Proposing legislation to treat stimulant use disorder; Standing up for paid medical leave; Securing money for local fire companies; Franklin Park to hold Home Rule Charter town hall – and more! Read more
HARRISBURG, Sept. 30 – To help target the growing public health concern of stimulant use disorder, which includes cocaine and methamphetamine use, state Reps. Arvind Venkat and Jamie Flick are planning to introduce bipartisan legislation that would provide funding for contingency management, one of the most effective ways to treat the disorder. Unlike opioid use disorder, there is no FDA-approved medication-assisted treatment for stimulant use disorder. Contingency management is a widely recognized approach to treating stimulant use disorder and involves providing modest, non-cash incentives, such as gift cards and transit or food vouchers, after achieving certain treatment goals, including drug screens and consistent counseling attendance. “As a physician, I have seen how difficult it can be to recover from stimulant use disorder, and the impacts it has on the body,” said Venkat, D-Allegheny . “I have also seen how contingency management can help that recovery and provide an answer to Pennsylvania’s ongoing addiction concerns.” "Solutions that make sense, backed by evidence, are clearly needed in this fight against addiction,” said Flick, R-Lycoming/Union . “We know that medication-assisted treatment works with opioid addiction, and studies have shown this same effect with contingency management.” To help fund contingency management across Pennsylvania, this Read more
Check out my latest e-newsletter to read about my Saturday shred event, my bills to protect public access to vaccines, achievements by talented district youth, a special contest for high schoolers - and more! Read more
PITTSBURGH, Sept. 26 – With the support of state Rep. Arvind Venkat , D-Allegheny, and state Sen. Devlin Robinson , R-Allegheny, the Ohio Township Volunteer Fire Company will receive $340,276 in state funding from the Office of the State Fire Commissioner. These funds will allow the fire company to retire debt on its newly purchased pumper/tanker. “As an emergency physician, I have seen firsthand how the crucial work of our fire services and first responders can save lives,” said Venkat. “As a legislator, I have seen how many fire companies are struggling with costs. I am committed to supporting our firefighters so they have the resources to continue serving us all.” “Our volunteer firefighters play an essential role in keeping communities safe, and they deserve strong support,” said Robinson. “This low-interest loan will help the Ohio Township Volunteer Fire Company upgrade its resources and continue providing lifesaving services. I’m grateful to work alongside Rep. Venkat to ensure our first responders have the tools they need to protect the families who count on them.” This state funding, which comes from a low-interest loan, will go to a new 2025 Rosenbaur Custom Pumper/Tanker, which will be delivered in 2026. This vehicle, which holds 3,000 gallons of water and disperses 2,000 gallons of water per minute, will replace a 1993 Sutphen Pumper/Tanker. Read more
HARRISBURG, Sept. 25 – In Washington, turmoil has grown among health policy agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which oversee key aspects of public health, including vaccines. In response, state Reps. Arvind Venkat , Tarik Khan , Bridget M. Kosierowski and Jennifer M. O’Mara have introduced legislation to protect Pennsylvanians’ access to vaccines provided by pharmacists, regardless of federal policy changes. Current state law allows pharmacists to administer vaccines based on CDC recommendations. The new legislation, H.B. 1881 , would also allow pharmacists to provide vaccines based on recommendations from Pennsylvania health authorities, which may draw from guidance issued by professional medical societies. “Chaos in federal health agency policymaking, which is no longer backed by scientific evidence but instead by anti-vaccine ideology, will cost people’s lives,” said Venkat, D-Allegheny. “This legislation will allow Pennsylvanians to avoid the politicization of health care and get the lifesaving vaccines they need, even if the federal government stops recommending them purely due to politics.” Under the proposal, state vaccination approvals would come from Pennsylvania’s health authorities and could be informed by professional medical societies such as the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the Read more
My upcoming shredding event; Advocating for better healthcare in Washington; Read my new print mailer; Public meetings on upcoming roadwork projects; New college scholarships available – and more! Read more
My Fall 2025 Print Newsletter Read more
My upcoming shred event, new traffic configurations, protecting vaccine access, recognizing our outstanding students – and more! Read more
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Join my office for a free community shred event! Read more
Protecting access to vaccines through pharmacists, solar power at our local schools, celebrating Labor Day, New RAD pass destinations – and more! Read more
HARRISBURG, Sept. 2 – In Washington, there has been increasing turmoil among health policy agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that handle many important aspects of public health, including vaccines. Because of this, state Reps. Arvind Venkat, Tarik Khan, Bridget M. Kosierowski and Jennifer M. O’Mara intend to introduce legislation that would protect Pennsylvanians’ access to vaccines provided by pharmacists regardless of federal policy changes. Current state law allows pharmacists to administer vaccines based on federal recommendations from the CDC. This new legislation would allow pharmacists to provide vaccines also based on recommendations from state health authorities, which may be informed by professional medical societies. “We will very soon see pharmacies cease their providing of certain vaccines due to the ongoing political turmoil in our federal health agencies, including the CDC,” said Venkat, D-Allegheny . “Chaos in federal health agency policymaking, which is no longer backed by scientific evidence, but instead by anti-vaccine ideology, will cost people’s lives. This legislation will allow Pennsylvanians to avoid this politicization of healthcare and get the life-saving vaccines they need, even if the federal government stops recommending them purely due to politics.” State vaccination administration approvals would additionally come from Read more
Observing Labor Day; Protecting vaccine access; Free repairs for lead paint; Expanding health science programs – and more! Read more
HARRISBURG, Aug. 28 – In the wake of major changes to a federal vaccine advisory panel that could threaten Pennsylvanians’ access to life-saving immunizations, state Reps. Arvind Venkat, Bridget Kosierowski and Tarik Khan, all health professionals, have introduced legislation that would protect Pennsylvanians’ access to recommended vaccines. The legislation, H.B. 1828 , would require private insurers to cover vaccines that have been recommended by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The department would be able to draw upon the expertise of professional medical societies in that recommendation, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American College of Physicians, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the Infectious Diseases Society of America, and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine. Venkat said the legislation is needed to ensure that critical immunization protections remain available to Pennsylvanians after recent developments from the federal government. “We have seen the firing of all members of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, and their replacement with several anti-vaccine activists. We have also seen the firing and resignation of the entire leadership of the CDC due to their unwillingness to support anti-vaccine policies,” said Venkat, D-Allegheny. Read more
House Fellowship applications open; Touring local non-profits; Celebrating our Indian-American community; Immigrant Workforce Program – and more! Read more
Check out my latest e-newsletter to read about how we are stepping up for public transit; why Pennie costs will increase; my visits to local food aid and animal rescue groups - and more! Read more
Advancing geothermal energy; National Night Out; Avoiding scam texts; 60 years of the Voting Rights Act – and more! Read more
With a skilled workforce that has made Pennsylvania a leader in electrical and natural gas production, the state is uniquely positioned to become a leader in next-generation geothermal energy. That is why state Reps. Arvind Venkat, Elizabeth Fiedler and Craig Williams are planning to introduce legislation to establish regulatory clarity that will allow the development of Enhanced Geothermal Systems in Pennsylvania. Read more
Regulating AI in healthcare; honoring our veterans; local park events; celebrating student swimmers – and more! Read more
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