Latest News
State Lawmakers Introduce Landmark Bills to Protect Abortion Care in PA
HARRISBURG, June 24, 2025 – Marking the third anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision, which has dismantled access to abortion health care in states across the country, Pennsylvania lawmakers today introduced two packages of bills to fight back and protect reproductive health care rights in the commonwealth.
Food Allergy Awareness
Fighting for Safety From Food Allergens
Pennsylvania Women’s Health Caucus Co-Chairs Statement on the House Passage of HB 1140 Expanding Contraception Access for All
Harrisburg – June 4, 2025 − The co-chairs of the Pennsylvania Women’s Health Caucus Sen. Amanda M. Cappelletti (D-Montgomery), Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks), Rep. Gina H. Curry (D-Delaware) and Rep. Mary Jo Daley (D-Montgomery) issued the following statement on the House passage of HB 1140, which would ensure that all Pennsylvanians have access to contraception:
Senators Lindsey M. Williams, Judy Schwank and Rep. Jeanne Mcneill Announce Legislation to Address Child Care Worker Shortage
Harrisburg, PA − May 5, 2025 − Today Senator Lindsey M. Williams (D-Allegheny), Senator Judy Schwank (D-Berks), and Rep. Jeanne McNeill (D-133) announced their intent to champion Governor Shapiro’s legislation to support working families across Pennsylvania by...
Senator Schwank & PennDOT REAL ID Webinar
Women’s Health with Senator Schwank and Friends
Women’s Health with Senator Schwank and Friends
Schwank and Rusnock Announce Funding for Mt. Penn Fire Company
Reading, PA − March 18, 2025 − Sen. Judy Schwank and Rep. Jacklyn Rusnock announced today that the Mt. Penn Fire Company has been awarded $320,915 in grant funding from the Local Share Account Category 4 Facilities Program. Following its recent merger with the...
Senator Schwank Proposes Naming “My Home Pennsylvania” as Official State Song
State Sen. Judy Schwank has issued a co-sponsor memorandum for legislation to designate “My Home Pennsylvania,” an original song by Berks County native Dave Kline, as the official state song of Pennsylvania. Schwank said the light-hearted gesture would be an honor for...
Senator Schwank Secures Additional $1 Million for Antietam School District’s Stoney Creek Elementary School Project
Reading, PA — February 25, 2025 — Yesterday evening, Sen. Judy Schwank, D-Berks, attended an Antietam School District board meeting to announce an additional $1 million in state funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Education to support flood recovery...
Schwank and Guzman Announce $850,000 for Penn Square Redevelopment Project
Reading, PA — February 24, 2025 — Today, Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks) and Rep. Manuel Guzman Jr. (D-Berks) announced $850,000 in Multimodal Transportation Fund grant funding for Philly Office Retail’s Penn Square Redevelopment Project. The funding will go toward new...
Schwank & Rusnock Applaud Environmental Grant for Mount Penn Borough Municipal Authority
February 11, 2025 − Today, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection announced that the Mount Penn Borough Municipal Authority received $231,361 in Growing Greener grant funding. Growing Greener is a funding program administered by the Pennsylvania...
Sen. Schwank Session Recap Message
Four Senate Democratic Lawmakers Unveil Legislative Package to Improve Foster Care and Child Protection Systems
Harrisburg, PA – January 29, 2025 − Members of the Democratic Caucus have introduced a package of bills designed to tackle systemic issues within Pennsylvania’s foster care and child protection systems. The proposed legislation prioritizes the well-being of children,...
Pennsylvania’s Women’s Health Caucus and the Black Maternal Health Caucus join together to lay out priorities for Pennsylvania’s 2025-2026 legislative session
Harrisburg, PA − January 27, 2024 – Today, the Pennsylvania Women’s Health Caucus (WHC) and the Black Maternal Health Caucus (BMHC) released a joint statement after holding a press conference to lay out their legislative priorities for the 2025-2026 session. Watch the...
Senator Schwank Speaks at Women’s Health Caucus Kick-Off Event
Sen. Schwank Interviews Sec. Russell Redding at 2025 PA Farm Show
Senator Schwank is Sworn in to Serve the 11th Senatorial District
Senator Schwank Applauds CRIZ Designation for the City of Reading
Reading, PA — December 30, 2024 — Today, Gov. Josh Shapiro announced that the City of Reading’s application for a City Revitalization and Improvement Zone (CRIZ) was accepted. The CRIZ program, established by Act 52 of 2013, is administered by the Pennsylvania...
Senator Schwank Issues Statement on NTSB’s Hearing on the R.M. Palmer Explosion
Reading — December 11, 2024 — Sen. Judy Schwank, D-Berks, issued the following statement in response to the National Transportation Safety Board’s hearing on the investigation into the cause of the R.M. Palmer natural gas explosion that occurred on March 24, 2023:...
Sen. Lindsey Williams and Sen. Judy Schwank Reintroduce Universal School Meals Legislation
Harrisburg, Pa. − December 5, 2024 – Senator Lindsey M. Williams (D-Allegheny) and Senator Judy Schwank (D-Berks) joined the School Nutrition Association of Pennsylvania (SNAPA) today for a Day of Action in support of the Senators’ Universal School Meals legislation....
Schwank Retains Senate Democratic Caucus Leadership Role for 25-26 Legislative Session
Harrisburg, PA — November 14, 2024 — Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks) announced today that she has retained her role as the Caucus Administrator for the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus for the upcoming 2025-26 legislative session. Schwank, who has held the Caucus...
Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus Elects Leadership Team for 2025-26 Legislative Session
HARRISBURG, PA – November 13, 2024 – The Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus today elected its leadership team for the 2025-26 legislative session. The Senate Democratic Caucus also proudly welcomes two new members: Senator Patty Kim representing Senate District 15,...
‘An Investment in the Future of Our Town’: Schwank Joins Stakeholders for Strand Theatre Rehabilitation Update
Reading, PA — November 8, 2024 — Earlier this week, Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks) joined Kutztown Community Partnership, the Greater Berks Development Fund, and DESCCO Design and Construction, Inc. to provide the Kutztown community with an update on the rehabilitation...
Kutztown Strand Theatre Update :: November 6, 2024
Senator Schwank Applauds $13.75 Million in Capital Redevelopment Funding for Berks County Projects
Reading, PA — November 1, 2024 — Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks) applauded the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) grant funding announced today by Gov. Josh Shapiro and the Pennsylvania Office of the Budget. RACP is a state grant program administered by the...
Schwank and Guzman Secure $1 Million for Senior Housing Project in Reading
Reading, PA — October 22, 2024 — Today, Sen. Judy Schwank and Rep. Manuel Guzman Jr. announced a $1 million Local Share Account-Statewide grant to support the Cornerstone at 6th and Chestnut project. The project will redevelop a blighted industrial building at S. 6th...
Senator Schwank Secures $6 Million in Grants for Berks County Projects
Reading, PA — October 22, 2024 — Today, Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks) announced that 16 projects in the 11th Senatorial District have received a total of $6 million in Local Share Account-Statewide grant funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic...
Senator Schwank Applauds $3.77 Million in Public School Facility Grant Funding
Reading, PA — October 22, 2024 — Today, Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks) announced that three school districts in the 11th Senatorial District received a total of $3,775,000 in Public Schools Facility Improvement Grant Program funding from the Pennsylvania Department of...
PA First Lady, Secretary of Education join Lawmakers in Harrisburg to Celebrate Funding for Period Products in Public Schools and Advocate for Menstrual Equity Act
Harrisburg, PA − October 21, 2024 – Pennsylvania's First Lady Lori Shapiro, Senators, Representatives, Secretary of Education Dr. Mumin, and advocates gathered for a press event to celebrate the $3 million invested through the last state budget to...
Schwank Applauds Facility Improvement Grant Funding for Connections Work
Reading, PA − October 10, 2024 − The Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development and the Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority today announced $722,852 in COVID-19 ARPA PA Multi-Purpose Community Facilities Program grant funding for...
Senate Dems Highlight Need for Election Reforms at Capitol Hearing
HARRISBURG, September 26, 2024 – State Senator Katie Muth (D-Chester/Montgomery/Berks), chair of the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Policy Committee, joined Senator Amanda Cappelletti (D-Montgomery) and Senator Judy Schwank (D-Berks) to host a public hearing on access...