“While the pandemic did not cause these issues, it crystalized the problem in a way where the public became acutely aware of its importance,” said Rep. Venkat, who is an emergency physician and the first physician to serve in PA's General Assembly in about 60 year. “Unfortunately, no silver bullet – or magical solution – exists to fix this complicated problem. As we saw when we peeled back layers of the issue today, addressing one issue often calls for the need to find a solution to several more related issues." Read more
HARRISBURG, Jan. 23 – Seeking to ease the burden of medical debt on working families, a plan to create the Pennsylvania Medical Debt Repayment Program was unveiled today by state Reps. Arvind Venkat and Nick Pisciottano, both D-Allegheny; Bridget Kosierowski, D-Lackawanna; and Tarik Khan and Donna Bullock, both D-Phila. “As a physician, I have seen firsthand how problems with our nation’s healthcare system – including medical debt – have hurt families and prevented people from getting the care they need,” said Venkat, the first physician to serve in the General Assembly in nearly 60 years. “While there are many issues that we need to address, including the systemic problems that lead to spiraling medical debt, this bill is an important first step toward helping people across Pennsylvania get the assistance and the care they need – and not phone calls from collection agencies.” “When my son was diagnosed with childhood leukemia, the last thing I wanted to worry about was the stress of medical costs. No family in Pennsylvania should ever need to think twice before seeking care for chronic or other serious conditions for fear of going into medical debt,” Kosierowski said. “We must do whatever we can at the state level to ensure that families don’t need to choose between going to the doctor or putting food on their table or buying clothes for their children.” The lawmakers likened the newly Read more
PITTSBURGH, Jan. 13 – State Rep. Aerion A. Abney, D-Allegheny, announced today that a nearly $500,000 state grant is being awarded to Allegheny Landing Park. The grant will be used to make an array of improvements at the site including renovations to its plaza, historic railings and pedestrian walkways, installation of lawn, meadow and rain gardens, Americans with Disabilities Act access and landscaping. “Allegheny Landing Park was one of the first in Pittsburgh to integrate the scenic backdrop of the Three Rivers into its own appeal,” Abney said. “This grant will ensure that the citizens I represent can enjoy the space now and for many more years.” Pennsylvania’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources administered the grant via their Community Conservation Partnerships Program . Read more
State Rep. La’Tasha D. Mayes, D-Allegheny, announced today that a $230,736 state grant has been awarded to a project in her community. Read more
PITTSBURGH, Jan. 13 – Initiatives to improve air and water quality and develop recreation areas throughout the region received more than $2.2 million in state grants from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Community Conservation Partnerships Program , members of the state House Allegheny County Democratic Delegation announced today. “Pennsylvania has the sixth largest outdoor recreation economy in the country,” said state Rep. Nick Pisciottano, who chairs the delegation. “Providing funding to properly manage our waterways and forests not only improves the quality of life of our community members, but also delivers major economic benefits. Our delegation will continue fighting for every dollar we can to keep Pennsylvania beautiful.” The following local funding was included among $31.2 million in grants announced for projects across the state: $499,900 to the city of Pittsburgh to rehabilitate Allegheny Landing Park. The funded project includes renovation of the plaza, historic railings and pedestrian walkways; installation of lawn, meadow and rain gardens; ADA access, landscaping, project sign and other related site improvements. $521,000 to the Allegheny Land Trust for payment toward the acquisition of approximately 96 acres in Monroeville for open space and passive recreation. Read more
State Rep. Arvind Venkat, D-Allegheny, announced today that Franklin Park has been awarded $390,900 in grants to address environmental concerns. Read more
PITTSBURGH, Jan. 12 – State Rep. Aerion A. Abney, D-Allegheny, announced today that a total of $10.3 million in state grants is being awarded to multiple Allegheny County entities for the purpose of preventing and limiting the frequency and severity of community gun violence. “Far too many innocent people have lost their lives to these senseless acts of violence, and far too many families have been irreversibly torn apart,” Abney said. “These funds are weapons in their own right to help stamp out the prevalence of these violent crimes.” Abney said that a $3 million Coordinated Community Violence Intervention grant is being allotted to the Neighborhood Resilience Project to supplement the Allegheny County Violence Prevention Plan. Abney also outlined that a total of $7.3 million in Violence Intervention and Prevention grants shall be utilized by several county organizations for outreach efforts, educational sessions, trauma aid and additional services. Beneficiaries of these grants are: Aaron Donald 99 Solutions Foundation: $80,015 for their Community Defense Project. ACH Clear Pathways: $450,000 to support their R.E.A.C.H. program. Allegheny County Chief Executive Officer: $2.43 million to implement the Rapid Employment and Development Initiative. Amachi Pittsburgh: $440,500 to their Hear4U Mobile Outreach. Foundation of HOPE: $809,000 for efforts that include their HOPE Aftercare/MAD DADS Read more
PITTSBURGH, Jan. 12 – State Rep. Aerion A. Abney, D-Allegheny, announced today that a total of nearly $370,000 in state grants is being awarded to colleges and public schools throughout Pittsburgh. Abney said the first set of grants, totaling slightly above $150,000, will be utilized to promote and strengthen university campus security, with a special emphasis on curtailing acts of sexual violence. These grants are part of Pennsylvania’s It’s On Us campaign, launched statewide by Gov. Tom Wolf in 2016 following President Obama’s national initiative. Beneficiaries of these grants include: Bidwell Training Center Inc.: $8,000 Community College of Allegheny County: $55,000 Duquesne University: $40,000 Point Park University: $40,000 Vet Tech Institute: $7,600 Per Abney, a second grant, nearly $217,000 and made possible by the Schools-to-Work Program, would help prepare Pittsburgh Public Schools students for careers in trades. Specifically, these monies will go to the Pipeline Into The Trades Pre-Apprenticeship Program which aids students seeking to enter the Carpenters’ Union Apprenticeship Program upon high school graduation. “Maintaining a safe space for students to pursue their dreams and goals is paramount to not only their success but to their overall well-being,” Abney said. “Furthermore, students deserve every and all opportunities to thrive in their chosen careers.” Additional Read more
Newly acquired funding of $20,000 will help La Roche University in McCandless move closer towards the goal of a hunger-free campus, state Rep. Arvind Venkat, D-Allegheny, announced today. Read more
PITTSBURGH, Jan. 11 – Local programs to develop and expand opportunities for students preparing to enter the workforce were awarded more than $716,000 in grants through the state Department of Labor & Industry’s Schools-to-Work Program , the state House Allegheny County Democratic Delegation announced today. “Creating better job opportunities for our next generation of workers is foundational to continue growing our region’s economy,” said Rep. Nick Pisciottano, the delegation chair. “Investments like this support the idea that all Allegheny County workers deserve careers that allow them to raise a healthy family, own a home, and pursue their own happiness.” The following grants were among $2.7 million awarded today throughout the state: $250,000 to Carnegie Mellon University to support their Robotics and Advanced Manufacturing Pathways for Underserved Populations (RAMP UP) approach, leveraging trained staff and resources from Carnegie Mellon Robotics Academy to deliver SMART Robotics technician training to underserved formal credit recovery high-school students (aged 17-21) at Passport Charter School , a formal learning site where this type of training is typically not found. $250,000 to PHASE 4 Learning Center to support their Giving Opportunities through Robotics and Manufacturing program, designed to prepare Read more
State Rep. La’Tasha D. Mayes, D-Allegheny, today announced that a local food growth non-profit, Grow Pittsburgh, has been awarded $50,000 in state funding. Read more
PITTSBURGH, Jan. 9 – State Rep. Aerion A. Abney, D-Allegheny, announced today that a total of $200,000 in state grants is being awarded to Duquesne University for the purpose of preparing the school’s faculty and staff members to educate students. “These individuals are the integral resource dedicated to preparing young adults for the next important phase of their lives,” Abney said. “I’m thrilled that these grants will help professors and university leadership members excel at the highest level so they can impart that success on students.” Abney said Duquesne’s faculty and staff members will be the beneficiaries of two $100,000 grants made possible by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. One grant will help connect members of school leadership with local education agencies to better acclimate them to their roles, and the other grant will provide an interlinked process of training for prospective educators. More information about PDE’s policies and programs is available on the department’s website . Read more
State Rep. La’Tasha D. Mayes took the oath of office in the state Capitol Tuesday to begin representing the 24th Legislative District. Read more
Today, state Rep. Arvind Venkat, D-Allegheny, announced $626,483 in state funding for his community. Read more
HARRISBURG, Jan. 4 – State Rep. Jessica Benham took the oath of office in the state Capitol yesterday to begin her second term representing the 36th Legislative District in Allegheny County. For her second term, Benham said she plans to continue fighting for legislative changes that promote access to health care, public education, improvements to critical infrastructure, public safety, workers’ rights and more. “I pledge to continue fighting for working families in Pennsylvania, many of whom are currently struggling to get by,” said Benham. “My colleagues in Harrisburg and I are eager to continue working to pass legislation that will make material changes for those most in need.” As one of the few openly LGBTQ+ members in the General Assembly, Benham was recently named co-chair of the PA House LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus alongside state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, D-Phila., positioning the pair to lead on championing bills like the PA Fairness Act in the 2023-24 legislative session. In addition to pursuing policy changes in Harrisburg, Benham said her office on Brownsville Road is ready to help constituents with a variety of state-related services, including home heating assistance, children’s health insurance, prescription drug and property tax/rent rebate assistance. Residents can visit RepJess.com to find out more. The 36th Legislative District includes about 62,000 residents in the boroughs of Read more
HARRISBURG, Jan. 4 – State Rep. Nick Pisciottano took the oath of office in the state Capitol yesterday to begin his second term representing the 38th Legislative District in Allegheny County. For his second term, Pisciottano said he plans to continue pushing legislative initiatives that support workers and create a fairer economy for all Pennsylvanians, among other things. “I’m eager to continue fighting for policies that help working families in our corner of Allegheny County and across Pennsylvania,” Pisciottano said. “My family has lived and worked in this region for generations. I’m committed to improving and growing what I already consider to be one of the best communities in the country to raise a family.” Pisciottano was also unanimously elected by his peers to serve as the PA House Allegheny County Democratic Delegation chair , and was named the chairman of the newly formed House Democratic Policy Subcommittee on Labor, Energy and Development . “In my new leadership roles I am looking forward to continuing to work with my colleagues to promote smart policies to foster a prosperous economy and rebuild Pennsylvania’s middle class,” Pisciottano said. “Now more than ever we need to be able to work together and across party lines to get things done in Harrisburg, because at Read more
HARRISBURG, Jan. 3 – State Rep. Emily Kinkead took the oath of office in the state Capitol today to begin her second term representing the 20th Legislative District in Allegheny County. For her second term, Kinkead said she plans to continue pursuing legislative priorities that promote safer and more equitable schools and communities, criminal justice reform, reproductive rights, and support for landslide victims, among other things. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue improving Allegheny County communities and making them more accessible for everyone,” said Kinkead. “I fought hard in Harrisburg alongside my Democratic colleagues throughout my first term. I’m eager to continue that fight, now as a member of the majority party in the state House, and help create a better life for all Pennsylvanians.” In addition to pushing policy changes in Harrisburg, Kinkead said her Bellevue office is ready to help constituents with a variety of state-related services, including home heating assistance, children’s health insurance, prescription drug and Property Tax/Rent Rebate assistance. Residents can visit RepEmilyKinkead.com to find out more. The 20th Legislative District includes about 62,000 residents in the township of Ross, the boroughs of Avalon, Bellevue and West View, and the 26th and 27th wards of Pittsburgh. Judge John McNally Read more
HARRISBURG, Jan. 3 – State Rep. Mandy Steele took the oath of office today in the state Capitol to begin representing the 33 rd Legislative District. The noon swearing-in ceremony marked the beginning of the 2023-24 legislative session of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Steele said she wants to prioritize protecting women’s rights and working to promote a green economy across the commonwealth and locally, which would not only increase the commonwealth’s energy independence and address climate change, but also create jobs and save taxpayers money. “It is an honor to be selected by my community to work here in Harrisburg for them,” Steele said. “I come from a background of bringing people together from all walks of life and ideologies to better the community and I am ready to continue to do that. I think those skills – and the ability to work across the aisle, will be critical in the year ahead.” Steele said her office can help with a variety of state-related services, including home heating assistance, children’s health insurance, prescription drug and property tax/rent rebate assistance. Residents can find out more by going to www.pahouse.com/steele The 33 rd Legislative District includes the townships of East Deer, Fawn, Frazer, Harmar, Harrison, Indiana, O’Hara and Springdale. Additionally, the district includes the boroughs of Aspinwall, Blawnox, Brackenridge, Read more
State Rep. Arvind Venkat took the oath of office in the state Capitol today to begin representing the 30th Legislative District. Read more
PITTSBURGH, Dec. 22 – Serving alongside Allegheny County’s top transit innovators, state Rep. Nick Pisciottano, D-Allegheny, announced today that House Democratic Majority Leader Joanna McClinton, D-Phila./Delaware, has appointed him to the Pittsburgh Regional Transit Board of Directors. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to help shape the future of Pennsylvania’s second largest public transit agency,” Pisciottano said. “In this new role, I’ll be working hard to ensure that Pittsburgh and Allegheny County residents can continue to access public transportation that is safe, reliable, and affordable.” In April, Pisciottano helped secure nearly $1 million for the authority to make fundamental upgrades to pedestrian crossings, bus stops, and traffic signals along Route 837 , one of the most heavily travelled roads in Allegheny County. At his West Mifflin district office, Pisciottano and his staff regularly help constituents receive Senior Citizen ConnectCards, which allow seniors to access PRT and other public transit services at no cost . Pisciottano will fill the PRT board vacancy left by Lt. Gov.-elect Austin Davis. The PRT board appointment comes just weeks after Pisciottano was appointed chair of the newly formed House Democratic Policy Subcommittee on Labor, Energy and Development, poising him to lead on a host Read more
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