WILKES-BARRE — The Pennsylvania Interagency Human Trafficking Workgroup recently organized a day devoted to advocating against human trafficking and had a panel discussion at the state capitol building.
Workgroup members, along with survivors, elected officials, advocates, and law enforcement, came together to talk about current challenges in the fight against human trafficking.
After an informative session with tables and displays hosted by partner organizations, the interagency group heard first-hand accounts from survivors and advocates and learned about ways to improve systems for better support and healing.
Speakers at the event included Attorney General Michelle Henry, Project Protect Survivor Mentor Liz Stein, and Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission Director of Policy Ashley Walkowiak.
A panel featuring Emmy Award-winning Documentarian and Advocate Ruchira Gupta, Chief Deputy Attorney General Heather Castellino, Founder of Character: Be about It (CBAI) Matt Harris, Captain James Savage, and survivor members of Project Protect’s Youth Advisory Committee discussed the current challenges in combatting human trafficking.
The panel was hosted by Child Advocate and Executive Director of the PA Office of Advocacy & Reform Dr. Maryann McEvoy.
“Expanding the alliance dedicated to combating human trafficking in Pennsylvania uncovers more of these devastating crimes and strengthens the network of care for victims,” said AG Henry. “After all, brave survivors who come forward and tell their stories help others from becoming victims and enable law enforcement to prosecute predators. This event, along with my office’s recently-launched Human Trafficking Section, show there is much strength in numbers, and we look forward to continuing this fight with local, state, and federal partners.”
The Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General Human Trafficking Section, led by Chief Deputy Attorney General Heather Castellino, takes a multi-disciplinary approach to addressing these crimes.
These cases often cross jurisdictional lines, so state and federal agencies must play enhanced roles in investigations and prosecutions.
The section also aims to continue educating and reaching out to people about helping them recognize signs of sex trafficking and implementing best practices to address the situation.
PennDOT also participated
“The shadow of human trafficking is ever present on American roadways,” said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll. “We’re proud to work with partners across the state to improve safety for travelers, and we urge Pennsylvanians to learn and share the signs of human trafficking.”
In 2023, PennDOT updated its End Human Trafficking course for all employees of the department. This course raises awareness about Human Trafficking and the various campaigns conducted by organizations such as “Truckers Against Trafficking” and provides information about PA protection laws such as, Act 105, Act 130, Act 131 and Act 1.
“Working together to understand the vulnerabilities in our communities and systems and building trauma-informed supports for survivors is the way forward,” said PA Human Relations Commission Director of Policy Ashley Walkowiak, who spoke on behalf of her late sister, a trafficking victim from Cumberland County.
The Human Trafficking Interagency Workgroup is made up of about twenty sibling agencies and advocacy groups who work together to coordinate efforts to prevent and raise awareness about human trafficking across the state. The group meets every two months to share resources, talk about best practices, and organize efforts to prevent human trafficking.
Rep. Meuser is a co-sponsor of legislation
which fights against attacks on American energy
U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser, R-Dallas, has co-sponsored H.R. 6089 — the Energy Choice Act which would prevent any state or local government from prohibiting an energy service's connection, reconnection, modification, installation, or expansion based on the type or source of energy to be delivered.
Meuser said this law is a direct response to New York's attempt to pass a law that would ban most gas-fueled appliances in new buildings. He said that Congress needs to support H.R. 6089 to protect Americans' freedom to choose their energy source, and prevent local or state governments from imposing such bans on energy services.
Meuser noted that in recent years, there has been a move to phase out traditional energy sources like natural gas and use taxpayer money to invest in "green" energy infrastructure.
Meuser stated that natural gas is a clean and cost-effective energy choice, especially in Pennsylvania. As the second-largest producer of natural gas in the United States, Meuser said that more than half of households in the state rely on it for heating and cooking.
He mentioned that the continued attacks on natural gas will have significant financial impacts and limit individual freedom in terms of energy consumption.
Meuser said, “The ongoing focus on domestic energy continues to prioritize climate extremists over everyday Americans. These 'green' initiatives are taking away Americans' freedoms and causing energy prices to increase significantly. Luckily, the Energy Choice Act would prevent state and local governments from prohibiting the use of specific energy sources. This reasonable action will help protect thousands of jobs in the natural gas and oil industry, including those in the 9th Congressional District, as well as maintain America's ability to regain our energy dominance.”
H.R. 6089 was referred to the House Energy and Commerce Committee for further consideration.
Pa. reports major decrease
in wait times for UC claimants
Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) Secretary Nancy A. Walker recently announced significant progress in reducing wait times for Unemployment Compensation (UC) claimants who call the Department’s helpline for customer service help.
Since late February, the average wait time for claimants calling the UC Service Centers has been just over 20 minutes — a big improvement from the start of the Shapiro Administration, when the wait times averaged over an hour for customer service.
Under Gov. Josh Shapiro’s leadership, and with bipartisan support in the 2023-24 budget, L&I used the Service Improvement and Infrastructure Fund (SIIF) to hire more than 380 additional UC interviewers to staff service centers and answer calls since January 2023.
The result of that investment is evident: the time people have to wait for help over the phone has decreased a lot, and people from Pennsylvania are once again getting the efficient, prompt customer service they should have.
“On the day before Thanksgiving in 2022, people who were trying to get help with unemployment benefits averaged 20 tries to reach the UC by phone,” Walker explained. “In 2023, on that same day, most people only needed to try once to reach a UC staff member by phone. That's amazing progress in one year, thanks to the dedication of the UC team and a budget supported by both political parties that allowed us to hire more people for interviews.”
To offer more options for helping people with unemployment benefits and reduce waiting times, L&I recently set up a new helpdesk (1-855-284-8545) for UC beneficiaries to schedule in-person UC Connect appointments at PA CareerLink® locations and get help with basic questions, such as how to log in to the UC system, reset a PIN, or update contact information on file.
The helpline is run by individuals who are supported by L&I’s Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR), which helps Pennsylvanians with disabilities seek meaningful employment and independence.
Pa. State Police unveils ‘PSP Tips’
as public’s new crime-fighting tool
The Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) this week introduced PSP Tips — a new way for the public to provide information about ongoing investigations, unsolved cases, the capture of wanted individuals, or finding missing persons.
“Help from the public is often crucial for solving crimes or finding missing or wanted people,” said Lieutenant Colonel George Bivens, Deputy Commissioner of Operations. “The social media platforms, the toll-free number, and the online tip form all offer simple ways to send us information that might solve a case or take a dangerous person off the streets.”
PSP Tips includes details about nearly 100 cold case homicides, missing persons, and other unsolved crimes. They will regularly add new cases.
The highlighted cases include the 1973 murder of an 8-year-old girl in Greene County, the unresolved killing of a high school student in Blair County in 1977, the 1981 disappearance of a teenager from Lackawanna County, and the search for Susan Reinert's children, a teacher from Montgomery County who was found murdered near Harrisburg in 1979.
Your information might give investigators a long-awaited breakthrough that will finally bring closure and justice for the victim’s families.
All information given to PSP Tips can be provided anonymously, if desired.
All cases in which PSP asks for public help can be seen on the following social media sites:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PSPTips
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PSP_TIPS
