Fighting for Care You Need | Organ Donor Awareness

Fighting for Care You Need | Organ Donor Awareness | Losing PA Services, Workers

Rep. Ryan Bizzarro April 3, 2025 | 3:19 PM

PA Representative Ryan Bizzarro's banner image

DONATE LIFE AWARENESS

I'm an organ donor, are you?

You can register in PA at a Driver's License Center or online now!

This month is Donate Life Month, raising awareness for the tens of thousands of lives saved each year through organ donation, and the amazing work being done at places like Center for Organ Recovery & Education.

Please remember, one organ donor can save eight lives. About 50,000 lives were saved through organ donation in 2023, including about 7,000 living organ donors. Learn more here.

RYAN’S RESCUES

For years now, I have partnered with the ANNA Shelter to offer Ryan's Rescues Program. It’s a program that pairs veterans and pets, making sure dogs can find a loving forever while at the same time showing the respect and appreciation our veterans deserve.

Robert and Jennifer recently visited the ANNA Shelter to adopt two dogs and ended up falling in love with Moon Pie and Peanut Butter! I’m so glad Robert mentioned he served in the U.S. Army, since he was a perfect candidate for the Ryan's Rescues Program.

Here’s hoping Robert and Jennifer, and Moon Pie and Peanut Butter, have countless days of fun together.

HOW WE VOTED

The House returns to session Monday. So far this year we have passed legislation to protect children by increasing penalties for the alarming and growing number of child labor violations, we passed several bills to help end discrimination, we passed a measure to make it easier for people with disabilities to renew their driver's licenses, and we passed bills to ensure essential health care protections remain in place for PA residents despite the reckless actions in Washington, D.C.

You can check how we voted on all bills here.

FIGHTING FOR CARE YOU NEED

Thank you to Community Resources for Independence for welcoming my team and I as we talked about the challenges and needs for people with disabilities.

It's important we continue the conversation. This has been a long journey, but we need to continue to push for changes to increase rates and address shortages to help people receive the services they need.

If we can finally make these changes a reality, we help everyone! We help people avoid long stays in nursing homes, and we can help avoid trips to the emergency room or hospital. We empower people to continue living independently.

STANDING UP FOR WORKERS, FIRST RESPONDERS

The Policy Committee has hosted 12 hearings spread across six ZIP codes this year, and we expect to host our typical 100+ hearings this session.

This week, the Policy Committee hosted two hearings. On Wednesday, we examined how veterans are no longer receiving the benefits they earned through their service to their country, and how the status of $1.6 billion in Pennsylvania school funding is in jeopardy because of Republican leadership’s haphazard firing of federal workers and the elimination of resources and services.

The loss of the critical services typically provided by the federal government will have devastating consequences for Pennsylvania. Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta and Pennsylvania House Democrats hosted a Policy Committee hearing on the negative impact these moves will have on the people of Pennsylvania.

Union leaders detailed the thousands of workers who have been fired, then rehired or reinstated because of the chaotic actions of DOGE. That’s not the worst of it, when the workers disappear, so to do the services provided for farmers, rural hospitals and local schools. Don’t be fooled, this is bad news for everyone – regardless of your political party.

The committee then hosted a joint hearing with the Senate Democratic Policy Committee in Allegheny County Thursday on addressing concerns and issues with emergency services. Reps. Emily Kinkead and John Inglis hosted the hearing with Senate Policy Chair Nick Miller and Sen. Nick Pisciottano.

UP NEXT: The Policy Committee will travel to Allegheny County April 14-16.

READY TO HELP YOU GET YOUR REBATE

My office helped more than 1,200 people receive their Property Tax & Rent Rebate last year. This state program helps older Pennsylvanians, widows, widowers and people with disabilities recover a portion of what they paid in property taxes or rent during the previous year. Contact us if you have questions or need help applying. Please remember, no appointments are necessary, if you need assistance stop by or contact us!

My office in Millcreek Township is located in Peninsula Plaza at 1101 Peninsula Drive, Suite 213, Erie, PA 16505. We are open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

HELP FOR VETERANS

If you are a veteran or live with a veteran, Second Harvest Food Bank provides food for households in need. You can find more information from their friendly staff at 814-459-3663 ext. 117. You will need to show ID on your first visit to the event.

Second Harvest will host its next Military Share in Erie County on Wednesday, April 23 at 2:30 p.m. Please do not arrive before 1 p.m. at Second Harvest, which is located at 1507 Grimm Dr., Erie PA 16501.

TAX FORMS AVAILABLE AT MY OFFICE

The federal, state and local tax forms you need are in! Stop by and pick them up at our office in Millcreek.

SAFEGUARDING OUR SCHOOLS

When private for-profit schools and their dark money backers came after Fairview and Millcreek School Districts to siphon off taxpayer dollars to make a profit off taxpayers. I stopped them. We need to protect our high-performing schools!

My team and I deliver for local people & projects. We cut the red tape in Harrisburg to secure the support our region needs.

When our schools need funding ...
When our police officers need a new vehicle to preserve lives ...
When our firefighters need funds for life-saving equipment ...

We delivered to the tune of more than $92 million during the 2023-24 legislative session.

MY TEAM IS IN FAIRVIEW EVERY WEDNESDAY

I wanted to remind folks that my team and I hold Wednesday office hours from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Fairview Township Building, 7471 McCray Road, Fairview, PA 16415.

The cornerstone of my office is service to you, our neighbors. By holding office hours at the township, we're making it easier for folks to reach us, so we can help them.

MONTHLY VETERANS SERVICE PROGRAM

On the third Thursday of each month, my team and I are proud to host a Veterans Service Officer from the VFW to be available to members of our community.

I am happy to help provide this assistance to our area veterans, who have sacrificed so much for our nation. The next appointments will be:

Thursday, April 17
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
1101 Peninsula Drive
Reserve a spot: 814-835-2880

MULTIPLE WAYS WE CAN HELP

Do you or does someone you know need help accessing state programs or services? Have a question about a state program or law and don’t know where to go? My team and I stand ready to help on a range of issues, including:

Unemployment or the PUA system.
FREE notary (excludes title transfers).
Property Tax/Rent Rebates for seniors.
Voter registration and vote by mail.
Problems with the Department of Human Services (food stamps, medical and income assistance).
Car registrations, special tags, handicap placards, titles and driver’s license applications.
Information on financial assistance for higher education.
Obtaining and completing state forms of all kinds.
Birth and death certificates.
Pennsylvania income tax questions or problems.
Complaints or questions about utilities and the Public Utility Commission.
Complaints and problems with insurance companies.
Renewal of state-issued licenses or certifications.
Problems or questions about the state lottery.
PACE cards for senior citizens.
Consumer complaints.

For help, or to speak with me or a staff member about an issue, please don't hesitate to contact my office.

MY TEAM & I CAN HELP YOU!

Helping people apply for the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program and all the PennDOT services they need are just two of the ways my team and I serve the community. We help thousands of people each year. We can help you fill out the forms you need and get them to Harrisburg for FREE.

If you have any state government-related questions, stop by and let us help you.

SUBMIT REQUESTS ONLINE OR IN PERSON

My team and I are always working for you! My Millcreek office at 1101 Peninsula Drive, Suite 213, Erie is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. You can also call 814-835-2880 or email RepBizzarro@pahouse.net if you need help with state government concerns.

Have questions outside of office hours? We have an online form – the Community Help Center – so that you can submit your request(s) for help with state-related programs and services 24/7. This form is available by clicking below or visiting my website – www.repbizzarro.com.

REP. BIZZARRO'S COMMUNITY HELP CENTER