OHIO TOWNSHIP, July 26 – State Rep. Arvind Venkat, D-Allegheny, announced that the Ohio Township Volunteer Fire Company of Allegheny County has received $270,000 in state funds from the Office of the State Fire Commissioner. Ohio Township VFC will use the monies to purchase a new water tanker truck and replace a tanker truck that’s over 30 years old. “Firefighters save lives and protect our communities every day. They cannot afford to have resources that malfunction or break down on the job,” Venkat said. “The brave men and women of Ohio Township Volunteer Fire Company are better prepared to face the perils of their profession with this new vehicle.” These dollars are made possible by the Fire and Emergency Medical Services Loan Program, which provides funds to fire and emergency medical services companies for the acquisition, rehabilitation or improvement of apparatus, facilities and equipment. Read more
Bipartisan news conference highlights impact of PBM reform on local pharmacies, patients Read more
BRADDOCK, July 24 – Combined grant and loan funding totaling $6 million will support new work at the former Westinghouse Electric Corporation’s Braddock Avenue site so the industrial park can attract and support more business tenants, state Rep. Abigail Salisbury announced today. Salisbury, D-Allegheny, said the funding to Regional Industrial Development Corporation of Southwestern PA – secured through the Commonwealth Financing Authority under the state’s Business in Our Sites program – includes a $2.4 million grant and a $3.6 million low-interest loan. “Over the years, RIDC has developed the site of the old Westinghouse company complex on Braddock Avenue so that Keystone Commons now houses more than 40 businesses employing more than 1,100 workers,” Salisbury said. “And the site – which attracts both manufacturing and tech companies – has the potential for additional development. “The new funding will allow RIDC to continue development efforts by demolishing a dilapidated building located next to the West Shop Industrial Mall and redeveloping that space for commercial use. The project will create an estimated 50 new jobs and broaden the park’s capacity to attract and support new commercial tenants. It’s exciting work that will result in new employers, new job opportunities and, ultimately, more money coming back to support our local economy.” Read more
Lawmakers tout pharmaceutical industry reform to help patients, local pharmacies Read more
Legislators hail new law with Cambria County pharmacists Read more
This law directly addresses concerns community pharmacy owners have expressed about pharmacy benefit managers and will help more small business owners keep their doors open." Read more
Newly enacted state budget makes major investments in education, communities Read more
BRADDOCK, July 16 – Combined tax credits and funding of more than $5 million will support work on two major housing projects in Homewood and Wilkinsburg, state Rep. Abigail Salisbury announced today. “Stability, security, easier access to jobs and community programs – all depend on the availability of affordable housing,” said Salisbury, D-Allegheny. “I’m excited about the new funding and reservation of tax credits to leverage investments in these projects because they are going to connect more residents with safe new living spaces and the benefits that go along with that.” Salisbury said the details of the projects and funding, awarded through the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency are as follows: North Homewood development , 7206 Tioga St: Construction of one four-story, 79,478-square-foot, general occupancy building that will include 21 one-bedroom units, 22 two-bedroom units, and 15 three-bedroom units, including nine accessible units. The project is supported by conditional reservation of $1.43 million in Low Income Housing Tax Credits, plus an additional $1 million in Pennsylvania Housing Tax Credits and $750,000 in National Housing Trust Fund funds. Legacy Wilkinsburg development , Hunter Street: Construction of four general occupancy two- to three-story buildings totaling 49,075 square feet that will include eight one-bedroom units, 22 two-bedroom units, and eight three-bedroom Read more
HARRISBURG, July 16 – Health care providers will no longer be forced to shoulder credit card transaction fees just to receive reimbursement for their services, thanks to a newly signed law introduced by Reps. Arvind Venkat and Greg Scott that requires insurers to offer providers a variety of different reimbursement options. Act 58 of 2024 , signed yesterday by Gov. Josh Shapiro, provides that insurers may no longer limit reimbursement methods exclusively to electronic credit cards – which often carry high transaction fees – and must instead offer a variety of reimbursement options so providers can choose the method best suited to them. “No one should have to pay a fee just to be reimbursed for their services, but this has been the reality for many health care providers, who have been forced to accept insurer reimbursement payments through electronic credit cards that often carry transaction fees,” said Venkat, D-Allegheny. “It’s an unfair practice that prevents providers from receiving full compensation and penalizes patients, as well, when those costs are passed along as increased rates. “Under the new law, insurers may no longer limit reimbursement to being provided by electronic credit cards, but must offer health care providers a choice as to how they wish to be reimbursed. It’s time to make this aspect of health care fairer for providers and more cost-efficient for Read more
HARRISBURG, July 15 – State Rep. Matthew R. Gergely issued the following statement after voting Thursday to pass the 2024-25 Pennsylvania budget: “I was proud to cast a “yes” vote for the new state budget, which includes investments that can make a dramatic difference for our public schools. For far too long, our students have been forced to compete on an uneven playing field because of a flawed system that gives students in wealthier districts an unfair advantage. “The quality of a student’s education should never, ever depend on the wealth of their ZIP code. The new state budget allocates $1.3 billion in funding to all students, plus additional funding of more than half a billion dollars to level the playing field for students in chronically underfunded school districts, including many of our own. The plan is a promising step on the road to bringing the equality in public education we have sadly lacked for too long. “The new budget will also help us reform cyber charter funding so that these schools do not drain resources away from our brick-and-mortar schools. “The new plan also invests in ways that will help make higher education more affordable for students. Pennsylvania is nearly last in the country when it comes to funding for our state colleges and universities – a situation that has discouraged many students from attending and forced others to begin their careers with heavy Read more
HARRISBURG, July 12 – State Rep. Abigail Salisbury cast a “yes” vote Thursday for Pennsylvania’s new $47.6 billion spending plan, saying it will dramatically change the way the state funds its public schools while also bolstering important resources like affordable housing. “The new budget invests $1.3 billion for public education and more than $500 million to address the deficit caused by chronic underfunding of districts, including many schools in our own district,” Salisbury said. “With those investments, we can finally begin to change the dynamic for millions of students who have faced a disadvantage from the moment they set foot in the classroom. The new plan will allow us to start leveling the playing field for those students while also offsetting rising property taxes – all without taking funding away from any other school district. “Critically, the new plan addresses the damaging impact cyber charters have had on our public school budgets by changing the way those charter schools are funded and returning more of that funding back to our brick-and-mortar schools. “The budget also invests in ways to make higher education more affordable for students – a commitment that’s critical if we’re going to encourage new generations of young adults to stay, build lives in the state and contribute back to the economy. Right now, our students carry the third-highest debt Read more
Legislation creating affordable pathways to four-year degrees clears state House and Senate Read more
HARRISBURG, July 12 – State Rep. Arvind Venkat issued the following statement regarding his support for the new Pennsylvania state budget. “I was happy to vote for the new state budget, which makes a $1.3 billion investment in our public schools and will make a positive difference for communities in Allegheny County and in the North Hills suburbs of Pittsburgh. “The new budget invests money in our Avonworth, Hampton and North Allegheny school districts; bolsters resources for first responders, police, fire and EMS workers; and will help ensure that hospitals are able to stay open and that no one will go bankrupt from receiving health care. “As your state representative, I am focused on making health care more affordable and accessible, investing in public schools and first responders, and making sure our economic environment is thriving. The new budget promises to advance those goals. It also addresses the needs of small businesses and working families through provisions that will allow businesses to deduct net operating losses and contribute toward the child care expenses so many working parents have. “While no budget is perfect and requires some compromise by both sides, I believe the new plan invests strategically in ways that will improve quality of life in our community – without adding any new taxes. That’s a budget I can support.” Read more
HARRISBURG, July 12 – State Rep. Lindsay Powell yesterday cast a “yes” vote for Pennsylvania’s 2024-25 budget, saying that the new plan brings the kind of bold investment the state especially needs to level the playing field for public school students. “The whole point of public education is to ensure that every child gets the same chance to succeed, but that can’t happen with the vast disparity we have in per-pupil spending between wealthier and less-affluent districts,” Powell said. “Pennsylvania has been failing its public school students, and it’s time for the commonwealth to step up and make the kind of commitment that affirms equity and a fair shot for all children. I believe the new budget’s $1.3 billion investment in our students reflects that kind of commitment needed to level the playing field and start shifting that burden off taxpayers. “At the same time, the new plan will reform the way we fund our cyber charter schools so that more of that money returns to fund public schools. “ The new budget also invests in ways that will help make our state schools and community colleges more affordable. We can’t afford to lose young adults to other states because we’re unable to provide attainable higher education. Our workforce and our economy ultimately pay the price.” Powell said the new budget also boosts funding to expand opportunities and bolster Read more
HARRISBURG, July 11 – State Rep. Aerion Abney today voted in favor of Pennsylvania’s new budget for 2024-25, saying that the plan will fundamentally change the way the state funds its public schools and provide a path toward equality in public education. “A public school education is supposed to be the great equalizer, but for decades, that hasn’t been the case here in PA because of an unconstitutional funding system that ties the quality of a student’s education to the wealth of their ZIP code,” Abney said. “I voted for the new state plan because I believe its $1.3 billion investment in students will be a game-changer. It’s time to level the playing field and ensure all Pennsylvania students get the quality education they deserve – and it’s also time to start easing the burden of rising property taxes residents have shouldered for too long. “The new plan also provides a more realistic formula for funding our cyber charters, so they don’t continue draining dollars from our brick-and-mortar public schools.” Abney said the new spending plan promises to make higher education more affordable for students. “Pennsylvania is ranked 49 th in the nation when it comes to public funding for higher education per student,” Abney said. “The result is that many young Pennsylvanians either forego college altogether or end up starting their lives and Read more
Legislation to crack down on predatory drug pricing practices clears state House and Senate Read more
HARRISBURG, July 8 — State Reps. Greg Scott and Arvind Venkat said a crucial piece of legislation that aims to protect health care practitioners and their patients from unfair reimbursement practices imposed by some insurers is headed to the governor’s desk. House Bill 1664 would address how certain insurers require claims payments to be made through credit or debit card equivalents, which involves the insurer providing a series of numbers that the health care provider must enter on a website or credit card terminal. This process forces health care practices to absorb transaction fees, sometimes as high as 5%, or pass these additional costs on to patients. Insurers sometimes even receive a percentage of the transaction fee. Many health care offices, particularly those run by small business owners, are not fully equipped to handle end-to-end electronic claims processing, especially for bulk claim payments. As a result, these practices may be forced to upgrade their payment systems simply to be paid for the services they provide to patients covered under an insurer’s plan. This requirement unfairly restricts their business practices and increases operational costs. "In passing House Bill 1664, we're taking a significant step to ensure fairness in health care reimbursement practices,” said Scott, D-Montgomery. “This legislation would be a victory for dentists and their patients, ensuring that Read more
HARRISBURG, July 9 – With thousands of students being turned away from career and technical education programs, the Pennsylvania House today adopted a resolution introduced by state Rep. Aerion Abney that would require the state to study the problem and recommend ways to expand access to these programs. Abney said he introduced H.R. 481 – which calls on the Legislative Budget and Finance Commission to identify student barriers to CTE and make recommendations – to address a disturbing trend. “Our CTE programs are incredibly important because they provide young adults with the skills they need for good-paying, family-sustaining jobs,” Abney said. “Unfortunately, thousands of students are being turned away or wait-listed for these programs. It’s an issue that is depriving young adults of critical training tools and diminishing the pool of talented applicants that employers need to remain competitive. “If we’re really serious about maintaining a strong workforce and ensuring we can provide the kinds of opportunities that make young adults want to stay, raise families here and contribute back to the economy, then we need to address this issue. If the problem is one of capacity, then we need to secure the necessary funding to expand our CTE programs statewide. This study will be an important first step.” Abney said Pennsylvania has more than 68,000 students attending Read more
HARRISBURG, July 3 – State Rep. Matthew R. Gergely’s bill that would allow individuals to work at more than one business licensed to sell alcohol passed the state Senate Tuesday, 47-3. Gergely is a member of the PA House Liquor Control Committee and recognized the need to assist licensed food and beverage establishments with H.B. 829 . “The pandemic took a heavy toll on small businesses across the country, especially those in the food and beverage industry. Not only that, bars, restaurants and other liquor-licensed entities are still facing a worker shortage in the post-COVID era, especially when it comes to hiring experienced and knowledgeable staff,” he said. “House Bill 829 would release such workers from the exclusive grip exercised by businesses with liquor licenses, and this new inclusivity would lead to higher profits and boost to local economies. Having extra money in their pockets will help workers and their families afford daily necessities and benefit their financial stability as well. “This bill is a win-win for Pennsylvanians and Pennsylvania small businesses,” Gergely added. “I want to thank House and Senate members on both sides of the aisle for helping this commonsense measure reach this point.” House Bill 829 is Gergely’s second piece of legislation to pass the state Senate this year and now heads to the governor for his signature. Read more
HARRISBURG, July 3 – State Reps. Lindsay Powell’s and Shelby Labs’ bill that would establish the Victims of Violence Relocation Act passed the state House today. Under the legislation ( H.B. 2162 ), eligible violent crime survivors would be entitled to relocation assistance, and the timeframe for requesting such assistance would be increased from 90 to 180 days after the crime occurred. The legislators said this would allow survivors more time to access necessary support and would ensure they can utilize federal documentation to validate their need for relocation. “Partnering with Representative Labs on this bill exemplifies that the PA House stands united with survivors of violent crime by expanding housing assistance to them in their time of need,” Powell, D-Allegheny, said. “Thank you to all my colleagues for your affirmative votes and your commitment to helping survivors start their lives anew.” “I want to thank Representative Powell for her collaboration on this important piece of legislation that protects victims and empowers survivors,” Labs, R-Bucks, added. “The passage of House Bill 2162 is a critical step in ensuring our commitment to making Pennsylvania a safer place for victims of violence and providing a foundation of support during recovery.” The Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence says one in three women, one in four men and nearly half of LGBTQ+ individuals will Read more
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