Press Releases
Property Tax/Rent Rebate Deadline 28 Days Away, Sen. Schwank Reminds
HARRISBURG, Dec. 3, 2013 – Pennsylvania’s extended deadline for people to apply for property tax/rent rebates is fast approaching, state Senator Judy Schwank (D-Berks) reminded residents today. The deadline to submit free applications for the program – which is...
Schwank, Senate Democrats Unveil Package to Help PA’s Veterans Return to Civilian Life
HARRISBURG, Nov. 19, 2013 – Sen. Judy Schwank and the Senate Democratic Caucus today unveiled a 21-bill package designed to help soldiers who return to civilian life in Pennsylvania. Schwank is the prime sponsor of two of those proposals: Senate Bill 1143, which would...
Schwank to Host Volunteer Firefighters’ Forum
READING, Nov. 1, 2013 — State Sen. Judy Schwank will hold a volunteer firefighter’s forum at 7 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 7, in the Berks County Fire Training Center, for the county’s volunteer emergency responders. “I am looking forward to meeting with Berks County’s...
Application Window Now Open to Help Berks County Schools Be Safer
HARRISBURG, Oct. 28, 2013 – In the wake of the one-year anniversary of the unforgettable and deadly shooting rampage at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut, the Pennsylvania Department of Education is accepting applications for grants of up to $25,000 for...
As Colder Weather Returns, Schwank Reminds Low-Income Residents Heating Cost Help Available Through LIHEAP
HARRISBURG, Oct. 23, 2013 – The high cost of heating a home can be problematic for low-income residents, but the commonwealth will again be available to help, Sen. Judy Schwank announced today, through its Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP....
Schwank Proposal Naming Route 662 The ‘Jarett M. Yoder Highway’ Wins Senate’s Nod
HARRISBURG, Oct. 22, 2013 – Sen. Judy Schwank’s proposal to name Route 662 in Ruscombmanor Township, Berks County, as the “Chief Warrant Officer-2 Jarett M. Yoder Highway” won the Senate’s unanimous approval today. House Bill 925, because it was amended in the Senate,...
Schwank to Host Town Hall Meeting in Fleetwood Borough
READING, Oct. 22, 2013 — State Sen. Judy Schwank will hold a town hall meeting at 7 p.m., Oct. 24, in the Borough of Fleetwood for residents of the 11th Senate District. “I am looking forward to meeting with the residents of the Borough of Fleetwood and the...
In Its 25th Year, PA’s Farm Preservation Program Protects 3 More Berks County Tracts, Sen. Schwank Announces
Harrisburg, Oct. 10, 2013 – Berks County added three farms and more than 170 acres today to the state’s 25-year-old farmland preservation program, Sen. Judy Schwank announced. “In its silver anniversary, I’m pleased to announce today that an additional 173 acres of...
Schwank to Again Offer College Financial Aid Seminar
HARRISBURG, Oct. 9, 2013 – Parents and students looking for answers and tips on paying for higher education will find the help they are seeking at 7 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 10, during Sen. Judy Schwank’s annual “College Financial Aid Awareness Night” in Reading. “College...
Schwank Announces $140k in Grants for the Arts in Berks County
HARRISBURG, Sept. 26, 2013 – Eighteen arts organizations in Berks County will share more than $140,000 in grants from the PA Council on the Arts, Sen. Judy Schwank announced today. “Berks County is a great place for people with artistic talent; an eye for the...
Schwank to Host Town Hall Meeting in Caernarvon Township
READING, Sept. 25, 2013 — State Sen. Judy Schwank will hold a town hall meeting at 7 p.m., Sept. 26, in Morgantown for new residents of the 11th Senate District. “Legislative district boundaries changed for many state lawmakers following the 2010 Census, and I am...
Schwank, Caltagirone Say Doubletree Hotel, Other Downtown Reading Development Projects Getting Big Boost with Additional State Investments
HARRISBURG, Sept. 17, 2013 -- Development Projects in the City of Reading will get a big boost with the approval today of more than $5 million in new investments for the Greater Berks Development Fund, and an additional $1 million for the Doubletree Hotel Project,...
Applications Being Accepted for Emergency Services, Schwank Says
READING, Sept. 13, 2013 – The emergency services organizations representing the men and women who answer the call to help Berks County residents in distress can now apply for state grants to pay for facilities, equipment and training. Eligible fire departments,...
Schwank Delivers Answers, Tips for Berks County Seniors Worried About Becoming Victims of Crime
LEESPORT, Sept. 12, 2013 – With elder abuse a growing problem, Sen. Judy Schwank and top prosecutors from Berks County and the state today provided tips for staying safe to a packed house of senior citizens at Bern Evangelical Lutheran Church. “With the third highest...
Schwank to Hold Senior Crime Prevention Seminar
READING, Sept. 10, 2013 – To help senior citizens in the 11th Senate District protect themselves from becoming victims of crime, Sen. Judy Schwank will hold a Senior Crime Prevention Seminar at 10 a.m., Thursday, at Bern Evangelical Lutheran Church in Leesport. Berks...
Schwank, PLCB Award $ 150,000 in Grants to Kutztown Borough, Area Colleges, Wyomissing Police Department for Alcohol Abuse Prevention
KUTZTOWN, Sept. 3, 2013 – Sen. Judy Schwank and the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board announced today that three local colleges, Kutztown Borough, and the Wyomissing Police Department will share a combined $ 150,000 to help minors avoid the temptation of underage drinking and alcohol abuse.
Schwank to Announce Local Alcohol Abuse Prevention Grant Recipients Sept. 3
READING, Aug. 29, 2013 – Sen. Judy Schwank will announce the local recipients of Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board grants for the prevention of underage drinking and alcohol abuse at 10 a.m., Tuesday, Sept. 3, in Kutztown. The PLCB is awarding more than $2.1 million...
Two Schwank Measures Boosting PA Cities, Emergency Responders Now Law
HARRISBURG, Aug. 19, 2013 – Sen. Judy Schwank’s legislative efforts to help struggling Pennsylvania cities and cash-strapped emergency responders bore fruit today as a bill she worked to make significant, positive change was signed into law by the governor. House Bill...
Size of PA Legislature Would Shrink With Schwank Bill
READING, Aug. 12, 2013 – Sen. Judy Schwank today urged state lawmakers and the governor to finally consider her legislation to reduce the size of the Pennsylvania General Assembly by more than a third. “For too long, taxpayers have had to pay for an institution that,...
Schwank to Hold 3rd Annual Municipal Officials Meeting
READING, Aug. 12, 2013 – Sen. Judy Schwank will hold her third annual “Municipal Officials Meeting” at 7 p.m., tonight, Aug. 12, at Penn State-Berks. The annual get-together reflects Sen. Schwank’s commitment to work collaboratively with local officials to better...
Schwank Says Airport Grant Will Help Facility Better Serve Berks
Harrisburg, July 23, 2013 – Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks) today said the Reading Regional Airport will receive state funding to make safety improvements and increase the quality of air travel in Pennsylvania. “Thanks to PennDOT’s aviation development program, the...
Schwank Urges Berks County Businesses to Apply for Grants to Improve Green Footprint
Harrisburg, July 10, 2013 – Sen. Judy Schwank today said businesses in Berks County that want to become more energy efficient and environmentally friendly now have the opportunity to apply for a state grant to help pay for those improvements. The Department of...
Schwank Measures Helping Communities, Emergency Responders Win Senate Approval
Harrisburg, June 30, 2013 – Legislative efforts by Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks) to save thousands of dollars for emergency responders and expand a proposed economic development program to include Reading and other cities were approved today by the state Senate. The...
Schwank Votes ‘No’ on State Budget Bill With Too Many ‘Misguided Priorities’
Harrisburg, June 30, 2013 – Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks) today voted “no” on Pennsylvania’s 2013-’14 budget. “Instead of focusing on job creation, the past several weeks have been devoted to the expansion of alcohol sales and eliminating jobs, along with various other...
Bill Naming Route 662 “Jarett M. Yoder” Highway Clears Hurdle, Schwank Says
Harrisburg, June 18, 2013 – Sen. Judy Schwank today said her bill naming Route 662 in Ruscombmanor Township, Berks County, as the “Chief Warrant Officer-2 Jarett M. Yoder Highway” has been reported out of committee. The Senate Transportation Committee unanimously...
Another Farm Preserved in Berks County, Sen. Schwank Announces
Harrisburg, June 13, 2013 – Sen. Judy Schwank announced today that an additional 106 acres of Berks County farmland will be preserved through the purchase of $266,500 worth of conservation easements. The Pennsylvania Agricultural Land Preservation Board, of which...
Schwank, Special Ed Funding Panel Begin Work to Find Better Formula
HARRISBURG, June 13, 2013 – Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks) and Pennsylvania’s new Special Education Funding Formula Commission opened public hearings today in Harrisburg by listening to experts from throughout the state talk about the intricacies of special education...
Property Tax/Rent Rebate Deadline Extended, Schwank Says
HARRISBURG, June 12, 2013 – People who would like to participate in Pennsylvania’s property tax/rent rebate program have another six months to do so, state Senator Judy Schwank (D-Berks) said today. The deadline is now Dec. 31, 2013. “This is good news for people who...
Schwank Hears Pros, Cons of Bill Affecting Cyber Charter School Funding
FREDERICKSBURG, May 30, 2013 – State Senator Judy Schwank (D-Berks) and the Senate Education Committee today listened to school district and charter school officials about legislation affecting cyber charter school funding. Schwank’s Senate Bill 335 would exempt...
Schwank, Senate Committee to Hear Public Opinion On Cyber Charter Bill
READING, May 29, 2013 – Sen. Judy Schwank and the Senate Education Committee will listen to public testimony beginning at 1 p.m., Thursday, May 30, at Northern Lebanon High School, about legislation affecting cyber charter schools. Senate Bill 335, which Schwank...
$ 300 Million Education Common Core Mandate Threatens Graduation
Harrisburg, May 13, 2013 – A new unfunded education mandate now being quietly pursued by the Corbett administration will soon saddle school districts with a $ 300 million expense and threaten graduation for thousands of students across Pennsylvania, Senate Democrats said today at a Capitol news conference.
Schwank Named to New Special Education Funding Panel
HARRISBURG, May 8, 2013 – Mapping the future of special education funding in Pennsylvania will not happen without the input of state Senator Judy Schwank (D-Berks). Schwank has been appointed to the newly created 15-member Special Education Funding Commission by...
Schwank, Caltagirone, Rozzi Welcome AG’s Special Reading School District Audit
HARRISBURG, May 3, 2013 – Three of Berks County’s leading Democratic state lawmakers today welcomed Auditor General Eugene DePasquale’s findings of the operation of the Reading School District. Sen. Judy Schwank and Reps. Tom Caltagirone and Mark Rozzi said the...