POTTSTOWN, June 12 – State Rep. Paul Friel today announced that East Coventry Township has been awarded a $97,399 Keystone Historic Preservation Grant through the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, funding that will help preserve local historic resources and strengthen the community's connection to its heritage. The grant is part of more than $2.2 million awarded statewide through the Keystone Historic Preservation Grant Program, which supports projects that identify, preserve, protect and promote Pennsylvania's historic and archaeological resources. "I was proud to support this investment because preserving our history is an investment in our future," said Friel, D-Chester. "East Coventry Township is home to important historic assets that help tell the story of our community and our commonwealth. This funding will help ensure those stories are preserved for future generations, enhancing our way of life and community pride." The Keystone Historic Preservation Grant Program provides matching funds for planning and construction projects that preserve historic resources and support local revitalization efforts. Grants are awarded through a competitive application process and require a 50% local match. The funding comes in time to celebrate America's 250th anniversary in 2026. Historic preservation projects across the commonwealth are helping communities showcase Pennsylvania's central Read more

LANCASTER, June 11 – Building on the success of her May event promoting Red Rose Authority’s services, state Rep. Nikki Rivera, D-Lancaster, will lead a second “Bus it to Market” trip on Saturday, June 27, to Central Market in Lancaster to raise awareness of the region’s affordable bus transportation system. “Residents on last month’s ‘Bus it to Market’ trip told me how much they enjoyed the ease and affordability of RRTA’s bus ride to Central Market,” Rivera said. “I’m leading a second ride so that more of our residents can experience for themselves how central Lancaster City’s eclectic mix of one-of-a-kind shops and creative restaurants is just a short RRTA bus ride away. And knowledge of how to use our public transportation can lead to new job opportunities.” Rivera said that she hopes her Bus It to Market excursions will show residents that RRTA buses are a fast, reliable, and inexpensive way to get to Lancaster and other places in the region. According to Rivera, Lancaster has unhealthy levels of air pollution. She cited the American Lung Association’s 2025 “State of the Air” report, which listed the Lancaster metro area as rejoining the worst 25 cities in the U.S., at 22nd most polluted in the nation and second worst in the Mid-Atlantic for daily particle pollution. The Lancaster area’s year-round pollution went from bad to worse, from 57th to Read more

HARRISBURG, June 10 – In a clear demonstration of bipartisan support for the commonwealth’s first responders, the House Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Committee today overwhelmingly approved state Rep. Joe Ciresi’s legislation to establish a statewide program providing free annual cancer screenings for firefighters. House Bill 2394 would ensure that firefighters can access annual cancer screening examinations at no cost when those services are not fully covered by their health insurance. The program would apply to both career and volunteer firefighters across the Commonwealth. According to Ciresi, firefighters’ repeated job-related exposure to cancer-causing chemicals has led the disease to become one of the leading causes of line-of-duty deaths. Studies by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health found that firefighters face a 9% increase in cancer diagnoses, and a 14% increase in cancer-related deaths, compared to the general population in the U.S. “Today’s vote shouts out loud and clear to our firefighters that we recognize the health risk of occupational cancer they uniquely face and that we have their backs,” said Ciresi, D-Montgomery. “Currently, many of our firefighters must choose between their health and their families’ finances. That is a moral outrage. My legislation would improve our firefighters’ health outcomes—and shield them from crushing health care Read more

The state House today approved on a bipartisan vote a bill sponsored by state Rep. Jennifer O’Mara, D-Delaware, to protect prospective parents’ rights to fertility treatments in Pennsylvania. Read more

HARRISBURG, June 9 – Legislation that would significantly expand access to low-interest financing for Pennsylvania farmers to grow and modernize their operations advanced unanimously from the state House Commerce Committee on Monday, announced the bill’s prime sponsors. State Reps. Paul Friel and John Lawrence said that their H.B. 2207 would help augment critical agricultural operations and keep Pennsylvania competitive in an increasingly challenging economic environment. Pennsylvania farmers face rising costs for land, equipment, buildings and other investments necessary to sustain and expand their operations. While the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority's Small Business First Fund provides valuable financing opportunities, agricultural businesses are limited to loans of $400,000, far below the $2 million cap available to non-agricultural enterprises. "Our farmers are small business owners, job creators and essential contributors to Pennsylvania's economy," said Friel, D-Chester . "As costs continue to rise, access to affordable capital is more important than ever. This legislation would ensure that farmers have the same opportunities as other businesses to invest in their operations, create jobs, and strengthen our agricultural economy." “I’m grateful for the strong bipartisan support to modernize agricultural lending at PIDA,” said Lawrence, R-Chester . “This Read more

Legislation allowing Green Star Service Banner on state property advances Read more

Legislation establishing penalties for CEOs of insurance companies responsible for harm Read more

HARRISBURG, June 4 – House Communications & Technology Committee Majority Chair, state Rep. Joe Ciresi, is taking a stand to protect Pennsylvanians’ security and privacy by introducing legislation that would require all smart glasses manufactured, sold, and used in Pennsylvania to have a visual indicator that shows when the device is recording video or audio. “My legislation, H.B. 2603, would establish common-sense privacy safeguards for smart glasses to help protect Pennsylvanians from potential misuse of this emerging technology,” Ciresi said. “Smart glasses are an innovative technological advancement, but their design also allows them to easily record or stream without anyone noticing. Considering the implications this has for individual privacy and surveillance, we must take thoughtful, proactive steps to address those risks. The same features that make these devices appealing—the ability to communicate, capture audio and video, and share information instantly—can also be exploited by bad actors to secretly record individuals; help facilitate stalking, harassment or intimidation; or potentially employ real-time facial recognition technology without a person’s knowledge or consent.” According to Ciresi, the legislation would fall under Pennsylvania’s current wiretapping laws and would have similar requirements in line with existing laws regarding recording people. The legislation would require Read more

HARRISBURG, June 3 – The Pennsylvania House of Representatives Children & Youth Committee on Tuesday reported out legislation ( H.B. 434 ) by state Reps. Gina Curry and Carol Kazeem’s that would establish an Ebony Alert System in Pennsylvania dedicated to finding missing Black and Brown youth, including young women and girls. According to the two Delaware County legislators, Black children accounted for 40% of all children under 18 reported missing in the United States in 2023, despite Black Americans comprising only 14% of the nation’s population. Similarly, Black women and girls represent approximately 18% of all missing persons cases while making up just 7% of the population. The lawmakers argue that cases involving missing children of color—particularly Black children—often receive less attention because they are disproportionately classified as runaways . That designation can prevent AMBER Alerts from being issued, reducing the law enforcement and public resources devoted to recovery efforts and limiting media coverage of their disappearances. Lack of media coverage of missing Black children -- just 7% according to one study -- has a devastating impact on the chances of recovery of missing Black children. Media attention raises public awareness and puts law enforcement on alert , resulting in them contributing critical resources to finding children. “Despite making up a significant percentage of missing child cases, Read more