March 16, 2020
Reading, March 16, 2020 − In order to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, beginning Tuesday, March 17, State Sen. Judy Schwank’s district office at 210 George Street will be closed to the public and will instead serve constituents by e-mail, phone and fax.
“This measure is out of an abundance of caution,” Schwank said. “As you are able, please avoid large gatherings and stay home if you are feeling sick.”
To reach Schwank’s office during business hours (Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.), e-mail senatorschwank@pasenate.com; call 610-929-2151; or send a fax to 610-929-2576.
As the Pennsylvania Capitol Complex is closed for the next 14 days, Schwank’s Harrisburg office is also closed during that time.
Additionally, in adhering to the CDC’s recent recommendation to avoid gatherings of more than 50 people, Schwank’s Earth Day Celebration scheduled for Saturday, April 18, at Third and Spruce Recreation Center in Reading is cancelled, as is a Coffee with Constituents event on Wednesday, April 15, at Airport Diner in Kutztown.
-30-
March 11, 2020
Reading, March 11, 2020 − A Mohnton church and Wyomissing Synagogue each received a Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) Non-Profit Security Grant to improve the safety and security of their facility, State Sen. Judy Schwank (D-11) announced.
The new grants, which stemmed from legislation supported by Schwank (Act 83 of 2019), are meant for non-profit entities that principally serve individuals, groups or institutions that are included within a bias motivation category for a single bias hate crime incident identified by the FBI. Those incident categories include: race/ethnicity/ancestry, religion, sexual orientation, disability, gender and gender identity.
Eligible projects include:
- Purchase of safety and security equipment
- Threat awareness and response training
- Upgrades to existing structures that enhance safety and security
- Vulnerability and threat assessments
- Any other safety or security-related project that enhances safety or security of the non-profit organization
Of more than 800 applications, the two Berks recipients are:
- Allegheny Evangelical Lutheran Church, Mohnton, $23,648
- Reform Congregation Oheb Sholom, Wyomissing, $25,000
“The sad reality is that hate crimes can happen anywhere,” Schwank said. “The grants will help these local worship centers better ensure the safety of their congregations and the many community groups who also use their facilities.”
-30-
December 19, 2019
READING, December 19, 2019 –The Pennsylvania Department of Education awarded $50,000 to Reading Muhlenberg CTC to purchase new equipment aligned to training students in high-demand occupations, State Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks), State Rep. Mark Rozzi (D-126th District) and State Rep. Tom Caltagirone (D-127th District) announced.
The grant is one of 32 competitive grants totaling nearly $1.2 million awarded to Career and Technical Centers (CTC) and Area Vocational-Technical Education Schools across the state to purchase equipment aligned with the needs of local employers for use in PDE-approved Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs and to provide hands-on training to students in those programs.
The maximum grant allowed under the program is $50,000, and each grant must be matched dollar-for-dollar from a local source, which could include local school funds or contributions from business and industry partners.
Reading Muhlenberg CTC’s grant will help purchase the following equipment:
- Mechanical Training System
- CNC Plasma Cutter
“This funding will help Reading Muhlenberg CTC give their students the opportunity to learn on state-of-the-art equipment,” Schwank said. “Students will learn the skills they need to succeed in the 21st century work place.”
“Students deserve to learn in classrooms equipped with the most up-to-date technology available to prepare them for the future,” Rozzi said. “This funding will support Reading Muhlenberg CTC in that endeavor.”
“In this day and age, we must look to the future and consider what will be most useful to our students in their upcoming careers,” Caltagirone said. “This funding will go a long way toward achieving that goal.”
###
November 12, 2019
HARRISBURG, November 12, 2019 – A Wyomissing Borough development/transportation enhancement project will receive a much-needed boost thanks to $2 million in Multimodal Transportation Fund grant funding approved today by the Commonwealth Financing Authority. Multimodal Transportation Funds are meant to improve transportation infrastructure and promote economic development.
The grant will allow Wyomissing Borough to move forward with the municipality’s planned $4 million 4th Street Extension Multimodal Project, which, among other things, will connect North Wyomissing Boulevard and Innovation Way, according to Sen. Judy Schwank (D-11th district) and Rep. Mark Gillen (R-128th district). Extending Fourth Street will provide more direct access between the Knitting Mills and related redevelopment and the Route 422 Bypass, alleviating traffic congestion on North Park Road and safety issues caused by traffic cutting through residential neighborhoods. The installation of other multimodal improvements such as a bus stop, bike share station, bike racks, and sharrows and pedestrian and bike route signs will further improve accessibility, safety, and traffic flow. Schwank worked closely with Gillen to advocate for the Wyomissing project.
“The scope and pace of area redevelopment projects like The Knitting Mills are creating tremendous positive regional impacts,” Schwank said. “The Fourth Street Extension Project will help ensure that our local transportation infrastructure can accommodate this growth, which benefits pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists alike.”
“I commend Wyomissing officials for their foresight and diligence in pursuing this important project,” Gillen said. “This state funding represents a wise investment in the economic future of our community.”
###
October 30, 2019
Harrisburg, October 30, 2019 – All Pennsylvania voters would be able to vote by mail under legislation approved Monday by the Pennsylvania Senate. The bill includes language proposed by Sen. Judy Schwank (D-11th district), who has been a leading advocate for “no-excuse” absentee voting for years.
Schwank said the expansion of absentee balloting to all voters is why she voted in favor of the bill, which makes numerous changes to the elections process. The language was approved by the State House of Representatives last week and now goes to Gov. Tom Wolf, who is expected to sign it promptly.
Under the bill, SB 421, a voting system that mirrors the current process for voters unable to vote in person on election day will be established, allowing any qualified voter to vote by absentee ballot without needing an excuse. The bill also extends the deadline to get mailed-in ballots to county voting offices until 8 p.m. on Election Day.
“Pennsylvania voters should have the same rights as voters in other states,” Schwank said. “The right to vote is a distinguishing characteristic of our democracy and the opportunity to exercise that right is something we must protect. SB 421 makes it easier for Pennsylvanians to vote by giving them the option to vote in the privacy of their own homes and removes the worry of an emergency keeping them from the polls on election day.”
“Voters shouldn’t have to hope that their plans to vote on election day aren’t foiled by unforeseeable or unexpected circumstances,” she said. “They shouldn’t have to choose between fulfilling their roles as citizens and meeting urgent demands for their time, attention and resources.”
-30-
