Protecting hotel workers; supporting the National Guard; rallying against a dangerous bill – and more!

Rep. Arvind Venkat July 11, 2025 | 2:58 PM

PA Representative Arvind Venkat banner image

Neighbors Come Together for a Festive Fourth

and Community Celebrations

It was a festive Fourth, as Veena, Ashok, and I were proud to continue our family tradition of participating in the Greybrooke neighborhood’s 4th of July Parade in McCandless.

I especially appreciated the chance to chat with neighbors and thank our first responders!

Other events I attended in our community last weekend were filled with camaraderie, including Hampton Township Community Day (above) and North Boroughs Community Day (below).

My Military Family Education Bill Becomes Law

We can never do enough to thank our military families for the sacrifices they make. Earlier this week, Gov. Josh Shapiro signed into law legislation I introduced with state Rep. Craig Williams that will expand the Military Family Education Program. Act 32 of 2025 will also reform and expand all National Guard education benefits. Visit this page to learn more.

Speaking Out Against the Big Bad Bill That Will Hurt Pennsylvanians

As an ER Doc who has cared for those in need for nearly 30 years, I have seen the difference that having health insurance and therefore access to care can make in terms of health outcomes – and the consequences of delayed diagnosis and treatment that results when one is uninsured.

Earlier this week, I rallied with my colleagues to call attention to the potentially devastating consequences of the Trump administration’s "Big Bad Bill" and how it threatens to adversely impact all Pennsylvanians. Click here to listen to my remarks.

On a related note, the Salk Health Activist Fellowship is a program available to graduate students and early-stage health professionals who are passionate about health equity and advocating for better policies to support the health of our communities. More information about the fellowship is available here.

Bringing greater access to hearing and speech services

Access to hearing and speech-related services is critical, from the youngest patient to the oldest. As with other fields, however, there is a shortage of audiologists and speech pathologists in Pennsylvania. This week, we took an important step toward addressing that issue when the House unanimously passed legislation that I introduced with state Rep. Kristin Marcell that would enable Pennsylvania to join the Audiology and Speech Language Pathology Interstate Compact and bring more of these health professionals to our state.

You can read more here about H.B. 80, which now heads to the state Senate for their consideration. Visit this page or click on the image above to hear my remarks from the House chamber.

How We Voted This Week in the House

In other votes this week, I supported – and the House passed – legislation that would:

Protect access to Pre-K Counts programs.
Guide modification of child custody orders to keep the focus on the child’s best interests.
Encourage restoration and reuse of old factory buildings.
Protect consumers by requiring companies to provide notification before each automatic renewal, be transparent about renewal terms, and allow subscribers to cancel their subscription services exclusively online if they initially subscribed online.
Protect the safety of hotel workers by requiring employers to provide devices that serve as “panic buttons” for employees working alone servicing guestrooms.
Keep campgrounds affordable by exempting privately owned campgrounds from local amusement and admission taxes.

Visit this page to read more about these and other bills.

America 250 Mobile Unit Coming to Picklesburgh!

A special mobile exhibit is coming to the Picklesburgh Festival this weekend, with contests, games, giveaways and other features to celebrate PA’s role in our nation’s upcoming 250th Birthday. The America250PA Countdown to 250 Mobile Experiential Unit will be at the festival on Saturday, July 12, from noon 10 p.m. and on Sunday, July 13, from noon to 6 p.m.

Visit this page for news of other fun events at Picklesburgh, which begins Friday, July 11, at noon.

New Traffic Configuration from Southbound I-279

to Southbound I-579 Takes Effect Sunday

PennDOT has announced that a new traffic configuration from southbound I-279 (Parkway North) to southbound I-579 in the City of Pittsburgh will begin Sunday morning, July 13, weather permitting. Visit this page for details, including changes and lane restrictions.

In other traffic-related news, this is a reminder that the filming of the movie “How to Rob a Bank” in Pittsburgh will result in some street closures beginning Monday July 14. Visit this page for details.

Finding Funding and Help with State Services

Please remember that my talented staff is available to help with a wide variety of state-related services, from filling out applications for state programs and services to obtaining a Senior ConnectCard or disability placard, to solving problems involving PennDOT and other state agencies. Contact us or stop by to see how we can help.

A list of the latest state grant programs is available 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.