennsylvania Game Commission are again encouraging hunters to consider sharing their deer harvest to provide thousands of pounds of venison to people in need. Hunters Sharing the Harvest (HSH) is Pennsylvania’s venison donation program for hunters who share their extra venison via a statewide network of participating butchers to food pantries and community assistance centers across the Commonwealth.
One deer provides about 200 servings of high-protein, low-fat venison. Thanks to the program’s generous supporters, hunters pay nothing to ensure their venison helps to provide a warm meal to someone in need in their community. The program reported record participation last year with 235,532 pounds of venison donated in the 2022-23 deer season. HSH has distributed 2.2 million pounds of donated venison since 1991. More information about the program and how to participate is available at sharedeer.org.
