“This funding ensures emergency responders will have the resources needed to respond to emergencies,” Steele said. “These funds are especially important, considering there is a shortage of firefighters and EMS providers. I will continue to advocate for funding to provide assistance to emergency responders so that our communities remain safe.” Read more
BRADDOCK, Feb. 16 – New resources are coming to fire and ambulance companies in the 34 th Legislative District, thanks to $141,283 in grant funding from the Office of the State Fire Commissioner, state Rep. Abigail Salisbury announced today. Salisbury, D-Allegheny, said the grants – awarded under the Fire Company and Emergency Medical Services Grant Program – will help get needed resources to local departments. “Our fire and EMS companies face constant challenges, from tight budgets that make it tough to meet equipment, maintenance and other operating expenses to ongoing recruitment and retention issues,” Salisbury said. “Any additional funding we can secure can ease some of those administrative burdens and, most importantly, help ensure that our first responders have the equipment and training they need to stay as safe as possible.” Salisbury said the funding includes: Churchill Volunteer Fire Company (fire) – $13,256. Edgewood Volunteer Fire Department (fire) – $15,000. Edgewood Volunteer Fire Department (EMS) – $5,000. Forest Hills Volunteer Fire Department (fire) – $16,952. North Braddock Volunteer Fire Department Inc. (fire) – $20,000. Rivers Edge VFD (fire) – $26,645. Swissvale Fire Department (fire) – $15,000. Swissvale Volunteer Fire Department (fire) – $14,812. Wilkins Township Volunteer Fire Company No. Read more
L&I grants fund pre-apprenticeships, workforce diversity programs Read more
“By allocating these grants, we ensure that our EMS providers and firefighters have the ability to operate,” Venkat said. “Our EMS providers and firefighters work to save lives, and this funding will allow them to continue their crucial work.” Read more
DCNR grant money to study new species, support biodiversity Read more
“Through this funding, we will have the opportunity to keep McCandless’ roads safer by equipping the McCandless Police Department and its officers with cameras to read license plates,” Venkat said. “This will ensure that our police officers have the most up to date equipment while patrolling the community.” Read more
BRADDOCK, Feb. 14 – State Rep. Abigail Salisbury and community nonprofit partners today launched a grant-writing scholarship program to bring key training to residents in lower-income District 34 communities. Salisbury, who is co-founder and chair of the Pennsylvania Charitable Nonprofit Caucus, said the scholarship will bring needed tools to talented, civic-minded residents. “Our community is filled with changemakers – people who have the vision and drive to want to bring change, but don’t necessarily have a background in nonprofit grant-writing skills,” Salisbury said. “The scholarship program we are launching today will help connect folks to the skills they need to tap into valuable state grant dollars. “I encourage all residents who are interested to learn more and find out whether they qualify.” Salisbury said the program will provide 10 scholarships to District 34 residents living in low-income census tracts. Residents can determine whether their address qualifies by visiting www.justicemap.org , clicking on the income link at the top of the page and entering their address into the search bar at top left. Addresses located within red-colored zones showing income from $43,000 and below qualify. More information about the course is available by visiting: https://www.ccac.edu/workforce-and-community/community-education/grant-writing-and-non-profit-management.php . Residents who wish to apply Read more
“With my legislation, we have the opportunity to address welfare fraud while ensuring that the punishment fits the crime,” Mayes said. “This legislation will also assist the Office of the State Inspector General to pursue cases to recover fraudulent benefits, which we can utilize to allocate to eligible recipients.” Read more
Open Markets Act would protect consumers, workers and small businesses Read more
“Celebrating women scientists like Rachel Carson, Marie Curie and Hedy Lamarr is essential to inspiring the next generation of women leaders in STEM,” Kinkead said. “Establishing the International Day of Women and Girls in Science in our state would provide a great opportunity to highlight the significant contributions women have made to the field, which continue to be undermined and ignored. We need to do more to make women and especially young girls feel welcome and included in this field and that’s what this resolution is all about.” Read more
“With this grant, we ensure that students at the A.W. Beattie Career Center have access to equipment of the highest quality while they continue their education,” Venkat said. “As more than 8.3 million high school students participate in career and technical education programs across the U.S., we have the opportunity to ensure students from the Avonworth, Hampton, and North Allegheny school districts and many others across Allegheny County are prepared to enter into the workforce, in turn boosting Pennsylvania’s economy. I’m proud to have such an innovative career and technical center in McCandless.” Read more
“Many of the governor’s proposals resonated with me, including his proposals for greater investment in our public schools and in our historically disadvantaged small businesses," Salisbury said. Read more
“With maternal mortality at its highest rates since 1965 and Black women at a higher risk of dying from complications during child birth, we must address the maternal health care crisis to reduce racial disparities in health care, as well as combat Black maternal morbidity and mortality,” Mayes said. “Even healthy women, such as U.S. Olympic sprinter Tori Bowie who died in May 2023 from pre-eclampsia, are at risk. As such, we must ensure Black women and Black pregnant people have access to equitable health care so that we may systemically combat maternal morbidity and mortality.” Read more
HARRISBURG, Feb. 6 – State Rep. Lindsay Powell, D-Allegheny, applauded Gov. Josh Shapiro's budget address today, hailing it as a transformative vision for Pennsylvania. "What we heard from the governor was a bold blueprint to make our Commonwealth one of the most welcoming, accessible, competitive and equitable states in the country, all without costing Pennsylvanians a cent more in taxes,” Powell said. "Among the governor’s proposals are a $40 million increase for Pittsburgh Regional Transit, a $600 million investment in economic development projects, and a $1.1 billion increase in basic education funding, which includes $900 million for catch-up investments to support underfunded districts like Pittsburgh Public Schools. “We must better support our schools to ensure a high-quality education for our children because we're falling short right now. I am hopeful that the governor will also commit to opposing the diversion of public school resources toward charter schools and voucher programs. “I was also pleased to hear the governor call for the legalization of recreational adult-use cannabis with an emphasis on restorative justice. This will not only serve to generate millions in additional tax revenue for the Commonwealth but will also be a long-overdue first step to undoing the decades of damage caused primarily to Black and brown communities, who have been disproportionately impacted by its prohibition.” Read more
“In our commonwealth, more than 10% of Pennsylvanians have an average of $1,473 in medical debt in collections, which prevents them from accessing health care, as well as contributes to their financial burdens,” Venkat said. “As a practicing emergency physician, I treated a woman who delayed breast cancer treatment due to medical debt. As a result, the cancer spread, and she died. By alleviating medical debt as part of the 2024-25 budget, we can ensure patients have access to necessary medical treatment, aid providers with struggling finances, and reduce health care cost pressures that affect all of us. This is a win for all Pennsylvanians.” Read more
PennDOT funding for improvements at Hamilton Road and Baptist Road intersection Read more
BRADDOCK, Feb. 1 – State Rep. Abigail Salisbury will launch a monthly Veterans Assistance Program on Wednesday, Feb. 7 to help veterans and their families who have questions or need help navigating programs and services. The program will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month at Salisbury’s 501 Braddock Avenue district office. “I’m launching this program because I want to make it easier for veterans and their families to access services, find answers to questions or get help with problems such as locating lost paperwork,” Salisbury said. “We’ll have a Veteran Service Officer on site to help folks navigate the system, apply for services or programs and make sure they are receiving all the benefits they deserve. “I encourage all veterans or family members needing assistance to stop by on the first Wednesday of every month between 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. We consider it an honor to serve you.” Salisbury said the program can provide help with: Veteran-related compensation and pension claims. Education benefits. VA Health Care System enrollment. Burial and survivor benefits. State benefits. Obtaining military personnel and medical records. Other questions. Those seeking assistance are encouraged to call ahead to schedule an appointment, but residents will also be served on a walk-in basis during program hours. Anyone with questions Read more
PITTSBURGH, Jan. 31 – State Rep. Lindsay Powell, D-Allegheny, released a statement on the recent courtroom settlement between environmental activists and U.S. Steel, applauding the $20 million pollution control upgrades at the Clairton Coke Works as a positive step forward. "Mon Valley residents have been breathing in toxic air for far too long. The recent settlement with U.S. Steel is a step in the right direction, but it should have never come to this,” Powell said. “We cannot overlook the fact that this settlement is the result of years of neglect and mismanagement. The Clairton Coke Works should have never allowed emissions to reach such dangerous levels in the first place. "An 80% reduction in air pollution is certainly a welcome change, but let's not forget that it should have been zero emissions from the beginning. Clean air and water are a fundamental human right. Our communities deserve to breathe freely without fear of contracting chronic respiratory illnesses, due to unchecked corporate negligence. I’m hopeful that this settlement will serve as a deterrent to would-be polluters going forward." Powell represents the 21st Legislative District in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, which includes the Lawrenceville and Strip District neighborhoods, Millvale and Etna boroughs, and Reserve and Shaler townships in Pittsburgh. Read more
PORT VUE, Jan. 31 – State Rep. Matthew R. Gergely, D-Allegheny, testified about proposed rate increases by water and sewage companies and their impact on the community during a Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission public hearing held at the Port Vue Borough Building. Gergely highlighted the importance of affordable access to clean water as a basic necessity and not just a commodity, as the proposed rate hikes have been criticized for disproportionately affecting senior citizens and low-income families. He also underscored the need for the PUC to rigorously scrutinize these increases and hold corporations accountable. “As state representative of PA’s 35th Legislative District, my commitment to tackling the challenges of water and sewage rates has been unwavering since Day One in office,” Gergely said. “I am deeply engaged in these matters not just as a duty but with a passion to safeguard our residents’ rights.” Data presented indicated that the proposed rate increases are steep and unprecedented, especially during a time when residents are already facing economic challenges, including inflation. Gergely called for the PUC's intervention to safeguard the public interest and explore mitigation strategies, such as renewable and efficient water and sewage management systems. “Citizen access to affordable water and sewage is absolutely non-negotiable,” he added. Emphasizing the importance of Read more
BRADDOCK, Jan. 30 – Traffic signal improvements are coming to the Braddock Avenue corridor in Edgewood Borough, thanks to new grant funding of $292,000 from the state Department of Transportation, state Rep. Abigail Salisbury announced today. Salisbury, D-Allegheny, said the improvements – funded through the Automated Red Light Enforcement Transportation Enhancements Grant Program – should bring a safer commute for residents. “The new funding will support projects to improve traffic flow along the busy Braddock Avenue corridor,” Salisbury said. “I want to thank PennDOT and the local partners who helped us secure the funding for this work, which will also improve safety for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians navigating this busy stretch.” Salisbury said the improvements will include flashing yellow arrows, new vehicular signal heads with backplates and reflective tape, updates to existing controllers and added battery backup. Funding for the ARLE program is generated from the net revenue of fines collected through Automated Red Light Enforcement Systems and Automated Speed Enforcement Systems. Grant applications are accepted annually during the month of June. The funding is part of a package of $13 million in ARLE grants statewide. More information is available here: Read more
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