HARRISBURG, Nov. 13 – State Rep. Austin Davis, D-Allegheny, was elected chairman Thursday of the Allegheny County House Democratic Delegation for the 2021-22 legislative session. Davis, a third-term state legislator representing the Mon Valley, was elected to fill the delegation’s vacancy following state Rep. Dan Miller’s – prior chairman of ACHDD - appointment to House Democratic Caucus chairman. Davis, who previously served as ACHDD’s secretary, hopes to continue the delegation’s success of best representing Allegheny County and its residents. “It’s an honor to have the confidence and respect of my colleagues to receive this appointment to chairman of ACHDD,” Davis said. “Just like those who came before me, it’s my goal to be the best I can for this delegation and Allegheny County. I look forward to working more in-depth with the rest of the delegation, as we work toward pushing and advancing legislative issues that matter most to residents in our community.” Davis, who also serves as Democratic vice chairman of the House Insurance Committee, said that while his duties may expand to cover Allegheny County as a whole, his commitment to Mon Valley initiatives is unwavering. “While I’m excited for this new opportunity, the priorities and key issues that matter most to Mon Valley residents will always be in the forefront, and I remain committed to advancing legislation that Read more
HARRISBURG, Sept. 15 – State Rep. Austin Davis, D-Allegheny, today announced that a total of $485,501 was awarded to entities in the 35 th Legislative District to help fund their infrastructure and renovation projects. Davis said the funding was awarded through the Allegheny County Gaming Economic Development Tourism Fund and approved by the Commonwealth Financing Authority. “It’s exciting to announce funding to places that are important to our community and that provide residents with a number of needed resources,” Davis said. “It’s my hope this funding goes a long way in helping improve these respective facilities, and I look forward to completion of the projects.” Davis said the grants were awarded as follows: Healthy Village Learning Institute in McKeesport was awarded $85,501 to replace old windows with energy efficient windows to maximize on its newly installed boiler. Steel Rivers Council of Governments in White Oak was granted $100,000 for the construction of retaining walls. Carnegie Library of Homestead in Munhall received $100,000 to help fund the installation of a new ADA-compliant passenger elevator. The City of Clairton was granted $100,000 for the installation of safety lighting. Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank in Duquesne was awarded $100,000 for the installation of sidewalks, parking and ADA-compliant ramps. The funds Read more
Gov. Tom Wolf announced that restaurants may increase their indoor dining capacity to 50% starting Sept. 21. Read more
HARRISBURG, Sept. 3 – State Rep. Austin Davis’ H.B. 1737 , which would create an environmental liability exemption for land banks, has been voted out of the state Senate’s Environmental Resources & Energy Committee. Davis’ bill now goes to the full Senate for consideration. “I’m encouraged to see this bill making its way through the Senate committee,” Davis said. “This is an important bill that would be beneficial to many across the commonwealth and allow a lot of the current vacated properties to be utilized for better use. It’s my hope the state Senate sees the importance of this bill and promptly passes it through its chamber.” Current law, as defined under the Land Recycling and Environmental Remediation Standards Act, deems a land bank – enacted by a municipality for the purpose of acquiring and redeveloping local property – is subject to enforcement action by the state Department of Environmental Protection. However, the Economic Development Agency, Fiduciary and Lender Environmental Liability Protection Act exempts “economic development agencies” from liability from DEP, so long as they do not contribute or exacerbate contamination at the property. Economic development agencies include redevelopment authorities, municipal authorities and other government and community-based entities acquiring properties. Davis’ Read more
The House Democratic Housing Working Group announced a package of bills to protect people across Pennsylvania as the state’s moratorium on evictions and foreclosures expires Read more
This week, a combined total of $566,212 in federal COVID-19 relief funding was awarded to multiple school districts and an intermediate unit in our community. Read more
The Police Reform Working Group, a collection of local and state elected officials and advocates, issued the following statement in response to a Pennsylvania House Republican Policy Committee hearing on law enforcement interactions with the community:“We appreciate the House Republican Policy Committee shining a light on how law enforcement interacts with communities around the state. This is a necessary discussion that is long overdue and it’s encouraging to hear presenters today acknowledge that police reform is necessary. Read more
HARRISBURG, Aug. 26 – To help renters and homeowners struggling with payments as well as small landlords, today state Reps. Elizabeth Fiedler and Morgan Cephas, both D-Phila., and Austin Davis, D-Allegheny, introduced a measure that would expand the Pennsylvania Housing and Finance Agency’s Rental and Mortgage Assistance Program. “For too many renters and homeowners with mortgages the COVID-19 crisis has gone beyond a health emergency to a housing emergency, and it’s time for the state to step up and offer substantive relief,” Fiedler said. “Our proposal will cut the red tape and get the help into the pockets of the people who need it the most, and we hope it will move quickly through the legislature.” “A program people in need can’t access is worse than not having a program at all,” Davis said. “Everyone we’ve heard from made their voices clear – renters need help, homeowners in debt need help, small landlords need help, and they can’t wait any longer. We’re going to deliver that help and we know this need goes far beyond political parties and county lines.” Cephas agreed, saying, "As the COVID-19 crisis continues, so do the economic burdens for families struggling to pay the bills and keep a roof over their heads. Our legislation will help break down barriers and help ensure homeowners, small landlords and renters have access to financial relief that's Read more
HARRISBURG, Aug. 26 – On Tuesday, state Rep. Austin Davis, D-Allegheny, testified before the Public Utility Commission in opposition to Pennsylvania-American Water’s recent rate increase request. In May, Davis sent a letter to PUC, urging the commission to investigate Pennsylvania-American Water’s rate increase proposal and to hold a public hearing on the matter. The utility company, Davis said, began the process of examining needed investments to continue to ensure safe and reliable water and wastewater services before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. But he said he found it alarming when the company continued to push for an increase during a global pandemic and following an already approved rate increase from PUC in 2018. At Tuesday’s public input hearing regarding the request, Davis’ verbal opposition to the increase fell on similar grounds. “I understand the need to source for investments so Pennsylvania-American Water can continue to provide quality, safe and reliable water and wastewater services to residents,” Davis said. “What I can’t understand, though, is the reasoning behind the continued push for an increase during the current public health crisis. “The financial hardships alone in recent months have had a crippling impact on our economy and residents alike. Our neighbors are fighting to keep their heads above water, not be submerged in Read more
State Rep. Austin Davis, D-Allegheny, today announced the disbursement of $566,212 in federal COVID-19 relief funding for area schools. Davis said the funding will help the respective districts and intermediate unit prepare for and address the ongoing COVID-19 public health crisis. “With a new school year on the horizon, school districts are working overtime to ensure the safety of students and teachers alike amidst this global pandemic,” Davis said. “This funding will work tenfold in allowing the school districts in our community to be adequately prepared for the new school year, while also working toward the forward academic progression of all students in the Mon Valley.” Funded using federal emergency relief dollars, the local grants announced today include: West Mifflin Area School District – $156,220 South Allegheny School District – $68,149 McKeesport Area School District - $88,316 Clairton City School District - $98,007 Allegheny Intermediate Unit 3 - $155,520 Grants were calculated based on elements of the federal Title I, Part A formula, including the number of economically disadvantaged students and other school enrollment data under the federal Every Student Succeeds Act. The act requires states to develop plans to designate schools for support and improvement based on the performance of individual student groups in key areas, including academic Read more
Funding to help provide services, supports to students with disabilities Read more
HARRISBURG, Aug. 17 – The borough of Munhall and the cities of Clairton and Duquesne have been awarded approximately $900,000 in Commonwealth Financing Authority grants to use toward water, sewer and flood control projects, state Rep. Austin Davis announced. “Our communities will greatly benefit from the completion of these projects, resulting in improved sewer operations and a reduction in flooding,” Davis said. “These investments will ensure that needed repairs and upgrades are made, protecting residents from more costly repairs and infrastructure issues down the road.” PA Small Water and Sewer grants Munhall Borough ($200,000) – funding will be used to install a new storm sewer system on Marshall Way to connect with the existing storm sewer system on North Lehigh Street to remediate localized flooding issues and reduce pollution. H20 PA grants Clairton Municipal Authority ($200,000) – these funds will be used to upgrade existing aeration tanks and chlorine tanks at the city's wastewater treatment plant. City of Duquesne ($500,000) – funding will be used for water system improvements, including cleaning, inspecting and replacing the city's resevoir and standpipe, and to replace fire hydrants and old waterlines. Information about PA Small Water and Sewer grants is available at the following link: https://dced.pa.gov/programs/pa-small-water-sewer/ Read more
HARRISBURG, Aug. 17 – On Monday, state Rep. Austin Davis, D-Allegheny, and 30 House Democrats sent a joint letter asking Gov. Tom Wolf to issue a moratorium on terminating water and wastewater service provided by municipal systems. If issued, the moratorium would cover over 2,000 municipal water and wastewater systems in Pennsylvania that did not fall under the Public Utility Commission’s emergency order that followed Wolf’s March 6 Proclamation of Disaster Emergency for COVID-19. “To date, municipal water and wastewater systems in our state are not under the jurisdiction of the Public Utility Commission and are not prohibited from terminating service during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Davis said. “Clean water is the first line of defense in combatting COVID-19, but many of our residents are at risk of losing this necessity. “The financial hardships many residents faced in recent months is likely to continue, so access to water and wastewater services is essential in ensuring the overall health of our residents, especially given the severity of the current public health emergency. It’s because of this that we’re asking Governor Wolf to make it a priority to ensuring all residents continue to have access to these utilities.” Click here to view a copy of the letter sent to Wolf. Read more
Last week, the U.S. Census Bureau announced that they will end all counting efforts for the 2020 census on Sept. 30, one month earlier than previously announced. Read more
Summer 2020 Newsletter Read more
Thursday proved to be quite rewarding for numerous educational entities in our community! Read more
HARRISBURG, Aug. 6 – On Thursday, two technical centers, an intermediate unit and a local school district in the 35 th Legislative District were awarded a combined total of $239,838 in education funding, announced state Rep. Austin Davis, D-Allegheny. Davis said the McKeesport Area Tech Center was allotted $35,477 and the Steel Center for Career and Technical Education was awarded $117,361. The funding is earmarked to assist the centers in implementing public health and safety plans and to help resume operations. Davis said the Continuity of Education and Equity Grants provide funding to support effective continuity of education programs such as summer and other expanded programming and industry credential assessments for students enrolled in CTCs negatively impacted by COVID-19 mitigation efforts. “Given the numerous obstacles COVID-19 has placed on those committed to advancing their education and careers, it is important to provide funding so that the hardworking individuals from the Mon Valley can continue to pursue their dreams,” Davis said. “The funding awarded today will definitely help bring their dreams a step closer to reality.” In addition, Davis said the Allegheny Intermediate Unit 3 was awarded $18,250 in Governor's Emergency Education Relief funding for the 2020-21 academic year. West Mifflin Area School District also received $68,750 in GEER funding. Davis said Read more
HARRISBURG, Aug. 6 – State Rep. Austin Davis, D-Allegheny, sent out a co-sponsorship memo today to encourage his colleagues to support urging the U.S. Senate to pass the John R. Lewis Voting Act. “It was important to send this resolution out today,” Davis said. “Today marks the 55 th anniversary of when the Voting Rights Act was signed into law. So it’s not only a call to action, but a way to pay homage to the late John R. Lewis. His actions in Selma, Alabama, and throughout the 1960s were instrumental in the signing of the Civil Rights Acts of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. He was a true trailblazer and fought for what he believed in up until the day he died,” he said. “His unwavering support and fight to obtain equal rights finally gave the Black community a voice in the political arena. He was an inspiration to many across the nation, showing the world that sometimes it’s OK to get in ‘necessary’ trouble, especially when it is for the greater good of a nation. Due to this and out of respect for Mr. Lewis, I’m asking that my colleagues join me in supporting this resolution,” Davis said. If passed by the U.S. Senate, Davis said, the legislation would restore provisions of the Voting Rights Acts of 1965 that were severely impacted by a 2013 Supreme Court decision, which led to a rise in voter suppression tactics across the nation. Read more
November is just around the corner, and you can now apply at votespa.com for a mail-in ballot for the fall. If you are considering this (and I strongly urge you to do so) please apply sooner rather than later. Read more
In response to Vice President Mike Pence visiting with the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 5, the Police Reform Working Group, made up of state and county elected officials and advocates, released the following statement:“As members of the Police Reform Working Group, we believe that the path to achieving community safety and racial justice in Pennsylvania must be two-fold. First, we must improve our current system of policing through accountability, oversight, and tangible policy changes that will diminish instances of police brutality against all citizens, but especially against the Black community. Second, we must work with communities to transform and re-envision policing itself through bold systemic changes that center around those most impacted by police violence and structural racism. Read more
Renters and homeowners who were financially impacted by the economic slowdown related to the coronavirus pandemic will be able to access applications for rent and mortgage relief Read more
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