HARRISBURG, May 4 – With several states beginning to establish regulations for geothermal energy, Pennsylvania has now joined that group with the state House passing bipartisan legislation to foster the development of this clean base load energy source, announced the bill’s co-prime sponsors, state Reps. Arvind Venkat, Craig Williams and Elizabeth Fiedler. House Bill 2076 would establish a framework for the development of geothermal energy, which allows for heat deep beneath the Earth's surface to be harnessed for energy from places it previously was not able to be collected. Before recent technological developments, geothermal energy production historically took place near volcanoes and hot springs. “This legislation will enable us to make bold investments into Pennsylvania’s geothermal resources that we have not been able to use before,” said Venkat, D-Allegheny . “We have been a national leader in energy development, and this legislation would enable us to move forward in the world of clean energy production and create jobs, while also reducing energy costs for consumers.” The framework in this legislation includes several new developments for geothermal energy, including authorizing the state Department of Environmental Protection to regulate geothermal injection wells with a predictable and responsible permitting framework, establish subsurface ownership rights for geothermal resources, Read more
Voter registration deadline approaching; Supporting our healthcare workers; Local students head to international competitions – and more! Read more
Cleaning up for Earth Day; Recognizing a successful semester with my intern; Celebrating our local students; Make sure you register to vote – and more! Read more
My legislation to support pharmacists passes; Upcoming Earth Day clean ups; Apply for the FAFSA today; Standing up for affordable higher education – and more! Read more
HARRISBURG, April 15 – The Pennsylvania House today unanimously passed bipartisan legislation that would update the membership of the State Board of Pharmacy to provide input from more pharmacy professionals, announced the bill’s co-prime sponsors, state Reps. Arvind Venkat and Andrew Kuzma. The bill, H.B. 980 , would expand the board’s knowledge and expertise by adding a second acute care institutional pharmacist and a registered pharmacy technician. This would increase the board’s membership from five to seven. “These new appointments will provide the Board of Pharmacy with a deeper pool of knowledge and broader perspectives on pharmacy practice in Pennsylvania,” said Venkat, D-Allegheny. “I have worked with pharmacists throughout my medical career, and I know this legislation will ensure Pennsylvania has more informed, inclusive, and insightful oversight of pharmacy practice. I thank Rep. Kuzma for his partnership on this bill.” “Adding professional representation to the board allows for a broader range of perspectives to be considered when making decisions and shaping policies,” said Kuzma, R-Allegheny/Washington. “I’m happy to see this bill move forward and partner with Rep. Venkat on this issue. We remain dedicated to bipartisan collaboration to enhance the well-being of Pennsylvanians.” House Bill 980 will now move to the state Senate for Read more
HARRISBURG, April 13 – Today, members of the House Energy Committee voted favorably to report three bills out of committee that would expand energy generation in Pennsylvania and improve grid efficiency.The bills are:•Geothermal Energy Development, H.B. 2076.•Advanced Transmission Technologies (ATTs), H.B. 2223.•PEDA Modernization, H.B. 2347. Following a series of public hearings and informational meetings on the Commonwealth’s surging energy needs, state Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler, D-Phila., chair of the House Energy Committee, convened a voting meeting on these key bills. Read more
HARRISBURG, April 13 – On Monday, members of the House Blue-Green Caucus stood with leading labor and environmental advocates to unveil a new package of bills designed to accelerate Pennsylvania’s clean energy production and create union jobs in growing energy sectors. This package comes at a crucial moment as energy prices rise, renewable energy sector jobs are under threat, and Pennsylvania continues to rank among the lowest in renewable energy production. From Trump’s disastrous war with Iran to the systematic rollback of federal clean energy investments, working Pennsylvanians are currently bearing the brunt of skyrocketing electricity costs and ballooning prices at the gas pumps. With federal decisions driving up prices, the 58-member Blue-Green Caucus chaired by Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler, D-Phila., said that Harrisburg must step up to provide real, state-level solutions. “Pennsylvania is an energy leader, with a highly skilled workforce and the resources and space for energy development: there’s no reason why we should be falling behind states like Texas when it comes to renewable energy production,” Fiedler said. “We have 581 million square feet of warehouse rooftop space to install solar panels, we have hundreds of schools eager to apply for Solar for Schools grant funding, and we have working people who want and deserve good, family-sustaining jobs. This package is a win-win-win for Read more
Supporting our local government; Upcoming Earth Day clean ups; Local students heading to state and national competitions – and more! Read more
Working with our first responders; Holiday office closure; Recognizing local student performers; Prepare for the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh – and more! Read more
A successful shred event; Protecting healthcare access; Youth Trout Day this weekend; Prepare for the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh – and more! Read more
HARRISBURG, March 27 – The PA House Energy Committee convened a public hearing on a bipartisan clean energy bill (H.B. 2076) sponsored by state Reps. Arvind Venkat, D-Allegheny; Craig Williams, R-Chester; and Elizabeth Fiedler, D-Phila., chair of the committee. The bill would establish regulations for the generation of energy from geothermal resources within the Commonwealth. Read more
McCANDLESS, March 23 – Two McCandless-based first responder organizations will receive a total of $300,000 in grant funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development for equipment purchases due to the advocacy of state Rep. Arvind Venkat, D-Allegheny. The grants awarded include $235,000 to the McCandless-Franklin Park Ambulance Authority for the purchase of six Lucas CPR devices and a new heart monitor, and $65,000 to the Peebles Volunteer Fire Department for necessary equipment purchases. “As an ER doctor and legislator, I know how critical our first responders are to the well-being of our community,” said Venkat. “I am proud to prioritize our EMS professionals and firefighters who do so much for all of us and ensure they get the support they need.” Venkat said he advocated at the state level for these organizations to bring the grants to fruition. Read more
My shred event tomorrow; Standing up for family leave; Fish fry season in our region; New grant funding – and more! Read more
McCANDLESS, March 18 – La Roche University will receive $40,000 to help combat sexual assault through education, awareness and empowering survivors through the It’s On Us PA program, announced state Rep. Arvind Venkat, D-Allegheny. “As an ER doctor, I have sadly had to treat too many victims of sexual assault,” said Venkat. “This funding will go a long way to ensure that students learn how to protect themselves from assault and how to seek support afterward if an assault happens. I will always stand up for victims, and I am proud to see this funding come to our community.” It’s On Us PA is the state-level version of a national program created by the Obama administration. It serves to raise awareness around sexual assault, support and empower survivors, and bring together all members of the campus community to reframe discussions around assault and pledge to be part of the solution to eliminate it. La Roche is one of six schools in Allegheny County, and one of 43 statewide, to receive funding in this latest round of grants. Read more
McCANDLESS, March 16 – Temple Ohav Shalom, a synagogue based in McCandless, has received $25,000 to invest in security measures for its facility, announced state Rep. Arvind Venkat, D-Allegheny. “This funding will allow the synagogue to improve its security measures,” said Venkat. “I am proud to advocate for our Jewish community and ensure that our neighbors of all faiths have the protections they need so they can continue to safely worship in peace.” The funding for this project comes from the Nonprofit Security Grant Fund Program , which administers grants to organizations that serve individuals, groups or institutions that are included in the FBI’s Hate Crime Statistics as a motivation category for a single-bias hate crime. The categories include race/ethnicity/ancestry; religion; sexual orientation; disability; gender; and gender identity. This is the eighth cohort of the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, which has authorized $35 million in funding for more than 700 applicants and 530 unique organizations since its inception. Based on reported data on the number of people who visit these facilities, it is estimated that up to 7 million people across the Commonwealth have been impacted by this funding to date. Read more
Upcoming shred event; Keeping money in our seniors’ pockets; Celebrating our outstanding students – and more! Read more
HARRISBURG, March 9 – Many older Pennsylvanians face health conditions that make it unsafe for them to continue driving, which often leads them to surrender their driver’s licenses and receive a free state photo identification card. However, subsequent renewals of these cards include a fee, which state Reps. Arvind Venkat and Lindsay Powell , both D-Allegheny, intend to remedy. The Pittsburgh-area legislators plan to introduce legislation that would exempt Pennsylvanians age 65 or older that have surrendered their driver’s license for medical reasons from the fees associated with renewing their state photo ID. “Giving up a driver’s license can be difficult, especially when it is due to a medical condition,” said Venkat. “We do not need to add an extra cost for seniors during this challenging situation. This legislation will allow older Pennsylvanians to make the responsible decision to surrender their license without the burden of additional financial hardship.” “When many of our older neighbors live on fixed incomes, we should not be charging them unreasonable fees that could go toward health care, groceries, transportation, or any other costs they may have,” said Powell. The current fee to renew a photo ID, as of July 2025 , is $44.50. Over 20% of Pennsylvanians — nearly 2.6 million people — are aged 65 or older, one of the highest shares in the Read more
Upcoming shred event; Protecting Homeowners; Celebrating our outstanding students; Time change – and more! Read more
HARRISBURG, March 4 – During a House Commerce Committee hearing today on bipartisan legislation that would regulate Shared Appreciation Agreements, state Rep. Arvind Venkat, D-Allegheny, expressed outrage over the solicitation of testimony against the legislation through financial inducements. Point, a company that markets Shared Appreciation Agreements, emailed customers before the meeting with the promise of $50 Amazon gift cards if they submitted a testimonial in opposition to H.B. 2120 , introduced by Venkat to regulate these agreements. This solicitation and the subsequent testimonials submitted by Point came without notice to the Commerce Committee. “These actions by Point are intended to mislead the members of this committee and the people of Pennsylvania by incentivizing a particular viewpoint for financial gain,” said Venkat. “This is an outrageous corruption of the legislative process. House Bill 2120 serves to provide consumer protections for homeowners to preserve and understand the value of their most valuable asset—their home. “What Point has done raises significant questions about its credibility as a company, as a participant in the deliberations on this legislation, and about the nature and quality of its product. If it is not transparent with lawmakers, how can we believe it is transparent with its customers? I will continue to use my authority as a legislator to ensure homeowners are Read more
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