WILKES-BARRE — From the same room where the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution were signed, Gov. Josh Shapiro delivered a message to Pennsylvanians on Independence Day about our responsibility to continue the work that began 250 years ago.
In a new video filmed in the Assembly Room at Independence Hall, the Governor reminds Pennsylvanians about the 56 new Americans who gathered there to declare their independence from a king and set in motion the greatest experiment in human governance the world has ever seen.
In the video, the Governor issues a call to action, saying:
“The chaos, cruelty, and corruption being injected into our democracy every day are testing the very guardrails established by our founders two-and-a-half centuries ago. But just as it was in 1776, American freedom is not the product of a single document or the result of a single man’s actions. It is the result of each of us doing our part — rising up, demanding more, working to perfect our union.
“We in Pennsylvania are the descendants of our founding fathers’ foundation, and we know their work isn’t finished. It is our responsibility to carry it forward, protect our fundamental freedoms, and stand up to the petty tyrants in our way. On this, the 250th July 4th of our independence, let us each ask ourselves what we will do to meet our uniquely American responsibility.”
Pennsylvania is the birthplace of American democracy, and the Governor is calling on Pennsylvanians to ask themselves “what we will do to meet our uniquely American responsibility” to carry forward the work of our founders and protect our fundamental freedoms.
“But just as it was in 1776, American freedom is not the product of a single document or the result of a single man’s actions,” Shapiro said. “It is the result of each of us doing our part — rising up, demanding more, working to perfect our union.
“Today, on the 250th anniversary of our nation’s independence, we can take lessons from those who came before us, like the 56 new Americans who stood here in this room in the Pennsylvania State House, to declare their independence from a king and set in motion the greatest experiment in human governance the world has ever seen.
“Almost a decade later, their independence won — George Washington sat here to preside over the Constitutional Convention as the delegates drafted, debated, and eventually signed the new US Constitution.
“From the birthplace of our democracy — on behalf of all of us in Pennsylvania, ready to protect our freedom, happy Independence Day.”
Meuser leads push to support child care centers
U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser, R-Dallas, joined U.S. Rep. Greg Landsman, D-Ohio, this week in introducing the Child Care Small Business Insight and Improvement Act — bipartisan legislation that would increase the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) role in supporting and overseeing for-profit child care small businesses nationwide.
Meuser said the Child Care Small Business Insight and Improvement Act would require the SBA to designate a staffer dedicated to supporting and monitoring America’s child care small businesses and require the agency to conduct a study on the needs and challenges of these businesses. In addition, it requires the SBA to conduct a study and report on fraud among for-profit child care providers, and make recommendations for changes needed to prevent the use of federal funds.
Earlier this year, Meuser said reports began to surface of rampant misuse of federal support for small business child care centers, particularly in Minneapolis, Minnesota, including the infamous “Learning Center.” Meuser said this legislation will help identify and eliminate fraud at these organizations, save taxpayer dollars, and ensure that federal assistance goes only to legitimate child care centers.
According to a report published by the House Oversight and Investigations Committee in June, Meuser said Minnesota state officials identified a pattern of fraudulent billing within the state’s Child Care Assistance Program, totaling $71.6 million in potential fraud as early as 2019.
“This legislation would direct the SBA to increase support to small business child care centers, allowing more American families to take advantage of affordable and high-quality child care,” Meuser said. “Additionally, the bill will help identify and eliminate fraud at child care centers to ensure that federal assistance is supporting American families, not scammers.”
The bill was referred to the House Committee on Small Business, where it awaits further consideration.
Senate approves bill to increase transparency, accountability of childcare programs
Legislation to strengthen oversight of Pennsylvania’s taxpayer-funded childcare programs was approved by the Senate, according to Sen. Lisa Baker, R-Lehman Township, who supported the measure.
“Pennsylvania families deserve to know that taxpayer dollars are being spent responsibly and that the childcare programs serving their children are being held to the highest standards,” Baker said. “This legislation increases transparency by requiring regular reporting on inspections, investigations, enforcement actions and financial oversight. Greater accountability helps protect children and ensures these critical resources are being used as intended.”
Senate Bill 1372 would require the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services to provide annual reports detailing inspections, investigations, enforcement actions, and financial oversight activities related to childcare facilities and programs receiving public funding.
The reports would cover facility inspections, violations, complaints, investigations, and enforcement actions. It would also require reporting on taxpayer-funded childcare payments, improper payments identified, and efforts to recover misspent funds.
More than a billion taxpayer dollars are spent annually on childcare in Pennsylvania.
Senate Bill 1372 now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration.
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Reach Bill O’Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.