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Capitol Report
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#Listrak\DateStampLong#
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The latest news from the State Capitol
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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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Welcoming Our Future Leaders to the State Capitol!
On Monday, seniors from Cumberland Valley High School toured our state Capitol building! While I was not able to catch them for this photo due to a busy schedule of budget hearings, I hope they enjoyed their time in the halls of the statehouse! I love to see future leaders from the 87th District in Harrisburg.
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Fighting for Fair Education Funding in Cumberland County
Education funding has been at the forefront of discussions in Harrisburg. I’m looking out for our region, and I asked the Acting Secretary of Education why our school districts do not receive our fair share of funding as the fastest-growing region in the entire Commonwealth. When the Acting Secretary responded that the formula was working as designed, I reminded her that the formula fails to account for population growth and has left taxpayers in Cumberland County holding the bag and facing tax increases year after year. Our seniors in particular cannot afford more property tax increases, and it’s unfair that our districts receive far less from the state than our similarly situated districts in other regions.
See my full remarks here.
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Advocating for Our Small Communities
As we review the budget, it’s important to ensure our spending protects all residents of our Commonwealth, especially in small boroughs like Mt. Holly Springs. I have watched tractor-trailers cutting through the borough tear up streets with no recourse, and I have seen out-of-state trucks well exceeding the weight limit cause damage that is now on the backs of borough residents. I’m grateful that the state police will be lending a hand and commercial vehicle inspections to keep this from happening as much moving forward.
See my full remarks here.
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Keep Up with Rep. Kutz
As your State Representative, I am committed to serving you with transparency and accountability. I believe it’s essential for you to see firsthand how your government works and how we’re advocating for our community every day.
That’s why I’m excited to invite you to connect with us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter! On our social media pages, you’ll get an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at the day-to-day operations of our office, including virtual tours, updates on legislative efforts, and the ways we’re working to address the issues that matter most to you.
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Legitimate Unclaimed Property Letters vs. Scam Letters
A scam letter is circulating that falsely claims to be from the U.S. Treasury Department, telling recipients they have unclaimed property. As you may be aware, the Pennsylvania Treasury Department recently announced its Money Match program, which automatically reunites residents with unclaimed property without requiring them to file a claim. Legitimate letters from the Treasury Department will never ask for payment or personal information to release funds.
Here are some red flags that indicate a scam:
• The letter claims funds will be released on a gift card.
• The response address is in South Dakota, but the letter was sent from Kansas.
• A search on the Pennsylvania Treasury Unclaimed Property website may not show any results for the recipient.
If you receive a letter and are unsure if it is legitimate, please call my office at (717) 975-2235 to verify its validity before taking any action.
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Get Ready for REAL ID
The deadline for enforcement of the federal REAL ID Act is fast approaching.
As of May 7, you will have to present a federally accepted form of identification to board a commercial domestic flight or visit a secure federal building that requires ID at the door. Federally accepted forms of identification include a Pennsylvania REAL ID driver’s license or ID card, a U.S. passport or passport card, or a military ID.
While all Pennsylvanians must comply with the new law, obtaining a state-issued REAL ID is not mandatory. PennDOT will continue to offer standard-issue driver’s licenses and photo IDs.
To learn more about REAL ID and how to obtain one, visit www.penndot.gov/REALID.
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Budget Hearings Conclude Next Week
The appropriations committee will conclude its assessment of the governor’s proposed 2025-26 state spending plan next week at hearings with the Department of Corrections and Board of Probation and Parole, Department of Human Services, and Treasury, as well as the Office of the Budget.
The governor proposed a $51.47 billion budget last month, representing a $3.57 billion, or 7.5%, increase over the current fiscal year. The proposed spending increase is significantly more than the anticipated $1.3 billion revenue increase.
Budget hearings stream live at www.PABudget.com/livestreams. For a full schedule, along with video and highlights of each completed hearing, click here.
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Substance Abuse Help for Veterans
Did you know more than one in 10 veterans have been diagnosed with a substance use disorder?
When veterans separate from the military, they may face a host of societal challenges adapting back to civilian life. Most will work through these challenges, but some fall on hard times, and sometimes resort to substance abuse as a way to cope. Help is available for veterans, family members and their advocates at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
Veterans are also encouraged to make use of PA VETConnect, a program aimed at helping veterans address the challenges of homelessness, employment, mental health, addiction and much more. If you or someone you know requires assistance, or would like more information about PA VETConnect or other DMVA programs and services, visit www.dmva.pa.gov.
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PA Tourism Office Releases 2025 Travel Guide
Suffering with the winter doldrums? Check out the 2025 Pennsylvania Travel Guide and get started on your spring and summer travel plans!
The free guide highlights must-see attractions, kid-focused fun, exciting events and many more great vacation ideas.
Sign up to receive a free hard copy of the guide or click here to view it online. Happy travels!
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