Thank You, Veterans
Thank You, Veterans
Each year, Veterans Day gives us all an opportunity to reflect on the valuable contributions veterans have made on behalf of our country. On Nov. 11, 1919, President Woodrow Wilson declared a national day of remembrance, marking the first anniversary of the armistice, or peace agreement, that ended hostilities in World War I. Armistice Day, as it was then known, began in the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. In the years that followed, our nation’s attention to the contributions of veterans grew. In 1926, Armistice Day became a national day of observance, and in 1938, Nov. 11 became a national holiday. It wasn’t until President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation in 1954 that the name was changed to Veterans Day, in honor of veterans who served in all American wars and in peace time.
Thousands of veterans, active-duty military personnel and their families reside in the 106th District. I’d like to personally offer my thanks and appreciation to them.
Every year, I hold a special Veterans Breakfast event to personally thank our servicemen and servicewomen for their sacrifice. I recently held my last breakfast before I retire at the end of the month. Over the years, this event has grown substantially, with 300 veterans in attendance this year. I will miss this annual opportunity to pay tribute to our veterans, but will continue to do so in other ways in my retirement. I hope all residents of the 106th District will take time in their daily lives to thank our service members—past and present.
From the Revolutionary War to the Civil War, from World Wars I and II to the Korean War, and from the struggle in Vietnam to Iraq and Afghanistan, our country has always been blessed with brave men and women who proudly wear the uniforms of our nation’s armed services. These individuals felt an obligation to their country, their homeland and to the freedoms they hold dear. Whatever we have and whatever we are today, we owe it to our veterans.
Today and every day - thank you.
PA Residents Could Face Restrictions on Gaining Access to Federal Facilities Due to Federal Requirements
Residents of the 106th District are advised that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced Pennsylvania residents will face new restrictions gaining admittance to federal facilities beginning Jan. 30, 2017, due to Pennsylvania’s state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards not being in full compliance with federal REAL ID requirements.
Unless Pennsylvania comes into compliance, residents will need an alternative, secure form of identification to gain admittance to all federal facilities, military bases and nuclear power plants. The only exception is admittance to federal facilities for the purpose of applying for or receiving federal benefits. Each federal agency determines which secure identification it will accept.
DHS also pointed out that if Pennsylvania does not come into compliance by Jan. 22, 2018, (or is not granted an extension), Pennsylvania residents will need to present an alternative form of identification acceptable to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to board a commercial flight.
According to PennDOT, Pennsylvania is out of compliance for limited technical reasons and because existing state law bars it from fully complying. In order to comply, the Pennsylvania General Assembly must agree to lift the compliance ban, after which PennDOT could make significant additional system changes to accommodate a fully compliant REAL ID process.
DHS had been granting states not in compliance a series of extensions, but announced that no further extensions will be granted unless there are new developments or information provided on why standards remain unmet and the reasons for continued noncompliance.
For additional details or updates on this issue, visit
penndot.gov.