Members of the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD), led by chairman Lt. Governor Austin Davis, took action this week to approve $13 million in a variety of grants to fight gun violence and improve prevention programs for Pennsylvania youth.
This encompassed almost $1 million for a new statewide evaluation to comprehend the experiences and needs of gun violence survivors and victim service professionals, developed in response to the Resources for Victims of Gun Violence Initiative announced by Lt. Governor Davis last year.
“With the current epidemic of gun violence across Pennsylvania, it is past time to take action,” said Davis, PCCD chair.“ Supporting gun violence victims must be central to those efforts. I look forward to reviewing the valuable information that will be gathered through the Resources for Victims of Gun Violence initiative and using the findings to create an actionable, equitable path forward for all Pennsylvanians touched by this epidemic.”
Last September, PCCD’s Victims’ Services Advisory Committee announced the availability of $1 million in federal Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program (SCIP) funds as part of a $3 million commitment to support the Resources for Victims of Gun Violence initiative.
This initial funding will be used for:
• Conducting a comprehensive evaluation to understand the experiences and needs of gun violence victims and victim assistance professionals.
• Designing and launching a pilot strategy to establish a centralized “one-stop shop” for victims and communities impacted by gun violence, modeled after a resiliency center approach response to mass violence incidents.
• Providing gun violence victims/survivors and community members access to victim-centered, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive resources to address immediate, short-, and long-term impacts of gun violence.
The Commission also approved a $10 million framework which will result in forthcoming funding for law enforcement agencies to become compliant with National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS), funding to support the Pennsylvania Youth Survey (PAYS), and additional projects aligned with Pennsylvania’s federal Byrne SCIP Plan to address gun violence and behavioral health needs in Pennsylvania communities.
Rep. Meuser co-sponsors legislation that
enforces U.S. sanctions on Iran, proxies
U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser, R-Dallas, this week co-sponsored H.R. 6201 — the Iranian Sanctions Enforcement Act of 2023 — which would cut off Iran’s funding for its terrorist proxies by equipping Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) to enforce oil sanctions.
This legislation is in response to Iran having increased its oil revenue by $80 billion since 2021, which the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has used to fund Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and Hezbollah.
Meuser said the Iranian Sanctions Enforcement Act of 2023 is set to establish the Iran Sanctions Enforcement Fund, empowering Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) to enforce oil sanctions against Iran. It mandates an initial investment of $150 million into this fund, which must be repaid within a decade.
Right now, 75% of the money from U.S. oil seizures goes to the U.S. Victims of State-Sponsored Terror Fund. Under the Iranian Sanctions Enforcement Act, the remaining 25% will go to the enforcement fund, up to $500 million. Any extra money will help reduce the national debt.
Meuser said that groups like Hamas and Hezbollah are causing serious violence in the Middle East and getting money from Iran's illegal oil sales. This law aims to make the enforcement of oil sanctions on Iran by the U.S. stronger by giving resources to HSI to help them target these illegal oil sales. Meuser wants his colleagues to support this bipartisan law because it will help stop Iranian oil trafficking and seize the profits that would have gone to terrorist groups in the Middle East.
H.R. 6201 was sent to the House Foreign Affairs and Judiciary Committee.
Sen. Casey introduces bill to eliminate
co-pays for many Pennsylvania seniors
U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Scranton, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, this week introduced the Cutting Co-pays Act to lower prescription drug costs for hundreds of thousands of low-income Pennsylvanians.
The law would remove cost-sharing for generic medications for all Americans who are enrolled in the Medicare Part D Low Income Subsidy Program — also known as Extra Help — and make less than $15,060 per year.
Currently, this population of Extra Help beneficiaries pay up to $1.55 for each generic drug they are prescribed — Casey’s bill would cut that number to zero. In 2021, over 350,000 Pennsylvanians could have benefited from this bill.
“The high cost of prescription drugs is a burden on Pennsylvania seniors and families, and for many of our seniors, it’s a burden that’s become far too heavy to bear,” Casey said. “The Cutting Co-pays Act is just the latest way that I am taking action to lower drug costs and make sure our seniors can afford the medications they need.”
Pa. DEP plugs 200th orphaned and
abandoned well, cites ‘historic progress’
Gov. Josh Shapiro, Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Interim Acting Secretary Jessica Shirley, and local legislative and environmental leaders this week joined the Penn Mechanical Group crew in Butler County to plug the 200th orphaned or abandoned well under the Shapiro Administration.
This is the latest milestone under Gov. Shapiro’s leadership to protect public health and create thousands of good-paying jobs by plugging orphaned and abandoned wells across the Commonwealth.
The 200th well plugged by the Shapiro Administration surpasses the total of the last 9 years combined after just 14 months in office — and represents a continued increase in the pace of well plugging efforts.
The Shapiro Administration celebrated the 100th well plugging nine months after taking office — and the Administration has plugged an additional 100 wells in less than five months since then.
“When I took office, I directed the Department of Environmental Protection to move aggressively to draw down as much federal funding as possible to make a meaningful impact plugging orphaned and abandoned wells,” Shapiro said. “Thanks to federal investments and the good work of the folks at DEP and contractors like Penn Mechanical, I’m proud to announce that this well will be the 200th well plugged during my time as Governor.
“By sealing up wells that have been abandoned or left without an owner, we are addressing a significant source of greenhouse gases and generating thousands of well-paying jobs at the same time. This is a sensible and practical way to fight climate change, improve public health, and create employment opportunities.”
Governor Shapiro has instructed DEP to use as much federal funding as possible to cover and seal orphaned and abandoned wells in order to enhance public health, decrease methane emissions that contribute to global warming, and create well-paying jobs. The Governor’s 2024-25 budget also suggests allocating $11 million to continue supporting this important effort to find and seal as many orphaned and abandoned wells as possible.
It’s believed that there are more than 350,000 orphaned and abandoned wells throughout our Commonwealth – and they account for almost 8% of our total methane emissions. Methane is especially hazardous because it is up to 86 times more potent than carbon dioxide, contributing to global warming and air pollution that harms our lungs and hearts.
“For centuries, our coal mines and oil fields have made Pennsylvania a leading force in energy and economy across the globe. Pennsylvania is embracing its leadership role while confronting the threat posed by these wells,” stated DEP Interim Acting Secretary Jessica Shirley. “Orphaned and abandoned oil and gas wells represent a liability of over a billion dollars for the Commonwealth, which DEP is addressing directly – and the Shapiro Administration views this as a major opportunity to create jobs and improve public health and the environment. We will continue to build on this success.”
Through the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), DEP has finished an extraordinary number of well sealing projects with the objective of sealing the most wells and removing the most severe environmental and public health and safety risks.
DEP is actively pursuing operators who are abandoning wells and stepping in with emergency sealing contracts when necessary to safeguard public health. With IIJA funding and existing state funding for DEP, the Commonwealth is taking decisive action to address this significant source of greenhouse gases.
With around $28 million in sealing projects contracted by the Shapiro Administration up to now, small businesses like the contractor for this project — Penn Mechanical Group — can employ more staff, acquire equipment, and plan for the future of their business operations.
