(WASHINGTON, DC) – Representative Conor Lamb (PA-17), a member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was joined by fellow Committee members, Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1), Frederica Wilson (FL-24), and John Katko (NY-24), to introduce the bipartisan Promoting Advancement Through Transit Help (PATH) to College Act.  Senator Bob Casey (PA) has introduced companion legislation in the Senate.  The PATH to College Act establishes a new pilot grant program for public transit providers, in collaboration with eligible institutions of higher education, to increase access to public transportation for college students.

The PATH to College Act authorizes funding for the U.S. Department of Transportation and the U.S. Department of Labor to award funds, on a competitive basis, to institutions of higher education and transit agencies for the purpose of improving transit accessibility for students attending community colleges, Minority Serving Institutions, or those with a large number of Pell-eligible students.  A report from the Seldin/Haring-Smith Foundation indicated that just 57% of community colleges are currently accessible by transit.

“Too many students who want to pursue education or training beyond high school face challenges with the ability to simply get to school.  This bill will improve accessibility to public transportation to ensure more students can access education and training opportunities in their community,” said Lamb.

“A lack of reliable transportation should never stop a student from achieving their dreams,” said Casey.  “This legislation will improve public transportation so students can pursue education and training beyond high school, allowing them to focus on their education instead of how they’re getting to school every day.  I’m proud to partner with Representative Lamb on this bill and I’ll keep fighting to get it over the finish line.”

“The cost and lack of access to public transportation are often barriers for students pursuing higher education,” said Fitzpatrick.  “Our bipartisan legislation will increase public transit stops near college campuses, ensuring that students have a reliable and affordable way to get to class, so they are able to focus on their studies.”

“The lack of access to reliable transportation is one of the greatest barriers between students and their educational pursuits.  Far too often, young people are challenged with the simple task of getting to campus.  This legislation will improve access to public transportation to ensure that students can get to class easily and on time,” said Wilson.

Multiple higher education and workforce development advocacy organizations have endorsed the legislation, including Partner4Work, Association of Community College Trustees, College Promise, Student Veterans of America and more.  Click here to read the endorsing letters.

Visit Lamb’s website to learn more about the PATH to College Act.

Pennsylvania’s Unemployment Rate Down to 6.0 Percent in October 

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) today released its preliminary employment situation report for October 2021.

Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate was down two-tenths of a percentage point over the month to 6.0 percent in October. The U.S. rate also fell two-tenths of a percentage point from its September level, down to 4.6 percent. The commonwealth’s unemployment rate was 1.0 percentage points below its October 2020 level and the national rate was down 2.3 points over the year.

Pennsylvania’s civilian labor force – the estimated number of residents working or looking for work – decreased 6,000 over the month. The unemployment count fell for the eighth consecutive month, with 12,000 fewer unemployed individuals in October.

Pennsylvania’s total nonfarm jobs increased by 19,100 over the month to 5,760,800 in October, the sixth consecutive gain. The number of jobs increased from September in seven of the 11 industry supersectors. The largest movement was an increase of 8,600  leisure & hospitality jobs.  Over the year, total nonfarm jobs were up 134,700 with gains in nine of the 11 supersectors. Leisure & hospitality had the largest 12-month gain, adding back 47,300 jobs. All supersectors remained below their February 2020 job levels as of October 2021.

Additional information is available on the L&I website at www.dli.pa.gov or by following us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today approved plans submitted by several utilities to distribute accumulated tax savings associated with the federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 which had not been previously addressed.

The Commission voted 3-0 to approve petitions filed by Peoples Gas Company, Pennsylvania Power Company (Penn Power), Metropolitan Edison Company (Met-Ed), Pennsylvania Electric Company (Penelec) and West Penn Power Company to distribute tax savings that accumulated during the period of January 1, 2018, through June 30, 2018, along with and interest.

Under the plans approved today, the utilities will be returning the following accumulated tax savings and interest to their customers during the coming year:

• Peoples Gas – $3,723,470
• Penn Power – $5,602.115
• Met-Ed – $18,482,825
• Penelec – $19,005,569
• West Penn Power – $14,967,620

The Commission noted that in each of these situations the additional tax savings being returned to customers during 2022 will temporarily increase the utilities’ current TCJA surcharge/credit, which are also being used to return ongoing tax savings to customer.

The tax savings addressed in these utility plans accumulated before the PUC instituted a statewide process in 2018 to return utility tax savings to customers.  Per the Commission’s order, any utility that had not filed a base rate case on or before May 17, 2021, was required to submit a plan to address and return any tax savings that had accumulated between January 1, 2018, and June 30, 2018.

(File Photo taken in 2019 by Frank Sparks )

(Pittsburgh, Pa.) The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is announcing a virtual plans presentation for the preservation project of the Route 18 Rochester-Monaca Bridge over the Ohio River in Monaca and Rochester boroughs.

The proposed project involves a bridge deck overlay, expansion joint replacement, spot/zone painting, steel & concrete repairs, drainage improvements, signage, and other miscellaneous construction. The project will be constructed under a full detour for vehicles via the East Rochester-Monaca Bridge and will remain open for pedestrians.  Construction is anticipated to begin in the summer of 2023.

As part of PENNDOT’s public involvement process, they have provided a PowerPoint presentation to learn more about the project.  Interested individuals can access the presentation beginning Friday, November 19 at:

https://www.penndot.gov/RegionalOffices/district-11/PublicMeetings/BeaverCounty/Pages/Rochester-Monaca-Bridge-Preservation.aspx

By PAUL WISEMAN AP Economics Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits fell for the seventh straight week to a pandemic low 268,000. U.S. jobless claims dipped by 1,000 last week from the week before, the Labor Department reported Thursday. The applications for unemployment aid are a proxy for layoffs, and their steady decline this year — after topping 900,000 one week in early January — reflects the labor market’s strong recovery from last year’s brief but intense coronavirus recession. The four-week average of claims, which smooths week-to-week volatility, also fell to a pandemic low just below 273,000.  Jobless claims have been edging lower, toward their prepandemic level of around 220,000 a week.

(Harrisburg, Pa.)The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today approved a settlement related to a massive pipeline failure and fire in Beaver County involving the “Revolution Pipeline” – resulting in nearly $2 million in civil penalties and additional preventative measures required by the pipeline operator.

The Revolution Pipeline is a 24-inch natural gas pipeline operated by Energy Transfer Company (ETC), doing business as ETC Northeast Pipeline.  Early on the morning of Sept. 10, 2018, a portion of the pipeline failed in Center Township, Beaver County. That incident released more than three million cubic feet of natural gas and caused a fire that burned for several hours – destroying a nearby home and garage, damaging several electric transmission lines and towers in the area, and burning several acres of surrounding woodland.

The Commission voted 3-0 to approve the settlement, which resolves an investigation conducted by the Safety Division of the PUC’s independent Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement (I&E), which is responsible for inspecting pipelines and investigating and enforcing safety violations for the Commission.  Today’s action by the PUC comes following thorough review of comments from state lawmakers, advocates, local governments, and various concerned individuals, which were submitted to the Commission after the proposed settlement was published in July 2021.

The settlement includes the following:

• A $1 million civil penalty, to be paid by ETC to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania within 30 days of final approval of the settlement.
• Approximately $975,000 in additional safety-related measures, including:
  • Added pipeline start-up procedures, including 24-hour monitoring during start-up, along with employees onsite at each valve station who are qualified to operate those valves – continuing until the pipeline reaches operating pressure.
  • Incorporation of preconstruction research into pipeline design, to ensure that the information about the evaluation of geohazards is conveyed to the design team and construction inspectors working in the field.
  • In-line inspections of the Revolution pipeline, prior to the start-up or operation date for that pipeline.
  • Multiple annual in-line inspections on the Revolution pipeline, to verify the integrity of the pipeline.
  • Immediate notice to the PUC’s I&E of any slope failure affecting pipeline integrity, and enhanced procedures to monitor and patrol the entire Revolution pipeline right of way.
  • Implementation of a quality assurance/quality control program to oversee pipeline siting and construction practices for ETC’s gas and hazardous liquids pipelines in Pennsylvania.

Thursday, November 18, 2021 at 10:37 AM
By TOM MURPHY AP Health Writer
The U.S. government will pay drugmaker Pfizer $5.29 billion for 10 million treatment courses of its potential COVID-19 treatment if regulators authorize it. Pfizer asked U.S. regulators on Tuesday to authorize emergency use of its experimental pill, which has been shown to significantly cut the rate of hospitalizations and deaths among people with COVID-19. Pfizer reported earlier this month that its pill cut hospitalizations and deaths by 89% among high-risk adults who had early symptoms. The Food and Drug Administration is already reviewing a competing pill from Merck and will hold a public meeting on it later this month.

Thursday, November 18, 2021 at 10:29 AM
Vice President Kamala Harris is pushing back against media reports of White House tensions between her office and the president’s. Harris told ABC in an interview aired Thursday she’s “very excited about the work” the Biden administration has accomplished. President Joe Biden has tasked Harris with addressing migration at the U.S.-Mexico border, voting rights, COVID-19 vaccinations and other issues. Some media reports have suggested tensions in the West Wing over Harris’ job performance and suggested she feels sidelined. Harris was asked on ABC if she feels “misused or underused” and replied, “No, I don’t.” White House press secretary Jen Psaki calls Harris “a key partner.”

Thursday, November 18, 2021 at 7:53 AM

(Pittsburgh, Pa.) Allegheny County Police said a 25-year-old woman was found with a loaded gun in a duffel bag at the main security TSA checkpoint at Pittsburgh International Airport early this morning. The woman did not possess a valid concealed carry permit and the FBI was notified and county police said they’ll be charging the woman by summons.

County police have taken possession of the .380 firearm.

Allegheny County police said passengers who bring firearms into an airport checkpoint can face federal civil fines from the TSA up to $10,000.

Any repeat offender can be fined up to $13,910.

Thursday, November 18, 2021 at 7:49 AM
By JOSH BOAK Associated Press
The Biden administration is helping to distribute several billion dollars in aid for winter heating and utility bills. It’s an unprecedented sum that comes largely from the administration’s $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package. The relief package provides an additional $4.5 billion for the government’s Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which typically has funding of $3 billion to $4 billion annually. Aid for renters can also cover utility costs. The White House is hosting a call Thursday for governors’ offices to help release the aid to vulnerable households. Speakers on the call will include the Energy and Health and Human Services secretaries and the governors of Connecticut, Maine and Michigan.