I’m proud to share that my bipartisan legislation, HB 980, passed the House unanimously this week. This bill will update the membership of our State Board of Pharmacy to reflect current pharmacy practice and better serve the people of Pennsylvania. It now moves to the State Senate for consideration.

This week, my bipartisan legislation to develop geothermal energy in Pennsylvania passed out of the House Energy Committee with Democratic and Republican support.

I spoke at our Blue-Green Caucus press conference about the importance of this bill and how we can develop clean energy, create good union jobs, and reduce costs for all Pennsylvanians. You can find my full remarks in the video above.

I had the opportunity to meet with Ray Eschenbach of McCandless, a student leader at Slippery Rock University, in Harrisburg, to discuss the importance of supporting the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education in our state budget. I will continue to advocate for ensuring that students have access to affordable higher education in our Commonwealth.

I was also able to meet with Lisa Owens of Ohio Township and Fabyonne Williams of Pittsburgh as part of the Pennsylvania Educator Diversity Consortium’s advocacy day. I am committed to supporting state policies like the student teacher stipend to strengthen a diverse educator pipeline in Pennsylvania.

As a physician-legislator, I am focused on increasing the affordability and accessibility of healthcare. GLP-1 medications represent a paradigm shift in how we can manage obesity, keep people healthy, and reduce costs over the long term.

They also are expensive. I will continue to advocate for my bipartisan legislation to both increase access to GLP-1 medications while containing costs for the state under our Medicaid program. You can learn about my work in The Guardian.

Veena and I had a wonderful time joining neighbors at the North Hills Community Outreach BBQ in McCandless. Thank you to the leaders, staff, and volunteers of NHCO for the work they do every day to support those in need in our community.

Twenty-three students from North Allegheny received awards at the Pittsburgh Regional Science and Engineering Fair, including ISEF finalists Angelina Li and Shivum Telang. Li and Telang both qualified for the International Science and Engineering Fair, which will be held in Arizona from May 9–15.

Three students from Avonworth—Vada, August, and Madeline—were selected to represent Avonworth Orchestras at the PMEA Elementary String Festival, which brought together more than 120 fifth- and sixth-grade orchestra students from across the region.

Congratulations to all our students on your excellent work!

The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency is reminding all students and families to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

This allows you to be considered for federal student aid. In addition, states and colleges use FAFSA information to award their own grants, scholarships, and loans.

For first time applicants to a community college, business school, trade or technical school, hospital school of nursing, designated Pennsylvania open-admission institution, or nontransferable two-year program, applications are due by August 1. All other applicants must apply by May 1. You can learn more about FAFSA here.

As Earth Day approaches, there are several upcoming opportunities to clean up our community.

The Franklin Park Environmental Advisory Council will be leading its annual Spring Roadside Litter Cleanup event on Saturday, April 18 at 10 a.m. The cleanup will take place along Nicholson Road between the Baierl YMCA and Georgetown Drive.

If you are interested in supporting, RSVP to dplatt@franklinparkborough.us or call the borough office at 412-364-4115 ext. 302. Police traffic control, safety vests, work gloves, and garbage bags will be provided.

McCandless will be holding a Community Clean-Up Day on April 25 at 8:30 a.m. at the McCandless Department of Public Works Garage. Supplies, including gloves, bags, safety vests, and snacks, will be provided.

You can RSVP here or by emailing eac@townofmccandless.org. There will be a rain date scheduled for May 9 at 8:30 AM.

Primary Election Day is rapidly approaching! The election is on May 19, and it is important that everyone can have their voices heard at the ballot box. You can register to vote here by May 4, check your registration here, and request a mail-in ballot here by May 12.

Under current Pennsylvania law, you must be a registered Democrat or Republican to vote in that respective party’s primary election. I am proud to support legislation that would let all eligible voters, even those who are not affiliated with a political party, have a say in their government by voting in the primary.

Pittsburgh is expected to welcome hundreds of thousands of visitors for the NFL Draft April 23 - 25. Please review Pittsburgh Regional Transit’s transportation plan to help ensure you can get where you need to be during this time.

Additionally, Pick Up PA – the state’s largest community improvement project – can provide FREE work gloves, safety vests, and trash bags as supplies last for anyone who is interested in helping to beautify our region ahead of this colossal event. Get more information here.

Pennsylvanians may now purchase the newly designed “Preserve Our Heritage” special fund plate, featuring the Pennsylvania Bank Barn and the Liberty Bell. The Pennsylvania Bank Barn is a distinct and highly efficient agricultural structure that became a defining feature of the American rural landscape.

The special fund license plate is available for cars or trucks with a registered gross weight of not more than 14,000 pounds. Each plate costs $64, with $23 going directly to support the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission’s education and exhibit programs. Pennsylvanians who are interested in ordering this new plate can complete the MV-911 form, “Application for Special Fund Registration Plate.”

The Governor’s Advisory Commission on Women has launched a new digital survey to gather input from women across Pennsylvania. This survey is part of the Shapiro Administration’s upcoming State of the Woman Report, a comprehensive, data-driven effort to assess the status of women throughout the state.

The survey, which can be found here, will be open through May 30 and will collect insight from Pennsylvania women on their experiences and priorities to better inform the Administration’s policies that impact women. The survey is also available in Spanish and Chinese.

There will also be a statewide listening tour to further engage with the women of Pennsylvania, including a stop in Pittsburgh on May 14.

Finally, please remember that my talented staff can help you with a variety of state-related matters – from filing an application for the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program to obtaining a disability placard or senior bus pass, just to name a few. Contact us or stop by to see how we can help!

You can read my e-newsletter in a way that’s most convenient for you by visiting my legislative website here and clicking on the accessibility icon in the lower right corner.

District Office

9800B McKnight Road, Suite 130
Pittsburgh, PA 15237

(412) 348-8028

Pennsylvania State Capitol

101 B East Wing

PO Box 202030

Harrisburg, PA 17120

(717) 772-2363

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