Press Releases
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...
Senator Schwank Questions Water Rate Increase Request
Reading, July 27, 2011 – Testifying today at a Public Utility Commission (PUC) public input hearing, state Senator Judy Schwank (D-Berks) expressed her concerns over the Pennsylvania American Water Company (PAWC) rate increase request. The PAWC is requesting a 13.3...
Senator Schwank: 2011-2012 Budget Falls Short
Harrisburg, June 28, 2011 – State Senator Judy Schwank (D-Berks) said she voted against the 2011-2012 state budget passed today by the Senate because of its failure to support vital programs for education, job growth and the environment. “We could have done better...
Schwank Amendment Would Have Restored Penn State Appropriation
Appropriation Would Have Resembled State Funding Level for 2010-11 Harrisburg, June 26, 2011 – In an effort to cushion the 19 percent budget cut to Penn State University funding, Senator Judy Schwank today offered an amendment that would restore Penn State funding to...
Senator Schwank Announces Local Recycling Grants
Harrisburg, June 23, 2011 – A number of Berks County municipalities have received state grants totaling $62,772 for local recycling programs, according to state Senator Judy Schwank (D-Berks). “Recycling is a vital part of keeping our local communities clean and our...
Senator Schwank Introduces Bills to Permit Extended Voting in Pennsylvania
Harrisburg, June 22, 2011 – State Senator Judy Schwank (D-Berks) today introduced legislation to establish a general right to vote prior to scheduled Election Days. “Voting is a right, and exercising it should not be a test of someone’s ability, commitment or simple...
Senator Schwank Holds Gun Safety Event
Reading, June 16, 2011– State Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks) joined with several law enforcement officials today to hold a gun safety event at her district office. The event was intended to promote safe handling and storing of personal firearms. “Proper storage and...
Senator Schwank Praises Committee Passage of PACE/PACENET Legislation
Harrisburg, June 14, 2011– State Senator Judy Schwank (D-Berks) hailed efforts today by the Senate Aging and Youth Committee to protect PACE and PACENET enrollees with legislation that would prevent their losing benefits because of cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs)...
Senator Schwank Proposes Swifter CYS Payments to Counties
Harrisburg, June 13, 2011– State Senator Judy Schwank (D-Berks) has introduced legislation requiring the state to more efficiently pay for the costs of county children’s services agencies. “The state has really been riding on counties’ shoulders to pay for the...
Senator Schwank Proposes Smaller Senate and House of Representatives
Harrisburg, May 25, 2011 – Senator Judy Schwank (D-Berks) today introduced a proposed constitutional amendment to reduce the size of the Pennsylvania General Assembly by more than a third. “The legislature has to be unleashed from the old way of thinking, which costs...
Senator Schwank Hails Passage of O’Pake-initiated Truants Bill
Harrisburg, May 24, 2011 – Senator Judith L. Schwank applauded Senate approval today of truants legislation that was initiated by the late Senator Michael A. O’Pake. “This was one of the last bills that Mike authored in his career,” Senator Schwank said. “I’m very...
Schwank to Hold District Office Open House
Reading, May 18, 2011 – State Senator Judy Schwank (D-Berks) today announced that she will be holding an open house at her district office this Thursday, May 19 from 2 to 7 p.m. The office is located at the Rockland Professional Center, 1940 North 13th Street, Suite...
Senator Schwank hails Senate passage of ban on bath salt sales
Harrisburg, May 10, 2011 – State Senator Judy Schwank (D-Berks) today, welcomed Senate passage of a ban on the sale of bath salts being misused to mimic the effects of other illegal drugs. “The Senate heard the urgent message that law enforcement and health officials...
Senator Schwank Calls DEP Step the Right Move for Regulating Marcellus Shale Operations
Harrisburg, May 6, 2011 – Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks) today welcomed the PA Department of Environmental Protection’s decision to return enforcement authority of Marcellus Shale drilling operations to DEP field investigators. Schwank, Democratic chair of the Senate...
Schwank Announces Grant Funding for Local Sewer Projects
Four Berks County local governments, including the Lyons Borough Municipal Authority, the City of Reading, Richmond Township, and Ruscombmanor Township, have been awarded state H2O Water and Sewer grants totaling $3.715 million by the Commonwealth Finance Authority,...
158 Acres of Farmland Preserved in Berks County
Harrisburg, April 21, 2011 – State Senator Judy Schwank announced today that an additional 158 acres of Berks County farmland will be preserved through the purchase of conservation easements valued at $394,000. The funding was approved today by the Pennsylvania...
Schwank Appointed Democratic Chair of Senate Agriculture Committee
HARRISBURG, April 13, 2011 – State Senator Judy Schwank will serve as Democratic Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Democratic Leaders announced today. Schwank, who was sworn in last week to complete the term of the late Senator Michael O’Pake, said the...
Judy Schwank Sworn-in on Tuesday as Senator for 11th District
Harrisburg, April 5, 2011 – Calling job creation and educational opportunity fundamental needs that Pennsylvania must meet for its future success, Judy Schwank (D- Berks) was sworn into office today as state Senator for the 11th District. “We know the serious...
Senate Democrats Joined Students from the State System of Higher Education to Rally for Public Higher Education
Yesterday, several Senate Democrats joined students from the state System of Higher Education who traveled by bus and by foot to rally at the Capitol against Governor Corbett’s proposed cuts to higher education. The 50 percent cut in state funding could mean layoffs,...