Apr. 7—As Pennsylvania sees a welcome decline in homicides statewide, state and local leaders this week stressed the need to continue investing in the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency’s (PCCD) Violence Intervention and Prevention (VIP) Grant Program to sustain and expand efforts that have contributed to these positive trends.
In 2024, Philadelphia saw its lowest homicide rate in a decade, and in Pittsburgh, homicides continued to decrease, down nearly 20% from the previous year.
Since 2022, there has been a 42% decrease in total victims of gun violence statewide.
“The progress we’ve made in reducing homicides across Pennsylvania is not an indication that our work is done—it is evidence that our strategies are working,” said Lt. Governor Austin Davis, PCCD Chair. “Just as you don’t stop medical treatments when symptoms improve, we must not become complacent in the fight against gun violence. Continued and increased investments are essential to ensuring every Pennsylvanian can be safe and feel safe in their community.”
The Shapiro-Davis Administration’s proposed 2025-26 budget includes a $10 million increase for PCCD’s VIP Grant Program and an additional $10 million for the Building Opportunity through Out-of-School Time (BOOST) initiative — bringing the total proposed investment in PCCD’s gun violence prevention programs to $75 million.
In the most recent round of funding, PCCD received an overwhelming response with 478 applications requesting more than $174 million — more than three times the current allocation of $56.5 million in funding.
A cornerstone of Pennsylvania’s violence prevention efforts, the VIP Grant Program has supported 435 local and statewide grant projects addressing the root causes and impacts of community violence. These efforts include mentorship and youth programs, job training, street outreach, enhanced collaboration between law enforcement and community-based organizations, victims’ services, and more.
Sustained and expanded investments in these programs are particularly critical for populations where gun violence has increased in recent years, including children and adolescents — for whom firearms are the leading cause of death— as well as victims of domestic violence.
Keeping communities safe: Senate advances key bills to strengthen crime prevention
The Senate took action this week to hold dangerous criminals accountable, according to Sen. Dave Argall (R-29).
“These important bills will keep our families and communities safe,” said Argall. “Criminals need to know that if they commit these crimes, there will be serious consequences.”
The Senate approved three key bills to protect Pennsylvania communities:
—Senate Bill 92 — would impose tougher penalties on drug dealers who sell fentanyl resulting in a fatal overdose. A person who sells or engages in a monetary transaction to distribute fentanyl resulting in a death would face a mandatory minimum 25-year sentence upon conviction, to send a strong message that those fueling the opioid crisis will face severe consequences.
—Senate Bill 471 — would require prosecutors to notify U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement when a criminal defendant is identified as unlawfully present in the United States, ensuring that individuals who commit serious crimes are transferred to federal custody for removal proceedings. The bill also would prohibit sanctuary policies that obstruct communication between local law enforcement and federal agencies.
—Senate Bill 490 — would prohibit non-monetary bail for the most dangerous individuals, including those who possess 10 grams or more of fentanyl, have a history of violent crime, or assault a law enforcement officer.
“These bills fight crime, protect Pennsylvania families, and ensure that our law enforcement officials have the tools they need to uphold justice,” Argall said. “Each measure builds upon broader efforts to make Pennsylvania a safer place to live, work and raise a family.”
State invests more than $1M in veterans services; announces grant awardees through Veterans’ Trust Fund program
The Shapiro Administration this week announced it has awarded $1,021,640 in grants through the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs’ (DMVA) Veterans’ Trust Fund (VTF).
The $1,021,640 in funding raised through donations will support 15 county directors of veterans affairs and 24 nonprofits and veterans service organizations across the commonwealth as they carry out initiatives to address challenges Pennsylvania veterans face, from food and housing insecurity to transportation and behavioral health issues.
Since the VTF grant program began in 2013, a total of $8,504,500 has been awarded to organizations that serve Pennsylvania veterans.
“Our veterans have served our country and fought for our freedoms, and my administration has their backs,” said Gov. Josh Shapiro. “The Veterans’ Trust Fund, supported through Pennsylvanians’ generous donations, provides vital resources for the organizations that support Pennsylvania’s 700,000 veterans — organizations that make sure our veterans can put food on the table, have transportation to get where they need to go, and receive the benefits they earned through their service. We will continue to work to ensure that the brave men and women who protected our freedoms have the opportunity to succeed and can prosper here in the commonwealth.”
“There are so many incredible veteran advocacy organizations in Pennsylvania, but they can’t do all the work without financial support, and that is why the Veterans’ Trust Fund is so important,” said Maj. Gen. John Pippy, Pennsylvania’s adjutant general and head of the DMVA. “Thanks to the generosity of so many Pennsylvanians, we are able to provide much needed support through the VTF to these organizations.”
The DMVA directed $201,790 in VTF grant funding to county directors of veterans affairs for new, innovative, or expanded programs or services.
—The grantees and the specific award amounts to support veteran outreach initiatives included $15,000 to the Luzerne County Veteran Affairs Office.
DMVA also awarded $819,850 in funding to veteran service organizations with 501(c)(19) status and nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status and a mission of serving Pennsylvania veterans. Funding priorities for grants in this category were social determinants of health, transportation, and employment.
—The grantees, the specific award amounts, and the programs supported included Camp Freedom, LLC (Carbondale, Wayne County) — $40,000 to provide disabled veterans all-inclusive hunting experiences
PA Senate committee advances bill to increase pensions for disabled veterans
The Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee has unanimously approved legislation to increase the monthly pension amounts for Pennsylvania’s Blind Veterans Pension Program and the Amputee and Paralyzed Veterans Pension Program.
Senate Bill 534, reintroduced by Sen. Judy Ward (R-30) and Sen. Devlin Robinson (R-37), would raise the monthly pension payments from $150 to $180 for veterans who suffered service-connected injuries resulting in blindness, paralysis or the loss of two or more extremities.
Under current law, eligible Pennsylvania veterans receive $150 per month through these programs. The last increase occurred in 1999. If enacted, this legislation would provide much-needed financial relief to nearly 2,500 veterans across the commonwealth.
As of Nov. 30, 2024, the Blind Veterans Pension Program benefits 98 individuals, while the Amputee and Paralyzed Veterans Pension Program serves 2,345 individuals.
The bill now moves to the full Senate for consideration.
Reach Bill O’Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.