Upcoming Events

Come Out for Sharpsburg’s Pride Celebration! *Weather Permitting

We had a great time attending June’s community events in Senate District 38 and are looking forward to Sharpsburg’s Pride event this weekend! Stop by our table for resources, questions, or to share what is important to you with Senator Williams. Hope to see you there!

 

July Community Days!

Summer is in full swing, and we are excited about attending Community Days in Hampton, Springdale, and Larimer in July! We’re looking forward to enjoying some fireworks, bands, car shows, yummy food, kid’s activities, health clinics and more with everyone. Come by our table to talk with Senator Williams or to pick up some resources from her staff. 

Good News

Allies for Health Opens Their New Pharmacy

It was great to join Rep. Summer Lee and Allies for Health + Wellbeing last Thursday for the ribbon cutting ceremony for their new on-site pharmacy!

Removing the added barrier of a visit to the pharmacy after a medical appointment is just another way that Allies is making healthcare more accessible for the community.

Sharpsburg Receives Multi-million Dollar Grant 

Congratulations to Sharpsburg on receiving a $24.9 million Federal grant through the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) Program!

Funding will be used to support multimodal transportation connections that link the Sharpsburg community with the new Allegheny Shores development.

Allegheny County riverfronts have been engines of industry for hundreds of years, but that history left a lasting mark on our shores and has cut people off from the water. With this federal infrastructure funding investment, Sharpsburg can turn a legacy industrial brownfield into an opportunity for people to reconnect to the riverfront through recreation, housing, transportation, and new jobs.

Thank you to U.S. Senator Bob Casey, Senator John Fetterman, and Congressman Chris Deluzio!

My Office is a Certified Recovery Friendly Workplace!

I'm excited to announce that my office is a Certified Recovery Friendly Workplace! Thank you to Unity Recovery and Greg Young for all of your help and guidance in this process.

Meeting people where they are has been a priority for my office since Day One, and that extends to the employees of Senate District 38 as well as my constituents. Becoming a Recovery Friendly Workplace is another step in creating a safe and supportive office that respects every individual who walks through our doors.

Interested in learning what it takes to become certified as a Recovery Friendly Workplace?  Start by visiting RecoveryFriendlyPA.org or contact [email protected] to set up an informational session!

A supportive workplace is a productive workplace!

Read more at Senator Lindsey M. Williams Becomes First PA Legislative Office Certified as Recovery Friendly Workplace.

 

Supporting Quality, Affordable Childcare for All Pennsylvanians

Earlier this month, I joined Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato, Rep. La'Tasha D. Mayes, Rep. Lindsay Powell, Trying Together, and local childcare workers to advocate for an increased investment in early childcare and pre-K programs.

The results from the All In Allegheny Community Survey were loud and clear: one of the biggest workforce and youth development issues facing Allegheny County residents across all ages, races, genders, and income levels is access to quality, affordable childcare and pre-k programs. Childcare and childcare workers are the backbone of our economy.

That's why I support new and recurring state funding that will implement a childcare teacher recruitment and retention initiative, as well as increasing childcare subsidy rates to the 75th percentile. States like Maine, Kentucky, and Nebraska have done this, and this change in subsidy payment has made an enormous impact!

Transportation Committee in Pittsburgh

Last week, the Senate Transportation Committee was in Pittsburgh for two days. 

On Monday, we joined the Port of Pittsburgh for a river tour to discuss the commercial and recreational benefits and opportunities that our region has to offer. Thank you to the Port of Pittsburgh Commission for sharing your expertise and to the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission for keeping our rivers safe!

On Tuesday, we had the opportunity to tour the Pittsburgh International Airport's existing facilities and new terminal modernization construction project. Once completed in 2025, the new terminal will offer a more efficient, streamlined experience throughout your travels.

We also had the chance to talk about improving the public transportation network with the Airport. Right now, getting workers and travelers to the airport is still a missing piece of the puzzle that we need to solve.

The Committee then held a roundtable discussion with representatives from the Airport, the Port of Pittsburgh, and the Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce. This wide-ranging conversation focused on both the new Airport construction, as well as maximizing both commercial and recreational use of Pittsburgh’s waterways.

Legislative Update

Supporting Career and Tech Ed Funding

I’m excited to announce that my Career and Technical Education Funding Bill passed the Senate Education Committee unanimously. Senate Bill 366 is co-prime sponsored by all six Senate members of the Basic Education Funding Commission. It requires that the data used to calculate Career and Technical Education (CTE) funding be fixed on June 1 of each year. This change gives Career and Technical Centers (CTCs) greater predictability over their budgets and aligns the CTE funding formula with the Special Education and Basic Education funding formulas.

Career and Technical Education gives students across Pennsylvania hands-on workforce training and credentialing that leads to family sustaining careers, often at low- or no-cost to students. This administrative change will give our CTCs the financial predictability they need to offer or expand programs that prepare students for in-demand jobs in the trades, healthcare, education, food preparation, and more.

You can read more about this legislation here: Sen. Lindsey M. Williams’ Career and Technical Education Funding Bill Unanimously Passes Senate Education Committee  - Senator Lindsey Williams.

Allegheny County’s Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program Opens a Waitlist!

Allegheny County Senior Community Centers had a very large and successful turnout for their in-person Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program voucher distribution on Tuesday, June 25th. All in-person distribution has ended. But in the interest of fairness, the Allegheny County Area Agency on Aging (AAA) is moving to a waitlist they will manage with a mail-in application process. The wait list will be created from received applications on a first-come, first-served basis. Vouchers will be mailed to seniors after August 1, 2024. Deadline for waitlist applications is July 30, 2024.

You can download and print an application here: sfmnp-application-english.pdf (alleghenycounty.us). Please complete this form and mail it to: Allegheny County Area Agency on Aging 2100 Wharton St., 2nd Floor - Attn: SFMNP Pittsburgh, PA 15203.

If you need assistance getting an application, please call my office at 412-364-0469 (McKnight) or 724-224-2131 (Harrison).

Full information on the waitlist and applications in 5 languages are available here: sfmnp.pdf (alleghenycounty.us).

Is Your Project on PennDOT’s List? 

Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) wants to hear from YOU about their 2025 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) - a list of prioritized projects identified for funding by federal fiscal year. The draft includes funding from federal, state, local, and private resources over four years for capital improvements. The STIP consists of a list of prioritized projects and phases identified for funding by federal fiscal year. 

To read about the STIP and to share your thoughts on Pennsylvania’s transportation plans go to:  Statewide Transportation Improvement Program - Talk PA Transportation. The last day to comment is Wednesday, July 3rd.

Visit talkpatransportation.com for complete information.

PA LGBTQ+ Health Needs Survey

The 2024 Pennsylvania LGBTQ Health Needs Assessment is now open for responses! This assessment is a biennial survey that aims to fill in the research on LGBTQ+ people’s health needs and disparities in Pennsylvania. Responses will be used to explore strategies to close care gaps and strengthen the health and well-being of the LGBTQ+ community.  

The survey is funded by the PA Department of Health and administered by the Bradbury Sullivan LGBT Community Center and Public Health Management Corporation and closes in August. All LGBTQ Pennsylvanians who are 13 or older are encouraged to take the survey. It only takes about 25 minutes to complete!

Complete the survey at:  https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/7444161/4aed5a49c604.

Free Fishing Clinic for Kids this Saturday at Lake Carnegie in Highland Park!

Pittsburgh Let’s Go Fishing is holding another kids FREE fishing clinic at Lake Carnegie in Highland Park this Saturday June 29th from 9:00-2:00 pm. Children will receive instruction on the lifelong sport of fishing and equipment and bait are provided!  Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Scan the QR code above to register.

Pittsburgh Let’s Go Fishing also needs volunteers. Fishing experience is not required and you don’t have to touch the worms if you don't want to! Interested in volunteering? Email Michael Beakley at [email protected].

Shaler Boys Volleyball Team Wins 2024 PIAA Championship!

Congratulations to Shaler Area High School’s varsity boys volleyball team on their PIAA championship win on June 15th! 

FusionFest Juneteenth Celebration This Saturday, June 29th!

The Juneteenth celebration in Pittsburgh continues with FusionFest this Saturday at the Greenwood Plan (213 Smithfield St.). FusionFest showcases the amazing talent we have right here in our community and features a variety of attractions—like a historic walk through Black Pittsburgh, a maker’s market, a spoken word and author experience, interactive activities for kids, health, wellness and fitness, a stunning art gallery, fashion show and market, eye-catching commissioned art installations, and a day of performances. Hope to see you there!

As always, please feel free to reach out with any questions you may have by phone at 412-364-0469 (Ross Office), 724-224-2131 (Harrison Office) or by email at [email protected]. My staff will return your call/email within 24 hours (Monday-Friday).

Senator Lindsey Williams