Education: Duquesne Law School, J. D. - 1973; Kent State University, B. A. Political Science - 1969.
Elected: State Senate in 1996, reelected in 2000; first elected to the state House in 1977.
Personal: His wife, Nancy, serves as president of Westmoreland County United Way. His daughter, Alexandra, attends Harrison Park Elementary School in the Penn-Trafford School District.

Senator Kukovich is the Democratic Chairman of the Aging and Youth Committee and is also a member of five other committees: Community & Economic Development, Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure, Law & Justice, Judiciary and Policy.

He is currently on the CHIP Advisory Board, the Children's Trust Fund Board, and the Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee.

From 1989 through 1992, Kukovich was House Majority Policy Committee Chairman.

Served as Pennsylvania Democratic State Chairman from June 2002 until March 2003.

Senator Kukovich's legislative initiatives include:

• The Mortgage Assistance Program that has saved the homes of more than 24,000 families;
• The Pennsylvania Economic Investment Program (PennVEST);
• The Children's Trust Fund to help local organizations prevent child abuse;
• Guardianship and elderly abuse prevention laws to protect senior citizens;
• The Attendant Care Services Act to provide home-based services as an alternative to institutional care for people with disabilities;
• The Pennsylvania Plain Language Law to help consumers understand legal documents;
• The State Ethics Act;
• The Medical Overcharge Measure (MOM) that has helped seniors save millions of dollars in health care costs;
• The Family Caregiver Act for Alzheimer patients and their families; and
• The Health Care Partnership Act (CHIP) which provides free or low-cost health insurance to hundreds of thousands of uninsured children throughout Pennsylvania.

Kukovich has received more than 90 statewide awards and national recognition for his dedication on behalf of families and children. His legislative priorities include economic development, regional transportation, human services, consumer protection, child care, seniors, people with disabilities and health care. He has earned a reputation for fairness and honesty.

The media has called Kukovich the "conscience" of the legislature and a "hero" for government reform.

View Allen's Political Accomplishments