WILKES-BARRE — U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona will launch the 2024 Back to School Bus Tour from Sept. 3 to Sept. 6.
The week-long, multi-state road trip will showcase the many ways schools, families, and communities are doubling down on accelerating student achievement and raising the bar in public education with investments and other support from the Biden-Harris Administration.
The Back to School Bus Tour will feature stops in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Pennsylvania.
This year’s theme — “Fighting for Public Education” — highlights how school communities are using the Biden-Harris administration’s historic investments in public education to implement evidence-based and promising and innovative strategies and accelerate academic success, to support students of all ages and backgrounds.
The 2024 bus tour will celebrate public education as the American system that opened the door for so many of the nation’s success stories: from astronauts to astrophysicists, writers to engineers, musicians to mathematicians, innovative entrepreneurs in the private sector to great leaders in the public sector.
“This year’s Back to School Bus Tour will remind the American people why the Biden-Harris Administration has unapologetically fought for public education, the foundation of opportunity in this country, and the contrast between our efforts and those who wish to destroy public education,” Cardona said. “I cannot wait to hit the road and meet with students, parents, educators, and school leaders who are using the Biden-Harris Administration’s historic investments in public education to Raise the Bar for students at every stage of their academic journeys. I’m looking forward to lifting up what’s working in public education and celebrating the exciting work taking place in our schools and communities to ensure that all students, no matter their race, place, or background, have opportunities to succeed and contribute to our country.”
Last stop Pennsylvania
The tour will end in Pennsylvania, where he will be joined by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and American Federation of Teachers (AFT) President Randi Weingarten to highlight the critical role of full-service community schools, serving the whole child, in ensuring food security in communities, offering mental health supports for communities, and improving opportunities and outcomes for students.
Throughout the week, Secretary Cardona, Deputy Secretary Cindy Marten, and Under Secretary James Kvaal will join national, state, and local education leaders to speak with students, parents, and educators at events that celebrate the back-to-school season.
Rep. Meuser co-sponsors legislation to establish illegal immigrant offender database
U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser, R-Dallas, this week co-sponsored H.R. 8970 — the Illegal Offender Registry Act — legislation he said is aimed at protecting American communities.
Meuser said the bill would create a comprehensive database within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that will catalog all illegal immigrants who have been convicted of felonies.
Meuser said this bill reportedly comes in response to the deaths of Laken Riley, Rachel Morin, and Jocelyn Nungaray, among others, who were killed by illegal immigrants. The co-sponsors of the legislation say these incidents highlight the need for stronger measures to ensure that individuals who pose a threat to public safety are tracked and held accountable.
Meuser said the legislation requires the creation of a comprehensive database within the Department of Homeland Security to track every illegal immigrant convicted of a felony, listing their names, crimes, and current whereabouts.
“By holding illegal immigrants who break our laws accountable, this bill takes a critical step toward restoring law and order and protecting American communities,” Meuser said. “Since the Biden-Harris administration took office, over 10 million people entered our country unlawfully. As crime surges across the nation, particularly in sanctuary cities, liberal policies are severely restricting our law enforcement officers’ ability to enforce the law. This legislation will require DHS to ensure these criminals are tracked, held responsible, and removed from our country. I urge my colleagues to support this crucial, commonsense measure to enhance public safety and make certain law enforcement is fully informed about illegal immigrants convicted of felonies, so they can be deported immediately.”
H.R. 8970 was referred to the House Judiciary Committee for further consideration.
Pa. highlights benefits, support available to pregnant and breastfeeding women
The Pennsylvania Insurance Department (PID) this week reminded all pregnant and postpartum women that they have access to free breastfeeding support, counseling, equipment, and supplies under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
“August is National Breastfeeding Awareness Month, and we want to ensure all breastfeeding and pregnant women across the Commonwealth are aware of the free services available to them through their insurance,” said Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner Michael Humphreys. “After welcoming a child, the last thing a parent should have to worry about is figuring out how to afford essential resources that assist with breastfeeding. We encourage families to check with their health plans to determine what benefits are available.”
Pennsylvanians with ACA coverage have comprehensive lactation support without cost-sharing, which means the consumer cannot be charged an out-of-pocket co-payment, deductible, or coinsurance for these services. Lactation support services include consultations, counseling, education by clinicians and peer support services.
Under the ACA, health insurers are also required to cover breastfeeding equipment, supplies, and counseling for the duration of breastfeeding, and these benefits must also be provided before and after birth.
Although specific coverage for the type and number of pumps may vary by plan, all insurers offering plans on Pennie — Pennsylvania’s official online health insurance marketplace — cover the cost of a new or rented breast pump unit.
Any consumer with an ACA compliant plan who has received breastfeeding equipment, supplies, or counseling and was charged a co-payment, co-insurance, or deductible should contact their health insurer to request a refund. The number for the insurer can usually be found on the back of the health insurance card.
Consumers with any questions on coverage of breastfeeding equipment or counseling, or to file a complaint, can contact PID’s Consumer Services Bureau online or by calling 1-877-881-6388.
DGS unveils final joint laboratory plans for former Harrisburg State Hospital property
The Pennsylvania Department of General Services (DGS) this week introduced final site design plans for the approximately $450 million joint laboratory complex that will provide state-of-the-art research and analysis facilities to four Commonwealth agencies and transform the grounds of the former Harrisburg State Hospital property within five years.
Plans for the more than 30-acre property include the development of a $325 million joint lab facility to be shared by the Departments of Health, Agriculture, Environmental Protection, and Conservation and Natural Resources.
A $125 million cutting-edge forensics lab dedicated to the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) will also be a cornerstone of the project, while historic preservation work will take place on four buildings that will be used to support the complex.
“This project will modernize laboratory facilities for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and help the Commonwealth more efficiently and effectively meet the need for public health testing, food safety testing, plant disease diagnostics, air- and water-quality testing, and forensic testing,” said DGS Secretary Reggie McNeil. “The facilities are being designed to meet the needs of the ever-changing world we live in to ensure our laboratory systems will continue to serve the citizens of the Commonwealth for many years to come.”
• Site preparation work is slated to begin in early 2025.
• New construction will take place in several stages, beginning in early 2026 and concluding roughly three years later.
• The first phase will focus on construction of the 300,000-square-foot joint lab facility, expected to be completed in early 2029.
• The second phase of construction, set to start in late 2026, includes the development of a 90,000-square-foot PSP forensics lab, as well historical restorations of Dix Museum, the site’s Administration Building, Chapel, and Dixmont Cottage.
Dating to 1845, the Harrisburg State Hospital closed in 2006. The site has remained mostly dormant ever since.
“This monumental endeavor underscores the Commonwealth’s commitment to innovation, efficiency, and heritage preservation,” Secretary McNeil added. “By leveraging cutting-edge technology and honoring the site’s historical significance, the project sets a new standard for sustainable development and public service excellence.”
The joint laboratory complex is expected to be occupied by late 2029.