“This investment is incredible news for our region, and especially Turtle Creek, where Eos has already been an important part of our local economy,” state Rep. Brandon Markosek said. “This expansion shows real confidence in the people and potential of Western Pennsylvania. It means more jobs, more innovation and a stronger role for our region in the future of clean energy manufacturing.” Read more
WILKINSBURG, Oct. 16 – An award of nearly $1 million in conditional tax credits will leverage investments to preserve buildings for Wilkinsburg senior housing, state Rep. Abigail Salisbury announced today. Salisbury, D-Allegheny, said the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency has conditionally reserved $992,686 in tax credits to generate investments in a project to preserve buildings in the Gable Ridge development. “Affordable housing is essential for seniors on a fixed income,” said Salisbury. “The new tax credits will spur investments to fund preservation of six one- and two-story buildings – a total of 50 one-bedroom units – for residents 62 or older. It will be great to see improved housing opportunities for Wilkinsburg seniors.” Salisbury said the development is estimated to be just under 41,300 square feet and will include five accessible units. More information about PHFA Low Income Housing Tax Credits is available here: https://www.phfa.org/mhp/developers/lihtc.aspx Read more
“This project is a great example of how we can invest in our neighborhoods while taking care of our seniors,” state Rep. Dan Deasy said. “Hill Top Villas will provide safe, affordable housing and help older adults stay connected to the Fairywood community they’ve long been part of.” Read more
AMBRIDGE, Oct. 10 – Beaver County affordable housing will get a boost from nearly $3.4 million in tax credits reserved to leverage investment in two projects, state Rep. Rob Matzie announced today. Matzie, who is chairman of the House Majority Caucus, said the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency has conditionally reserved $1.7 million in tax credits for the Legacy Bricks project in Aliquippa and another $1.68 million for St. Cecilia Senior in Rochester. “More affordable housing means more residents have the economic stability they need to thrive,” said Matzie. “These tax credits are great news because they will spur investments to help both of these projects take shape.” Matzie said the Legacy Bricks project in Aliquippa is located on a 4.84-acre site currently zoned for mixed used and traditional neighborhood development. The site is under an option to purchase agreement through Dec. 31, 2026. The St. Cecilia Senior project in Rochester would preserve a four-story building consisting of 33 one-bedroom units and 12 two-bedroom units for residents 62 or older. The development would be nearly 65,000 square feet and would include nine accessible units. More information about PHFA Low Income Housing Tax Credits is available here: https://www.phfa.org/mhp/developers/lihtc.aspx Read more
With strong bipartisan support, the PA House today passed a bill sponsored by state Rep. Dan Goughnour, D-Allegheny, that would modernize state liquor laws by allowing businesses with liquor licenses to have premixed cocktails on tap, just like beer. Read more
BRADDOCK, Oct. 6 – State Rep. Abigail Salisbury wants autistic Pennsylvanians or people with loved ones on the spectrum to be aware of the Pennsylvania State Police’s Autism Spectrum Disorder interaction card. Salisbury said the “ASD card” – which can be downloaded for free and carried in a wallet or saved on a phone – may be a helpful option for people on the autism spectrum when they are dealing with law enforcement in some situations. “In certain situations, interactions with police can be difficult for some people on the autism spectrum,” said Salisbury, who is chair of the Pennsylvania Autism Caucus and the first person with an autism diagnosis to hold that position. “Some people may experience sensory overload in situations involving lights and sirens, loud noises or other high-stress events, which can cause them to shut down and appear uncooperative or unpredictable. “ As someone on the spectrum, I understand these challenges, which is why I was glad to see the Pennsylvania State Police develop this resource in conjunction with an autistic consultant. Presenting the card can help communicate critical information at a stressful time. It’s one more tool in our toolbox to improve interactions for people with autism.” Lieutenant Adam Reed, of the Pennsylvania State Police, said the card is equally helpful to law enforcement officers. “As police Read more
Lawmakers call to protect survivors, increase accountability for repeat PFA violations Read more
“All this misinformation coming from the White House and federal government has done real damage,” said Rep. Abigail Salisbury, who hosted the hearing, serves as the chair of the Pennsylvania Autism Caucus and is autistic. “We heard directly from medical professionals, who explained how resources and their time is being dominated by combatting this misinformation – instead of devoting their time to research or dealing with the real-life concerns of their patients.” Read more
Legislation establishing Landslide and Sinkhole Insurance Program heads to Senate Read more
HARRISBURG, Sept. 29 — Pennsylvania would conduct a new public awareness campaign to get more fathers involved in prenatal care and the birthing process under a bill sponsored by state Rep. Aerion Abney that passed the House today with strong bipartisan support. House Bill 1212 , dubbed the PA Dads Matter Act, directs the Department of Health to conduct the campaign. Abney, D-Allegheny, introduced the bill as part of MOMNIBUS 2.0, a comprehensive legislative package that seeks to improve birthing outcomes and confronts the staggering rate of Black maternal mortality and morbidity in Pennsylvania. “I feel very strongly about this bill,” Abney said. “A dad’s involvement can make an enormous difference in a healthy pregnancy and birth. When a dad is engaged, there are lower chances of unhealthy birth weight and lower risks of postpartum mood and anxiety disorders.” Abney, the father of two sons, modeled the bill after bipartisan federal legislation drawn up by Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., and former Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla. “The MOMNIBUS is about more than just moms!” said state Rep. Morgan Cephas, D-Philadelphia, the bill’s prime co-sponsor. “When dads and partners are engaged in the process, we know that birthing outcomes improve greatly for everyone. The Dads Matter Act highlights the role that fathers play to uplift the health and wellbeing of babies and mothers before, during and after Read more
HARRISBURG, Sept. 26 – In the wake of last week’s comments by federal officials linking maternal acetaminophen use to an increased risk of autism, state Rep. Abigail Salisbury will host a state legislative hearing featuring medical and scientific experts on autism next week at the state Capitol. Salisbury said the hearing, facilitated at her request by the House Majority Policy Committee, will take place at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 30 in Room 205 of the Ryan Office Building. “It’s our responsibility as lawmakers to make sure our policymaking is guided by science, not speculation,” said Salisbury, who chairs the Pennsylvania Autism Caucus and is the first person with autism to hold this position. “I am grateful to the House Majority Policy Committee for convening this hearing, which will feature medical professionals, researchers and experts on the autism spectrum to ensure our policymaking is informed by science and medical evidence—not junk science and speculation.” Salisbury said she believes the hearing will be an important first step and that she looks forward to continuing conversations with experts so that the path forward is guided by science, not fear or confusion. The meeting will be livestreamed at: https://youtube.com/live/-0WdZlhsORs . Media coverage is invited. Read more
HARRISBURG, Sept. 22 – State Rep. Abigail Salisbury, Chair of the Pennsylvania Autism Caucus, today called upon state legislative leadership to convene official hearings with scientific and medical experts to examine current research into the potential causes of autism. Salisbury's announcement comes in response to today's press conference with President Donald Trump and U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., who announced an association between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and increased neurodevelopmental risks, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Acetaminophen is also known by the brand name Tylenol, and President Trump stated in the press conference, “Don't take Tylenol.” The federal advisory has sparked renewed national discussion about the importance of precautionary guidance, public awareness and evidence-based policymaking surrounding autism and prenatal health. “As Chair of the Pennsylvania Autism Caucus – and as the first person with an autism diagnosis to hold this position – I believe it is our moral and legislative responsibility to seek truth, clarity and scientific guidance wherever the health and well-being of Pennsylvania’s children are concerned,” said Salisbury, D-Allegheny. “Today’s federal announcement underscores how urgently we need expert-informed hearings to understand the full range of environmental, medical and Read more
BRADDOCK, Sept. 17 – State Rep. Abigail Salisbury today announced a new round of scholarships to help civic-minded residents in District 34’s lower-income communities strengthen their grant writing and nonprofit management skills. Salisbury said her office is working with the Health and Education Alliance and the Community College of Allegheny County to offer the scholarships, which will provide access to CCAC’s Grant Writing & Non-Profit Management course. “Nonprofits can be incredibly powerful agents for change,” said Salisbury, who is co-founder and chair of the Pennsylvania Charitable Nonprofit Caucus. “ But regardless of their mission – whether they’re fighting hunger, strengthening mental health resources or providing housing, afterschool programs or other critical services – nonprofits are only as effective as the staff who run them. “With access to CCAC’s course, last year’s winners learned how to tap into state funding and sharpen their management skills to help their organizations accomplish more for the community. We’re bringing those opportunities back this year with a new round of scholarships. I encourage anyone interested in applying to learn more, find out whether they qualify and apply by the October 15 deadline.” Salisbury said that to qualify for a scholarship, applicants must reside in a low-income census tract. To Read more
State grant programs now accepting applications Read more
“Allegheny County has the infrastructure and sites that corporations like Mainspring need, but testifiers also explained that Pennsylvania risks being left behind by neighboring states when it comes to creating sufficient state incentives and acting quickly to support high-impact projects with large energy demands,” said state Rep. John Inglis, who co-hosted the event and represents portions of Allegheny County. “Mainspring chose Pittsburgh over Columbus to bring about 1,000 jobs to our region, but lawmakers will need to be proactive to ensure our region remains competitive.” Read more
“Food insecurity is more prevalent now than it was during the pandemic, so the federal cuts to SNAP are going to do a tremendous amount of harm to families already struggling to put food on the table, as well as impact our farmers who provide that food,” said Rep. Emily Kinkead, D-Allegheny, and House Chair of the Hunger Caucus. “While the state simply does not have the resources to fill the gap after hundreds of billions of dollars were cut from food programs in Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill, there are still actions we can take at the state-level to feed a greater number of Pennsylvanians. As we continue to work to finalize our state’s budget, we still have an opportunity to ensure that Pennsylvania is stepping into the gap as much as possible.” Read more
“PSP has not expressed any plans to assist ICE, and in fact the agency has adopted internal policies that would prohibit such an agreement,” Salisbury said. “Policies don’t carry the force of law, however, and they can change over time. With so much at stake, it’s important for us to codify the existing policy, so troopers can focus on their responsibilities to our communities and precious state resources are not diverted to the federal government.” Read more
“We know data centers will continue being built in Pennsylvania, so we gathered numerous voices to hear about the benefits, concerns, questions and economic incentives,” said state Rep. Emily Kinkead, who co-hosted the event and represents portions of Allegheny County. “Data centers create jobs and economic benefits, but we also heard from energy providers, organized labor, conservationists and the Farm Bureau about the need to be aware of specific issues.” Read more
“We heard directly from stakeholders on the benefit and demand for the Waterfront Tax Credit,” said state Rep. Emily Kinkead, who co-hosted the event and has sponsored legislation to expand waterfront development tax credits. “Right now, the demand for this program has outpaced its availability, and stakeholders detailed how its expansion could help Pennsylvania be a national leader when it comes to delivering economic development along our waterfront properties.” Read more
BRADDOCK, Aug. 20 – Just two hours and 15 minutes before it was scheduled to appear before Allegheny County Council’s storm response committee, power company Duquesne Light canceled its appearance, state Rep. Abigail Salisbury announced. Salisbury, who serves on the Special Committee on Emergency Preparedness and After-Action Review, said the utility’s canceled appearance — its second failure to attend a storm response meeting — was deeply disappointing. “We are working to develop a stronger, more effective storm response policy that will better protect and assist residents before and after the next storm,” Salisbury said. “That effort requires input from all the key players — from local and state storm officials to the public to our power providers. I’m deeply disappointed by Duquesne Light’s last-minute notice that it would not appear today.” The Special Committee on Emergency Preparedness and After-Action Review was formed to investigate the response to the April 29 storm that left about 400,000 residents without power. Read more
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