Event to foster community spirit, awareness and activism for inclusivity Read more
Funding awarded through state Green Light-Go program Read more
AMBRIDGE, July 14 – Nearly $1.4 million awarded to build and modernize Pennsylvania’s registered apprenticeship system will bring greater career opportunities to Beaver County, state Rep. Rob Matzie announced today. Matzie, D-Beaver/Allegheny, said the funding will give local students and job seekers a leg up in securing good-paying jobs by connecting them with trusted work partners. “Students and job seekers who go through pre-apprentice and apprenticeship programs benefit from early exposure to career information, real-life experience with trusted local employers, and a steadier path to family sustaining jobs in key trades,” Matzie said. “Securing this funding is going to expand all of those opportunities right here in Beaver County.” Matzie said the funding includes: $450,000 to KML Carpenters Apprenticeship and Training Fund to expand its Carpenters Apprentice Readiness Program to 100 pre-apprentices. $400,000 to the Pittsburgh A. Philip Randolph Institute Education Fund for the Breaking the Chains of Poverty program, which trains minorities and women for apprenticeships and entry-level jobs in the construction, manufacturing, energy and related industries. The fund plans to train a minimum of 64 students during the grant period and place a minimum of 48. $324,500 to Junior Achievement of Western Pennsylvania Inc. for a Careers in Skilled Read more
HARRISBURG, July 8 -- State Rep. Rob Matzie, D-Beaver/Allegheny, issued the following statement after casting a “yes” vote for the state budget bill: “Budgets are never easy. We live in a big Commonwealth with many diverse needs. Finding common ground is often difficult. But there were numerous positives, especially to Beaver County, that made it easy to support. “Substantial increases for schools, libraries and community colleges stand out, along with fulfilling our commitments to our state and state-related universities. “Two important areas of particular concern – school safety and mental health awareness/treatment – received large increases, which should help make our schools and communities a bit safer. “Further, my legislation requiring the full use of LIHEAP funding was passed as part of the overall budget package, which will authorize the release of tens of millions of additional dollars to help people pay their utility bills this winter. “At the end of the day, this budget makes a substantial investment in our children and workforce, helps struggling families and funds the core functions of state government, all without raising a tax or fee. For me, that’s always a win, and an easy ‘yes’ vote.” The bill has passed the General Assembly and is now headed for the governor’s desk. Read more
On Tuesday Rep. Dan Miller joined other Democrats from the state House and Senate Allegheny County Delegation to discuss annual funding for the University of Pittsburgh, which was placed in jeopardy after House Republicans amended legislation on Monday. Read more
Rather than vote, Republican use procedure to delay action on gun bills Read more
Democratic lawmakers file petitions to force votes on gun bills despite entrenched Republican obstructionism Read more
Vows to continue to fight for abortion access in PA Read more
State Rep. Aerion Abney, D-Allegheny, took office at the state Capitol today to begin his first term representing the 19th Legislative District. Read more
People seeking refuge from hostility or persecution have always found a home in Pennsylvania - welcoming them is in our DNA. After all, our commonwealth was born of William Penn’s great “experiment” to establish a community where religious tolerance – an unusual idea at the time- was the guiding principle. Since then, Pennsylvania has greeted refugees from every corner of the globe, escaping every kind of oppression. Pennsylvania grew to embody its 1980’s tagline: You’ve Got a Friend in Pennsylvania. Now, as we watch in disbelief and sadness at the tragedy unfolding in Ukraine, it is time to again open our communities’ doors and hearts to welcome newcomers to our beautiful commonwealth. This is not some crisis affecting strangers on the nightly news. These are our neighbors’ families. This is local. This is real. This is touching our communities. From Philadelphia to Ambridge, and in communities in between, more than 122,000 Ukrainians already call Pennsylvania “home,” the second highest number of any state in the nation. And we want to assure those seeking refuge in our state now due to the current hostility, that they are welcome too. That is why we’ve proposed the creation of the New Neighbors Fund, that would authorize up to $2 million to support services for refugees from Ukraine. The New Neighbors Fund would supplement existing federal investments, and would create a Read more
HARRISBURG, March 7 – Governor Tom Wolf today called on lawmakers to support legislation drafted by state Reps. Rob Matzie and Kevin Boyle that would invest $2 million to help Ukrainian refugees arriving in Pennsylvania. Matzie, D-Beaver/Allegheny, said the soon-to-be-introduced legislation would allow the commonwealth to fast-track aid to thousands needing it immediately. “America defends freedom. We have always welcomed those fleeing danger and oppression,” Matzie said. “Pennsylvania has the second-largest population of people with Ukrainian ancestry in the U.S. My district alone has three communities – Ambridge, Baden and Harmony – in the top 20% of folks whose families originally came from Ukraine. We have several Ukrainian churches. This is not some crisis affecting strangers on the nightly news. These are our neighbors’ families. This is local. This is real. This is touching our communities. “The $2 million will get immediate aid flowing to these displaced families. We will be able to help them with housing, food, and clothing, and work with relief organizations to set up longer-term support.” Pennsylvania Democratic House Finance Committee Chair Kevin Boyle said, “Many thanks to my colleague Representative Matzie for helping put this legislation together; I’ll be advocating that it’s heard in committee, but it’s ultimately up to the majority at this point how quickly we can get Read more
Panel will hear from experts on disability, mental health issues Read more
Here in Pennsylvania it is long past time that elected officials stop using their power to attack trans youth and instead choose to make our commonwealth safe—no matter one’s age, race, ability or gender Read more
Kinkead specified that the new legislation would designate the portion of U.S. Route 19 between Ivory Avenue and Cemetery Lane in Ross Township, the area where Moses lost his life, as the Chief Vernon Moses Memorial Highway. Read more
Funding can be used for equipment, training, other expenses Read more
AMBRIDGE, Feb. 3 – State Rep. Rob Matzie is urging homeowners who are struggling with mortgage payments to see if they qualify for assistance under a new state program. Matzie, D-Beaver/Allegheny, said the Pennsylvania Homeowner Assistance Fund, which opened for applications this week, is designed to help homeowners facing unforeseen financial hardships because of the pandemic. “Housing expenses take the largest bite out of a family’s budget, and for many homeowners still feeling the effects of the pandemic, meeting a monthly mortgage payment may be much more difficult than it used to be,” Matzie said. “I urge anyone who is struggling with those payments to see if they qualify for the Pennsylvania Homeowner Assistance Fund, which can help prevent delinquency, default or foreclosure.” Matzie said to that to qualify, a homeowner must: own and occupy the Pennsylvania property as their primary home. have experienced financial hardship because of the COVID-19 pandemic after Jan. 21, 2020 (including a hardship that began before that date and continued afterward). have a household income equal to or less than 150% of area median income ($89,050 for a family of one, $101,800 for a family of two, and $127,200 for a family of four). have a first mortgage that is a conforming loan and meets the federal Read more
The legislative majority in Harrisburg risks transforming our state constitution into a mere collection of failed statutory schemes, while blatantly abandoning the legislative norms of statesmanship and compromise Read more
here Read more
Grants will help fund library renovations, blight removal, flood control among other projects Read more
AMBRIDGE, Jan. 21 – Public schools in Beaver County’s Aliquippa and Hopewell Area school districts and Allegheny County’s Quaker Valley School District will enjoy new safety resources thanks to nearly $104,300 in funding, state Rep. Rob Matzie, D-Beaver/Allegheny, announced today. Matzie said the funding is part of the 2021-22 Safe Schools Targeted Grants program administered by the state Department of Education. “The grant funding announced today will help ensure our district schools have the resources they need to keep students and staff safe and to give them the peace of mind they need for a productive, worry-free educational environment,” Matzie said. The funding includes a $19,730 program grant to the Aliquippa School District, a $24,568 equipment grant to Quaker Valley School District, and $60,000 grant to the Hopewell Area School District to continue a school resource officer position. The grants are part of a package of $8 million in competitive grants awarded statewide. More information on the specific awardees and amounts is available here . Read more
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