I will be hosting a free shredding event this Saturday, Oct. 3 to help you safely dispose of papers and disks with sensitive information. It will be from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. at my district office at 1296 Pittsburgh St. in Cheswick. It’s a great way to protect your identity by ensuring documents don’t fall into the wrong hands, such as financial statements, cancelled checks, legal and insurance papers.

The Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office will also be on hand to offer disposal of unused medications as part of its Project D.U.M.P.

Feel free to call my office with any questions at (724) 826-5151.

More than one million Pennsylvanians are independent voters, including nearly 7,000 in our district, and I believe they should have a voice and a vote in primary elections. That’s why I cast a YEA vote this week for H.B. 280, which would finally allow independent and unaffiliated voters to choose which party primary to vote in on election days. Pennsylvania is one of eight states that still does not have open primaries, and this bill is our chance to fix that. It now moves to the Senate for consideration.

I was thrilled to see so many people turn out last week for my Senior Fair at Allegheny Valley Volunteer Fire Company—about 500 people! It was our biggest Senior Fair yet. I enjoyed welcoming so many people for lunch and sharing information about all the important state services available to seniors. Thanks to our many vendors and my staff for putting so much work into this event!

I’m determined to help our local fire companies every chance I get, so I was excited to stop by Pioneer Hose Co. in Brackenridge recently to share some great news: I was able to secure a $70K state grant to fix the aging heating system in their building. We are hoping that replacing this equipment will also reduce their annual utility budget.

We are immensely lucky to have our local firefighters. They sacrifice so much to protect us, all while struggling to raise money for their operations. So believe me, when they tell me they need something, I’m going to fight really damn hard for the funding to make it happen.

Mail-in voting in PA is simple, safe, and secure. It’s one way that you can make your voice heard. The deadline for requesting a mail-in ballot is Oct. 27. Learn more by watching the video below or visiting www.vote.pa.gov.

House Democrats have been working hard to make people’s lives more affordable these days, and one example is a bill that would protect residents of manufactured home communities from unfair rent hikes. I supported H.B. 1250 when it passed the House last year, but the Senate has failed to bring it to a vote.

This is a problem affecting more than a quarter-million Pennsylvanians who live in manufactured homes, because speculators and private equity firms have been raising rents significantly to jack up their short-term profits.

You can take action. You can urge the Senate to bring this commonsense solution up for a simple up-or-down vote at this link.

Do you know about upcoming changes to Medicaid and how it could affect your healthcare coverage AND costs? Thanks to changes by the federal government, there are new work and reporting requirements, plus you’ll need to renew your coverage every six months (instead of every 12 months). It’s important that you watch for communication from Pennsylvania’s Department of Human Services in your mailbox letting you know about the changes so you can be prepared. You may have already received a letter like this explaining how to meet the work requirements and possible exemptions for individuals. You might also receive a text message on your smartphone (from 69217) or robocall (from 1-877-839-4782). Those are the only legitimate sources of messaging you’ll receive about Medicaid changes from DHS.

Watch the video below for more explanation and click here to read more about the changes and how they might affect you and your family. This page of frequently asked questions may also be helpful. Don’t hesitate to contact my office if we can be of assistance.

Twice a month, a Veterans Service Officer (VSO) will be at my Cheswick office, 1296 Pittsburgh St., to assist veterans with a variety of services. The VSO will be available on the third Wednesday and Thursday of each month.

Call to schedule an appointment at (724) 826-5151.

Veterans Dinner
Thursday, Nov. 12, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Brackenridge American Legion

District Office

1296 Pittsburgh Street

Cheswick, PA 15024

(724) 826-5151

Pennsylvania State Capitol

111 B East Wing
Harrisburg, PA 17120

(717) 705-7141