Dear Neighbor, This week the Pennsylvania legislature began its work on passing the 2025-2026 state budget. I will keep you updated on progress on social media and in my weekly newsletters. Also in this e-newsletter: ? Delivering for You in Harrisburg: Bills Passed This Week in the House ? Low-Income Taxpayer Clinics ? Fall 2025 PA House Legislative Fellowship Program ? State Grants Now Accepting Applications In the State Capitol My bipartisan bill for food allergy training and medication in daycare facilities heads to the House floor for a vote Read more
Grant Memo: June 4 Read more
HARRISBURG, June 4 – The House Children and Youth Committee today unanimously approved bipartisan legislation to help childcare facilities better manage food allergies (H.B. 928) and sent it to the full House for further consideration. Co-prime sponsored by state Reps. Bridget Kosierowski, D-Lackawanna, and Kristin Marcell, R-Bucks, the legislation would mandate food allergy and anaphylaxis training for childcare staff, emergency action planning, and access to medication like epinephrine. “As a nurse, I know how precious time is when someone is suffering an allergic reaction and how critical thorough training and available medication are at those key moments,” Kosierowski said. “This bill will provide critical training and medication so that day care workers can immediately identify the signs of an allergic reaction and provide life-saving medication like epinephrine. “As more and more hospitals are closing, the day care will have to replace the emergency room as the site where life-saving care is provided. This legislation will save lives.” Known as Elijah’s Law, the bill is named after 3-year-old Elijah Silvera who died from an allergic reaction to a dairy product he ingested at his day care. Following his son’s death, Thomas Silvera has advocated for the passage of Elijah’s Law that would require the education and provision of life-saving medicine to childcare workers and Read more
grant memo May 22 Read more
Dear Neighbor, Coffee Event on Friday! I hope to see you Friday morning at my next coffee event at Zummo’s where we can get to know each other over a delicious cup of Joe! Happy Memorial Day Read more
HARRISBURG, May 21 – State Rep. Bridget Kosierowski, D-Lackawanna, today announced that more than $1.2 million in state grants have been awarded in her legislative district to be used for economic and community development. “I worked very hard with Senator Marty Flynn and my fellow state representatives to bring these dollars to our communities,” Kosierowski said. “This state funding demonstrates a commitment to supporting and enhancing the quality of life here -- from providing funding for equipment for a cultural festival to restoring a cultural center’s floor to purchasing necessary equipment for our local police forces. Thanks to this funding, life here will continue to be vibrant and safe.” The grants awarded include: $49,140 Clarks Green Municipal Building Emergency Generator Project To purchase and install an emergency generator at the municipal building. $66,211 Clarks Summit New Patrol Vehicle To purchase a new vehicle for the police department. $80,000 Dickson City Commercial Enforcement Vehicle To purchase a vehicle for the police department. $42,393 Ballet Theater of Scranton Equipment Project To purchase new equipment for theatre presentations. $120,000 South Abington Griffin Pond Animal Shelter ERU Replacement For the purchase and installation of a new HVAC system for the animal shelter. $51,143 Indo American Community of Scranton Equipment Project To Read more
Agricultural, Environmental, Public Safety, Redevelopment, Transportation, and Additional Grant Opportunities Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus May 7, 2025 | 3:14 PM NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Department of Community and Economic Development: Sports Marketing and Tourism Grant Who May Apply: A municipality, a local authority, a nonprofit organization, or a legal entity that meets all of the following criteria: • the applicant participates or plans to participate in a competitive selection process; • the site selection process is conducted by a Site Selection Organization not located in this Commonwealth; • The applicant is seeking to secure a single year or multiyear commitment from a site selection organization to conduct high quality, amateur and professional sporting or esports events at one or more locations in this Commonwealth. Use: To attract high-quality, amateur, and professional sporting and e-sports events to this Commonwealth with the goal of advancing and promoting year-round tourism, economic impact, and quality of life through sport. Application Deadline: June 6, 2025 More information: DCED Website Historical & Museum Commission: Historical and Archival Records Care Grant Who May Apply: Non-profit organizations that have been incorporated for at least two years. Use: To enhance the preservation and accessibility of valuable historical records across the Commonwealth Funds: Grants will be awarded up to Read more
Kosierowski, D-Lackawanna, said: “For nearly 30 years, I have served the people of our commonwealth as a Registered Nurse, where I worked in areas from bedside to surgery procedures. During that time, I encountered many families who experienced devastating health care issues that too often led to medical bills beyond their means – sometimes exceeding a million dollars. Now, as a state legislator, I see these tragic issues hitting even more families, leaving them to declare bankruptcy or sell their homes to satisfy growing medical costs. This legislation would offer the needed help to low-income Pennsylvanians in an equitable way. I’m very glad to see my colleagues support this necessary and compassionate legislation.” Read more
HARRISBURG, May 13 – In a move to help fight medical debt, the Pennsylvania House today passed bipartisan legislation that would ensure patients are better informed about hospital-based financial assistance programs and how to access them, announced the bill’s co-prime sponsor, state Rep. Arvind Venkat, D-Allegheny. House Bill 79 , which Venkat introduced with state Reps. Nate Davidson, Tarik Khan, Bridget M. Kosierowski, Andrew Kuzma, Jim Rigby and Tim Twardzik, would mandate the development of standardized, plain-language hospital financial aid forms, which would be shared with patients on intake and discharge, displayed on billing paperwork and posted publicly on hospital and state health websites. “Hospital-based financial aid can help patients avoid life-altering medical debt, yet many patients are unaware that these programs even exist or how to access them,” said Venkat, an emergency physician and legislator who sits on the House Health Committee. “Our legislation would make sure patients receive this information in a standardized, easily understandable format so they can reap the benefits of these programs. Our bill would also require hospitals to suspend billing pending a decision on the patient’s application. Making the system more accessible and user-friendly for patients will help prevent all Pennsylvanians from accumulating medical debt.” “As a nurse practitioner, I’ve seen how crushing medical Read more
My office has moved! Read more
Legislation addressing workplace violence in the health care sector passed the Pennsylvania House of Representatives today, announced the bill co-sponsors state Reps. Leanne Krueger and Bridget Kosierowski. Read more
NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Department of Environmental Protection: Watershed Planning and Restoration Grant Who May Apply: Incorporated watershed associations, counties or municipalities, county conservation districts, council of governments or other authorized organizations including nonprofit organizations, educational institutions and municipal authorities. Use: Examples of eligible projects include existing WIP revision or updates and design and construction of BMPs, including riparian forest buffers, streambank fencing, agricultural erosion and sediment control and nutrient and manure management practices; animal waste storage systems, animal concentration area/animal heavy use area protection and barnyard runoff controls; design and construction of stormwater control measures; AMD treatment systems and other projects that will reduce nonpoint source pollution in watersheds where streams are impaired. Funds: Funds are provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and authorized through Section 319(h) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Application Deadline: June 20, 2025 More information: DEP Website Department of Environmental Protection: Growing Greener Plus Grant Who May Apply: Counties Use: To update a county’s Act 167 plan. Funds: Funding was included in the Fiscal Year 2024-25 state budget and grants will range from $40,000 to $60,000 depending on the county’s Read more
State Reps. Bridget M. Kosierowski and Kyle T. Donahue are pleased to announce that $1.93 million in Main Street Matters funding was awarded by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development for projects in Lackawanna County. Read more
"The goal of my bill is to reduce undue anxiety while ensuring patients have control over their own health care information,” said Kosierowski. Read more
HARRISBURG, April 2 – State Reps. Arvind Venkat, Melissa Cerrato, Jose Giral, Bridget M. Kosierowski, Kristin Marcell, Natalie Mihalek, Jeremy Shaffer and Ryan Warner have introduced two bipartisan bills that would ensure all Food and Drug Administration-approved formulations of epinephrine – used to treat serious allergic reactions and anaphylaxis – can be administered in Pennsylvania schools and other settings as currently codified in state law. The legislative package (H.B.s 1043 and 1044 ) would replace “epinephrine auto-injector” with “epinephrine delivery system” in current statutes related to the use of epinephrine under state law. In August 2024, the FDA approved a nasal formulation of epinephrine for treatment of serious allergic reactions and anaphylaxis, necessitating an update of current state law. “A quick and decisive response often means the difference between life and death for patients suffering from an allergic reaction, and epinephrine is the definitive treatment for this serious or even life-threatening condition. By making a simple change in statutory terminology, other FDA-approved formulations of epinephrine will be recognized under Pennsylvania law and ensure that we can rapidly treat serious allergic reactions or anaphylaxis in schools and other settings across the Commonwealth,” Venkat, D-Allegheny, said. “I’m so grateful to all my legislative partners for their collaboration Read more
Here are the latest grant opportunities that are open for applications. Read more
HARRISBURG, March 24 – State Reps. Arvind Venkat, Paul Friel, Bridget M. Kosierowski and Tom Mehaffie have introduced a bipartisan bill that would hold health insurance companies accountable if they systematically fail to reimburse Pennsylvanians receiving medically necessary care. The legislation ( H.B. 966 ) would require health insurers to issue a public report on the frequency of rejected claims that are overturned on appeal and pay escalating fines if more than 50% of their claim denials are overturned on appeal. “A denial rate of over 50% suggests a disturbing pattern of systematically denying coverage for medically necessary care. Not only that, these entities are assuming Commonwealth residents will be deterred by the mountain of red tape necessary to file an appeal,” Venkat, D-Allegheny, said. “Collaborating with bipartisan colleagues on this legislation means more than holding insurers accountable. As an emergency physician, it’s my duty to help patients across the state receive coverage for which they have already paid to maintain and improve their health and well-being.” “An increasing number of people are aware that they can challenge denied health care claims through their insurer and, if necessary, the Insurance Department. However, the appeals process can be lengthy and complex, leading many to forgo it due to the administrative burden involved,” Friel, D-Chester, added. “The potential for Read more
Learn more about the multiple grant programs that are currently open for applications. Read more
The free event -- “Hands Off Our Health Care: A Town Hall on Medicare & Medicaid Cuts” – will take place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, March 10 at Peoples Security Bank Theater at Lackawanna College, 501 Vine St., Scranton 18509. Read more
Please use the form below to sign up for email updates. By completing this form you are acknowledging your request to receive periodic email updates.
By completing this form, you are verifying your request to opt in for email updates...
Thank you. Your email signup has been sent. You should start getting emails within 24 hours.
Please use the form below to email Rep. Bridget M. Kosierowski.
Thank you. Your feedback has been sent.
277 Scranton Carbondale HwyScranton, PA 18508-1111
P*: (570) 562-2350
F*: (570) 562-2353
527 E Main CapitolPO Box 202114Harrisburg, PA 17120-2114
P*: (717) 783-4874
F*: (717) 772-2008