Cook Announces Grant for California Area School District

May. 03, 2021 /

WASHINGTON COUNTY – Rep. Bud Cook (R-Washington/Fayette) announced that the California Area School District in Washington County has received an agricultural grant. The district will be awarded $9,814.94 for curriculum and experiential learning as part of the Farm to School Grant Program administered by the Department of Agriculture.

Ortitay, House Leaders Call for an Investigation into COVID-19 Contact Tracing Data Breach

May. 03, 2021 /

HARRISBURG – Rep. Jason Ortitay (R-Washington/Allegheny), along with House Majority Whip Donna Oberlander (R-Clarion/Armstrong/Forest) and Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff (R-Centre/Mifflin), today spoke about the COVID-19 contact tracing data breach by the Wolf administration, missed opportunities to reduce the risks to Pennsylvanians and called for a full, independent investigation.

Sonney to Co-Host Hearing with Appropriations Committee on PASSHE Report

May. 03, 2021 /

WHAT: Rep. Curt Sonney (R-Erie), chairman of the House Education Committee, will hold a joint public hearing with the House Appropriations Committee on the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education’s (PASSHE) report pursuant to Act 50 of 2020 and the system’s implementation plan for improvement of operations.

Why Not Here?

Apr. 30, 2021 /

Southwest Pennsylvania, especially the 49th District, is a great place to raise a family, work and enjoy a high quality of life. Our greatest asset is our community that feels like a tight-knit family. On top of that, we have the Mon Valley Hospital, California University, Monongahela River and many outdoor recreation activities to offer. Who wouldn’t want to live here?

Ortitay, House Leaders Detail Missteps, Call for Investigation on Data Breach

Apr. 30, 2021 /

WHAT: Rep. Jason Ortitay (R-Washington/Allegheny), House Majority Whip Donna Oberlander (R-Clarion/Armstrong/Forest) and Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff (R-Centre/Mifflin) will discuss the latest COVID-19 contact tracing data breach by the Wolf administration, opportunities missed to reduce the risks to private citizens and request a full, independent investigation.

Ortitay Issues Statement Regarding DOH Failure to Protect Personal, Medical Data Obtained by COVID-19 Contact Tracers

Apr. 29, 2021 /

BRIDGEVILLE – Rep. Jason Ortitay (R-Washington/Allegheny) issued the following statement in response to a WPXI-TV/Target 11 investigation that led to more than 70,000 Pennsylvanians having their personal information accessible on the internet after answering calls from employees of a firm contracted by the Pennsylvania Department of Health to conduct contract tracing:

Lewis DelRosso Introduces Bill to Ensure In-Person Learning is an Option for All PA Students

Apr. 29, 2021 /

HARRISBURG – To ensure that students of the future don’t experience the same educational challenges as students who struggled to learn through the pandemic and its subsequent school closures, Rep. Carrie Lewis DelRosso (R-Allegheny/Westmoreland) introduced legislation to preserve equal access to in-person instruction for students across the Commonwealth.

Answering the Call for First Responders - By: Rep. Ryan Warner

Apr. 29, 2021 /

A few weeks ago, wildfires took out hundreds of acres of land in two areas of Ohiopyle State Park. For approximately 12 hours and initially facing dry and windy conditions, 74 crews from departments in Westmoreland and Fayette counties fought and ultimately extinguished the fires. No lives were lost, and no homes destroyed.

IUP/PASSHE Schools Update

Apr. 28, 2021 /

With the PASSHE (Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education) Board of Governors’ Wednesday morning vote to approve the system redesign, and the 60-day public comment period about to begin, I believe it is important for the people of Indiana County to fully understand this proposal and its impacts on Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP). First, I need to be clear that the proposed retrenchments and furloughs at IUP are not the result of the system redesign as many have been led to believe. Rather, they are due to a separate effort by the Board of Governors and Chancellor Dan Greenstein to develop a financial sustainability plan.

Hamm, Rowe, White to Showcase Local Impact of Wolf’s Business Shutdowns

Apr. 27, 2021 /

WHAT: Reps. Joe Hamm (R-Lycoming/Union), David Rowe (R-Snyder/Union) and Martina White (R-Philadelphia) will be participating in a tour of local businesses, followed by a roundtable discussion, to discuss Gov. Tom Wolf’s decision to shutter businesses during the COVID-19 emergency. They will also discuss questions to be included on the upcoming primary election ballot regarding the governor’s emergency powers.