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Bill to protect vaccine access through pharmacists passes state House

(23 hours ago) Rep. Bridget M. Kosierowski

HARRISBURG, Dec. 16 – As federal authorities continue to undermine immunization access, the Pennsylvania House has passed legislation introduced by state Reps. Arvind Venkat , Tarik Khan , Bridget Kosierowski and Jennifer O’Mara to protect Pennsylvanians’ access to vaccines provided by pharmacists, regardless of federal policy changes. Current state law allows pharmacists to administer vaccines based on federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations. The legislation, H.B. 1881 , would also allow pharmacists to provide vaccines based on recommendations from Pennsylvania health authorities, which may draw from guidance issued by professional medical societies. “The work of our local pharmacists is crucial to keeping our communities healthy, and that work should continue to be backed by science,” said Venkat, D-Allegheny. “This legislation will allow Pennsylvanians to avoid the politicization of health care and get the lifesaving vaccines they want, even if the federal government stops recommending them purely due to politics.” Under this legislation, state vaccination approvals would come from the CDC, competent authorities designated by the Board of Pharmacy, or the Pennsylvania Department of Health which could be informed by professional medical societies such as the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American Read more

 

Kosierowski announces over $1.3 million investment for community improvement programs

(27 minutes ago) Rep. Bridget M. Kosierowski

HARRISBURG, DEC. 16 – State Rep. Bridget Kosierowski today announced the approval of over $1.3 million from the Neighborhood Assistance Program to help low-income people and communities and improve distressed areas in Lackawanna County. The funding was approved this week by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. Through NAP, businesses can receive tax credits of up to 95 percent on contributions they make to a qualifying community project. “Thanks to NAP’s tax credits, these public-private partnerships in Lackawanna County will address pressing socio-economic problems like blight, food insecurity, mental illness, domestic violence and workforce development,” Kosierowski said. “This money will aid those in need, building up our communities. I am grateful to the Shapiro administration for its financial support of Lackawanna County and its faith in our future. I will continue to advocate for more dollars to be allocated for projects in our district.” The following programs received Neighborhood Assistance Program funding: $95,000 for NeighborWorks to help fight blight and improve infrastructure in West Scranton by funding 30 residential façade improvements, hosting free community events, and training 7 resident leaders. $45,000 for Agency for Community EmPOWERment of NEPA to help renovate ACE's Scranton Pre-K facility by leveling the floors on the third floor to prepare the site for Read more

 

Kosierowski announces over $1.5 million investment for programs supporting children and women

(Dec 11, 2025) Rep. Bridget M. Kosierowski

HARRISBURG, DEC. 11 – State Rep. Bridget Kosierowski today announced over $1.5 million in state grants to support crime victims, young children and justice-involved individuals with substance abuse disorders, reduce crimes against women, train mental health professionals and bolster local justice system services throughout Lackawanna County. The funding was approved by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency . “These grants will provide needed resources to programs that support some of our county’s most vulnerable—from crime victims to vulnerable children to individuals in the justice system with substance use disorders,” Kosierowski, D-Lackawanna, said. “These grant awards are case examples of state funding providing for the public good.” The state investments announced today for Lackawanna County are: $50,000 to the Children's Advocacy Center of Northeastern PA to continue providing Children’s Advocacy Center services to a four-county service area in Northeastern Pennsylvania. $180,000 to Lackawanna County commissioners to provide certified recovery supports to individuals at the Lackawanna County Prison and upon release to the community. $494,530 to Geisinger Clinic to implement “Project PATH -Partnership for Access, Treatment, and Health for Justice-Involved Individuals with substance use disorders.” $125,000 to Lackawanna Women’s Resource Center for program to help reduce Read more

 

Agricultural, Environmental, Public Safety, Redevelopment, Transportation, and Additional Grant Opportunities

(Dec 04, 2025) Rep. Bridget M. Kosierowski

NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Commission on Crime and Delinquency: Nonprofit Security Grant Fund Who May Apply: Any nonprofit organization designated under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and the organization must primarily serve individuals, groups, or institutions that are included within a bias motivation category for single bias hate crime incidence identified by the FBI in its Hate Crime Statistics Publication (race/ethnicity/ancestry, religion, sexual orientation, disability, gender, or gender identity). Use: For security enhancements designed to protect the safety and security of the users of a facility located in the Commonwealth. Funds: A total of $10 million in state funding is available for this round. Grants may range from $5,000 to $150,000 with match funding required above a request of $25,001 based on the size of the grant request. Application Deadline: January 12, 2026 More information: PCCD Website Commission on Crime and Delinquency: Continuing County Adult Probation and Parole Grant Who May Apply: Counties that provide adult probation staff and may be used for costs incurred by the county for adult probation and parole services, but only to the extent that the staff and program meet the qualifications and standards established by the Commission. Use: To provide funding from the Commonwealth for costs incurred by the county for adult probation and parole supervision. Read more

 

Agricultural, Environmental, Public Safety, Redevelopment, Transportation, and Additional Grant Opportunities

(Nov 14, 2025) Rep. Bridget M. Kosierowski

Below are multiple grant programs that are currently open for applications. NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Department of Agriculture: Commonwealth Specialty Crop Block Grant Program Who May Apply: State and local organizations, producer associations, academia, community-based organizations, and other eligible specialty crops stakeholders. Use: To assist with the growth, certification of seed and marketing of eligible specialty crops. Funds: $460,000 is available for funding Application Deadline: December 19, 2025 More information: PDA Website Department of Agriculture: Federal Specialty Crop Block Grant Program Who May Apply: State and local organizations, producer associations, academia, community-based organizations and other eligible specialty crops stakeholders. Use: To enhance the competitiveness of eligible specialty crops. Funds: Approximately $1,000,000 is available for funding Application Deadline: December 19, 2025 More information: PDA Website PROGRAMS OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS: Department of Community and Economic Development: PA SITES Who May Apply: Municipalities, economic development organizations, redevelopment authorities, municipal authorities, industrial development agencies, and for-profit organizations. Use: To develop competitive sites for businesses to relocate or expand within Pennsylvania. Funds: $400 million in funding is available. Read more

 

State House passes legislation to protect vaccine access across Pennsylvania

(Oct 29, 2025) Rep. Bridget M. Kosierowski

HARRISBURG, Oct. 29 – In the wake of major changes to a federal vaccine advisory panel that could threaten Pennsylvanians’ access to life-saving immunizations, the state House has passed legislation that would protect access to recommended vaccines, the bill’s co-prime sponsors, state Reps. Arvind Venkat, Tarik Khan and Bridget Kosierowski -- all health professionals -- announced. The legislation, H.B. 1828 , would require private insurers to cover vaccines that have been recommended by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The department would be able to draw upon the expertise of professional medical societies in that recommendation, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American College of Physicians, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the Infectious Diseases Society of America, and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine. Venkat said this legislation is needed to ensure that critical immunization protections remain available to Pennsylvanians after recent developments from the federal government. “We have seen the firing of all members of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, and their replacement with several anti-vaccine activists. We have also seen the firing and resignation of the entire leadership of the CDC due to their unwillingness to support anti-vaccine Read more

 

Agricultural, Environmental, Public Safety, Redevelopment, Transportation, and Additional Grant Opportunities

(Oct 27, 2025) Rep. Bridget M. Kosierowski

NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS PennDOT: Green Light-Go Program Who May Apply: Municipalities and planning organizations. Use: To improve existing traffic control signals, such as LED replacement, traffic signal retiming, and studies, among other projects. Funds: Up to $40 million is available and projects require a 20% match. Application Deadline: Pre-application scoping forms will be accepted until January 2, 2026. PennDOT will provide comments by February 28, 2026. The full application window will be between March 1, 2026, and March 31, 2026. More information: PennDOT website Conservation and Natural Resources: Volunteer Fire Assistance Who May Apply: Volunteer fire companies in rural areas or communities under 10,000 in population Use: To prevent, control, and suppress the threat of wildfires through the purchase of wildfire suppression equipment, wildfire protective gear, mobile radios, installation of dry hydrants, wildfire training, or wildfire prevention and mitigation Funds: Funding is provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The maximum grant for 2025 is $15,000. Application Deadline: December 31, 2025 More information: DCNR Website PROGRAMS OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS: Department of Community and Economic Development: PA SITES Who May Apply: Municipalities, economic development organizations, redevelopment authorities, municipal authorities, Read more

 

State lawmakers introduce bipartisan legislation to regulate the use of artificial intelligence in health care

(Oct 06, 2025) Rep. Bridget M. Kosierowski

HARRISBURG, Oct. 6 – To ensure all Pennsylvanians, especially patients, can be assured that artificial intelligence technology is being used in a beneficial manner, state Reps. Arvind Venkat, Joe Hogan, Tarik Khan, Bridget Kosierowski and Greg Scott have proposed bipartisan legislation that would regulate the application of AI in health care. AI is being rapidly implemented across the health care industry by insurers, hospitals and clinicians. It has been utilized for patient care, billing, research, claims management, utilization reviews, and assessments of cost-effectiveness. The legislation, H.B. 1925 , would provide new regulations for how AI is utilized and reported by insurers, hospitals and clinicians. These groups would need to provide transparency to patients and the public as to how AI is being used in their companies or practice settings. "As the only physician in the General Assembly, I have seen the rapid growth of AI usage in health care in real time,” said Venkat, D-Allegheny. “I am grateful for my bipartisan colleagues, including fellow health professionals, who are joining me on this legislation to make sure Pennsylvanians can be confident that AI is being used responsibly and effectively in the health care industry.” To prevent clinicians from overly relying on AI, the legislation would also ensure that a human decisionmaker would make the ultimate decision based on an Read more

 

Bill to protect vaccine access through pharmacists introduced in state House

(Sep 25, 2025) Rep. Bridget M. Kosierowski

HARRISBURG, Sept. 25 – In Washington, turmoil has grown among health policy agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which oversee key aspects of public health, including vaccines. In response, state Reps. Arvind Venkat , Tarik Khan , Bridget M. Kosierowski and Jennifer M. O’Mara have introduced legislation to protect Pennsylvanians’ access to vaccines provided by pharmacists, regardless of federal policy changes. Current state law allows pharmacists to administer vaccines based on CDC recommendations. The new legislation, H.B. 1881 , would also allow pharmacists to provide vaccines based on recommendations from Pennsylvania health authorities, which may draw from guidance issued by professional medical societies. “Chaos in federal health agency policymaking, which is no longer backed by scientific evidence but instead by anti-vaccine ideology, will cost people’s lives,” said Venkat, D-Allegheny. “This legislation will allow Pennsylvanians to avoid the politicization of health care and get the lifesaving vaccines they need, even if the federal government stops recommending them purely due to politics.” Under the proposal, state vaccination approvals would come from Pennsylvania’s health authorities and could be informed by professional medical societies such as the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the Read more

 

Agricultural, Environmental, Public Safety, Redevelopment, Transportation, and Additional Grant Opportunities

(Sep 25, 2025) Rep. Bridget M. Kosierowski

NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Commission on Crime and Delinquency: Standardized Program Evaluation Protocol (SPEP) Implementation Who May Apply: Non-profit entities and institutions of higher education Use: To assess the quality of services provided to system-involved youth, support providers in creating and implementing quality improvement plans, and measure progress through follow-up evaluations. Funds: A total of $1,400,000 in state Violence and Delinquency Prevention Programs funds is being announced to support this initiative. PCCD expects to fund one grant with a budget not to exceed $1,400,000 over the 18-month project period. Application Deadline: October 14, 2025 More information: PCCD Website Commission on Crime and Delinquency: Law Enforcement and Youth R/ED Training Who May Apply: Any organization that can demonstrate the ability to provide training and technical assistance to members of law enforcement interacting with youth in their communities, including, but not limited to, police, probation, and school personnel. Use: To provide training and technical assistance to law enforcement entities across the Commonwealth to improve interactions with youth in their communities. Funds: A total of $250,000 in federal Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention funds is being announced to support this initiative. PCCD expects to fund one grant with a budget not to exceed $250,000 over the two-year Read more

 

Agricultural, Environmental, Public Safety, Redevelopment, Transportation, and Additional Grant Opportunities

(Sep 11, 2025) Rep. Bridget M. Kosierowski

NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Office of the State Fire Commissioner: Fire Company and Emergency Medical Services Grant Who May Apply: All fire companies, emergency medical services, and volunteer rescue squads Use: Facility improvements, equipment purchases, debt reduction, training, education, and recruitment and retention Funds: Grants will be not less than $2,500 and not more than $20,000 per applicant fire company and no more than $15,000 per applicant emergency medical service. Application Deadline: October 20, 2025 More information: OSFC Website Commission on Crime and Delinquency: Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) Who May Apply: Counties, county jails/county work release centers, Single County Authorities, and/or County Behavioral Health Administrators. Use: To support counties seeking to increase opportunities to provide Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) in combination with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to individuals in county jails and work release centers and upon release to the community. Funds: A total of $1,130,905 in federal Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) funds is being announced to support this initiative. RSAT funds require a 25 percent cash or in-kind match. The applicant’s source for the cash match must be state or local funds. Federal funds may not be used to meet the match requirement. PCCD expects to fund approximately five grants with budgets not to Read more

 

Agricultural, Environmental, Public Safety, Redevelopment, Transportation, and Additional Grant Opportunities

(Sep 02, 2025) Rep. Bridget M. Kosierowski

NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Office of the Budget: Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) Who May Apply: Applicants must have been previously itemized in a Capital Budget Project Itemization Act. Use: Applicants can use funds for the purposes prescribed in the Capital Budget Project Itemization Act. Funds: Varied. Application Deadline: September 23, 2025 More information: OB website Department of Community and Economic Development: Local Share Account Statewide Who May Apply: Counties, municipalities, municipal authorities, economic development agencies, redevelopment authorities, land banks, or councils of government. Non-profits may partner with an eligible applicant to apply on their behalf. Use: Projects in the public interest. Projects that improve the quality of life of citizens in the community. Eligible projects must be owned and maintained by an eligible applicant or a nonprofit organization. Funds: The PA Race Horse Development and Gaming Act provides for the distribution of gaming revenues through the Commonwealth Financing Authority to support projects in the public interest. Grant requests must be at a minimum $25,000 and no more than $1,000,000. Application Deadline: November 30, 2025 More information: DCED Website Department of Agriculture: Agriculture and Youth Organization Grant Program Who May Apply: Agriculture and youth organizations, Read more

 

State lawmakers to introduce legislation to protect access to vaccines through pharmacists

(Sep 02, 2025) Rep. Bridget M. Kosierowski

HARRISBURG, Sept. 2 – In Washington, there has been increasing turmoil among health policy agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that handle many important aspects of public health, including vaccines. Because of this, state Reps. Arvind Venkat, Tarik Khan, Bridget M. Kosierowski and Jennifer M. O’Mara intend to introduce legislation that would protect Pennsylvanians’ access to vaccines provided by pharmacists regardless of federal policy changes. Current state law allows pharmacists to administer vaccines based on federal recommendations from the CDC. This new legislation would allow pharmacists to provide vaccines also based on recommendations from state health authorities, which may be informed by professional medical societies. “We will very soon see pharmacies cease their providing of certain vaccines due to the ongoing political turmoil in our federal health agencies, including the CDC,” said Venkat, D-Allegheny . “Chaos in federal health agency policymaking, which is no longer backed by scientific evidence, but instead by anti-vaccine ideology, will cost people’s lives. This legislation will allow Pennsylvanians to avoid this politicization of healthcare and get the life-saving vaccines they need, even if the federal government stops recommending them purely due to politics.” State vaccination administration approvals would additionally come from Read more

 

State budget, transit funding stalled; changes to SNAP, and more!

(Aug 29, 2025) Rep. Bridget M. Kosierowski

State budget, transit funding stalled; changes to SNAP, and more! Read more

 

Summer 2025 Newsletter

(Aug 21, 2025) Rep. Bridget M. Kosierowski

Read my Summer 2025 newsletter to constituents, which contains a legislative update, state program information, upcoming events and more. Read more

 

Protecting Your Wallet, Cutting Your Costs

(Aug 01, 2025) Rep. Bridget M. Kosierowski

Protecting Your Wallet, Cutting Your Costs Read more

 

Agricultural, Environmental, Public Safety, Redevelopment, Transportation, and Additional Grant Opportunities

(Jul 31, 2025) Rep. Bridget M. Kosierowski

NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Broadband Development Authority: Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program Who May Apply: Cooperative organizations, non-profit organizations, public-private partnerships, private companies, public or private utility companies, public utility districts, municipalities or units of local government, internet service providers registered through the FCC Use: Deploying and/or upgrading broadband network facilities, data collection, broadband mapping and broadband planning Funds: Pennsylvania received $1,161,778,242 in federal funding pursuant to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021. This is the second round of BEAD funding. There is no minimum or maximum grant amount for any project Application Deadline: August 1, 2025 More information: PBDA Website Historical & Museum Commission: Cultural and Historical Support Grants Who May Apply: Museums located in Pennsylvania with annual operating budgets exceeding $100,000 and at least one full-time professional staff person or an official county historical society. Use: To strengthen Pennsylvania’s museums and allow applicants to determine how to use funds for operating expenses Funds: Grant awards range from $2,500 to $65,000 Application Deadline: August 22, 2025 More information: PHMC Website Commission on Crime and Delinquency: Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program (SCIP) Sequential Intercept Model Training Initiative (SIM) Read more

 

State lawmakers to introduce bipartisan legislation to regulate the use of Artificial Intelligence in health care

(Jul 28, 2025) Rep. Bridget M. Kosierowski

HARRISBURG, July 28 – Artificial Intelligence is being rapidly implemented across the health care industry by insurers, hospitals, and clinicians. It has been utilized for patient care, billing, research, claims management, utilization reviews, and assessments of cost-effectiveness. To ensure all Pennsylvanians, especially patients, can be assured that this technology is being used in a beneficial manner, state Reps. Arvind Venkat, Joe Hogan, Tarik Khan, Bridget Kosierowski, and Greg Scott are proposing bipartisan legislation that would regulate the application of AI in health care. Read more

 

A fair day's pay for a hard day's work

(Jul 25, 2025) Rep. Bridget M. Kosierowski

Dear Neighbor, A fair day’s pay for a hard day’s work. Someone who works hard shouldn’t be losing ground every payday. Someone who works hard should be able to afford the necessities – food, utilities, a safe place to live. For too long the billionaire special interests have kept worker pay low while prices – and profits– soar, but now there is finally some good news. I voted to pass the Raise the Wage Act, a real-world plan to give hundreds of thousands of working people their first raise since 2009 in a way that works for every community and provide future raises to the cost of living so Pennsylvania’s workers will never have to be tied for dead last in America on payday ever again. Read more

 

Unlock your next job opportunity with PA CareerLink

(Jul 18, 2025) Rep. Bridget M. Kosierowski

Unlock your next job opportunity with PA CareerLink Read more

 

Bill to protect vaccine access through pharmacists passes state House
23 hours ago

Kosierowski announces over $1.3 million investment for community improvement programs
27 minutes ago

Kosierowski announces over $1.5 million investment for programs supporting children and women
Dec 11, 2025

Agricultural, Environmental, Public Safety, Redevelopment, Transportation, and Additional Grant Opportunities
Dec 04, 2025

Agricultural, Environmental, Public Safety, Redevelopment, Transportation, and Additional Grant Opportunities
Nov 14, 2025

State House passes legislation to protect vaccine access across Pennsylvania
Oct 29, 2025

Agricultural, Environmental, Public Safety, Redevelopment, Transportation, and Additional Grant Opportunities
Oct 27, 2025

State lawmakers introduce bipartisan legislation to regulate the use of artificial intelligence in health care
Oct 06, 2025

Bill to protect vaccine access through pharmacists introduced in state House
Sep 25, 2025

Agricultural, Environmental, Public Safety, Redevelopment, Transportation, and Additional Grant Opportunities
Sep 25, 2025

Agricultural, Environmental, Public Safety, Redevelopment, Transportation, and Additional Grant Opportunities
Sep 11, 2025

Agricultural, Environmental, Public Safety, Redevelopment, Transportation, and Additional Grant Opportunities
Sep 02, 2025

State lawmakers to introduce legislation to protect access to vaccines through pharmacists
Sep 02, 2025

State budget, transit funding stalled; changes to SNAP, and more!
Aug 29, 2025

Summer 2025 Newsletter
Aug 21, 2025

Protecting Your Wallet, Cutting Your Costs
Aug 01, 2025

Agricultural, Environmental, Public Safety, Redevelopment, Transportation, and Additional Grant Opportunities
Jul 31, 2025

State lawmakers to introduce bipartisan legislation to regulate the use of Artificial Intelligence in health care
Jul 28, 2025

A fair day's pay for a hard day's work
Jul 25, 2025

Unlock your next job opportunity with PA CareerLink
Jul 18, 2025