Dear Neighbor,

Last Friday I had the privilege of speaking at the 19th Annual Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Conference at the Woodlands Inn in Wilkes-Barre at the recent Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Conference. With over 224,000 Pennsylvania children living in households headed by grandparents or other relatives, this conference is vital in making sure we take better care of grandparents who are bridging the gap as caregivers and meeting the physical, economic and emotional needs of their grandchildren.

I was honored to be joined by State Senator Patty Kim, who highlighted her legislation, SB1052, which would provide much-needed additional support for grandparents through local Area Agencies on Aging. This is a companion bill to State Representative Maureen Madden’s HB1528, which I am proud to co-sponsor and support.

If enacted, this legislation would provide grants to local Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) to evaluate and assist in instances where grandparents need short-term emergency help to address the personal care needs of the grandchildren living with them.

It is important to note that this program applies only to grandchildren whose parents are actively participating in an opioid use disorder treatment program. To qualify for the program, a grandparent must:

• Reside in the Commonwealth; and
• Serve as the primary caregiver for their grandchild while the child’s parent actively participates in an opioid use disorder treatment program.

Eligible expenses do not include any costs that are otherwise reimbursed, including payments received from the parent or any federal, state, or county government agency.

I want to thank Howard Grossman and his team for their continued dedication to organizing this annual conference and for producing outstanding work to support grandparents raising grandchildren in our region. Howard and Frank Mariano have collaborated to merge their two local groups, forming the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Advocacy Council. This consolidation helps streamline resources, improve coordination, and provide essential support to grandparents in need of assistance raising their grandchildren.

Sen. Kim and I had the privilege of presenting citations to Howard at the conference in recognition of his years of service and dedication to uplifting the voices of those who have stepped up for children in their families.

On Tuesday, I joined Legislative Hunger Caucus Senate Chair Sen. Elder Vogel and House Chair Rep. Emily Kinkead, along with local and state leaders, at the Capitol Hunger Garden. We reflected on another impactful harvesting season and the importance of ensuring communities have access to fresh food options.

The garden is a testament to the dedication and care that goes into growing food. Its success relies on the collaboration of legislative leaders, the PA Vegetable Growers Association, Penn State Master Gardeners, the PA Department of General Services, and countless volunteers who help make the garden bountiful each season.

For the 2025 season, Penn State Master Gardeners and volunteers harvested a record 1,192 pounds of vegetables and herbs.

The immense amount of produce able to be gathered means more Harrisburg residents in need will benefit from freshly cooked meals offered at the Downtown Daily Bread.

In addition to our work in Harrisburg, I want to let you know that my district offices in Wilkes-Barre and Plains Township are collecting food for the CEO Weinberg Food Bank through November 24. With the recent announcement that a federal government shutdown will halt SNAP payments, it is more critical than ever to support our food banks, which are already experiencing increased demand.

If you’re able, I hope that you will donate whatever you can to help make sure that no one in our community goes hungry.

Election Day 2025 is this Tuesday, November 4 and I want to remind you of important information to make sure your vote is counted:

• Tuesday, November 4 – Election Day: Polls open at 7:00 a.m. and close at 8:00 p.m. and voters must be in line by 8:00 p.m. to cast their ballot.
• Tuesday, November 4, by 8:00 p.m. – Deadline for mail-in and absentee ballots to be received.

Luzerne County voters who wish to vote by mail can also drop off their own ballot in person at one of two secure drop box locations during the following times:

Hazleton Exchange Building         

100 West Broad Street, Hazleton, PA 18201          

Open Weekdays from 8AM-9PM     

This box will close at 4PM on Monday, 11/3/25

Penn Place (Main Lobby and Election Bureau) 

20 N Pennsylvania Ave., Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701  

Open Weekdays from 8AM - 4:30PM (front doors unlock at 8am)       

This box will close at 8PM on Election Day (Tuesday, 11/4/25)

If you are voting by mail, it is likely too late to mail your ballot and you should use one of the drop boxes listed above to return it before the deadline at 8PM on Tuesday, November 4.

To find your polling place visit vote.pa.gov. For information about Luzerne County elections, please click here.

Your vote is your voice and your power to make elected officials understand your concerns.

Make sure your voice is heard loud and clear on November 4th – Vote – it’s your responsibility and your power!

I’m excited to announce that my district office is partnering with the U.S. Marine Corps and Toys for Tots to bring joy to families in need this holiday season!

Now through December 12, you can drop off new, unwrapped toys, books, or homemade toys at my offices, Monday through Friday, from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM.

Please note: Toys for Tots cannot accept used toys, items that resemble realistic weapons, candy or food, or toys containing chemicals (such as experimental labs or crystal kits).

Let’s work together to make this holiday season brighter for every child in our community!

If you’re a former or current federal employee, L&I’s Rapid Response team is here to support you.

Join one of their free virtual sessions to learn about the resources available if and when you need them. These sessions can provide information on filing for unemployment compensation, job search assistance, training opportunities, and next steps after a layoff.

?? November session: Microsoft Virtual Events Powered by Teams

This week, I attended a tour and press conference led by Deputy Secretary for Animal Health and Food Safety Lisa Graybeal at the Pennsylvania Veterinary Laboratory—one of three labs that serve as the first line of defense in the ongoing battle against Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). Graybeal, alongside poultry experts and farmers affected by the virus, emphasized that biosecurity is the best prevention for poultry producers. She also highlighted that HPAI Recovery Grants are available to help producers recover losses and get back to business if their flocks are infected.

Almost always fatal to birds, HPAI poses a significant risk to Pennsylvania’s poultry industry, one of the top three sectors in the state’s $132.5 billion agriculture economy. Since February 2022, when the current strain emerged, Pennsylvania has lost more than 7.1 million birds across 41 commercial flocks and 59 backyard flocks in 23 counties.

In response, the legislature and administration have undertaken a strong example of bipartisan cooperation to protect Pennsylvania’s poultry operators—especially from threats like Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, or “High-Path.”

When High-Path returned to Pennsylvania in 2022 for the first time in decades, I worked with my colleagues to secure $31 million in that year’s budget to protect our $7.1 billion poultry industry. This funding created the High-Path Indemnification Grant Program, which helps poultry operations recover losses not covered by USDA programs or insurance.

Since then, we have appropriated a total of $75 million for this program. These funds not only support our farmers but also help stabilize grocery prices and ensure Pennsylvanians continue to have access to chicken and eggs. Additionally, each year since 2022, I have helped secure $6 million for HPAI testing across our three animal diagnostic labs—at Penn Vet’s New Bolton Center in Kennett Square, Penn State’s Animal Diagnostic Lab in University Park, and the Pennsylvania Veterinary Laboratory.

I am proud of what we have accomplished together and look forward to continuing our bipartisan work to protect and grow Pennsylvania agriculture and the poultry industry for years to come.

Let us continue to work together to build a stronger and safer America by searching for the TRUTH and finding the FACTS to guide our words, and our actions. Please, STAY STRONG and SAFE! Our democracy needs us to come together for the good of all.

Sincerely,

Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski

121st Legislative District