Local Issues
The Congressman takes very seriously the responsibility that he has to represent local interests in Washington. He is keenly aware of the nuances of and challenges facing this geographically diverse and expansive district.
Over the long term, the district lags beyond the country in job creation. To fight this, Congressman Cartwright is working to create good paying jobs that cannot be outsourced and investing in the small business that drive economic growth.
As an outgrowth of this, the Congressman is working to restore freight and passenger rail service to all parts of the district.
See also information about Our District.
More on Local Issues
Washington, DC – Congressman Matt Cartwright announced today that Tobyhanna Army Depot’s planned hiring of more than 100 new engineers, IT specialists, electronics technicians, and related trades personnel is to support a $150 million increase in spending during federal fiscal year 2019 on WIN-T work, the development and maintenance of the Army’s most modern communications systems.
Wilkes-Barre, PA – Today, Representative Matt Cartwright announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Agency (HHS) awarded $1,793,347 to the Rural Health Corporation of Northeastern PA (RHC), in Wilkes-Barre. The funds will be used to maintain RHC’s current scope of health care services in its seven locations throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania.
Scranton, PA – Today, U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright announced that Scranton Primary Health Care Center Inc. received $1,321,672 in federal funds from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The funds support critical health services for underinsured and uninsured residents.
WASHINGTON, DC – Yesterday, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released to the public a dire report regarding the sustainability of the federal Black Lung Trust Fund, which covers medical and living expenses for former coal mine workers who have the devastating and potentially deadly disease of coal workers’ pneumoconiosis (also known as black lung disease).
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Congressman Matt Cartwright made the following statement regarding President Trump’s executive orders aimed at federal workforce unions. The president’s three executive orders would:
--Restrict time spent by union officials on employee and workplace issues.
--Shorten collective bargaining time for workers to negotiate with management and potentially make collective bargaining agreements harder to reach.
--Allow managers to dismiss employees without the process protections in their current work agreements.
Washington, DC – The U.S. House of Representatives voted unanimously to include an amendment sponsored by Congressman Matt Cartwright (PA-17) and Congressman Tom Cole (R-OK) that supports army depots across the country, including Tobyhanna Army Depot, in the FY 2019 National Defense Authorization Act.
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Democratic U.S. Congressmen Matt Cartwright (PA-17) and Republican U.S. Congressman Charlie Dent (PA-15) reintroduced the bipartisan Children’s Savings Accounts Offer Parents Plenty of Reasons to Understand aNd Invest in Tuition Yearly (CSA OPPORTUNITY) Act with the support of eight House colleagues.
Scranton, PA – Today, U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright announced that NeighborWorks Northeastern PA (NWNEPA), a member of the NeighborWorks network, has received $125,500 in federal grant funds from the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation, dba NeighborWorks America. This funding will support its local affordable housing and community development activities.
Wilkes-Barre, PA – Today, U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright announced that Wilkes-Barre Housing Authority has received a $35,791 federal grant from U.S. Housing and Urban Development in a continued effort to end veteran homelessness.