I hope you find my weekly emails helpful. I strive to keep our district well informed about what’s going on in Harrisburg and here at home.  

Pennsylvania House rules direct when I can contact you leading up to an election. We’re nearing the 60-day restricted period that will begin on March 20 and last until the May 19 primary election. If you aren’t opted in, I will be unable to keep you informed about important issues that affect all of us, including:

• Updates on legislation
• News and events in the district
• Government programs and services

To keep receiving my emails without interruption, click here or on the graphic above.

During last week’s budget hearings, I asked Department of Education officials about financial accountability for state dollars allocated to our public schools, and how the department handles audits as well as reports of fraud, waste, and abuse.

The state Bureau of School Audits, which once employed 46 full-time auditors to oversee the finances of Pennsylvania’s 500 school districts, was dissolved several years ago as a cost-saving measure. It is time to restore this critical oversight of our school districts’ use of state funds. Visit this page to watch my questions.

In the aftermath of April’s storm, which left many in our district without power for nearly two weeks, I have been working with state and local officials to strengthen our emergency response capacity and ensure that providers like Duquesne Light are properly staffed to handle such situations. At last week’s budget hearing, I questioned Public Utility Commission Chair Stephen DeFrank about ways to incentivize having more full-time workers in place to manage these emergencies.

I also raised the issue of private, foreign-owned utilities profiting off the backs of Pennsylvania ratepayers. Visit this page to watch.

With so much disinformation about autism coming from federal sources, having reliable information at the state level is more important than ever. During last week’s budget hearings, I questioned PA Department of Human Services Secretary Val Arkoosh about the ways DHS is working to steer Pennsylvanians toward reliable, science-based information. Visit this page to watch my dialogue with the secretary.

I was thrilled to join my colleague Rep. Leanne Krueger and other lawmakers and disability advocates for the unveiling of a new, fully accessible restroom at the state Capitol last week. The facility includes a lift track system and hoist, an adult-rated changing table with adjustable height, an easy-raise assisted-lift toilet seat, and a height-adjustable sink. This new addition will ensure that Pennsylvanians of all abilities can visit our beautiful Capitol with dignity.

Tuesday in the district, our staffer Leslie attended the excellent Braddock Resource Fair.

My latest print newsletter is now available online! Click here or on the image above to read about how we’re working to strengthen our emergency response capabilities, a new state tax cut for workers, your dollars coming back to the district, and more!

Duquesne Light will host the virtual webinar “Community Ready: Empowering Emergency Preparedness” on Tuesday, March 31 from noon to 1 p.m. The event will feature information on building emergency preparedness kits and plans, staying connected with DLC through My Alerts, and available community resources when severe weather hits.
 

Pre-registration is required, and space is limited, so you should register by Tuesday, March 10 to secure your spot. A post-event recording will be available for those who are unable to attend.

Our office will host the following mobile offices this week for residents of Douglas Plaza East, Mapleview Terrace, and Edgewood Retirement Apartments:

• Douglas Plaza East: Tuesday, March 10 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
• Mapleview Terrace: Wednesday, March 11 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
• Edgewood Retirement Apartments: Thursday, March 12 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Stop by for help filing for your Property Tax/Rent Rebate or for assistance with other state matters. If you are seeking help filing for a rebate, please be sure to bring the information listed above.

This is a reminder that Greater Valley Community Services and the Pittsburgh A. Philip Randolph Institute will be hosting a free Expungement Clinic and Reentry Resource Event on Saturday, March 14 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 300 Holland Ave. in Braddock. You’ll find lots of useful resources and many community partners, including Allegheny County Public Defenders. Our office will also be on site. For questions, please contact 412-562-2432.

Tree Pittsburgh will host a free Plant a Seed session on Saturday March 28 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Glassport Borough Building, located at 12 Monongahela Ave. The event will be followed by a tree pruning workshop. Visit this page to register. For questions, email maeve@treepittsburgh.org or call (412) 781-8733, ext. 214.

As part of the Shapiro Administration’s upcoming State of the Woman Report, the governor’s Advisory Commission on Women has launched a statewide listening tour and digital survey to gather input from women across Pennsylvania about their experiences and priorities. 

Visit this page to learn more and reserve a spot for the Pittsburgh listening session, which will be held from noon to 2 p.m. on Thursday, May 14 at K&L Gates LLP, 210 6th Street.

Visit this page to take the survey, which will be open through May 30.

The last day to register to vote before the May 19 Primary Election is May 4. Visit this page to register and this page to check your registration status.

The last day to request a mail-in or absentee ballot is May 12. The county election office must receive your application by 5 p.m. on that day.

The county election office must receive your completed mail ballot by 8 p.m. on May 19. A postmark by that time is not sufficient.

The Primary Election is May 19, and the polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Visit this page to find your polling place and this page for other voting information.

The Shapiro Administration has launched Fast File – a simple filing option for eligible taxpayers with straightforward returns. When users log into myPATH, their employer-reported W-2 information is already uploaded, eliminating the need to manually enter wage and withholding data. Filing can be completed in just a few easy steps. Fast File is available to:

• Single taxpayers who were full-time residents of Pennsylvania in the prior year. 

• Taxpayers with only one W-2 income source (wages, etc.) from the same employer in the prior year.  

• Taxpayers whose employer has filed the corresponding W-2 with the Department of Revenue. 

• Taxpayers who are not claiming deductions, credits, or carry forwards. 

• Taxpayers who did not make estimated payments in the prior year.  

Visit this page to learn more.

If you need help filing your taxes, please note that United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania has free in-person sessions. You can learn more and schedule an appointment here.

For the first time this year, eligible workers can claim the Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit to get money back in their pocket. The new state credit is modeled after the federal Earned Income Tax Credit and is equal to 10% of the federal credit. Visit this page to learn more and find a calculator to estimate your credit.

Eligible residents can also take advantage of the state Child and Dependent Care Enhancement Tax Credit. The credit – which was recently expanded and provides financial relief for working families with child or dependent care expenses – matches 100% of the federal Child Care Tax Credit. More information is available here.

Finally, the state is reminding Pennsylvanians who received Unemployment Compensation benefits in 2025 to watch for their 1099-G tax form, which is needed to file their tax return this year.

WQED’s annual Writers Contest invites young authors to submit original stories and illustrations with a theme of their own choosing. The contest is open to students in grades K–5 and is free to enter. The deadline is March 31. Visit this page to review the rules and check out previous winning entries.

Please remember that our office can help with a wide range of state-related matters – from filing a Property Tax/Rent Rebate or obtaining a Senior ConnectCard, to navigating state benefits and more. Contact us to find out 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.

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.

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