BRADDOCK, March 26 – Major transportation improvements are coming to Wilkinsburg and Swissvale, thanks to nearly $1.63 million in new grant funding from the Commonwealth Financing Authority, state Rep. Abigail Salisbury announced today. Salisbury, D-Allegheny, said three separate grants awarded under the CFA’s Multimodal Transportation Fund will support improvements for motorists, pedestrians and cyclists in both boroughs. “Safe, hassle-free transportation is a big quality-of-life issue and one that requires smart investments – whether they’re to upgrade existing roads and sidewalks or construct new routes that make it easier for folks to get around the community. The new funding will allow us to move forward on projects that will improve access and road quality for Wilkinsburg residents and add streetscaping to a busy route in Swissvale. I want to thank CFA and our local partners who helped us bring this funding home.” Salisbury said the funding includes: $643,268 to Wilkinsburg Borough to reconstruct Laketon Road and Graham Boulevard. $586,750 to Swissvale Borough for streetscape improvements along Monongahela Avenue. $397,310 to Action Housing Inc. to construct pedestrian and transportation improvements around Penn Lincoln Apartments in Wilkinsburg. The MTF provides grants to encourage economic development and ensure that a safe and reliable system of transportation is available for Read more
The School Counseling Services Act (H.B. 1665) would require schools to implement comprehensive counseling services that provide support to all students. It would also direct school counselors to spend at least 80% of their time providing direct and indirect services to students. Read more
Bill would enhance rescue capabilities in western PA Read more
PITTSBURGH, March 20 – State Rep. Aerion A. Abney, D-Allegheny, said he is thrilled that the NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament is making its seventh appearance in the Steel City and will be a strong stimulus to the local economy. The 19th Legislative District’s PPG Paints Arena will host first and second round March Madness action for the fifth time from March 21 to March 23 . The influx of foot traffic and subsequent patronage at the wide array of area businesses is a prospect he said he looks forward to seeing come to fruition. “I’m so proud to represent such diverse communities in Pittsburgh and look forward to seeing visitors from all corners of the country return or experience all the city has to offer for the first time,” Abney said. “Not only will they have lots of fun and make new memories, their collective stay will provide a vital boost to the economic cycle that keeps the city of Three Rivers moving onward and upward.” Not only that, Duquesne University, also in the district Abney represents, has punched their tournament ticket for the first time in nearly 50 years. They play Brigham Young University in the first round. Read more
HARRISBURG, March 20 – State Reps. Danielle Friel Otten and Aerion Abney have begun circulating House legislative sponsorship memos advancing the Shapiro administration’s bold new energy plan for Pennsylvania, which was announced last week . The legislators each introduced a core component of Gov. Josh Shapiro’s initiative: the Pennsylvania Reliable Energy Sustainability Standard (PRESS) and Pennsylvania Climate Emission Reduction (PACER) Program . PRESS would continue the successful elements of Pennsylvania’s forward thinking but outdated Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards while making them more inclusive -- adding nuclear power and next-generation technologies such as fusion, as well as incentivizing lower emissions for gas-fired power plants. It would require Pennsylvania to get 50% of its electricity from a diverse range of energy resources by 2035, including 35% from solar, wind, small modular reactors, and fusion; 10% from sources like large hydropower and battery storage; and 5% from natural gas and other alternative fuels. “Sustainable standards are a conversation that’s been underway since my first year in the legislature, and I’m extremely glad that a serious discussion has come to the forefront,” said Otten, D-Chester . “The collective attention on this issue is promising. As a lead sponsor on the governor’s proposed plan in the House, I feel well positioned to assure that Read more
Constituents may contact their local police department to report any crimes, and Steele’s office at 724-826-5151 to address any legislative issues relating to community safety. Read more
Pennsylvania will establish its own cap-and-trade program to reduce harmful emissions, lower consumers’ electric bills, and create clean energy jobs under legislation introduced today by state Senator Carolyn Comitta and state Rep. Aerion Abney. Read more
PITTSBURGH, March 19 – State Rep. Matthew R. Gergely, D-Allegheny, announced that a $916,680 federal grant has been awarded to West Mifflin Area School District . This Bipartisan Safer Communities Act Stronger Connections Grant will seek to curtail and prevent instances of bullying, hate and violence at an individual and systemic level. Funds can be utilized to address the overall health of students and staff, raise awareness for families and the community at large, and institute inclusive and/or equitable policies. “Having managed financial matters for a public school system, I know firsthand how beneficial these monies will be to ensuring a school environment that is conducive to not simply learning and teaching but to safety and personal well-being as well,” Gergely said. “Students and staff deserve to put all of their focus behind succeeding at their highest possible academic level and facilitating instruction that aids in such performance respectively.” More information about BSCA SCGs, including the full list of schools to receive these grants, and related funding can be found here . Safe school resources can also be found here . Read more
“Today, we took a massive stride toward restricting toxic chemicals, such as PAHs, that threaten our communities, including the health of our youth and our environment,” said Steele, D-Allegheny. “One of my own children suffered health issues, which our pediatrician attributed to coal tar sealant used on my driveway. With more sealants available that are safer, we should not permit the sale of sealants with chemicals toxic to the health of Pennsylvanians or the environment. We must remove sealants high in PAHs from the market.” Read more
Ensuring towns and cities are equipped to handle fire emergencies is vital, and this legislation would facilitate easier registration for non-profit status without any cost to fire departments," McAndrew said. Read more
State legislator accepts role at Smithsonian affiliate Read more
“With more than half a million hunters and approximately 53,000 farms in Pennsylvania, these bills will ensure we continue Pennsylvania’s hunting heritage, aid farmers, conserve our forests and enrich the commonwealth’s economy,” Steele said. “Hunters are instrumental to conserving the environment. Through these packages of bills, we may embrace our hunting heritage, as well as work with farmers, which represent one of Pennsylvania’s largest industries, while helping to nurture thriving forests.” Read more
PITTSBURGH, March 13 – State Rep. Aerion A. Abney, D-Allegheny, announced that a total of $415,000 in grants has been awarded to Pittsburgh Bureau of Police and the Carnegie Science Center . Pittsburgh Bureau of Police received a $315,000 Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency Law Enforcement Recruitment grant to fill their share of the 412 vacant policing positions across the Commonwealth. Carnegie Science Center was awarded a $100,000 Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Boating Facility grant to complete a feasibility study and produce design/engineering plans for a new boating facility and related infrastructure along the Three Rivers Heritage Trail . “Keeping Steel City streets safe starts with adequate staffing, so these dollars are a vital investment in the protection and well-being of neighbors young and old,” Abney said. “I also am proud to support the Carnegie Science Center’s initiative for residents and visitors alike to experience and explore the natural beauty of the Three Rivers by boat.” Since the PCCD started accepting applications for recruitment funding in October of last year, just over $2 million has been allocated to 51 law enforcement agencies statewide. Read more
NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Commonwealth Financing Authority: Public School Facility Improvement Grant Who May Apply: School entities, defined as a school district or an area career and technical school. Use: Facility improvement projects, including but not limited to roof repair/replacement, heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment, plumbing systems, window repair/replacement, health and safety upgrades, and accessibility projects. Funds: $100 million in total funding is available. Grant requests shall not exceed $5 million per eligible improvement project. School entities may submit more than one application, but no school entity shall receive more than 20% of the total funding available. Application Deadline: May 31, 2024 More information: CFA Website Commission on Crime and Delinquency: STOP Violence Against Women Grant Program Who May Apply: County governments and non-profit victim service agencies are eligible to apply. Faith-based organizations may be eligible to apply under certain circumstances. Use: Funds may be used to support cross-system, collaborative efforts to respond to victims of violence against women crimes. This includes, but is not limited to, personnel and benefit costs associated with specialized units in law enforcement or core direct victim services, supplies and operating expenses related to the STOP project, equipment necessary for implementation, and training or professional development. Funds: A total of $12 Read more
“With this legislation, we have the opportunity to address the maternal health care crisis, starting with one of the major causes of maternal morbidity and mortality: hypertension,” Mayes said. “By expanding Medicaid coverage of blood pressure monitors, pregnant or postpartum enrollees may detect high blood pressure and receive treatment before it’s too late. When left untreated, women’s risk of cardiovascular disease increases. This legislation will improve maternal health outcomes, Black maternal health, and women’s health care overall.” Read more
“This funding will lay the groundwork for a riverfront park that will make fishing and boating more accessible for our neighbors in Cheswick and Tarentum, who currently must rely on the boat launch at Bull Creek Run,” Steele said. “As an advocate for outdoor recreation and conservation, I’m thankful to the commission for working with me to secure this funding, which will create more opportunities for residents and tourists to enjoy our beautiful Allegheny River.” Read more
“Speaker McClinton and I launched the Pennsylvania CROWN Act Coalition, inspired by the national CROWN Act Coalition, to stand together to create a world that respects natural hair and enact a statewide law to ban discrimination of how our hair naturally grows out of our head,” Mayes said. “When people face hair discrimination in the workplace like here in Pittsburgh in the case of Asani Porch who has a lawsuit against Aramark for hair discrimination, in school settings like Darryl George in Texas and public accommodations, it negatively affects their health. We must pass the CROWN Act to ensure that natural hair, hair styles and hair texture are respected in our commonwealth.” Read more
The Allegheny County Board of Health is addressing the relationship between landlords and tenants. Read more
HARRISBURG, March 8 – With more Pennsylvania drivers turning to electric vehicles, state Rep. Rob Matzie said the House Consumer Protection, Technology and Utilities Committee met Wednesday for an informational hearing on the state’s EV infrastructure. Matzie, who is majority chairman, said the committee heard testimony from stakeholders and discussed key issues such as the role public utilities will play, ratepayer protections, public demand and expectations for EV charging and other issues that will guide development of policy and legislation. “Electric vehicle infrastructure is a hot topic, with federal money pouring in to help expand that infrastructure,” Matzie said. “Today, we heard from stakeholders regarding what kind of legislative guidance is needed and how things are progressing. “We know utilities must have long-term plans in place to ensure that the needed infrastructure is ready, and I anticipate we’ll be having more conversations about those plans. Right now, we want to make sure we’re having conversations with all the stakeholders to make sure PA does it right.” Matzie added that Pennsylvania’s energy independence and ability to maintain a diverse energy portfolio will remain a central part of the dialogue. “I have said many times how important the grid is and how important it Read more
HARRISBURG, March 7 – The Pennsylvania House Consumer Protection, Technology and Utilities Committee heard testimony Tuesday about legislation that would facilitate the use of mechanical insulation by electric distribution companies, Majority Chairman Rob Matzie announced. Matzie said H.B. 491 clarifies that the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission may not disapprove an EDC’s required energy efficiency and conservation plan solely because it contains mechanical insulation. “Mechanical insulation is a key component when you’re talking about energy conservation,” Matzie said. “This is a fairly simple bill that would create an opportunity to expand the use of mechanical insulation, and we think we’re finally in a position to get it across the finish line.” At the hearing, Jim Cassidy, business manager for the Insulators Union Local No. 2, testified that mechanical insulation – which is used to insulate pipes, equipment, machinery and industrial processes – provides cost savings, prevents burns, inhibits mold growth that causes sick buildings and keeps equipment running longer. Act 129 of 2008 requires electric distribution companies to complete an energy efficiency and conservation plan that is approved by the PUC. Although the commission does not prohibit the use of mechanical insulation, the Read more
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