If you are having trouble viewing this
message or would like to share it on a social network, you can view the message
online.
 |
Constituent Stories 2025 Semiannual Constituent Wins! The first half of the year has been a busy one in my District Offices. In the first six months of 2025, we’ve opened over 3670 cases for constituents across a wide variety of subjects. You can see some of the most popular areas that we help people with on the graph above or check out the stats below.
As you can see, we’re able to assist with a broad range of issues. Where we can’t help directly, we’re happy to refer you to people who can help. We look forward to seeing and talking to more of you in the second half of 2025!
Upcoming Events
FREE Paper Shredding
Event If you weren’t able to come to our July 12th Shredding Event, don’t worry. We will be at the Ross Township DPW for another free shredding event this Saturday, July 26th with Rep. Emily Kinkead from 9-11am. Office Hours at the Kingsley
Association! My office hosts monthly office hours on the first Friday of every month at the Kingsley Association. Stop by and say hello to our staff during our new time slot from 9:00 AM -1:00 PM to get all of the services our District Offices provide.
We will not have notary services available this month. If you need a notary, please contact our office to schedule in one of our District Offices:
Get the Support You’ve Earned: Veterans Service Officer Appointments Available! Our next Veterans Services Officer (VSO) office day is coming up soon! We have appointments available on Monday, August 4th from noon - 2 pm in our Ross Township Office. Whether you have questions about your or a family member’s benefits or just want a fresh review to ensure that you’re receiving all of the benefits you’ve earned, a VSO can help! Contact us at 412-364-0469 (Ross), 724-224-2131 (Harrison), or email us at [email protected] to book your one-on-one session - appointments fill up quickly, so don’t delay! Good News Increase Rape Crisis Center Funding Last month, I joined survivors, Pittsburgh Action Against Rape (PAAR), and legislators from across the state to sound the alarm. Our rape crisis centers have had five years of flat funding in the Pennsylvania budget– and that has put survivor support services in jeopardy. It's time to stop saying we support victims and actually fund the work that protects victims. Read more about the funding crisis facing victims services in PublicSource's deep dive: https://www.publicsource.org/rape-crisis-centers-say-limited-funding-threaten-survivor-support-pennsylvania/. Hampton Township Community Day My July Fourth weekend kicked off early at Hampton Township’s Community Day. Despite the summer heat, the turnout was fantastic, and my staff and I had some great conversations with old and new friends! These summer community days are a great way to connect with friends and neighbors and enjoy the best that the community has to offer. Honoring Independence at Cooper-Siegel Library I was honored to join local residents in the Welcome Garden at Cooper-Siegel Community Library on the Fourth of July for a live reading of the Declaration of Independence. It was a powerful moment of reflection on the values that define our country. My excerpt from the Declaration: “But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security...” I’m thrilled to hear the Library plans to make this an annual tradition leading up to the Fox Chapel fireworks display. Hearing the Declaration read aloud by fellow community members is a moving reminder that independence was deeply necessary and hard-won. Read the full Declaration here: archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration-transcript. Summer Concert in the Park I rounded out a busy Fourth of July weekend by enjoying the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra at Hartwood Acres! The performance was part of Allegheny County’s free Summer Concert Series, which brings incredible live music to our parks every weekend. It's a perfect way to spend a summer evening, and best of all—it’s free! I hope you’re making the most of this amazing series and catching a show or two before summer slips away. For a list of performances go to: https://www.alleghenycounty.us/Parks-and-Events/Special-Events/Summer-Concerts-Series. East Liberty City in the Streets: Connecting Our Community We had a great time at City in the Streets on July 8th at Liberty Green Park. Mayor Ed Gainey and local groups brought together neighbors from East Liberty, Larimer, and Lincoln-Lemington for a night of family-friendly activities, local vendors, and the chance to meet directly with local government agencies in their own community. It was a fantastic way for residents to learn about the resources and new programs their city government offers—and to share ideas for improvements. Community gatherings like this strengthen our neighborhoods, and I’m looking forward to the next one!
Legislative Update Continuing to Serve our PA Guardsmen I am incredibly proud to announce that, on July 7, 2025, Rep. Arvind Venkat’s House Bill 865, which was originally introduced by Senator Tracy Pennycuick and myself, and adopted by the state House of Representatives, was signed into law as Act 32 of 2025. Act 32 updates the Military Family Education Plan, or PA GI Bill, which covers the cost of a state-system college education for a dependent of a member of the National Guard as a benefit for a six-year enlistment. Many Guard members who benefited from the MFEP are deciding whether to enlist for another six years. There was a need to clarify that a Guard member is eligible for an additional MFEP assistance grant for additional dependents each time the member re-enlists. The law guarantees this MFEP benefit in the Military and Veterans Code of the Commonwealth and ensures that Members who are honorably discharged receive a proportional benefit for their service. The PA GI Bill was my first piece of legislation signed into law after taking office. I was incredibly proud to give back to our Guard Members and their families by supporting their education. It is my honor to listen to their feedback and make improvements to the programs to better reward and recognize their incredible service to the Commonwealth and our country. What bills did Pittsburgh-area lawmakers get signed into law this month? | 90.5 WESA News You Can Use Veterans Temporary Assistance Program The Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs is offering financial assistance to Veterans and their dependents who need assistance meeting basic needs. Eligible Veterans or their survivors can qualify for up to $1,600 in financial assistance over a 12-month period. Learn more about the program’s criteria, eligibility and needed documentation: To apply, contact the Allegheny County Veterans Affairs Director, John Kaufman, at [email protected] or (412) 621-4357. Broadband Equity Access and
Development Program Opens a 2nd Round The Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority (PBDA) has opened Round Two of the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program through Friday, August 1, 2025. This program is funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021. Its purpose is to expand internet access in Pennsylvania through competitive grants to organizations and businesses that can build high speed broadband service infrastructure. Application resources are available on the BEAD Program page, including eligibility criteria, updated FAQs, a list of eligible Broadband Serviceable Locations (BSLs), Broadband Serviceable Areas (BSAs), Community Anchor Institutions (CAIs), and application templates. For additional questions about BEAD, email [email protected]. Allegheny County Climate Action Plan Needs Your Input In case you missed it, earlier this month Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato announced the official start of the public engagement phase for Allegheny County’s first-ever Climate Action Plan (CAP). If you are feeling discouraged by the lack of progress on climate solutions, this is your chance to make your voice heard! Over the next two months, you can share your vision for the County’s climate goals by:
The Climate Action Plan will propose solutions ranging from low-carbon operations in County buildings and fleets to community-wide programs that reduce household energy costs and support local clean-tech businesses. Don’t miss this opportunity to be a part of the plan for your community’s future climate strategies. For additional information and to get involved please visit alleghenycounty.us/climateactionplan. Outdoor Movies in Allegheny County Parks Grab the kids and some blankets or chairs for one of the remaining free family-friendly outdoor movie nights this summer in one of our Allegheny County Parks! The complete movie schedule is available at: Movies in the Parks - Allegheny County, PA. Movies are every Thursday, weather permitting. Seating starts at 7:00 and the show begins at dusk, generally between 8:50 pm - 9:15 pm. Closed captioning is available upon request. In the event of inclement weather, please check the Allegheny County Parks Facebook page for updates. Stanton Heights Community Opportunities If you live in Stanton Heights and are looking to meet your neighbors and build community, consider joining the Stanton Heights Neighborhood Association (SHNA) for their upcoming Neighbor Night on Monday, July 28. You can mingle, hear about neighborhood events and plans, and enjoy a potluck-style cookie table. They are also looking for volunteers for their August 16 SHNA Community Day. Get involved by emailing [email protected]. 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). |
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
