NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Commission on Crime and Delinquency: School Safety and Mental Health Grants Who May Apply: Eligible school entities as defined under 24 P.S. §13-1314.1-B of the PA Public School Code. Use: Funding may be used to assist schools with physical safety and/or behavioral health needs. Funds: $100 million is available to be distributed via a formula that stipulates school districts are to receive $100,000 base average and an additional amount based on their 22/23 Adjusted Average Daily Membership. Other eligible school entities are to receive $70,000. Application Deadline: September 26, 2024 More information: PCCD Website Commission on Crime and Delinquency: Targeted School Safety Grants for Nonpublic Schools Who May Apply: Nonpublic schools as defined under Section 924.3-A of the PA Public School Code, municipalities, law enforcement agencies, or approved vendors. Use: Funding may be used to assist schools with physical safety and/or behavioral health needs. Funds: A total of $19,665,000 in state school safety and security funds is being announced to support this initiative. Application Deadline: September 26, 2024 More information: PCCD Website PennDOT: Rail Freight Assistance Program/Rail Transportation Assistance Program Who May Apply: Railroad company, transportation organization, municipality, municipal authority, user Read more
NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Commission on Crime and Delinquency: Nonprofit Security Grant Fund Program Who May Apply : Applicant must be a nonprofit organization based in the Commonwealth designated as a 501(c)(3) and principally serve individuals, groups, or institutions that are included within a bias motivation category for single bias hate crime incidents identified by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in its Hate Crime Statistics Publication under the Uniform Crime Reporting program. Use : Eligible expenses include, but are not limited to, safety and security planning, purchase of safety and security equipment, purchase of security related technology (metal detectors, protective lighting, deadbolts, etc.), safety and security training, upgrades to existing structures that enhance safety and security, and more. Funds : $10 million has been appropriated by the General Assembly to the Nonprofit Security Grant Fund. Applicant requests must be between $5,000 and $150,000. Application Deadline : August 27, 2024 More information : PCCD Website Historical & Museum Commission: Cultural and Historical Support Grants Who May Apply: Museums and official county historical societies. Use: Funds are intended to strengthen the museum community and provide operating support to museums and historical societies. Funds: Nearly $2 million in funds are available. Application Deadline: August Read more
State Rep. Ed Neilson, majority chair of the House Transportation Committee, made a statement today regarding the historic win for Pennsylvania’s transportation sector: a $500 million federal grant as part of the Large Bridge Project grant program: “This historic funding will go towards replacing the I-83 South Bridge, which connects Harrisburg to the west shore of Cumberland County,” Neilson said. “It’s a vital route in central Pennsylvania that carries 125,000 vehicles over the Susquehanna River daily and is often used by truckers delivering goods throughout the commonwealth. “I’m thankful to Gov. Shapiro, PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll and the entire Biden administration for their help with securing the largest amount of federal funding Pennsylvania’s transportation sector has ever received; it will cover almost half the costs of the entire project. “It goes a long way to helping us invest in Pennsylvania’s vast network of roads and bridges. We can use the money saved with this funding to help maintain and repair other bridges that need major repairs throughout the commonwealth.” Neilson added that the I-83 bridge was built in 1960, and with wear and tear increasing throughout the years, the repairs have become too costly and frequent. The Large Bridge Project grant was awarded to Pennsylvania Transportation Department from the Federal Highway Administration’s Bridge Investment Program. Read more
Pennsylvania House Transportation Committee Majority Chair Ed Neilson made the following statement today regarding increases in the budget for transportation funding and mass-transit funding. “Today’s budget agreement includes a lot to celebrate as it relates to transportation, including an increase of $110 million for highway maintenance, an increase of $75 million for road and bridge maintenance, and an additional $50 million for road and bridge construction – these are real investments to deliver a smoother, safer commute for everyone. “I am proud of what the House Democratic majority has accomplished in this budget for transportation, but this is only the beginning. After years of underfunding transit, today’s budget agreement includes a funding increase of $80.5 million for transit while we continue to negotiate a long-term funding solution. “This is the first time in over a decade that we have successfully increased state funding for transit, and it never would have happened without our House Democratic majority. This is a down payment and a promise to keep working and negotiating so we can fully fund our transit agencies in all 67 counties so that our residents in urban, suburban and rural communities can continue to have affordable and accessible ways to get to work, school, medical appointments and wherever they need to go. “I look forward to working with my colleagues over the coming Read more
State Rep. Ed Neilson, D-Phila., chair of the PA House Transportation Committee, said he was happy to work on a bipartisan agreement for legislation (S.B. 656) passed by the state House today that would require electric vehicle owners to pay their fair share to help upkeep Pennsylvania’s massive network of roads and bridges. “Everyone who uses Pennsylvania roads should have to pay their part to help keep our roads safe and our bridges in top shape,” Neilson said. “I’m happy to implement a solution that is fair, equitable and accommodating for Pennsylvania’s electric vehicle owners.” Currently, electric vehicle owners are supposed to be paying the Alternative Fuel Tax on electricity. However, most owners do not do this because they are unaware that they must and because the process is too cumbersome, with owners having to self-report the tax to the Department of Revenue monthly based on how much electricity they use to charge their vehicles at home. Neilson said the bill would repeal the impractical Alternative Fuel Tax on electricity for residential charging and replace it with an annual fee of $200 in 2025, then $250 in 2026. After that it would be adjusted annually based on the Consumer Price Index (rounded to the nearest dollar). Owners would have the option of paying the fee in full or in monthly installments. Owners of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles would pay a reduced fee of $50 in 2025, then $63 in 2026. “We Read more
The House of Representatives passed legislation which would support many of the priorities set forth by state Rep. Ed Neilson, chair of the House Transportation Committee. House Bill 2301, an omnibus transportation bill, would raise the annual income cap for retirees to qualify for an $10 vehicle registration by approximately $10,000. Neilson said that moving forward, the cap would rise annually to keep pace with inflation. This cost-cutting move to aid retired people was proposed by state Rep. Bob Merski in H.B. 250 which the House passed in September. He added that the bill would waive title and registration fees on any one vehicle owned by a U.S. veteran who was injured or captured while serving. This language comes from Rep. Ciresi's H.B. 150 which the House passed in April. Neilson said the bill also retains language that would extend the distracted driving license plate program and it include license plates proposed by Rep. Jose Giral (Borinqueneers) and Rep. Nancy Guenst (Women Veterans). The bill now heads to Gov. Shapiro's desk for his signature to enact it into state law. Read more
Today, State Rep. Ed Neilson, chair of the PA House Transportation Committee, joined Gov. Josh Shapiro as he signed S.B. 37, or “Paul Miller’s Law.” The bill, named after a Pennsylvania man who was tragically struck and killed by a distracted driver, would allow law enforcement to issue a ticket when a driver uses their cell phone while driving. “Today is a step toward mitigating a major safety issue when driving,” Neilson said. “Distracted driving has replaced driving while intoxicated as the most significant cause of accidents in Pennsylvania; I’m proud to work with my colleagues and thankful to Governor Shapiro for ensuring the safety of everyone who travels on Pennsylvania roads.” I n 2023, there were more than 11,262 distracted-driving crashes in 2023, compared to 8,330 alcohol-related crashes, according to PennDOT. Read more
“Right now, it can take months for PennDOT to process junk titles, which leaves tow truck operators responsible for the non-working vehicle,” Neilson said. “Ensuring the reasonable processing and delivery of junk titles will greatly assist tow truck operators who don’t have the space or resources to store vehicles for an extended period of time.” Read more
NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency: 2024 County Jail-Based Vivitrol Program Who May Apply: Funding is available to all counties with a county jail seeking to establish or expand a jail-based substance use treatment program. Use: Implementation or expansion of a county jail-based Vivitrol program. Funds: A total of $7.175 million in Act 80 funds is available. Application Deadline: July 17, 2024 More information: PCCD Website Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency: Attorney & Judge Training – Children with Disabilities Who May Apply: Local governments, local and national nonprofit organizations, and institutions of higher education which demonstrate, in their application, an ability to collaborate with state and local partners to develop and deliver statewide training for attorneys and a commitment to the improvement of child abuse investigations in the Commonwealth. Use: Costs associated with the development and delivery of a trauma-focused, child-focused, training curriculum for attorneys and judges who participate in hearings involving child abuse victims in Pennsylvania who have verbal, cognitive, and/or physical disabilities. Funds: A total of $128,990 in federal Children’s Justice Act funds is available to support this initiative. PCCD expects to fund one grant with a budget not to exceed $128,990. Application Read more
Pa. state Rep. Ed Neilson, majority chair of the PA House Transportation Committee, tells KDKA Radio that lawmakers want to protect drivers and save lives. Banning the use of hand-held devices while driving will go a long way toward making the state's roadways safer. Read more
Pa. state Rep. Ed Neilson, majority chair of the House Transportation Committee, tells KDKA Radio about why it was so important to ban the use of hand-held devices while driving. Read more
State Rep. Ed Neilson, D-Phila., chair of the PA House Transportation Committee, today announced that legislation (S.B. 37) that would prohibit the use of hand-held devices while operating a motor vehicle in Pennsylvania has passed both chambers of the General Assembly and is now on its way to Gov. Josh Shapiro’s desk for signature to become state law. “The data shows that distracted driving is the cause for more crashes than driving under the influence now,” Neilson said. “In the past, we confronted DUIs with harsher penalties because we recognized the danger it caused.” “I’m happy we did the work to get this bill passed and treated it with the same amount of alarm,” Neilson continued. Under the legislation, the penalty is a summary offense: a $50 fine and no points on the driver’s license. The bill also promotes education efforts by requiring minors to learn about distracted driving and have at least one question on the driver’s exam be about distracted driving, Neilson explained. “Today, Pennsylvania joins 26 states, including all of our border states, in recognizing the dangers that come with distracted driving by passing legislation that would include not only deterrents but an opportunity to get educated about the dangers of distracted driving in Pennsylvania,” Neilson said. Neilson added that the bill is also known as Paul Miller’s Read more
Rep. Ed Neilson, D-Philadelphia, said it is a high priority issue for the committee and he is working with his Senate colleagues to arrive at a consensus on how to deal with this evolving area of electric vehicles to place a bill on Gov. Josh Shapiro’s desk. Read more
Legislation that would ban handheld electronic devices while driving is advancing in the General Assembly. Read more
In Pennsylvania, texting while driving is considered an offense, resulting in a $50 fine. However, the state lacks a comprehensive law prohibiting the use of cell phones and other electronic devices for purposes other than texting. This gap in the legislation has made enforcement challenging, as law enforcement officers cannot easily discern if a driver is texting or engaging in other distracting activities. Read more
"We must take a stronger action against distracted driving," said House Transportation Committee Chairman Ed Neilson, D-Philadelphia, according to a PennLive.com report. "Drivers need to put down the phone and keep their eyes on the road." Read more
House Transportation Committee Chairperson Ed Neilson (D-Philadelphia) noted that Paul Miller Jr.’s parents Eileen and Paul Sr. have pushed for the expanded distracted driving law for 14 years. Eileen Miller was in the House gallery for the vote Tuesday, Neilson said.“Right before coming to the floor, she said something to me that I’d like to share with you and it’s about distracted driving. It does not discriminate. The loved one lost could be yours,” Neilson said. Read more
The bill has to go to the State Senate before it potentially heads to Governor Josh Shapiro’s desk. It’s not clear what the timeline is for the State Senate to review the bill. Read more
NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Department of Agriculture: Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program Who May Apply: Agricultural producers or processors and nonprofits, for-profits, local government entities, and institutions such as schools, universities or hospitals that operate middle of the food chain activities or invest in equipment that will benefit middle of the supply chain activities. Use: Activities that expand capacity and infrastructure for the aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storing, transporting, wholesaling or distribution of targeted local and regional agricultural products Funds: Grants will be awarded to the extent that funds are available. Grant requests shall be between $10,000 and $100,000. Application Deadline: May 15, 2024 More information: PDA Website Department of Health: WalkWorks Grant Program Who May Apply: Municipalities located in either a PA Department of Health State Physical Activity and Nutrition (SPAN) priority county or in communities with an overall percentile rating above 60 in the PA Department of Environmental Protection’s PennEnviroScreen Tool. The 10 current SPAN counties include Clearfield, Erie, Fayette, Greene, Lawrence, Luzerne, Lycoming, Mercer, Northumberland, and Philadelphia. Use: Funds and structured pre-planning assistance will be available to a limited number of municipal and/or multi-municipal applicants to complete the steps necessary to prepare to apply in the future for funds Read more
The legislation, sponsored by the House Transportation Committee Chairman Ed Neilson, D-Philadelphia, would establish the annual fee starting at $125 next year and increasing by $25 a year through 2029 when it reaches $225. In 2030 and thereafter, the annual fee would be adjusted annually at the rate of inflation. 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. Ed Neilson.
Thank you. Your feedback has been sent.
16 Old Ashton RoadPhiladelphia, PA 19152-1661
P*: (215) 330-3714
F*: (215) 330-3717
Hours of Operation - Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Fridays are by appointment only
127 Irvis Office BuildingPO Box 202174Harrisburg, PA 17120-2174
P*: (717) 772-4032
F*: (717) 783-1579