Pennsylvania state representatives Lisa Borowski and Jennifer O'Mara said they secured a $40,000 state grant that will be used to buy and install AEDs at all VFW and American Legion posts in Delaware County by the end of the year. The state representatives are partnering with the Newtown Square Fire Company, which will provide VFW staff members with training on how to use AEDs. Read more

“There are places where health care is a luxury across our commonwealth,” state Rep. Lisa Borowski said. “There is a growing number of health care deserts. And this is due to the steady increase of health system consolidations and closures. Sadly, Delaware County is becoming one of those places.” Read more

State Reps. Lisa Borowski and Jennifer O’Mara, along with the Delaware County Veterans Memorial Association, will hold a public event at 2 p.m. on Sept. 16 to celebrate a $40,000 grant they helped secure to place automatic external defibrillators in all American Legion and VFW posts in Delaware County. Read more

“It’s one thing to voice your support for veterans. It’s another to demonstrate it,” Rep. Tim Brennan (D-29) said, in a statement. “Time and again, this community demonstrates its respect for the people who have served our country, and I’m proud I get to be a part of that.” Read more

HARRISBURG, Aug. 23 – State Rep. Patty Kim, D-Cumberland/Dauphin, and state Rep. Dave Madsen, D-Dauphin, today announced a state grant for $350,000 to the Broad Street Market . The Department of Community and Economic Development grant will go toward operating expenses, roof repairs and HVAC upgrades at the market. “This state funding saves significant costs for the urgently needed restoration of Broad Street Market,” Kim said. “I look forward to seeing this project continue to move forward and am happy to have helped the market and the many businesses that make Harrisburg thrive.” “We look forward to seeing a new design and more progress at the Broad Street Market, as it navigates its comeback,” Madsen said. “All eyes are on this reconstruction, and I’m happy that Rep. Kim and I were able to help deliver needed help.” “This funding commitment is an absolute game-changer for the Broad Street Market, which recently became financially solvent for the first time since last year’s fire, in conjunction with the financial sustainability plan put in place earlier this year,” said Eric Hagerty, chair of the market’s Board of Directors. “We will now be in a position to do more than barely make ends meet – we will be able to invest in the market’s facilities and address some long-standing needs for the businesses that operate at the market and the community Read more

HARRISBURG, Aug. 22 – State Rep. Joe Ciresi, D-Montgomery, introduced two bills earlier this summer to make it easier for residents to remain informed and participate in Pennsylvania Utility Commission rate cases: H.B. 2495 which would allow ratepayers to submit public comments to the PUC online, and H.B. 2496 which would require the outside of envelopes to indicate if they contain a notice of a proposed rate change. “Utility services such as water, wastewater and electricity are essential to modern daily life,” Ciresi said. “As our residents’ health and well-being are dependent on these services being safe, reliable and affordable, they need to be able to easily communicate to the PUC their concerns about utility rate changes and acquisitions which will have a direct and substantial impact on their quality of life.” Utilities are currently required to send ratepayers notice of proposed rate changes and include instructions on how to submit public comments by mail. According to Ciresi, the current notification system is neither efficient nor effective as notices can get lost in the volume of other notices sent by utilities and other companies. “We’re in the 21st century, and we are still expecting the public to send comments through the mail,” Ciresi said. “My legislation would modernize the PUC ratemaking process, making it more accessible to the public. These bills would call additional attention to Read more

I’m proud to bring back our tax dollars to support local projects. These two grants, which together total $852,112, will provide most of the funding needed for the estimated $1.1 million project budget. Read more

“Everyone deserves to be safe at work – that means free from physical harm as well as mental or psychological abuse,” said McClinton, who represents portions of Delaware County and Philadelphia. “While there are laws on the books to protect workers from environmental hazards, we need to do more to protect people from workplace psychological hazards like bullying and oppressive treatment that create toxic work environments and cause undue stress and anxiety for workers.” Read more

“A right to have an abortion, but no access to an abortion is no right at all,” said Rep. Heather Boyd, who represents portions of Delaware County and hosted the hearing. “Reproductive health care and abortion access needs to be protected in Pennsylvania. We know reproductive health care saves the lives of patients in the 21st century, and the last thing a patient needs is a lawmaker determining what health care is appropriate for others – especially absolute strangers.” Read more

ROYERSFORD, Aug. 9 – State Rep. Joe Ciresi, D-Montgomery, announced that $92,994 in state funding has been awarded to five Pottstown School District Pre-K and elementary schools to provide fruits and vegetables to students under the federal Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program. Schools receiving the grants are: Barth Elementary School $20,196 Franklin Elementary School $22,308 Lincoln Elementary School $20,856 Pre-K Counts Annex Building $6,666 Rupert Elementary School $22,968 Through the program by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the schools will receive reimbursement for the cost of making free fresh fruits and vegetables available to students during the school day. These fresh fruits and vegetables must be provided separately from the lunch or breakfast meal in one or more areas of the school during the school day. “This funding will help Pottstown schools provide healthy snack alternatives to our students during the day, helping to make healthy eating a habit,” Ciresi said. “This funding will also help give Pottstown’s school children the tools to make healthy choices for themselves. Students will learn that fruits and vegetables are not only the smart choice, but also the tastiest.” The goal of FFVP is to introduce children to fresh fruits and vegetables, to include new and different varieties, and to increase overall acceptance and consumption of fresh, unprocessed produce. Read more