Press Releases
Schwank: Financial Aid Application Deadline Approaching
READING, April 9, 2012 – State Sen. Judy Schwank reminds families that the deadline for most college-bound students to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the upcoming school year is May 1. All first-time applicants for state scholarship...
Schwank Applauds Passage of Farm Equipment Bill
HARRISBURG, March 28, 2012 — The Senate passed legislation today that would lift restrictions on small community farm equipment dealers that want to carry and sell competitive products, while providing more options for sellers and consumers of farm products, according...
Caltagirone, Schwank announce $30,000 in grants for juvenile courts in Berks County
READING, March 13 – House Judiciary Committee Chairman Thomas Caltagirone, D-Berks, and state Sen. Judy Schwank announced the approval of more than $30,000 in grants by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency to improve the juvenile justice system in...
Schwank: Three Recycling Grants Awarded in Berks County
READING, March 6, 2012 — The Berks County Solid Waste Authority and two local municipalities have been awarded significant state grants for their recycling efforts, according to state Sen. Judy Schwank. “These funds will enhance local recycling efforts that will, in...
Schwank: 112 Acres of Farmland Preserved in Berks County
HARRISBURG, Feb. 16, 2011 — An additional 112 acres of Berks County farmland will be preserved through the purchase of conservation easements valued at $279,750 dollars that were approved today by the Pennsylvania Agricultural Land Preservation Board, according to...
Schwank: Access to Birth, Death Records Now Available
HARRISBURG, Feb. 15, 2012 — Starting today, the public may now access birth and death records online and in person for free at the Pennsylvania State Archives thanks to a new law, according to state Sen. Judy Schwank. “This is good news for families who are seeking...
Schwank: Budget Proposal Again Calls for Short-Sighted Cuts
HARRISBURG, Feb. 7, 2012—State Sen. Judy Schwank today said that, for a second straight year, the governor’s Pennsylvania budget proposal calls for short-sighted cuts and no long-term solution for moving Pennsylvania forward. “Once again, we have been offered a budget...
Schwank: Reading Hotel Project Awarded Significant State Funds
READING, Jan. 25, 2012 — A Reading development project has been awarded significant state funding toward the construction of a four-star downtown hotel, according to state Sen. Judy Schwank and state Rep. Tom Caltagirone. The Greater Berks Development Fund has been...
Schwank, Caltagirone: Reading School District Awarded Significant Federal Grant
READING, Jan. 19, 2012 — Reading School District has been awarded a $500,000 federal grant to help foster after-school educational programs, according to state Sen. Judy Schwank and state Rep. Tom Caltagirone. Reading was one of 17 school districts across the state to...
Schwank: Enroll in PA 529 College Savings Plan Now for Tax Savings
Free enrollment is now available for a limited time. READING, Dec. 23, 2011—State Sen. Judy Schwank today said families who open or contribute to a Pennsylvania 529 College Savings account before Dec. 31 will be able to enroll for free and reduce their 2011...
Schwank: 291 Acres of Farmland Preserved in Berks County
HARRISBURG, Dec. 15, 2011 — An additional 291 acres of Berks County farmland will be preserved through the purchase of conservation easements valued at $726,000 that were approved today by the Pennsylvania Agricultural Land Preservation Board, according to state Sen....
Schwank Opposes Plan to Keep Berks Divided into Four Congressional Districts
HARRISBURG, Dec. 14, 2011 — State Sen. Judy Schwank today issued the following statement on legislation that redraws the Congressional map in Pennsylvania into 18 districts, which passed the Senate today by a (26-24) vote: “This map is a travesty and there’s no...
Schwank: Property Tax/Rent Rebate Application Deadline Approaching
HARRISBURG, December 14, 2011 – State Sen. Judy Schwank reminds eligible citizens that the application for the state property tax/rent rebate is due Dec. 31. “Last year, more than 31,000 Berks County residents collected $14.7 million in rebates. That’s significant...
Schwank Asks PUC to Come Up with An Action Plan to Improve the Performance of Utilities in Future Weather Emergencies
READING, Nov. 23, 2011 — After receiving public input on the recent storm-related power outages that occurred in Berks County, State Sen. Judy Schwank provided the results of a storm-related power outage survey, she recently conducted, to the Public Utilities...
Schwank Honors EMS Communications Award Recipient
READING, Nov. 22, 2011-- State Sen. Judy Schwank (D-11th dist.) presents a Senate citation to Craig Breneiser of Reading at the Nov. 21 Pennsylvania State EMS Awards dinner, hosted by the Pennsylvania Emergency Health Services Council. Breneiser was this year’s...
Schwank: Environment an Afterthought in Natural Gas Drilling Impact Fee Bill
HARRISBURG, Nov. 15, 2011 — State Sen. Judy Schwank today issued the following statement on legislation that creates a Marcellus Shale impact fee (Senate Bill 1100), which passed the Senate today by a (29-20) vote: “We have a responsibility to restore and protect our...
Schwank Seeks Residents’ Feedback on Storm-Related Power Outages
READING, Nov. 9, 2011—State Sen. Judy Schwank is seeking the public’s input on the recent storm that brought winter weather to Berks County and left hundreds of thousands of residents without power. “While we couldn’t anticipate the scope of this pre-winter snowfall,...
Schwank Applauds Senate Passage of Ban on Texting While Driving
HARRISBURG, Nov. 1, 2011 — State Sen. Judy Schwank said today’s Senate passage of a statewide ban on texting while driving sends a clear message to drivers: “Keep both hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.” Senate Bill 314, which passed the Senate by a 45-5 vote,...
Schwank: Bern, Colebrookdale Townships Receive Recycling Grants
READING, Oct. 28, 2011— State Sen. Judy Schwank announced today that two Berks County townships will receive state grants to maintain their recycling programs. Bern Township will receive a $14,211 grant, which is based on the 1,261.9 tons recycled for 2009 and the...
Schwank Opposes School Vouchers Bill
Her proposed amendment to improve the legislation failed along party lines HARRISBURG, Oct. 26, 2011 — Concerned that school vouchers legislation would hurt the public school students who would be left behind in its wake, state Sen. Judy Schwank today voted against...
Schwank Helps Secure Significant Funds for Virginville Sewer Project
READING, Oct. 26, 2011 — A sewer project in Virginville, Richmond Township will receive significant state funding to relieve residential septic system issues, according to state Sen. Judy Schwank, who was instrumental in ensuring that the project would receive...
Senator Schwank: Testimony shows it’s time to change laws for municipalities
Harrisburg, October 20, 2011 – Testimony before a joint legislative hearing today strongly supports the call for changing the authority and restrictions in Pennsylvania law relating to municipal government, state Senator Judy Schwank (D-Berks) said after the hearing. ...
Senate Democrats Seek to Augment ‘PA Works Now’ Plan
Day Care, Adult Care, Job Training, School-to-Work Transition, and Green Jobs are Targeted HARRISBURG, October 18, 2011 - - Today members of the Senate Democratic caucus unveiled legislation to be introduced this week to supplement the “PA Works Now” job creation...
Schwank: 285 Acres of Farmland Preserved in Berks County
Harrisburg, October 13, 2011 -- An additional 285 acres of Berks County farmland will be preserved through the purchase of conservation easements valued at $681,127 dollars that were approved today by the Pennsylvania Agricultural Land Preservation Board, according to...
Schwank: PHEAA Offers Special Consideration to Flood Victims
READING, Oct. 11, 2011— Students who suffered severe losses as a result of the recent flooding from Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee may be entitled to state grant award reconsideration from the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA), according...
Schwank Gives DPW Secretary Alexander Tour of Berks County
READING, Oct. 6, 2011— State Sen. Judy Schwank this week welcomed Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare Secretary Gary Alexander to Berks County to discuss the issues facing local social service agencies that have been affected by state budget cuts and the...
Schwank: Local Direct Mail Company Awarded Significant State Funds
READING, Oct. 6, 2011 — A local direct mail company has been approved for significant state funds to expand its facility in Cumru Township, state Sen. Judy Schwank announced today. Targeted Solutions, LLC, d/b/a Mail, which provides printing and direct mail services...
Schwank: Grant Funds to Aid Recycling and Waste Management Projects
September 27, 2011, Harrisburg – State Senator Judy Schwank (D-Berks) announced today that Berks County will receive nearly $27,000 in state grants to assist with recycling efforts and waste management. “Recycling and waste management are two effective ways to combat...
Senate Democrats Roll Out Billion Dollar Job Creation Plan
HARRISBURG – September 26 – State Senate Democrats today unveiled their revised job creation plan, called “PA Works Now,” which they claim would create 80,000 new jobs and leverage billions in private investment to generate jobs and economic activity. [hdvideo...
Senate Democrats, Agriculture Professionals Discuss Food Safety and Agriculture Profitability
READING, August 24, 2011 - - Local and state agriculture professionals today traded ideas and shared concerns and goals regarding food safety and agriculture profitability in Pennsylvania with the state Senate Democratic Policy Committee at a roundtable discussion at...
Senator Schwank Seeks Federal Answers on Food Safety
Harrisburg, August 16, 2011 – State Senator Judy Schwank (D-Berks), Democratic chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Rural Affairs, has asked federal regulators for an explanation of the delay in the recent recall of contaminated turkey products until...
Senator Schwank Pushes for Legislature Reduction
HARRISBURG, Aug. 15, 2011 – Senator Judy Schwank (D-Berks) is calling for Senate Committee action on her legislation that would reduce the size of the Pennsylvania legislature by more than one third, from 253 to 163 members. Schwank, the author of Senate Bill 1079,...
Senators Schwank and Hughes Discuss Budget/Economic Issues with Local Officials
Reading, August 10, 2011 – State Senator Judy Schwank (D-Berks) joined with Senate Democratic Appropriations Chair Vincent Hughes (D- Phila. Montgomery) and local officials to discuss the recently passed 2011-2012 state budget and other economic issues affecting...