Yearly Archives: 2016

U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright announced that a grant in the amount of $350,000 has been awarded to the Domestic Violence Service Center (DVSC) in Wilkes-Barre through the Transitional Housing Grant Assistance Program from the Department of Justice (DOJ)

U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright introduced the Scoring Calculations for Our Residential Energy (SCORE) Act, legislation that will help homeowners better understand their home’s energy efficiency and give homeowners a clear, cost effective plan to save money and reduce their energy use

The Justice Department announced today that a Johnstown, Pennsylvania, landlord has agreed to pay $30,000 to resolve allegations that he discriminated against families with children in violation of the Fair Housing Act, Bahamas Real Estate

Last year, Governor Tom Wolf challenged all commonwealth agencies and communities to reduce veterans’ homelessness. Today, the Governor, along with Brig. Gen. Tony Carrelli, adjutant general of the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, announced that more than 2,200 homeless veterans have been placed in permanent housing in the past year

“The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) decision to approve the City of Harrisburg’s sinkhole mitigation plan is welcome news. The affected families endured unacceptably dangerous conditions for years. This initial funding will cover the acquisition and demolition of the first 25 homes on the 1400 block of South 14th Street between Cloverly Terrace and Magnolia Street. The potential for future sinkhole activity is high and the failure to address this issue could’ve led to additional property damage, personal injury and loss of life. Following demolition, the site will be zoned as greenspace without possibility for future construction

Governor Tom Wolf today accepted the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) 2015 Climate Change Action Plan Update that details how increasing energy efficiency in all sectors and at all levels will play a key role in reducing Pennsylvania’s greenhouse gas emissions by target year 2030.

Congressman Lou Barletta (PA-11) today presented an Angels in Adoption award to Brandon’s Forever Home, the non-profit organization focused on raising awareness of adoption and foster care and placing children with loving, permanent families. Brandon’s Forever Home was founded in 2014 by state Rep. Tarah Toohil (116th District) and local attorney Lorine Ogurkis, who each have their own personal experiences with adoption and foster children. Barletta had nominated the group for the honor awarded each year by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute.

Majority chairmen of the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee Rep. Steve Barrar (R-Chester/Delaware) expressed his disappointment in Pennsylvania’s Auditor General Eugene DePasquale for making wild assumptions based on his audit of wait lists and grievance procedures at the state’s six veterans’ homes.

Congressman Lou Barletta (PA-11), whose work as a subcommittee chairman has resulted in more than $3 billion in savings to taxpayers through better management of the federal real estate portfolio, today examined what further efficiencies are possible. Barletta scrutinized two reports from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), which highlighted shortcomings in the federal leasing process that have led to taxpayers overpaying for federal office space. Barletta has spearheaded efforts to save taxpayers billions by reforming the way the General Services Administration (GSA) handles office space, but the two GAO reports investigated federal agencies that have leasing authority outside the GSA

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has awarded $500,000 to the City of Pittsburgh, the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh and the Bedford Dwellings community to further stimulate affordable housing and economic development in the Hill District.

MERSCORP Holdings, Inc. today announced that the Superior Court of Pennsylvania affirmed the trial court’s order granting summary judgment in MERS’ favor

Pennsylvania today agreed that the U.S. Supreme Court should assume original jurisdiction in the state’s efforts to recover more than $10 million in unclaimed property funds that were wrongly submitted to the state of Delaware over 10 years.

The City of Pittsburgh’s Affordable Housing Task Force submitted its 45-page list of findings and recommendations for addressing housing issues citywide today to Mayor William Peduto and Pittsburgh City Council.

The Pennsylvania Treasury, in partnership with leading national clean energy finance company Renew Financial and the Energy Programs Consortium (EPC), a national nonprofit, is pleased to announce the re-launch of the award-winning Keystone Home Energy Loan Program (KeystoneHELP), which provides Pennsylvania homeowners with up to $20,000 of affordable financing for home energy efficiency improvements. KeystoneHELP is additionally supported by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST)

Governor Tom Wolf today announced that the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is the highest-ranking state government user of green power on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) National Top 100 list of the largest green power users from the Green Power Partnership. The state ranks 26th overall among all users of green power

Governor Tom Wolf today announced the investment of $23.4 million for seven drinking water, wastewater and non-point source projects across six counties through the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST)

Mayor William Peduto announced today that a moratorium has been placed on all 2016 property tax assessment appeals initiated by the City of Pittsburgh. This freeze comes in response to evidence that property values have been increasing in certain neighborhoods, thereby potentially causing unexpected tax increases to city residents . In particular, property tax increases may disproportionately hurt elderly residents and residents on fixed incomes

The counties of Greene, Henrico, and Shenandoah and the independent cities of Fairfax and Fredericksburg are now eligible to receive federal assistance for some of their costs incurred during the Severe Winter Storms and Snowstorm occurring on January 22-23, 2016. This will allow for reimbursement for repairing infrastructure damage caused by the storms, as well as the cost of responding to them. In addition, Snow Assistance will be provided for a period of 48 hours

Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary Dennis Davin today announced the approval of $5.3 million in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding for projects in Armstrong, Blair, Cameron, Clinton, Elk, Fayette, Jefferson, Lackawanna, Lawrence, McKean, Mercer, Monroe, Pike, Schuylkill, Tioga, Venango, Warren, Wayne, and Westmoreland counties.

Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh is announcing a road closure on Beech Street at the intersection of Mount Pleasant Road that services its Northview Heights Community in the City of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, will occur the week of April 11 through June 17, weather permitting.