Making Our Voices Heard; Free Tax Resources; Resources for Immigrants – and More!

Rep. Arvind Venkat February 21, 2025 | 1:16 PM

Thanking Our Frontline Heroes

I recently attended the McCandless-Franklin Park Ambulance Authority’s annual meeting with leaders from McCandless, Franklin Park, and across the region. It was a great opportunity to thank our EMS professionals for the lifesaving work they do on behalf of our community. As a physician-legislator, I am committed to always supporting our first responders.

Making Our Voices Heard

During my door-knocking in McCandless last week, many residents expressed anger and fear over Trump Administration and Congressional Republican proposals that would gut Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act, destroy trust in vaccines and other proven public health measures, and end life-saving biomedical research. I also heard outrage over the administration’s unconstitutional actions terminating enacted federal funding, personnel, and policies.

I share these concerns. As I continue to express my opposition to these dangerous policies in my role as our state legislator, I urge all of my constituents to also express themselves, peacefully but loudly, with our elected officials at the federal and state level.

U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio: (412) 344-5583 | (202) 225-2301.
U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick: (412) 803-7370 | (202) 224-6324.
U.S. Sen. John Fetterman: (412) 803-3501 | (202) 224-4254.
PA Attorney General Dave Sunday: (717) 787-3391.

Negotiating a Budget with the Right Priorities

Earlier this week, I joined my colleagues in Harrisburg as we began hearings on the governor’s budget proposal. In the weeks ahead, I will be working to ensure that any final plan addresses our community’s public safety, health, and education needs.

PennDOT Offering REAL ID Days

In preparation for the May 7, 2025, enforcement deadline, PennDOT is offering special dedicated times at driver license centers (including in Allison Park) to help Pennsylvanians get their REAL ID. Visit this page to read more and find dates in our area.

As a reminder, 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 present either a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or ID card (or some other form of federally accepted identification, such as a passport or military ID). Learn more about REAL ID here.

State Offers Free Tax Filing Resources

With tax season underway, the state is reminding Pennsylvanians that the Department of Revenue offers free online tools and resources that can help people seamlessly file their tax returns.

Roughly 2.1 million Pennsylvanians are eligible this tax season to use Direct File. This online tax filing tool offers taxpayers the option to file their federal and state tax returns at no cost directly with the IRS and Department of Revenue. You can read more here.

Resources for Immigrants

Immigration and immigrant families are critically important to our community. At this time of great uncertainty and fear from poorly targeted federal immigration policies, it is important that we continue to support our immigrant neighbors who are building a new life and contributing positively to our region, state, and nation. The workforce program above and this Immigration Resources Guide may be of assistance.

Offer Your Feedback on the McCandless Parks Plan

The Town of McCandless would like your feedback as it works to create a parks master plan. Please use the QR code above or visit this page to complete a questionnaire on how the town can best improve its public parks. The deadline to reply is March 11.

The state offers grant programs to help residents, community groups, municipalities, nonprofit organizations, and small businesses. Visit the state’s new grant-finding tool here to search for grant opportunities. You can also find a list of the latest grant program openings at this page.

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