Working with our first responders; Holiday office closure; Recognizing local student performers; Prepare for the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh

Working with our first responders; Holiday office closure; Recognizing local student performers; Prepare for the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh – and more!

Rep. Arvind Venkat April 2, 2026 | 1:48 PM

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Office Closure Update

My office will be closed on April 3 in observance of Good Friday. We will resume regular hours on Monday, April 6.

If you need assistance during that time, please call my office at (412) 348-8028 or email RepVenkat@pahouse.net, and my staff will get back to you once we reopen.

Working with our First Responders – and other District Updates

I had the chance to visit the Emsworth Volunteer Fire Company for their Rescue Day, where they trained with first responders from across the region to prepare to keep us safe. As an ER doctor and legislator, I am proud to partner with these heroes and support their incredibly important work.

Veena and I enjoyed attending the North Allegheny Women’s Association Adult Egg Hunt, which this year supported North Hills Cares. Thank you for hosting such a wonderful event and for the important work you do to support our community.

We also had a great time attending the Pongal Sangamam celebration, hosted by the Fulbright Association India Interest Group and Duquesne University. As members of the Tamil community, my family and I are grateful to Persis Naumann and the Tamil and multicultural students who organized this wonderful event.

It was great to have dinner at Sts. Martha & Mary Parish’s St. Catherine of Sweden 30th Annual Fish Fry in Hampton Township with my intern, Pranjal. Wishing a blessed Lenten season to the Christian community of the North Hills and all of Pennsylvania.

Recognizing our Outstanding Student Performers

This weekend, several student performers from the Hampton Township School District achieved high marks. The Hampton Indoor Percussion Ensemble took home the TRWEA Championship title for the second year in a row, while the high school and middle school color guards placed second and third in their respective competitions.

Hampton also had four students represented at the PMEA Region Band, and seven students at the PMEA Elementary String Fest.

Congratulations to all of you on your outstanding achievements!

Make Sure You’re Registered to Vote

Primary Election Day is rapidly approaching! The election is on May 19, and it is important that everyone can have their voices heard at the ballot box. You can register to vote here by May 4, check your registration here, and request a mail-in ballot here by May 12.

Under current Pennsylvania law, you must be a registered Democrat or Republican to vote in that respective party’s primary election. I am proud to support legislation that would let all eligible voters, even those who are not affiliated with a political party, have a say in their government by voting in the primary.

AARP's Shred Event

If you could not make it to my recent shred event, another will be available locally soon! AARP Pittsburgh will be hosting a document shredding event to safely dispose of sensitive documents on Saturday, April 11 in the McCandless Town Hall Parking Lot (9955 Grubbs Road).

Prepare for the NFL Draft – PRT’s Transportation Plan

Pittsburgh is expected to welcome hundreds of thousands of visitors for the NFL Draft April 23 - 25. Please review Pittsburgh Regional Transit’s transportation plan to help ensure you can get where you need to be during this time.

Additionally, Pick Up PA – the state’s largest community improvement project – can provide FREE work gloves, safety vests, and trash bags as supplies last for anyone who is interested in helping to beautify our region ahead of this colossal event. Get more information here.

DMVA Mobile Office Hours

The Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs announced that its mobile veterans outreach team is available free of charge throughout the state to assist veterans. The team helps veterans obtain information and start benefit claim paperwork with the support of accredited veterans service officers.

For more details on how to request an outreach team for a community event, visit the Mobile Veterans Outreach Team webpage or visit DMVA at www.dmva.pa.gov.

Governor’s Survey for Women in Pennsylvania

The Governor’s Advisory Commission on Women has launched a new digital survey to gather input from women across Pennsylvania. This survey is part of the Shapiro Administration’s upcoming State of the Woman Report, a comprehensive, data-driven effort to assess the status of women throughout the state.

The survey, which can be found here, will be open through May 30 and will collect insight from Pennsylvania women on their experiences and priorities to better inform the Administration’s policies that impact women. The survey is also available in Spanish and Chinese.

There will also be a statewide listening tour to further engage with the women of Pennsylvania, including a stop in Pittsburgh on May 14.

Finally, please remember that my talented staff can help you with a variety of state-related matters – from filing an application for the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program to obtaining a disability placard or senior bus pass, just to name a few. Contact us or stop by to see how we can help!

You can read my e-newsletter in a way that’s most convenient for you by visiting my legislative website here and clicking on the accessibility icon in the lower right corner.