Last week, after months of failing to vote on our House budget bills, the state Senate finally came to the table. On Wednesday, the House and Senate passed – and the governor signed – a new state spending plan that will get critical dollars flowing to our public schools, municipalities, and vital programs and services for residents.

The new budget isn’t perfect – no budget ever is – but I voted for the plan because it makes our public schools a priority – delivering more than $600 million to meet our constitutional mandate to fairly fund our schools and level the playing field for students in less-affluent ZIP codes. The budget also distributes back to schools statewide more than $178 million in savings achieved through cyber charter reform. Here in the district, our schools will see across-the-board increases.

The new budget also provides for the first Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit. Families who qualify for the federal Earned Income Tax Credit will also qualify for the state tax credit, equal to 10% of their federal EITC.

A state Child and Dependent Care Enhancement Tax Credit is again part of the new budget. The state tax credit is available to Pennsylvanians who are eligible for the federal child care tax credit and is equal to 100% of the federal credit.

Visit this page to read more about why I voted for the new budget.

Last Monday in Homewood, I joined local officials and family members of Pete Hill for an honorary street renaming to recognize this late, great baseball legend. Said to be the 7th best baseball player ever, based on statistical analysis, Hill was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006. You can read more about him here. Thank you to City Councilman Khari Mosley and Pete Hill’s family for the invitation!

On Wednesday, our district office director, Aaron, joined school board members and local officials for a special ceremony at Woodland Hills School District to recognize student hero Xaiveyon McMillan-Taylor, who saved a neighbor from a house fire in October. We presented Xaiveyon with a House legislative citation to recognize his courageous actions, which you can read more about here.

The Woodland Hills Impact Center is hosting a Thanksgiving Feast celebration on Thursday, Nov. 20 at 6 p.m. at its headquarters located at 235 4th St. in Rankin. Enjoy a holiday meal with neighbors and participate in family crafts, bingo, a gift card giveaway, holiday movies, and a raffle.

There will also be turkey giveaway, with 50 turkeys distributed to families in need. Visit this page to register.

Thank you to Greater Valley Community Services and HOOP for inviting our office to join their family dinner last Tuesday to usher in the season with food, friends, and music.

Bill Pfoff is retiring after 28 years as President of the Enterprise Zone Corporation of Braddock. We were proud to present him with a House legislative citation recognizing his long and dedicated career of public service.

At a legislative tour of the August Wilson African American Cultural Center, the center provided an update about its programming and goals. Visit this page to learn more about the center’s upcoming events and plan a visit.

Come help clean up Whitney Park – located at 915 Wilkins Ave. in Wilkinsburg – this Saturday, Nov. 22 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. (The rain date is Saturday, Nov. 29.) Scan the QR code or click here for more details.

Check out Nebby on Noble on Saturday, Dec. 6 from noon to 3 p.m. This free, family-friendly event will start at the Still Mill Distillery on 2033 Noble St. in Swissvale and will feature local artists, vendors, and even a cat rescue! 

Grab a “Nebby Passport” at Still Mill Distillery, visit participating Noble Street businesses to collect stamps, and then return your completed passport to be entered into a free raffle for local prizes!

For questions, please email info@still-mill.com.

Our state Department of Human Services acted quickly to get SNAP benefits flowing again to recipients, issuing full benefits for November within 24 hours after the federal government shutdown ended.

If you receive SNAP, you can check your EBT card balance by calling the PA Department of Human Services at 1-877-395-8930, visiting the ConnectEBT app, or contacting my office for help.

DHS strongly recommends using ConnectEBT to keep your card locked when not in use, to protect against benefits skimming or theft.

Open Enrollment for Pennie, the state’s health insurance marketplace, is going on now through Jan. 15, and is a time you can shop for and enroll in health care. If you enroll by Dec. 15, your coverage will start Jan. 1, 2026.

Pennie is advising consumers that as a result of changes in federal law, the cost of health care coverage is expected to rise for 2026. Learn more about those changes here.

If you have questions or need help enrolling, visit Pennie.com/connect or call the Pennie Customer Service Center at 1-844-844-8040. 

Last week in the House, I voted for, and the House passed, legislation that would protect seniors from losing eligibility for the PACE and PACENET affordable drug programs simply because they received an annual Social Security cost-of-living adjustment. This protection is currently in place until Dec. 31, 2025. The bill – which passed both chambers and headed for the governor’s desk – would extend the COLA protection through Dec. 31, 2027.

Visit this page to learn more about the PACE and PACENET programs.

• Do you have a loved one who wanders away from your residence?
• Have you had to call 911 when a loved one cannot be found?
• Do you know a loved one who often “escapes” from home?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you may wish to enroll in Project LifeSaver. Visit this page to learn more about the program.

The state Department of Agriculture is looking for submissions for their annual National Anthem Singing Contest. Submit your performance for a shot to sing it live at the 2026 Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg! Visit this page for details.

Please remember that my talented staff can assist with a wide range of state-related matters, from filing for a Property Tax/Rent Rebate to obtaining a Senior ConnectCard, to navigating state benefits – and much more. Contact us to see how we can help.

If you’re searching for a state grant, you can find a list of the latest program openings here and a state grant-finding search tool here.

District Office

501 Braddock Ave.
Braddock, PA 15104

(412) 273-3400

Pennsylvania State Capitol

123-B East Wing Main Capitol
Harrisburg, PA 17120

(717) 783-1914