Expanding Educational Opportunities for PA Students
9/27/2016
Expanding Educational Opportunities for PA Students

Legislation to enhance educational opportunities for Pennsylvania families by expanding two innovative tax credit programs was signed into law. I supported the measure when it passed the House of Representatives in July.

The Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program provides tax credits to businesses which make contributions to organizations offering scholarships to children in kindergarten through grade 12, educational improvement organizations providing funding for innovative educational programs in public schools, and pre-kindergarten scholarship organizations offering scholarships to children in pre-K programs.

A similar program, the Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC), provides tax credits to businesses which make contributions to opportunity scholarship organizations offering scholarships to low-income families with children in K-12 who reside within the attendance boundaries of “low-achieving schools” (those schools in the lowest 15 percent of their designation as an elementary or secondary school).

Act 86, formerly House Bill 1606, increases the amount of tax credits available in the EITC program by $25 million, providing a total of $175 million in both the EITC and OSTC programs.

Deadline to Register for My Veterans Breakfast Approaching

The deadline to register to attend my 2016 Veterans Breakfast is quickly approaching. Veterans residing in the 106th District are encouraged to register today for the event, which will take place on Friday, Nov. 4, 2016, from 8-10 a.m. at Spring Garden Reception and Conference Center in Lower Swatara Township, located at 903 Spring Garden Drive, Middletown.

Space is limited and reservations for this event are required and can be made by contacting my Hershey office at (717) 534-1323, no later than Monday, Oct. 24, 2016.

The breakfast will be complimentary to those in attendance and is limited to veterans, including active duty military, residing in the 106th Legislative District. Accommodations will be made for disabled veterans requiring the assistance of another person.

Each year, I look forward to this opportunity to personally thank our veterans for their sacrifice. I hope all area veterans who have served our country will consider joining me for my last Veterans Breakfast before I retire.