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President Trump has signed an executive order banning gender-affirming medical care for transgender youth, stripping away access to critical health care and putting the well-being of young people at risk. This order is part of a broader attack on the rights of transgender Americans, and it stands in direct opposition to the best practices supported by every major medical organization in the country.
This week, I reintroduced the Protection of Trans Kids and Their Families Act to ensure that no parent or guardian is punished for seeking medically necessary care for their child. The evidence is clear—gender-affirming health care saves lives. Denying it leads to increased rates of depression, self-harm, and suicide among transgender youth. Families should not have to live in fear for doing what is best for their children.
Earlier this year, I reintroduced the Patient Trust Act, which protects health care providers from government interference that forces them to give inaccurate information or deny medically sound treatments. Doctors and patients—not politicians—should be making medical decisions.
Pennsylvania must be a place where all people, including our transgender neighbors, have access to the care they need without political interference. I will continue fighting to protect their rights and ensure our commonwealth remains a safe and supportive place for everyone.
Protecting Workers from Secondhand Smoke Act
Last Friday, I reintroduced the Protecting Workers from Secondhand Smoke Act to close the loopholes that still expose many Pennsylvanians to toxic smoke in their workplaces.
I want to thank the many constituents who have voiced their support for this important bill. Your advocacy is crucial in the fight for safer, smoke-free workplaces.
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Community Events and Resources
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Public Comment for Proposed PRT Service Reductions and Fare Increases
Comment Period Ends: Wednesday, June 18
Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) is seeking public input on a proposal to significantly reduce service and increase fares if additional state funding is not secured. The agency is facing a $100 million budget shortfall beginning July 1 and has requested a $117 million increase in state subsidies to maintain current service levels.
If funding is not received, PRT will be forced to eliminate 41 bus routes, reduce T and ACCESS paratransit service, and raise fares from $2.75 to $3. These cuts would affect 19 municipalities and neighborhoods, leaving many communities without any public transportation.
The public comment period runs now through June 18. Community members are encouraged to share feedback through the following methods:
- Online Survey: Complete the survey here
- Phone: Call 412-566-5525. Include your name, ZIP code, and message.
- Mail: Pittsburgh Regional Transit, ATTN: Funding Crisis, 345 Sixth Ave., 3rd Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
- In Person: Complete a paper survey at PRT’s Downtown Service Center, 623 Smithfield St., Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Public hearings will be held at the following locations and times:
Hearing #1
Tuesday, April 29 | 9 AM–1 PM and 3 PM–7 PM
David L. Lawrence Convention Center (Pittsburgh Ballroom, 3rd Floor)
1000 Fort Duquesne Blvd., Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Hearing #2
Tuesday, May 6 | 9 AM–1 PM and 3 PM–7 PM
Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum (1st Floor Auditorium)
4141 Fifth Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Hearing #3
Thursday, June 12 | 9 AM–1 PM and 3 PM–7 PM
David L. Lawrence Convention Center (Room 302-204)
1000 Fort Duquesne Blvd., Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Learn more here.
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Carnegie Mellon University Carnival
Now-Saturday, April 3-5| Carnegie Mellon University Campus
Carnegie Mellon’s annual Spring Carnival will feature live music, carnival rides, games, and the school’s annual Buggy Race, in which students design and build aerodynamic vehicles without engines. Students, alumni, and community members are invited to attend the festival.
Learn more about the Spring Carnival here.
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Alma’s Way: Alma Visits the Museum!
Saturday, April 5, 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. | Carnegie Museum of Natural History
The Carnegie Museum of Natural History, in collaboration with Fred Rogers Productions and WQED, invites families to a special screening event celebrating Alma’s Way. Inspired by the popular PBS KIDS series, this event offers an opportunity to experience the museum just as Alma Rivera and her family do in the show.
Attendees will enjoy a screening of selected Alma’s Way episodes, followed by hands-on activities and full access to the museum exhibits.
Cost: Free (Registration required)
Learn more and RSVP here.
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Vintage Pittsburgh
Saturday, April 5, 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. | Heinz History Center
Vintage Pittsburgh returns for another year, offering a curated selection of vintage clothing, accessories, home décor, vinyl records, books, and more from a diverse group of vendors. This annual market is included with regular museum admission, providing attendees with access to both the event and the Heinz History Center’s exhibits.
Cost: Included with regular museum admission.
Learn more here.
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Hands Off! Mass Mobilization Event
Saturday, April 5, 12:30-2 p.m. | City County Building
Local Pittsburgh organizations are joining forces with organizations across the country to advocate for the social safety net programs that make our communities strong and resilient. I look forward to seeing my neighbors, constituents and friends as we come together for a peaceful protest of policies that harm the most vulnerable among us.
Learn more here.
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Westinghouse Park Earth Month Celebration
Saturday, April 5, 2:00 p.m. - 5 p.m.| Westinghouse Park
The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy invites the community to celebrate Earth Month with a day of family-friendly activities, games, music, and more. Naturalist educators and community partners, including the Pittsburgh Park Rangers, Tree Pittsburgh, and the Outdoor Inclusion Coalition, will offer interactive programs to inspire appreciation for the planet and local green spaces.
This event is free and open to the public. Registration is not required.
Learn more here.
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Empty Bowls 2025
Sunday, April 6, 1 p.m. - 8 p.m. | Rodef Shalom
The Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank and Just Harvest present Empty Bowls 2025, an annual event bringing the community together for a simple meal of chef-created soups, hearty bread, and other treats. Each ticket includes a meal and a handcrafted bowl, with new bowl selections replenished throughout the event.
Learn more and get tickets here.
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Wonders of Wildlife
Sunday, April 6, 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM | CLP – Main (Oakland)
The Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium will present an educational program featuring live animals, providing insight into their physical characteristics and adaptations. This session offers an opportunity to learn about a variety of species and their unique roles in the natural world.
Cost: Free
Learn more here.
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POGOH Community Coalition Annual Meeting
Tuesday, April 8, 4-6 p.m. | University of Pittsburgh Homewood Community Engagement Center, 622 N. Homewood Ave., 15208
This open-house-style event will feature information from community partners and updates on POGOH’s Phase 3 Expansion, Adaptive POGOH, the Summer Slow Roll series, biking education opportunities, and Homewood Mini Grants available to local nonprofits.
Light food and drinks will be provided.
Free to attend.
Learn more here.
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Nature Talks: Deer: Our Wild Neighbors with Erika Howsare
Wednesday, April 9, 7-8:30 p.m. | Botany Hall at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens & Online
Erika Howsare will explore the complex relationship between humans and deer. One of the only large wild animals regularly seen in daily life, deer inspire both admiration and frustration. This talk will examine their historical population shifts in the U.S., their evolving role in ecosystems, and the challenges of managing their numbers.
Learn more here.
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Greenfield Community Meeting
Thursday, April 10, 7 p.m. | Magee Healthy Living Center, 745 Greenfield Ave.
The Greenfield Community Association (GCA) will host its first community meeting of 2025, providing an opportunity for residents to learn more about the organization and how to get involved.
Learn more here.
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Tuesday, May 20, 2025, is Primary Election Day.
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Check Your Voter Registration Online
The Pennsylvania Department of State has an online portal that provides voters’ Election Day polling places, the status of mail-in or absentee ballots, and resources to connect with the County Board of Elections if there are any issues.
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Update Your Voter Registration or Register to Vote
The application must be turned in by May 5, to vote in the 2025 Primary Election.
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Voting with a Criminal Conviction in Pennsylvania
Individuals with criminal convictions are eligible to vote in Pennsylvania. You are allowed to vote if you are in jail or prison with a misdemeanor conviction, under house arrest, on probation or parole, in a halfway house or community corrections center, or being held in jail while waiting for trial. Some of these voters will require an absentee ballot.
If you are already registered to vote, you do not need to do anything to regain your voting rights after you have served your sentence for a felony conviction.
Learn more about voting in Pennsylvania with a criminal conviction here.
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Registering to Vote before an 18th Birthday
Pennsylvanians turning 18 by the next election (May 20) can register to vote before their 18th birthday and vote in the election.
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Accessible Voting for Citizens with a Disability
Every polling place in Pennsylvania must have at least one accessible voting system. You can view and learn how to operate Allegheny County’s accessibility voting system on Pennsylvania Department of State’s website.
Not every polling place in Allegheny County is accessible for those with mobility issues. You can check if your polling place is accessible before Election Day.
If you have a permanent disability, you can apply to be added to the permanent absentee voter list by submitting an absentee ballot application. If your application is accepted, you will receive absentee ballots for the elections that take place during the rest of the year. You will also receive an annual absentee ballot application every year that you are on the list.
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Pennsylvania State Capitol
152 Main Capitol Building
PO Box 202023
Harrisburg, PA 17120
(717) 705-1875
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District Office
2345 Murray Avenue
Suite 205
Pittsburgh, PA 15217
(412) 422-1774
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