Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies (CPS) announced that Jessica I. Monahan — a transportation policy expert who has secured federal funding for a range of nonprofits, local governments, Fortune 100 companies, emerging businesses, and government contractors — has joined its Washington D.C.-based lobbying team as a senior principal.
While traditional wisdom holds that the political party in control of the White House typically loses ground during midterm elections, even in down-ballot races, some Democrats believe that this will be their year to take control of the Pennsylvania House for the first time in more than a decade. These predictions are due in large part to recently redistricted maps which will be in effect for the first time during the upcoming election. The Philadelphia Inquirer has more.
A new poll by Franklin & Marshall College released this week shows Democratic nominees for the U.S. Senate and governor ahead of their respective Republican opponents by a significant margin, despite low approval ratings for President Joe Biden among those polled. View the full findings here.
Voters in and around Pittsburgh are being prompted by new billboards to “#VoteLikeYouPray” during the upcoming gubernatorial election. The four billboards, which were erected earlier this week, are the work of Vote Common Good, a progressive evangelical group that is urging Pennsylvanians not to vote for Republican candidate Doug Mastriano. Senator Mastriano has been derided by many as a Christian nationalist, though he and his campaign reject this characterization. PennLive has more.
At a Wednesday hearing, the House State Government Committee heard testimony from experts on the importance of strengthening cybersecurity measures for local and state governments across Pennsylvania. City & State PA has more.
Officials from the Department of Transportation and the Senate Transportation Committee are continuing to weigh different methods of funding repairs to nine major bridges now that tolling has been taken off the table. Options under consideration include a potential public-private partnership paid through a bond issue. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has more.
Philadelphia children will be returning to school on Monday for what Mayor Jim Kenney has termed “the most normal year we’ve had recently.” Students and staff will only need to wear masks for 10 days at the beginning of the school year, a decision which was informed by the Philadelphia Department of Public Health and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. The Philadelphia Inquirer has more on what to expect this school year.
FedEx mistakenly delivered a box of six 30-caliber M1 rifles to Chester High School in Delaware County last week. The package was stored inside the school over the weekend, as school employees had assumed the unopened package contained textbooks and other school supplies. NBC10 has more.
Jay-Z’s annual Made in America Festival will be returning to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway over Labor Day weekend, featuring performances by headliners Tyler, the Creator and Bad Bunny. The Philadelphia Inquirer has more on everything attendees need to know.
Like many cities, Philadelphia has resorted to tracking its rates of COVID-19 by using wastewater. However, while the city has been diligently collecting and recording the data, it is not currently being analyzed or utilized in any meaningful way. However, the Philadelphia Department of Public Health has stated their intent to share data with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention soon. The Philadelphia Inquirer has more.
Pittsburgh received $335 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding, but to date has spent about a quarter of it. While much of the funding has been earmarked for projects such as recreation center renovations, infrastructure repairs, and affordable housing initiatives, the city must spend all of its ARPA money by the end of 2024. PublicSource has more.
Pittsburgh’s Moonshot Museum, billed as Pennsylvania’s very first space museum, is set to open to the public on October 15. The museum is funded by Astrobotic, a local robotics company whose goal is to teach young people about the contemporary space industry and inspire them to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math. The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review has more.
The University of Pittsburgh has announced a new 30-year partnership with ElevateBio, a Massachusetts-based bio-manufacturing center, at the school’s Hazelwood Green development. The partnership is intended to accelerate new cell and gene therapies and treatments, and affirms Pittsburgh’s status as a rising technology hub. The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review has more.
On Wednesday, President Joe Biden’s administration announced that it would be canceling up to $20,000 in federal student loan debt for Pell Grant recipients and up to $10,000 for other borrowers with less than $125,000 in individual income and $250,000 in household income. The pause on student loan repayments has also been extended through the end of this year. The Pennsylvania Capital-Star has more.
No Muslim has ever served in the U.S. Senate, but this precedent could change if Dr. Mehmet Oz is elected. However, this is something that is rarely brought up on the campaign trail, either by the Republican candidate himself or his Democratic opponent, and not all Muslims see this as a potential win for representation. The Associated Press has more.
Principal
Principal
Executive Vice President
Principal
Managing Director
Principal
Government Relations Associate
Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies, an affiliate of the international law firm Cozen O’Connor, is a bipartisan government relations practice representing clients before the federal government and in cities and states throughout the country. With offices in Washington D.C., Richmond, Albany, New York City, Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Chicago, and Santa Monica, the firm’s public strategies professionals offer a full complement of government affairs services, including legislative and executive branch advocacy, policy analysis, assistance with government procurement and funding programs, and crisis management. Its client base spans multiple industries, including healthcare, transportation, hospitality, education, construction, energy, real estate, entertainment, financial services, and insurance.
Established in 1970, Cozen O’Connor has over 775 attorneys who help clients manage risk and make better business decisions. The firm counsels clients on their most sophisticated legal matters in all areas of the law, including litigation, corporate, and regulatory law. Representing a broad array of leading global corporations and middle-market companies, Cozen O’Connor serves its clients’ needs through 31 offices across two continents.
April 25, 2024
April 25, 2024
April 24, 2024
