AMBRIDGE, Feb. 19 – State Rep. Rob Matzie issued the following statement regarding yesterday’s vote by the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association board to reclassify the Aliquippa High School football program: “I’ve just been informed that the PIAA Board has voted to move Aliquippa Football to Class 3A for the next two years. “While the specifics of the determination haven’t been released, I’m pleased the board made the right decision after several attempts pleading the case. “I have shared the opinion of the Aliquippa School District that decisions related to the competitive balance formula should use actual enrollment and view each transfer on a case-by-case basis rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. “The study that I requested the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to perform of the PIAA and its competitive balance formula is expected to be released this spring. “I will always stand up for kids in my district and students all across Pennsylvania. The results of this ruling have always been about fairness and the health and safety of the kids.” Read more

AMBRIDGE, Feb. 17 – Fire and EMS companies in the 16 th Legislative District are on track to receive more than $265,200 in grant funding to help keep crews properly equipped and meet other department needs, state Rep. Rob Matzie announced today. Matzie, who is chairman of the House Majority Caucus, said departments will be able to use the funds for items such as personal protective gear, firefighting equipment, fuel, facility repairs, training, recruitment and retention, and other needs. “Our fire and EMS departments face a constant challenge keeping crews outfitted and trained, equipment updated, and facilities maintained – all on the tightest budgets,” Matzie said. “The new funding should help ease some of those costs and get more resources into the hands of those who work 24/7 to protect us.” Matzie said the funding includes: Ambridge Borough Fire Department – $13,457. Ambridge Volunteer Fire Department – $14,488. Baden Volunteer Fire Department – $16,137. Center Township Fire House No. 2 – $13,251. Center Township Volunteer Fire Department Co. No. 1 – $14,900. Center Township Volunteer Fire Department No. 3 – $12,426. City of Aliquippa DBA Aliquippa Bureau of Fire – $14,488. Conway Volunteer Fire Department – $14,488. Economy Vol. Ambulance Service – $15,000. Economy Volunteer Firemens Association Read more

powerhouse,” Matzie said. “I’m grateful for this new state investment, which will directly benefit our students, workers, and taxpayers.” Read more

HARRISBURG, Feb. 4 – Pennsylvania Nuclear Energy Caucus Co-Chairs Rob Matzie and Tom Mehaffie today hailed the state House’s passage of legislation that would clear the way for the construction of the nuclear industry’s small modular reactors and microreactors to help meet growing demands on Pennsylvania’s energy grid. The lawmakers said H.B. 2017 , introduced by state Rep. Jose Giral, D- Phila., would pave the way for SMRs and microreactors by authorizing a change in fees that have posed an obstacle to construction of these smaller nuclear reactors. “Having an ‘all-everything’ energy strategy strengthens our position as an energy powerhouse and helps us meet the increasing demand coming from cloud computing and AI,” said Matzie, D-Beaver, who is chairman of the House Majority Caucus as well as a co-chair of the bipartisan, bicameral Nuclear Energy Caucus. “Nuclear is an important part of that strategy, and one that would bring new jobs, but the construction costs can be prohibitive. Small, modular reactors, which require less time and money to build, are an excellent solution, but the fees these reactors must pay the state to operate – which were developed with large, traditional reactors in mind – have proven to be an insurmountable obstacle. The new legislation would adjust the fees to remove those barriers.” Mehaffie, R-Dauphin, said SMRs can help the state address an Read more

HARRISBURG, Feb. 4 – The Pennsylvania House today adopted two resolutions introduced by state Rep. Rob Matzie to highlight the importance of government transparency and the unique history of the commonwealth’s government, and a third resolution to raise awareness about multiple sclerosis. Matzie’s H.R. 398 designates March 15-21 as “Sunshine Week” in Pennsylvania to promote dialogue about the importance of open government and public access to government documents and meetings. “ The framers added freedom of speech and freedom of the press to the U.S. Constitution to ensure people have the power to openly question and challenge government actions and decisions and hold government accountable when it acts irresponsibly,” said Matzie, who is chairman of the House Majority Caucus. “People lose that power when actions and decisions are made behind closed doors. “Pennsylvania’s Sunshine Act and Right to Know Law ensure that those decisions are made in the light of day and that citizens and the press have access to the meetings and documents that reveal critical information, including where tax dollars are being spent and what interests are being considered when decisions are made. In the digital age, with AI deepfakes and disinformation being used more and more to manipulate and distort the truth, that transparency has never been more Read more

HARRISBURG, Feb. 3 – State Rep. Rob Matzie issued the following statement in response to Gov. Josh Shapiro’s budget address today: “The governor’s address was a positive first step in the budget process,” said Matzie, who is chairman of the House Majority Caucus. “The proposed budget plan would deliver needed investments to our public schools, our workforce, and initiatives to make life more affordable for Beaver County residents – all without adding any new taxes. “To continue leveling the playing field for all public school students – regardless of ZIP code – the new budget would invest more than $500 million in additional equity funding that will provide block grants to historically underfunded districts. The new plan would also increase funding for basic and special education by $50 million each. Our Beaver County schools would see across-the-board increases to help our students thrive. “To strengthen our workforce and create more jobs, the plan would increase funding for career and technical education and vocational rehabilitation, childcare recruitment and retention, and teacher professional development and stipends. “Housing costs take the largest chunk out of a family’s budget, so having access to safe, affordable housing is key to financial stability. To increase the availability of affordable housing, the proposed budget would create a Read more

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

AMBRIDGE, Jan. 21 – New state grants totaling $355,000 will fund equipment and facility repairs for first responders and renovations to a community war memorial park and pavilion in the 16 th Legislative District, state Rep. Rob Matzie announced today. Matzie, who is chairman of the House Majority Caucus, said some of the new dollars will support vehicle and equipment upgrades and building improvements to police and fire departments around the district. “Our district’s first responders are dedicated, talented, and fearless,” Matzie said. “They stand between our community and danger, and they ask nothing in return but to have the resources they need to do their lifesaving work. I was proud to help secure this funding so that our frontline heroes have the safe facilities they deserve and the equipment they need to respond when the next call comes in.” Matzie said the funding includes: $75,000 to Rochester Borough Police for a police cruiser. $65,000 to Harmony Township Police for a police cruiser. $50,000 to Monaca Borough Police for equipment. $50,000 to the Baden Volunteer Fire Department for building upgrades and renovations. $30,000 to Hopewell Township Police for equipment and training for a new K9 Unit. $30,000 to Ambridge Borough Police to outfit a cruiser for a K9 dog. $30,000 to Freedom Borough for renovations to the Freedom Borough War Memorial Read more

“The funding will help ease the burden on taxpayers and allow our municipalities to perform critical repairs and structural upgrades,” Salisbury said. “From repaving our roads to strengthening deteriorating infrastructure so we can better manage stormwater, every dollar of these grants will go to work keeping our communities safer and healthier.” Read more

AMBRIDGE, Jan. 20 – New grants totaling $2.6 million will fund multiple infrastructure improvements in the 16 th Legislative District, state Rep. Rob Matzie announced today. Matzie, who is chairman of the House Majority Caucus, said the funding from the Commonwealth Financing Authority includes $1.8 million for water, stormwater and sanitary sewer improvements and $800,000 for a Harmony Township bridge replacement project. “I was glad to help drive out these dollars to support structural improvements around the district,” Matzie said. “Our municipalities need to keep pace with the constant demands of aging infrastructure, and this funding will help them do that.” Matzie said the funding under the Multimodal Transportation Fund Program includes $800,000 to Harmony Township for the Valley Road Bridge Replacement project. The funding awarded under the PA Small Water and Sewer Program includes: $500,000 to the Ambridge Water Authority for Phase I of the Maplewood Avenue Lead Service Line and Waterline Replacement Project. $300,000 to Monaca Borough for the Monaca Well 12 Replacement and Well 13 & 16 Rewire Project. $250,000 to Center Township Sanitary Authority for the 2025 Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation Project. $200,000 to Center Township for Center Commons Boulevard storm sewer improvements. $200,000 to Hopewell Township for the Upper Read more