A great turnout for National Night Out Read more
CHIP provides health insurance for PA kids Read more
Funding secured for Erie Police Department Read more
Bolstering Erie’s education & social services funding Read more
Funding secured for housing, advancing policies that help all Pennsylvanians, & update on Erie recovery hub Read more
Harkins, Merski: Cancer screenings for firefighters will save lives Read more
Merski, Harkins: Erie County awarded $310,000 for recovery hub Read more
Harkins, Merski: Over $750K awarded for Erie housing projects Read more
Focusing on families; reducing the cost of living, investing in critical services, and more! Read more
"The Erie Land Lighthouse needs substantial repairs to address decay caused by moisture intrusion, and immediate action is needed to pervent future deterioration," Harkins said. "This new funding is going to allow us to address this problem and preserve this unique landmark for future generations." Read more
ERIE, June 6 – Concerned by the sharp decline in early childhood education teachers, state Rep. Pat Harkins joined fellow lawmakers at the state Capitol today to call for greater investments in early childhood education. Harkins, who is co-chair of the Early Childhood Education Caucus, told those gathered for the “workforce behind the workforce” rally that a mass exodus from the field threatens to affect the quality of critical pre-K programs throughout the state. “The statistics are grim – they show that early education teachers on average make just $12.43 per hour and that 44% have had to use a payday loan or borrow from friends or family to cover basic expenses,” Harkins said. “Not surprisingly, half of all early ed teachers surveyed said they are thinking of leaving the field within the next five years. “Earlier this year, the governor spoke about the importance of early education and the need to invest in programs like Pre-K Counts, and a poll showed that nearly all Pennsylvanians agree that early education is important. “We need to make these investments a priority now and ensure we can pay teachers a living wage. If we can’t attract and retain early childhood educators for quality programs that give kids the right start, we’re going to feel the ripple effects all throughout our workforce and economy.” Read more
HARRISBURG, June 6 – County pension annuitants struggling to make ends meet are a step closer to more frequent cost-of-living adjustments after the PA House today passed legislation introduced by state Reps. Pat Harkins and Bob Merski. The lawmakers, both D-Erie, said they introduced H.B. 298 – which would amend the county pension law to give boards more flexibility in setting COLAs – to help retirees feeling the effects of inflation. “Under our county pension law, when retirement boards provide a cost-of-living increase, it must be in accordance with the full consumer price index at the time of review,” Harkins said. “Although the law is well-intentioned, its rigid requirement means that our county pension boards often can’t afford to provide any adjustments at all because the index is simply too high. “Our bill would amend the law to allow boards to grant a COLA of any percentage up to, but not more than, the consumer price index. The change would help counties and benefit county retirees who under the current all-or-nothing system might not receive a COLA for several years. “We need to reward these seniors who helped build our community and keep them out of poverty. Ensuring that they receive timely cost-of-living adjustments would bring them greater retirement security and help them maintain the quality of life they deserve.” Merski said, Read more
“Our neighbors to the northeast in Massachusetts, Connecticut and Maine commemorate these battles on the third Monday of April each year as Patriots’ Day. It’s time for Pennsylvania and the rest of nation to join them in recognizing the crucial role these events played in our nation’s independence," Harkins said. Read more
“Service and sacrifice are more than a calling for these residents – they are a way of life," Harkins said. "Now, as they enjoy their golden years, it’s incumbent on us to make sure they have the quality of life they deserve. I’m thrilled to be working with fellow council members and the home’s dedicated staff and administrators to keep that legacy of care and respect going.” Read more
"The additional DDAP funding will allow us to expand resources like medication-assisted treatment, recovery and peer supports and other program that can help return more folks to their families," Harkins said. Read more
"Today, the House took a critical step toward better protecting hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvania workers." Read more
“For high school students contemplating career paths, the chance to enroll in postsecondary education classes can be a great way to explore emerging interests and gain confidence in their academic and technical skills." Read more
“Hurtful, stigmatizing language has no place in our public law books,” Harkins said. Read more
Harkins said, “Recovery hubs are a promising strategy for combatting substance use disorder and returning folks to productive places in our community." Read more
The lawmakers said the funding will allow the department to purchase several new vehicles and electric bicycles. Read more
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