Listed below is a summary of Allen's accomplishments during his political career. It clear that Allen takes a proactive role in creating and shaping legislation that 'Makes a Difference' for all of us.

Good Government

• Repeatedly introduced legislation to reduce the size of the Pennsylvania legislature.
• Initiated a change to House Rules to prohibit certain conflicts of interest by lawyers/legislators.
• Fought for the first true Ethics Act, which demands full financial disclosure by elected officials.
• Consistently opposes legislative pay raises. Since 1988, Allen's share has provided over $30,000 in scholarships to area students.

Champion for Children

• Created the Children's Trust Fund, which has assisted hundreds of community organizations help prevent child abuse.
• Driving force behind the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) -- now a national program that provides health care benefits to children of working families.
• Led the successful fight to mandate insurance coverage of children's immunizations.

Consumers' Rights

• Fights for 1993 Plain Language Act, which abolishes 'small print' and requires that contracts be easy to read.
• Against overwhelming odds, blocked the centralized emissions testing program.

Helping Pennsylvania's Families

• Won national acclaim for his innovative mortgage assistance program that has saved more than 16,000 families from the devastating effects of home mortgage foreclosure.
• Created the Family Caregiver Act, one of a kind in the country, which each year assists more than 6,000 families caring for loved ones with Alzheimer's disease.
• Created the Attendant Care Act that enables persons with disabilities to live independently.

Quality of Life for Seniors

• Saves seniors over $10 million every year through the sponsorship and passage of Medicare Overcharge Measures (MOM).
• Aggressively pursued the first reform of the stagnant guardianship system in forty years by creating Guardianship Reform measures that protect our senior citizens from abuse.
• Prime sponsor of eight bills that increase health security for all Pennsylvanians including the Health Insurance Bill of Rights and the Managed Care Bill of Rights.

Building Safe Communities

• Shaped the proposal that became the PennVest program, a plan that has generated millions of dollars, through sale of bonds, for the rebuilding of Pennsylvania's water delivery and sewage systems.
• Led a bipartisan group to forge more than 30 bills to fight drug abuse.

A Stronger Economy

• Played a lead role in creating the PennPRIDE program to restore the economy in the wake of the recession in 1984.
• Brought home over $43 million dollars in loans and grant since 1997.

Aid to Volunteer Fire Fighters

• Introduced legislation to provide grants to volunteer fire companies in place of the more costly and less efficient WAM system.
• Recognized statewide, including being cited in "The Pennsylvania Fireman" magazine for his efforts on behalf of volunteer fire companies.

Standing Up for Workers

• Strongly opposed legislation passed in 1993 that slashed workers' compensation benefits.
• In 1995-96, cosponsored and supported legislation to increase the minimum wage, to restore workers' compensation benefits, to promote job safety and health, and to encourage job creation.

Advocate for Public Education

• Strongly opposes the school voucher plan.
• In the 1995-96 budget, worked toward maintaining and increasing the state funding for Westmoreland County public school districts, vocational-technical schools, and community colleges.

Local Tax Fairness

• Co-sponsored the Homestead Tax Credit Bill that exempts from property taxes a certain amount of the value of residential property thus lowering taxes for all homeowners.
• Currently working with local school districts on a program to reduce property taxes for senior citizens who contribute their time and talent to school districts.

Partial List of Local, State, and National Awards

• Outstanding Advocate - National Easter Seals Society
• Public Citizen of the Year - National Association of Social Workers
• Elected Official of the Year - PA Conference on Independent Living
• Eastern Paralyzed Veterans Award (for his continued commitment to those who need attendant care)
• PA Association for Retarded Citizens Award (for his work of the 1992 guardianship law)
• Award of Excellence for Public Service - ARC of Allegheny County
• Special Recognition of Outstanding Service - PA Assn. of Regional Food Banks
• Community Service Award - Western PA Committee for the Prevention of Child Abuse
• Distinguished Service Award - Mental Health Board of Westmoreland County
• AARP - Recognition of Outstanding Contributions to Older Americans
• Outstanding Achievement Award - PA Legal Service

Awards

Philaposh -- for legislative leadership in the cause of job safety and health, 2000

PA Community Providers Assoc. -- Raymond R. Webb Jr. Government Relations Award, 2001

PA Legislative Animal Network -- Humane Legislator of the Year, 1999

PA Intra-Governmental Council on Long Term Care, 2002