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February 3, 2025 Email

(Feb 06, 2025)

I joined my House colleagues and legislative partners in the Senate on Tuesday to hear Gov. Josh Shapiro deliver his vision for Pennsylvania’s budget needs for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. This was my second budget address as a state representative, and I heard several exciting initiatives my colleagues and I will work to make reality. Read more

 

Powell introduces bill to prohibit remote stalking

(Feb 05, 2025)

HARRISBURG, Feb. 5 – State Rep. Lindsay Powell, D-Allegheny, has reintroduced a bill that would ban the unauthorized tracking of victims using AirTags and similar devices. House Bill 407 would forbid the use of AirTags and similar technology for any nefarious motive, with an emphasis on remote stalking. Bad actors have utilized AirTags to put trackers on vehicles and pinpoint the location of their victims, but Pennsylvania still hasn’t outlined penalties for abusing this technology. “This bill cannot undo the damage—physical and mental—that victims have endured, but it is a step in the right direction to ensuring that would-be stalkers will never again be able to perpetrate such abuse in Pennsylvania without being held accountable by the law,” Powell said. “By embracing a proactive approach to regulating technology, we can harness its potential to foster a society where innovation thrives, and our neighbors remain safe.” Multiple plaintiffs filed a class-action lawsuit against Apple in December 2022 for remote stalking and despite the company’s attempt to dismiss the case, it is moving forward. AirTags, launched more than three years ago, is intended to help individuals find items that are often misplaced, such as keys, wallets or bookbags. House Bill 407, previously H.B. 416, passed with a near unanimous vote in last year’s session. The bill has been referred to the body’s Judiciary Read more

 

Powell introduces bills to help make home ownership possible for more Pennsylvanians and reduce displacement & gentrification

(Jan 30, 2025)

HARRISBURG, Jan. 30 – State Rep. Lindsay Powell, D-Allegheny, has introduced legislation that would provide money to Pennsylvania individuals and families seeking to own their own home and utilize tax increment financing dollars to keep Pennsylvanians in their homes in TIF-designated districts. The first of Powell’s bills ( H.B. 275 ) would establish the Affordable Homeownership Program under the state Department of Community and Economic Development . The program would award grants to sponsoring organizations, who would then provide the funds to individuals or households with annual incomes between 60% and 120% of the area median income. “As the years go by, the median home price has nowhere to go but up. In March of last year, in fact, it reached nearly $225,000 and shows zero signs of decreasing. Owning a home has become that much more unattainable for Pennsylvanians,” Powell said. “Home ownership, however, helps to achieve a stable and sustainable livelihood for neighbors and their families. My bill would benefit everyone who calls this Commonwealth home.” Qualifying applicants would be able to use these funds for projects such as: Home purchasing assistance programs Home repairs Work force housing programs Acquiring residential properties Designing and constructing properties Asset management studies of properties Social and environmental studies of properties Homeownership education programs Land Read more

 

Powell: $810,000 for community infrastructure

(Jan 29, 2025)

PITTSBURGH, Jan. 29 – State Rep. Lindsay Powell, D-Allegheny, today announced that $810,000 in state funds was awarded to multiple local entities to improve community infrastructure. Powell and state Sen. Wayne Fontana, D-Allegheny, helped secure a $460,000 grant for Blind & Vision Rehabilitation Services of Pittsburgh to purchase a blighted lot and convert it into their VisAbility Place. She also worked with state Rep. Aerion A. Abney, D-Allegheny, and state Sen. Fontana to deliver $150,000 to Pittsburgh Symphony Inc. for the modernization of a passenger elevator at Heinz Hall to ensure its facility is ADA-compliant. State Sen. Lindsey Williams, D-Allegheny, partnered with Powell as well to help acquire a total of $200,000. A $140,000 grant went to North Hills Council of Governments for a sewer separation project in Etna, and the Shaler Township received $60,000 for flood levee maintenance. “Our neighbors deserve to feel safe in their communities, and these dollars will go a long way in modernizing our shared spaces. Not only that, local infrastructure and our cultural institutions will benefit too,” Powell said. “Thank you to my legislative colleagues in the state House and Senate for getting these funds to neighborhoods in need.” Three of these grants are made possible by the Gaming Economic Development and Tourism Fund, under the Commonwealth Financing Authority . These grants, funded through gaming revenue, provide Read more

 

Powell introduces bill to provide unemployment compensation to school employees in summer

(Jan 23, 2025)

HARRISBURG, Jan. 23 – State Rep. Lindsay Powell, D-Allegheny, has introduced a bill that would deliver unemployment benefits to educational assistance workers throughout the course of the summer break. Powell’s legislation ( H.B. 265 ) would make it possible for bus drivers, janitors, lunch staff and related positions to apply for unemployment compensation during the summer months. Currently, these staff members are forced to rely on temporary positions over the summer to afford necessities. “Our educational support professionals are the unsung heroes of schools and school districts across Pennsylvania and the entire nation. My bill would help remove significant obstacles to them providing for themselves and their families year-round,” Powell said. “They’re the backbone of our schools and it’s time we treat them like it.” Retaining such employees has proven difficult for Pennsylvania schools and school districts. According to the Pennsylvania School Bus Association , there were approximately 3,500 unfilled school bus driver positions, and 70% of superintendents reported a shortage of instructional aides. This survey, conducted by the Pennsylvania School Boards Association , took place at the beginning of the 2023-24 school year. The bill has been referred to the House Labor and Industry Committee. Read more

 

Rep. Powell's 2025 Capitol Calendar

(Jan 07, 2025)

Please check out my 2025 Capitol calendar Read more

 

Powell celebrates over $770,000 in state grants for school safety, mental health needs

(Dec 03, 2024)

PITTSBURGH, Dec. 3 – State Rep. Lindsay Powell, D-Allegheny, announced today that $771,323 in state grants was awarded to multiple local educational agencies in the 21st Legislative District to improve safety for students, teachers and staff and to address children’s behavioral health needs. Noncompetitive funds were allocated to the following public school districts and a charter school in Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh School District: $528,221 Shaler Area School District: $173,102 Provident CS: $70,000 “Our students deserve to be and feel safe in schools. These dollars are tremendous investments in their safety and success,” Powell said. “It’s an honor to advocate for their needs as a state representative, and I will continue to support all of our students in our communities.” These investments are made possible by Pennsylvania’s School Safety and Security Committee under the banner of the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency. They help advance the SSSC’s goal of ensuring that all students can learn in safe, healthy school environments by helping school entities address basic safety needs and mental health services identified in the committee’s Revised Baseline Criteria Standards . Lists with all noncompetitive and competitive grant awardees statewide are available here . Powell currently serves on the board of the Pennsylvania Children's Trust Fund . Read more

 

November 25, 2024 Email

(Nov 26, 2024)

Over the last few decades, Pittsburgh has strategically shifted from relying solely on heavy industry to investing in innovative technologies and strengthening our labor force through supportive technologies. Part of this emergent identity is thanks to the ongoing work in the field of robotics, and I recently joined my Allegheny County colleagues, Reps. Dan Frankel and Arvind Venkat, to see some of the latest projects up close. Read more

 

November 18, 2024 Email

(Nov 21, 2024)

One of the fundamental ideals of our country is to provide equal access to education for all citizens. Literacy Pittsburgh fulfills this ideal by providing soon-to-be and recently naturalized citizens the tools and resources, as well as helping neighbors study for and earn their GEDs. Read more

 

November 11, 2024 Email

(Nov 15, 2024)

What a week! We concluded this year’s legislative session in Harrisburg with over $1.5 million in state conservation grants being awarded to Pittsburgh! Read more

 

Powell: over $1.5 million in state conservation grants for Pittsburgh

(Nov 13, 2024)

PITTSBURGH, Nov. 13 – State Rep. Lindsay Powell, D-Allegheny, announced that a total of more than $1.5 million in state conservation grants has been awarded to four projects in the city of Pittsburgh. Powell collaborated with fellow Allegheny County state Reps. Aerion A. Abney, Abigail Salisbury and Jessica Benham and fellow county state Sens. Jay Costa and Wayne Fontana to secure $604,400 in Community Conservation Partnerships Program funds for the coordination of an Urban and Community Forestry workforce development program in the Steel City by the Student Conservation Association Inc. She also joined a long list of state lawmakers who helped to provide a $600,000 C2P2 grant for the coordination and funding of an Urban Wood Reuse Project and Urban and Community Forestry workforce development program by the Pittsburgh Conservation Corps. Powell and Fontana facilitated $250,000 in C2P2 funding to rehabilitate and further develop Spring Hill Park. Work will include: Renovation of baseball fields. Construction of basketball and pickleball court, splash pad, internal loop trail, pedestrian walkway, access drive and parking area. Installation of play equipment with required safety surfacing, fitness equipment, utilities and fencing. ADA access. Landscaping. Other related site improvements. In addition, Powell and Allegheny County state Reps. Abney and La’Tasha D. Mayes and county state Sens. Fontana Read more

 

November 4, 2024 Email

(Nov 08, 2024)

Another presidential election season has come and gone, and America has elected a new leader as President of the United States through a process of fair and secure elections. Read more

 

Powell praises over $4.7 million in community grants

(Nov 04, 2024)

Powell and state Sen. Wayne Fontana, D-Allegheny, helped secure Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program funds for two projects: MI Strip Works LLC which was presented with $2.5 million for constructing Building A of the eventual Brickworks residential development; and the Clemente Collection at Engine House 25 received $750,000 for installations and upgrades at The Clemente Museum. Read more

 

October 28, 2024 Email

(Oct 31, 2024)

At the end of last week, I joined Gov. Josh Shapiro, Lt. Gov. Austin Davis, fellow House and Senate colleagues, and community stakeholders alike to announce that a total of $600 million will be invested in downtown Pittsburgh over the next 10 years! Read more

 

Pennsylvania Legislative Latino Caucus expresses anger over racist remarks made at Trump rally

(Oct 28, 2024)

Members of the Pennsylvania Legislative Latino Caucus issued the following statement expressing deep outrage and indignation over racist comments made towards Latinos at yesterday's rally hosted by former president Donald Trump: “Dismissing Puerto Rico as a ‘floating island of garbage,’ mocking Hispanics as failing to use birth control and calling out a Black man in the audience with references to watermelon is abhorrent, disgusting and downright racist – and their claim it was all jokes is not believable at all. “Pennsylvania is home to 1.3 million Latinos -- a half-million of which are of Puerto Rican descent, who work hard, raise their families, serve in the military, support their communities and are American citizens,” said state Reps. Jose Giral, who is from Puerto Rico, and Manuel Guzman, who is of Puerto Rican descent, represent large Puerto Rican communities and expressed dismay that the state’s Puerto Rican community would be so wantonly mocked as a comedic prop. “The hateful, racist rhetoric of the former president and his supporters insults not just the Puerto Rican community, but every immigrant in our commonwealth and our nation. “We all deserve better.” The members of the Pennsylvania Legislative Latino Caucus are Reps. Danilo Burgos, Manuel Guzman, Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz, Jose Giral, Liz Hanbidge, Lindsay Powell, Karol Kazeem, Read more

 

October 21, 2024 Email

(Oct 25, 2024)

While my colleagues on both sides of the aisle and I continued the people’s work this week in Harrisburg, a number of grants were awarded to multiple municipalities, schools, and organizations throughout District 21 and for local infrastructure improvements. Read more

 

Powell: over $3.3 million in community grants awarded

(Oct 23, 2024)

PITTSBURGH, Oct. 23 – State Rep. Lindsay Powell, D-Allegheny, announced that more than $3.32 million in state grants was awarded to several local institutions. Powell and state Sen. Lindsey Williams, D-Allegheny, helped facilitate the Public School Facility Improvement Grant Program’s allocation of nearly $1.3 million to Shaler Area School District for roof replacement work at Shaler Area Middle School. In addition, Powell, Williams and state Sen. Wayne Fontana’s advocacy led to more than $2 million in Local Share Account funds being awarded to the following five projects: City of Pittsburgh -- $999,999 for traffic improvements along Smallman Street. Shaler Township -- $535,200 for improvements at Fall Run Park. Millvale Borough -- $250,000 for rehabilitating Logan Street. Reserve Township -- $200,000 for the Lonsdale Street and Emma Street Sewer Separation. City of Pittsburgh -- $42,592 for the Catholic Youth Association of Pittsburgh Inc. to purchase a vehicle for Meals on Wheels delivery. “I’m honored to advocate for the needs of District 21 alongside my colleagues in Harrisburg,” Powell said, “Investing in our district’s infrastructure and schools helps to facilitate a vibrant community -- one that is connected, prosperous and uplifts our neighbors to new heights.” PSFIG provides grants to public school districts and area career and technical schools for eligible facility Read more

 

Abney and Powell applaud $5 million grant to Pittsburgh School District for HVAC improvements

(Oct 23, 2024)

PITTSBURGH, Oct. 23 – State Reps. Aerion A. Abney and Lindsay Powell announced today that a $5 million state grant was awarded to Pittsburgh School District for updating HVAC systems at several district schools. Abney, Powell, state Reps. Dan Deasy, Jessica Benham and La’Tasha D. Mayes, and state Sens. Wayne Fontana and Jay Costa helped facilitate The Public School Facility Improvement Grant Program’s allocation that will install new systems at the following 11 educational institutions: Arsenal PreK-5 Arsenal 6-8 Carrick High School Classical 6-8 (PCA) Clayton Academy Concord PreK-5 CAPA 6-12 Grandview PreK-5 King PreK-8 Weil PreK-5 Westinghouse Academy 6-12 “Making these upgrades throughout Pittsburgh School District will help make for learning environments that are conducive to student livelihood and helping them achieve at the highest possible academic level,” Abney, D-Allegheny, said. “Thank you to my House and Senate colleagues for their combined collaboration in securing these dollars.” “Getting students ready to learn and excel in the classroom are imperative, and these funds will help ensure Pittsburgh School District students can perform their best in all academic endeavors,” Powell, D-Allegheny, added, “We’ve seen how old HVAC systems, coupled with climate change, can result in an unbearable learning environment, and I’m proud to partner with my fellow Read more

 

October 14, 2024 Email

(Oct 17, 2024)

World Mental Health Day was a few days ago, and I joined fellow state legislators and advocates this week to discuss how we can better support the mental health needs of our children. Read more

 

Powell hails $4.3 million for sewage system repairs

(Oct 16, 2024)

SHALER TOWNSHIP, Oct. 16 – State Rep. Lindsay Powell, D-Allegheny, announced that $4.3 million was awarded to Shaler Township for maintenance of its sewage system. The funds, a low-interest loan from the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority , will fix approximately 30,000 feet of manhole-to-manhole lining, rehabilitate 177 manholes, and include direct excavation repairs. “These monies are much more than providing the materials needed to keep citizens connected to clean water. They are investments in the health and hygiene of Allegheny County individuals and families,” Powell said. “I’m proud to have collaborated with Sen. Lindsey Williams on this necessity for all.” Shaler Township’s dollars will benefit nearly 9,000 customers and a total population of 22,495. PENNVEST allotted these monies, as part of its ongoing mission to increase the health and safety of Commonwealth citizens, protect our environment, promote economic development, and improve water quality. Read more