Congressman Matt Cartwright issued a statement regarding the announcement of a new annual federal grant for local environmental groups, whose mission includes restoring and conserving a healthy ecosystem for the Delaware River Watershed. Yesterday, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) announced the launch of the Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund (DWCF). This is a $4.3 million competitive gr... Read more »

Addressing our nation’s dire organ transplant shortage U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright (D-PA) introduced the Organ Donor Clarification Act on July 19th.There are 115,000 people on the organ transplant waiting list and 20 people die every day as they wait for an organ. This bipartisan legislation will remove existing hurdles for donation and test out new ways to increase donations. “This is li... Read more »

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. Rural Health Corporation provide... Read more »

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. Established in 1978, Scranton Primary Health Care Center, a Federally Qualified Health Center, offers quality primary ... Read more »

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). The Trust Fund is supported through a tax on coa... Read more »

Today, U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) awarded three grants worth $9,088,536 combined to the Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education for it’s continuing mission and operations. The Wright Center provides medical residency training for primary care physicians in northeastern Pennsylvania and across the country through the Health R... Read more »

Today, U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright (D-PA-17) introduced bipartisan legislation that would provide veterans with greater access to mental health resources. The Veterans Mental Health Accessibility Act would allow veterans to seek treatment for service-connected mental illnesses regardless of when their conditions manifest themselves. Currently, Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation... Read more »

Today, U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright announced that the Wright Center Medical Group received a $82,143 federal grant from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). HRSA operates under the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and works to improve health care among underserved and vulnerable populations. The Wright Center Medical Group will receive funds from the R... Read more »

Yesterday, U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright introduced the Access to Substance Abuse Treatment Act (H.R. 4899), which enhances the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)’s ability to provide substance abuse treatment. “The opioid epidemic has devastated communities across Pennsylvania and our entire nation. According to the CDC, Pennsylvania had the country’s fourth highest rate of drug ... Read more »

U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright recently introduced the bipartisan SNAP Healthy Incentives Act, a bill that would create incentives for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients to purchase fruits and vegetables. From 2011 to 2013, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s Food and Nutrition Service implemented a pilot program in Hampden County, Massachusetts that evaluated... Read more »