News Center

Ciresi proposes waiving restaurant license renewal fees

(Mar 18, 2021) Rep. Joseph Ciresi

The waiver would apply only to restaurants, bars, clubs, churches and fire halls with gross annual receipts under $25 million and that have lost more than 20% of their monthly sales during the declared disaster emergency related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more

 

Frankel applauds House passage of bike lane bill named in memory of Pittsburgher

(Mar 17, 2021) Rep. Dan B. Frankel

The bill, H.B. 140, was amended in committee to be named Susan’s and Emily’s Law, in honor of Susan Hicks, who was killed in Oakland, and Emily Fredericks, a cyclist who was killed in 2017 in Philadelphia. Read more

 

Committee approves Merski bill to help police departments purchase vehicles

(Mar 17, 2021) Rep. Robert Merski

Merski, D-Erie, said H.B. 648 would require the state Department of General Services – which sells used Pennsylvania State Police vehicles at public auctions – to create a program for selling used police pursuit vehicles directly to local and regional police departments at a fixed price prior to auctioning them. Read more

 

Kulik legislation providing restaurants relief from paying safekeeping fees receives committee vote

(Mar 16, 2021) Rep. Anita Astorino Kulik

The legislation would allow a one-year reprieve from paying liquor license renewal or validation fees for license holders whose businesses are not operational. Read more

 

Deasy outdoor dining legislation passes key vote

(Mar 16, 2021) Rep. Dan Deasy

Deasy said H.B. 452 would remove limitations concerning public thoroughfares, eliminate fees and reduce delays in approving outdoor seating to make it easier for licensed establishments and customers to take advantage of the option. Read more

 

Freeman bill would permit extensions to Main Street program participants

(Mar 15, 2021) Rep. Robert L. Freeman

According to Freeman, H.B. 926 would give the state Department of Community and Economic Development the authority to grant a period of up to an additional five years for administrative costs associated with employing a Main Street manager if it determines that it would be beneficial to the community in reaching its revitalization goals. Read more

 

Kim launches Women Supporting Working Women campaign

(Mar 15, 2021) Rep. Patty Kim

Residents can find out more about how raising the minimum wage can help working families, the campaign and how to get involved, by visiting PayPAWomen.com. Read more

 

Brown negotiates historic agreement to ban sale of ghost gun kits at Pa. shows

(Mar 15, 2021) Rep. Amen Brown

Brown, a first-term lawmaker representing Philadelphia’s 190th Legislative District, joined Attorney General Josh Shapiro at a morning news conference to announce the agreement to halt the sale of 80% receiver kits at Eagle Arms gun shows. Read more

 

Rabb reintroduces legislation to raise the minimum wage in Pa. and expand it to apply to vulnerable members of the workforce

(Mar 12, 2021) Rep. Christopher M. Rabb

State Rep. Chris Rabb, along with Reps. Jessica Benham, D-Allegheny; Manuel Guzman Jr., D-Berks; Carol Hill-Evans, D-York; Sara Innamorato, D-Allegheny; Emily Kinkead, D-Allegheny; Rick Krajewski, D-Phila.; Summer Lee, D-Allegheny; Danielle Friel Otten, D-Chester; Joe Webster, D-Montgomery; and Napoleon J. Nelson, D-Montgomery, has introduced legislation to increase the minimum wage to $15 an hour and expand it to apply to vulnerable members of the workforce. Read more

 

McNeill: Frontline workers need more protections

(Mar 11, 2021) Rep. Jeanne McNeill

McNeill explained that her legislation would classify assault against a retail or restaurant worker who is enforcing a public health directive as aggravated assault; the goal is a reduction in the number of employees violently attacked simply for doing their job. Read more

 

Breaking down information barriers key to supporting communities of color through COVID-19 pandemic, vaccine efforts

(Mar 11, 2021) Policy Committee, Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus

Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus Chair Donna Bullock, and Subcommittee on Health Equity and Justice Chair Stephen Kinsey hosted the hearing generating meaningful discussion on how lawmakers can be part of the solution to ensure communities of color receive the health care they need as it relates to COVID-19, vaccination, mental health support and basic human needs. Read more

 

Burns: Wolf should abandon state income tax hike proposal

(Mar 11, 2021) Rep. Frank Burns

Burns, D-Cambria, said the latest federal allocation is roughly three times the state’s $2.5 billion projected budget deficit, and since the fresh influx of money can be used to backfill pandemic-related revenue losses, Wolf’s proposed 46% hike in the state income tax can’t be justified. Read more

 

PLBC awardees for inaugural Crystal Bird Fauset Award, Women’s History Month

(Mar 10, 2021) Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus

The honorees are former state Sen. Leanna Washington, D-Phila./Montgomery; former state Rep. Rosita Youngblood, D-Phila.; and PUC Commissioner Gladys Brown Dutrieuille. Read more

 

Reps. Ciresi, Young seek creation of Education Reform Commission

(Mar 10, 2021) Rep. Joseph Ciresi, Rep. Regina Young

The commission would be tasked with performing an in-depth study of the current educational needs in Pennsylvania, projecting out those needs over the next 25 years, and determining what can and should be done to help reform the current education system and prepare Pennsylvania for the future. Read more

 

House State Government Committee hearing highlights safety and security of PA voting machines

(Mar 10, 2021) Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta

This hearing focused on the certification and operation of voting machines, which have been subject to unfounded claims of fraud by Republican members of the General Assembly. Election officials testified that Pennsylvania’s voting systems allowed the state to hold a free and fair election last November. Read more

 

McNeill: It’s time we know what the big gas companies know

(Mar 09, 2021) Rep. Jeanne McNeill

State Rep. Jeanne McNeill, D-Lehigh, has joined Rep. Dan Miller, D-Allegheny, in sponsoring H.B. 838, legislation that would adopt the recommendation from state Attorney General Josh Shapiro that all chemicals in the fracking process in the commonwealth be disclosed 14 days prior to use at any stage of the process, including drilling. Read more

 

Conklin: It’s time to level the athletic playing field for public, private schools

(Mar 09, 2021) Rep. Scott Conklin

Conklin, D-Centre, said the current system’s rules, as required by the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association, which operates all state championship tournaments, provide an unfair advantage to private and parochial schools, which aren’t limited by the geographic boundaries public school districts are required to follow. Read more

 

Arts funding and PEMA Nonprofit Security grant programs now open for applications

(Mar 08, 2021) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

STATE GRANT PROGRAMS NOW OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS: Pennsylvania Council on the Arts: Creative Communities (Funding Source: General Fund) Who May Apply : Lead applicant must be a unit of government, nonprofit 501(c)3 or 501(c)6) organization. Required partnership of at least two organizations, one of which will serve as the lead applicant. Please note: Creative Communities projects are currently underway in the following counties: Crawford, Indiana, Lancaster, Lehigh, Mercer, and Philadelphia. Counties without existing projects will receive priority. Use : To provide multi-year funding to community-driven, arts-based projects that serve as catalysts for livability, economic development, and community connectedness. Funds : Up to $25,000 per year for up to four years. Application Deadline : March 19 More Information : Click on 2021_PCA_Creative_Communities_Letter_of_Interest.pdf (pa.gov) . Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency: Nonprofit Security Grant Program (Funding Source: F ederal Funding ) Who May Apply : 501(c)3 nonprofits, including religious institutions. Must be at a high risk of a terrorist attack based on the following: (1) Substantiation of prior threats or attacks (from within or outside the U.S.) by a terrorist organization, network, or cell against the applicant based on their ideology, beliefs, or mission; (2) Symbolic value of the site(s) as a highly recognized Read more

 

Kinkead, Pashinski introduce bill to help Pennsylvanians save money on medications

(Mar 08, 2021) Rep. Emily Kinkead, Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski

Kinkead, D-Allegheny, and Pashinski, D-Luzerne, said H.B. 833 would also design a potential prescription drug importation program in Pennsylvania when the study demonstrates significant cost savings for consumers. Read more

 

Burns implores Biden to retain Trump tariffs on foreign steel

(Mar 05, 2021) Rep. Frank Burns

Burns, D-Cambria, outlined the importance of maintaining the tariffs – which are backed by the United Steel Workers and the domestic steel industry – in a written request to Biden, stressing the chance for bipartisan cooperation early in his tenure. Read more

 

Ciresi proposes waiving restaurant license renewal fees
Mar 18, 2021

Frankel applauds House passage of bike lane bill named in memory of Pittsburgher
Mar 17, 2021

Committee approves Merski bill to help police departments purchase vehicles
Mar 17, 2021

Kulik legislation providing restaurants relief from paying safekeeping fees receives committee vote
Mar 16, 2021

Deasy outdoor dining legislation passes key vote
Mar 16, 2021

Freeman bill would permit extensions to Main Street program participants
Mar 15, 2021

Kim launches Women Supporting Working Women campaign
Mar 15, 2021

Brown negotiates historic agreement to ban sale of ghost gun kits at Pa. shows
Mar 15, 2021

Rabb reintroduces legislation to raise the minimum wage in Pa. and expand it to apply to vulnerable members of the workforce
Mar 12, 2021

McNeill: Frontline workers need more protections
Mar 11, 2021

Breaking down information barriers key to supporting communities of color through COVID-19 pandemic, vaccine efforts
Mar 11, 2021

Burns: Wolf should abandon state income tax hike proposal
Mar 11, 2021

PLBC awardees for inaugural Crystal Bird Fauset Award, Women’s History Month
Mar 10, 2021

Reps. Ciresi, Young seek creation of Education Reform Commission
Mar 10, 2021

House State Government Committee hearing highlights safety and security of PA voting machines
Mar 10, 2021

McNeill: It’s time we know what the big gas companies know
Mar 09, 2021

Conklin: It’s time to level the athletic playing field for public, private schools
Mar 09, 2021

Arts funding and PEMA Nonprofit Security grant programs now open for applications
Mar 08, 2021

Kinkead, Pashinski introduce bill to help Pennsylvanians save money on medications
Mar 08, 2021

Burns implores Biden to retain Trump tariffs on foreign steel
Mar 05, 2021