When a storm threatens, seconds count. Currently, the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency sends special alerts to county officials, but not to state legislative offices, which hinders our ability to help residents with storm preparation. To fix that, I am preparing to introduce legislation with state Reps. Mandy Steele and Valerie Gaydos that would ensure state legislative offices have advance notice from PEMA and a direct line of communications with the agency. Click on the image above or here to listen.

When less affluent communities miss out on state funding because they lack grant-writing training or resources, it’s the residents and small businesses that suffer. This week, we took a step toward solving this problem when the House Local Government Committee advanced our bill that would make these resources available to local officials. You can read more here and listen to my committee remarks here.

Pennsylvania has not raised the minimum wage from its current rate of $7.25 per hour since 2009, even as every single one of our neighboring states has raised theirs. With prices continually rising but the wage remaining stagnant, hundreds of thousands of PA workers are struggling to make ends meet. It’s unfair, it’s burdening working families, and it’s stunting our economy.

This week in the House, we passed legislation that would raise the minimum wage. The bill – which is now in the state Senate – would implement a tiered approach to bring every Pennsylvania worker to at least $12 an hour by January 2028, with subsequent cost-of-living increases. You can read more about the bill here.

I was proud to stand with my union colleagues as we rallied in Harrisburg to support workers’ rights.

In other House votes this week, we passed bills that would:

• Require Automated External Defibrillators at school athletic events.
• Mandate insurance coverage for maternal blood pressure monitors.
• Open a window for adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse to seek justice.
• Strengthen oversight of health care mergers.
• Open a path for veterans to become educators.
• Improve clearance rates – the percentage of crimes solved – for violent crimes.
• Protect workers from being misclassified and denied benefits.
• Help volunteer fire companies save money by exempting them from certain fees.
• Cap teacher certification fees.
• Return more unclaimed property to its rightful owners.
• Protect residents of manufactured homes by banning extreme rent increases.
• Limit fees charged for reselling event tickets.

Visit this page to read more about these and other bills we passed.

Seniors – please be aware that the original date for the farmers market voucher distribution has been changed. The new distribution date is Tuesday, June 24. Visit this page to find a list of distribution sites and this page to learn more about the program and eligibility requirements.

In other senior news, the deadline to apply for a rebate on property taxes or rent paid in 2024 has been extended to Dec. 31. Please remember that my office can help you apply. Please be sure to bring a valid photo ID, proof of all 2024 income, proof of 2024 property taxes paid (homeowners) or completed PA rent certificate (renters), and direct deposit information, if desired. You can read more about the program – which also benefits disabled residents 18 and older –  here.

Rankin hosted a lively festival last week to celebrate Juneteenth, which commemorates the day in 1865 when federal troops arrived in Galveston to take control of the state and ensure that all enslaved people were freed. Honoring the end of slavery in the United States, Juneteenth is considered the longest-running African American holiday. Visit this page for information about other area Juneteenth events.

Please be aware that our office will be closed Thursday, June 19 in observance of Juneteenth. We will reopen Friday for regular business hours.

If you are searching for state grant funding, you can find a helpful tool here and a listing of the latest state grant openings at this page.
 

If you need help with state services, my talented staff can assist with filing applications, answering questions involving PennDOT and other state agencies, obtaining a disability placard or senior bus pass – and a host of other matters. Contact us or stop by to see how we can help!

You can read my e-newsletter in a way that’s preferable to you by visiting my legislative website here and clicking on the accessibility icon in the lower right corner.

Pennsylvania State Capitol

123-B East Wing Main Capitol
Harrisburg, PA 17120

(717) 783-1914

District Office

501 Braddock Ave.
Braddock, PA 15104

(412) 273-3400