WEST CHESTER, May 8 – State Rep. Carolyn Comitta will host a Senior Expo this month to help older adults access the services and opportunities available to them. The Expo will be held from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, May 19 in the Bayard Rustin High School gymnasium, 1100 Shiloh Road. Numerous vendors and senior services providers will be on hand with information. There also will be health screenings, entertainment, door prizes and light refreshments. “A host of programs and services are available to help older adults maintain healthy and active lifestyles,” said Comitta, D-Chester. “I’m happy to be able to bring agencies together to make it easier for local seniors to access the information they need.” Anyone with questions should call Comitta’s district office at 610-696-4990. Read more

I was pleased to help celebrate the 50th anniversary of Pennsylvania’s Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee last week! I serve as a member of the committee, which does valuable work to protect our environment. Last week I had the opportunity to share some of that work during a presentation at the World Information Transfer’s 27th International Conference at the United Nations in New York. I’ve been an executive board member of World Information Transfer since 1992, and I’ve had the pleasure to take more than 2,600 Chester County students to the conference in that time. Click here to see my presentation. Read more

The 2018-19 PA State Grant application filing deadline is Tuesday, May 1. This deadline applies to all renewal applicants and first-time applicants who plan to enroll in colleges, universities, or a college transfer program at 2-year public or private colleges (except community colleges and designated Pennsylvania Open Admission institutions). Additionally, unlike a student loan, a grant is gift aid which does not have to be repaid. To apply for a PA State Grant, applicants must first complete the 2018-19 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Applicants can access this form online by clicking here or here . In addition to completing the FAFSA, first-time applicants must also submit a completed PA State Grant Form. First-time applicants who submit the FAFSA online will be automatically redirected to the SGF by following the onscreen prompts on the confirmation page. First-time applicants who have already submitted their FAFSA but have not completed the SGF will receive an email directing them to PHEAA’s secure Account Access site for completion. Both applications are free to submit. First-time applicants who plan to enroll in a community college, business, trade, or technical school, a hospital school of nursing, a designated Pennsylvania Open Admission institution, or a non-transferable 2-year degree program at a community, 2-year or 4-year college have until Aug. 1, 2018 to complete their PA State Grant application. Students and families are Read more

HARRISBURG, April 10 – State legislators and advocates held a rally in the Capitol today to call for action on strengthening Pennsylvania's outdated, ineffective equal-pay law. Today is Equal Pay Day, the symbolic day when women’s average earnings catch up to men’s from the previous year. "Our state ranks 29th in the United States for pay equity. Women in Pennsylvania on average make 79 percent of what men make. It takes women an additional four months and four days to get paid the same as their male counterparts. This is despite the fact that we are just as qualified and have the same amount of experience," said state Rep. Maria Donatucci, D-Phila./Delaware, chairwoman of the Philadelphia County Delegation. "I am fighting for change with my legislation, House Bill 830 . It would ensure equal pay for equal work. The bill currently sits in the House Labor and Industry Committee, where it has remained for more than a year. The facts have remained the same for far too long: women make far less than men here in Pennsylvania and that is unfair and economically self-defeating." Rep. Dan Frankel, D-Allegheny, co-chairman of the Women's Health Caucus, said, "Mother's Day is coming up next month. Instead of nice words, it's time to deliver something that working mothers and all Pennsylvania working women deserve: equal pay for equal work! I have been hearing from so many women who are angry about what's been going Read more

In the wake of the Parkland shooting massacre, my office has received many calls from constituents about my stance on gun violence prevention and what action is being taken locally and beyond to help prevent future mass shootings. Here, I will share an overview of my work and thoughts on gun violence prevention and some ways you can get involved. Your voice is needed to spark reform and prevent violence We again mourn the tragic loss of 17 precious lives, the wounding of many more and grieve with the Parkland victim’s family and friends. Our grief is combined with a call to action that has been so passionately and eloquently expressed by young survivors of the Parkland shooting: “This isn't about the GOP. This isn't about the Democrats,” said Cameron Kasky, a student of Stoneman Douglas High School. “This is about the adults. We feel neglected and at this point, you're either with us or against us." “Any politician on either side who is taking money from the NRA is responsible for events like this,” the high school junior said of the shooting. “At the end of the day, the NRA is Read more

2/13/2018-KING OF PRUSSIA The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, (PennDOT) today announced that it has begun the process of updating the Statewide Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan and is inviting the public to weigh in through an online survey. The plan, last updated in 2007, will outline a vision and framework for improving conditions for walking and bicycling across Pennsylvania, especially for those Pennsylvanians who walk and bicycle out of necessity rather than for leisure and recreation. “Keeping our transportation network safe and accessible for all transportation modes is a crucial responsibility,” said PennDOT Secretary Leslie S.Richards, “We are accountable for supporting and improving quality of life for communities, and updating our bicycle and pedestrian master plan is a crucial step in that process.” Over the next 18 months, PennDOT will use the project website to provide information on the department’s progress. The community survey also will be accessible on the site and will play a critical role in understanding the current issues and challenges facing people who walk and bike across Pennsylvania. Once completed, the Pennsylvania Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan will be a resource for Municipal Planning Organizations (MPOs), Regional Planning Organizations (RPOs), and municipalities throughout Pennsylvania, providing guidance to local governments on best practices for Read more

WEST CHESTER, Feb. 8 – A $750,000 grant to help build a connector road and pedestrian path along two major intersections along U.S. Route 202 in Westtown was approved today, said state Rep. Carolyn Comitta, D-Chester. The new connector road and pedestrian/bicycle path will make the area more walkable and provide children access to safer routes to school. The road and path will be immediately west of and run parallel to U.S. 202, connecting West Pleasant Grove Road and Stetson School Drive. The total project cost is $2.397 million. “The Commonwealth Finance Authority recognized another great opportunity to invest in Westtown, and I believe that reflects on the hard work in a well-run and vibrant community,” Comitta said. “Congratulations to Westtown planners and residents.” The CFA approved the funding, which was made possible through the state Transportation Department's Multimodal Transportation Fund. The MTF was created by Act 89 of 2013, Pennsylvania’s broad transportation funding plan. When enacted, transit, aviation, rail freight and pedestrian and bicycle modes obtained dedicated sources of funds, putting the modes on a firmer footing for future initiatives. Read more

Materials from roundtable discussion hosted by State Rep. Carolyn Comitta. Read more

WEST CHESTER, Jan. 30 – State Rep. Carolyn Comitta, D-Chester, today hosted a House Democratic Policy Committee roundtable discussion in the West Goshen Township Building on child care issues and her H.B. 2035 , which would provide a tax deduction for the cost of child care. Comitta was joined by House Democratic Policy Committee Chairman Mike Sturla, D-Lancaster; legislators from across the state and local childcare advocates. “All families deserve access to safe, reliable, quality care for their children. That care can get costly, and I believe that offering tax relief up to $10,000 would provide a great benefit to working families. I am thrilled that the House Democratic Policy Committee came to West Chester to discuss how my legislation might positively impact families across the state,” Comitta said. Sturla added, “One of the main goals of our Plan4PA is to give kids a great start in life. Giving parents a tool that will help them afford quality child care is an important component of our plan. When parents pay for child care, it’s so much more than a babysitter. It’s an investment in their child’s future. Rep. Comitta’s bill is a simple concept that could make a big difference in the lives of Pennsylvania families.” Panelists included Andrea Youndt, senior vice president and chief operating officer, YMCA of Greater Brandywine; and Bill Shoffler, Bucks County Coordinator for PreK for PA Campaign and Campaign Read more

WEST CHESTER, Jan. 25 – State Rep. Carolyn Comitta, D-Chester, today announced she will host a House Democratic Policy Committee roundtable to discuss child care issues, including accessibility and affordability. The roundtable will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 30 at the West Goshen Township Building, board room, 1025 Paoli Pike. The media and public are invited to attend. Comitta requested the meeting to also get public input on her H.B. 2035, which would provide a dollar-for-dollar tax deduction up to $10,000 annually to help offset the cost of child care. Policy experts and state legislators, including Policy Committee Chairman Mike Sturla, D-Lancaster, will participate in the discussion. The House Democratic Caucus’ Plan4PA strives to provide safe, affordable care for children. The current agenda is: 2 p.m. Welcome and opening remarks 2:10 p.m. Discussion with panelists: Andrea Yound t, senior vice president and chief operating officer, YMCA of Greater Brandywine Bill Shoffler , Bucks County Coordinator for PreK for PA Campaign and Campaign for Fair Education Funding, Public Citizens for Children and Youth Representative from Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce 3:30 p.m. Closing remarks Visit http://planforpa.pahouse.com for additional information about the Plan4PA and www.pahouse.com/policycommittee for Policy Committee materials. Read more