Press Releases
Bill to Establish a Permanent WIC Advisory Board in Pennsylvania Set to Become Law
Harrisburg — May 22, 2024 — Yesterday, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives approved SB 721, which establishes a permanent advisory board for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). WIC offers federal funding to states...
PA Leaders Gather to Support Funding for Period Products in Public Schools
Harrisburg, PA − May 7, 2024 – Pennsylvania Senators, state Representatives, and others gathered for a press event to support and advocate for Governor Shapiro’s proposal to fund period products in public schools through this year’s budget. Nearly 1 in 4 U.S. students...
Senator Schwank’s Office Processes Over 400 Property Tax and Rent Rebate Applications During District Tour
Reading — May 7, 2024 — Sen. Judy Schwank's office concluded its district-wide Property Tax and Rent Rebate Tour on April 24 with a visit to the B'nai B'rith Apartments in Reading. In total, the tour included 11 stops and processed over 400 applications. Last year,...
Jewish Legislative Caucus Issues Statement Condemning the Vandalism of Wynnewood Synagogue
Harrisburg — April 1, 2024 — Today, co-chairs of the Pennsylvania Jewish Legislative Caucus, Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks) and Rep. Dan Frankel (D-Allegheny), issued the following statement condemning the antisemitic vandalism of Temple Beth Hillel-Beth El...
Schwank and Cepeda-Freytiz Applaud $2.1 Million in State Funding to Combat Violence
Reading, PA − March 28, 2024 − The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency has approved $2,155,665 in Violence Prevention and Intervention grants for four applicants in Berks County. VIP grant funding provides technical assistance to address community...
Senator Judy Schwank Secures $2.8 Million for Berks County Community and Transportation Infrastructure Projects
Reading — March 26, 2024 — Today, Senator Judy Schwank (D-Berks) announced $2,806,766 in Multimodal Transportation Fund and Local Share Account-Category 4 Facilities Program grant funding from the Commonwealth Financing Authority for the 11th Senatorial District. MTF...
Schwank Applauds Bipartisan Safer Communities Act Grant Funding for the Reading School District
Reading − March 15, 2024 − Today, the Pennsylvania Department of Education announced $39 million in the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act grant funding for 36 school districts, including $1,833,360 for the Reading School District. The federal Bipartisan Safer...
Antietam School District, Mt. Penn Borough, Sen. Schwank and Rep. Rozzi Issue Joint Statement
Reading — February 19, 2024 — Officials from Antietam School District, Mt. Penn Borough and Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks) and Rep. Mark Rozzi (D-Berks) issued the following statement following this morning’s mediation meeting regarding the traffic study required before...
Joint Policy Hearing Focuses on Legislation to Seal Eviction Records
WILKINSBURG, February 15, 2024 – State Senator Katie Muth (D-Chester/Montgomery/Berks), chair of the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Policy Committee, today joined Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny), Senator Nikil Saval (D-Philadelphia), Senator Judy...
Pennsylvania Women’s Health Caucus Statement on Abortion Medicaid Coverage Ruling (Allegheny Reproductive Health Center v. Pennsylvania Department of Human Services)
Harrisburg − January 30, 2024 − The co-chairs of the Pennsylvania Women’s Health Caucus Sen. Amanda 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 in...
State Senators Jay Costa, Vincent Hughes, and Judy Schwank Praise Governor Shapiro’s Higher Education Blueprint, Call for Continued Stakeholder Conversations
HARRISBURG, PA – January 26, 2024 − Today, members of the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic caucus praise Governor Shapiro’s new blueprint for higher education, which seeks to expand access to higher education for Pennsylvania’s learners while consolidating governance...
Policy Hearing Focuses on Addressing Rising Water, Wastewater Rates
WEST WHITELAND – January 24, 2024 – State Senator Katie Muth (D-Chester/Montgomery/Berks), chair of the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Policy Committee, joined Senator Carolyn Comitta (D-Chester), Senator John Kane (D-Chester/Delaware), Senator Tim Kearney...
Schwank Secures Ready to Learn Block Grants for Reading and Antietam School Districts
Reading −January 22, 2024 −Today, Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks) announced that she has secured an additional $1 million for the Reading School District and $500 thousand for the Antietam School District in Ready to Learn Block Grants. Ready to Learn Block Grants support...
Schwank, Cepeda-Freytiz Announce $575 Thousand in Funding for Parks and Recreation, Flood Mitigation Projects
Reading — January 16, 2024 — Today, the Commonwealth Financing Authority approved over half a million dollars in Act 13 Programs grant funding for four projects in Berks County. Act 13 of 2012 established the Marcellus Legacy Fund to distribute unconventional gas well...
Sen. Schwank to Host New Year Scam Jam Event with the Pennsylvania Department of Banking & Securities
Reading − January 4, 2024 − Sen. Judy Schwank is teaming up with the Pennsylvania Department of Banking & Securities to host a Scam Jam event on Thursday, January 11, 2024, at the Exeter Community Library at 9:30 A.M. The event will provide attendees with...
Berks County Organizations Receive Arts and Culture Recovery Program Grant Funding from the State
Reading — December 19, 2023 — This morning, the Commonwealth Financing Authority approved $405,809 in PA Arts and Culture Recovery Program grant funding for eight Berks County organizations. The Pennsylvania legislature created PACR to provide grants to nonprofit arts...
Sen. Judy Schwank Announces $5.3 Million in Grant Funding for Water Infrastructure Projects
Reading — December 19, 2023 — Today, state Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks) announced $5,378,678 in grant funding for 12 water infrastructure improvement projects in Berks County. The projects are funded through the H2O PA and the PA Small Water and Sewer...
Pennsylvania Legislature Passes Code Bills, Finishing Overdue 2023-2024 Fiscal Year Budget
Harrisburg — December 14, 2023 — The Pennsylvania General Assembly passed two education code bills and a fiscal code bill, concluding the 2023-2024 budget months after the June 30 deadline had passed. Although a budget was initially passed in July and signed into law...
Berks County Organizations Receive $284,845 in State Funding for Security and Law Enforcement Programs
Reading — December 13, 2023 — Today, the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency approved $284,845 in grant funding for seven security and law enforcement support projects in the 11th Senatorial District. "I'm pleased to see various groups in our community...
Bill Establishing Permanent WIC Advisory Board Clears Pennsylvania Senate
Harrisburg— December 12, 2023 — Today, Senate Bill 721 passed the Pennsylvania Senate by a of vote of 50-0. The bill aims to establish a permanent Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) advisory board in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Since its inception in...
Police Officer Scott A. Wertz Memorial Bridge Sign Formally Unveiled at Ceremony Honoring the Legacy of Fallen Reading Police Officer
Reading — November 22, 2023 — Today, the signs for the Police Officer Scott A. Wertz Memorial Bridge were unveiled, and a ceremony was held at the Miller Center for the Arts to honor the late police officer. Wertz dedicated 20 years of his life to public service and...
State Senators John Kane and Judy Schwank, and Representative Napoleon Nelson Introduce Bills to Bring Student Mental Health Days to Pennsylvania
Harrisburg, PA – November 16, 2023 – State Senators John I. Kane and Judy Schwank have teamed up to introduce new legislation that will allow K-12 students to take excused mental health days in Pennsylvania. In collaboration, Representative Napoleon Nelson has...
Schwank Announces Plans to Introduce Bills to Aid School Mergers
Reading − October 31, 2023 − Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks) announced today she plans to introduce two bills that would aid Pennsylvania public school districts seeking a merger. The first bill would provide funding from the commonwealth to offset increased...
Bipartisan Bill Protecting First Amendment Rights Approved by House of Representatives
HARRISBURG – October 30, 2023 – The House of Representatives passed key legislation sponsored by Sens. Kristin Phillips-Hill (R-York) and Judy Schwank (D-Berks) that would eliminate a section from the state’s Education Code that prohibits teachers from wearing any...
Bill to Name Penn Street Bridge in Honor of Reading Police Officer Scott A. Wertz Signed into Law
Reading − October 24, 2023 − Last night, Gov. Josh Shapiro signed Senate Bill 621 into law. The bill included language to rename the Penn Street Bridge the Police Officer Scott A. Wertz Memorial Bridge. Wertz dedicated 20 years of his life to public service and...
Pennsylvania Senate Unanimously Passes Resolution Condemning Hamas Attack, Supporting Israel
HARRISBURG − October 17, 2023 − The Pennsylvania Senate today passed a resolution on unanimous consent sponsored by Senators Steve Santarsiero (D-10) and Judy Schwank (D-11) condemning the unprovoked terrorist attack launched by Hamas against the State of Israel on...
Sen. Schwank and Rep. Cepeda-Freytiz Host Panel Discussion to Promote Domestic Violence Awareness Month and Connect Community with Local Resources
Reading — October 11, 2023 — Last night, state Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks) and state Rep. Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz (D-Berks) hosted United Against Abuse: A Domestic Violence Panel Discussion in conjunction with SAFE Berks at Reading Area Community College's Miller...
Pennsylvania Senate Approves Bill to Name Penn Street Bridge in Honor of Fallen Reading Police Officer Scott A. Wertz
Harrisburg − October 4, 2023 − Today, the Pennsylvania Senate advanced Senate Bill 621, which designates the Penn Street Bridge as the Police Officer Scott A. Wertz Memorial Bridge. Wertz dedicated 20 years of his life to public service and law enforcement. A...
Schwank, Cepeda-Freytiz and SAFE Berks to Host Domestic Violence Awareness Month Event
Reading − October 2, 2023 − Sen. Judy Schwank, Rep. Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz, and SAFE Berks will host United Against Abuse: A Domestic Violence Panel Discussion on Tuesday, October 10, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Reading Area Community College Miller Center...
Senator Schwank Issues Statement on FEMA Major Disaster Declaration Denial
Reading — September 28, 2023 — Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks) has issued the following statement in response to the Federal Emergency Management Agency's denial of Pennsylvania's request for a Major Disaster Declaration relating to the storm and flooding on July 9, 2023....
Senator Schwank Announces $2.6 million in PCCD Funding for Berks County
Reading – September 20, 2023 – Today, Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks) announces over $2 million in funding for Berks County-based agencies and organizations from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD). This funding will deliver support and resources...
Schwank Encourages Berks County Organizations to Apply for Nonprofit Security Grant Funding
Reading — August 21, 2023 — Today, the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency announced that the Nonprofit Security Grant Fund Program application window is now open. $5 million in funding is available from PCCD for nonprofits primarily serving...
DCED Secretary Tours State-Backed Projects, Discusses Economic Development Opportunities for Reading with Local Officials
Reading − August 10, 2023 − Today, Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks) welcomed Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development Sec. Rick Siger to Reading to meet with community leaders and tour projects supported by state grant funding. Siger’s visit...