Joe Markosek was first elected to the House in 1982. Since then, he has worked to improve life for the disabled, raise the bar on education, fix roads and protect consumers. Among Joe’s greatest legislative achievements is his introduction of legislation, now law, ensuring appropriate standards of care for autistic children.

Joe’s career has been focused considerably on transportation issues. He was the catalyst in securing funding for the Route 22 widening project in Murrysville, and was instrumental in providing the Link (small) Bus system for the Monroeville area. He also introduced legislation calling for a feasibility study on creating a new Southwest Pennsylvania Regional Transit Authority, which would offer a larger and more efficient system to western Pennsylvania. In November 1996, Joe was appointed unanimously to a five-year term on the Allegheny County Port Authority Board of Directors, where he served until 2001.

Joe’s extensive ties to transportation issues make him well qualified for his position as majority chairman of the House Transportation Committee. As chairman, Joe serves on several statewide boards including the State Transportation Commission, which is responsible for evaluating the condition performance of the Commonwealth’s transportation system and assessing the resources required to preserve, restore and expand transportation facilities in the Commonwealth. He is the author of Act 44, the current Pennsylvania transportation funding law.

Joe has been active in the community with the Monroeville Drug and Alcohol Task Force, the Monroeville Chamber of Commerce and Knights of Columbus.

Joe was raised in the Scott Township section of Allegheny County and graduated from Chartiers Valley High School. He attended the University of Notre Dame where he received his bachelor’s degree in history and was active in sports and politics. Joe continued his education at the Duquesne University Graduate School of Business. He then joined the Westinghouse Water Reactor Division as a buyer of nuclear components and was sent to Three Mile Island immediately following the nuclear accident in 1979 as part of the repair/recovery team.

Joe enjoys reading, walking and photography. He has one son, Brandon.