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$560,000 awarded to 16 Allegheny County school districts, charter schools

(Jan 17, 2019) Rep. Summer Lee

HARRISBURG, Jan. 17 – Sixteen education entities in Allegheny County today were awarded a total $560,000 in targeted grants provided through Gov. Tom Wolf’s PAsmart initiative, announced state Rep. Dan Miller, chairman of the Allegheny County House Democratic Delegation. The grants will fund training and equipment needed to prepare teachers and students for the expansion of computer science programs. Miller said each recipient will receive $35,000 through PAsmart, which has made Pennsylvania No. 2 in the nation for investing in K-12 STEM and computer science education. “The delegation is happy to announce this funding,” Miller said. “In the coming years, most jobs will require workers to use computers and advanced technology in an ever-changing workforce and economy. By providing this funding, we’re helping to ensure students and teachers will be adequately prepared to succeed in their line of work, and do so with confidence.” School districts and charter/intermediate unit schools awarded funding through PAsmart include: Baldwin-Whitehall School District (Reps. Harry Readshaw, Bill Kortz and Dan Miller) Carlynton School District (Reps. Anita Kulik and Dan Deasy) Chartiers Valley School District (Kulik and Miller) City Charter High School (Reps. Dan Frankel, Jake Wheatley, Adam Ravenstahl, Readshaw, Miller, Sara Innamorato, Deasy, Summer Lee and Ed Gainey) Deer Lakes School District (Rep. Frank Dermody) Duquesne Read more

 

Lee leads Policy Committee hearing on wage growth

(Jan 17, 2019) Lee leads Policy Committee hearing on wage growth

BRADDOCK, Jan. 17 – State Rep. Summer Lee, D-Allegheny, today hosted her first House Democratic Policy Committee public hearing at Unity Baptist Church to discuss wage growth in Pennsylvania. Lee requested the hearing to discuss increasing the minimum wage and establishing a living wage, and how wage boards can help create truly fair wages for all workers. Participants also explored other suggestions for wage growth in the commonwealth. Lee was joined by a number of legislators from across the state, including Policy Committee Chairman Mike Sturla, D-Lancaster. "It is a disgrace that children and families go hungry in the richest country in the world," Lee said. "As long as skyrocketing corporate profits and poverty wages exist side by side, our communities will continue to suffer needlessly. We must move, aggressively, to encourage wage growth with every means at our disposal. Pennsylvanians work hard and deserve to afford to live comfortably without multiple jobs." Sturla added, “The time is past due for the legislature to take action and raise the minimum wage. An increase hasn’t happened since 2007 and that was at the federal level. It’s time Pennsylvania increases its minimum wage and works toward paying workers a living wage. House Democrats’ Plan4PA aims to do that and I look forward to working with my colleagues across the state and across the aisle to get this done.” The committee heard testimony Read more

 

Join me for my district office open house

(Jan 15, 2019) Rep. Summer Lee

Join me 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26 for an open house at my district office. Read more

 

Lee to host Policy Committee hearing on wage growth Thursday in Braddock

(Jan 15, 2019) State Rep. Summer Lee, D-Allegheny, will host a House Democratic Policy Committee public hearing on

BRADDOCK, Jan. 15 – State Rep. Summer Lee, D-Allegheny, will host a House Democratic Policy Committee public hearing on wage growth in Pennsylvania. The hearing will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 17 at Unity Baptist Church, 420 Fifth St., Braddock. The media and public are invited to attend. Lee requested the hearing to discuss increasing the minimum wage, establishing a living wage, how wage boards can help create truly fair wages for all workers and other suggestions for wage growth in the Commonwealth. She will be joined by state legislators from across the state, including Policy Committee Chairman Mike Sturla, D-Lancaster. The current agenda is: 2 p.m. Welcome and Opening Remarks 2:10 p.m. Jennifer Berrier , deputy secretary for Safety and Labor-Management Relations, Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry 2:40 p.m. Panel One: Chad Trainer , legislative director, Pennsylvania AFL-CIO Steve Kelly , member, 32BJ Shirley Jones , member, SEIU Healthcare PA Clive March , member, SEIU Healthcare PA John Mutchka , dietary worker, UPMC Presbyterian Hospital 3:20 p.m. Panel Two: David Madland, Ph.D. , senior fellow, Center for American Progress Logan Bialik , graduate student assistant, University of Pittsburgh 3:50 p.m. Closing Remarks For more information about the Policy Committee, go to www.pahouse.com/policycommittee . Read more

 

Labor & Industry grant will help students looking to pursue careers in building and construction industry

(Jan 10, 2019) Rep. Summer Lee

HARRISBURG, Jan. 10 – An $115,641 business education partnership grant will provide Allegheny County students with hands-on exposure to careers in the building and construction industry, announced state Rep. Dan Miller, chairman of the Allegheny County House Democratic Delegation. “This grant money will have a positive impact on students from all House districts encompassed within the delegation,” Miller said. “The delegation is happy to announce this funding, as we all understand the importance of providing students with a means-to-an-end when it comes to choosing their prospective career paths. “Students looking to get involved in the building and construction industry will find the programs created by this funding to be not only rewarding, but also extremely informational and influential as they look to solidify their futures in the workforce.” Miller said the Three Rivers Workforce Development Board will join forces with PARTNER4WORK, a Pittsburgh-based workforce development organization, to carry out the three-pronged project. The first phase will include bringing together 14 building and construction unions, local colleges, businesses, students and others at the March 29 Building On … Careers in the Building and Construction Industry conference in Pittsburgh. The second phase involves the creation of the Summer in Trades internship program, which will provide students with hands-on experience and insight into the Read more

 

Lee sworn in to Pa. House of Representatives

(Jan 01, 2019) Rep. Summer Lee

HARRISBURG, Jan. 1 – State Rep. Summer Lee, D-Allegheny, made history today as she was sworn in as the first black woman to be elected to the state House from Western Pennsylvania. As she begins representing the 34 th Legislative District, Lee said she will call on her experience as a community organizer, activist, lawyer and advocate for social justice to accomplish her legislative priorities. For Lee, those priorities include greater economic justice for working families and reforms in the areas of education, health care, energy policy and criminal justice. “I’m so excited to roll up my sleeves and start working for meaningful change for residents in our district,” Lee said. “It’s time for a tax structure that benefits all Pennsylvanians – not just the wealthy. We need to level the playing field, and I plan to work to make that happen.” Another of Lee’s priorities is enacting a living wage – a move she sees as fundamental to giving hardworking families a fair chance to succeed. It’s also an important part of the House Democrats’ Plan for PA , which puts Pennsylvania’s working families first by focusing on good jobs, affordable health care, quality schools and an economy that ends corporate handouts and ensures that everyone pays their fair share. The 34 th Legislative District includes parts of Allegheny County, including parts of Pittsburgh, the township of Wilkins, and the boroughs Read more

 

Veterans services

(Dec 01, 2018) Rep. Summer Lee

Below are a number of programs and services available to help veterans and their families. Please share this list with any veterans in your life. Veterans Temporary Assistance Temporary help is available for veterans and their beneficiaries who need aid for essentials such as shelter, fuel, clothing and food. If eligible, a veteran or their beneficiary can qualify for up to $1,600 in a 12-month period. The Disabled Veterans Real Estate Tax Exemption Program Any honorably discharged veteran who is 100 percent disabled, a resident of Pennsylvania and has financial need can apply for this program, which provides real estate tax exemption on principal dwellings. Educational Gratuity Program Children of honorably discharged veterans with service-connected disabilities or children of veterans who died in service during a period of war or armed conflict qualify for up to $500 per semester/term to help defray educational costs. Military Family Relief Assistance Program Eligible Pennsylvania service members and their family members who have a direct and immediate financial need as a result of circumstances beyond their control can apply for up to $3,500 in grants. This program is available for active and past service members. Veterans’ Trust Fund Grant Program Grants are available for veterans’ services organizations, non-profit organizations with a mission of serving Pennsylvania veterans, individual eligible counties and the State Read more

 

Heating aid via LIHEAP now open

(Dec 01, 2018) Rep. Summer Lee

The 2018-2019 Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program – LIHEAP – is accepting applications for heating assistance grants. LIHEAP offers cash grants of $200 to $1,000 that are sent directly to the utility company to defray heating costs for eligible households, and crisis benefits of up to $600 for households in immediate danger of being without heat. Remember: These are grants and do not have to be repaid. This season’s income guidelines for both LIHEAP cash and crisis grants are $18,210 for an individual, $24,690 for couples and increases for each additional person in the household. Please click here for more LIHEAP information. Please consider visiting my office if you need help filing a LIHEAP application. Besides my office, LIHEAP information is available by: Contacting local County Assistance offices by phone or in person. Calling the LIHEAP Client Helpline at 1-866-857-7095 or PA Relay at 711 for the hearing impaired. Applying online at https://www.compass.state.pa.us . Read more

 

Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus selects new leadership

(Nov 30, 2018) Rep. Summer Lee

HARRISBURG, Nov. 14 – Calling it a great opportunity to continue to be the voice for African-Americans and minorities across the commonwealth, state Rep. Stephen Kinsey, D-Phila., was elected Wednesday to serve as the chairman of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus. “Being chosen by my colleagues to serve as the chairman of the PLBC is truly an honor. It is a tremendous responsibility that I will not take lightly,” Kinsey said. “It is the job of the PLBC to be a voice for African-Americans and people of color across Pennsylvania. As we have witnessed in recent years, minorities are facing injustice and discrimination more than ever, not only in the commonwealth but across our nation. I look forward to advancing the discussion to ensure African-Americans and people of color are equally respected and represented in Pennsylvania.” The PLBC leadership team is further made up of Rep. Donna Bullock, D-Phila., vice chairwoman; Rep. Carol Hill-Evans, D-York, secretary; and Rep.-elect Summer Lee, D-Allegheny, treasurer. “I am honored to be reelected as vice chairwoman of the PLBC and will continue working to create opportunities and reduce barriers for black Pennsylvanians,” Bullock said. “I will keep having tough conversations with my colleagues in the House to make sure that our communities are heard and that legislation and policies from Harrisburg are inclusive of all communities.” “I am extremely honored Read more

 

$560,000 awarded to 16 Allegheny County school districts, charter schools
Jan 17, 2019

Lee leads Policy Committee hearing on wage growth
Jan 17, 2019

Join me for my district office open house
Jan 15, 2019

Lee to host Policy Committee hearing on wage growth Thursday in Braddock
Jan 15, 2019

Labor & Industry grant will help students looking to pursue careers in building and construction industry
Jan 10, 2019

Lee sworn in to Pa. House of Representatives
Jan 01, 2019

Veterans services
Dec 01, 2018

Heating aid via LIHEAP now open
Dec 01, 2018

Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus selects new leadership
Nov 30, 2018