Bill O’Boyle: PennDOT invites public feedback on 12-year transportation program

Mar. 5—WILKES-BARRE — The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) this week announced several opportunities for Pennsylvanians to participate in the transportation planning process.

"Transportation needs to work for everyone, no matter who they are, no matter where they live and no matter how they travel," said Acting PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll. "Pennsylvanians' feedback is critical as we plan and prioritize important improvements to our transportation network."

Every two years the State Transportation Commission (STC) and PennDOT update Pennsylvania's 12-Year Program (TYP) and public feedback is a critical part of that process.

The public comment period for the TYP update is underway and continues through Sunday, April 30. During the public comment period, Pennsylvanians can submit feedback by taking the Transportation Survey or emailing comments to RA-PennDOTSTC@pa.gov.

Public feedback and survey results will help identify needs and prioritize transportation projects across the state.

PennDOT will also host an online public forum on Wednesday, April 12, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Pennsylvanians can ask transportation-related questions to PennDOT leadership and members of the STC during the public forum.

The Transportation Performance Report (TPR) is a combined effort among the STC, the State Transportation Advisory Committee, and PennDOT, and is updated every two years.

To request assistance participating in the survey or the Online Public Forum, contact the Department's Program Center by emailing — RA-PennDOTSTC@pa.gov — or calling 717-783-2262.

Acting Attorney General Henry

warns of 'secret shopper scam'

Have you received a text message, email or letter inviting you to participate in a research project as a secret shopper without the need for an interview because you're the perfect person for the position?

In this scam, the recruiter typically sends a check worth more than the items you buy, so you get to keep the rest as a bonus. They will instruct you to deposit the check right away, buy gift cards, and provide the scammer with the number and pin on the gift cards.

Unfortunately, the check they send you is fraudulent and it will take a few days to clear, but in the meantime, you've made these purchases out of your account. When you find out three or four days later that the check was fraudulent, you've already bought those gift cards and sent them off to the scammer.

"Pennsylvanians should know the tricks these scammers use so they can proactively keep themselves, their money, and their personal information safe," said Acting Attorney General Michelle Henry. "Anyone receiving suspicious emails, calls, or texts should report them to my Office to help protect yourself and others."

Warning signs of this scam

—A job listing or unsolicited mailing, call, text or email that guarantees you will make a lot of money as a secret shopper.

—A secret shopper job that requires you to pay up front to get started.

—An "employer" that sends you a check or money order with instructions to deposit it in your account and return a portion to the sender.

Meuser's bill included in package

to combat China's economic threat

U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser, R-Dallas, this week had one of his bills included in a package by the House Financial Services Committee (FSC) during the first markup of the 118th Congress to combat the generational threat posed by the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) economic aggression.

"We're digging in on the adverse actions the CCP continues to take related to the world, including the origins of COVID-19, economic actions they've taken that are not in the interest of the United States, national security and their influx of illegal drugs to this country via the southern border," Meuser stated. "We are acting based upon facts and the time for action is now. My bill draws attention to China's sometimes opaque exchange rate policies."

FSC Chairman Patrick McHenry said, "The key takeaway was that to out-compete China on the global stage, we cannot become more like the CCP. That means doubling down on our commitment to free people and free markets."

Bills included in markup are:

—H.R. 839, the "China Exchange Rate Transparency Act of 2023," sponsored by Meuser, will protect global market participants from the CCP's exploitative practices by requiring the U.S. Director at the International Monetary Fund to advocate for greater transparency in China's disclosure of its exchange rate policies.

—H.R. 1076, the "Preventing the Financing of Illegal Synthetic Drugs Act," sponsored by Rep. Monica De La Cruz (TX-15), will combat the flow of illicit Chinese fentanyl into American communities through a study on illicit financing in connection with the trafficking of synthetic drugs.

—H.R. 803, the "PROTECT Taiwan Act," sponsored by Rep. Frank Lucas (OK-03), will help isolate the CCP from the international financial system by directing the Federal Reserve, the Secretary of Treasury, and the Securities and Exchange Commission to exclude representatives from the People's Republic of China from proceedings of various international financial groups and organizations in the event of an invasion of Taiwan.

—H.R. 554, the "Taiwan Conflict Deterrence Act of 2023," sponsored by Rep. French Hill (AR-02), will disincentivize Chinese aggression towards Taiwan by publishing the assets of top Chinese leaders, as well as cutting them and their family members off from financial services, if Beijing acts against Taiwan.

Honoring Our Women Veterans license

plate supports Veterans' Trust Fund

As the nation celebrates Women's History Month in March, the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) reminds drivers that purchasing an Honoring Our Women Veterans license plate both recognizes the importance of women who served and supports programs assisting women veterans in Pennsylvania.

Each plate costs $37, with $15 going directly to the Pennsylvania Veterans' Trust Fund (VTF). The VTF regularly issues grants to statewide charitable organizations assisting veterans service organizations and county directors of veterans affairs. The grants are used to aid veterans in need of shelter, essential goods and other services.

"Pennsylvania's nearly 64,000 women veterans have made significant contributions to our military, nation, and communities," said Maj. Gen. Mark Schindler, Pennsylvania's acting adjutant general and head of the DMVA.

Mike Carroll, acting PennDOT secretary, said "With this plate attached to cars traveling throughout the Commonwealth, Pennsylvanians everywhere are reminded that we owe a debt of gratitude for the sacrifices of women veterans who served to preserve our freedom."

The Honoring Our Women Veterans license plate is available for passenger cars or trucks with a registered gross weight of not more than 14,000 pounds.

Sen. Casey supports legislation to phase out

subminimum wage for people with disabilities

U.S. Senators Bob Casey, D-Scranton, and Steve Daines (R-MT) and U.S. Representatives Bobby Scott (D-VA-3) and Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA-5) this week announced introduction of the Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act, (TCIEA) legislation to end subminimum wages for people with disabilities.

Currently, the Fair Labor Standards Act permits employers to pay people with disabilities below the minimum wage if they hold a certificate to do so. The TCIEA would end this discriminatory practice and support employers transitioning to paying competitive, fair wages to people with disabilities to work in integrated settings in their communities.

People with disabilities are better able to achieve financial independence and spend more time engaging in their communities when they transition to competitive employment and work in integrated environments—workplaces that hire both people with disabilities and people without disabilities.

The majority of subminimum wage workers have an intellectual or developmental disability and are paid less than $3.50 an hour.

Sen. Casey and Rep. Scott are also highlighting the results of a new report they requested from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) detailing the Department of Labor's (DOL) oversight of the 14(c) certificate program, which allows employers to pay subminimum wages to workers with disabilities.

The report finds that between 2012 and 2021, DOL's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) identified over $15 million in unpaid back wages owed to more than 73,500 14(c) employees due to employers' failure to fairly compensate employees.

"Paying workers less than the minimum wage is unacceptable. Everyone deserves to be paid a fair wage, and Americans with disabilities are no exception," Casey said. "This commonsense, bipartisan bill would lift up people with disabilities by raising their wages and creating competitive jobs in workplaces that employ both workers with and without disabilities."

The GAO report found that the number of employers paying subminimum wages to people with disabilities has decreased from 3,100 in 2010 to almost 1,600 in 2019, while more people with disabilities, including those with intellectual disabilities, participate in the labor market than ever before.

Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.