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2020 Delaware County Household Hazardous Waste Collection Events

Rep. Greg Vitali

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Labor union leaders hurting Pa. climate efforts

(Aug 13, 2020) Rep. Greg Vitali

HARRISBURG, Aug. 13 – Recently, a number of powerful Pennsylvania building trades union leaders lobbied for the passage of two bills that would hurt Pennsylvania’s efforts to reach its greenhouse gas reduction goals. Some Democrats cast votes for both bills. Democratic legislators must resist pressure from union leaders to protect and expand fossil fuel jobs. Instead they should help create good green jobs. In early July, the Pennsylvania State House passed H.B. 2025, which would effectively block Pennsylvania’s entrance into the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. RGGI is a 10-state cap-and-trade program designed to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from the electric power sector. Pennsylvania emits almost 1% of the world’s greenhouse gas and about 30% of these emissions come from its electric power sector, mainly coal- and gas-fired power plants. RGGI is the most important climate change initiative of the Wolf administration. In the days prior to the vote on H.B. 2025, the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, the Pa. State Building and Construction Trades Council and other local building trade unions lobbied in support of the bill . The AFL-CIO in a letter to State House members specifically cited the loss of jobs in the coal industry as a reason for their support of the bill and their opposition to RGGI. Union support combined with the expected support of the Read more

 

Vitali, Zabel announce $7,500 grant for Haverford Township

(Jul 20, 2020) Rep. Greg Vitali

HARRISBURG, July 20 – State Reps. Greg Vitali and Mike Zabel announced Monday a $7,500 grant for Haverford Township has been approved through the Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant Program. Read more

 

Delco House Democrats thank fellow residents for work toward Green Phase

(Jun 19, 2020) Rep. Greg Vitali

HARRISBURG, June 19 – Pennsylvania House Democrats representing Delaware County praised residents for their diligence and sacrifice in flattening the deadly curve of COVID-19 infections following Gov. Tom Wolf’s announcement today that the county will enter Green Phase recovery efforts on June 26. During the Green Phase, aggressive mitigation tactics to control the spread of the disease are lifted, but several key defenses against it stay in effect. Personal care services, including hair salons and barber shops, must operate at 50% capacity or by appointment only; appointments or reservations also are strongly encouraged for gyms or spas. Any gathering for a planned or spontaneous event of greater than 250 individuals is prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to, a concert, festival, fair, conference, sporting event, movie showing or theater performance. Visitation to prisons and hospitals may resume subject to the discretion of the facility. Nursing home visitation restrictions remain in place. Restaurants and bars may be open at 50% occupancy. Casinos, theaters, and shopping malls can open at 50% occupancy. Churches, synagogues, temples, mosques and other places of congregate worship are excluded from limitations. These institutions are strongly encouraged to enforce social distancing and other mitigation measures such as masking at their gatherings. Other details can be found here . Read more

 

June 2020 Newsletter

(Jun 15, 2020) Rep. Greg Vitali

REAL ID Enforcement Deadline Extended toOctober 2021The deadline to obtain a REAL ID-compliant driver’slicense or ID card has been extended one year toOctober 1, 2021. At that time, a REAL ID-compliantdriver’s license or ID card, or a U.S. Passport orMilitary ID, will be necessary to board a domesticcommercial flight or enter a secure federal facility.This extension is in response to the COVID-19pandemic.PennDOT is not currently issuing REAL ID-compliantdriver’s license or ID cards. If your license is expiring,you should obtain a regular driver’s license or ID card.When REAL IDs become available again, you canchoose to upgrade to a REAL ID-compliant driver’slicense or ID card. There is no requirement that anyresident obtain a REAL ID.More information for REAL ID can be found at www.dmv.pa.gov/REALID/. Read more

 

COVID-19 support for PA business

(Apr 03, 2020) Rep. Greg Vitali

COVID-19 SUPPORT FOR PA BUSINESSES FEDERAL Contacts: Visit: https://www.sba.gov/local-assistance/find/?type=SBA%20District%20Office&pageNumber=1 to find your local Small Business Administration (SBA) District Office Programs: Coronavirus Small Business Guidance & Loan Resources Information Visit: https://www.sba.gov/page/coronavirus-covid-19-small-business-guidance-loan-resources Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) – Loan Program and Forgiveness to help eligible businesses cover the costs of payroll, health care benefits, rent, mortgage interest, and utilities during COVID-19. Loan has a maturity of 2 years and interest rate of 1.0%. Open to small businesses, restaurants, hotels, tribal businesses, non-profits, independent contractors, and gig economy workers. Contact your local lender to see if they participate in this program! Loan period: February 15, 2020 through June 30, 2020. Visit: https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/paycheck-protection-program-ppp. Economic Injury Disaster Loans and Advance Loan – Loans up to $2 million for small businesses (3.75% interest rate) and private, nonprofit organizations (2.75% interest rate) suffering as a result of COVID-19. Loans for fix debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills. Advance of up to $10,000 for small business owners experiencing loss of revenue. Loan advance will not have to be repaid! Apply here: https://www.sba.gov/disaster-assistance/coronavirus-covid-19#section-header-1 SBA Debt Relief –... Read more

 

Community Voices- Coronavirus Update

(Mar 20, 2020) Rep. Greg Vitali

Host AnnaMarie Jones welcomes PA Representatives Greg Vitali (166th District) and Jennifer O'Mara (165th District) to address navigating COVID-19 issues in SE Pennsylvania and provide informational resources. Read more

 

February 2020 Newsletter

(Feb 14, 2020) Rep. Greg Vitali

SEPTA Key Senior ID Card Expiration ExtendedSEPTA Key Senior ID Cards allow seniors to ride forfree on all SEPTA service lines in Pennsylvania. Thecards expire four years after issuance.SEPTA is providing a one-year extension of all SEPTAKey Senior ID Cards expiring in 2020. Seniors with acard expiring in 2020 will be able to continue to rideSEPTA using their current card for 12 months beyondthe printed date of expiration. For example, cards witha May 2020 expiration date will continue to be validthrough May 2021.Card holders with a Senior ID Card expiring in 2020, whostill wish to renew their card this year, can obtain samedaycard renewal at either SEPTA Headquarters, locatedat 1234 Market Street, or the SEPTA Accessible TravelCenter located at Suburban Station, 15 N. 16th Street.My district office can help complete first-timeapplications and take photos for seniors 65+ who need acard. Bring a form of identification with a date of birthon it, such as a Pennsylvania driver’s license or nondriverID, U.S. passport, or birth certificate. Read more

 

Wolf budget should address environmental protection

(Jan 27, 2020) Rep. Greg Vitali

On Feb. 4, Gov. Tom Wolf will propose a Commonwealth budget for the 2020/21 fiscal year. This budget should address the chronic understaffing and underfunding of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental protection. Wolf’s budget last year did not propose any increase in DEP staffing and, not surprisingly, the final budget approved by the Pennsylvania General Assembly contained none. Unless the governor takes a leadership role in strengthening the DEP, it will remain in its weakened state. The DEP has suffered almost a 30 percent reduction in staff since 2002, losing over 900 positions. This staff reduction has compromised the department’s ability to monitor and reduce air and water pollution, regulate oil and gas development, plug abandoned oil and gas wells, clean up hazardous sites and protect the Chesapeake Bay. Air quality DEP’s Bureau of Air Quality has eliminated 99 positions since 2000. A 2018 DEP Air Program report indicated “… fewer Department staff to conduct inspections, respond to complaints, and pursue enforcement actions will result in less oversight of regulated industry…[and] … reduced protection of the environment and public health and welfare of the citizens of this Commonwealth.” Oil and gas program The DEP Oil and Gas program has lost 36 positions – down to 190 – since 2016. This program has the responsibility to review drilling permit Read more

 

SEPTA providing 1-year extension of senior ID cards set to expire in 2020

(Dec 27, 2019) Rep. Greg Vitali

SEPTA is providing a one-year extension of all SEPTA Key Senior ID Cards expiring in the 2020 calendar year. Seniors with a card expiring in 2020 will be able to continue to ride SEPTA using their current card for 12 months beyond the printed date of expiration (for example, cards with a May 2020 expiration date will continue to be valid for travel through May 2021). The changes noted above apply only to cards expiring in calendar year 2020 and do not affect new applications in any way. Same-day SEPTA Key Senior ID cards are available at SEPTA Headquarters and the Accessible Travel Center in Center City. The SEPTA Key Senior ID card offers free travel on all SEPTA transportation within Pennsylvania, including buses, trolleys, subways and Regional Rail. In the coming year, SEPTA will continue to develop a process that will allow the office of state representatives to handle card renewals in the future. Optional renewal: Even though no SEPTA Key Senior ID Cards will expire during the 2020 calendar year, cardholders with a Senior ID Card expiring in 2020, who wish to optionally renew their card in the coming year, can obtain same-day card renewal at one of the below locations: SEPTA Headquarters – 1234 Market St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19107. SEPTA Accessible Travel Center – Room #109, Suburban Station, 15 N. 16th St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19107. Read more

 

December 2019 Newsletter

(Dec 09, 2019) Rep. Greg Vitali

December 2019 Newsletter Read more

 

2020 Delaware County Household Hazardous Waste Collection Events

(Dec 05, 2019) Rep. Greg Vitali

This program is offered as a community service to the residents of Delaware County and is NOT OPEN to businesses, institutions or industry. Read more

 

O’Mara, Vitali, Zabel announce federal grant to improve West Chester Pike

(Nov 06, 2019) Rep. Greg Vitali

“Funding like this drives improvements to infrastructure forward,” Vitali said. “As a result, we see less congestion, better air quality, increased commerce and safety improvements for our friends and families who use these roadways. It’s great to see that people in our community were directly involved in the development of this project, keeping our interests at heart. A special thanks to Haverford Township engineer Dave Pennoni for preparing this report and design.” Read more

 

11/1/19 – Climate Change: Should PA Join RGGI? – Havertown

(Nov 01, 2019) Rep. Greg Vitali

Materials from a House Democratic Policy Committee public hearing hosted by State Rep. Greg Vitali. Read more

 

Vitali holds public hearing on climate change and joining the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative

(Nov 01, 2019) Rep. Greg Vitali

HAVERTOWN, Nov. 1 – State Rep. Greg Vitali, D-Delaware/Montgomery, today hosted a hearing of the House Democratic Policy Committee to discuss Pennsylvania joining the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. “Joining RGGI is the single most important thing Pennsylvania can do to combat climate change,” said Vitali, Democratic chairman of the Environmental Resources and Energy Committee. The RGGI is a 10-state cap-and-trade program designed to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from the electric power sector. Speakers included Franz Litz , principal, Litz Energy Strategies, LLC; Chris Hoaglend , p rogram manager, Maryland Department of Environment; M. Gary Helm , lead market strategist, PJM Interconnection; Patrick McDonnell , secretary, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection; John Hanger , president, Hanger Consulting, LLC; Mark Szybist , senior attorney, Climate and Clean Energy Program , Natural Resources Defense Council; Tanya McCloskey , acting consumer advocate, Pennsylvania Office of Consumer Advocate; and Andrew Williams , director, regulatory and legislative affairs , Environmental Defense Fund. All speakers presenting at the hearing were supportive of Pennsylvania joining RGGI. Acting Consumer Advocate Tanya McCloskey remarked, “I believe that using our generation market mechanisms through a program like RGGI is the best means to Read more

 

Climate Change/RGGI Public Hearing is Nov. 1 in Havertown

(Oct 25, 2019) Rep. Greg Vitali

HARRISBURG, Oct. 25 – State Rep. Greg Vitali, D-Delaware/Montgomery, will host a hearing of the House Democratic Policy Committee on Nov. 1 entitled “Climate Change: Should Pa. Join RGGI?”. The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative is a 10-state cap-and-trade program designed to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from the electric power sector. “Pennsylvania is a major greenhouse gas emitter and joining RGGI would be perhaps the most important thing that the commonwealth could do to curb its emissions”, said Vitali, Democratic chair of the House Environmental Resource and Energy Committee. On Oct. 3, Gov. Tom Wolf signed an executive order directing that Pennsylvania commence development of a RGGI-compatible program. The hearing will start at 10 a.m. at the Haverford Township Administration Building, 1014 Darby Road, Havertown, 19083, in the Commissioners Meeting Room. Vitali will be joined by state legislators from across the commonwealth, including Policy Committee Chairman Mike Sturla, D-Lancaster. Speakers include Franz Litz , p rincipal, Litz Energy Strategies, LLC; Chris Hoaglend , p rogram manager, Maryland Department of Environment; M. Gary Helm , lead market strategist, PJM Interconnection; Patrick McDonnell, secretary, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection; John Hanger , president, Hanger Read more

 

Legislators urge Gov. Wolf to act on methane gas emissions

(Sep 20, 2019) Rep. Greg Vitali

HARRISBURG, Sept. 20 – A bipartisan group of over 30 Pennsylvania state House members sent a letter to Gov. Tom Wolf today urging him to take immediate action on regulations which would reduce methane leakage from natural gas wells in Pennsylvania. The regulations which were part of a methane reduction strategy Wolf announced in January 2016 would apply to the approximately 11,000 unconventional wells drilled in Pennsylvania since 2004. These regulations are already more than two years behind schedule according to Rep. Greg Vitali, D-Delaware/Montgomery, who coordinated the joint letter. Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas and is responsible for approximately 25 percent of current global warming. “Methane is the second-most prevalent greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide,” Vitali said. “As the second-largest natural gas producing state, Pennsylvania’s methane emissions have a significant impact on global climate change. Methane, the primary component of natural gas, is leaking from these wells and into the atmosphere at well pads, storage tanks, compressor stations, processing facilities, and along pipelines. The Wolf administration must demonstrate a sense of urgency by devoting enough staff and modifying these rules to regulate methane directly in order to quickly present them to the Environmental Quality Board for consideration. It’s time that we considered our environment a top priority.” Read more

 

Vitali to host Spotted Lanternfly Interactive Awareness Event

(Sep 06, 2019) Rep. Greg Vitali

HARRISBURG, Sept. 6 – State Rep. Greg Vitali, D-Delaware, today announced that he will be hosting a Spotted Lanternfly Interactive Awareness Event along with state Reps. Mary Jo Daley, Tim Briggs, and Pamela DeLissio. “It is crucial that we give our people the tools they need to fight back against this invasive species, and that starts with holding local meetings to learn as much as we can about this insect,” Vitali said. “We must work together to manage the population and get rid of this pest that threatens our agriculture and forest industries.” The event will be held from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 10 at the Ludington Library, 5 S. Bryn Mawr Ave., Bryn Mawr, 19010. Featured guest speaker Heather Leach, Spotted Lanternfly Extension Associate for Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, has been invited to teach residents about how to spot this invasive species, methods of prevention and types of trees impacted. Attendees will also have time to ask questions about the pest during the event. Residents who have questions about the event may call Vitali’s district office at 610-789-3900. ### Attention Editors: Media coverage is invited. Read more

 

Plastic Bags: Public Policy vs. Political Power

(Aug 15, 2019) Rep. Greg Vitali

Plastic Bags: Public Policy vs. Political PowerBy Greg VitaliIn the final days of budget negotiations, a powerful State Senator quietly inserted language in a budget related bill that would prevent Pennsylvania from regulating single use plastic bags. Governor Wolf signed this bill into law on June 28. This is another example of political power trumping environmental policy in Harrisburg.State Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman (R., Centre) inserted a provision in the Fiscal Code that would prohibit the Commonwealth and its municipalities from regulating single use plastic bags and other containers for one year- ostensibly to allow more time to study of the issue. The Senator added this language only a week after a Philadelphia City Councilman introduced a bill to ban most single use plastic bags in the city. The new Pennsylvania law would block the Philadelphia ban from going into effect. Senator Corman’s district includes a single use plastic bag manufacturing plant owned by Novolex, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of these bags. Legislation regulating plastic bags is sorely needed. Shoppers worldwide use about 500 billion single-use plastic bags annually. Without significant action there may be more plastic than fish in the ocean by weight by 2050, according to a 2016 World Economic Forum report Unlike Pennsylvania, many countries throughout the world and many US municipalities have already begun to address the plastic bag problem. Three hundred forty-nine... Read more

 

July 2019 Newsletter

(Jul 30, 2019) Rep. Greg Vitali

Summer Newsletter 2019 for Rep. Greg Vitali. Read more

 

Pennsylvania budget shortchanges environment

(Jul 11, 2019) Rep. Greg Vitali

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf recently signed into law a package of budget bills for the commonwealth’s 2019-20 fiscal year. These bills are reflective of a governor and legislative leaders who do not prioritize environmental protection. DEP Staffing Most importantly, the budget failed to address the chronic understaffing of the Pennsylvania Department of Environment Protection – the state agency charged with enforcing environmental laws. The DEP has suffered almost a 30 percent reduction in staff since 2002, losing over 900 positions. This understaffing has compromised its ability to reduce air and water pollution, regulate oil and gas development, combat climate change, plug abandoned oil and gas wells and protect the Chesapeake Bay. Environmental Fund Transfers Consistent with Governor Wolf’s budget proposal in February, money was taken from three important environmental funds to pay for general governmental operations in the upcoming fiscal year. Over $16 million was taken from the Environmental Stewardship Fund – commonly known as Growing Greener. This fund provides monies for farmland preservation, open space protection, abandoned mine reclamation, watershed protection and restoration, water and sewer infrastructure and community parks and recreational facilities. Ten million dollars was taken from the Recycling Fund, which supports municipal recycling programs by helping to pay for recycling trucks, processing Read more

 

Labor union leaders hurting Pa. climate efforts
Aug 13, 2020

Vitali, Zabel announce $7,500 grant for Haverford Township
Jul 20, 2020

Delco House Democrats thank fellow residents for work toward Green Phase
Jun 19, 2020

June 2020 Newsletter
Jun 15, 2020

COVID-19 support for PA business
Apr 03, 2020

Community Voices- Coronavirus Update
Mar 20, 2020

February 2020 Newsletter
Feb 14, 2020

Wolf budget should address environmental protection
Jan 27, 2020

SEPTA providing 1-year extension of senior ID cards set to expire in 2020
Dec 27, 2019

December 2019 Newsletter
Dec 09, 2019

2020 Delaware County Household Hazardous Waste Collection Events
Dec 05, 2019

O’Mara, Vitali, Zabel announce federal grant to improve West Chester Pike
Nov 06, 2019

11/1/19 – Climate Change: Should PA Join RGGI? – Havertown
Nov 01, 2019

Vitali holds public hearing on climate change and joining the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative
Nov 01, 2019

Climate Change/RGGI Public Hearing is Nov. 1 in Havertown
Oct 25, 2019

Legislators urge Gov. Wolf to act on methane gas emissions
Sep 20, 2019

Vitali to host Spotted Lanternfly Interactive Awareness Event
Sep 06, 2019

Plastic Bags: Public Policy vs. Political Power
Aug 15, 2019

July 2019 Newsletter
Jul 30, 2019

Pennsylvania budget shortchanges environment
Jul 11, 2019