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Exclusive | Pennsylvania Dem Sen. Bob Casey backed by group helping Chinese nationals obtain US residency, citizenship

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Exclusive | Pennsylvania Dem Sen. Bob Casey backed by group helping Chinese nationals obtain US residency, citizenship


BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) has received financial support from a group lobbying to expand a visa program known to benefit Chinese nationals seeking entry into the United States, Federal Election Commission filings show.

Casey accepted a June 24 $5,000 donation from the Immigrant Investors Association/Invest in the USA PAC, which seeks to increase the number of available visas through America’s EB-5 immigrant-investor regional-center program.

Casey is the only 2024 Senate candidate to have accepted a campaign contribution from IIUSA PAC, per FEC filings.

EB-5 visas offer permanent American residency to foreigners who invest in “qualified job-creating projects,” the Wall Street Journal reported last year.

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Sen. Bob Casey accepted a $5,000 donation from IIUSA PAC, which seeks to provide American residency to foreign nationals. Laurence Kesterson/UPI/Shutterstock

The program has led to “greater interest from wealthy Chinese seeking a way out of their country” as their economy struggles and their government grows more authoritarian, the WSJ noted.

Chinese citizens have historically constituted the largest nationality of those seeking visas through the EB-5 program.

Mainland Chinese nationals scored 6,125 out of the total 10,855 in fiscal year 2022. Hong Kong got another 142.

The State Department announced Friday it had reached the limit of EB-5 visas it could grant in fiscal year 2024. Dependents of lucky investors are also given residence.

Documents from Commonwealth Strategic Partners — a DC bipartisan lobbying firm — show Casey was at a June fundraiser hosted by one IIUSA PAC lobbyist and attended by another.

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Both of the lobbyists, Commonwealth managing partners Keith Pemrick and George McElwee, have been involved extensively with EB-5 issues.

The revelation comes just days after The Post reported Casey has a three-cent stake in Chinese fentanyl manufacturer Yichang Humanwell through an index fund that’s part of a 529 Plan mutual fund for his family. He does not exercise direct control over the investment.

Casey’s opponent, GOP Senate hopeful Dave McCormick, blasted the incumbent as “the ultimate liar and hypocrite” for running ads about the Humanwell investments of McCormick’s former company while having a stake in it himself.

Connecticut-based hedge fund Bridgewater Associates — which McCormick led from 2020 to 2022 —  had a $1.7 million stake in Humanwell as of 2021.

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Mother, 6 children die in Central Pennsylvania house explosion, state police say

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Mother, 6 children die in Central Pennsylvania house explosion, state police say



A mother and her six children died when their Central Pennsylvania home exploded and caught on fire Sunday morning, state police said.

The explosion and fire happened at around 8:30 a.m. at a home on Long Run Road in Lamar Township, Clinton County, which is roughly 35 miles from State College. Crews arrived on the scene and found the home fully engulfed in flames, with the mother and her six children trapped.

State police identified the 34-year-old woman who died in the fire as Sarah B. Stolzfus. Her 11-year-old son, 10-year-old son, 8-year-old daughter, 6-year-old daughter, 5-year-old son and 3-year-old son also died in the blaze, according to state police. 

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A propane leak inside the house might’ve caused the explosion and fire, state police said. Propane tanks outside the home did not explode or contribute to the fire, according to state police.

The explosion and fire are under investigation by state police.



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Pennsylvania utilities appreciate market signals — but not market prices

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Pennsylvania utilities appreciate market signals — but not market prices






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Pennsylvania State Police investigating incident in Salisbury Township

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Pennsylvania State Police investigating incident in Salisbury Township


Pennsylvania State Police is investigating an incident in Salisbury Township on Saturday.

Lancaster County dispatch confirmed that troopers were called to the 4900 block of Strasburg Road for an incident that was reported around 11 a.m.

Fire and EMS was called to the area but have since been cleared, dispatch said.

This is a developing story. CBS 21 is working to learn more.

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