Press Releases
Deadline for Energy Assistance Grants Extended to May, Sen. Schwank Says
HARRISBURG, April 1, 2015 – Berks Countians who need help paying their heating bills or covering emergency repairs will have another month to apply for Pennsylvania’s federally funded LIHEAP program, Sen. Judy Schwank said today. The deadline to apply has been moved...
Schwank to Host Town Hall in Centerport
Public Utility Commission to talk electric choice READING, March 31, 2015 – Residents of Centerport and northern Berks County will have the opportunity at 7 p.m., Thursday, April 2, to learn more about electric choice and share their thoughts and concerns on other...
Schwank Receives BCTC’s Award for ‘Commitment to Career & Technical Education’
OLEY, March 25, 2015 – A Berks County school devoted to career and technical education tonight recognized state Sen. Judy Schwank as the recipient of its “Friend of Career and Technical Education Award.” “You join a list of distinguished individuals from our community...
Sens. Schwank, Hughes to Propose Expansion of New ‘Revenge Porn’ Law
HARRISBURG, March 19, 2015 – To better protect Pennsylvanians from the unsolicited and embarrassing publication of their private, intimate pictures, state Sens. Judy Schwank (D-Berks) and Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia) said today they will introduce a proposal...
Schwank Named to Panel for Equal Justice, Fairness
HARRISBURG, March 13, 2015 – Underscoring her leadership and reputation as someone who fights for families, women and the less fortunate, Sen. Judy Schwank has been appointed to serve on a commission that’s charged with making sure fairness and equal justice are...
Schwank, DMVA Remind Desert Shield/Storm Vets of Time to Apply for Unique Bonus
HARRISBURG, March 10, 2015 – In conjunction with the state Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, state Sen. Judy Schwank is reminding Pennsylvania veterans that the time is now to apply for special one-time payments in honor of their service during Persian Gulf...
Hard Work, Sincere Thought Required for Gov. Wolf’s Budget Proposal, Schwank Says
HARRISBURG, March 3, 2015 – State Sen. Judy Schwank issued the following statement today after listening to Gov. Tom Wolf present his first budget proposal to a joint session of the General Assembly: “Gov. Wolf has presented an assertive and wide ranging budget that...
With Billions at Stake, Schwank Unveils Bill to Properly Address Pension Crisis
READING, Feb. 26, 2015 – Frustrated by inadequate proposals to address Pennsylvania’s multi-billion dollar public and municipal pension problems, Sen. Judy Schwank today said she has formally introduced her bill to create an expert panel that would devise the best...
Schwank Press Conference Thursday to Unveil Pension Review Commission Bill
HARRISBURG, Feb. 25, 2015 – State Sen. Judy Schwank and advocates will hold a press conference at 3 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 26, in the senator’s district office, to announce the introduction of her bill to best address Pennsylvania’s pension crisis. The combined unfunded...
Industrial Hemp Bill Formally Introduced by Sens. Schwank, Folmer
READING, Feb. 12, 2015 – Pennsylvania farmers would be able to grow a new cash crop and participate in a wide range of manufacturing opportunities if a bill that Sens. Judy Schwank (D-Berks) and Mike Folmer (R-Lebanon) formally introduced today. Senate Bill 50 would...
250 New Acres Added to Farmland Preservation Program, Schwank Says
HARRISBURG, Feb. 12, 2015 – Add another 250 acres of Berks County land to Pennsylvania’s farmland preservation program. The three tracts, valued at nearly $625,000, were approved for inclusion in the record-setting operation today by the Pennsylvania Agricultural Land...
Free Help for Families Struggling to Navigate College Student Aid, FAFSA
READING, Feb. 12, 2015 – Berks Countians looking for help in paying college tuition can get free guidance and tips this Saturday, Feb. 14, during a FAFSA Preparation Seminar in Sen. Judy Schwank’s district office. “While improvements have been made to the online Free...
Schwank Appointed to Serve on PASSHE Board of Governors
Improved accessibility, expanding lifelong learning opportunities goals of service HARRISBURG, Jan. 30, 2015 – Named as one of the newest members of the organization that governs Pennsylvania’s 14 state-owned universities, Sen. Judy Schwank today said she intends to...
Schwank Urges Lawmakers to Finally Adopt Medical Cannabis Bill
HARRISBURG, Jan. 27, 2015 – To better help desperate moms and dads who are seeking relief for children who suffer from countless seizures and to help many other Pennsylvanians who need relief from chronic illnesses, Sen. Judy Schwank today urged fellow lawmakers to...
Schwank Outlines Committee Assignments for 2015-2016 Session
READING, Jan. 15, 2015 – Berks County’s agriculture industry will continue to have a front-row seat in Harrisburg as state Sen. Judy Schwank will carry on as the Democratic chair of the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee. “We are protecting a record number...
Pension Reform the Right Way: Schwank Introduces Bill to Form Commission
Panel would finally employ PA’s arsenal of experts READING, Jan. 13, 2015 – Faced with a growing multi-billion dollar pension deficit and no good proposal to solve the problem, state Sen. Judy Schwank today said she will introduce a bill that would direct a new...
Schwank, Folmer to Discuss How Industrial Hemp Bill Would Help Ag
HARRISBURG, Jan. 8, 2015 – To help Pennsylvania farmers tap into the multi-million dollar hemp industry, state Sens. Judy Schwank (D-11) and Mike Folmer (R-48) will hold a media briefing at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 10, at the Pennsylvania Farm Show to talk about...
Schwank, Argall, Community and Business Leaders, First Responders Meet on Route 222
BLANDON, Dec. 18, 2014 – Heeding the growing concerns about the safety of Route 222, state Sens. Judy Schwank (D-11) and David Argall (R-29) met here last night with local leaders to work towards solutions that would make the highway less deadly. The gathering...
Ag Preservation Panel Adds 3 More Berks Co. Farms to List, Schwank Says
HARRISBURG, Dec. 11, 2014 – Another 150 acres of prime Berks County agricultural land were added today to Pennsylvania’s record-setting farmland preservation program, Sen. Judy Schwank said today. The 150 acres added by the Pennsylvania Farmland Preservation Board now...
Food Market Owners, Gov’t Officials to Meet Monday Evening with Sen. Schwank
READING, Dec. 5, 2014 – Reading city food market owners and representatives from local, state and federal governments will meet with state Sen. Judy Schwank at 6:00 p.m., Monday, Dec. 8, at Reading Area Community College. The informational meeting will detail changes...
Sen. Schwank to Host 2nd Annual Elected Municipal Officials’ Meeting
READING, Dec. 2, 2014 – Sen. Judy Schwank will hold her second annual “Elected Municipal Officials’ Meeting” at 7:30 a.m., Thursday, Dec. 4, at Wyomissing Family Restaurant. This event gives local leaders with the opportunity to obtain information that impacts their...
Pa. Women’s Health Caucus calls for waiver extension for SelectPlan for Women
HARRISBURG, Oct. 28 – State Rep. Dan Frankel, D-Allegheny, and state Sen. Judy Schwank, D-Berks, co-chairs of the Pennsylvania Women’s Health Caucus, today called for the Corbett administration to take action to extend the federal 1115 Family Planning Waiver,...
Winter is Around the Corner, so is LIHEAP, Sen. Schwank Says
READING, Oct. 27, 2014 – With almanacs and woolly bear caterpillars predicting a tough winter and others predicting a mild season, state Sen. Judy Schwank today said the one sure thing about the approaching season is LIHEAP will be there to help those who need it....
Kutztown Playground to Become Happier Place for Kids with $150k Grant, Schwank Says
Grants also approved for Reading, Union Township READING, Oct. 21, 2014 – New playground equipment, stepping stones and plaza space will be the new features of Kutztown’s only playground thanks to the award today of a $150,000 state grant, Sen. Judy Schwank said...
$730k in State Grants to Back Berks Co. Swimming Pool, Parks, Schwank Says
READING, Oct. 20, 2014 – Two parks in Berks County and a swimming pool in Fleetwood have been awarded nearly $730,000 in state grants, state Sen. Judy Schwank said today. The money, from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, will help to expand French...
3 Berks Co. Farms Help PA to Become 1st in U.S. to Preserve 500,000 Acres, Schwank Says
HELLAM, Oct. 16, 2014 – Pennsylvania became the first state in the country today to preserve 500,000 acres of valuable farmland and three Berks County farms helped accomplish the milestone, Sen. Judy Schwank said today. “Berks County is a big reason the commonwealth...
Public Health Care Improvements, Better Oversight Expected with Adoption of Advisory Council Bill, Sen. Schwank Says
HARRISBURG, Oct.15, 2014 – Berks County residents and Pennsylvanians should expect improvements in the quality and cost-effectiveness of the Medicaid system with the approval today of a bill to create the Patient-Centered Medical Home Advisory Council, state Sen. Judy...
Sen. Schwank, PHEAA, RACC to Hold ‘College Financial Aid Awareness Night’
HARRISBURG, Oct. 7, 2014 – Sen. Judy Schwank will host her annual “College Financial Aid Awareness Night” from 7 p.m. until 8:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 9, at Muhlenberg High School. The free event will include presentations by Schwank and financial aid experts from the...
Minimum Wage Can’t Buy Bread, Eggs and Cereal, Schwank Says as She Continues Fight to Increase PA’s hourly rate to $10.10
HARRISBURG, Sept. 29, 2014 – Standing with the dozen eggs, loaf of bread and box of cereal she attempted to buy with the $7.25 Pennsylvania’s minimum-wage workers receive for 60 minutes of labor, state Sen. Judy Schwank today joined a statewide action campaign to urge...
With Eye on Reading, Schwank Votes to Reform PA’s Act 47 Law
READING, Sept. 24, 2014 – Representing one of Pennsylvania’s 20 communities that are financially distressed, state Sen. Judy Schwank has voted to change the law that governs the commonwealth’s municipal recovery program. Schwank’s vote Wednesday helped to send the Act...
Schwank ‘Encouraged’ by New Report’s Next Steps on Heroin, Opioid Epidemic
HARRISBURG, Sept. 23, 2014 – Urged by state Sen. Judy Schwank to examine the growing problem of heroin and prescription drug abuse, the Center for Rural Pennsylvania canvassed the state and issued its report today. Sen. Schwank said she worked with Sen. Gene Yaw, the...
Schwank Comments on Panel’s Adoption of Property Tax Reform
HARRISBURG, Sept. 16, 2014 – Sen. Judy Schwank issued the following statement following the Senate Finance Committee’s 6-5 approval of Senate Bill 76, which would reform the way schools generate revenue from property owners: “Although it was a narrow vote, it was a...
Schwank Announces Environmental Grant for Leesport Borough Authority
READING, Sept. 9, 2014 – Sen. Judy Schwank today said Leesport residents will benefit from a new $100,000 state grant that will help the Berks County community pay for a sewer replacement project. Commonwealth Financing Authority approved the “Small Water and Sewer...