From my grad union organizing days to public office, I’ve seen Darrin Kelly be a leader & friend to so many. He helped me build relationships with labor, bridged divides, and could always crack a well-timed joke. He’ll leave big shoes to fill! www.wesa.fm/politics-gov...

This “Big Beautiful Bill” is a sham. It rips health care and food off the tables of Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable, all to serve the wealthy and well-connected. Cutting Medicaid, Medicare, SNAP, and public insurance isn’t good policy. And we will fight back.

Ted went to his first protest today! We both believe in due process for all and that immigrants make our communities stronger and better!

Trans people deserve life saving, affirming healthcare!

I was at Magee yesterday for an ultrasound to check on the placement of my IUD and am grateful to the competent staff there. I stand with those fighting for their union. They’re fighting for representation for themselves and for better conditions for patients like me.

As the first openly autistic legislator in the #PAHouse, I will continuously fight for the rights of those of us on the spectrum. Don’t let the hateful rhetoric from D.C. prevent you from achieving your dreams! #AutismAcceptanceMonth youtu.be/t0H_4kRPEZc

The mythology of our country is of a land of opportunity and freedom. But as people who had legal right to be here are disappeared and not returned, despite a unanimous Supreme Court decision ordering otherwise, this promise of opportunity and freedom remains unfulfilled.

Grateful that the Shapiro family is okay and thank you to the first responders for taking prompt action. Whatever the motivation for this act of arson, violence is not acceptable. www.wesa.fm/politics-gov...

I voted yes on HB411, which provides a cost of living adjustment based on date of retirement to eligible PSERS and SERS pre-Act 9 retirees.

Our teachers, bus drivers, police, firefighters and nurses give their lives every day to serve the people of Pennsylvania – and they should ALWAYS be protected in the workplace. Today, I voted to keep public servants safe at work here in Allegheny County and across Pennsylvania.

I voted yes on HB308, which creates the Public Employees Occupational Safety and Health Act to establish workplace protections for public sector employees that are consistent with federal OSHA requirements.

Today in session, I voted yes on HB156, which ensures carbon monoxide detectors are housed in childcare facilities located in buildings with carbon monoxide sources.

I voted yes on HB183, which ensures workers who suffer from serious and permanent disfigurement of the body are eligible to receive workers’ compensation benefits and increases the number of weeks for benefits eligibility.

I have known Mahdi Bey for many years and have had the chance to see firsthand the way he listens to and advocates for our community.

I also voted yes on HB755, which requires health insurance coverage of preventative health care services without cost-sharing.

I also voted yes on HB618, which prohibits health insurers from denying or excluding coverage based on preexisting conditions.

I also voted yes on HB535, which prohibits health insurance policies from establishing annual or lifetime dollar limits on ten essential health benefits.

Today, I voted yes on HB494, which allows parents to keep their adult children on their health insurance plan until the age of 26.

No matter what actions our federal government takes, Trans people exist and will continue to exist. I support your rights to self-determination and bodily autonomy as part of the fundamental freedoms we all have in this country.

PRT needs more state funding to maintain and improve service. As more details are being announced this morning about the potential for cuts if state funding does not increase, it’s my commitment to continue to fight for the funding necessary to protect our transit system.

I voted yes on HB274, which allows survivors of domestic violence to collect unemployment benefits if they voluntarily quit their job for their safety or the safety of their family or household member.

I also voted yes on HB157, which establishes the “Rural Health Care Grant Program” to pay for healthcare practitioners’ education debt.

Today, I voted yes on HB60, which allows the transfer of a patient’s prescription between pharmacies as long as the prescribed substance is already transferable under federal law.

People deserve elected officials who will stand up for them, not those that cave instead of fighting. There will be many, many people who suffer because of these funding cuts, and only so much we can do at the state level to make up the difference, though we will try our best.

Left a room of pharmacy students tonight hoping to be wrong when I said re: Medicaid cuts that the problem isn’t (just) Republicans, it’s many electeds regardless of party being beholden to corporate interests and insulated from the impact of cuts. Not wrong, I guess.

In the midst of chaos at the federal level, in Pennsylvania, we are focused on targeted improvements to our programs. Today in Human Services Committee, we voted on bills to improve SNAP and increase access to SUD treatment.

Pennsylvania pharmacists are celebrating the @repjess.com law to expand the services they can provide, and combat the Wall Street greed putting them out of business. But it's a first step, and more needs done: www.pennlive.com/opinion/2025...

Thrilled that my first bill of the session has successfully passed out of committee. Proactive protections for workers, especially first responders, are important now more than ever.

"Now is the time to support all home care workers by rededicating ourselves to offering them a livable wage now," writes Rep. @jessicabenham.bsky.social. Last yr, Rep. Benham introduced a bill w/Rep. Ortitay (R-Cecil) to address the home care workforce shortage: www.unionprogress.com/2025/02/02/o...

Today’s vote thread:

Today’s votes:

Thank you to Gov. Shapiro for prioritizing home care workers in this year’s budget. Right now, there’s only 1 worker for every 6 people who need care. My legislation can make a real difference in the lives of Pennsylvania’s senior citizens and those who care for them.

Bird flu is a serious threat to our poultry population, impacting our food supply, and the potential impact on human health is also very concerning. We are taking action on this issue.

Happy Groundhog Day!

Truly a delight last night to spend time celebrating the work that so many organizations have been doing to address gun violence. Thank you to Ceasefire for bringing us all together!

A busy week of work in committees in Harrisburg! Lots of good bills moving through committee and heading toward a vote on the House floor.

I am once again asking the President to care about seniors and kids, among other impacted groups.

So on one hand, the GOP PA Senator says it is rescinded. On the other hand, the President’s Press Secretary says it isn’t. Can you guys all get on the same page please? Folks deserve a federal government they can count on!

Well that didn’t last long. And thank goodness, because this would have hurt a lot of vulnerable people, seniors, and kids.

We remain committed to defending all members of the LGBTQ+ community, including and especially Trans and non-binary people.

Instead of helping people, the GOP obsession with culture war ideology is directly hurting the most vulnerable among us: children and seniors.

Pittsburgh is a city of immigrants. Consider supporting Casa San Jose in their important work: casasanjose.salsalabs.org/casasanjosed...

Pharmacy Benefit Managers raise prices, hurt patients and put small town pharmacies out of business. @jessicabenham.bsky.social did great work fighting their abuses in PA, and now it’s time for the Feds to curb their greed.

News of a ceasefire deal is a welcome relief so that hostages can return home and an end to suffering in Gaza can be secured with necessary humanitarian relief.

Continuing to make investments in our students is key to the success of our region!

Today, I joined other state and county elected officials for a meeting with Pittsburgh Regional Transit to discuss what is needed to maintain and build a thriving transit system in Allegheny County.

Busy day in the district, including a stop by SHIM to hear about their work meeting needs of underserved communities, stopping by the Beechview HAL to talk with seniors, and presenting to South PGH Coalition for Peace about state gov & hearing from other folks about their anti-violence initiatives.