Fighting unfair finance charges; protecting health professionals; welcoming an astronaut to the Capitol – and more!

Rep. Arvind Venkat May 9, 2025 | 3:21 PM

Banning Unfair Financial Charges

Fees charged for paper account statements penalize consumers who can least afford them – older adults on fixed incomes, lower-income households, and people with limited access to technology. This week, we moved a step closer to banning those charges when the House passed H.B. 81, which I introduced with state Reps. Rob Matzie and Thomas Mehaffie. The bill now heads to the Senate for consideration.

You can read more here and listen to my remarks in the House chamber here.

Protecting Health Professionals from Workplace Violence

Too many of us who work in the health care professions have experienced workplace threats and violence. It’s a critical issue that threatens to impact care for everyone. I was glad to vote for legislation, introduced by my colleagues Reps. Leanne Krueger and Bridget Kosierowski, that would enact stronger protections. Visit this page to hear my remarks on the bill.

How We Voted This Week in the House

This week in the House, I voted for – and the House passed – bills to ban unfair consumer practices, fight discrimination, help working families, and better protect workers, seniors, and children. Among other measures, we passed bills to –

Protect health professionals from workplace violence.
Place defibrillators in state-owned buildings.
Increase tax relief for working Pennsylvanians.
Better protect children from sexual predators.
Help counties treat retired workers fairly.
End wage discrimination for comparable work.
Streamline child custody determinations.
Help non-teaching school staff make ends meet.
Help consumers identify veteran-owned businesses.

Visit this page to read about these and other bills we passed.

This week, I also voted with my House Democratic colleagues to pass legislation that would legalize adult-use cannabis.

As a physician, I know that cannabis is less dangerous than tobacco or alcohol, both of which are legal and regulated. I also know that cannabis is not benign.

I voted for H.B. 1200 because I believe it would strike the right balance of regulation, packaging, and marketing to reduce the public health concerns, empower local communities to decide where cannabis is available, and address the real criminal justice and social impacts of criminalization. You can hear my comment in the House chamber here.

Around the Capitol

In other news from the state Capitol, I joined fellow members of the PA Legislative Asian Pacific American Caucus to celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. As vice chair of the caucus, I was honored to welcome leaders from Pittsburgh Indian Community and Friends and recognize all the great work this organization does on behalf of our community and region.

In related news, I was pleased to see an overwhelming, bipartisan majority of the House adopt H.R. 172 – which I introduced with Reps. Tarik Khan, Nate Davidson, and Steve Malagari – to recognize May 2025 in Pennsylvania as Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in Pennsylvania. You can listen to my remarks in the House chamber here.

I was honored to join colleagues and the Governor for the Pennsylvania Fraternal Order of Police Memorial Service, which was held to recognize law enforcement heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.

It was exciting to welcome NASA astronaut and North Allegheny School District grad Warren “Woody” Hoburg to the House chamber. Among other career achievements, Dr. Hoburg launched to the International Space Station as pilot of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-6 mission!

I appreciated having a chance to host members of the Pennsylvania Academy of Family Physicians in Harrisburg during their advocacy day. Family physicians are leaders in primary care, and as a physician-legislator, I am proud to support them in their critical work.

On Wednesday, during Sickle Cell Advocacy Day, I spoke of the need to prioritize improving care for patients with this condition and of the importance of advocacy. You can hear my comments here.

It’s always a pleasure to host neighbors at the Capitol, like the members of Leadership Pittsburgh Inc. who came from McCandless and Franklin Park to discuss important issues facing our region and state.

We said farewell Friday to our legislative intern, Gideon (above, being announced to the House chamber and greeted by Speaker McClinton), thanked him for his hard work on behalf of our community, and congratulated him on his recent graduation from the University of Pittsburgh. We wish Gideon the best in his future endeavors!

Around the District

Back at home, I visited the McCandless-Franklin Park Ambulance Authority to discuss the need for facility improvements. As an ER Doc and legislator, I am committed to advocating on behalf of our dedicated EMS professionals and supporting their lifesaving work on the front lines.

I also attended the Eastern Atlantic State Regional Council of Carpenters Open House at the Carpenters Pittsburgh Training Center. These highly skilled craftspeople play a key role in our region’s prosperity, and it was wonderful to see their efforts and learn more about how I can advocate on their behalf in Harrisburg.

Voting Information & Resources

This is a reminder that May 13 is the deadline to apply for an absentee or mail ballot for the May 20 municipal primary. You can find voting resources below.

Is There Money in Your Mailbox?

According to the state Treasury, 40,000 Pennsylvanians are receiving letters this week as part of the PA Money Match program, which returns unclaimed property worth $500 or less automatically.

You can search for unclaimed property by visiting this page. My office can also help you search!

Wild Resource Conservation Grants Now Open

The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has opened applications for the 2025 Wild Resource Conservation Program grants, which support conservation research protecting the state’s native wildlife, plants, and ecosystems. Applications are due by 4 p.m. and should be submitted through DCNR’s online grant portal. You can read more here.

Please remember that the state has a handy tool to help search for grants. Visit this page to search, or this page for a list of all the latest programs.

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

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.