February 14, 2025 Email

Rep. Arvind Venkat February 14, 2025 | 2:43 PM

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Keeping the Affordable Care Act in place for all Pennsylvanians

Yesterday, I joined state Sen. Jay Costa and Erin Gabriel from PA Health Access Network for a webinar to discuss the importance of the Affordable Care Act, its vital importance to all Pennsylvanians, and what we all can do to preserve and strengthen this critical law.

In case you missed it, please click the video above to watch the webinar in its entirety.

Support for Local First Responders

Fire and EMS companies across our community will receive almost $160,000 in state grants to provide them with the tools and resources they need to keep residents safe and protect themselves on the job.

As a physician-legislator, I’m committed to supporting our heroic first responders and will continue to advocate for making sure they have what they need to do their indispensable work.

PA CareerLink Pittsburgh Job Fair

PA CareerLink Pittsburgh will hold a multi-employer job fair in Monroeville next Wednesday, February 19 from 10 a.m. to noon on the eighth floor of Building 3 (300 Penn Center Blvd. in Pittsburgh).

Applicants should dress to impress and bring copies of their resume.

Visiting with Local Cub Scouts

One of the most fun parts of my job is getting out in our community to meet the people I serve and speak with groups of all ages. I recently had the opportunity to meet with Cub Scout Troops 171 and 279 in Franklin Park and McCandless, respectively, about my role as a state representative, government, and the election process. The Cub Scouts were attentive listeners and asked great questions!

If you have an organization or group that would like to engage with me, please contact my office.

Town of McCandless Parks Master Plan

Please use the QR code on the flyer above or click here to complete a questionnaire on how the Town of McCandless can best improve public parks by creating a template for future developments. The survey is open until March 11.

New Fellowship Programs for Public Service

The Shapiro Administration announced two new fellowship programs this week, which are designed to provide job seekers with multiple real-world experiences in public service.

The William and Hannah Penn Fellowship is geared toward projects that support the governor’s policy priorities, while the Governor’s Science and Technology Fellowship focuses on STEM careers in state government.

Please click here to learn more.

License your Furry Friends Today!

Please remember that any Allegheny County resident must register their dog by the age of 3 months.

Start out the year on a pawsitive foot by clicking here or calling 412-320-4111.

Happy Presidents’ Day

A friendly reminder that the district office will be closed Monday, February 17 in observance of Presidents’ Day.

Learning More about REAL ID

Getting a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or identification card is not mandatory, but once enforcement of the federal REAL ID Act begins on May 7, you will no longer be able to use your regular state driver’s license or ID card to board a domestic flight. Instead, you’ll need to show either a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or ID card (or some other form of federally accepted identification, like a passport or military ID).

If you fly often and want to continue using your driver’s license as identification at the airport, you may want to consider upgrading to a REAL ID. You can read more here.

Also, the Driver’s License Center in Allison Park (1701 Duncan Ave.) will hold special hours dedicated to REAL ID applications from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on April 14 and May 5.

LGBTQ Youth Listening Sessions Coming Up

The Governor’s Advisory Commission on LGBTQ Affairs has identified expanding protections for LGBTQ youth as a priority and will be hosting virtual LGBTQ Youth Listening sessions for middle- and high-school students.

The sessions will be held from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on March 11 and March 19 via Zoom. Students interested in attending should RSVP by completing the survey form at this page.

Community groups or centers that are able to host a hybrid in-person/virtual session for participating youth should complete the survey here.

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Wants Your Input on Recreation Plan

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has announced a series of webinars and an open opportunity for people to share their thoughts on ways to improve and expand outdoor recreational opportunities. Among other things, people will be able to comment on a draft of the 2025-2029 Pennsylvania Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan. Visit this page to read more.

Finding Funding, Getting Help with State Matters

This is a reminder that the state has a new tool to help residents, local officials, community groups, nonprofits, and businesses find state grants. Click on the image above to access the grant finder. You can also find a list of the latest state grant openings here.

As always, if you have questions or need help with any state-related matter, please don’t hesitate to contact my office.