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| The Latest News from Your State Representative |
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A Commitment to Quality Education
As the new school year gets into full swing, there is no better time to reaffirm our commitment to Pennsylvania’s students and families.
Every child deserves the opportunity to receive a quality education, build strong literacy skills and develop the knowledge and confidence needed to succeed. Making sure those opportunities are available to every student is a priority I take seriously.
That commitment is reflected in the legislation I have sponsored and supported. House Bill 684 would strengthen evidence-based reading instruction, screening and intervention, while House Bill 2541 would provide up to $150 million for evidence-based literacy programs without raising taxes.
We also need to make sure students have opportunities beyond the traditional classroom. House Bill 819 would expand access to rigorous academic courses, House Bill 2286 would expand postsecondary scholarship opportunities, and House Bill 2481 would help qualified graduates enter student-learner and apprenticeship programs.
Strong literacy, effective classroom instruction, and meaningful academic and career opportunities all play an important role in preparing our students for success in school, the workforce and throughout life.
Every student has the potential to succeed, and our job is to make sure they have the tools and opportunities to do so. That means supporting our teachers, empowering parents and giving every child the education they need to build a successful future.
Our children are Pennsylvania’s future, and they deserve our very best. I will continue working to strengthen education, support teachers and ensure every student has the opportunity to reach his or her full potential.
I invite you to visit www.repgaydos.com to learn more about my work on education and other legislation that can make a difference for you and your family.
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Fighting Government Overreach
I recently joined more than 80 of my fellow House members in submitting formal comments to the Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC) calling for the withdrawal of the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s proposed rewrite of regulations that govern communicable and noncommunicable diseases in the Commonwealth.
The 502-page proposal is reminiscent of COVID lockdown-era policy and represents an unprecedented expansion of bureaucratic control, threatening the constitutional liberties, medical privacy and parental rights of citizens across the Commonwealth. Our formal comment letter highlights several alarming provisions within the proposal, including:
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Broadly expanding mandatory vaccine reporting and allowing increased access to private medical records. |
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Granting health officials the authority to enter school buildings and interview minor students privately for disease-control investigations without clear parental knowledge or consent. |
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Providing the ability to enter private residences for disease control investigations while remaining silent about whether a search warrant is required prior to entering a residence. |
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Expanding protocols for contact tracing, isolation and quarantine, while raising concerns over unilateral executive powers to re-impose mask mandates or other coercive measures. |
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Attempting to permanently establish sweeping public health powers through the regulatory process rather than through open legislative debate. |
Click here to read our comment letter.
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Patients Must Come First
Healthcare is too important to be out of reach for the people who need it most.
This week, I joined Sen. Devlin Robinson and Rep. Josh Kail at the Pittsburgh Airport Area Chamber of Commerce Breakfast Briefing to discuss the AHN-Heritage Valley affiliation and what it means for patients, families, employers and communities across western Pennsylvania.
With two hospitals, dozens of clinical locations and hundreds of physicians joining Allegheny Health Network, this is a major change for our region’s healthcare system.
As these changes take shape, we must make sure patients and families see real benefits in the care they receive. We need healthcare that is accessible, affordable and close to home.
Every family deserves that peace of mind, and every community deserves a healthcare system that delivers.
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A Remarkable Woman with Local Roots
Did you know a celebrated American author has deep roots right here in our area?
Mary Roberts Rinehart was a pioneering writer whose story is closely connected to western Pennsylvania. The Rinehart family lived in Sewickley, and her legacy lives on at the Mary Roberts Rinehart Nature Park in Glen Osborne.
As we continue exploring the people and stories that shaped our communities, hers is a fascinating one to discover.
Watch this short video below to learn more.
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Celebrating America 250 in Crescent Township
Recently, it was nice to join many members of our community for Crescent Township Community Day as we celebrated America 250!
A special thank you to the Crescent-Shousetown Area Historical Association, Crescent Township and the Crescent Township Parks Board for hosting such a fantastic old-fashioned community celebration. The free hot dogs, cake, and award-winning homemade apple pie were a wonderful treat, but the best part was seeing all of us having a great time.
My staff and I were also happy to have a table at the event to share information about services available through the state and to speak with residents about issues that matter to them.
If you have a state-related issue or need assistance, please reach out to my office at 412-262-3780.
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Helping Our Community!
Recently, members of my staff and I held a constituent services session and remote office hours for residents of Masonic Village at Sewickley.
We were glad to help residents navigate a variety of state-related issues, including rent rebate questions, driver’s license inquiries, bus passes, handicap parking placards and more.
Connecting residents with the services and resources available to them is an important part of serving our community.
If you have a state-related issue or need assistance, please call my office at 412-262-3780.
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Don’t Miss My Upcoming Events
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Free Student Aid Guide, Webinars Available
The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) is reminding high school students and their families that its 2027-28 PA Student Aid Guide is now available to help them navigate the college planning process.
The PA Student Aid Guide is Pennsylvania’s most comprehensive financial aid publication, offering in-depth information on the federal student aid process and details about Pennsylvania’s aid programs, including the need-based PA State Grant Program. It is available to all students and families at no cost.
The online version of the PA Student Aid Guide is interactive and provides links to information on grants, scholarships, loans, work study programs and more. The online version, along with a link to view and print a PDF file of the guide, is available here.
Also, in honor of National College Savings Month in September, PHEAA is joining the Pennsylvania Treasury Department in encouraging families to take advantage of upcoming webinars about financial aid and tools to save for higher education:
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PFBC Offers Fishing, Boating Grants
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) is accepting applications for two grant programs key to building on the Commonwealth’s outdoors heritage.
The Recruitment, Retention and Reactivation (R3) Education Grant offers school districts, universities and colleges, community and civic groups, sporting and conservation organizations, and local recreation departments up to $25,000 in funding for projects to promote new and renewed interest in fishing and boating. Learn more here.
The Boating Facility Grant Program provides grants for planning, acquisition, development, expansion and rehabilitation of public boating facilities located on the waters of the Commonwealth. Eligible applicants include townships, boroughs, counties, municipalities and nonprofit organizations such as land trusts, conservancies and watershed groups. Learn more here.
The application deadline for both grant programs is Dec. 1.
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Help Stop Suicide
September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, a time to remember and honor those lost to suicide and to try to save lives by educating ourselves about the signs of suicide.
Those signs include feelings of hopelessness or of being a burden to loved ones, sleeping too little or too much, withdrawing or isolating oneself, and starting or increasing use of alcohol or drugs. A full list of warning signs and tips from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration are available here.
If you or someone you know is in imminent danger of self-harm, call 911. Help is also available by calling 988 to connect with the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
To learn more about suicide risks and how to help someone in crisis, visit www.preventsuicidepa.org.
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Keeping Kids Safe in the Car
In recognition of September being Child Passenger Safety Month, parents and caregivers are reminded to ensure children are correctly buckled in the right seats for their age and size.
State law requires children up to age 2 to be secured in a rear-facing car seat, while children under the age of 4 must be restrained in an approved child safety seat. Children must ride in a booster seat until their eighth birthday. Parents are also reminded that due to potential dangers associated with air bag deployment, children age 12 and younger should always ride buckled in a vehicle’s back seat.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends keeping a child in a car seat for as long as possible, provided the child fits within the manufacturer’s height and weight requirements.
Learn more here.
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