“Nuclear energy is the key to a cleaner, more sustainable and more affordable energy future,” Matzie said. “Spreading awareness of the benefits of nuclear energy is vital to securing that future. That is why World Nuclear Energy Day is so important. I am proud to have sponsored H.R. 372 alongside Representative Tom Mehaffie, and equally proud to serve as co-chair with Representative Mehaffie and Senators John Kane and Lynda Culver of the Pennsylvania Nuclear Energy Caucus. We will continue, in a bipartisan fashion, to support nuclear energy as a safe, proven solution to the capacity challenges we face moving forward.” Read more

AMBRIDGE, Dec. 17 – Nearly $900,000 in new tax credits have been awarded to leverage investments in commercial and residential projects in the 16 th Legislative District, state Rep. Rob Matzie announced today. Matzie, who is chairman of the House Majority Caucus, said the tax credits will boost economic development and create jobs. “Our local business and industry partners can be powerful drivers of change, particularly with incentives like tax credits to encourage investment in new projects,” Matzie said. “The nearly $900,000 in tax credits we secured will go to work leveraging investments in projects to grow our downtown, create new commercial and residential space, and bring new business – and jobs – to our community.” Matzie said the following credits were awarded: $500,000 in tax credits to Center Township’s Chocolate Boutique to leverage investments in a project to build a facility at 3421 Brodhead Road that will consolidate manufacturing and warehousing operations and will also feature a retail storefront with a drive-through. The project will create 35 jobs. $216,124 in tax credits to BIL Holdings LLC to leverage investments in a project to renovate 1133 Pennsylvania Ave. in Monaca into a mixed-use building that will include retail space on the first floor and apartments on the top two floors by upgrading bathrooms, kitchens and electrical systems. $159,675 in tax Read more

AMBRIDGE, Dec. 11 – New funding of nearly $792,000 will strengthen resources for Beaver County crime survivors and help the county expand its crisis intervention capacity, state Rep. Rob Matzie announced today. Matzie said that the grants approved by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency will support tools and training needed to better serve vulnerable survivors of violent crimes, improve outcomes for people experiencing mental health crises and fund probation and parole services. “It takes constant, coordinated efforts to properly serve and support crime survivors – particularly survivors of domestic and child abuse – and to bring the perpetrators to justice,” Matzie said. “The new funding will help ensure that our county’s talented forensic, law enforcement, social service and medical professionals have the resources they need to successfully investigate abuse, treat and support survivors and deliver justice. “The new funding will also help expand our county’s crisis intervention team capabilities through a project to train four people as CIT facilitators, who will in turn provide education and outreach to providers, first responders, school staff, residents and local business owners. A collaborative response that involves more of the community promises a better chance for a successful outcome.” Matzie said the funding includes: $144,664 to Beaver Read more

AMBRIDGE, Dec. 9 – Expanded training opportunities in advanced manufacturing are coming to Beaver County thanks to nearly $1.4 million in new grant funding, state Rep. Rob Matzie announced today. Matzie, who is chairman of the House Majority Caucus, said the six grants approved through the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry will ensure area workers have the skills needed to step into technologically advanced settings. “We can never stand still in our workforce training, as technology keeps producing new tools, processes, and production methods designed to make our manufacturing more cutting-edge,” Matzie said. “We have the best workers in the world, and there isn’t anything they can’t do or learn. This new funding will help ensure that they have the skills they need to stay ahead of the curve and keep our PA industries competitive.” Matzie said the funding includes: $400,000 to the Community College of Allegheny County to support the development of a new electrical maintenance technician/robotics apprenticeship program. $200,000 to Eastern Atlantic States Carpenters’ Technical Centers, with an Allegheny County training center, to expand the millwright apprenticeship program. $200,000 to the Pittsburgh Chapter of the German American Chamber of Commerce, Inc. to expand its mechatronics technician apprenticeship program serving Allegheny, Beaver, and several Read more

HARRISBURG, Dec. 5 – State Reps. Emily Kinkead, D-Allegheny, and Jim Prokopiak, D-Bucks, have introduced legislation to regulate kratom — a substance with psychoactive effects that mimic those of opioids — which is currently unregulated in Pennsylvania. Kratom, a plant native to Southeast Asia, is often consumed to reduce fatigue, manage pain or withdrawal symptoms, and to alleviate anxiety or depression. It can be ingested as teas, powders, capsules, liquids, or by chewing or smoking the leaves. However, because kratom can activate the same neurotransmitter receptors as opioids, prolonged or heavy use may lead to addiction, and independent tests have repeatedly shown that kratom products sometimes contain undisclosed or harmful additives. New synthetic kratom products, known as 7-OH, are particularly harmful and addictive. While the federal government has not formally regulated kratom, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration designates it as a “drug and chemical of concern.” In response to growing health and safety concerns, several states have enacted regulatory schemes or bans. Currently, Pennsylvania does not have a comprehensive regulatory framework and kratom is currently readily available – and often marketed – to children and young adults. House Bill 2058 , which is similar to the successful kratom regulation law in Utah, would: Prohibit the sale or distribution of kratom products to individuals under the age Read more

AMBRIDGE, Oct. 10 – Beaver County affordable housing will get a boost from nearly $3.4 million in tax credits reserved to leverage investment in two projects, state Rep. Rob Matzie announced today. Matzie, who is chairman of the House Majority Caucus, said the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency has conditionally reserved $1.7 million in tax credits for the Legacy Bricks project in Aliquippa and another $1.68 million for St. Cecilia Senior in Rochester. “More affordable housing means more residents have the economic stability they need to thrive,” said Matzie. “These tax credits are great news because they will spur investments to help both of these projects take shape.” Matzie said the Legacy Bricks project in Aliquippa is located on a 4.84-acre site currently zoned for mixed used and traditional neighborhood development. The site is under an option to purchase agreement through Dec. 31, 2026. The St. Cecilia Senior project in Rochester would preserve a four-story building consisting of 33 one-bedroom units and 12 two-bedroom units for residents 62 or older. The development would be nearly 65,000 square feet and would include nine accessible units. More information about PHFA Low Income Housing Tax Credits is available here: https://www.phfa.org/mhp/developers/lihtc.aspx Read more

Policymakers and special interests in Harrisburg are discussing policy changes that would undermine Pennsylvania’s competitive power market by allowing monopolies to once again generate electricity – all under the guise of ensuring our commonwealth can meet rising demand. This approach is unnecessary and misguided. It takes away consumer choice and threatens to upend a decades-old system that has ensured reliable electricity for homes and businesses. So, how did we get here? Artificial intelligence and data centers, along with a broader push to electrify everything from transportation to manufacturing, are increasing power demands on the grid. In Pennsylvania’s competitive energy market, power-generating companies are stepping up to meet the challenge. Pennsylvania is part of PJM Interconnection, the largest grid operator in the country, serving all or parts of 13 states and the District of Columbia. To ensure sufficient capacity to meet demand, PJM regularly holds auctions where generators sell their electricity to utility companies. In addition, PJM launched its Reliability Resource Initiative to fast-track the process of quickly adding energy to the grid. PJM selected 51 shovel-ready electricity projects for expedited approval, with 90% expected to be online by 2030. These projects would add 11,793 megawatts to the grid. These shovel-ready resources – including new and advanced nuclear and Read more

These grants are a meaningful investment in our communities and in our people. Each project receiving funding addresses a critical need—from helping families become first-time homeowners to preserving housing for seniors and veterans. This funding will help ensure that more Allegheny County residents have access to safe, stable, and affordable housing. Read more

AMBRIDGE, June 12 – New grants totaling $925,000 from the Pennsylvania Housing and Finance Agency will help more Beaver County residents find secure, permanent housing and provide existing homeowners the resources they need to stay safe in their homes, state Rep. Rob Matzie announced today. Matzie, who is chairman of the House Majority Caucus, said eight grants – funded by Marcellus Shale Impact Fees and Realty Transfer Taxes – will support Beaver County and local nonprofit programs to bolster housing opportunities and resources for homeowners. “Safe, reliable housing isn’t a luxury – it’s a necessity and a critical connection to job opportunities, a stable family environment, and access to the network of support that goes with being part of a community,” Matzie said. “Securing this funding will help more people break free of the chronic risk of homelessness, help new prospective homeowners become more financially savvy and allow homeowners to make needed modifications and repairs so they can stay safe at home.” Matzie said the funding includes: $200,000 to Housing Opportunities of Beaver County to rehabilitate one duplex and one single-family home in Aliquippa, creating four affordable housing units and training underserved young adults in construction. $150,000 to The Salvation Army to help people served by homeless prevention Read more

HARRISBURG, June 4 – Pennsylvania consumers are one step closer to protection from an unfair and unscrupulous sales practice after a strong bipartisan majority of the PA House today passed state Rep. Rob Matzie’s bill to ban speculative ticketing. Matzie, who is chairman of the House Majority Caucus, said he introduced H.B. 463 to eliminate a practice in which ticket resellers list event tickets for sale before even having those tickets in hand. “People give up their hard-earned money to buy tickets so they can enjoy special shows and events with friends, family, and loved ones,” said Matzie. “They have a right to assume the seller has those tickets in hand. When it turns out that the seller never had them and was unable to get them, it’s the consumer who loses. At best, they may get their money back. At worst, they lose their ticket money and any other expenses, like travel and lodging, they laid out. “A sales transaction between a buyer and seller should never be based on a gamble that the seller will be able to obtain the item for sale. We don’t allow that to happen with other consumer goods, and we shouldn’t let it happen with ticket sales. It’s very simple – if you don’t have it, you can’t sell it. I’m pleased that a strong bipartisan majority of the House sided with Pennsylvania consumers today by passing my bill.” Read more