U.S. Rep.

Jason Altmire, D-4th, on Tuesday introduced legislation to address mismanagement and conflicts of interest in the Department of Education's Reading First programAltmire's Educational Advisor and Contractor Integrity Act also seeks to ensure that the department's other programs are not similarly mismanaged.Hearings held by the House Education and Labor Committee in April brought to light conflicts of interest in the program, an initiative to improve the literacy rates at economically disadvantaged schools.A member of the House Education and Labor Committee, Altmire noted these conflicts were documented in six audits conducted in 2006 and in 2007 by the Department of Education's Inspector General.The audits revealed that Reading First Advisory Board members and Department of Education contractors had financial and personal connections to specific reading products and these relationships led to the inappropriate promotion of certain products over others."These hearings demonstrated the need for Congress to establish clear guidelines for how the Department of Education is to administer Reading First," Altmire said."This legislation will help prevent future abuses and will restore the public trust in the Department of Education and its programs."———U.S. Rep.

Phil English, R-3rd, last week applauded the Bush administration's decision to release $131.17 million in emergency Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program funding to help needy Americans pay for heating."Steadily increasing energy prices have diminished many local residents' ability to pay for energy and LIHEAP often serves as the only means for these families," English said."This emergency funding will direct more than $7 million to Pennsylvania to assist local families in covering the costs of their heating bills for the upcoming winter."LIHEAP helps low-income households by providing money to help pay for heating and air conditioning costs.———The state Senate this week approved a measure introduced by

Sen. Don White, R-40th, that seeks to encourage partnership efforts among volunteer fire departments."The bill takes advantage of money already in place as part of a $100 million bond issue approved in 2002 to encourage volunteer departments to work together in a cooperative and regional way," White said."The bill does not mandate cooperation, but rather provides financial incentives for departments to be forward thinking — to look for ways to improve their response to emergencies and their capabilities once they get there."White's legislation outlines a new program to provide volunteer fire companies/departments or EMS organizations funds for these activities:n The creation or formation of new or expanded organizations through merger, consolidation, regionalization, or other recognized partnerships.n Education and/or informational programs to recruit or retain members.n Other innovative approaches to partnerships that would be considered on a case-by-case basis.———District Judge

Clifford Woessner of Slippery Rock has been recertified as a member of Pennsylvania's Unified Judicial System after completing his 2007 continuing legal education work.The weeklong instruction program in Harrisburg by the Minor Judiciary Education Board and the Administrative Office of the Pennsylvania Courts is required for district judges.———U.S. Rep.

Jason Altmire, D-4th, on Monday will host an economic summit at La Roche College in McCandless, Allegheny County.He said the meeting will bring together a panel of business leaders, academics and policy makers to discuss how to expand economic opportunity in Western Pennsylvania.The event is from 8:30 a.m. to noon at the college, 9000 Babcock Blvd.These leaders will focus on new ideas for small business growth, for preparing Western Pennsylvania's workforce to compete in a global economy and for building a comparative advantage through advances in health care and technology.For information call Altmire's district office at 724-378-0928.