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Venkat: $300,000 in grants going to local first responders

(Mar 23, 2026)

McCANDLESS, March 23 – Two McCandless-based first responder organizations will receive a total of $300,000 in grant funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development for equipment purchases due to the advocacy of state Rep. Arvind Venkat, D-Allegheny. The grants awarded include $235,000 to the McCandless-Franklin Park Ambulance Authority for the purchase of six Lucas CPR devices and a new heart monitor, and $65,000 to the Peebles Volunteer Fire Department for necessary equipment purchases. “As an ER doctor and legislator, I know how critical our first responders are to the well-being of our community,” said Venkat. “I am proud to prioritize our EMS professionals and firefighters who do so much for all of us and ensure they get the support they need.” Venkat said he advocated at the state level for these organizations to bring the grants to fruition. Read more

 

Legislation to reform short-term rentals introduced in state House

(Mar 19, 2026)

HARRISBURG, March 19 -- State Reps. Lindsay Powell, Jennifer M. O’Mara and Mary Jo Daley today introduced legislation to establish a statewide regulatory framework for short-term rentals across Pennsylvania. The legislation, H.B. 2303 , is based on recommendations from a nonpartisan, independent study conducted by the Joint State Government Commission, which was directed by a 2024 House Resolution sponsored by Powell and O’Mara. The bill aims to create consistent, baseline standards for short-term rental properties while preserving flexibility for local communities. “On New Year’s Eve, a member of our community was seriously injured in a violent incident at a short-term rental in my district. This was the second such event in the same neighborhood in recent years – the prior taking the lives of two teenagers,” said Powell , D-Allegheny. “That is why, two years ago, Rep. O’Mara and I led passage of a resolution directing the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a comprehensive study of the short-term rental industry and develop recommendations for a statewide framework. “Today, we are proud to introduce legislation that turns those recommendations into action. This bill strikes a necessary balance of protecting public safety, supporting responsible operators, and ensuring transparency for local officials and law enforcement. As short-term rentals continue to grow across Pennsylvania, we have a Read more

 

Frankel highlights impact of “It’s On Us” grants to local universities

(Mar 17, 2026)

“These investments reflect the vision we put into place several years ago — that preventing sexual violence and supporting survivors must be a sustained, statewide priority,” said state Rep. Dan Frankel, D-Allegheny. “I was proud to help establish this program, and it’s delivering real resources to students and campuses right here in our community.” Read more

 

Good Samaritan Protections; Bills for Equal Rights Advance; Budget Hearings Wrap Up; and More

(Mar 16, 2026)

Read my email update from March 13, 2026 Read more

 

Frankel announces $1.3 million in funding to safeguard local organizations

(Mar 12, 2026)

“The institutions that bring neighbors together—places of worship, community centers and service organizations—should never have to choose between their mission and basic security,” state Rep. Dan Frankel said. “It’s in all of our interests to keep these locations protected.” Read more

 

Goughnour sponsors bill to keep more law enforcement officers on the job through binding arbitration

(Mar 12, 2026)

State Rep. Dan Goughnour, D-Allegheny, today announced that he has introduced bipartisan legislation that would help keep law enforcement officers on the job by allowing more officers to access binding arbitration Read more

 

Venkat and Powell to introduce legislation to create exemption for state ID renewal fees

(Mar 09, 2026)

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

 

Grant Memo: School Bus Safety, Recreation Facilities, Recycling, and Additional Grant Opportunities

(Mar 05, 2026)

New state grant programs accepting applications Read more

 

Budget Hearings Begin; Minimum Wage Listening Session; Disability & Mental Health Summit; and more

(Mar 02, 2026)

Read my email update from February 28, 2026 Read more

 

Kinkead announces over $239,000 for local fire and EMS companies

(Feb 19, 2026)

State grant funding approved for first responders Read more

 

Grant Memo: Transportation, Parks, Pedestrian Safety, School Mental Health, and Additional Grant Opportunities

(Feb 10, 2026)

New State Grant Programs Accepting Applications Read more

 

Markosek secures nearly $6M in state funding for CCAC Boyce Campus

(Feb 05, 2026)

"These investments will provide students at the Boyce Campus with access to updated labs and safe, well-maintained buildings," said state Rep. Markosek. "These improvements will directly enhance their learning experience and allow the campus to continue delivering a quality education.” Read more

 

House passes Davidson, Kinkead bill to strengthen Protection from Abuse Orders

(Feb 05, 2026)

Legislation increasing accountability for PFA violations advances to Senate Read more

 

PA House members call on Senate to stop obstructing much needed cannabis legalization

(Feb 04, 2026)

“Currently, we have products flooding our communities that are insufficiently regulated, both in their content and their packaging, and there’s nothing we can do about it,” state Rep. Dan Frankel said. “Once the Senate sends us a bill, we can negotiate a regulatory framework that puts Pennsylvania back in the driver’s seat.” Read more

 

Steele welcomes governor's support for restricting cell phones in schools

(Feb 03, 2026)

State Rep. Mandy Steele, D-Allegheny, today expressed strong support for Gov. Josh Shapiro’s renewed backing of restrictions on cell phone use in Pennsylvania schools, highlighted in his annual budget address. Read more

 

Frankel Applauds Governor Shapiro’s Budget for Investing in Workers, Public Health and Pennsylvania’s Future

(Feb 03, 2026)

“Gov. Shapiro is listening to the people of Pennsylvania, who have watched state after state move toward a living wage for workers and end the failed policy of cannabis prohibition,” said state Rep. Dan Frankel, whose legalization legislation with state Rep. Rick Krajewski passed last year. “Hopefully, my colleagues on the Senate side were listening.” Read more

 

Salisbury bill would help protect tree canopy for communities

(Feb 02, 2026)

HARRISBURG, Feb. 3 – Legislation newly introduced by state Rep. Abigail Salisbury would help preserve the tree canopy in Pennsylvania communities by requiring utility companies to plant a new tree for each one they cut down. Salisbury, D-Allegheny, said she introduced H.B. 2161 after residents and environmental advocates in her district expressed growing concerns that trees were being unnecessarily removed, rather than simply pruned or trimmed. “Preserving the tree canopy is critical for urban environments – not just because trees beautify the landscape, but because they provide so many other benefits, from reducing air pollution and stormwater runoff to providing cooling shade and reducing energy costs, to raising property values and increasing pedestrian traffic for local businesses. “Residents recognize the need for utilities to trim and prune trees – and sometimes even remove them – to ensure vegetation does not interfere with power lines. But it’s critical to ensure that those management efforts are done with an eye toward what is best for residents and the environment. My bill would do that by requiring a utility that removes a tree to plant a new one, within two years, in a location of the municipality’s choice.” Salisbury said her bill would align tree removal by electric utilities with existing regulations that require utilities to repair damage Read more

 

Matzie: More than $90,000 awarded to improve food storage, reduce waste by food banks serving Beaver County

(Jan 30, 2026)

AMBRIDGE, Jan. 30 – More than $90,000 in new grant funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Proection will help food banks serving Beaver County safely store and transport food while reducing food waste, state Rep. Rob Matzie announced today. Matzie, who is chairman of the House Majority Caucus, said the grants – which include $50,000 to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank and more than $40,200 to Families Matter Food Pantry – will fund a range of equipment and resources to help the food banks overcome one of their greatest operational challenges. “Preventing food waste is a major challenge for our local food banks and pantries, but we can help them deal with the problem by ensuring that they have the infrastructure needed to safely store and transport perishable supplies,” Matzie said. “The new grants will help do that by funding refrigeration equipment, vehicles and other resources to ensure more food reaches families in need and fewer supplies end up going to waste.” Matzie said that in addition to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, eight other food banks and pantries in Allegheny County secured more than $250,000 in grant funding. Food Recovery Infrastructure Grants are awarded to reimburse the cost of equipment like refrigerators, freezers, refrigerated and non-refrigerated vehicles, stoves and microwaves to store, transport or prepare the recovered Read more

 

Kinkead celebrates $2.5 million for local infrastructure

(Jan 22, 2026)

State grants fund road improvements, sewer upgrades Read more

 

Salisbury: $10 million secured to replace lead water service lines for District 34 residents

(Jan 21, 2026)

BRADDOCK, Jan. 21 – New funding of $10 million will bring safer drinking water for District 34 residents whose homes are served by lead water lines, state Rep. Abigail Salisbury announced today. Salisbury said the funding from the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority – which includes nearly $3.9 million in grant funding – will support Phase 4 of a project by Wilkinsburg-Penn Joint Water Authority to replace approximately 1,000 residential lead service lines with copper lines. “Residents have a right to expect that the tap water flowing into their homes is safe, but the existence of lead service lines continues to pose a threat in many communities,” Salisbury said. “The new funding will allow Wilkinsburg-Penn Joint Water Authority to replace approximately 1,000 lead lines with copper ones, to bring more households in our district safer water and more residents the peace of mind they deserve.” Salsbury said the funding to the Wilkinsburg-Penn Joint Water Authority includes a low-interest, 30-year loan of $6.13 million and nonrepayable grant funding of nearly $3.87 million. The project will replace approximately 1,000 residential lead service lines with ¾-inch copper water service lines in Wilkinsburg, Braddock, Braddock Hills, Chalfant, Churchill, East Pittsburgh, Edgewood, East McKeesport, Forest Hills, North Braddock, Rankin, Pitcairn, Swissvale, Trafford, Turtle Creek and Read more

 

Venkat: $300,000 in grants going to local first responders
Mar 23, 2026

Legislation to reform short-term rentals introduced in state House
Mar 19, 2026

Frankel highlights impact of “It’s On Us” grants to local universities
Mar 17, 2026

Good Samaritan Protections; Bills for Equal Rights Advance; Budget Hearings Wrap Up; and More
Mar 16, 2026

Frankel announces $1.3 million in funding to safeguard local organizations
Mar 12, 2026

Goughnour sponsors bill to keep more law enforcement officers on the job through binding arbitration
Mar 12, 2026

Venkat and Powell to introduce legislation to create exemption for state ID renewal fees
Mar 09, 2026

Grant Memo: School Bus Safety, Recreation Facilities, Recycling, and Additional Grant Opportunities
Mar 05, 2026

Budget Hearings Begin; Minimum Wage Listening Session; Disability & Mental Health Summit; and more
Mar 02, 2026

Kinkead announces over $239,000 for local fire and EMS companies
Feb 19, 2026

Grant Memo: Transportation, Parks, Pedestrian Safety, School Mental Health, and Additional Grant Opportunities
Feb 10, 2026

Markosek secures nearly $6M in state funding for CCAC Boyce Campus
Feb 05, 2026

House passes Davidson, Kinkead bill to strengthen Protection from Abuse Orders
Feb 05, 2026

PA House members call on Senate to stop obstructing much needed cannabis legalization
Feb 04, 2026

Steele welcomes governor's support for restricting cell phones in schools
Feb 03, 2026

Frankel Applauds Governor Shapiro’s Budget for Investing in Workers, Public Health and Pennsylvania’s Future
Feb 03, 2026

Salisbury bill would help protect tree canopy for communities
Feb 02, 2026

Matzie: More than $90,000 awarded to improve food storage, reduce waste by food banks serving Beaver County
Jan 30, 2026

Kinkead celebrates $2.5 million for local infrastructure
Jan 22, 2026

Salisbury: $10 million secured to replace lead water service lines for District 34 residents
Jan 21, 2026