Rep. Robert Matzie's Biography
Rep. Robert F. Matzie, D-Beaver, is a lifelong resident of Ambridge and a graduate of Ambridge Area High School. He received an associate degree in high technology communications from the Community College of Beaver County and a bachelor's degree in journalism and communications from Point Park University.
As a teen and through college, Matzie worked as an on-air personality and program director at WMBA Radio in Ambridge. He continues to cover high school sports, when his schedule permits, as a play-by-play announcer.
Prior to his election to the House in 2008, Matzie worked as a state Senate staff member for 14 years, served as mayor of Ambridge and was elected to the Democratic State Committee to represent Beaver County.
In his first term, Matzie’s proposals to make health insurance coverage available to small businesses (Act 2) and to protect health insurance coverage for all (Act 14) were critical improvements for everyday Pennsylvanians.
In addition, Matzie worked with the Rendell Administration to save Old Economy Village. His efforts subsequently led to him being appointed to the PA Historical and Museum Commission, an appointment he holds to this day.
In 2011, Matzie was the Democratic champion of the successful effort to bring the Shell ethane cracker plant to Southwest Pennsylvania. The $6 billion dollar plant, the largest industrial project in Pennsylvania in more than a century, opened in late 2022. It is estimated that, when fully operational, it will employ 600 workers and create thousands of ancillary jobs related to the industry.
While recognizing and encouraging the continued development of his region’s rich natural resources, Matzie remains a staunch advocate of environmental safeguards and water protection. As a result of his voting record, legislative initiatives and oft-repeated belief that “being pro-environment as well as being in favor of energy projects are not mutually exclusive,” he was named a House Environmental Champion by the Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania, Clean Water Action, the Sierra Club's state chapter and PennEnvironment.
Matzie anticipated the U.S. Supreme Court’s positive ruling on the legality of sports wagering to be conducted by the states. His H.B. 519, which authorized sports wagering at Pennsylvania’s casinos, was enacted as part of Act 42. In a little over 6 years, sports wagering has brought in more than half a billion dollars in revenues for state and municipal government.
During his tenure in the legislature, Matzie has served on House committees such as Commerce, Consumer Affairs, Gaming Oversight, Health, Local Government, Policy, Tourism and Recreational Development, Insurance, and Transportation.
In 2019, he was named the Democratic Chairman of the powerful House Consumer Protection, Technology, and Utilities Committee. The committee has legislative oversight over all utilities in the commonwealth, as well as large areas of energy development and production, certain transportation services and digital and cyber security. During his tenure as Chairman, Matzie stewarded critically important legislation into law, including updating 5G technology, expanding broadband infrastructure and access, re-authorization of the state’s safe digging law, Solar for Schools, a regulatory framework for carbon capture and sequestration, data privacy and economic development.
Most recently, Matzie was elected by his peers in the House Democratic Caucus to serve in Leadership as Majority Caucus Chairman. The Caucus chair is tasked with the coveted role of presiding over elected member group meetings, or “caucus,” and steering the discussion regarding the legislative agenda. The chairman is also tasked with directly supporting the Democratic Leader in House floor actions, and assuming the responsibilities of the Speaker of the House when necessary.
Matzie, who was sworn in for his ninth term on January 7, 2025, continues to comprehensively focus on all levels of state government to make the 16th Legislative District and all of Beaver County a wonderful place to live, work and enjoy time with family and friends.
The 16th District consists of parts of Beaver County including the City of Aliquippa and the Townships of Center, Harmony, Hopewell and Rochester and the Boroughs of Ambridge, Baden, Conway, East Rochester, Freedom, Monaca, Rochester and South Heights.
Matzie and his wife, Patty, have a daughter, Claire. Matzie is the son of the late Andrew (Jr.) and Catherine (Kay) Matzie of Ambridge and has two brothers: David, of Rochester and Michael, of Ambridge.