ICYMI: Pennsylvania Leaders Visit White House, Meet With President Biden and Administration Officials to Discuss Strong Economic Recovery

Across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, local newspapers and TV stations are reporting on the White House’s “Communities in Action: Building a Better Pennsylvania” event, which was attended by nearly 50 elected officials and community leaders from across the Keystone State.

During the half-day forum, President Biden and senior administration officials highlighted the impact of the President’s economic plan — including the American Rescue Plan, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Inflation Reduction Act, and the CHIPS and Science Act — which is creating good paying jobs, bringing manufacturing back to America, and lowering costs for Pennsylvania families. They also discussed how the Biden-Harris administration will continue to partner with state and local leaders to create and expand opportunities across Pennsylvania.

Read below for a sample of what Pennsylvanians are reading today:

Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Pa. leaders at White House forum to ‘shine a spotlight’ on recovery

In a brief interview on Wednesday, Julie Chavez Rodriguez, the director of the White House’s Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, told the Capital-Star that the administration had made a deliberate effort to obtain the perspective of leaders outside the state’s largest cities…“ We tried to get a good cross-section of the state and throughout the different regions,” she said. “These are folks that we’ve been working with over the last 19 months as we’ve been implementing the American Rescue Plan and the [Bipartisan] Infrastructure Law.”

Scranton Times-Tribune: Cognetti, Powell participate in Pennsylvania-focused forum at White House

Scranton Mayor Paige Gebhardt Cognetti and Lackawanna County District Attorney Mark Powell provided a local perspective Thursday at the White House during a Pennsylvania-focused forum hosted by the Biden administration…The Communities in Action: Building a Better Pennsylvania forum featured local elected and community leaders from across the state…Biden, a Scranton native, stopped by briefly before a briefing on Hurricane Ian’s impact. Cognetti said he greeted her and noted how his late mother used to always say she was from Scranton despite living in Delaware for decades.

The Morning Call: Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk visits White House, discusses violence prevention, American Rescue Plan investments

Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk visited the White House Thursday as part of President Biden’s “Building a Better America” initiative…Tuerk participated in a half-day forum along with other Pennsylvania local leaders and senior members of the Biden-Harris administration…The forum was a chance for Biden-Harris officials to tout the investments they’ve made in communities across Pennsylvania, through laws like the American Rescue Plan Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act. Those acts gave millions to local municipalities to fund schools, improve infrastructure, build housing and more.

The Valley Ledger: Mayor Tuerk Attends Communities in Action: Building a Better Pennsylvania at the White House on Thursday

“I cannot overemphasize how much the Biden-Harris Administration has positively impacted Allentown residents,” said Mayor Tuerk. “American Rescue Plan funding allowed us to make critical investments in our infrastructure and public safety. The new firefighter academy, once constructed, will prepare men and women for new realities, and keep them safe as they keep us safe. We’re grateful for continued commitment from the Administration and look forward to future investment into Allentown.”

WFMZ (Allentown, PA): Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk visits White House, addresses school transportation, gun violence

Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk snapped a picture Thursday in front of the White House, but he was no tourist…He and other local Pennsylvania leaders were invited by President Joe Biden to hear ways the White House has invested in our communities…”Through things like the American Rescue Plan, bipartisan infrastructure laws, the CHIPS Act to help bring the country back during the pandemic,” Tuerk said…Tuerk says Biden also talked about initiatives they’re still working on.

Centre Daily Times: Centre County official visits White House to share local impacts of Biden’s policies

Commissioner Michael Pipe joined about 50 other elected officials, labor leaders and directors of nonprofits and other community organizations for the event, “Communities in Action: Building a Better Pennsylvania,” at the White House on Thursday…In a press release, Pipe said he was honored to be invited and that it was a “unique opportunity to share real-life examples of the progress we’ve made and collaborate with officials from the Biden-Harris Administration.”

StateCollege.com: Commissioner Represents Centre County at White House Forum

Board of Commissioners Chairman Michael Pipe was among nearly 50 Pennsylvania elected officials, labor leaders and nonprofit directors taking part in the “Communities in Action: Building a Better Pennsylvania” event…“Major and significant pieces of legislation signed by President Biden have already had positive impacts on Centre County. Case in point is the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) that has enabled the Centre County Board of Commissioners to continue to invest in our small businesses, improve public health outcomes, reform the criminal justice system and keep property taxes low.”