Latest News
Lawmakers and Advocates Call for Enactment of Legislation to Protect Manufactured Home Communities
HARRISBURG, PA — June 9, 2026 — Pennsylvania lawmakers joined advocates and manufactured home residents today to voice support for legislation that would protect homeowners from steep land-lot rent increases. Across the country, manufactured home communities are...
Manufactured Housing Presser :: June 9, 2026
Senate Approves Schwank’s Resolution to Study Municipal Planning Code
Reading, PA — April 22, 2026 — The Pennsylvania Senate yesterday passed Senate Resolution 211, introduced by Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks), which directs the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a comprehensive study of the Pennsylvania Municipalities...
Senate Democrats Champion Affordability Action Plan to Bring Down Costs and Expand Economic Opportunities to PA Families
HARRISBURG, PA − April 21, 2026 − Today, members of the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus were joined by Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis to hold a press conference in the Main Capitol Rotunda to kick off their Affordability Action Plan, which highlights...
Senator Schwank and Mayor Moran Applaud $700,000 State Investment in Downtown Reading Redevelopment Effort
Reading, Pa. — April 20, 2026 — State Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks) and City of Reading Mayor Eddie Moran applauded a $700,000 award through the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency's Community Revitalization Fund Program to support the redevelopment of 418 and 422...
State Senator Judy Schwank Inducted into Reading Fightin Phils Wall of Honor
Reading, PA — March 31, 2026 — State Sen. Judy Schwank has been inducted into the Reading Fightin Phils Wall of Honor in recognition of her many years of service to Baseballtown and the broader Berks County community. A plaque unveiling ceremony was held on Tuesday...
Schwank Announces $762,773 in Grant Funding for Berks County Communities
Reading, PA − March 18, 2026 − State Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks) today announced $762,773 in Local Share Account – Category 4 Facilities Program grant funding for 11 projects in the 11th Senatorial District. The Pennsylvania Race Horse Development and Gaming...
Schwank and Laughlin Reintroduce Rental Application Fee Cap Legislation
Harrisburg, PA — March 13, 2026 — Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks) and Sen. Dan Laughlin (R-Erie) have reintroduced legislation to place reasonable limits on rental application fees in Pennsylvania. Rental application fees can range from $25 to $75, often higher than the...
Sen. Schwank Provides Update on Avian Influenza Response
Reading, PA — February 26, 2026 — Sen. Judy Schwank is providing an update on Pennsylvania’s response to the ongoing surge in Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) cases and encouraging both producers and consumers to remain vigilant. Pennsylvania currently has the...
Senator Schwank Talks With The Pennsylvania Beef Council at the Farm Show
Cultivating Wellness: Supporting Farmers Through the Mental Health Crisis
Schwank Announces $183,600 in Funding for Improvements to the Reading Skatepark
Reading, PA — December 18, 2025 — Today, Sen. Judy Schwank announced $183,600 in Greenways, Trails, and Recreation Program grant funding for the city of Reading to assist the Reading Skatepark, located at 601 Canal St., Reading, PA 19602, with installing lighting and...
Sen. Schwank Announces $4.21 Million in State Grants for Berks County Projects
Reading, PA — December 18, 2025 — Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks) today announced that 14 projects in the 11th Senatorial District have received a total of $4.21 million in Local Share Account-Statewide grant funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and...
Exeter Water Rate Case Information Event with Consumer Advocate Darryl Lawrence
Policy Hearing – Solutions for Addressing Housing Affordability
Senate Democratic Caucus Policy Committee Hosts Hearing Regarding Solutions for Addressing Housing Affordability
READING, PA − December 17, 2025 − Today, Senate Democratic Policy Committee Chair Nick Miller held a hearing to examine the affordability of housing within the Commonwealth. “Rising rents are making it harder for families to pursue the dream of homeownership,...
Senators Cappelletti, Collett, Schwank, Fight to Protect Pennsylvanians’ Access to Contraceptives
Harrisburg, PA − December 10, 2025 – To further reinforce every Pennsylvanian’s right to healthcare, Senator Amanda M. Cappelletti (D-17, Montgomery/Delaware), Senator Maria Collett (D-12, Montgomery), and Senator Judy Schwank (D-11, Berks), introduced Senate Bill...
Women’s Health Caucus Co-Chairs Respond to Lifecycle Wellness and Birth Center Closure
Bryn Mawr, PA − November 21, 2025 – After 47 years of service to the Greater Philadelphia area, Lifecycle Wellness and Birth Center announced that they will be closing their doors in 2026. The Pennsylvania Women’s Health Caucus Co-Chairs—Senator Amanda Cappelletti...
Senator Schwank Praises Work Pennsylvanians Tax Credit and Child Care Investments
Senator Schwank Reacts to 25-26 Fiscal Year Budget
Schwank Applauds Inclusion of Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit in State Budget
Harrisburg, PA — November 12, 2025 — The 2025-26 state budget establishes the Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit, a program developed through bipartisan legislation sponsored by Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks) to provide tax relief for working families. Schwank and Sen....
Senator Schwank Issues Statement of the Passage of the 2025-2026 Fiscal Year Budget
Harrisburg, PA — November 12, 2025 — Today, Sen. Judy Schwank voted to approve a $50.09 billion budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year. She issued the following statement on its passage, which brings an end to the months-long budget impasse: “I’m happy to get this done...
Senator Schwank Speaks on November SNAP Disruption
Senate Democrats Introduce Pennsylvania Food Bank and Hunger Relief Grant Program to Fight Hunger Amid SNAP Funding Freeze
HARRISBURG, PA − October 28, 2025 − Today, Senate Democrats held a press event to introduce the Pennsylvania Food Bank and Hunger Relief Grant Program, legislation that will allocate $50 million from the Rainy Day Fund for the Department of Agriculture to send to...
Senator Schwank Speaks on Hunger Action Month
Schwank Applauds Victim Assistance Funding for Safe Berks
Reading, PA — September 9, 2025 — Today, the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency award $1.136 million in Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grant funding to Safe Berks. VOCA, established in 1984 at the federal level, created the Crime Victims...
Sen. Schwank Calls on Berkshire Mall Owner to Invest in Property or Sell It
Reading, PA – August 5, 2025 – State Sen. Judy Schwank has sent a formal letter to the owner of the Berkshire Mall requesting an update on the condition of the property and their long-term plans for the site. Since Namdar Realty Group purchased the mall in 2020, the...
DCED Secretary Rick Siger and Sen. Judy Schwank Visit East Penn Manufacturing
Reading, PA — August 1, 2025 — This week, Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development Sec. Rick Siger joined state Sen. Judy Schwank for a tour and meeting with leaders at East Penn Manufacturing in Lyons Station, Berks County. Siger and Schwank...
PA Senate Passes Counseling Compact Bill to Address Mental Health Care Gap
HARRISBURG, PA – July 17, 2025 — The Pennsylvania Senate today approved legislation sponsored by Sens. Lisa M. Boscola, D-Lehigh/Northampton, and Judy Schwank, D-Berks, to authorize Pennsylvania’s participation in the National Counseling Compact. The bill passed with...
Senator Schwank Announces $500,000 in RFSI Grants for Clover Farms Dairy
Harrisburg, PA – June 27, 2025 – Senator Judy Schwank today announced that Clover Farms Dairy has been awarded a $500,000 Infrastructure Grant through the Shapiro Administration’s Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) program. The funding will support the...
Lawmakers and Advocates Rally for Passage of Manufactured Home Legislation
Harrisburg, PA — June 25, 2025 — Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks) and Rep. Liz Hanbidge (D-Montgomery) joined the Coalition of Manufactured Home Communities of Pennsylvania and the Community Justice Project today to advocate for legislation that would protect manufactured...