Email Update: April 14, 2025

Rep. Emily Kinkead April 14, 2025

In this update:

Free Document Shredding on 4/26
Passing Bills for PA Workers
My Office is Helping Veterans

Student Opportunities
Rally with Planned Parenthood
And so much more!

Office closing early Wednesday

My district office will close at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 16 so my staff and I may participate in first-aid training. The office will reopen Thursday morning.

Congratulations to our newest Allegheny Co. representative

Our newest Allegheny County member, Rep. Dan Goughnour, joined the PA House last Monday. With his swearing-in, the Allegheny County Delegation – and the Democratic Caucus -- are back to their full complements. We’re 17 members strong in the County Delegation and 102 strong in the PA House and remain committed to actively working to address the issues and needs of our individual districts, our county and our Commonwealth.

Passing Bills to Protect Working Pennsylvanians

It was an exciting week in Harrisburg for Pennsylvania workers, as my colleagues and I passed several bills to provide critical worker protections:

Extending federal OSHA protections to public sector workers in Pennsylvania (H.B. 308).
Providing a cost-of-living increase to long-time state employees and public school employees (H.B. 411).
Expanding workers’ compensation to cover permanent disfigurement (H.B. 183).
Adding 911 operators to the list of professions that are considered emergency responders (H.B. 453).

I also joined with my House Labor & Industry Committee colleagues to advance a bill to increase penalties for employers in the construction industry that improperly classify workers as independent contractors when they should be classified as employees to prevent workers from being cheated out of salaries, benefits and important worker protections.

I stand firmly with Pennsylvania workers. Every worker deserves dignity, safety, and a fair wage, and it’s our responsibility as lawmakers to protect their wellbeing through strong, forward-thinking legislation. I’m committed to building a Pennsylvania where all workers can thrive.

Defending Reproductive Rights

Abortion remains legal in Pennsylvania—and I’m fighting every day to keep it that way. Last Monday, I was proud to rally for reproductive freedom alongside my PA House Democrat colleagues and advocates from Planned Parenthood.

Read about two bills we are working to pass in the PA House:

Reproductive Freedom Act (H.B. 26).

Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act (H.B. 670).

We are committed to defending reproductive rights in PA.

Launching the House Law Enforcement Caucus

Last week, my colleagues state Reps. Brian Munroe (D-Bucks) and Eric Weaknecht (R-Berks) relaunched the House Law Enforcement Caucus. The Caucus aims to collaborate with and be advised by a board of law enforcement leaders from across the state – including Allegheny County’s own Mike Vogel, president of the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association – to ensure the laws we create to protect police, serve our communities, and reduce violence.

As someone who has been committed to criminal justice reform in Pennsylvania, I look forward to working with my colleagues and law enforcement across the state to make progress on these issues.

Addressing the Pittsburgh Regional Transit Funding Crisis

With the expiration of Act 89 and the drying up of federal ARPA funds, PRT needs $117 million just to support current service levels for the next decade. Last session, I voted to fund public transit in three separate bills. Each time, Allegheny County House Republicans voted “No” and Senate Republicans refused to even bring the bills up for a vote.

If public transit is important to you, I encourage you to film a video clip for social media to highlight the impact the proposed PRT service cuts and fare increases will have on you and tag my Allegheny County Republican colleagues and Senate Republican leadership – Reps. Natalie Mihalek, Valerie Gaydos, Jeremy Schaffer, Jason Ortitay, and Andrew Kuzma; and Sens. Kim Ward, Joe Pittman and Scott Martin – to let them know that we need them to support public transit in PA.

Also, please submit your public comments to PRT directly now through June 18 at 5 p.m.

Digging Into PA Agriculture

As a proud Pennsylvania Farm Bureau member, it was a-maize-ing to connect with the Westmoreland County Farm Bureau and other Farm Bureau members from across the state in Harrisburg and dig into the priorities for agriculture in Pennsylvania!

Legislative Panel with the Allegheny League of Municipalities

I was pleased to join Congressman Chris Deluzio and my state colleagues at the Allegheny League of Municipalities Legislative Panel. While the current situation at the federal level meant the conversation was quite somber, I always enjoy connecting with municipal leaders to talk about how we can help.

Student Success at the A.W. Beattie Career Center

It’s always a pleasure to stop by the A.W. Beattie Career Center and see students in action! Offering programs in everything from carpentry to culinary arts, their facility provides fantastic career preparation and real-world experience opportunities for so many local students. I even got a sneak peek at many of the students’ projects for the SkillsUSA Pennsylvania competition where they later earned 7 SkillsUSA championships.

See what’s happening at the A.W. Beattie Career Center.

Legalizing Cannabis

Last year, I introduced a bill with Rep. Aaron Kaufer, which was the first bipartisan legalization bill ever introduced in the House. Now, with the plan to legalize recreational adult-use cannabis is moving ever closer in the state House, I’m excited to work with my colleagues to ensure that Pennsylvania creates a program that is the gold standard for legalization in the U.S.

Click here to read more.

Free Shredding in Ross Township

Save the date for my FREE document shredding event from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 26 at the Ross Township Department of Public Works with state Sen. Lindsey Williams! Contact my office with any questions—I hope to see you there!

Student Conservation Association Opportunities

The Student Conservation Association is hosting a free event on Saturday, April 19 at the Riverview Park Chapel Shelter!

The SCA is also hiring teenagers for their summer trail crews. Please contact Stephanie Dax at sdax@thesca.org with any questions about the event or crew positions.

Assistance for Late-Season Tax Filers

As the April 15 deadline to file your 2024 Pennsylvania Personal Income Tax returns is rapidly approaching, the PA Department of Revenue is extending their call center hours to assist late-season tax filers.

Taxpayers in need of assistance can reach the call center at 717-787-8201 during the extended hours listed below.

April 14-15: 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.

If you need any additional support, you can find the Online Customer Service Center by clicking here.

Helping Veterans Access Resources

My office hosts officers from the American Legion and VFW on the second and third Thursdays of every month to help veterans get connected with all the benefits they are eligible for. If you know a veteran, have them contact my office to set up an appointment.

My staff and I are here to help you, your friends, and your family however we can. Reach out at RepKinkead@pahouse.net or call 412-321-5523.

Apply for a Real ID

Beginning May 7, Pennsylvanians will need a Real ID-compliant driver’s license/photo ID card, or another form of federal identification, such as a valid passport or military ID, to board a domestic commercial flight or enter a federal building or military installation that requires ID.

PennDOT will be holding several Real ID Days in the area to help residents apply. Please see the graphic above for details and click here to learn more about Real IDs.

If you don’t need a Real ID to fly or visit a federal facility by May 7, don’t worry! You will always be able to apply for a Real ID after the deadline.

Learn how the state budget works for you

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to learn how the proposed state budget works for you. I’ve partnered with state Rep. Jordan Harris, the House Appropriations Committee Chairman, to host a community discussion at the Penn Hills Library from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. on Monday, April 28.

I hope you can join us! The session will also be livestreamed here.