Nonprofit movers & shakers – you can register here for my Nonprofit Symposium, which will be held on Thursday, Oct. 30 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers Local 9 PA, 100 Kingston Drive, in Wilkins Township. You’ll gain expert tips on fundraising, accessing grants, and more. Questions? Call my office at (412) 273-3400.

Visit this page to determine whether you qualify for a grant-writing scholarship. If your address is located in a green zone designated as a low-income census tract, you are eligible to apply. Residents who wish to apply should contact Krishna Patel at patelk.hea@gmail.com by Oct. 15.

After President Trump and U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced an association between Tylenol/acetaminophen use during pregnancy and autism, it became clear that we need to separate facts from disproven theories and ensure that state policymaking is guided by science.

As chair of the Pennsylvania Autism Caucus and the first person with autism to hold this position, I called on House leadership to convene a hearing with experts in medicine, mental health, and epidemiology.

They discussed the state of current research, which does not support a link between Tylenol use and autism, and highlighted the fallacy of pointing to a single cause, given the multiple genetic components associated with autism. You can watch a clip from the hearing here and the entire hearing at this page by clicking on the livestream link.

In related news, autistic Pennsylvanians should be aware of the Pennsylvania State Police’s Autism Spectrum Disorder interaction card, which some people may find useful in situations that can create sensory overload, including those involving lights and sirens, loud noises, or other high-stress situations. To learn more about the card, visit www.psp.pa.gov, click on “Resources” on the left side of the page and then “Safety Resources,” and navigate down the page to the section on Autism Spectrum Disorder interaction cards.

Click here or on the image above to watch a video about the card. My office can also help you download and print the card.

Last week, I voted for — and the House passed — legislation that would:

• Close loopholes in our laws by expanding background checks for long gun purchases.
• Require companies that collect personal information electronically to take steps to protect that data from breaches.
• Give consumers rights regarding how their personal data is used or sold, and require businesses to protect consumer privacy and limit data collection.
• Protect consumers during the homebuying process by requiring disclosure of flood-related risks.
• Establish state insurance for landslides and sinkholes.

You can read more about how we voted in the House by visiting this page.

Last week, our staffers Connie and Simon attended the Homewood Healthy Active Living Center’s 50th anniversary. The center, with its wide variety of programs and supportive staff, is an incredibly important part of our community.

In other Homewood news, neighbors turned out to congratulate Homewood Community Sports, which held a ribbon-cutting ceremony with elected officials and community members to celebrate its new football field.

The members of the Swissvale Economic Development Corporation work hard to keep economic revitalization in the borough strong. Board members recently interviewed local business leaders to learn more about their needs and plans for future collaborations.

I recently visited the amazing Pittsburgh-based nonprofit Jeremiah’s Place – a unique crisis nursery where families can receive 24-hour emergency childcare and all the kids get a donated “Jer-bear.”

I'm excited to report a 25% reduction in the number of trees to be cut down in Edgewood and Wilkinsburg as part of Duquesne Light’s vegetation management plan! Thank you to Upstream, Tree Pittsburgh, local elected officials, Shade Tree Commission members, and community activists for their hard work and advocacy!

And speaking of trees, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has launched a redesigned weekly fall foliage report, which will be updated every Thursday during peak foliage season. You can also explore an interactive map here.

Last week, Gov. Shapiro signed Executive Order 2025-02 to safeguard vaccine access for Pennsylvanians and protect families’ freedom to make their own health care decisions. You can read more here.

Seniors: Medicare Open Enrollment begins Oct. 15, and you can get free one-on-one assistance through Pennsylvania’s Medicare Education & Decision Insight (PA MEDI) program. Counselors can answer questions about different plans and help you choose the one that best fits your needs.

Call the PA MEDI helpline between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at 1-800-783-7067, or visit this page to learn more.

Check out the Carnegie Museums’ Hispanic Heritage Celebration at the Andy Warhol Museum on Saturday, Oct. 11, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Events will include dance lessons at noon and live music at 2 p.m.

Local officials, nonprofit groups, and residents: Visit this page to see a list of the latest state grant openings, and this page to search for grants by topic.

Finally, please remember that our talented staff can assist with a wide range of state-related services, including filing for a Property Tax/Rent Rebate, obtaining a Senior ConnectCard or disability placard, resolving issues with PennDOT and other state agencies, and more. Contact us to find out how we can help!

Finally, please note that our office will be closed on Monday, Oct. 13 in honor of Indigenous Peoples' Day.

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