A recent data breach prompted me to partner with fellow state Rep. Natalie Mihalek on legislation requiring vaccine providers to take steps to protect PA’s personal health information after registering to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Our bipartisan efforts were included in an amendment to H.B. 1264 – which passed unanimously. Read more
It’s vital we reform the reapportionment and redistricting efforts for state legislative and congressional districts here in our state. That’s why I’ve signed on in support of H.B. 22, also known as the Legislative and Congressional Redistricting Act. It would introduce enhanced transparency into the processes, allow more input from residents and create a user-friendly website with data, proposed maps, public comments and related information. Read more
DRAVOSBURG, April 30 – Today state Rep. Nick Pisciottano, D-Allegheny, issued the following statement regarding U.S. Steel Corp. announcing its cancellation of a $1.5 billion update to its Mon Valley Works facility. “I am very disappointed to hear of U.S. Steel’s decision to set aside its planned investment in our region, which would have modernized the plants and continued to provide good union jobs for years to come. I urge U.S. Steel to reconsider its decision and work with the communities, elected officials, and residents in the Mon Valley to chart a path forward. “One of my primary goals is to create economic conditions that are conducive to attracting and maintaining a strong business community in this region of Allegheny County. I will continue to work with local and state officials to keep family-sustaining jobs in our community, as I believe we can still come to a workable solution to benefit all parties.” Read more
DRAVOSBURG, April 30 – State Reps. Nick Pisciottano, D-Allegheny, and Natalie Mihalek, R-Allegheny/Washington, plan to introduce legislation soon to require COVID-19 vaccine providers to take specific steps to protect the privacy of residents who have registered to receive a vaccine. Pisciottano said in light of a recent data breach this week, where health and other personal information of more than 70,000 Pennsylvanians collected during contact tracing was compromised, it’s even more important that protections are immediately put in place. “In the rush for many residents to get vaccines, many registered with several providers, providing their personal information in order to secure an appointment,” said Pisciottano. “While only one provider ends up vaccinating them, the other providers still have access to their information, which includes their name and address, but could also include their medical history, Social Security number and insurance information. Our legislation would require vaccine providers to delete this information from those who may have registered but did not receive a vaccine within six months of registering.” “Medical history is the most private information a Pennsylvanian has, and it deserves to be treated sensitively,” said Mihalek. “In light of recent news that 70,000 residents’ medical information had been compromised due to contract tracing, I feel this legislation is more important Read more
DRAVOSBURG, April 28 – State Rep. Nick Pisciottano is supporting legislation to reform the reapportionment and redistricting efforts for both state legislative and congressional districts in Pennsylvania. Pisciottano, D-Allegheny, said H.B. 22 , also known as the Legislative and Congressional Redistricting Act, would introduce enhanced transparency into the processes, allow more input from residents and create a user-friendly website with data, proposed maps, public comments and related information. “Pennsylvanians deserve a fair and open redistricting process free from political processes designed to punish or discriminate against a particular legislator or political party, and ensure accountability,” said Pisciottano. “I support Fair Districts PA’s efforts to see this legislation move forward and signed into law. Residents are tired of extreme partisan actions as it relates to their legislators and this measure is certainly a step in the right direction.” Pisciottano added the measure would also ban gerrymandering, place limits on splitting counties beyond what’s required by population, ban dividing voting precincts and ensure protection of racial and language minorities against discrimination in the mapping process. The bill is currently under consideration in the House State Government Committee. Read more
PLEASANT HILLS, April 26 – Surrounded by family members of a constituent who died after being hit by a distracted driver in 2017, state Rep. Nick Pisciottano today lauded Act 105 , which goes into effect tomorrow and will require drivers to take proactive steps when approaching or passing a disabled vehicle. Pisciottano, D-Allegheny, said Scott Hirsh was struck and killed by a distracted driver as he was changing a tire on his camper, despite pulling off onto the shoulder of the roadway and using road flares and caution signs. Pisciottano joined members of the Hirsh family, representatives from the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, AAA and local officials to discuss the new law. House Bill 636 – a bill to rename the Camp Horne Road Interchange in honor of Scott Hirsh – is currently being considered. “Act 105 will require drivers to move over to one lane, or if that’s not possible, to pass the disabled vehicle at a rate of no more than 20 miles per hour less than the roadway’s posted speeding limit. While Scott Hirsh did everything correctly when his vehicle became disabled, an amendment that was adopted into the law includes a provision to further protect disabled vehicles and increase penalties for drivers who fail to move over or slow down.” "The day my dad was killed, he did everything right,” Christian Hirsh said. “He had Read more
Disability advocacy, info on vaccines and much more in this week's update! Read more
As part of the American Rescue Plan passed by Congress last month, our local municipalities will have access to funding they can use to spur economic recovery and infrastructure investment here in our community. Read more
HARRISBURG, April 7 – Approximately $8.5 million in federal funds from the American Rescue Plan will make a significant and positive impact to communities throughout the district, state Rep. Nick Pisciottano, D-Allegheny, announced today. The American Rescue Plan, signed last month by President Joseph Biden, includes funds earmarked for local municipalities and counties to use to offset economic losses due to the pandemic. The funding can also be used toward water, sewer and infrastructure projects and toward projects to safely reopen schools. “This financial support is certainly welcome relief for our residents and our communities, who have been struggling for more than a year since the pandemic hit,” Pisciottano said. “These funds will be essential in providing vital economic support to our local and county governments and ensure our communities continue to operate and remain connected.” Municipalities in the 38 th Legislative District that are slated to receive the funds are as follows: Baldwin Borough: $1.9 million. Dravosburg Borough: $170,349. Glassport Borough: $426,615. Liberty Borough: $242,622. Pleasant Hills Borough: $793,514. Port Vue Borough: $360,967. South Park Township: $1.3 million. West Mifflin Borough: $1.9 million. Whitehall Borough: $1.3 million. Read more
HARRISBURG, March 31 – An estimated $33.6 million in federal funding is expected to be allocated to area school districts to assist them in reopening safely and to address learning losses as more students and teachers return to classrooms, state Rep. Nick Pisciottano announced. “Teachers and school staff have faced many challenges during this time while they continue to educate our children and keep them safe,” said Pisciottano, D-Allegheny. “These federal funds will help our schools by providing them with the support they need to help students, whether it’s additional instructional materials, equipment upgrades, professional training and mental health and related services. This investment will help our schools in their efforts to navigate a safe, in-person learning environment.” The funding is part of nearly $5 billion allocated to Pennsylvania in federal relief under the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund. The estimated funding for school districts in the 38 th Legislative District is as follows: Baldwin-Whitehall School District - $5.1 million. McKeesport Area School District - $16.9 million. South Allegheny School District - $3.4 million. South Park School District - $1.3 million. West Jefferson School District - $1 million. West Mifflin Area School Read more
I was back at the state Capitol for the last two weeks for House session and busy working on several issues facing our communities. Read more
I want to hear from you! I am reaching out to begin a discussion about the coming years of economic development for our communities and what you think are the biggest priorities. Your input will help me with a comprehensive economic plan that will be helpful for our region. Read more
HARRISBURG, March 15 – Financial assistance is now available to help Allegheny County residents struggling to pay rent or utilities during the COVID-19 pandemic as part of a program that is partially funded by legislation members of the Allegheny County Democratic Delegation helped to pass. The Allegheny County Emergency Rental Assistance program has a total of $79.9 million to distribute to eligible county residents. Of that funding, $43 million came from Act 1 of 2021, which Gov. Tom Wolf signed into law last month. Eligibility requirements for the program include: having at least one person who qualifies for unemployment, has lost income or suffered financially due to COVID-19. being at risk of experiencing homelessness. having a total income below 80% of the Area Median Income for Allegheny County. ACDD Chairman state Rep. Austin Davis, as well as state Reps. Jessica Benham, Dan Deasy, Tony DeLuca, Dan Frankel, Ed Gainey, Sara Innamorato, Emily Kinkead, Anita Kulik, Summer Lee, Brandon Markosek, Robert Matzie, Dan Miller, Nick Pisciottano and Jake Wheatley, issued the following statement: “People living in Allegheny County have been struggling for over a year during this pandemic. This program has been a long time coming and helps provide direct relief to those who’ve been scrambling to pay their rent and bills during this Read more
In my last update, I shared information about the COVID-19 Hospitality Industry Recovery Program to help our impacted restauarants, bars and hotels. Allegheny County is currently working with a number of local Certified Economic Development Organizations and Community Development Financial Institutions in setting up an application portal by 3/15. Read more
This week, we received official word from state health and education officials that teachers and other school personnel will be vaccinated, using the Johnson & Johnson single-dose COVID-19 vaccine for PreK-12 teachers and other school staff. Read more
HARRISBURG, March 3 – State Rep. Nick Pisciottano, D-Allegheny, brought together school professionals, mental health advocates, human services professionals and legislators for a discussion on how resources can be allocated to better serve Pennsylvania students, during a PA House Democratic Policy Committee hearing today. Strengthening teachers and support staff was a natural part of the discussion that highlighted how the pandemic has exacerbated existing systemic issues with providing services to students, teachers and staff. “Our high school students have had to overcome so many challenges during the pandemic, including virtual schooling, a lack of real social interaction and constant disruptions to daily life during the most turbulent periods of growing up. It’s imperative we do all we can to support their mental health needs as they mature into young adults,” Pisciottano said. “This policy hearing was very helpful in hearing from a variety of experts on how state and local officials can best help students and work with our schools to give them the tools they need moving forward.” Michael Fiore, school social worker/home and school visitor for Council Rock School District, and Dr. Mike Ghilani, superintendent of West Jefferson Hills School District, shared the struggles students face and their efforts to make swift changes to policies and procedures that have had lifesaving impacts on students. Ghilani shared a tragic case Read more
HARRISBURG, March 2 – State House Rep. Nick Pisciottano, D-Allegheny, will host a virtual hearing to discuss the mental health of students during the current pandemic. The hearing will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, March 3. To view, the media and public can tune in to www.pahouse.com/policycommittee or the committee’s Facebook page -- @PADemPolicy. Media inquiries may be submitted via email to policy@pahouse.net . Pisciottano will be joined by committee Chairman Ryan Bizzarro and Democratic Policy Committee members to focus on the mental health of our high school students, notably during the current pandemic. This meeting is part of a weekly series focused on education, ensuring a quality education for all Pennsylvania children. Read more
I continue to work closely with our area’s health system, small pharmacies, and the Pennsylvania Department of Health to coordinate increased vaccine supply. I have weekly meetings with state health officials and a meeting with the House Democratic Caucus today to stay up to date and do all I can to get these much-needed vaccines to our county. Please know that I share your frustration in this process, and I am doing all I can to improve our current situation. Read more
HARRISBURG, Jan. 25 – State Reps. Nick Pisciottano and Amen Brown are leading an effort to boost the state stipend for veterans who are blind, paralyzed or amputees due to their military service. The $150 monthly stipend has not seen an increase for more than two decades. Pisciottano, D-Allegheny, and Brown, D-Philadelphia, said they plan on introducing legislation that would increase the monthly stipend disabled veterans receive to $200 per month. Based on rising costs and inflation, the current $150 a month these veterans receive is worth about $98 a month, reflecting a 34% decrease in value. “These men and women gave so much in service to our country and to keep each one of us safe, including the loss of their sight and their mobility,” said Pisciottano. “Each one of them who suffered life-altering, debilitating injuries is truly deserving of a long-overdue increase to this benefit, a benefit that is well within our state’s budgetary means. I’m proud to partner with Representative Brown to make this happen and I anticipate more of our colleagues will sign on to support this worthwhile effort to provide this assistance to our disabled veterans.” “Our veterans deserve our deep gratitude and a salute for their service and for keeping our imperfect democratic republic safe.” Brown said. “However, what veterans deserve – and need more – is real, tangible assistance from our state and federal Read more
HARRISBURG, Jan. 13 – Newly sworn-in state Rep. Nick Pisciottano has joined House Democratic leadership in co-sponsoring a measure designed to help Pennsylvanians struggling to pay their rent or mortgage during the current pandemic. Pisciottano, D-Allegheny, said the Pennsylvania Housing Energy Lessee Protection Strategy , or PA HELPS, is a $974 million proposal that would keep people in their homes, thus avoiding evictions and foreclosures, and it also would help local landlords. PA HELPS would direct the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services to set up an easy-to-use program to quickly provide assistance to those in need. “We have thousands of Pennsylvanians, including many in my district, who continue to struggle to pay their rent or mortgage as this pandemic continues, and they can’t afford to wait any longer for the help they need and deserve,” said Pisciottano. “This proposal would do just that and remove the fear and anxiety they’ve been experiencing and allow them to stay safely in their homes.” The $974 million in funding included in the proposal is composed of $852 million in estimated federal aid allocated to Pennsylvania for emergency rental assistance. It also includes $122 million that would be redirected back from the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections. In November, the $122 million that was originally earmarked toward rental and mortgage relief was instead used to close a Read more
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