Saving lives in childcare facilities; fake inheritance scam; women’s health survey – and more!

Rep. Arvind Venkat June 27, 2025 | 3:48 PM

Rallying with Advocates at the State Capitol

Earlier this week, I was proud to stand with members of the PA Speech Language Hearing Association as they advocated for passage of H.B. 80, legislation I introduced with state Rep. Kristin Marcell that would authorize Pennsylvania’s entry into the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact. Click here or on the image above to hear my remarks.

Below, I joined bipartisan colleagues to show my support for the PA Rare Disease Advisory Council, whose advocates play a key role in improving the lives of Pennsylvanians living with a rare disease. I was proud to vote for legislation this week that would extend a sunset provision and ensure the council can continue operating for another three years.

In other House news, we welcomed my intern Shreya Pant, below, who had a chance to watch legislative activity in the chamber and meet House Speaker Rep. Joanna McClinton and other colleagues.

I also had the pleasure of meeting some of our local students participating in Keystone Boys State, a program for young men interested in learning more about how government works.

How We Voted This Week

This week in the House, I voted for – and the House passed – proposals to:

Restore Medicaid coverage for dental services.
Ensure childcare facilities can obtain and maintain a supply of EPI pens.
Prevent insurers from denying claims for care provided in a school setting.
Better regulate the sale of e-cigarettes to protect children and teens.
Strengthen the childcare workforce and help working families afford childcare.
Ban taxes on overtime and tips and create a Working Pennsylvanians tax credit.
Help small businesses by ensuring multistate corporations pay their full share of taxes.
Make it easier for educators to return to teaching after a hiatus.
Improve police communication with crime victims.
Seal eviction records when the occupant wins or after seven years has passed.
Eliminate junk fees on online purchases.

Visit this page for more state legislative news, including other bills the House passed this week.

Watch Out for This Scam Targeting Older Pennsylvanians

The PA Attorney General and various state agencies are warning about an email inheritance scam targeting older Pennsylvanians. The scam uses fake emails that mimic commonwealth addresses to convince victims to send money in exchange for a fictitious overseas inheritance. Officials urge residents to:

Ignore unsolicited messages offering money or prizes.
Verify suspicious emails (official state emails end in @pa.gov).
Never share personal info or send money to unknown people.
Report suspicious activity to state agencies or local law enforcement.

You can report scams by calling 1-866-PAComplaint, visiting pa.gov/consumer, or contacting the state Attorney General at 1-800-441-2555 or attorneygeneral.gov.

Women’s Health Survey Needs Your Input

Many women may not know what preventative healthcare services are covered in their insurance, or they may have experienced problems accessing services like health screenings, birth control, and pregnancy care. To better understand these issues, the state Insurance Department has created a quick, anonymous survey for women to share their real-life experiences. Visit this page to access the survey and learn more. The deadline to respond is July 7.

New ‘Let Freedom Ring’ License Plate Available

Pennsylvania has launched its “Let Freedom Ring” license plate, celebrating the commonwealth as the birthplace of American democracy and the nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary in 2026. Visit this page to learn more.

$1 million available to reduce firearm suicides

The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency has announced the availability of $1 million in federal funding to combat the growing crisis of firearm-related suicides across the state. Eligible applicants include local governments, nonprofits, state agencies, and higher education institutions. Applications are due by Sept. 9. Visit this page to learn more.

Check out this page to see a list of the latest state grant openings.

Finally, please remember that my talented staff can help with a wide variety of state-related matters, including obtaining a disability placard or Senior Citizen ConnectCard, filing applications for state programs, and resolving questions and problems involving state agencies. Contact us or stop by to see how we can help!