Press Releases
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...
State Lawmakers Secure Funding for Schuylkill River Passenger Rail Feasibility Study
Reading — March 17, 2023 — Today, a group of Democratic state lawmakers announced $250,000 in Local Share Account grant funding to study the restoration of passenger rail between Reading and Philadelphia. In April of 2022, County Commissioners representing...
Senate Democrats Discuss Strategies to Prevent Youth Violence at Policy Hearing
READING, March 17, 2023 – State Senator Katie Muth (D-Chester/Montgomery/Berks), Chair of the Senate Democratic Policy Committee, joined Senator Judy Schwank (D-Berks) and Senator Art Haywood (D-Montgomery/Philadelphia) earlier this week at Alvernia University in...
Schwank Announces $4.62 million in Local Share Account Funding
Reading — March 16, 2023 — Today, Sen. Judy Schwank (D-11) shared that 20 11th Senatorial District projects received a total of $4.62 million in grant funding from the Commonwealth Financing Authority. The Local Shares Account-Statewide program was established by...
Lower Alsace Awarded $850,000 for Sidewalk Construction
Reading — March 16, 2023 — This morning, The Commonwealth Financing Authority awarded Lower Alsace Township $850,000 in Multimodal Transportation Fund grant funding for the construction of sidewalks along Carsonia Road. The sidewalk will stretch from...
Democratic Senators, Representatives Praise Budget as A Good Start, Call for Continued Collaboration Throughout Budget Process
HARRISBURG, PA: Today, Senate Democrats and House Democrats held a joint press conference to respond to Governor Shapiro’s Budget Address. Senate Democrats are pleased with a commonsense budget that invests in the future of Pennsylvania, and are excited to continue...
Senators Lindsey M. Williams and Judy Schwank, Advocates Applaud Gov. Shapiro’s Proposed $38.5 Million Budget Investment in School Meals
Harrisburg, PA- March 7, 2023 — Following Governor Josh Shapiro’s inaugural Budget Address to the Joint General Assembly today, Senator Lindsey M. Williams (D-Allegheny), Senator Judy Schwank (D-Berks) and advocates applauded the Governor’s proposed $38.5 million...
Amid Rising Hate, Democratic Senators Reintroduce Safe Spaces Bill
HARRISBURG, PA – March 6, 2023 – On Friday, March 3rd Senators Street, Schwank, Tartaglione and Hughes, reintroduced Sacred Spaces legislation, amending Section 3307 of Title 18 (Institutional Vandalism) to enhance the existing statute to give District...
PA Women’s Health Caucus kicks off the 2023-2024 legislative session with a new mission and a reasserted commitment to reproductive rights on the first day of Women’s History Month
(Harrisburg, PA) March 1, 2023 --- Today, on the first day of Women’s History Month, Chairs of the Pennsylvania Women’s Health Caucus, Senator Judith Schwank (D-11 Berks), Representative Mary Jo Daley (D-148 Montgomery), and Representative Gina Curry (D-164 Delaware)...
Schwank Opens Satellite Office in Spring Township Building
Reading — February 14, 2023 — Today, state Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks) announced that her office has opened a satellite constituent services office in Spring Township. The office is in the Spring Township Administration Building located on 2850 Windmill Rd,...
Schwank Provides Public Comment on Whole Home Repairs at County Commissioner’s Meeting
Reading — February 9, 2023 — This morning, Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks) spoke during the public comment section of the Berks County Commissioner’s meeting to express her interest in collaborating with county officials on the rollout of the Whole Home Repairs program....
Schwank Issues Statement on Purchase of Clover Farms
Reading, PA - January 24, 2023 - State Sen. Judy Schwank issued the following statement regarding Cream-O-Land Dairy, Inc.’s purchase of Clover Farms. "I've been aware that the owners of Clover Farms were looking at the possibility of selling for quite some time now....
Senate Approves Bipartisan Bill to Strengthen First Amendment Rights for Teachers
HARRISBURG – The Senate of Pennsylvania approved a measure to eliminate a section from the state’s Education Code that prohibits a teacher from wearing any dress, mark, emblem, or insignia indicative of his or her faith or denomination, according to the measure’s...
Over 100 People Attend Expungement and Pardon Clinic
Reading — January 13, 2023 — 107 Berks County residents attended and received assistance at Thursday evenings expungement and pardon clinic. The event took place at the DoubleTree in Reading and was hosted by Magisterial District Judges Tonya...
Schwank Applauds Awarding of Violence Intervention and Prevention Grant Funding
Reading — January 11, 2023 — Today, state Sen. Judy Schwank applauded the awarding of over $4.3 million in Violence Intervention Program grant funding from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency. The awards in Berks County are as follows: Berks...
11th District Receives Over $5 Million in Community Safety Grant Funding
Reading — December 14, 2022 — This morning, the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency announced that the 11th Senatorial District received a total of $5,160,209 in grant funding for community safety initiatives. The funding comes from a variety of different...
Schwank Retains Democratic Caucus Leadership Position for 2023-2024 Legislative Session
Harrisburg — November 15, 2022 — State Sen. Judy Schwank was reappointed Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus Administrator, retaining her role in caucus leadership for the upcoming 2023-2024 legislative session. Schwank said she is grateful for the opportunity to...
Schwank Applauds Neighborhood Assistance Program Investments for Berks County
Reading — November 3, 2022 — Today Gov. Tom Wolf announced $1.82 million in tax credits to support projects in the 11th Senatorial District through the Neighborhood Assistance Program. NAP encourages private sector investment into projects that will help...
Schwank Applaud Passage of Expedited Partner Therapy Act
Harrisburg — November 1, 2022 — The Pennsylvania House of Representatives recently passed Senate Bill 317, sponsored by Sens. Patrick Browne (R-Lehigh), Lisa Baker (R-Luzerne), Judy Schwank (D-Berks), and Anthony Williams (D-Philadelphia) by a vote of 173 to 26. ...
Senate Democrats Discuss Issue of Anti-Abortion Centers at Capitol Hearing
HARRISBURG, October 28, 2022 – State Senator Katie Muth (D- Berks/Chester/Montgomery), chair of the Senate Democratic Policy Committee, today joined state Senator Judy Schwank (D-Berks) and Senator Amanda Cappelletti (D-Montgomery/Delaware) to host a hearing to...
Schwank Announces $20.5 Million in State Funding for the 11th District
Reading — October 26, 2022 — This evening Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks) announced $20.5 million in Redevelopment Assistance Capitol Program grant funding for seven 11th Senatorial District projects. Alvernia University was awarded $7.5 million in funding for...
Sens. Vogel, Schwank Send Letter to Milk Marketing Board Voicing Opposition to House Bill 224
Harrisburg — October 25, 2022 — Today, state Sens. Elder Vogel (R-Beaver) and Judy Schwank (D-Berks), the chairs of the Pennsylvania Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, sent a letter to the Pennsylvania Milk Marketing Board (PMMB) expressing their...
Schwank to Host Telephone Town Hall on Voting in the Upcoming Election
Reading — October 21, 2022 — On Thursday, October 27, 2022, state Sen. Judy Schwank will host a telephone town hall on voting and the upcoming general election. The event will begin at 7 P.M. and will offer individuals to ask questions about drop boxes, mail-in...
Non-Profit Security Grant Now Open, $5 Million Available for Enhanced Security Measures
Reading — September 30, 2022 — The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency will begin accepting applications for a new round of the Non-Profit Security Grant Fund Program today with a pool of $5 million available. The application period will run from...
Women’s Health Caucus Highlights Summer Recess Activities, Plans to Continue Advocating for Abortion Rights in Fall Session
Harrisburg — September 22, 2022 — Building on great progress made for maternal health over the last year, the Pennsylvania Women’s Health Caucus continues the fight to improve health outcomes for women and families and continues to work to protect reproductive...
Women’s Health Caucus Holds Press Event on Postpartum Medicaid Expansion, Protecting Access to Abortion
Harrisburg—September 21, 2022 — This morning, members of the Women’s Health Caucus, the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, and an advocate from Planned Parenthood held a press event to talk about postpartum Medicaid expansion and the need to protect...