These grants are a meaningful investment in our communities and in our people. Each project receiving funding addresses a critical need—from helping families become first-time homeowners to preserving housing for seniors and veterans. This funding will help ensure that more Allegheny County residents have access to safe, stable, and affordable housing. Read more
AMBRIDGE, June 12 – New grants totaling $925,000 from the Pennsylvania Housing and Finance Agency will help more Beaver County residents find secure, permanent housing and provide existing homeowners the resources they need to stay safe in their homes, state Rep. Rob Matzie announced today. Matzie, who is chairman of the House Majority Caucus, said eight grants – funded by Marcellus Shale Impact Fees and Realty Transfer Taxes – will support Beaver County and local nonprofit programs to bolster housing opportunities and resources for homeowners. “Safe, reliable housing isn’t a luxury – it’s a necessity and a critical connection to job opportunities, a stable family environment, and access to the network of support that goes with being part of a community,” Matzie said. “Securing this funding will help more people break free of the chronic risk of homelessness, help new prospective homeowners become more financially savvy and allow homeowners to make needed modifications and repairs so they can stay safe at home.” Matzie said the funding includes: $200,000 to Housing Opportunities of Beaver County to rehabilitate one duplex and one single-family home in Aliquippa, creating four affordable housing units and training underserved young adults in construction. $150,000 to The Salvation Army to help people served by homeless prevention Read more
HARRISBURG, June 4 – Pennsylvania consumers are one step closer to protection from an unfair and unscrupulous sales practice after a strong bipartisan majority of the PA House today passed state Rep. Rob Matzie’s bill to ban speculative ticketing. Matzie, who is chairman of the House Majority Caucus, said he introduced H.B. 463 to eliminate a practice in which ticket resellers list event tickets for sale before even having those tickets in hand. “People give up their hard-earned money to buy tickets so they can enjoy special shows and events with friends, family, and loved ones,” said Matzie. “They have a right to assume the seller has those tickets in hand. When it turns out that the seller never had them and was unable to get them, it’s the consumer who loses. At best, they may get their money back. At worst, they lose their ticket money and any other expenses, like travel and lodging, they laid out. “A sales transaction between a buyer and seller should never be based on a gamble that the seller will be able to obtain the item for sale. We don’t allow that to happen with other consumer goods, and we shouldn’t let it happen with ticket sales. It’s very simple – if you don’t have it, you can’t sell it. I’m pleased that a strong bipartisan majority of the House sided with Pennsylvania consumers today by passing my bill.” Read more
HARRISBURG, June 2 – State Rep. Aerion Abney has introduced a legislative proposal designed to bolster protections for college student-athletes earning compensation through their name, image, and likeness. House Bill 1520 aims to close enforcement gaps, improve transparency, and protect athletes from exploitative agreements. While current Pennsylvania law permits student-athletes to profit from their NIL, Abney noted the need for stronger safeguards. “Student-athletes are increasingly navigating complex and high-stakes endorsement agreements, often with limited legal or institutional guidance,” Abney said. “This legislation builds on existing law to ensure they can exercise their rights without fear of coercion, misinformation, or retaliation.” Key provisions of the bill include: Enhancing contract transparency to ensure student-athletes have a clear understanding of their agreements. Establishing legal safeguards to protect against unfair or exploitative terms. Clarifying institutional responsibilities, ensuring schools support NIL rights without interfering in compensation matters. Providing avenues for student-athletes to seek recourse when their NIL rights are violated. “This legislation is about fairness and empowerment,” Abney said. “It ensures that student-athletes in Pennsylvania Read more
PITTSBURGH, May 30 – As operating costs for public transit skyrocket and agencies like Pittsburgh Regional Transit warn of significant service cuts and fare hikes, state Reps. Aerion A. Abney and Jessica Benham announced that they have officially introduced legislation designed to increase state funding for public transportation. The “Transit for All PA” Funding Package, now introduced as H.B.s 1523 and 1524 , would provide a long-overdue, dedicated funding source to PRT and transit agencies across the state. The package builds on Gov. Josh Shapiro’s budget proposal to increase the allocation of existing sales taxes to public transit. With this increased stream of revenue, transit systems across Pennsylvania would be able to stabilize their budgets, move beyond current austerity measures, and better serve the needs of riders. The legislation includes provisions to: Raise the state’s rental car fee from $2 to $6.50. Increase the car lease fee from 3% to 5%. Establish a 6% excise tax on ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft. The state’s car rental and lease fees have not been increased in over 30 years and are among the lowest in the nation. Currently, there is no statewide excise tax on ride-hailing services. “Pennsylvanians deserve a public transportation system that is safe, reliable and Read more
“Today, we learned that PennEnergy is surrendering its petition to withdraw water from Big Sewickley Creek after determining that the creek’s flow would not be sufficient for their planned operations. “The decision was purely a logistical one, but it is the best possible news for our community, our environment and the thousands of residents who treasure the creek and everything it offers. Read more
AMBRIDGE, May 22 – Nearly $80,000 in new grant funding from the state Department of Environment Protection will support environmental education for Beaver County students and composting and PFAS workshops to benefit area residents, state Rep. Rob Matzie announced today. Matzie said the funding includes $19,180 to Beaver County’s RiverWise for the Summer Sustainability Institute education program; $28,424 to Pennsylvania Resources Council Inc., for the Small Scale Composting for Urban Communities project; and $30,000 to Pennsylvania State University for workshops to teach participants from Beaver and several other counties about PFAS. “When we educate students about the environment, we’re teaching them lessons about community engagement, empowering them to fight food insecurity, and encouraging them to care for and conserve natural resources. We’re also introducing them to potential career paths,” said Matzie, who is chairman of the House Majority Caucus. “With this new funding, the Summer Sustainability Institute will teach those lessons to Beaver County middle school and high school students by providing hands-on learning about urban farming, sustainability, climate change and much more. They’re lessons that will be useful for life.” Matzie said the funding to Pennsylvania Resources Council Inc. will support composting workshops in Beaver, Allegheny, Delaware and Fayette counties Read more
HARRISBURG, May 6 – State Rep. Aerion A. Abney announced today his legislation to improve access to mental health services and modernize professional licensing for social workers, has been unanimously approved by the House Professional Licensure Committee. The bill now advances to the full House of Representatives for further consideration. House Bill 554 would authorize Pennsylvania to join the Social Work Licensure Compact, an interstate agreement that allows licensed social workers to practice across state lines with greater ease. This compact would reduce administrative burdens for qualified professionals and increase the availability of critical mental health services, particularly in rural and underserved areas of the Commonwealth. “As the only degree-holding social worker serving in the Pennsylvania legislature, I understand firsthand the challenges facing both providers and the people who rely on mental health services,” Abney said. “This bill is a practical, bipartisan solution that will strengthen our workforce, expand care options for Pennsylvanians, and bring us one step closer to meeting the growing demand for mental health support across our state.” In addition to improving access to care, the legislation is expected to have a positive economic impact by reducing barriers to employment for social workers and making Pennsylvania a more attractive place for qualified professionals to live and Read more
HARRISBURG, March 17 — In a pivotal moment for health insurance reform, the Pennsylvania House Insurance Committee, chaired by state Rep. Perry Warren, D-Bucks, reported out of committee four significant bills that safeguard health insurance in Pennsylvania in the event the federal government repeals protections of the Affordable Care Act. House Bill 404 , sponsored by Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski, D-Luzerne, would allow parents to keep adult children on their health insurance plans until they turn 26. Before the Affordable Care Act became law, many kids turned 18 and were dropped from their parent’s insurance plan. Losing health insurance coverage led to many young health individuals leaving the health insurance market entirely. Because of the lack of healthy individuals to balance out the high-need policyholders, insurance premiums became unaffordable for many young people. “Ensuring young Pennsylvanians can stay on their parents’ health insurance plan until 26 will provide them with stability and peace of mind should the Republican Congressional majority repeal the Affordable Care Act,” Pashinski said. “That stability means they can begin pursuing their careers and building their lives without worrying about having the insurance needed to stay healthy and help in an emergency at a critical time in their lives.” House Bill 618 , sponsored by Rep. Jim Haddock, D-Lackawanna/Luzerne, would Read more
AMBRIDGE, Feb. 24 – New transportation infrastructure is coming to parts of Beaver County thanks to $651,200 in new grant funding from the Commonwealth Financing Authority, state Rep. Rob Matzie announced today. Matzie, who is chairman of the House majority caucus, said $300,000 was secured under the CFA Multimodal Transportation Fund to support construction of rail infrastructure that will serve the city of Aliquippa waterfront industrial site. The site is targeted for a $219 million advanced steelmaking facility. “The funding will support construction of a freight railroad connection to the state-of-the-art steel manufacturing plant the company plans to construct at the historic Aliquippa Works site,” Matzie said. “Having that transportation infrastructure in place is a critical step in development of the entire site.” Matzie said another $351,222 is headed for Hopewell Township for a project to install sidewalk extensions. “The township requested assistance to construct sidewalk extensions along Brodhead Road, Laird Avenue and Circle Drive,” Matzie said. “The extensions will improve pedestrian safety – including students walking to and from school – reduce crossing distances and add additional room for waiting space.” Matzie said two other projects outside his legislative district in Beaver County located in Midland Borough and South Beaver Township received funding of $200,000 and Read more
HARRISBURG, Feb. 5 – With Pennsylvania’s 344 th birthday approaching, the House today adopted state Rep. Rob Matzie’s resolution to mark that anniversary and remind Pennsylvanians of the special significance of the charter that serves as its birth certificate. Matzie, who is chairman of the House majority caucus and sits on the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, said he introduced H.R. 35 – designating March 9, 2025, as “Charter Day” in Pennsylvania – to highlight the meaning underlying the 344-year-old document. “The charter symbolizes freedom,” Matzie said. “Williams Penn’s goal in petitioning King Charles II for a land grant was to create a colony where people could worship freely, without the threat of religious persecution. The charter is the result of that effort and an important reminder that Pennsylvania’s birth is rooted in ideals of freedom and tolerance.” Matzie said Charter Day also celebrates the early “Frame of Government” Penn drafted for the new colony, which incorporated democratic concepts such as freedom of worship, balance of powers and a check on the abuse of authority and would go on to inspire the framers of the U.S. Constitution. Written on parchment using iron gall ink, the charter is stored in a high-security vault, where it is preserved under special conditions. Read more
HARRISBURG, Feb. 4 – The Pennsylvania House today adopted a resolution introduced by state Rep. Rob Matzie to increase public awareness about the dangers of rheumatoid arthritis and the disease’s link to heart and vascular disease. Matzie said he introduced H.R. 16 – designating Feb. 2, 2025, as “Rheumatoid Awareness Day” in Pennsylvania – to make people aware of the disease’s far-reaching impacts on the body and of the importance of early detection. “About one and a half million Americans live with RA, and the potential risks go far beyond joint pain and stiffness to include damage to the heart, lungs, eyes and other organs,” said Matzie, who is chairman of the House majority caucus. “It’s estimated that people with RA have a 50% to 70% higher risk of cardiovascular disease than the general population. This is an issue that’s personal to me because my father lived with RA. “Fortunately, there is some good news. Recent medical advances in immunotherapy are leading to promising new treatments. But, as with any disease, early detection is key. We need to spread the word that folks should not ignore the symptoms and should visit their doctor.” Matzie said typical symptoms of RA include tender, warm, swollen joints; joint stiffness that is usually worse in the morning and after inactivity; pain and stiffness in the same joints on both sides of the body; Read more
HARRISBURG, Feb. 3 – As Beaver County residents continue to live with health and safety concerns two years after the East Palestine freight train derailment that spread toxic fumes throughout the region, state Rep. Rob Matzie is renewing his push to pass legislation that would strengthen rail safety for Pennsylvanians. Matzie, who is chairman of the House Majority Caucus, said he plans to introduce a new version of his rail safety bill that won strong bipartisan support in the House last session before stalling in the state Senate. “We have freight trains hauling toxic chemicals through our back yard at a time when we’re still seeing close to 1,000 derailments a year nationwide,” Matzie said. “We have folks still dealing with the East Palestine derailment and wondering if they will face long-term health consequences. “We can’t continue gambling that another incident won’t happen, and we can’t afford to rely on Washington, D.C. – especially at a time when we’re seeing some protections being dismantled at the federal level. We need to put stronger safety standards in place ourselves, at the state level, and we need to do it soon to prevent a repeat of East Palestine.” Mazie’s Safer Rails, Safer Community Act passed the state House 141-62 in June 2023 but the Senate failed to bring it up for consideration. Among other Read more
HARRISBURG, Feb. 3 – State Rep. Rob Matzie today introduced legislation to prevent the deceptive practice of “speculative ticketing” – in which ticket sellers relist event tickets for sale before they have them in hand. Matzie, who is chairman of the House majority caucus, said H.B. 463 would prohibit resellers from listing tickets unless they actually have possession of them and would allow consumers and venues to sue for violations. “Consumers who pay for an item have the right to assume the seller actually has that item in hand to sell – and the same goes for tickets,” Matzie said. “Unfortunately, many sellers engage in speculative ticketing – relisting tickets they don’t have and betting that they can obtain them later. If that falls through, the disappointed consumer – at best – may get a refund. At worst, they lose their ticket money and any other expenses, like travel and lodging, they may have laid out. “Consumers aren’t the only ones who feel the impact. The venue loses credibility in the eyes of the public, while area restaurants, parking garages and other local businesses lose expected revenue. It’s a practice that’s bad for consumers and bad for business.” Matzie introduced an earlier version the bill last session, while he was majority chairman of the House Consumer Protection Read more
ALIQUIPPA, Jan. 28 – New grants totaling more than $325,100 will help expand recreational greenspaces and fund playground improvements in Aliquippa, Hopewell and Rochester Borough, state Rep. Rob Matzie announced today. Matzie said four separate grants from the Commonwealth Financing Authority will fund revitalization projects to open new recreational spaces for residents. “Some of the funds will be used to transform abandoned lots in Aliquippa and Rochester Borough into recreational greenspaces,” Matzie said. “Other funds will support playground improvements in Hopewell. All the projects are going to give residents new outdoor spaces to enjoy.” Matzie said the funding includes: $100,000 to Primary Health Network to transform a one-acre section of blighted land along Virginia Avenue in Rochester Borough into a recreational greenspace with a pergola, community gardens, a central water feature, walking trails, sidewalks and ADA-accessible playground equipment. $90,872 to Hopewell Township for playground improvements at Woodlawn Park, including removal of an abandoned building and purchase and installation of new playground equipment and surfacing. $86,730 to Hopewell Township to remove aging playground equipment at the Sharon Grange Park in Aliquippa and install new equipment. $47,500 to hydroponic farming company GetBlok Farms LLC to transform two abandoned lots into a Read more
AMBRIDGE, Jan. 14 – Beaver County Career and Technical Center has secured $85,000 in grant funding for new training resources, state Rep. Rob Matzie announced today. Matzie said the new funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s Competitive Equipment Grant program will help the center continue providing cutting-edge training. “BCCTC has been preparing students to enter the skilled trades for nearly 50 years, and the strength of those programs ensures that our regional employers have a continuing pool of top-notch applicants ready to hit the ground running,” Matzie said. “By funding new, state-of-the-art training resources, this grant will help ensure that trend continues.” More about the funding is available here: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/education/newsroom/shapiro-administration-awards-more-than-4-5-million-for-career-and-technical-education-to-help-students-chart-their-own-course-and-succeed.html . Read more
AMBRIDGE, Jan. 14 – Several Beaver County companies will be able to move forward with projects to expand their operations thanks to newly awarded tax credits totaling nearly $1.2 million, state Rep. Rob Matzie announced today. Matzie said the tax credits – awarded under the state’s Enterprise Zone Program – will spur investments in three different commercial renovation projects. “I’m excited to see these tax credits go to work supporting projects to revitalize distressed properties into useful commercial spaces,” Matzie said. “These projects will allow our local employers to expand and create new jobs, strengthen our local industry and spur the economy by bringing more business to the region.” Matzie said the tax credits were awarded for these projects: $500,000 in tax credits to support a project by Avalotis Industrial Services to renovate a deteriorating warehouse in Aliquippa into a modern manufacturing facility so the company can expand its product line, explore robotic technology options and hire additional workers to scale production. $500,000 in tax credits to support a project by Versatex Building Products LLC to repurpose a vacant lot in an Aliquippa industrial park into a modern manufacturing facility that will allow the company to expand its product lines, add office space and hire new employees – including at least 20 new Read more
HARRISBURG, Jan. 7 – State Rep. Rob Matzie took the oath of office today at the state Capitol to begin his ninth term representing Pennsylvania’s 16 th Legislative District. As he joins his colleagues to begin the 2025-26 legislative term, Matzie said he is looking forward to his new leadership role as chairman of the House Majority Caucus. “I’m ready to start the new term and my new leadership role with the caucus,” Matzie said. “We have important work ahead and real issues that need addressed for everyday folks. “We’ll be focusing on jobs, schools, health care – the priorities that matter to the people of Beaver County. As caucus chair, I will be working to ensure that those issues remain front and center in our legislative efforts. “Most importantly, I will continue to bring state dollars back home to Beaver County, making sure we get our fair share and more.” Last term, Matzie brought tens of millions of dollars in funding back to Beaver County and introduced more than 35 bills and resolutions. Under his leadership as majority chairman of the House Consumer Protection, Technology and Utilities Committee, the committee advanced – and the governor signed – multiple consumer protection laws, including a motorcycle Lemon Law, the Solar for PA Schools Act, the Max Manufacturing Act to boost industry, and Matzie’s bill Read more
AMBRIDGE, Dec. 17 – More than $702,000 in new funding will strengthen Beaver County protections for crime survivors and at-risk youth and improve county probation and parole services, state Rep. Rob Matzie announced today. Matzie, D-Beaver, said four separate grants awarded through the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency will ensure that there are resources available to continue those essential services. “Beaver County has a strong network of local officials, criminal justice workers and social service professionals committed to protecting the rights of crime survivors and at-risk youth and providing successful probation and parole resources,” Matzie said. “But the programs they administer require a steady flow of resources. The new funding will ensure those supports continue.” Matzie said the funding includes: $266,977 to Beaver County Commissioners to strengthen adult probation and parole services. $250,000 to The Prevention Network to support ongoing delivery of intervention, prevention, education and treatment services for at-risk youth. $138,240 to Beaver County Commissioners to support programs aimed at protecting crime victims’ rights. $47,000 to A Child’s Place to support services involving identification, prevention and prosecution of child abuse. More information about the PCCD funding awarded Read more
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