In this update:

• Sign the Petition – One Million Signatures to Raise the Wage in PA
• Resources to Support Immigrant Communities
• Taxpayers Should Get Annual Wage Increases Like Lawmakers

• Funding for LGBTQIA+ Law Students
• Scholarship Deadline Approaching
• And so much more!

“It is shameful that state lawmakers have seen a more than 45% increase in salary over the last 17 years while the minimum wage has remained unchanged.”

The current minimum wage of $7.25 per hour for Pennsylvania workers was established at the federal level in 2009. Since then, the cumulative rate of inflation has increased by more than 50%, leaving more than 47,000 Pennsylvania workers who earn the minimum wage or less struggling to survive. However, General Assembly members receive an annual cost-of-living adjustment, and as such, our salaries have increased by 45% in the same time frame.

This disparity is unacceptable, and it’s why I have proposed legislation that would increase the minimum wage in Pennsylvania whenever members of the General Assembly receive their COLA. If lawmakers like me are getting an annual raise from taxpayers, then taxpayers should get a raise as well.

Click here to read more about my bill.

If you and your friends, family, and neighbors could use a little more money on payday, and you believe that working Pennsylvanians deserve a living wage, I’m asking you and one million of our friends and neighbors to sign my online petition to join the fight to get to One Million Signatures to be delivered to Governor Josh Shapiro and Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman to increase the minimum wage now!

Every state bordering Pennsylvania has a higher minimum wage, and 22 states have already raised theirs for 2026. Working Pennsylvanians deserve a living wage, and I will continue fighting in Harrisburg to ensure you earn the pay you deserve.

This week, I was excited to recognize Agriculture Literacy Week. I’m often asked why a legislator from Pittsburgh like me serves on the PA House Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee. The answer is simple: everyone needs to eat. When more people understand where our food comes from, we create a stronger food system for producers and consumers alike.

From supporting urban farms that feed our neighbors to promoting hands-on learning opportunities through Discover Dairy and the PA Friends of Agriculture Foundation for students across the Commonwealth, I’m committed to continuing the work to help more Pennsylvanians understand the importance of agriculture.

If you know any immigrants struggling to access resources, please share this list with them. Every person deserves access to necessities, regardless of their immigration status.

I am pleased to share that the 2026 Lavender Law Scholarship application is accepting applications through March 31. This scholarship supports law students in attending the Lavender Law Conference & Career Fair, the largest gathering of LGBTQIA+ legal professionals in North America.

In past years, scholarships have been awarded in amounts of up to $1,000 to help offset travel and attendance costs.

Access the application here.

Completed applications, along with a resume, should be submitted to cwideman@acba.org no later than March 31, 2026.

The deadline for the PA House Scholarship program is fast approaching!

This four-year scholarship is awarded annually to two students from Pennsylvania who are preparing for postsecondary education. It covers the cost of one semester of tuition at a State System of Higher Education school each year for four years.

Details on how to apply are available here. The deadline to apply is April 15.

If you have any questions about this email or need assistance with any state-related matter, my staff and I are here to help you however we can! Reach out at RepKinkead@pahouse.net or call 412-321-5523.

Pennsylvania State Capitol

116-B East Wing

Harrisburg, PA 17120
(717) 787-5470

District Office

658 Lincoln Ave.

Bellevue, PA 15202
(412) 321-5523

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