HARRISBURG, March 9 – Many older Pennsylvanians face health conditions that make it unsafe for them to continue driving, which often leads them to surrender their driver’s licenses and receive a free state photo identification card. However, subsequent renewals of these cards include a fee, which state Reps. Arvind Venkat and Lindsay Powell , both D-Allegheny, intend to remedy. The Pittsburgh-area legislators plan to introduce legislation that would exempt Pennsylvanians age 65 or older that have surrendered their driver’s license for medical reasons from the fees associated with renewing their state photo ID. “Giving up a driver’s license can be difficult, especially when it is due to a medical condition,” said Venkat. “We do not need to add an extra cost for seniors during this challenging situation. This legislation will allow older Pennsylvanians to make the responsible decision to surrender their license without the burden of additional financial hardship.” “When many of our older neighbors live on fixed incomes, we should not be charging them unreasonable fees that could go toward health care, groceries, transportation, or any other costs they may have,” said Powell. The current fee to renew a photo ID, as of July 2025 , is $44.50. Over 20% of Pennsylvanians — nearly 2.6 million people — are aged 65 or older, one of the highest shares in the Read more
Upcoming shred event; Protecting Homeowners; Celebrating our outstanding students; Time change – and more! Read more
HARRISBURG, March 4 – During a House Commerce Committee hearing today on bipartisan legislation that would regulate Shared Appreciation Agreements, state Rep. Arvind Venkat, D-Allegheny, expressed outrage over the solicitation of testimony against the legislation through financial inducements. Point, a company that markets Shared Appreciation Agreements, emailed customers before the meeting with the promise of $50 Amazon gift cards if they submitted a testimonial in opposition to H.B. 2120 , introduced by Venkat to regulate these agreements. This solicitation and the subsequent testimonials submitted by Point came without notice to the Commerce Committee. “These actions by Point are intended to mislead the members of this committee and the people of Pennsylvania by incentivizing a particular viewpoint for financial gain,” said Venkat. “This is an outrageous corruption of the legislative process. House Bill 2120 serves to provide consumer protections for homeowners to preserve and understand the value of their most valuable asset—their home. “What Point has done raises significant questions about its credibility as a company, as a participant in the deliberations on this legislation, and about the nature and quality of its product. If it is not transparent with lawmakers, how can we believe it is transparent with its customers? I will continue to use my authority as a legislator to ensure homeowners are Read more
Upcoming shred event; Satellite office hours; Recognizing our outstanding student musicians; How to improve traffic safety – and more! Read more
My Spring 2026 print newsletter. Read more
Upcoming shred event; Supporting our first responders; Recognizing our outstanding students; New military scholarship available – and more! Read more
PITTSBURGH, Feb. 17 – State Rep. Arvind Venkat, D-Allegheny, announced that more than $160,000 in grant funding has been approved to support first responders in the 30th Legislative District. “As an emergency physician, I’ve witnessed firsthand the lifesaving work our first responders do every day, often at great personal risk,” said Venkat. “I’m proud to support our local fire companies and EMS agencies and will continue working to ensure they have the resources they need.” The funding from these grants includes: $31,136 to Ross West View EMS Authority. This funding includes $16,136 for fire company operations and $15,000 for EMS operations. $16,136 to Peebles District Volunteer Fire Co. $15,518 to Hampton Township Volunteer Fire Department. $15,000 to McCandless Franklin Park Ambulance Authority. $15,000 to Shaler-Hampton EMS. $14,693 to Highland Fireman’s Association. $14,281 to Emsworth Volunteer Fire Co. $13,663 to Ohio Township Volunteer Fire Co. of Allegheny County. $13,476 to Ingomar Volunteer Fire Co. No. 2. $13,250 to Franklin Park Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1. The funding for these projects comes from the Fire Company and Emergency Medical Services Grant program , run by the Office of the State Fire Commissioner. Read more
New grant funding for our community; Meeting with youth leaders; New military scholarship available – and more! Read more
McCANDLESS, Feb. 10 – State Rep. Arvind Venkat, D-Allegheny, announced that the Town of McCandless will receive a $134,415 grant through the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s Automated Red-Light Enforcement Program to improve school zone safety. The funding for this project will serve to replace faded school crossing signage, install rectangular rapid flashing beacons and upgrade all school-zone flashing signals located within McCandless. “The well-being of students and families in our community is a top priority of mine,” Venkat said. “This funding will ensure that our school zones get the safety improvements they need, and I will continue working to make sure these state investments come to our district.” Venkat worked with state Sen. Lindsey Williams, D-Allegheny, to secure this grant. The North Allegheny School District has several school buildings, from elementary to high school levels, located within McCandless. Read more
The Governor’s budget address; My legislation moves through the Senate; Civics Bee accepting applicants; Supporting our regional economy – and more! Read more
Making healthcare accessible; Honoring our community leaders; PA House scholarship now open – and more! Read more
State Rep. Tarik Khan, D–Philadelphia, joined by colleagues in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, today introduced a resolution urging Congress to withhold additional federal appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) until meaningful accountability and safety reforms are enacted.The resolution comes in the wake of the killing of ICU nurse Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis in January 2026, just weeks after another U.S. citizen, Renee Nicole Good, was shot and killed during federal immigration enforcement operations in the same city. Read more
Winter weather updates; Standing up for vaccine access; PA House scholarship application now open – and more! Read more
HARRISBURG, Jan. 23 – State Rep. Arvind Venkat, D-Allegheny, today announced his appointment to the Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania Health Insurance Exchange Authority , which operates the Commonwealth’s official health insurance marketplace, PENNIE. “As the legislature’s only physician, I am honored to join the Pennsylvania Health Insurance Exchange Authority,” said Venkat. “Expanding access to affordable health care is one of my top priorities in Harrisburg, and this role gives me an important opportunity to advance that work. I look forward to collaborating with PENNIE’s leadership to benefit all Pennsylvanians.” Venkat’s appointment, made by House Speaker Joanna McClinton, D-Phila., will run through the remainder of the 2025-26 legislative session. Four of the board’s members are appointed by legislative leaders, including the Speaker of the House, the Senate President Pro Tempore, and the Minority Leaders of both chambers. Read more
PITTSBURGH, Jan. 20 – The Commonwealth Financing Authority has approved over $1 million in grant funding for projects in the 30th Legislative District which were backed by state Rep. Arvind Venkat, D-Allegheny, alongside state Sens. Lindsey Williams, Devlin Robinson and Wayne Fontana. “These projects will go to provide our community with long-needed infrastructure repairs,” Venkat said. “I will continue to advocate for these infrastructure needs in our community, and I am thankful to my Senate colleagues in their partnership on these projects.” Projects supported with this funding include: $350,000 to support storm sewer lining in McCandless. Supported with Williams. $333,000 to provide stormwater improvements to the Ohio Township EMS & Fire Training Facility. Supported with Robinson. $200,000 to Hampton Township for rehabilitation to the Gourdhead Run Sanitary Sewer Interceptor. Supported with Williams. $197,150 for storm sewer repair along Spring Street in Emsworth. Supported with Fontana. These projects will be funded through the Small Water and Sewer grant program. Read more
HARRISBURG, Jan. 20 – State Rep. Arvind Venkat, M.D., D-Allegheny, the only physician in the Pennsylvania General Assembly, has issued the following statement ahead of U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s appearance in the state Capitol: “Secretary Kennedy has undertaken a deliberate effort to undermine vaccine access and America’s public health as a whole,” Venkat said. “Since he assumed office, we have seen chaos unfold in federal public health policy because of Kennedy’s anti-science ideology. “From anti-vaccine activists being appointed to vaccine policy boards, to the firing of scientists from leadership positions, to cuts to scientific research funding, to the childhood vaccine schedule being gutted without any scientific evidence or even deliberation, Kennedy’s actions are endangering the health of Pennsylvanians and costing lives. We are seeing the consequences of Kennedy’s dangerous actions in real time, with outbreaks of measles and whooping cough across the nation. More outbreaks are sure to follow. “Our nation has already been greatly harmed by Secretary Kennedy’s actions, and as he comes to Harrisburg, I will continue to use my position as our only physician-legislator to ensure that Pennsylvanians can receive vaccines as they choose and avoid the damage to healthcare and science policy Secretary Kennedy has caused.” Read more
Standing Up for Clean Energy; New Grant Funding; Scholarship Deadlines Approaching; Student Art Contests – and more! Read more
MCCANDLESS, Jan. 13 – The Ingomar Volunteer Fire Company will receive $308,000 in grant funding from the Department of Community and Economic Development, announced state Rep. Arvind Venkat, D-Allegheny. This funding will go toward helping the fire company purchase a new radio system. This would enable it to connect to the newly updated radio network used by other fire companies and first responders in Allegheny County. “As an ER doc, I regularly see the heroism of our local firefighters,” said Venkat. “As a legislator, supporting our first responders is among my top priorities. I am very happy to see this funding come to our community for a project that will make all of McCandless and our region safer.” The funding for this project came about from legislative advocacy by Venkat, along with the leadership of the State House. Read more
PITTSBURGH, Jan. 12 – The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has awarded $1.25 million to Ohio Township to support the acquisition of land for a new park, which was supported by state Rep. Arvind Venkat and state Sen. Devlin Robinson. The funding, which comes from the Community Conservation Partnership Program , will allow the township to acquire 138 acres to be utilized by the new Ohio Township Park at Green Valley. “This is an incredible opportunity for us to have a new, expansive community space,” said Venkat, D-Allegheny. “This will provide Ohio Township with many new opportunities for outdoor access and activities. I am thrilled to see this funding come back to our community, and I am thankful for Sen. Robinson’s partnership in this project.” The Community Conservation Partnership Program serves to invest in new recreational opportunities, expand outdoor access, protect natural resources, and strengthen local communities. Read more
Looking back on 2025; My legislation to protect homeowners; New park development in Ohio Township; Youth litter awareness contest – and more! Read more
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