State Rep. Gail Pavliga

It was great to have the opportunity to participate in a nonvoting session today while I was in Columbus!

By addressing mental health issues head-on, we can ensure that our communities receive the support and resources they need.

I’m committed to fighting for robust mental health policy and funding that will save lives in Portage County and across Ohio.

Lawmaker aims to secure permanent funds for 988 su***de prevention hotline 988 su***de prevention hotline continues to be discussed.

After two years of helping thousands of Ohioans, I am working hard to ensure that the 988 program can be permanently funded so that it will continue to help those who seek it.

https://ohiohouse.gov/members/gail-k-pavliga/news/permanent-funding-sought-for-su***de-prevention-hotline-121128

**UPDATE**

Exciting news! I'll be heading to Columbus next week because Governor DeWine will be signing House Bill 251!
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On Wednesday the House concurred with the Senate, and now the Patrolman James R. Wert Memorial Highway is one step closer to reality. All that we need now is the signature of the Governor!

Thank you to to Patrolman Wert’s family for being there for everything along the way!

Congratulations to JD Vance, our next Vice President!

I will always be an advocate for Portage County. Today's story is a good recap of the investments coming to our area!

Portage County organizations will receive millions of dollars from the state Dozens of Portage County communities and organizations are getting a financial boost, thanks to the efforts of state Rep. Gail Pavliga, state Rep. Steve Demetriou and Ohio Senator Vernon Sykes.

Congratulations to the Downtown Mantua Revitalization committee on another great Art on the Hill event yesterday! Great to spend time looking and visiting with friends!

It's a gorgeous day for breakfast on the Farm and Farm tours that are happening until noon today. Thank you Farm Bureau and Bonner Farms in Garrettsville for hosting this great event and educational opportunities to learn more about farming.

Check out this great article recapping last week and the wins we got for the future of Portage County!

Millions in state funding heads to Portage for KSU, AxessPointe and more Millions of dollars in state funding are headed to Portage County, with some allocations larger than originally thought.

I will always vote to protect our children!

On Wednesday the House concurred with the Senate, and now the Patrolman James R. Wert Memorial Highway is one step closer to reality. All that we need now is the signature of the Governor!

Thank you to to Patrolman Wert’s family for being there for everything along the way!

This afternoon, we passed the capital budget which included the One-Time Strategic Community Investment Fund. After being in constant communication and working with state leadership, agencies, and local leaders to get a piece of this sizable community investment fund, I am extremely pleased to announce that I have brought back nearly $3.5 million to Portage County for community development, and close to $30 million for Kent State University!

The projects for Portage County include:

* $1,500,000 for the Ravenna Health Center
* $700,000 for the Serenity House Residential Facility
* $500,000 for the Happy Trails Farm Animal Sanctuary Welcome Center
* $250,000 for the Kent Safety Town
* $225,000 for Shalersville Park
* $105,000 for the Freedom Township Historical Society Historical Museum
* $51,000 for Buchert Park improvements
* $40,000 for the HVAC at the Portage County Children’s Advantage
* $27,950 for the Windham Historical Society

I hit the road today to continue my tour of our statewide 9-8-8 call centers. I visited Sabrina, Cat, Amanda, and Angelia, who are our dedicated boots-on-the-ground responders to incoming 9-8-8 calls.

Seeing the phones on the wall is a testament to how far crisis response has come!

Thanks to TownHall II, the Coleman Health Services, and OhioMAS for the lifesaving work you do daily at 9-8-8!

Today, I started my tour of projects supported by my affordable housing legislation, which was included in the budget. The Commons at Livingston is an affordable housing community for veterans with wraparound services provided by the local VA.

Next, in Portage County, we have Bryn Mawr, currently supported by the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC). This ensures safe and affordable housing for seniors in a beautiful Ravenna neighborhood!

I am excited to keep highlighting communities like these as we continue our efforts to address affordable housing throughout Ohio.

Special thanks to Chairman of the Board Ellen Stirn Mavec and Director William Griswold of the Cleveland Museum of Art for inviting me to the annual Director’s Dinner last week. I have been a strong advocate for the arts, and I am proud that the state invested through the operating budget and hopefully in this year's capital budget as well!

Happy first Father's Day to my son-in-law, Tom Kralovic, and first Grandfather’s Day to my husband, Frank. And a happy Father’s Day to all the dads across Ohio!

CASA Fundraiser tonight at American Legion! Thanks to all the donors, attendees and most especially the CASA advocates that serve Portage County's children!

Happy Flag Day!

“When we honor our flag, we honor what we stand for as a nation – freedom, equality, justice, and hope.”
-President Ronald Reagan

It was my pleasure to have the family of Officer Wert and Ravenna Police Chief Wallis join me today as I testified in the Senate Transportation Committee on House Bill 251, which designates the “Patrolman James R. Wert Memorial Highway” in Portage County. The House passed the bill at the end of last year, and I look forward to getting it across the finish line in the Senate!

Congratulations to Steven Farhat the Founder of Project Promise on your great fundraiser event this evening! Many local students benefit from the the Project Promise programs!

Congratulations to the City of Ravenna on your 225th Anniversary. I was honored to speak and bring a commendation from the Ohio House of Representatives to celebrate this great day!

Today, we commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day. 156,000 brave Allied soldiers stormed the beaches of Normandy in the name of freedom. Honor and Remember.

Today, the House met in special session. My colleagues and I voted on two important bills facing Ohioans. HB 1 would restrict foreign money investment on Ohio ballot initiatives. I truly believe that all statewide elections, whether for candidates or ballot initiatives, should not receive foreign donations.

Our elections are integral to our democracy, and by failing to prevent foreign schemers the ability to meddle in our state ballot issues, would have been a great mistake by this general assembly. Fortunately, we voted to pass this measure

By passing HB 2, we will ensure President Biden will be on the Ohio ballot this fall. I believe every Ohioan deserves the opportunity to vote for their chosen nominee. It was important to ensure Ohioans have a choice this fall, and I look forward to celebrating a Trump victory in November!

It was an honor to be the guest speaker for the Memorial Day ceremony in Atwater. Thanks to all who attended and participated.

On Memorial Day, we remember the bravery of our servicemen and women who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our liberty and freedom.

It was great having supporters show up yesterday to advocate for our Crisis Stabilization legislation. Mary Wactchel, the Executive Director for the PCSAO, came in and testified, and representatives from the Children's Hospital provided written testimony.

Thank you to everyone who is supporting this important legislation. We are gaining momentum and need to keep moving forward!

With the help of the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OHMAS), today I launched a statewide tour to highlight mental health crisis intervention.

I spoke with crisis counselors and administrators from the 9-8-8 Crisis Line and toured their facility.

Since it began, 9-8-8 has been responsible for saving lives every day.

At Frontline in Cleveland, almost 25% of calls are for help with those who are suicidal.

The Nord Center in Lorain receives over 700 calls a month for mental health assistance.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, but it’s crucial to discuss the importance of mental health every day to ensure people receive the help they need.

Yesterday was a busy day at the Statehouse. I gave sponsor testimony for HB 512, which would support children with developmental challenges. I also gave sponsor testimony on HB 504, Hayden’s Law. I am looking forward to working these important bills through the committee process!

I had the opportunity to speak at the Ohio Women's Affordable Housing Network Luncheon today.

It was great to be a part of the conversation with like-minded women who are focused on addressing affordable housing and recognizing the achievements of those who have been trying to make a real difference.

I am looking forward to working towards ensuring that everyone has a place to call home.