Maternal Health Fair pulses with positive energy; voting to close loopholes in our gun laws; new student contest

Maternal Health Fair pulses with positive energy; voting to close loopholes in our gun laws; new student contest – and more!

Rep. La'Tasha D. Mayes October 10, 2025 | 4:32 PM

As I continue my work in the 24th Legislative District, know that my staff and I work for you. If you have any concerns, contact me at RepMayes@pahouse.net or call my office at 412.665.5502.

Healthy Vibes Abound at Maternal Health Fair

As co-chair of the PA Black Maternal Health Caucus, I was thrilled to host my first Maternal Health Fair, which connected pregnant and postpartum neighbors with important resources. I want to thank my community partners East Liberty Family Health Care Center, Global Links, First Steps and Beyond, Hello Baby and Wright Childcare solutions, who helped to make this event a great success!

A strong community turnout kept the event pulsing with energy, as participants enjoyed demonstrations, received free blood pressure monitors, and accessed important information for new moms, pregnant women, and birthing people. Special thanks to Dr. Sharnay Hearn Davis, founder of Sisters Lifting As We Climb network, for sharing her story of accessing maternal health and experiences with preeclampsia.

I want to thank all the wonderful community partners who showed up to share information, which was a key part of the fair’s success! Thank you to Healthy Start, EMBRACE Center, Hugh Lane Wellness, Maya Organization, PA WIC Program, Beverly’s Birthday, March of Dimes and every single organization who showed up for the moms and families of the 24th Legislative District.

I also want to thank my staff – Tianna, who led the coordination of the Maternal Health Fair as well as Ric, Hayat, and Gustavo. Another special shout out to my volunteers, which included The Links Pittsburgh, the Sororities of the National Panhellenic Council Pittsburgh, and National Center for Urban Solutions/Black Male Wellness Agency.

Please stay tuned for upcoming maternal health events happening in the 24th Legislative District and in our region. Learn more about my work leading the PA Black Maternal Health Caucus at www.pahouse.com/BMH and the PA MOMNIBUS – our legislative package of bills to end maternal mortality and morbidity for all moms and birthing people in our Commonwealth!

Sending a New Budget to the State Senate

Earlier this week, my House colleagues and I passed a bipartisan state budget bill and sent it to the Senate. The bill spends responsibly while delivering critically needed investments for our public schools and other essential programs – without adding any new taxes.

This is the THIRD time we have sent a proposed budget over to the Republican-led Senate for consideration. On each prior occasion, our proposals were met with inaction.

With cuts and shutdowns mounting at the federal level, it’s more important than ever for us to get a solid state budget plan in place. Senate Republicans need to come to the table, consider our budget, and stop keeping our communities, our students, our workers, and our most vulnerable residents waiting.

How We Voted in the House

I recently voted for — and the House passed — legislation that would:

Allow unemployment benefits for those out of work due to a strike.
Close loopholes in our laws by expanding background checks for long gun purchases.
Protect consumers during the homebuying process by requiring disclosure of flood-related risks.
Support student health by mandating an inventory of school facilities to assess specific building conditions needing repairs.
Require companies that collect personal information electronically to take steps to protect that data from breaches.
Give consumers rights regarding how their personal data is used or sold and require businesses to protect consumer privacy and limit data collection.

We also voted to adopt a resolution introduced by my House colleague Rep. Gina H. Curry to raise awareness about the infant mortality crisis.

House Resolution 298 recognizes September 2025 as “Infant Mortality Awareness Month” in PA, a tribute to the six out of every 1,000 Pennsylvania-born babies who died before their first birthday in 2023.

You can read more about how we voted in the House by visiting this page.

Medicare Open Enrollment Starts October 15 – State Counselors Can Advise You

Seniors: Medicare Open Enrollment begins October 15, and you can get free one-on-one counseling through Pennsylvania’s Medicare Education & Decision Insight program (PA MEDI). Counselors can answer questions about different plans and help you choose the one that best fits your needs.

Call the PA MEDI helpline between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday at 1-800-783-7067, or visit this page to learn more.

A Student Contest for an Important Cause

The Office of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services and Prevent Suicide PA are hosting a contest for high school students to create public service announcements to spread awareness about suicide prevention. Groups can create either an 18” x 24” poster or a 30-60 second video.

Winning groups will receive $500 with an additional $500 reward for their school to improve student wellness and mental health initiatives. Visit this page to learn more.

Closed Monday for Indigenous Peoples' Day

Please be aware that our office will be closed on Monday, October 13, in honor of Indigenous Peoples’ Day. We will reopen for regular business hours on Tuesday, October 14 at 9 a.m.

Please remember that our talented staff can assist with a wide range of state-related matters, from applying for a Property Tax/Rent Rebate or obtaining a PRT Senior ConnectCard to answering unemployment questions or issues involving PennDOT or any state agency. Contact us, call my office at 412.665.5502, or stop by to see how we can help!