Update from Harrisburg

Love is Love Day

Sen. Santarsiero, with Rep. Wendy Ullman and Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, flying the LGBTQ+ flag on the balcony of the capitol building.

Adolescence is tough. For LGBTQ+ youth, this time of growing up can be even more difficult, even dangerous. LGBTQ+ folks are often targets for harassment, just by being who they are. The sad reality is that 39% will consider suicide, and 18% will attempt. However, there are always beacons of hope. The Rainbow Room, located in Doylestown, is one of those beacons and provides an atmosphere of acceptance and love for LGBTQ+ youth. For many young people in my district, the Rainbow Room is quite literally a life-saver.

In celebration of the prom that the Rainbow Room will be hosting on February 15th, Rep. Wendy Ullman (D-143) and I were asked to pass a resolution recognizing this day as “Love is Love Day” in the Pennsylvania House and Senate. Sadly, we were not able to bring this resolution to the floor. We were unable to receive unanimous consent from our Republican colleagues.

Although the message that this sends to the LGBTQ+ folks in my district, and indeed across the state, is certainly discouraging, I am glad to have the support of the Senate Democratic Caucus, which issued a joint proclamation recognizing February 15th, 2020 as “Love is Love Day” in Pennsylvania. On this day, and truly every day, I hope you join us in celebrating the ones we love, no matter how they identify.

To view my full remarks from the floor of the senate, click here.

Honoring Council Rock Student, Amelia Honer

Sen. Santarsiero with Amelia Honer, her mother, Hayes, her father, Max, and her coach, Linda Morrin, in Harrisburg.

I was happy to have the opportunity to celebrate Amelia Honer, a student at Council Rock High School North and the 2019 PIAA Class AAA Girls’ Singles Tennis Champion, in Harrisburg, where she was formally recognized on the floor of the Senate. Amelia’s athletic career is a testament to the success that can be found through hard work and dedication to her craft and her passion has been an integral part of her time on and off the court as an athlete and a student leader.

Update from Senate District 10

Security Grants Meeting

We were standing room only at our community meeting on security grants for places of worship. Thank you to the 35 local groups that came out to learn about the funding opportunities available for enhancing security measures for their organizations. A house of worship should be a sanctuary, not a place of fear. I’m glad to have the opportunity to advocate on behalf of all residents and the safety of our community, and will continue to fight for increased funding for these important programs in the future. As always, if there are any questions as you move forward in the application process, my office is ready to assist you.

Summer Food Service Program Seeks Sponsors

The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE)'s Summer Food Service Program is seeking sponsorships! Last year, nearly 300 organizations participated, and nutritious meals were provided to children in more than 2,400 economically disadvantaged locations across the state. Even still, only 14% of students who usually receive free or reduced-price meals during the school year were able to access nutritious meals once school was out.

If your organization is interested in becoming a sponsor of the Summer Food Service Program, click here to learn more.

Bucks County’s New Voting Machines

The Bucks County Board of Elections is hosting a series of training sessions open to the public to make sure voters are confident using the new voting machines. Check out the schedule to see what training session works best for you. To learn about the county’s decision behind the new machines, click here.

Upcoming Events

Newtown Office Open House Featuring Artwork from Edgewood Elementary Students Tuesday, February 11th   4:00 – 6:00 PM 3 Terry Drive, Suite 201 Newtown, PA 18940	Doylestown Office Open House Featuring Artwork from New Hope-Solebury District Students Wednesday, February 12th   4:00 – 6:00 PM 2003 Lower State Road, Suite 121, Building 100 Doylestown, PA 18901

To R.S.V.P. or learn more information about these events, contact Nancy Adam at nancy.adam@pasenate.com, by phone at (215) 489-5000, or visit my website, www.SenatorSteveSantarsiero.com/Events.

Stay Up-to-Date

Please visit the district newsroom to view additional stories, videos, and photos from across the district and the commonwealth.

You can also follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more regular updates.

My Office is Here to Serve You. How Can We Help?

Legislation: If you are interested in the status of a certain piece of legislation or obtaining copies of bills, my office will be able to provide that information to you. 

Forms and Applications: You can reach out to my office for assistance with any number of forms, including birth and death certificates, grant applications, consumer complaint forms, hunting or fishing licenses, notary public applications, and voter registration. 

Notary: A certified notary is available in both my Newtown and Doylestown office. Staffers  can provide this service at no charge for most official documents and state forms. Please call ahead to make sure our notary is in the office and can accommodate the work you are requesting. 

State Agencies: My office can assist in any dealings with state agencies, including the Department of Corrections, Military and Veterans Affairs, PennDOT, Department of Human Services, and State Police. 

Licenses and Motor Vehicles: Help is available through my office or the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Driver and Vehicle Services website if you need assistance processing motor vehicle registrations, driver’s licenses, learner’s permits, or other Department of Transportation forms. 

Visiting the Capitol: You can visit the Pennsylvania Capitol website or contact my office about setting up school or other group trips to the Capitol.

Offices of State Senator Steve Santarsiero

www.senatorstevesantarsiero.com