October 18, 2021
Harrisburg, PA – October 18, 2021 – State Senator Judy Schwank (D-11th district) introduced an amendment to SB 224 that would authorize Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) recipients to obtain teaching certifications in Pennsylvania.
SB 224 removes barriers teachers from out of state face when trying to obtain a teaching certification in Pennsylvania to help address the commonwealth’s ongoing teacher shortage. Schwank’s amendment also seeks to address the teacher shortage by allowing DACA recipients to teach in Pennsylvania.
“We all know about the teacher shortage. It’s a big problem, and even though I support SB 224, I don’t think this legislation alone will get us where we need to be,” Schwank said. “We are trying to fix the teacher shortage by importing teachers from other states while we have people who are already living in Pennsylvania who are ready, willing, and capable of teaching in our schools, but we aren’t letting them. That doesn’t make sense to me. We should be doing both.”
Schwank also noted that DACA recipients who want to teach often join Teach for America or relocate to neighboring states.
“Young teachers who grew up in Pennsylvania and want to go back into the communities they call home and make a difference are being pushed away. These are individuals with college degrees and all the necessary qualifications. The only thing holding them back is where they were born, which they had no control over. Not to mention, in addition to the teacher shortage, we are also struggling with a real lack of diversity among our teachers which has real consequences.”
Numerous studies have found that students perform better in the classroom when their teacher is a racial or ethnic match. According to The Education Trust, a national non-profit working to close the diversity gap in schools, 12.1 percent of Pennsylvania students are Latino while only 1.1 percent of teachers are.
The amendment failed by a vote of 21-27. SB 224 passed unanimously and is now headed to the Pennsylvania House or Representatives.
September 27, 2021
Harrisburg, PA − September 27, 2021 − The Co-Chairs of the Pennsylvania Women’s Health Caucus again calls on their colleagues and the citizens of Pennsylvania to support the #OptInPA Campaign, a movement to help birthing people and improve maternal health across the state with policies that would ensure families have a healthy start for newborn Pennsylvanians.
Once a Pennsylvanian is born, their new parents need to have the resources available to give the newborn a safe, healthy life that will have a successful and happy outcome. The goals of this campaign ensure just that.
The #OptInPA campaign is motivated by two goals:
- Highlighting Pennsylvania’s need for holistic, extended postpartum coverage, specifically as it pertains to families that participate in Medical Assistance;
- Gaining public support for the program to implement its permanent extension through action at Pennsylvania’s executive level.
Maternal mortality is a crisis in Pennsylvania that has been climbing over the last few years. It is driven by inequities in healthcare coverage. An estimated 1 in 10,000 women and birthing individuals, including 1 in 5,000 black birthing people are dying after childbirth. Fifty-eight percent of those deaths occurred between 42 and 365 days after delivery, beyond the standard 60 days of Medical Assistance (MA) coverage for pregnant people in Pennsylvania. In addition, 53 percent of the cases of maternal death between 2013 and 2018 affected birthing parents who were enrolled in Medical Assistance when they delivered.
This policy change can be transformative for Pennsylvania’s new parents. It is within the power of the executive branch to permanently extended this expansion, which is the ultimate goal of this campaign.
Legislators must focus on policies like #OptInPA, rather than wasting time and energy on policies which have the proven effect of increasing maternal mortality rates. Our work is done best when we are working to solve problems and improve everyone’s access to healthcare. We ask our allies in this fight to continue to voice their support for #OptInPA and other measures that will increase access to healthcare and lead to positive outcomes for Pennsylvania’s families.
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September 22, 2021
Harrisburg, Pa. − September 22, 2021 − Senators Lindsey M. Williams (D-Allegheny), Katie Muth (D-Chester, Montgomery, and Berks), Amanda M. Cappelletti (D-Montgomery and Delaware), John Kane (D-Chester and Delaware), Tim Kearney (D-Chester and Delaware), and Judy Schwank (D-Berks) held a press conference yesterday to urge Senate Republicans and Majority Leader Senator Kim Ward to join them in making a real commitment to accountability and transparency by giving consideration to the 14 individual Senate Rules Amendments that they have introduced.
“It’s time to stop talking about how we can be better at transparency and accountability and time to actually do better,” said Senator Williams. “These Rules Amendments are all simple, non-partisan measures that will ensure the voices of every Pennsylvanian are heard, not just those with power and influence. We are asking Senator Ward, as the Chair of the Rules and Executive Nominations Committee, to consider these individual Resolutions on their merits, because each and every one is a good government measure aimed at improving the quality of representation, accessibility, and transparency of the Senate for all Pennsylvanians and instilling more confidence in this institution.”
The Senate adopts its own Operating Rules every two years at the beginning of the new Session. This past January, Senator Muth and Senator Williams introduced an alternative set of Senate Rules that incorporated many of today’s Amendments; unsurprisingly, these changes never received consideration and the Majority Party’s “status quo” proposal was adopted over the objections of many in the Minority Party.
“Our government should be transparent but unfortunately many of the operating rules of the Senate allow the Majority Party to prioritize politics over policy and silence other members who are trying to advocate for their constituencies and often, for what is right and just,” Senator Muth said. “For far too long, we have allowed the majority to dictate the rules and operations of the State Senate – our package of Senate Rules Reform Resolutions signals that our Caucus will no longer accept business as usual when it comes to an open and fair legislative process.” “The way the Senate operates is inherently broken,” stated Senator Cappelletti. “It furthers a power imbalance that silences the voices of all Pennsylvanians. By reforming the Senate rules, we can have more equity and transparency. We can have a government that hears the people and works for the people.”
Also included in the Senate Rules Amendment package are measures that require that all legislation receives a vote (SR 76) in committee. Currently, fewer than 1 out of every 5 bills introduced by the General Assembly ever receives consideration. Action would also be required on bills that receive unanimous approval in the House or that are co-sponsored by a majority of members from the Majority Party and a majority of members from the Minority Party, (SR 85).
“It is time for partisan games to come to an end and real accountability to begin,” stated Senator Kearney. “Voters didn’t send us here to waste time and taxpayer money, they sent us here to grow our economy, fix our broken infrastructure, make our communities healthy, and support our children’s education. I have been in this chamber for almost three years, and every day it becomes clearer how much of an impact these rules have on my ability to do my job.”
“I’m a working class guy — I spent four decades as a union plumber. And I don’t think you should need an advanced degree to follow and voice your opinion about what your elected officials are doing,” said Senator Kane. “My colleagues and I are introducing rules reforms to make sure our government is working for the people. It’s long past time that Pennsylvanians had real representation in the Senate.”
“Our constituents deserve the highest level of transparency when it comes to what is happening within our state government,” said Senator Schwank. “All the bills proposed as a part of this package will help give people faith that our government is working for them, and they should expect nothing less. Many of these measures are commonsense solutions that give everyone an opportunity to be heard.”
The full list of Rules Resolutions introduced and awaiting action by the Senate Rules Committee is:
SR 75 (Cappelletti): Ensuring Adequate Public Notice of Senate Action
SR 76 (Williams): Every Bill Gets a Vote
SR 77 (Muth): Expanding Legislative Requirements and Action for Bills on Concurrence
SR 78 (Williams): Requiring Majority and Minority Party Participation to Conduct Official Business
SR 79 (Muth): Ensuring Bipartisan Representation on Special Committees
SR 80 (Muth): Every Resolution Gets a Vote
SR 81 (Muth): Every Amendment Gets a Vote
SR 82 (Williams): Ensuring Equitable Representation on Standing Committees
SR 83 (Williams): Requiring Amendment Votes to be Placed on the Senate Publicly Facing Website
SR 85 (Kearney): Require Action on Bipartisan and Unanimous Legislation
SR 86 (Muth): Live Video Feed of Senate Floor
SR 114 (Kane): Mandating a Two-Thirds Vote for Certain Motions
SR 155 (Schwank): Authorizing Minority Party Chairs to Hold Committee Hearings
SR 156 (Schwank): Empowering Minority Chairs to Add Legislation to the Committee Agenda
Senator Amanda M. Cappelletti Contact: Sara Kelly
[email protected]/ 845-216-4057
Senator Katie Muth Contact: Jeff Cavanaugh
[email protected]/ 570-351-6138
Senator John Kane Contact: Abby Diebold
[email protected]/ 484-861-4686
Senator Tim Kearney Contact: Aignér Cleveland
[email protected]/ 610-544-6120
Senator Judy Schwank Contact: Spencer Thornburg
[email protected]/ 610-929-2151
Senator Lindsey M. Williams Contact: Becky Boyle
[email protected]/ 412-364-0469
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August 30, 2021
Harrisburg, PA – August 30, 2021 – Today, State Senators Nikil Saval and Judy Schwank announced they will soon introduce legislation to support Governor Tom Wolf’s call for mask mandates in the state. Senator Schwank’s forthcoming bill would require general indoor masking in early childhood education and childcare programs on a conditional basis for those over the age of 2, regardless of vaccination status. Senator Saval’s bill would require school districts to implement universal indoor masking within K-12 classrooms.
Both pieces of legislation will be introduced in the wake of Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman and House Speaker Bryan Cutler rejecting the Governor’s request for the General Assembly to reconvene and approve a statewide requirement for masks to be worn in schools. According to the health and safety plans submitted to the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), currently fewer than 10% of schools have enacted a masking policy, which is counter to CDC guidance for K-12 schools.
“The past 18 months have been devastating for all of us, but school children—isolated from their friends, teachers, and school support systems—have experienced a particular and acute version of this trauma. We need to do everything in our power to ensure that kids can return to their schools, while simultaneously ensuring that teachers, family members, and communities can stay safe. In-door masking policies, as part of a school’s COVID prevention strategy, are effective to the degree that transmission levels in schools are often lower than community transmission levels. For the physical and mental safety of our children and the stability of working families throughout the Commonwealth, it’s crucial that PA schools adhere to CDC guidance and implement universal indoor masking,” said Senator Saval.
The call for a statewide mask mandate in schools has been supported by the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Pennsylvania State Education Association.
“The COVID-19 pandemic badly exacerbated the problems we face with childcare. The closing of childcare facilities has adversely affected our workforce, especially the role of women in our workforce. I know for parents and guardians across the commonwealth, the health and safety of their children is their highest priority. Because a lot of children are still unable to get vaccinated and the uncertainty around new variants, we need to do everything we can to ensure our youngest students, educators, childcare workers and all staff are protected,” said Senator Schwank.
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August 2, 2021
READING, PA − August 2, 2021 − State Sen. Judy Schwank (D-11th district) and Rep. Mark Rozzi (D-126th district) announced three Berks County organizations received a total of $475,000 in Keystone Communities Program (KCP) grant funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED).
The City of Reading received $400,000 in grant funding for the Downtown 800 Block Penn Street South Courtyard Improvement Project, which aims to add new lighting to improve safety, install a new drainage system and create new paving and landscaping. The project also includes increased parking for visitors and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant walkways within the courtyard.
Berks Alliance was granted $50,000 in funding for the Reading Façade Improvement Program. The program seeks to improve to external appearance, lighting and security of storefronts and enhance the overall aesthetic of downtown Reading.
The West Reading Community Revitalization Foundation received $25,000 in support of priorities identified by the Vision and Master Plan of Downtown West Reading. The grant funding will go towards façade improvements that will further boost the attractiveness of West Reading.
“The funding awarded to the City of Reading, Berks Alliance and the West Reading Community Revitalization Foundation is well deserved,” Schwank said. “All three groups have put together thoughtful plans that will make Berks County a more beautiful place to live while simultaneously improving safety and boosting economic development.”
“Revitalization and the continual improvement of Reading and West Reading bring positive social and economic change to Berks County,” Rozzi said. “I’m happy to see these state dollars going to work right here in our community and contributing to the betterment of our area.”
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July 7, 2021
Reading, PA − July 7, 2021 − Kutztown, Shillington and Wyomissing Boroughs were awarded Green Light-Go grant funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) totaling over $780,000, according to State Senator Judy Schwank.
Kutztown received $40,054, Shillington $320,911 and Wyomissing $420,384 in Green Light-Go grant support. The funding will be used to replace outdated controllers, upgrade LED lenses, enhance operational equipment and other modernization upgrades.
“Local officials know better than anyone what their residents want,” Schwank said. “All three municipalities receiving Green Light-Go funding recognized the need to improve traffic safety. Our citizens want to be sure the roads and intersections they use for their daily commutes are equipped with the latest advancements in traffic safety. The funding award will help make sure that is the case in each of these communities.”
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June 29, 2021
Reading, PA − June 29, 2021 − My office has seen a significant uptick in calls related to unemployment fraud since the implementation of the new Unemployment Compensation (UC) system. As many are aware, the rollout of this new system has been very difficult. Unfortunately, the rise in fraud claims will only exacerbate problems we are seeing and steer resources away from claimants who truly need help. Even members of my staff and I have been the targets of phishing attempts and fraudulent claims.
If you believe someone may have used your identity to file an unemployment claim, including Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) or Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC), you should do the following:
To report someone who has filed for UC benefits using your personal information such as your name, Social Security Number, and date of birth without your knowledge or consent, please visit the UC Benefits Website and click “Report Fraud” to complete and submit the Identity Theft Form. Do not log in.
- To report benefit fraud related to Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), fill out a Benefits Fraud Form on the L&I website.
- You can also call the L&I Fraud Hotline at 1-800-692-7469.
- File a police report with your local municipality. A copy of the police report must be provided to the Office of Unemployment Compensation.
- If you are a victim of identity theft, please visit the Federal Trade Commission website to learn how to start a recovery plan.
- If you can’t access the FTC website, call your federal representative for assistance.
- If you are concerned your personal information may have been stolen and want to protect your identity when filing a federal tax return, you can request an Identity Protection Pin (IP PIN) from the IRS.
Recently scammers have been attempting to use text messages to collect sensitive information. L&I sends automated text alerts but will never request your personal information via text message. Please exercise caution if you receive text messages from unverified numbers or comments on social media offering help via an email address or direct link. Additionally, never give out personal information through messaging apps or social media.
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June 23, 2021
Harrisburg, PA − June 23, 2021 − The Pennsylvania Senate voted 50-0 to approve a bill that would allow milk processors more flexibility in labeling. The legislation stems from a dairy industry study Sen. Judy Schwank (D-11th district) requested in 2018 which suggested clarifying milk date coding requirements as a way for the state to bolster the dairy industry.
SB 434 allows milk processors to use a “best by” date rather than a “sell by” date, which was one of the steps recommended by the Dairy Future Commission. The proposal also allows milk processors to request a later “best by” or “sell by” date than the current 17-day milk code, which allows Pennsylvania milk to compete with milk processed in other states.
“A lot of other states don’t have 17-day milk code requirements which have nothing to do with safety,” Schwank said. “Milk doesn’t spoil once you get to day 18. When consumers are in the milk aisle at the grocery store, they are going to reach for the carton with the latest date. This is putting our dairy industry at a competitive disadvantage. This legislation will change that and make Pennsylvania milk the fresher choice.”
The bill will be headed to Governor Tom Wolf’s desk to be signed into law.
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June 10, 2021
Reading, June 10, 2021 Three projects put forward by the Berk County will receive $884,403 in grant funding from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) for three projects according to Sen. Judy Schwank (D-11th district), Rep. Mark Rozzi (D-126th district) and Rep. Manny Guzman (D-127th district).
Berks County will also receive $409,955 in State Intermediate Punishment Treatment Funds for the Berks Intermediate Punishment FY21/22 project and $454,448 in Improvement of Adult Probation Service Grant-In-Aid Funds for the Berks County APO Grant in Aid FY20/21 project. The funding will be used to provide treatment for individuals facing drug related offenses and to strengthen services for those on probation.
Berks will also receive $20,000 in support from the Capital Case Indigent Defense Funds. The funds will be used for a mitigation expert for a capital homicide case from July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022.
“These grant funds will have an immediate positive impact on the health and safety of all Berks County residents,” said Sen. Schwank. “Strategic investments in our justice system are crucial and have tremendous social benefits for entire communities.”
“This much-needed state support will go a long way to improve the criminal justice system here at home,” Rep. Rozzi said. “These grants will allow for the increase of treatment services, including supporting detox and alcohol intervention. In short, these funds will allow the people who want help find the support they need and progress toward making a positive impact in their family’s lives as well as in their community.”
“I remain committed to fighting for criminal justice reform and ending mass incarceration, and while much more work still needs to be done, I’m pleased to see that one of these grants will allow the Berks County Jail System to decrease its incarcerated population,” Rep. Guzman said. “Implementing a probation program with restrictions for people convicted of non-violent drug or alcohol offenses will allow people to recover and receive the treatment they need. Jail is not the only answer for every person, at some point we also need to treat the issue that led to the crime.”
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Contact: Spencer Thornburg
Sen. Judy Schwank
Phone: 610-929-2151
Email: [email protected]
May 25, 2021
HARRISBURG, PA − May 25, 2021 − Chairs, members, and advocates of the Pennsylvania Women’s Health Caucus (WHC) gathered today to reaffirm their commitment to protecting abortion access in response to the recent anti-abortion hearings in the Pennsylvania House Health Committee and the current anti-abortion legislation moving through the General Assembly.
Chairs of the caucus, Senator Judy Schwank (D-Berks), Senator Amanda M. Cappelletti (D-Montgomery, Delaware), Representative Morgan Cephas (D-Philadelphia) and Representative Mary Jo Daley (D-Montgomery) were joined by Representative Dan Frankel (D-Allegheny), member and co-founder of the caucus, as well as a patient advocate, Kelsey, who shared her story.
“I proudly stood with my colleagues of the Women’s Health Caucus today, in support of reproductive healthcare,” said Senator Schwank. “Today, we heard about commonsense evidence-based policies that will increase the health and wellbeing of people from across the Commonwealth. These policies, which include steps to address maternal mortality outcomes, increase access to contraceptives and protect a person’s medical information, have been overlooked. Instead, House Republicans chose to promote legislation that totally undermines the constitutional right that all people have to make their own healthcare choices. Women choose to have an abortion for a myriad of reasons, all of which are deeply personal. We can never fully know or even understand the situations that people face in their lives, particularly their reproductive healthcare. Their choice is one that is fundamentally their own to make, and politicians have no place in this decision.”
As a caucus, we remain committed to fighting anti-abortion legislation and rhetoric. Additionally, we propose that the House Health Committee address issues that are real challenges for every day Pennsylvanians, rather than waste time and taxpayer money on advancing this shame-based, anti-abortion rhetoric that will end in a veto from the Governor.
“Rather than focus our efforts on building a better and more equitable healthcare system that delivers adequate and coordinated care, our Republican colleagues chose to spend our time and tax payers’ dollars on hearings seeking to block women from accessing constitutionally protected abortion care,” said Representative Cephas. “During a pandemic we have real issues and challenges facing Pennsylvanians. With an ending in sight for COVID-19, now is the time to have real conversations and move policies that are geared towards ensuring the health of communities across the Commonwealth.”
Today, the PA House Health Committee voted three anti-abortion bills out of committee. Read them here: HB1500, HB118, HB904. These bills all have the same ultimate goal, to make abortions illegal in Pennsylvania. The WHC will continue to work to protect access to abortion and call out shame-based, anti-abortion rhetoric.
“I am proud to stand with members of the Women’s Health Caucus as we pledge to the women of Pennsylvania that we will continue to stand up for their right to choose – not what to choose. We know that women are perfectly capable of making their own decisions about their own bodies and that women will make the best decisions for themselves and their families,” said Representative Daley.
The Governor has also reaffirmed his will veto any bill that comes across his desk which would limit access to reproductive health care.
“I stand firm in my commitment and support of reproductive rights,” said Governor Tom Wolf.“While members of the legislature continue to play politics around health choices, I will not let the Commonwealth go backwards on reproductive rights or access to health care. I will veto any anti-choice legislation that lands on my desk.”
“Controlling what happens to our bodies is a fundamental right. Patients are entitled to bodily autonomy without the legislature intervening in personal and private medical decisions. I suggest my colleagues focus on the numerous real issues facing our Commonwealth, like the increasing maternal mortality rate, rather than wasting resources on pushing shame-based, anti-abortion rhetoric by introducing bills that will end up being vetoed,” said Senator Cappelletti.
Watch the full press conference here.
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May 25, 2021
Reading, May 25, 2021 − The city of Reading and the Redevelopment Authority of the County of Berks have been awarded state Blight Remediation Program grants totaling $200,000 by the Commonwealth Finance Authority, State Sen. Judy Schwank (D-11th district) announced today.
“These state funds will help improve some neighborhoods in the city by offering quality, affordable housing options and revitalizing neighborhood infrastructure,” Schwank said. “I was happy to advocate for both of these projects and look forward to seeing the results.”
These are the funded projects:
Reading, Buttonwood Gateway West Improvements Project, $125,000
- The project involves street improvements made to the roadway, curbs, ADA ramps, pavement markings, and the replacement of storm water inlets in the four hundred block of Miltimore Street.
Redevelopment Authority of the County of Berks, Berks County Blight Remediation Projects, $75,000
- The Redevelopment Authority of the County of Berks (RACB), in partnership with the Berks County Non-Profit Development Corporation (BCNDC), will use the funds for a project located in the Reading’s “South of Penn Area.” BCNDC will perform the total rehabilitation on three properties they currently own. Once the three property renovations are completed, these homes will be sold to low- and moderate-income families in Reading.
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May 17, 2021
Harrisburg – May 17, 2021 – At the request of state Senators Judy Schwank (D-Berks) and Lindsey M. Williams (D-Allegheny), the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Policy Committee held a virtual public hearing on the impact of the Pennsylvania state system of higher education’s (PASSHE) redesign plan.
“I serve on PASSHE’s Board of Governors, and through that role I’ve had the opportunity to meet with students, faculty, university presidents and trustees from all of the campuses,” Schwank said. “I know firsthand how important these institutions are to both the students who attend them and the communities where they are located. The system is an undeniable asset to the commonwealth. I’m hopeful that through honest and constructive dialogue, my colleagues and I will learn more about the current status of PASSHE and the impact that the integration plan will have on every aspect of the system. Our task as legislators, and all stakeholders, is to get us to a plan that will help the system survive and thrive. Many Pennsylvanians are counting on us to bring stability to the system and set it on a course to serve generations of learners.”
PASSHE has advocated for a system redesign since its strategic review in 2016. The comprehensive review was conducted because fiscal challenges within the 14-member network of PASSHE showed that the current financial course they were on was untenable.
Act 50 of 2020 provides the authority and guidance for the Board of Governors of PASSHE to restructure the PASSHE’s institutions.
“Over the last few months, we’ve heard from Chancellor Greenstein on his proposed redesign plan, but one of the things missing from those conversations has been the voices of those most directly impacted by these changes—our students, faculty members, and staff,” said Senator Williams. “Our state system schools are intended to make a college degree affordable for Pennsylvania students, especially for our minority and first-generation students and right now, we’re not fulfilling that mission. I continue to have questions and concerns about the proposed consolidation plan and whether it will provide the type of relief that our struggling state system and our students desperately need.”
Dr. Jamie Martin, President of APSCUF, said that the consolidation of universities in the western region (California, Clarion, and Edinboro) and in the northeastern region (Bloomsburg, Lock Haven and Mansfield) are a serious concern for her and her faculty union members.
“The concerns we have for our students range from questions regarding course availability, especially opportunities for face-to-face classes, and the way in which the 25% price reductions described in the plans will be achieved,” Martin said.
Ross Brumagin, President AFSCME Local 2329 and an Edinboro University High Voltage Electrician, said that he was concerned that the current redesign plan does not prioritize preserving jobs.
“We’ve been steadily losing AFSCME-represented positions for a decade now. We had 231 positions in 2011, 217 in 2015, and now we have just 125. We just went through layoffs in November 2020 because of PASSHE’s so-called “financial sustainability” policy. Then on top of that, they are proposing to integrate Edinboro with the Universities of Clarion and California under the umbrella of one accredited university – and eliminate even more jobs,” Brumagin said.
Shawn O’Dell, President AFSCME Local 2360 and a Lock Haven University employee and graduate, said that she is concerned that her degree will eventually be from an unaccredited university based on how the consolidation plans continue.
Cameron O’Neill, Junior at Bloomsburg University and a members of the Honors College, testified about her experience as a current student and the challenges she and her peers have faced as a result of online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. She said that this experience has made them even more apprehensive about the proposed consolidation plans that rely heavily on hybrid online and in person education models. O’Neill also voiced concern about what she saw as a lack of outreach to current students to about the consolidation and redesign process, and whether or not they were in favor of this plan.
“I can confirm that the only thing I have received (and completed) regarding our needs was one survey asking for a name of the consolidated schools. There was no option on that survey that asked if we thought this was a good idea,” O’Neill said.
Dr. Marc Stier, Director of Pennsylvania Budget & Policy Center, said in his testimony in regards to the student experience that decrease in attendance at PASSHE schools is not necessarily the result of demographic changes, but the fact that prices at these institutions have increased dramatically.
“Tuitions have risen dramatically at PASSHE schools as state funding has precipitously declined. State funding is now only 38% of the 1983-84 level. The state ranks 47th out of 50 states in per capita investment in higher education. As state has fallen, the student share of costs has increase dramatically,” Stier said.
Dr. Dale-Elizabeth Pehrsson, President of Clarion University and Interim President of Edinboro University, testified at the hearing about why PASSHE feels that the redesign and consolidation are necessary, “We see integration as a next step in this evolution – one that brings inevitable uncertainties, but is also necessary to ensure that we can continue to serve our mission and the students who are at its heart.”
“Integration will allow these three sister institutions in Western Pennsylvania to harness their collective strengths and provide students with a wealth of opportunities not found at any single institution,” Pehrsson continued.
Dr. Dan Greenstein, Chancellor of PASSHE, also participated in today’s hearing, and responded to the criticisms that the redesign process has not been transparent, or student centered. He said that he was grateful for the feedback he has heard today and from the public comment period available still ongoing in the PASSHE redesign process.
In response to questions about why this process what happening now and why it could not wait for a longer period of time, Greenstein said, “By not addressing these problems and continuing to push them down the road we make the inequalities within our system worse.”
Greenstein said that based on the past 10 years of financial predictions, the trends of what will happen to the universities if nothing is done is clear, and they will eventually run out funds to operate successfully.
“As someone with significant student debt myself after pursuing a graduate degree, I know how important it is for Pennsylvanians to have access to quality and affordable higher education. I am very grateful for all who joined us at this hearing today to continue to discuss the best options to create a Pennsylvania state system of higher education that prioritizes students, faculty, and the communities that house the education institutions of Pennsylvania,” Sen. Katie Muth (D- Berks/Chester/Montgomery), chair of the Senate Democratic Policy Committee, said.
Below are all who participated in today’s hearing:
- Dr. Jamie Martin, President of APSCUF
- Cameron O’Neill, Junior at Bloomsburg University (Honors College)
- Justina Arena, Junior at California University
- Ross Brumagin, President AFSCME Local 2329, Edinboro University High Voltage Electrician
- Shawn O’Dell, President AFSCME Local 2360, Lock Haven University Clerk Typist 3
- Dr. Marc Stier, Director, Pennsylvania Budget & Policy Center
- Dr. Dan Greenstein, Chancellor
- Aaron Walton, President, Cheyney University
- Dr. Dale-Elizabeth Pehrsson, President, Clarion University and Interim President, Edinboro University
- Mia Swales, Student Trustee, Lock Haven University
The full recording of this roundtable, as well as the written testimony from participants, can be found at senatormuth.com/policy. A full recording of this hearing can also be found on the PA Senate Democratic Facebook page.
May 12, 2021
Harrisburg, Pa. – May 12, 2021 – Today, Pennsylvania Senate Democrats unveiled the “New Deal for PA” – a $6.15 billion investment of federal funds coming to the Commonwealth pursuant to the American Rescue Plan.
“My Senate democratic colleagues and I today announced our plan to help Pennsylvania recover economically from the COVID-19 pandemic. The New Deal for PA focuses on three major topics: Jobs, Opportunity and Equity,” Schwank said. “It’s going to take time to bring us back to “normal,” but this plan starts us on the right foot.”
The New Deal for PA focuses on Jobs, Opportunity, and Equity with the following breakdown:
People — $2.470 billion
21st Century Child Care
Business Assistance
Education/Community Supports
Job Training/Workforce Development
Utility Assistance
Projects — $2.493 billion
Economic Development
Infrastructure
Public Health — $1.185 billion
Public Health Equity/Vaccine Confidence
Rewarding Frontline Worker Service
By making targeted investments in people, projects, and public health, we can use this once-in-a-lifetime infusion of federal funds into PA to make positive, long-lasting improvements that will lay the foundation to create transformative change across the Commonwealth.
The New Deal for PA uses a data-driven approach to respond to what we learned during the pandemic.
The caucus looked at the current situation to determine where financial assistance is still necessary to help individuals, families, and small business recover from the devastating impacts of the pandemic. Then, the caucus looked ahead and assessed how to best invest ARP funds to ensure that we come out of the pandemic better than we went in and build resiliency across the commonwealth in preparation for the next crisis.
Finally, the caucus compared its proposal with the U.S. Treasury guidance released on May 10, 2021, to ensure we are on solid footing in using the funds as we propose.
Federal guidance on allowable uses of the funds coming to Pennsylvania from the American Rescue Plan’s (“ARP”) State Fiscal Relief Fund was released on May 10, 2021. Pennsylvania will receive approximately $7.3 billion in flexible funding from the State Fiscal Relief Fund. Senate Democrats believe it is time to begin the conversation on investing these funds so we can allocate the monies with the FY 2021-2022 budget
The Senate Democrats’ proposal distributes $6.05 billion from the following sources:
State Fiscal Relief Fund — $4,797,500,000
Capital Projects Fund — $280,000,000
ESSER Fund — $505,000,000
Emergency Assistance for Nonpublic Schools — $150,000,000
Pandemic Response Fund — $25,000,000
Other Funds — $55,000,000
Local Matching Funds — $335,000,000
Counties and municipalities will receive approximately $6.1 billion from the American Rescue Plan’s Local Fiscal Relief Fund and school districts will receive approximately $4.5 billion from the ESSER Fund. If these local government units take advantage of these programs, state matching funds will average approximately $4 for every $1 of local funding.
The Senate Democratic Caucus plan targets investments to craft a just recovery so Pennsylvania can Build Back Better.
More information on the plan can be found at PASenate.com/NewDeal
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May 4, 2021
Harrisburg, PA − May 4, 2021 − The co-chairs of the Pennsylvania Women’s Health Caucus (WHC), Senator Judy Schwank (D-Berks), Senator Amanda M. Cappelletti (D-Montgomery, Delaware), Representative Morgan Cephas (D-Philadelphia) and Representative Mary Jo Daley (D-Montgomery), released the following joint statement after today’s House Health Committee Anti-Abortion Hearing:
“Today’s hearing in the Pennsylvania House Health Committee was a dangerous display of misinformation that hinders public understanding about safe and legal medical procedures. Hearings are supposed to serve as a forum for dialogue between legislators and expert testifiers so we, as elected officials, can create policy that is based in reality and driven by facts. Unfortunately, that has not been the case for the series of hearings that have been paraded in front of us for the last few weeks because the experts who testified were counterbalanced by unqualified and politically motivated individuals. At today’s hearing in particular, the Majority Chair of the Health Committee gave a platform to an actor whose false and dangerous rhetoric has been linked to inciting violence.
David Daleiden, who was invited to testify before today’s Health Committee, was at the center of a nationwide publicity stunt to destroy Planned Parenthood by falsely accusing them of trafficking fetal tissue in heavily edited videos. The publicity stunt has been completely debunked. No investigation, including in Pennsylvania, found that Planned Parenthood broke any laws.
Daleiden and his allies have made no secret that their end goal is to ban access to safe, legal abortion in America, and we have seen them stop at nothing in pursuit of that goal — no matter who gets hurt, what laws they break, or how many people they prevent from accessing health care.
Despite being widely discredited, Daleiden’s campaign nonetheless stoked an increase in violence and threats against abortion providers, staff, and patients—including a 2015 shooting spree at a Colorado Springs Planned Parenthood, where nine people were injured and three people were murdered.
As a legislature, we should be working to disqualify this false rhetoric, not inviting its amplifiers to our chambers, and complimenting them with the title of an expert. As the Women’s Health Caucus, we condemn the Majority Chair of the House Health Committee’s irresponsible and dangerous decision to use the power and resources of the legislature to disseminate politically motivated, false, and malicious accusations about abortion providers.
We thank those Representatives on the committee who have continually stood up for reproductive justice throughout these hearings, including our own co-chair Representative Morgan Cephas, and one of the WHC’s founders, Representative Dan Frankel.”
Read the joint statement from Women’s Law Project and Pennsylvania advocates to condemn today’s “Pro-life Hearing” in the PA House Health Committee here.
Read our latest press release “Facts Matter in discussion about abortion.”
Follow the Women’s Health Caucus on Twitter and Facebook. Check out our website here.
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April 30, 2021
Harrisburg – April 30, 2021 – At the request of Pennsylvania State Senators Judy Schwank (D- Berks), Tina Tartaglione (D- Philadelphia), and Sharif Street (D- Philadelphia), the Senate Democratic Policy Committee held a virtual policy hearing to discuss the issue of food insecurity in Pennsylvania.
“The pandemic has exposed many issues over the last year, but perhaps most striking of all is the issue of food insecurity,” Schwank said. “I know few of us will forget seeing the long lines of families waiting for food assistance. Today we learned how our local food banks met the extraordinary challenge of feeding our communities and what we need to consider moving forward as the issue of food insecurity is far from solved.”
Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding said that reports compiled by the organization Feeding America show that the number of Pennsylvanians facing food insecurity in 2020 grew substantially to 1.77 million individuals, an increase of 30 percent. The number of children in Pennsylvania facing food insecurity rose to 537,080, an increase of nearly 40 percent in just one year.
“Food Insecurity is defined as the lack of access to enough food for a healthy and active life and at its core equals hunger. Across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, it is estimated that 11% of the population is food insecure with the highest percentage right here in Philadelphia county,” Dixie James, President and COO of Einstein Healthcare Network, said.
Second Lady of Pennsylvania, Gisele Fetterman, also testified at the hearing about her work to address food insecurity through Free Store 15104 and 412 Food Rescue.
“My work exists because of failures in policy,” Fetterman said.
She said that making a state law to prevent perfectly good food from going to waste, as numerous other states have done, would help to address food insecurity by redirecting resources, and also addressing the environmental impact of discarding perfectly good food that could otherwise feed populations.
“We know it is not a lack of food, it is how food gets distributed,” Dr. Kathy Reeves, Senior Associate Dean of Health Equity, Diversity & Inclusion and Director at the Center for Urban Bioethics and Professor of Pediatrics Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, said.
Dr. Reeves also advocated in her testimony to treat food as a prescription to address the overall health of Pennsylvanians.
“Food insecurity is intertwined with so many of Pennsylvania’s chronic ills, problems like poverty and health disparities that have been exacerbated by the lingering coronavirus pandemic,” Senator Tartaglione said. “This thorough conversation is imperative as we seek to make nutrition universally accessible in the Commonwealth.”
Loree Jones, CEO of Philabundance which serves five counties in Pennsylvania, said that 40 percent of the 60 percent increase Philabundance has seen in need this past year were people using the emergency food system for the first time. She said that Feeding America is projecting that nationally more than 42 million people, including 13 million children, may experience food insecurity due to COVID-19.
Secretary Redding said that additional funding to provide food in the pandemic has come from both federal and state resources, providing additional funding for United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) foods purchases through The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). As of April 17, 2021, food banks in Pennsylvania report having distributed in excess of 2.4 million of these food boxes, weighing more than 51.5 million pounds.
“The lessons learned over this past year have provided us a fresh lens to look at our grant programs to ensure they are equitable and meeting the needs of those we serve. The gaps in the system have been highlighted such as meat processing delays and lack of access to fresh foods. We will continue to enhance our current programs and investigate additional ways to address these needs,” Sec. Redding said. “Additionally, expanding broadband access throughout the commonwealth will assist in providing equal access to resources and e-commerce platforms.”
Scott Cawthern, Acting Deputy Secretary for the Office of Income Maintenance at the PA Dept. of Human Services, also testified about the work that the Dept. of Human Services did in expanding services during the COVID-19 pandemic, and how increased and continued investment in these programs will address food insecurity and improve long-term health outcomes for Pennsylvanians.
“On the state level, we would like to see more coordination between all the food 9 systems in the state including the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), SNAP, NSLP, and others to ensure that eligible families are receiving all the food assistance for which they qualify and to ensure that children and families receive the nutrition supports as they grow,” Cawthern said.
Jay Worrall, President of Helping Harvest Food Bank, testified to the importance of community partners in the distribution of food and resources to families and how increasing funding for its signature food insecurity programs, the State Food Purchase Program (SFPP), and the Pennsylvania Agricultural Surplus System (PASS), and increase the flexibility for how those funds can be expended would assist even more Pennsylvanians in need.
“Unfortunately, many Pennsylvanians have been and still are struggling to meet their basic needs. Working families across our state face countless situations, such as jobs paying only poverty wages due to wealth inequality and corporate greed, food deserts, unexpected bills for car maintenance or medical treatment, layoffs, and now a global pandemic, all of which cause temporary or permanent financial instability, food insecurity and hunger. Pennsylvania food insecurity rates have increased from 11.1% in 2018 to over 33% as of March 2020. According to the PA Department of Agriculture, before the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 1.53 million Pennsylvanians endured chronic hunger every day, including 478,500 older Pennsylvanians and about 437,000 children,” Sen. Katie Muth (D- Berks/Chester/Montgomery), chair of the Senate Democratic Policy Committee, said. “Food insecurity makes it impossible to survive let alone thrive. Every human should have guaranteed access to reliable and nutritious meals. We need to act urgently to end food insecurity in Pennsylvania and across our nation.”
Below are all who participated in today’s hearing:
- Dixie James, President & COO, Einstein Healthcare Network
- Gisele Fetterman, Second Lady of Pennsylvania
- Secretary Russell Redding, PA Department of Agriculture
- Scott Cawthern, Acting Deputy Secretary for the Office of Income Maintenance at the PA Dept. of Human Services
- Dr. Kathy Reeves, MD. FAAP, Senior Associate Dean, Health Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Director, Center for Urban Bioethics – Professor, Pediatrics Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University
- Andy Toy, Development and Communications Director, SEAMAAC
- Tyler Ray, Neighborhood Community Organizer, Urban Creators
- Maddy Booth, COO, Vetri Community Partnership
- Mark Edwards, President & CEO, Food Trust
- Loree Jones, CEO, Philabundance
- Jay Worrall, President, Helping Harvest Food Bank
The full recording of this roundtable, as well as the written testimony from participants, can be found at senatormuth.com/policy. A full recording of this hearing can also be found on the PA Senate Democratic Facebook page.
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April 19, 2021
HARRISBURG – April 19, 2021 – The Senate of Pennsylvania unanimously approved a measure to align Pennsylvania with every other state in the nation in preserving and protecting First Amendment rights for educators, according to the measure’s sponsors, Senators Kristin Phillips-Hill (R-York) and Judy Schwank (D-Berks).
The senators’ proposal would eliminate a section from the state’s Education Code that prohibits teachers from wearing any dress, mark, emblem, or insignia indicating his or her faith or denomination.
“The Senate took a major stance today to show our unified support of protecting our First Amendment rights to freedom of speech and freedom of religious expression,” Phillips-Hill said. “A teacher should not be worried about his or her job for simply wearing a cross on a necklace. Our First Amendment rights do not end simply because a teacher walks into a classroom.”
Throughout the late 1800s and early 1900s, the Ku Klux Klan supported similar laws across the nation due to anti-Catholic sentiment at the time. Pennsylvania’s original 1895 law served as the model for three dozen states that pursued similar anti-First Amendment laws. Today Pennsylvania is the only state in the nation with this law in place. Nebraska was the most recent state to repeal their law in 2017.
“It’s about time we join the rest of the country in abolishing a rule that serves no use,” Schwank said. “Punishing teachers for something as innocuous as wearing a cross necklace or hijab doesn’t help anyone – certainly not students. In fact, it’s better for students to be exposed to people who are different from them. It’s a way to foster more acceptance and empathy as they grow into adults.”
The senators argue the existing archaic law is in violation of the First Amendment.
A federal court case was brought forward in 2003 after a Pennsylvania teacher was suspended from her job pursuant to Section 1112 as well as the intermediate unit’s religious affiliations policy. Her suspension was due to her refusal to comply with her supervisor’s request that she remove or conceal a small cross she regularly wore on a necklace. The court ruled in favor of the teacher, who was rehired with back pay.
The court’s ruling found that the intermediate unit’s religious affiliations policy violates the free exercise of religion and free speech clauses of the First Amendment.
Senate Bill 247 moves to the House of Representatives for its consideration.
VIDEO (PHILLIPS-HILL)\
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April 16, 2021
HARRISBURG, April 16, 2021 – State Sen. Judy Schwank (D-11th district) and state Reps. Mark Rozzi (D-126th district) and Manny Guzman (D-127th district) announced a grant totaling $129,230 has been approved for the city of Reading through the state’s Multimodal Transportation Fund.
The grants project includes:
- City of Reading: Approved for $129,230 for a project to replace approximately 2,700 feet of dated log and cable guiderail at four separate street sites.
“I’m glad to see the city of Reading pursue all avenues possible when it comes to funding important safety updates,” Schwank said. “The new guiderails will protect both motorists and pedestrians.”
The approved project was one of 43 announced throughout the state Friday to address improvements in highway, bridge, rail, pedestrian trails and bike trails.
“The fact that the state managed to cover about 70 percent of the estimated cost of this project is fantastic,” Rozzi said. “This project will improve the safety in our city, and it eases the financial burden on our city and taxpayers.”
PennDOT evaluated the applications and made selections based on criteria such as safety benefits, regional economic conditions, the technical and financial feasibility, job creation, energy efficiency and operational sustainability.
“This is a much-needed project to help improve the safety in our city,” Guzman said. “High-gauge W-beam guardrails not only help to minimize some traffic accidents, but they protect pedestrians and personal and city property.”
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March 10, 2021
Reading, March 10, 2021 − Three Berks organizations 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 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
The three Berks recipients are:
- Reform Congregation Oheb Sholom, Wyomissing, $9,897
- The LGBT Center of Greater Reading, Reading, $11,525
- Abilities in Motion, Reading, $6,500
“The organizations who received these grants are well deserving of the funding and will put it to good uses,” Schwank said. “I am thankful that PCCD saw the relevance of funding these key organizations in our community.”
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March 9, 2021
HARRISBURG, PA − March 8, 2021 − Chairs, members, and advocates of the Pennsylvania Women’s Health Caucus (WHC) gathered today to share their legislative agenda for the 2021-2022 Legislative session. Chairs of the caucus, Senator Judy Schwank (D-Berks), Senator Amanda M. Cappelletti (D-Montgomery, Delaware), Representative Morgan Cephas (D-Philadelphia) and Representative Mary Jo Daley (D-Narberth) were joined by Sara Jann, Director of Policy & Advocacy of Maternity Care Coalition and Tara Murtha, Director of Strategic Communications at the Women’s Law Project. Together, the chairs and advocates shared their legislative priorities and their mission to work together with the caucus, advocates, and other elected officials to push policy and legislation to support women – cis, trans, and femme-identifying individuals – and family health in Pennsylvania.
The Pennsylvania Women’s Health Caucus is a bipartisan, bicameral caucus of legislators partnering with interest groups and advocacy organizations to develop and implement legislation and social policy that protects and respects women’s health, including the right to make private, personal medical decisions.
As a caucus, our legislative priorities for the current legislative session fall into four categories.
- Maternal & Childcare including Medicaid expansion and affordable childcare.
- Workplace Justice including fair wages and workplace accommodations.
- Dignity for Incarcerated Women including access to feminine hygiene products and prohibiting shackling of pregnant women.
- Healthcare including increasing access to reproductive health coverage including abortion care and access to tele-health.
As a caucus, we are committed to advocating for legislation that will actively support all femme-identifying people in leading healthy, just, and happy lives, with access to the rights they deserve. This means taking into consideration the ways in which systemic barriers and policy decisions have affected women of color, trans-women, and all women across the Commonwealth.
“The Women’s Health Caucus will continue to raise these issues; we will continue to advocate for the women and families of Pennsylvania. We will continue to recognize and acknowledge that black and brown women have been disproportionately hurt by policies that leave women behind,” said Representative Daley. “We will continue to stand up for our mothers, daughters, nieces, and girlfriends of all ages, of all colors and of all gender identities. “
Today’s conference happily coincided with International Women’s Day. The theme of today’s celebration is #ChoosetoChallenge, a perfect time to challenge the PA General Assembly to stand with us in prioritizing women’s health this legislative session.
“As we recognize Women’s History Month and International Women’s day the health and well-being of Pennsylvania’s women couldn’t be more relevant,” said Representative Cephas. “The COVID-19 pandemic has created new struggles, but it has also exacerbated challenges that have existed for far too long. I will continue using my role in the PA Women’s Health Caucus to create policies and pass legislation to improve the quality of life and quality of care for women and families across the commonwealth including my proposals to restore dignity to incarcerated women, combat maternal mortality, and increase access to affordable childcare.”
This sentiment was echoed by fellow legislators. Throughout the press conference, our members shared their excitement in celebrating International Women’s Day.
“Today, on International Women’s Day, the Women’s Health caucus reaffirmed its commitment to Pennsylvania’s women – ciswomen, transwomen, and femme-identifying individuals,” said Senator Cappelletti. “We will continue this conversation and advocacy, as we fight for bold change that will help everyone in the Commonwealth. Our support extends beyond our districts and our goal is to create a more just and equitable society for women and families.”
Through the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen how hard the crisis has hit women, especially women of color. Many of these challenges have illustrated themselves in ways that exacerbated existing inequalities and showed how damaged our systems are when it comes to women’s health.
“Mothers are, in many ways, bearing the brunt of this pandemic. The impact of which has been determined by systemic inequities that were in place long before this crisis arrived at our door. This year, MCC, along with our partners, is prioritizing mothers by advocating for equitable maternal health policies,” said Sara Jann, Director of Policy & Advocacy at Maternity Care Coalition.
Our agenda prioritizes mothers and working women, expressly focusing on maternal health and access to affordable, quality healthcare as a way to save women’s lives in Pennsylvania.
“How many pregnant Pennsylvanians have to unnecessarily die to warrant the attention of “pro-life” leadership? It is unbelievable that even during a pandemic, as a new report shows that more Pennsylvanians than ever are dying of pregnancy-related conditions, our House Health leadership has prioritized legislation that medical experts say would increase maternal mortality,” said Tara Murtha, Director of Strategic Communications at Women’s Law Project. “The Women’s Law Project proudly supports the evidence-based policies championed by the Women’s Health Caucus, and calls on legislative leadership to protect, rather than politicize, pregnant Pennsylvanians by advancing these bills.”
“The Women’s Health Caucus recognizes that women’s health is truly integral and directly related to Pennsylvania’s economic health, and that change can be brought about by introducing carefully thought-out proposals based on actual need and evidence,” Schwank said. “Our policy initiatives can literally save women’s lives by reducing the maternal mortality rate – an issue that predominately affects women of color. Lowering that rate is as easy as simply expanding health care coverage. If saving women’s lives wasn’t enough, every life saved translates into dollars saved by taxpayers,” said Senator Schwank.“Another major focus of the WHC is supporting and expanding quality childcare options, which is a critical component of our state’s economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.”
The caucus will continue to work on these goals through the legislative session and advocate for women across Pennsylvania through their legislative action and daily work.
Stay up to date with our members and what the caucus is doing to advocate for this agenda by following us on social media and checking our website. Check out our website and what we are up to here: https://www.pahouse.com/WomensHealthCaucus. Check out our Twitter here. Check out our Facebook here. You can watch the full press conference here.
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March 8, 2021
Reading − March 8, 2021 − In a letter to Pennsylvania Department of Health Acting Secretary Alison Beam, State Sen. Judy Schwank (D-11th district) asked that Berks County officials and residents be provided with an update specific to Berks regarding the COVID-19 vaccine.
“Our county is not receiving COVID-19 vaccines at the same rate as our neighboring counties, and we need to know why,” Schwank said. “Our residents are just as important as other Pennsylvanians and the state needs to be more transparent about vaccine allotments – when we can expect them and how they will be distributed.”
The letter is attached.
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February 24, 2021
Reading, February 24, 2021 
State Senator Judy Schwank (D-11th district) is hosting a virtual Roundtable Discussion on Food Insecurity in Berks County on Wednesday, March 3, at 7 p.m. on Zoom.
The panel of guests includes:
- Second Lady of Pennsylvania Gisele Fetterman, co-founder of 412 Food Rescue, Pittsburgh
- Secretary Russell Redding, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
- Jay Worrall, President of Helping Harvest, Reading
- Sandra Wise, Executive Director of Friend, Inc. Community Services, Kutztown
- Rev. Mary Wolfe, Hope Evangelical Lutheran Church, Reading
“The coronavirus has made us all the more aware of how prevalent food insecurity is here in Berks County,” Schwank said. “This roundtable is an opportunity to learn more about how our community has responded to this need, and what we can do going forward to support efforts to combat hunger.”
The public and media are invited. To register for this free event, visit www.senatorschwank.com/roundtable.
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February 19, 2021
HARRISBURG – February 19, 2021 – State Sen. Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) and Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler (D-Philadelphia) were joined by several Democratic House and Senate members from a cross Pennsylvania on Friday to call for repairs to hazardous and toxic schools across Pennsylvania.
Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland), Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks) and Rep. Kyle Mullins (D-Lackawanna) pointed to public school buildings in their districts in desperate need of repair during the virtual press conference. The legislators spoke in support of recently unveiled proposals in the House and Senate pushing for significant investment in school infrastructure.
“Today’s event addressed conditions in schools all across the commonwealth, and make no mistake, these same hazardous and toxic conditions exist in communities represented by the Republican caucuses,” Sen. Hughes said. “Rural, suburban and urban communities alike face daunting challenges because of our aging public school buildings. We cannot wait any longer to act. I am grateful to my colleagues for their support on this legislation, as well as the awareness they are helping raise for this important issue.”
The first proposal would expand the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) by $1 billion to help address health hazards in public school buildings across Pennsylvania. Gov. Tom Wolf put forth the RACP proposal as a top priority in his recent 2021-22 budget address.
“Our schools were already dangerous places for students, educators and staff before the pandemic hit,” Rep. Fiedler said. “As we seek to make schools safe in the age of COVID, we are determined to also remediate the lead, asbestos and other toxins. Our coalition is powerful. Together, we are committed to investing state dollars in our public buildings and giving communities across Pennsylvania the schools they deserve!”
The second proposal would create the Public School Building Emergency Repair and Renovation Grant program, distributing grants to public schools for emergency repairs including lead and asbestos abatement or remediation, HVAC repair or replacement, electrical system repair or replacement, plumbing repair or replacement, roof and window repair or replacement and other repairs or replacements that present a health or safety issue. This proposal would rely on federal funding provided through the American Rescue Plan.
“Safe and healthy school environments are vital to the success of our students, teachers and staff,” Sen. Brewster said. “As a former educator, I know firsthand the importance of a safe environment for a student’s physical health and academic achievement. While touring schools throughout the district and discussing concerns with numerous school officials, it is evident that assistance in bringing our public school buildings up to date is a top priority. The proposals discussed this morning will give districts the opportunity to make these necessary upgrades.”
Pennsylvania has some of the oldest school buildings in the nation. Most school buildings were constructed between 1950 and 1959. More than 200 buildings constructed prior to 1950. The aging buildings pose many health hazards including lead in the drinking water; asbestos in cracked floor tiles; mold outbreaks in classrooms; broken boilers in the winter; and no air conditioning in the summer.
“Pennsylvania students’ ability to access a quality education is fundamental to our Commonwealth’s future,” Sen. Schwank said. “But how can we expect our students to learn if they are in unfit and unsafe classrooms? Too many schools were in terrible physical condition even prior to the pandemic. They should have been repaired long ago, and now we are facing a crisis. If we truly want to provide a safe environment for our students, faculty and staff these bills must be passed.“
Legislators are hopeful to gain bipartisan support for the initiative to repair schools statewide. Beyond the clear benefits in creating healthier, safer schools, they point to the potential economic impact from the jobs that would be created as a result of the infrastructure investment.
“No child’s health, safety, or the quality of their education should be safeguarded any less simply because of what school district they happen to live in,” Rep. Mullins said. “It is long overdue that state leaders finally rectify these chronic inequities across our school districts and recognize these as matters of civil rights and public health.”
In 2018, the Public School Building Construction And Reconstruction Advisory Committee released the PlanCon final report. The legislature has not funded programs to address the facilities issued raised in the PlanCon report. Conditions in many districts have worsened, and become more costly, as a result of inaction.
Click here to watch the full press event.
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February 8, 2021
HARRISBURG − February 8, 2021 — In response to soaring rates of COVID-19 infection and death among incarcerated people and throughout the Pennsylvania prison system, nearly three dozen State Senators and State Representatives have issued a joint letter to Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf, urging him to utilize his power of reprieve to immediately release incarcerated people who are elderly or medically vulnerable.
Pennsylvania’s correctional institutions now see a death rate from COVID-19 three times that of the general population.
“There is a growing crisis in our correctional facilities. Department of Corrections Secretary Wetzel has testified that they cannot stop the spread of the virus within the prison walls. Facility spread threatens to enhance community spread as more men and women die behind the walls and in our communities every day. I urge Governor Wolf to once again use his reprieve power to protect our communities,” said Senator Sharif Street (D–Philadelphia).
“As elected officials, we have taken an oath to do everything in our power to keep those we represent safe,” said Senator Nikil Saval (D–Philadelphia). “Each person who has died leaves behind them a grieving family and community. These unnecessary deaths are unacceptable. We call upon Governor Wolf to act immediately to prevent additional suffering and additional loss of life.”
More than 1,200 people were identified as being eligible for reprieve by Governor Wolf’s administration in Spring 2020, but since that time, reprieve has been granted to only 159 people.
Senator Anthony H. Williams (D–Philadelphia/Delaware) recognized the urgent need for immediate government action to keep people safe, stating, “Gandhi captured it best, ‘The true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members.’”
On January 28, Senators Williams, Street, and Saval released a co-sponsorship memorandum titled “Expanded Eligibility for Medical and Elderly Release to Mitigate COVID-19 in PA’s Prisons,” with the objective of expanding eligibility and improving the process to facilitate the release of those most at risk for severe illness and death.
“We cannot allow a prison sentence to be a death sentence,” said Senator John Kane (D–Delaware/Chester). “COVID deaths in prisons are preventable—period. I urge the Governor to use his reprieve power to prevent these unconscionable deaths.”
This letter represents a significant bicameral effort among legislators, with 16 Democratic Senators (a majority of the Senate Democratic Caucus) and 16 Democratic State Representatives signed on, and with particular support from the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus.
“I am heartbroken by the countless stories from constituents in my district of loved ones in jail who have gotten sick during this pandemic, and we know people are dying in jails on a weekly basis,” said Representative Rick Krajewski (D–Philadelphia). “There is an absolute health crisis in Pennsylvania’s prisons. The governor has the ability to end this suffering right now, these deaths are unnecessary and I am urging the governor to recognize his power and responsibility to grant reprieve to people in prison who are at risk from COVID-19.”
Representative Chris Rabb (D–Philadelphia) emphasized the boundless impact of the pandemic, and the need for bold action for the sake of public health.
“Community spread does not acknowledge social status. The virus is opportunistic and spreads irrespective of the politics or position of the people it infects, and doesn’t care about the nature of the congregate population it devastates,” said Representative Rabb. “Without speedy releases of incarcerated Pennsylvanians following the guidance of public health officials, men and women in our prisons will continue to receive de facto death sentences due to the inaccurate—and now dangerous—assumption that people convicted of certain criminal offenses are a significant threat to the public. We cannot let politics and misinformed public perception about bold necessary public health measures get in the way of making Pennsylvanians safer. It is not fair to DOC staff nor to incarcerated people, nor all those with whom they come in contact beyond the prison walls.”
People who are incarcerated do not have the ability to socially distance. As a result, the Department of Corrections has resorted to the use of solitary confinement—a punitive measure—to try to prevent widespread infection and harm. Findings from throughout the country have definitively linked COVID-19 outbreaks in prison settings with increased cases in the surrounding community.
“Asking Governor Wolf to exercise his power of reprieve is just sound public health policy. This will save the lives of those incarcerated and the individuals who work at our correctional facilities,” said Senator Amanda M. Cappelletti (D–Montgomery/Delaware). “Of the 47,000 people in state prisons and community corrections centers, many are elderly or have health conditions that put them at greater risk of hospitalization and death should they become infected with COVID-19. We must take the necessary steps to protect their health and ensure they are safe. This is what is best for our public.”
Senator Lisa M. Boscola (D–Lehigh/Northampton) noted efforts on behalf of incarcerated people as part of holistic work for the health of the state.
“Last session I was proud to work in a bipartisan fashion to craft legislation to release elderly and sick nonviolent prisoners because it costs taxpayers too much money,” said Senator Boscola. “Releasing elderly and medically vulnerable individuals who are not a danger to the community in order to reduce the likelihood they will get COVID in prison is in line with responsibly reducing our prison population.”
On January 7, at the request of Senators Williams and Street, the Senate Democratic Policy Committee held the hearing “Pandemic in Our Prisons—Protecting People and Communities.” Recommendations following the hearing included urging Governor Wolf to use reprieve to reduce the prison population.
“Every day that passes with no action taken to expand reprieve efforts adds an increase in risk for incarcerated elderly and medically vulnerable individuals,” said Senator Katie Muth (D–Montgomery/Chester/Berks), Chair of the Senate Democratic Policy Committee. “Urgent action is needed now and we cannot wait another minute for the unnecessary and unjust harm to take another life.”
“The Wolf administration should be commended for introducing the reprieve program in April,” said Senator Judy Schwank (D–Berks). “However, it hasn’t done what it needed to and our state prisons are still overwhelmed by the coronavirus. We ask Governor Wolf to reevaluate this program.”
Read the full letter here
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