Latest News from State Capitol and 55th District
Backing Our First Responders
Has a troublesome situation ever woken you in the middle of the night? Or worse yet, kept you from falling asleep?
Maybe it was something you saw or experienced firsthand. Maybe the situation occurred last week or even last year. But for whatever reason, the images of what you saw seem to play over and over again in your mind.
Now, imagine the next day, facing the likelihood of experiencing yet another situation that may also become a new batch of daunting images.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, one of the more common symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Injuries (PTSI) are flashbacks, or “reliving the traumatic event, including physical symptoms, such as a racing heart or sweating.”
Other symptoms include being hyper- or over-vigilant to be aware of constant danger, shakiness, or feelings of shame or guilt because of the result.
Unfortunately, these symptoms can be all too common for the first responders who come to our aid.
This is why I supported a new law,
Act 121 of 2024, which gives Pennsylvania first responders greater access to workers’ compensation benefits for PTSIs.
Firefighters, police officers, emergency medical technicians and paramedics will be entitled to benefits for psychological traumas resulting from their employment or their volunteer efforts – even in the absence of physical injuries. To receive benefits, they need to be diagnosed by a licensed psychiatrist or psychologist.
Current state law requires a first responder to prove there were “objective abnormal working conditions” to establish a PTSI claim. This standard has proven very difficult, if not impossible, to meet.
With the burden of proof removed, the new law stipulates that firefighters, police officers, emergency medical technicians and paramedics can be diagnosed with PTSI for psychological traumas arising from individual traumatic events or cumulative highly stressful experiences on the job.
Hopefully, such support will help affected first responders continue to serve while also living a healthy life with friends and families. We are also hopeful such support can help address ongoing staffing shortages for just about every aspect of first response. In Pennsylvania, the number of volunteer firefighters has dropped from 350,000 in the 1970s to under 70,000 in 2016.
A 2023 survey of 182 municipal police departments showed the number of sworn officers had declined 5% between January 2020 and January 2023. Resignations climbed from 2,838 in 2019 to 4,175 in 2022, while retirements remained relatively steady.
In the world of emergency medical response, a 2018 report cited critical concern, pointing out that in 2013, there were 1,645 EMT agencies statewide. In 2017, the number shrunk to 1,278.
But in my opinion, and with all the statistics aside, this is just the right thing to do.
The mission of just about every first responder is to put themselves in harm’s way in service to the community. While most of us flee from danger, they race to it. As you and I can only imagine, the emotional strain of this service can be extensive.
Here are some additional news topics and reminders I would like to share.
PA Mixed-Use Housing Development Pilot Program Accepting Grant Applications - The Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) is now accepting grant applications for its new $10 million PA Mixed-Use Housing Development pilot program to expand affordable housing options in the Commonwealth.
The pilot program will provide grant funding to eligible applicants for site development for a multi-use building, as well as conversion or rehabilitation of existing structures for mixed-use development. A portion of the project must be devoted to development of both rental and owner-occupied residential units.
Eligible applicants include municipalities, economic development organizations, redevelopment authorities, municipal authorities, industrial development agencies and for-profit organizations. The deadline to apply is Dec. 6. For more information go to
dced.pa.gov/programs/pennsylvania-mixed-use-housing-development-pilot-program/.
DHS Warns of Potential EBT Cards Scam - The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) is informing Pennsylvanians of a potential text message scam targeting individuals who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
The text claims the user’s EBT card has been deactivated and directs the user to call a number to reactivate it. This is a scam. DHS will never text an individual to say that an EBT card has been deactivated.
Please report any texts or calls about DHS benefits that seem suspicious by calling the DHS fraud tip line at 1-844-DHS-TIPS (1-844-347-8477).