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For Immediate Release A Conversation with Senator Brubaker Clean water investments part of state budget Historic investments in the state's water infrastructure, including flood control, dams, and wastewater and sewer projects, were included in the 2008-2009 budget. Act 63 of 2008 will provide $800 million over the next 10 years for critical water, sewer and flood control projects, and repairs to unsafe, high-hazard dams. Under Act 64, Pennsylvanians will also be able to approve an additional $400 million for improvements in public drinking water and wastewater systems through voter referendum in this November's election. Publicly owned water systems facing federal mandates to reduce nutrient pollution will be eligible for additional support. Grants and loans may be used for capital improvements as well as other innovative strategies, such as nutrient trading. The 36th District is in a unique position to benefit from investments in wastewater upgrades. As part of the Chesapeake Bay watershed, agricultural operations and wastewater treatment facilities must reduce nutrients and sediments going into local waterways. The wastewater upgrades often are very costly, and without financial assistance, many plants would have to pass the entire expense on to ratepayers. This new infusion of funding will address vital water and sewer projects that must happen and should not be put off any longer, and I am pleased that we continue to address this issue. PHEAA announces grant increase Pennsylvania college students will see an increase in the maximum state grant awarded for 2008-2009, and can also take advantage of nursing grants. Although this was a difficult year economically, the final budget for the 2008-2009 fiscal year included an increase of $21.2 million for grants to students through the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA). Every dollar of funding appropriated in the state budget goes directly to students. As a result, PHEAA recently announced that the final maximum and average state grant awards for 2008-2009 will increase accordingly, to $4,120 and 2,738, respectively. Also, an additional 3,000 students will now qualify for a grant. In addition, the Pennsylvania Higher Education Foundation, a privately funded non-government, nonprofit organization, will be allocating $12 million in nursing grants in 2008-2009 to assist state nursing schools in the recruitment and retention of new nursing students and nurse educators. Nursing Education Grant awards for individual nursing schools will be announced sometime in July. For more information about financial aid for higher education in the Commonwealth, visit PHEAA's web site at www.pheaa.org. REAP applications available for second year Applications for the second year of the Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP) program are now available to help farmers implement agricultural conservation projects. REAP establishes a transferable tax credit for farmers who engage in practices such as streambank fencing, voluntary nutrient management plans and other water quality improvement projects. Alternatively, a business can sponsor projects and claim the tax credit directly, helping to provide investment capital to agricultural operations. Eligible applicants may receive between 50 and 75 percent of project costs as state tax credits for up to $150,000 per agricultural operation, depending on the type of practice implemented. Applications will be accepted by the State Conservation Commission beginning August 4 on a first-come, first-serve basis; those postmarked July 30 or later will be accepted. More information is available at www.agriculture.state.pa.us, or by contacting Mary Bender, REAP Administrator, at 717-787-8821 or mabender@state.pa.us. There is opportunity for every operation in this program, and I encourage each farmer to take the time to review the guidelines. | ||
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