Turnout was great for the Senior Wellness & Safety Expo, which I hosted recently with Sen. Pisciottano at McKeesport Palisades. I enjoyed talking to everyone, and I hope everyone found the event helpful. I’m looking forward to doing it again next year! See more photos of the event here.

Due to the federal government shutdown, Pennsylvania is being forced to delay the start of the LIHEAP heating aid program. The PA Department of Human Services has not received its federal allocation of LIHEAP funds, so the program is now scheduled to begin on December 3, rather than the original start date of November 3. LIHEAP is a federally funded program administered by DHS that helps 300,000 eligible PA families with their home heating bills during the winter months.

In the meantime, anyone who needs immediate assistance can contact a utility assistance program or reach out to my office for guidance.

Gov. Josh Shapiro this week signed Act 41 of 2025, which addresses the state’s teacher shortage while giving veterans a pathway to teaching in career and technical education programs. The bill allows veterans’ service experience in a specific occupational area to count toward the credits for CTE teaching certification. This law will make it easier for veterans to become educators and share their valuable hands-on skills and experience with students.

You might not realize it, but it’s entirely possible the PA Treasury has money that belongs to you. One in ten Pennsylvania residents has unclaimed property, with the average claim exceeding $1,000. The Treasury receives billions of dollars in unclaimed property, often due to misspelled names or incorrect addresses.

To see if you have unclaimed property waiting for you, visit here or reach out to my office for assistance. 

While SNAP food benefits have been put on hold due to the federal shutdown, scammers are trying to take advantage. PA’s Department of Human Services reports that SNAP clients are receiving calls from the numbers listed below, claiming that their benefits are on hold until they verify their eligibility and provide a PIN.

1-888-239-7710

1-888-272-8720

1-888-737-6551

It’s a SCAM. DHS will never ask for personal information in an unsolicited text message, email, or phone call. 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).

It’s that time of year when deer become increasingly active, so the PA Game Commission is advising motorists to slow down and stay alert.

Deer become more active in autumn with the lead-up to their fall breeding season, and when daylight-saving time ends November 2, there also will be increased vehicular traffic around dusk and dawn – the peak hours for deer activity.

The cost of living is on the rise these days, and if you know a veteran or servicemember who’s struggling to make ends meet, these programs can help:

• The Veterans Temporary Assistance (VTA) Program provides up to $1,600 per year to eligible veterans for necessities such as rent, groceries, utility bills, and clothing during times of financial hardship. To apply or learn more, visit here.
• The Military Family Relief Assistance program offers grants up to $5,000 to servicemembers for unexpected financial challenges based on documented need.  For more information, visit here.

Medicare beneficiaries have until Sunday, December 7 to sign up for or change Medicare Prescription Drug coverage and Medicare Advantage plans. Any new coverage or changes will take effect January 1, 2026.

The Pennsylvania Department of Aging provides free, unbiased counseling through Pennsylvania Medicare Education and Decision Insight. You can also call Allegheny County’s PA MEDI Program for assistance at 412-661-1438.

My team and I are here to assist with a variety of state government-related services, so please don’t hesitate to visit the district office at Tube City Center in McKeesport, call us at 412-664-0035, or visit my website, www.repgoughnour.com.  

Pennsylvania State Capitol

117-A East Wing

Harrisburg, PA 17120
(717) 783-1018

District Office

409 Walnut St. First Floor

McKeesport, PA 15132-2524

(412) 664-0035