News from Representative Smucker
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IMPORTANT UPDATES from CONGRESSMAN SMUCKER

Thanks for subscribing to my E-Newsletter. In this edition, I want to share with you my new legislation, honoring our farmers, an important update on Economic Impact Payments for non-filers, House Republican’s Commitment to America, and certain months of awareness. It is important especially as we approach flu season to continue to practice social distancing, wash your hands, and follow CDC guidelines. You can always visit the dedicated coronavirus page on my website for additional information.

I enjoy hearing from you and responding to questions from your emails, phone calls and letters. If you’d like to share your concerns or opinions with me, or if you have questions about legislation or specific votes, you can send me an email here. 


Improving Local Passenger Rail Service
I recently introduced legislation to improve service to riders, provide local control, accountability, and cost savings by transferring the ownership of the Keystone East Line, which runs from Harrisburg to 30th Street Station in Philadelphia, from Amtrak to Pennsylvania.

The Keystone East Line is one of Amtrak’s state-supported rail lines that runs wholly within Pennsylvania. The line’s operations are heavily subsidized by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, to the tune of approximately $100 million annually. 

By granting Pennsylvania ownership of the Keystone Line, we can provide greater local control, accountability, and expand ridership opportunities. Pennsylvania has made enormous investments into the Keystone Line without managerial control. Transferring this line would ensure that the residents of my congressional district and of south-central Pennsylvania are receiving improved, quality public transportation

Learn more about the Keystone Line for the Commonwealth Act. 


Supporting Pennsylvania Farms
October 12, 2020 is recognized as National Farmers Day. We are so grateful for the over 6,500 farms that call Pennsylvania’s 11th District home. They produce goods that are enjoyed here in Pennsylvania and across our great nation!

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In September, I was awarded the Friend of the Farm Bureau award from the American Farm Bureau Federation. I will always fight for our strong agricultural community.


Non-Filer EIP update
The IRS has extended the deadline for individuals to submit their information using the IRS’s Non-Filer Tool. The extension is for those who may be eligible to receive an Economic Impact Payment but do not file federal income tax returns. The deadline is now November 21, 2020.


Commitment to America 
Earlier this year, I stood socially-distanced with my House Republican colleagues on the steps of the U.S. Capitol to discuss a series of policy proposals, our Commitment to America. Our plan has three pillars designed to restore our way of life, rebuild the greatest economy in history and renew the American dream.

I wrote about the Commitment to America in a column in the October 15, 2020 edition of the Lititz Record, Elizabethtown Advocate and Ephrata Review. Excerpts are below, for the full article click here. 

I want to focus on the first pillar the importance of restoring our way of life. 

We will defeat the COVID-19 virus and keep America healthy.
The COVID-19 pandemic has posed significant challenges to our nation and restoring our way of life means that we will defeat this virus. Under Operation Warp Speed, the full strength of the American government and the private sector are working to develop, manufacture and distribute over 300 million doses of a safe and effective vaccine, in addition to continuing development of therapeutic treatments and increasing testing opportunities.

We will ensure the safety of our communities and neighborhoods.
Another threat our nation currently faces is that of civil unrest. House Republicans have put forth legislation, known as the JUSTICE Act, which I supported, to increase federal support for law enforcement by $1.75 billion. These funds would be used to enhance police training, support community policing and assist in purchasing over 500,000 body cameras. Supporting our brave law enforcement officers should not be a partisan issue, but unfortunately Democrats in the House and Senate blocked this legislation from being considered earlier this year.

Locally, we have seen the partisan and divisive leadership of Mayor Danene Sorace in Lancaster City, force Police Chief Jarrad Berkihiser into an early retirement because of social media posts made by his spouse supporting President Trump and because the Mayor and City Council President Smith-Wade-El want to pursue a “progressive” policing policy. The Chief of Police is an apolitical appointment that will now have to meet the political litmus test of left-wing administrations. The Mayor, in a recent statement, shared several of her priorities about the search for the City’s next police chief. Nowhere to be found among those priorities are a commitment to ensuring safe streets and neighborhoods, which has been the central focus on the improvement and development of Lancaster City. I would encourage the Mayor to make that a top priority, like the city leaders who served before her. The people of Lancaster City deserve nothing less than a police department with the full support of the city government. Read my full statement from earlier this week.

We will protect our freedoms.
Our God-given rights enshrined in the Constitution must be defended.       

We will fight for the unborn and oppose efforts of many states across the nation to expand abortion. We will stand for free speech at a time when big tech companies are curtailing it. We will uphold our Second Amendment. Our Commitment to America will keep our nation and communities healthy and safe.

Learn more about the Commitment to America here.

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Supporting our Small Business
This week I was pleased that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced that Senate Republicans will put forth a bill to reopen the Paycheck Protection Program. The Paycheck Protection Program has helped nearly 175,000 small businesses in Pennsylvania and helped preserve approximately 100,000 jobs in the Eleventh District. Speaker Pelosi needs to put the needs of American families before her unneeded partisan agenda.

Breast Cancer and Down Syndrome Awareness Month
October is recognized as Down Syndrome Awareness Month and Breast Cancer Awareness Month. We will continue the fight to cure for breast cancer. And we celebrate our family, friends and neighbors living with Down syndrome.

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Here to Serve
If you have any questions or issues with a federal agency, please know that my office is here to assist you. You can call our district or Washington, DC offices for assistance or visit my website for any issue with a federal agency or department.

Thank you for subscribing to my newsletter! To stay up-to-date on my work in the district and Washington, be sure to follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. You can also check out my YouTube page where there are 100+ videos, many of which are direct responses to your questions.

Sincerely,


Lloyd Smucker
Member of Congress

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