Senator Farry E-Newsletter

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In this Update:

  • PennDOT to Host ‘REAL ID Day’ on January 13 at Bensalem Driver License Center
  • Scholarships Available Soon for Students Earning Degrees in In-Demand Jobs
  • Online Resource Tracks State Plows
  • More Veterans are Eligible for Free Birth and Death Certificates
  • Schedule Your Free State Capitol Tour

PennDOT to Host ‘REAL ID Day’ on January 13 at Bensalem Driver License Center

To help ensure Pennsylvanians are prepared for the upcoming federal REAL ID enforcement deadline of May 7, 2025, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced that it will hold special REAL ID service hours at its Bensalem Driver License Center at 4201 Neshaminy Blvd., Bensalem on January 13, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM.  

More than 2.5 million Pennsylvanians have chosen to opt into the REAL ID program. Getting a REAL ID is optional in Pennsylvania, but beginning May 7, 2025, Pennsylvanians will need a REAL ID-compliant license/identification card, or another form of federally acceptable identification (such as a valid passport or military ID) to:

  • Board domestic commercial flights.
  • Enter a military base.
  • Enter certain federal facilities that require a federally acceptable form of ID.

If you’re not sure whether a REAL ID is right for you, our REAL ID online wizard may be able to help. More information about REAL ID document requirements can be found on PennDOT’s REAL ID website.

For a full list of driver license centers, REAL ID Centers, and services offered, please visit the PennDOT Driver and Vehicle Services website and click on Find A Location.

Scholarships Available Soon for Students Earning Degrees in In-Demand Jobs

Pennsylvania students pursuing a degree for an in-demand occupation will soon be able to apply for a $5,000 scholarship through the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) because of a law passed by Senate Republicans. To bolster industries with lots of open positions, the law requires them to agree to live and work in Pennsylvania in an in-demand occupation for at least one year for each year they accept the scholarship.

Those occupations include agriculture, computer science, business, education, special education, STEM education, engineering, nursing, allied health, criminal justice and other programs approved by PHEAA. The list of in-demand occupations will be adjusted regularly to reflect Pennsylvania’s workforce needs.

Out-of-state students are eligible for scholarships that allow them to pay in-state tuition rates. If a student receives a scholarship but does not complete the educational program or fails to meet other terms of the agreement, the scholarship will be converted to a loan and must be repaid by the student. The application is expected to be available on PHEAA’s website in the coming weeks, and more information will be shared then.

Online Resource Tracks State Plows

Winter weather can impact safety on the roads, particularly before snow is cleared and salt is spread to mitigate icy spots.

As the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) crews work to keep roads passable, you may be wondering where the plow is in your area. All of PennDOT’s roughly 2,200 owned and rented plow trucks are equipped with automated vehicle location systems, which use in-truck technology to log and share data in real time for that truck. View the routes of these interstate and expressway trucks here.

PennDOT maintains nearly 40,000 miles of roads and 25,400 bridges statewide, which translates to more than 95,000 snow-lane miles.

More Veterans are Eligible for Free Birth and Death Certificates

New this year, more veterans and their families are eligible for free birth and death certificates from the Pennsylvania Department of Health because of legislation passed by Senate Republicans.

All veterans who were discharged or released from services under conditions other than dishonorable can receive a veteran fee waiver. Previously, they were only available for military members who were in active service or who were honorably discharged.

Normally, there is a non-refundable $20 fee per copy, but with this law, up to 10 free copies will be available. The fee waiver may be applied to applications for the veteran, spouse and dependent children. To be eligible for the waiver, applications for birth and death certificates must be submitted with documentation proving military status.

Schedule Your Free State Capitol Tour

If you’re looking for a fun educational activity for your family, you can tour the state Capitol for free. During a 30-minute guided tour, Capitol tour guides point out architectural and artistic highlights as they make the Capitol’s history come alive. There is also an Interactive Welcome Center and Capitol Gift Shop to enjoy during your visit.

Guided tours are offered every half hour Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Weekends and most holidays, tours are offered at 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

Schedule a tour online or by calling the Tour Guide Office at 1-800-TOUR-N-PA (868-7672). Groups of 10 or more require advanced reservations. For your safety, group size is limited to 40.

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