My Medicaid Town Hall is THIS Tuesday, Oct. 28 at 6 p.m.!

Rep. Ismail Smith-Wade-El October 24, 2025 | 3:04 PM

Dear Neighbor,

Next week will be a busy one with events both in the Capitol and the district. These events share a common goal: making life better for people in our communities and throughout Pennsylvania.

In this week’s e-newsletter:

GOP-Led Government Shutdown Delays 2025-26 Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Season to December
Tell Your Senator to Act Now on the Budget
Upcoming Events: Medicaid Town Hall (10/28), Trunk or Treat (10/30), Lancaster Rec's Trick or Treat (10/31), Healing Beyond Boundaries (11/3), PTRR Office Hour (11/6), Free Car Seat Check (11/8), Celebrating Our Black Veterans (11/11)
In the District: Our Seniors Rock!
In the Capitol: Razing Roadblocks to Immigrant Success in PA
Government Programs: SNAP Will Run Out of Money Soon
Apply Now: Urban Agriculture Infrastructure Grant Program
State Grant Program Funding Available
Community Resources
Student Opportunities

GOP-led government shutdown delays 2025-26 Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Season to December

Because of the Republican-led government shutdown, Pennsylvania is being forced to delay LIHEAP—vital home-heating assistance for 300,000 families—by an entire month. If you need help heating your home this winter, here’s a list of utility companies’ assistance programs.

https://www.puc.pa.gov/about-the-puc/consumer-education/utility-assistance-programs/.

Additionally, Pennsylvania’s annual winter utility shutoff moratorium runs from December 1 through March 31 and prevents utilities—including electricity and gas services—from being shut off for customers of regulated utility companies whose income is at or below 250 percent of the Federal Poverty Level. While this moratorium prevents shutoffs during the coldest months of the year, it does not cancel a customer’s outstanding home-heating bills. LIHEAP funding remains essential for individuals who need assistance keeping their homes heated.

For immediate needs during the shutdown, Pennsylvanians can use PA Navigate pa-navigate.org/ to help find resources. Local help is also available by calling 211 or visiting www.pa211.org.

Tell Your Senator to Act Now on the Budget

Tell your Senator it’s long past time to get back to work and pass a budget that helps you.

The Pennsylvania budget is months overdue, and hardworking families are paying the price. Your kids’ schools can’t afford books. Your county is cutting essential services that people rely on every day.

The PA House passed a responsible budget that addresses these problems without raising taxes. But Senate Republican leaders refuse to act—instead, they’re pointing fingers and deflecting blame for their own failures.

Tell your Senator enough is enough. It’s time to stand up for you and pass a budget that puts Pennsylvanians first.

Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus | Take Action

Upcoming Events

Medicaid Town Hall

I am co-hosting with state Rep. Nikki Rivera a Medicaid Town Hall from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 28 at the J.P. McCaskey High School Cafeteria, 445 N. Reservoir St., Lancaster.

We will provide updates regarding the changes to Medicaid and SNAP, but more importantly, offer our constituents a space to share with us how these changes are affecting you and your family, what challenges you are running into, and what solutions - beyond additional funding - are needed in our community.

Residents are encouraged to RSVP by signing up at tinyurl.com/49-96-TownHall or call the district office at 717-283-4218 or email RepSmithWadeEl@pahouse.net

Trunk or Treat

PACL Lancaster County will sponsor and host a Trunk or Treat event for the community on Thursday, October 30, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the Lancaster Housing Authority on Susquehanna Street.

Here’s a sign up with trunk and treat registrations, ideas for trunk decorations, and other information: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C054AABAF23A7FCC25-59093281-pacareerlink

Lancaster Rec Trick or Treat

Join Lancaster Rec on Friday, October 31, for the ultimate Trick-or-Treat family experience! Lancaster Rec is collaborating with the Lancaster Southwest Community (SoWe) to bring this exciting event to life and make it a truly memorable evening for everyone.

ScoutReach Guest Bartender

Care for a cocktail crafted by yours truly?

I’ll be guest bartending from 6:45 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 30, at Bert and the Elephant to support the ScoutReach program. ScoutReach is dedicated to ensuring that all youth have the opportunity to join Scouting—regardless of their circumstances, neighborhood, or background. Hope to see you there!

Healing Beyond Boundaries: Understanding What Our Communities Truly Need

Join me for Healing Beyond Boundaries: Understanding What Our Communities Truly Need on Monday, November 3, at 6:30 PM, hosted at The Ware Center, 42 N. Prince Street in Downtown Lancaster. This event will foster an honest dialogue about recovery, unity, and the real needs of our communities.

This free, all-ages event brings together leaders from recovery services, law enforcement, and government for an open conversation about how our communities can heal, connect, and move forward together.

Property Tax/ Rent Rebate Office Hours at Lancaster Public Library November 6

The December 31 deadline to apply for the 2025 Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program is approaching quickly. My office, in partnership with Rep. Rivera’s office, will be co-hosting office hours to assist individuals with completing their applications on Thursday, November 6, from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM at the Lancaster Public Library, 151 North Queen Street, Lancaster, PA 17603.

If you are unsure of what documents may be needed or have questions about the PTRR application, please feel free to contact our office at: repsmithwadeel@pahouse.net or (717) 283-4218.

FREE Car Seat Check

I will co-host, along with Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health and Safe Kids Lancaster, a free Car Seat Check and Touch-a-Truck event featuring Lancaster Fire Department firefighters from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 8, at Lancaster Township Fire, 1275 Millersville Pike, Lancaster.

Call the office of Smith-Wade-El at 717-283-4218 or email RepSmithWadeEl@pahouse.net to RSVP to the event.

Celebrating Our Black Veterans

As a proud Black Lancastrian, I am honored to lead a Veterans Day event recognizing our city’s often-overlooked Black veterans—men and women who fought to protect American freedom and uphold our nation’s ideals around the world, even while facing discrimination both in service and at home. This event will offer an opportunity to give our Black veterans the honor and recognition they deserve as true heroes of our great republic.

Call the office of Smith-Wade-El at 717-283-4218 or email RepSmithWadeEl@pahouse.net to RSVP to the event

In the District

Our Seniors Rock!

Thank you to all the residents who came to my Senior Fair on Tuesday! I was thrilled to have the opportunity to meet you, hear your concerns, and connect you with a diverse range of senior-focused resources—all in one place.

A special thank-you to our presenters from Fulton Bank and Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology (TSCT), and to the nearly forty organizations that filled our vendor hall with valuable resources—from vaccines to massages to discounted transit opportunities.

We are also deeply grateful to our event sponsors—WellSpan, Fulton Bank, TSCT, Caring Transitions, and Rick Griswold—for making this wonderful day possible.

If you have any questions about state programs for seniors, please contact my office at or 717-283-4218 or email RepSmithWadeEl@pahouse.net.

In the Capitol

Razing the Roadblocks to Immigrant Success in PA

Our immigrant communities are an integral part of Pennsylvania’s economic growth, making up over eight percent of our state’s workforce and contributing $3.3 billion annually in state and local taxes. Yet, they face far too many obstacles due to bureaucratic red tape and restrictive policies that disproportionately affect immigrant communities.

To help retain these skilled workers, entrepreneurs, consumers, and community leaders, I’ve introduced a bill to simplify access to resources by establishing an Office of New Pennsylvanians—a one-stop shop for benefits and support for immigrants, housed within the PA Department of Community and Economic Development.

This Tuesday, October 28, at 9 a.m., I will hold a press conference in support of House Bill 1113, which would create the Office of New Pennsylvanians to support, attract, and retain immigrants in the commonwealth. The event will take place in the East Wing Rotunda, Harrisburg.

Government Programs

SNAP Will Run Out of Money Soon

SNAP will run out of funding at the end of October unless the Republican Congress and President Trump act to provide additional resources. The Commonwealth cannot cover these costs.

Despite the ongoing shutdown, SNAP recipients with unspent funds on their EBT cards will still be able to use them. SNAP benefits do not expire at the end of each month and can be spent throughout the calendar year. DHS strongly encourages SNAP recipients to keep their cards secure using the ConnectEBT app or website when not in use to protect their benefits.

DHS will continue to process applications for SNAP and other benefits during the shutdown. Recipients should continue to report case changes, submit any semi-annual reviews or renewals they receive during this period, and update their cases for the new federal work reporting requirements beginning November 1 to avoid any interruption of benefits in the future.

For immediate needs during the shutdown, Pennsylvanians can use PA Navigate (pa-navigate.org) to find food and other resources. Local assistance is also available by calling 211 or visiting www.pa211.org. Additionally, Pennsylvanians can visit www.feedingpa.org to locate local food banks and other food assistance programs.

Apply Now: Urban Agriculture Infrastructure Grant Program

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture is now accepting applications for the Urban Agriculture Infrastructure Grant Program. This program supports projects that enhance urban agriculture infrastructure, increase access to fresh, local foods, and strengthen communities across the Commonwealth.

Eligible projects may include equipment purchases, site improvements, and innovative production practices that help urban farms and gardens thrive.

Deadline: Friday, October 31, 2025, at 5 p.m.

Learn more: https://www.pa.gov/services/pda/apply-for-the-urban-agriculture-infrastructure-grant

State Grant Program Funding Available

The latest grant opportunities from the state have been released! My office is happy to connect you with government funding opportunities like these, so please reach out if you have any questions or need a letter of support.

Community Resources

Coats for Kids

The Salvation Army, in partnership with WGAL, will be hosting its "Coats for Kids" program. For registration and more information, please visit their Facebook page or scan the QR code on the flyer.

Christmas Assistance

The Salvation Army will begin accepting in-person and online applications for their Christmas Assistance program starting in November. For any questions about the program, please contact the Salvation Army directly at (717) 397-7565.

Registration for Toys for Tots is NOW OPEN!

Families who need a little extra help this holiday season can sign up today to receive toys for their children. Register early to secure your spot!

Please make sure you read the updated information about applying before you register.

Click here to register: https://lancaster-pa.toysfortots.org/local-coordinator-sites/lco-sites/local-toy-request-single-form.aspx or contact our office to sign up.

Help us spread the word by sharing this information so that every child has the chance to experience the joy of Christmas morning.

Student Opportunities

America250PA Semiquincentennial Scholarship Program

To commemorate America’s 250th anniversary and honor Pennsylvania’s strong commitment to education, America250PA will award $250,000 in scholarships to deserving Pennsylvania students attending in-state colleges next school year.

Any Pennsylvania high school senior planning to attend a college or university in Pennsylvania for the 2026–27 academic year is eligible to apply. Twenty-five scholarships of $10,000 each will be awarded.

Applications are due January 31, 2026. More details, including matching opportunities from partner institutions, can be found here.

National Civics Bee Applications Available!

The Lancaster Chamber of Commerce is proud to once again serve as a regional host for the National Civics Bee®, an initiative that encourages middle school students to explore the importance of civic engagement and deepen their understanding of how our government works. This competition provides a unique opportunity for students to become more active, informed members of their communities and potentially earn recognition and cash prizes, including $100,000 in a 529 education savings account.

The National Civics Bee® is open to all 6th-, 7th-, and 8th-grade students across Pennsylvania. To enter, students must submit a short essay responding to a civics-related prompt. The application portal is now open, and the deadline to submit is February 3, 2026. Participation is free.