Press Releases
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...
Sen. Judy Schwank, Sen. Lindsey Williams Celebrate Extension of Universal School Breakfast Program for 2023-24 School Year
Harrisburg, Pa. − August 4, 2023 — Senator Lindsey M. Williams (D-Allegheny) and Senator Judy Schwank (D-Berks) announced today that all Pennsylvania students will once again have access to free school breakfast for the 2023-24 school year. This announcement follows...
Schwank Introduces Renter’s Protection Package
Reading – August 2, 2023 – Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks) has introduced a package of renter’s protection bills in the Pennsylvania Senate. SB 859 would establish criteria for the voluntary acceptance of reusable tenant screening reports. Landlords use tenant...
Senators Cappelletti and Schwank to Introduce Abortion Protections Package in Pennsylvania
Harrisburg, PA – July 18, 2023 – Today, Senator Amanda M. Cappelletti (D-Mongomery/Delaware) and Senator Judith Schwank (D-Berks) circulated a co-sponsorship memo detailing their intent to introduce a legislative package called the Abortion Protections Package....
Schwank Applauds Shapiro Administration for Securing Small Business Administration Assistance for Businesses Impacted by R.M. Palmer Explosion
Reading − June 29, 2023 − State Sen. Judy Schwank applauded Gov. Josh Shapiro’s announcement this afternoon that the U.S. Small Business Administration has agreed to his request to provide up to $2 million in loan assistance through the Economic Injury Disaster...
Schwank’s Severe Maternal Morbidity Bill Passes House, Sent to Governor to Become Law
Harrisburg − June 22, 2023 − The Pennsylvania House of Representatives has unanimously passed SB 262, which will require the Department of Health to annually publish severe maternal morbidity data using hospitalization discharge data. The CDC defines severe...
Schwank’s Severe Maternal Morbidity Bill Passes Senate
Harrisburg — June 6, 2023 — Today, SB 262, sponsored by Senator Judy Schwank (D-11th), passed the Pennsylvania Senate by a vote of 50-0. Schwank’s bill is part of a legislative package on maternal mortality. SB 262 adds “severe maternal morbidity” to the...
Schwank Visits Mt. Penn Fire Company to Tour Day Room Renovations
Reading — June 2, 2023 — Yesterday afternoon, Sen. Judy Schwank (D-11th) visited the Mt. Penn Fire Company to check on the ongoing renovations to the heavily used day room. On March 16, 2023, the Mount Penn Fire Company was awarded $60,000 in Local Shares...
Senate Dems Discuss Domestic Violence Awareness, Funding at Capitol Hearing
HARRISBURG, May 26, 2023 – State Senator Katie Muth (D-Chester/Montgomery/Berks), chair of the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Policy Committee, and Senator Judy Schwank (D-Berks) co-hosted a public hearing earlier this week in Harrisburg to discuss the effectiveness...
Frankel, Schwank laud Biden’s creation of national plan to fight antisemitism
HARRISBURG, May 25 – Pennsylvania Jewish Legislative Caucus Co-chairs Rep. Dan Frankel and Sen. Judy Schwank praised the White House announcement Thursday that the Biden-Harris Administration has established the first-ever U.S. national strategy to fight antisemitism....
Vogel, Schwank Urge the PA Milk Marketing Board to Extend the Over-Order Premium Ahead of Its June 7 Meeting
HARRISBURG – May 24, 2023 – Sens. Elder Vogel, Jr. (R-47) and Judy Schwank (D-11) provided the following statements urging the Pennsylvania Milk Marketing Board (MMB) to extend the Over-Order Premium during their June 7 public meeting. “Last month, we opened the doors...
Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee Favorably Recommends Russell Redding to Serve as PA Department of Agriculture Secretary
HARRISBURG – May 9, 2023 − Today, Sens. Elder Vogel, Jr. (R-47), majority chair; and Judy Schwank (D-11), minority chair; and members of the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee gave a unanimous, favorable recommendation for Russell Redding to serve as the...
Schwank, Frankel Encourage Colleagues to Wear Blue Ribbons May 3 to Support Family, Survivors of Pittsburgh Synagogue Attack
Action comes as federal trial against shooter gets underway
HARRISBURG, May 2, 2023 – With trial of the perpetrator in the 2018 Pittsburgh synagogue attack underway, state Rep. Dan Frankel and state Sen. Judith Schwank are encouraging their colleagues in the General Assembly to wear blue ribbons on Wednesday to show their support for family members and survivors of the attack.
Lawmakers and Advocates Hold Rally for DACA Teacher Certifications, In-State Tuition for Undocumented Students
Harrisburg — April 26, 2023 — Today, state lawmakers and advocacy groups rallied to support SB 393, SB 394, and both House companion bills at the Capitol Plaza Fountain. The bills would allow Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients to be certified as...
Schwank, Vogel, Agriculture Representatives Discuss the Future of the PA Over Order Premium
HARRISBURG – April 26, 2023 – The Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, led by Chairman Sen. Elder Vogel, Jr. (R-47) and Minority Chairwoman Sen. Judy Schwank (D-11), held a public hearing today to open an in-depth discussion about the state’s Over Order...
Senator Nikil Saval Joins Berks Community in Call for Permanent Funding for Whole-Home Repairs
READING, PA (April 18)—Yesterday, State Senator Nikil Saval (D–Philadelphia) joined Berks Stands Up, Make the Road Pennsylvania, Sunrise Movement, and Berks County elected officials, community leaders, and residents in a united call for permanent funding for...
Frankel, Schwank Announce Jewish Legislative Caucus
HARRISBURG, March 21 – State. Rep. Dan Frankel, D-Allegheny, and Sen. Judy Schwank, D-Berks, announced Tuesday the formation of Pennsylvania’s first ever Jewish Legislative Caucus. “Representing the community that suffered the deadliest antisemitic attack in American...