March 17, 2023
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 Reading to discuss strategies to engage youth to reduce violence and keep them out of the justice system.
The hearing featured testimony from experts in law enforcement and state agencies as well as nonprofit service providers who each discussed the challenges and opportunities related to Pennsylvania’s juvenile justice system and community violence.
“This week’s hearing was a great opportunity to really learn about what is working and what challenges are facing our service providers and our judicial system when dealing with violence and crime among our youth. We need to do all we can to ensure that our children are not just surviving – but that they are thriving,” Muth said. “We have to continue working together, learning what works and documenting what works so that we can invest state funding into programs and services that are proven to work to keep juveniles out of our justice system and keep our communities safe.”
According to statistics provided by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD), youth violence continues to steadily decline and fewer youth are coming into Pennsylvania’s juvenile justice system. PCCD reported that between 2012 and 2021, the arrest rate for violent crime among youth in Pennsylvania decreased by 72 percent. And last year, the number of Pennsylvania youth who received a juvenile justice disposition was 15 percent lower than the prior year, and 57 percent lower than 2013-14 levels.
“I think we all understand that while every community in Pennsylvania is different, we all deal with crime. Too often, I think we react to incidents in our community instead of looking at root causes. That’s really what this hearing was all about,” Schwank said. “We had a great group of testifiers that provided us with terrific information that we can use to ensure programs that are making a difference are being supported across the commonwealth.”
According to a 2022 New York Times Magazine report, gun violence has surpassed car accidents as the leading cause of death among American children and youth. PCCD Executive Director Michael Pennington cited statistics stating that between 2011 and 2020, 1,151 individuals between the ages of 10 and 19 lost their lives to gun violence in Pennsylvania.
“Unfortunately, juvenile violence is all too common in Philadelphia and across the state, leaving young people and their families caught in the literal crossfires. Neighbors are desperate for solutions, desperate for prevention, desperate for help,” Haywood added. “We need to support our young people through mentorship, multi-systemic counseling and services, and unwavering love.”
Participants in the hearing included Judge Scott E. Lash, Berks County Court of Common Pleas; Barbara Dancy, Berks County Juvenile Probation; Radarra McLendon, Founder, Village of Reading; Ebonie Cunningham Stringer, Executive Director, Berks Youth Violence Interruption and Intervention Program; and Michael Pennington, Executive Director, Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency.
Other Senators that participated in the hearing virtually included Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny), Sen. Tina Tartaglione (D-Philadelphia), Sen. Tim Kearney (D-Delaware), Sen. Maria Collett (D-Montgomery), Sen. John Kane (D-Chester/Delaware), Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny) and Sen. Jimmy Dillon (D-Philadelphia).
All submitted testimony from the policy hearing and the full video is available at SenatorMuth.com/Policy
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September 7, 2022
HARRISBURG, September 7, 2022 – State Senator Katie Muth (D- Berks/Chester/Montgomery), chair of the Senate Democratic Policy Committee, joined state Senator Judy Schwank (D-Berks) and state Reps. Bridget Kosierowski (D-Lackawanna) and Melissa Shusterman (D-Chester/Montgomery) to host a roundtable discussion on the deceptive practices of so-called Crisis Pregnancy Centers (CPCs) in Pennsylvania.
The roundtable discussion at the State Capitol in Harrisburg was a part of a series of events hosted jointly by the Senate Democratic Policy Committee and the House Democratic Policy Committee on the future of reproductive healthcare in Pennsylvania.
“As we heard yesterday, over 150 anti-abortion centers operate in our state, and many receive taxpayer dollars. The testimony yesterday revealed the dangers of having these so-called “Crisis Pregnancy Centers” (anti-abortion clinics) that only exist to discourage and limit access to abortion, delay proper medical care, and spread misinformation about pre-/post-natal care and sexual health. In Pennsylvania, these sham centers are not required to have an actual licensed healthcare provider working in a facility, and these centers are not subject to patient confidentiality requirements, allowing private health and personal information to be shared and sold off without consent or knowledge by the person seeking care,” Muth said. “The powers that be need ensure consumers are protected from sham centers that spend millions of dollars on deceptive marketing to advertise themselves as healthcare centers when in fact they don’t actually provide such services and don’t have medical licenses to provide actual healthcare services. These deceptive practices can lead to human harm and even the death of an expecting mother because of a delay in care caused by these centers wasting precious time with sham guidance.”
Most CPCs do not deliver medical services and do not employ full-time medical staff but rather rely on volunteers who are not licensed or trained to deliver medical services and are not bound to medical, ethical or regulatory standards. They lure in clients by marketing free medical services like “non-diagnostic” ultrasounds to manipulate the false impression they offer legitimate medical services.
“It’s important that all Pennsylvanians understand where we are directing their tax dollars. Crisis Pregnancy Centers have been lavished with funding from the commonwealth and have used that funding to promote dubious business and medical practices and push an anti-choice agenda on vulnerable patients in need of real advice,” Schwank said. “Moreover there is no accountability for the millions of dollars spent on these centers. Women need quality reproductive healthcare that provides them with real medical advice and follow-up services to support them in whatever decision they make regarding an unplanned pregnancy.”
Pennsylvania has been using taxpayer dollars to support CPCs in the state budget since 1997. The Commonwealth also was the first state to distribute Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) money to CPCs in 2002, redirecting this money intended to help low-income families instead toward anti-abortion outreach and the spread of medical misinformation. Since then, at least nine other states have followed suit, financially supporting CPCs with TANF dollars.
“An overwhelming majority of Pennsylvanians and people across the country are in fact pro-choice – those trying to take the right to choice and the right to a safe, legal reproductive health care are in the minority,” Kosierowski added. “The most personal medical decision a woman makes should be between herself and her doctor, not between a male-dominated legislature or the Supreme Court. A woman’s right to choose should be just that – a woman’s right to choose.”
Participants include Ashley Underwood, Director, Equity Forward; Tara Murtha, Director of Strategic Communications, Women’s Law Project; Croney Bouse, MPH, State Field Director, Planned Parenthood PA Advocates; Melissa Wiler Gerber, President/CEO, AccessMatters; and Kelly Davis, Executive Director, New Voices for Reproductive Justice.
“An unexpected pregnancy can be a scary situation and the need for prenatal care can lead many women to crisis pregnancy centers. However, these centers – often tied to religious organizations – offer misleading healthcare information from volunteers without medical qualifications. Ultimately, their aim is to delay medical procedures until it is too late to legally terminate a pregnancy, which these centers never present as an option,” Shusterman said. “I have introduced a legislative package that will end funding these organizations and redirect those funds to family planning organizations that actually meet women’s health needs. Women deserve honesty and the right to make informed choices about their bodies.”
All submitted testimony from the policy hearing and the full video is available at SenatorMuth.com/Policy.
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Testimony
August 11, 2022
Pittsburgh — August 11, 2022 — This morning, the Pennsylvania Women’s Health Caucus, in conjunction with the House and Senate Democratic Policy Committees, held its third hearing on post-Roe Pennsylvania at Chatham University.
The hearing featured testimony from abortion providers, medical professionals and advocacy groups serving Pittsburgh and western Pennsylvania. Testifiers highlighted the need to keep abortion safe and legal in Pennsylvania, the challenges abortion providers are facing since Roe v. Wade’s reversal and some of the issues that are exacerbated by abortion bans, like domestic violence. It also provided insight into how providers are handling the influx of out-of-state patients western Pennsylvania is seeing.
Testifier Sydney Etheridge, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania said the overturning of Roe v. Wade put an immediate strain on abortion providers in the region.
“As expected, our region has seen the effects of this decision almost instantly with the only two freestanding abortion clinics, Allegheny Reproductive Health Center and Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania, taking on an influx of patient calls and visits,” said Etheridge. “Despite the strain, this has put on our centers–not to mention the challenges travel and other barriers can put on patients–our staff continues to do all they can to ensure that patients get the care they need when they need it. While abortion is still legal in Pennsylvania at this time, it is critically important that abortion remain accessible not just for Pennsylvanians, but for those coming to our state in search of compassionate care.”
The four co-chairs of the WHC said after the hearing that expanding access to reproductive health care and supporting providers should be a legislative priority. They also mentioned that the hearing provided context on how bans in other states are impacting Pennsylvania’s abortion providers, particularly in the Pittsburgh area.
“Pittsburgh’s close proximity to Ohio and West Virginia, two states that have moved to restrict access to abortion, means it’s going to see a lot of out-of-state patients,” said WHC co-chair Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks). “Today’s testimony highlighted that this has already begun and is placing stress on the region’s abortion providers. What’s most important now is that Pennsylvania continues to be a place where women can access the reproductive health care they need and that we take action to support our providers.”
“Accessibility remains a top issue when it comes to abortion care in Pennsylvania,” said WHC co-chair Sen. Amanda Cappelletti (D-Montgomery, Delaware). “With many of our neighbors banning abortion, abortion providers are becoming overwhelmed with individuals that need to access this life-saving procedure. It is critical that we remain vigilant in expanding access to these health care procedures for anyone that seeks them within the commonwealth.”
“Abortion in Pennsylvania is still safe and legal and we must work to keep it that way,” said WHC co-chair Rep. Mary Jo Daley (D-Montgomery). “Every pregnancy is different, and every pregnant person has a right to privacy and bodily autonomy just as doctors must be able to provide the most appropriate care for each of them. The General Assembly should focus on the needs of families in Pennsylvania rather than dictating “one size fits all” health care.”
“With providers in the commonwealth now seeing a majority of patients from across state lines, Pennsylvanians are being forced to prolong care and seek care elsewhere,” said WHC co-chair Rep. Morgan Cephas (D-Philadelphia). “As expected, a Post Roe PA is leading to serious repercussions for residents across our state leaving us in a crucial place where protecting and expanding access to care is more important than ever. I am thankful to our advocates and providers who are on the frontlines in this work and understand the urgency that we must maintain in Harrisburg to protect the rights of Pennsylvanians today and beyond.”
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July 26, 2022
Philadelphia — July 26, 2022 — Today, the Women’s Health Caucus conducted its second joint hearing with the House and Senate Democratic Policy Committees on Pennsylvania abortion access post-Roe. The hearing was held at the William Way Community Center and featured testimony from Dr. Aasta Mehta from the Philadelphia Department of Health and Signe Espinoza, the Executive Director of Planned Parenthood Pennsylvania Advocates, Céshia Elmore, a Community Organizer for New Voices for Reproductive Justice, and Dr. Sarah Gutman from the University of Penn Medicine.
WHC co-chair Rep. Morgan Cephas provided opening remarks at the hearing and highlighted the threat to abortion access in Pennsylvania. She said today’s hearing was about understanding how abortion access can be protected and expanded in Pennsylvania.
“We have a Republican Caucus in Harrisburg that is looking to ban abortion across the commonwealth as quickly as they can,” said Rep. Cephas. “That’s going to require us to stay steadfast and focus on factual information about how limiting abortion access continuously increases health risks to mothers and birthing people.”
“The Supreme Court decision on abortion has created confusion for people capable of pregnancy across the country,” said WHC co-chair Rep. Mary Jo Daley. “It is important that Pennsylvanians know that abortion care is still safe and legal and that our doors are open for people needing an abortion to come to our state. The second policy hearing in post-Roe Pennsylvania brings together health care providers and advocates for pregnant people to discuss the future of abortion care in Pennsylvania.”
“Abortion is still safe and legal in Pennsylvania, but we have a lot of work to do when it comes to expanding reproductive healthcare access in the commonwealth,” said WHC co-chair Sen. Amanda Cappelletti. “Many women and child-bearing individuals already face barriers when it comes to accessing healthcare, such as maternity healthcare deserts and hospital closures, and the access to abortion care remains inaccessible for many individuals across the commonwealth. We must protect the right to bodily autonomy and provide greater accessibility.”
“These hearings are just one way we can continue to keep this issue front and center,” said WHC co-chair Sen. Judy Schwank. “It’s important that we do everything in our power to communicate where abortion access stands in Pennsylvania right now and where we are headed if people don’t stay engaged. The testimony we’ve heard so far makes it clear that stripping away abortion access away from Pennsylvanians is not in the best interest of this commonwealth.”
The first post-Roe Pennsylvania hearing took place on July 19 in Harrisburg and featured testimony from Pennsylvania’s Acting Physician General Denise Johnson. The next hearing will take place in Pittsburgh on August 11.
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Testimony
- Dr. Aasta Mehta, MD, MPP, OB/GYN, Medical Officer of Women’s Health, Philadelphia Department of Public Health
- Ceshia Elmore, New Voices for Reproductive Justice
- Signe Espinoza, Executive Director, Planned Parenthood Pennsylvania Advocates
- Dr. Sarah Gutman, MD, MSPH, OB/GYN and Complex Family Medicine, Specialist, UPenn Medicine
- Saleemah McNeil, CEO, Oshun Family Center
December 6, 2021
READING, December 6, 2021 – State Senator Katie Muth (D- Berks/Chester/Montgomery), Chair of the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Policy Committee, today joined Senators Judy Schwank and Christine Tartaglione to host a public hearing on evaluating and improving drug treatment centers in Pennsylvania.
“The alarming rates of substance abuse and drug overdoses have been magnified throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. And when individuals and their families reach out for help and seek treatment, they do not have the resources and information available to make an informed choice about treatment facilities. Pennsylvania families deserve better,” Senator Muth said. “Today’s policy hearing allowed our Committee to hear from families who have tragically lost loved ones to addiction, and it also afforded us an opportunity to discuss possible legislative solutions and policy changes that can improve the evaluation process and treatment outcomes of Pennsylvania’s drug treatment centers. Patient outcome survey data should be guiding treatment plans, not insurance companies that often deny coverage for the care required for successful recovery.”
Pennsylvania has one of the highest rates of drug overdose in the nation and drug overdose deaths have increased in 46 of 67 counties in Pennsylvania throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The Center for Disease Control’s National Center for Health Statistics indicated that there were over 100,000 drug overdose deaths in the United States during the 12-month period ending in April 2021, an increase of 28.5% from prior year.
“We must rethink our approach to adequately address the ongoing opioid epidemic, and one way to do that is to look at drug treatment centers. Individuals taking the crucial step of seeking treatment for addiction need to be given access to all the information they need to make the right decision for their own particular circumstances,” Schwank said. “This hearing provided us an opportunity to learn directly from individuals impacted by addiction, treatment providers and state regulators. It will give us a chance to better understand what factors make drug treatment more effective.”
Senator Schwank has introduced two bills – Senate Bill 975 and Senate Bill 976 – to address issues with Pennsylvania’s drug treatment facilities and recovery homes. Senate Bill 975 would require the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) to distribute an annual survey to all substance use disorder treatment centers and recovery homes operating in PA, record, and publish online for public access the responses provided by those treatment centers and recovery homes. Senate Bill 976 would prohibit any treatment center in PA to refuse admittance to anyone reporting to a treatment facility requesting medical or psychological services addressing substance use disorder – even if an individual is under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time they report. It would also prohibit any health insurance company operating in PA from refusing coverage for admittance and provision of medical and psychological services.
“Today was a crucial step in addressing the crisis that is addiction, and the failure of treatment that surrounds it,” Tartaglione said. “The shifting demographics of addiction and overdoses show us that there is no community in this commonwealth that has not been touched by its devastation, from Erie to Philly and Allentown to Pittsburgh, the PA Senate Democrats are dedicated to bettering and expanding addiction treatment services offered.”
The Senate Democratic Policy Committee heard from several panelists at Reading Area Community College that included representatives from the Opioid Crisis Action Network, the Self-Help Movement, the Caron Foundation, the Council on Chemical Abuse, and the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs.
All submitted testimony from today’s hearing and the full video is available at SenatorMuth.com/Policy
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Testimony
Panel 1: Affected People
Panel 2: Care Providers
Panel 3: Policy Solutions
November 4, 2021
HARRISBURG, November 4, 2021 – State Senator Katie Muth (D- Berks/Chester/Montgomery), chair of the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Policy Committee, today joined state Sens. Sharif Street (D-Philadelphia), Anthony Williams (D-Philadelphia/Delaware) and Judy Schwank (D-Berks) to host a virtual public hearing on the need to end lifetime parole in Pennsylvania.
“We are spending far too many resources as a state on tracking down non-violent, technical parole violations instead of focusing our efforts on enhancing and expanding re-entry programs and resources to ensure that those who have served their time have the opportunity to thrive and succeed,” Muth said. “We need to end the ineffective punishment of the prison and parole cycle. The research shows that lifetime parole sentences do not improve public safety or decrease crime. Our state has both the highest number of people on parole and the highest rate of parole supervision in the country. Pennsylvania taxpayers are paying for this useless mechanism of indefinite control that negatively impacts the lives of people who are trying to establish their lives in a positive and productive way.”
The Senate Democratic Policy Committee heard support from testifiers for drafted legislation that proposes ending lifetime parole sentences in Pennsylvania. The proposed Sunset for Probation and Parole Act would cap parole sentences at six years and allow a pathway for a reduction of that sentence to three years by creating a system to reduce the length of a parole sentence by 30 days for each 30 days the person goes without a parole violation.
“Pennsylvania has too many people under supervision, we lead the nation in this regard. Mass supervision and mass incarceration are inextricably linked. Probation and Parole was intended to reduce the number of people we incarcerate. But given the abuses and how the system has evolved it is now feeding mass incarceration,” Street said. “I appreciate the humanity of today’s testifiers and advocates for presenting ideas around policy to fix this. It is a moral imperative that we not over incarcerate and over supervise. It is also a fiscal imperative that government be good stewards of the taxpayers’ money. Ultimately the people we pay to do this work will have a fuller lives as will those under constant supervision.”
Participants in the hearing included three Pennsylvania residents impacted by parole; Megan French-Marceilin, Color of Change; Reuben Jones, Dignity and Power Now; Insha Rahman, Vera Institute for Justice; and Nicole Porter, Sentencing Project.
“It is unacceptable that members of our communities, who have served the allotted time for the crimes they were convicted of, go on to face an unending parole sentence upon their release. This does not make our communities safer or reduce recidivism, it does the exact opposite. It allows innocent people to be sent back to jail for technically violating the terms of their parole but committing no additional criminal offenses,” Williams added. “This is not justice, and we must end this systemically unjust practice that results in a costly and undue revolving door from our communities back into the prison system.”
According to a report by Human Rights Watch, Pennsylvania has the highest rate of parole in the nation, and in 2016, more people were sent to state correctional facilities for parole violations than for any other crime.
“Like many states, Pennsylvania hasn’t taken the steps necessary to improve the fairness of our criminal justice system. More and more, people are beginning to realize that locking people up isn’t always the best answer to society’s problems. What we can do is invest in people and provide everyone with an opportunity to right wrongs and live up to their current potential,” Schwank said. “This excellent group of testifiers very powerfully shared how we can go about doing this in Pennsylvania and why it’s important that we take action now.”
According to the Prison Policy Initiative, approximately sixteen states have abolished or curtailed discretionary parole. Most states range from having a system of presumptive parole — when certain conditions are met, release on parole is guaranteed — to having policies and practices that make earning release very difficult.
“The testimony heard this morning throws into sharp relief the onerous and cruel design of the current parole system – a system that is working precisely as designed to extend carceral punishment through invisible shackles,” Megan French-Marcelin, PhD, Campaign Director for Criminal Justice at Color of Change, said. “If we know that more than half of people in state prisons are there on parole violations, we could cut the prison population in half – thus ending family separation and encouraging the socioeconomic stability of families and communities.”
All submitted testimony from today’s hearing and the full video is available at SenatorMuth.com/Policy
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Testimony
Panel 1: Directly Impacted People Sentenced to Lifetime Parole
Panel 2: Policy
Panel 3: National Experts
May 17, 2021
Harrisburg – May 17, 2021 – At the request of state Senators Judy Schwank (D-Berks) and Lindsey M. Williams (D-Allegheny), the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Policy Committee held a virtual public hearing on the impact of the Pennsylvania state system of higher education’s (PASSHE) redesign plan.
“I serve on PASSHE’s Board of Governors, and through that role I’ve had the opportunity to meet with students, faculty, university presidents and trustees from all of the campuses,” Schwank said. “I know firsthand how important these institutions are to both the students who attend them and the communities where they are located. The system is an undeniable asset to the commonwealth. I’m hopeful that through honest and constructive dialogue, my colleagues and I will learn more about the current status of PASSHE and the impact that the integration plan will have on every aspect of the system. Our task as legislators, and all stakeholders, is to get us to a plan that will help the system survive and thrive. Many Pennsylvanians are counting on us to bring stability to the system and set it on a course to serve generations of learners.”
PASSHE has advocated for a system redesign since its strategic review in 2016. The comprehensive review was conducted because fiscal challenges within the 14-member network of PASSHE showed that the current financial course they were on was untenable.
Act 50 of 2020 provides the authority and guidance for the Board of Governors of PASSHE to restructure the PASSHE’s institutions.
“Over the last few months, we’ve heard from Chancellor Greenstein on his proposed redesign plan, but one of the things missing from those conversations has been the voices of those most directly impacted by these changes—our students, faculty members, and staff,” said Senator Williams. “Our state system schools are intended to make a college degree affordable for Pennsylvania students, especially for our minority and first-generation students and right now, we’re not fulfilling that mission. I continue to have questions and concerns about the proposed consolidation plan and whether it will provide the type of relief that our struggling state system and our students desperately need.”
Dr. Jamie Martin, President of APSCUF, said that the consolidation of universities in the western region (California, Clarion, and Edinboro) and in the northeastern region (Bloomsburg, Lock Haven and Mansfield) are a serious concern for her and her faculty union members.
“The concerns we have for our students range from questions regarding course availability, especially opportunities for face-to-face classes, and the way in which the 25% price reductions described in the plans will be achieved,” Martin said.
Ross Brumagin, President AFSCME Local 2329 and an Edinboro University High Voltage Electrician, said that he was concerned that the current redesign plan does not prioritize preserving jobs.
“We’ve been steadily losing AFSCME-represented positions for a decade now. We had 231 positions in 2011, 217 in 2015, and now we have just 125. We just went through layoffs in November 2020 because of PASSHE’s so-called “financial sustainability” policy. Then on top of that, they are proposing to integrate Edinboro with the Universities of Clarion and California under the umbrella of one accredited university – and eliminate even more jobs,” Brumagin said.
Shawn O’Dell, President AFSCME Local 2360 and a Lock Haven University employee and graduate, said that she is concerned that her degree will eventually be from an unaccredited university based on how the consolidation plans continue.
Cameron O’Neill, Junior at Bloomsburg University and a members of the Honors College, testified about her experience as a current student and the challenges she and her peers have faced as a result of online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. She said that this experience has made them even more apprehensive about the proposed consolidation plans that rely heavily on hybrid online and in person education models. O’Neill also voiced concern about what she saw as a lack of outreach to current students to about the consolidation and redesign process, and whether or not they were in favor of this plan.
“I can confirm that the only thing I have received (and completed) regarding our needs was one survey asking for a name of the consolidated schools. There was no option on that survey that asked if we thought this was a good idea,” O’Neill said.
Dr. Marc Stier, Director of Pennsylvania Budget & Policy Center, said in his testimony in regards to the student experience that decrease in attendance at PASSHE schools is not necessarily the result of demographic changes, but the fact that prices at these institutions have increased dramatically.
“Tuitions have risen dramatically at PASSHE schools as state funding has precipitously declined. State funding is now only 38% of the 1983-84 level. The state ranks 47th out of 50 states in per capita investment in higher education. As state has fallen, the student share of costs has increase dramatically,” Stier said.
Dr. Dale-Elizabeth Pehrsson, President of Clarion University and Interim President of Edinboro University, testified at the hearing about why PASSHE feels that the redesign and consolidation are necessary, “We see integration as a next step in this evolution – one that brings inevitable uncertainties, but is also necessary to ensure that we can continue to serve our mission and the students who are at its heart.”
“Integration will allow these three sister institutions in Western Pennsylvania to harness their collective strengths and provide students with a wealth of opportunities not found at any single institution,” Pehrsson continued.
Dr. Dan Greenstein, Chancellor of PASSHE, also participated in today’s hearing, and responded to the criticisms that the redesign process has not been transparent, or student centered. He said that he was grateful for the feedback he has heard today and from the public comment period available still ongoing in the PASSHE redesign process.
In response to questions about why this process what happening now and why it could not wait for a longer period of time, Greenstein said, “By not addressing these problems and continuing to push them down the road we make the inequalities within our system worse.”
Greenstein said that based on the past 10 years of financial predictions, the trends of what will happen to the universities if nothing is done is clear, and they will eventually run out funds to operate successfully.
“As someone with significant student debt myself after pursuing a graduate degree, I know how important it is for Pennsylvanians to have access to quality and affordable higher education. I am very grateful for all who joined us at this hearing today to continue to discuss the best options to create a Pennsylvania state system of higher education that prioritizes students, faculty, and the communities that house the education institutions of Pennsylvania,” Sen. Katie Muth (D- Berks/Chester/Montgomery), chair of the Senate Democratic Policy Committee, said.
Below are all who participated in today’s hearing:
- Dr. Jamie Martin, President of APSCUF
- Cameron O’Neill, Junior at Bloomsburg University (Honors College)
- Justina Arena, Junior at California University
- Ross Brumagin, President AFSCME Local 2329, Edinboro University High Voltage Electrician
- Shawn O’Dell, President AFSCME Local 2360, Lock Haven University Clerk Typist 3
- Dr. Marc Stier, Director, Pennsylvania Budget & Policy Center
- Dr. Dan Greenstein, Chancellor
- Aaron Walton, President, Cheyney University
- Dr. Dale-Elizabeth Pehrsson, President, Clarion University and Interim President, Edinboro University
- Mia Swales, Student Trustee, Lock Haven University
The full recording of this roundtable, as well as the written testimony from participants, can be found at senatormuth.com/policy. A full recording of this hearing can also be found on the PA Senate Democratic Facebook page.
April 30, 2021
Harrisburg – April 30, 2021 – At the request of Pennsylvania State Senators Judy Schwank (D- Berks), Tina Tartaglione (D- Philadelphia), and Sharif Street (D- Philadelphia), the Senate Democratic Policy Committee held a virtual policy hearing to discuss the issue of food insecurity in Pennsylvania.
“The pandemic has exposed many issues over the last year, but perhaps most striking of all is the issue of food insecurity,” Schwank said. “I know few of us will forget seeing the long lines of families waiting for food assistance. Today we learned how our local food banks met the extraordinary challenge of feeding our communities and what we need to consider moving forward as the issue of food insecurity is far from solved.”
Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding said that reports compiled by the organization Feeding America show that the number of Pennsylvanians facing food insecurity in 2020 grew substantially to 1.77 million individuals, an increase of 30 percent. The number of children in Pennsylvania facing food insecurity rose to 537,080, an increase of nearly 40 percent in just one year.
“Food Insecurity is defined as the lack of access to enough food for a healthy and active life and at its core equals hunger. Across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, it is estimated that 11% of the population is food insecure with the highest percentage right here in Philadelphia county,” Dixie James, President and COO of Einstein Healthcare Network, said.
Second Lady of Pennsylvania, Gisele Fetterman, also testified at the hearing about her work to address food insecurity through Free Store 15104 and 412 Food Rescue.
“My work exists because of failures in policy,” Fetterman said.
She said that making a state law to prevent perfectly good food from going to waste, as numerous other states have done, would help to address food insecurity by redirecting resources, and also addressing the environmental impact of discarding perfectly good food that could otherwise feed populations.
“We know it is not a lack of food, it is how food gets distributed,” Dr. Kathy Reeves, Senior Associate Dean of Health Equity, Diversity & Inclusion and Director at the Center for Urban Bioethics and Professor of Pediatrics Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, said.
Dr. Reeves also advocated in her testimony to treat food as a prescription to address the overall health of Pennsylvanians.
“Food insecurity is intertwined with so many of Pennsylvania’s chronic ills, problems like poverty and health disparities that have been exacerbated by the lingering coronavirus pandemic,” Senator Tartaglione said. “This thorough conversation is imperative as we seek to make nutrition universally accessible in the Commonwealth.”
Loree Jones, CEO of Philabundance which serves five counties in Pennsylvania, said that 40 percent of the 60 percent increase Philabundance has seen in need this past year were people using the emergency food system for the first time. She said that Feeding America is projecting that nationally more than 42 million people, including 13 million children, may experience food insecurity due to COVID-19.
Secretary Redding said that additional funding to provide food in the pandemic has come from both federal and state resources, providing additional funding for United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) foods purchases through The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). As of April 17, 2021, food banks in Pennsylvania report having distributed in excess of 2.4 million of these food boxes, weighing more than 51.5 million pounds.
“The lessons learned over this past year have provided us a fresh lens to look at our grant programs to ensure they are equitable and meeting the needs of those we serve. The gaps in the system have been highlighted such as meat processing delays and lack of access to fresh foods. We will continue to enhance our current programs and investigate additional ways to address these needs,” Sec. Redding said. “Additionally, expanding broadband access throughout the commonwealth will assist in providing equal access to resources and e-commerce platforms.”
Scott Cawthern, Acting Deputy Secretary for the Office of Income Maintenance at the PA Dept. of Human Services, also testified about the work that the Dept. of Human Services did in expanding services during the COVID-19 pandemic, and how increased and continued investment in these programs will address food insecurity and improve long-term health outcomes for Pennsylvanians.
“On the state level, we would like to see more coordination between all the food 9 systems in the state including the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), SNAP, NSLP, and others to ensure that eligible families are receiving all the food assistance for which they qualify and to ensure that children and families receive the nutrition supports as they grow,” Cawthern said.
Jay Worrall, President of Helping Harvest Food Bank, testified to the importance of community partners in the distribution of food and resources to families and how increasing funding for its signature food insecurity programs, the State Food Purchase Program (SFPP), and the Pennsylvania Agricultural Surplus System (PASS), and increase the flexibility for how those funds can be expended would assist even more Pennsylvanians in need.
“Unfortunately, many Pennsylvanians have been and still are struggling to meet their basic needs. Working families across our state face countless situations, such as jobs paying only poverty wages due to wealth inequality and corporate greed, food deserts, unexpected bills for car maintenance or medical treatment, layoffs, and now a global pandemic, all of which cause temporary or permanent financial instability, food insecurity and hunger. Pennsylvania food insecurity rates have increased from 11.1% in 2018 to over 33% as of March 2020. According to the PA Department of Agriculture, before the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 1.53 million Pennsylvanians endured chronic hunger every day, including 478,500 older Pennsylvanians and about 437,000 children,” Sen. Katie Muth (D- Berks/Chester/Montgomery), chair of the Senate Democratic Policy Committee, said. “Food insecurity makes it impossible to survive let alone thrive. Every human should have guaranteed access to reliable and nutritious meals. We need to act urgently to end food insecurity in Pennsylvania and across our nation.”
Below are all who participated in today’s hearing:
- Dixie James, President & COO, Einstein Healthcare Network
- Gisele Fetterman, Second Lady of Pennsylvania
- Secretary Russell Redding, PA Department of Agriculture
- Scott Cawthern, Acting Deputy Secretary for the Office of Income Maintenance at the PA Dept. of Human Services
- Dr. Kathy Reeves, MD. FAAP, Senior Associate Dean, Health Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Director, Center for Urban Bioethics – Professor, Pediatrics Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University
- Andy Toy, Development and Communications Director, SEAMAAC
- Tyler Ray, Neighborhood Community Organizer, Urban Creators
- Maddy Booth, COO, Vetri Community Partnership
- Mark Edwards, President & CEO, Food Trust
- Loree Jones, CEO, Philabundance
- Jay Worrall, President, Helping Harvest Food Bank
The full recording of this roundtable, as well as the written testimony from participants, can be found at senatormuth.com/policy. A full recording of this hearing can also be found on the PA Senate Democratic Facebook page.
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February 10, 2021
Harrisburg, PA − February 10, 2020 − Today, the Pennsylvania Women’s Health Caucus (WHC) hosted a Joint Policy Hearing with the PA House and Senate Democratic Policy Committees on the topic of Maternal Health Amidst COVID-19. Co-Chairs of the WHC include Senator Judy Schwank (D-Berks), Senator Amanda M. Cappelletti (D-Montgomery, Delaware), Representative Morgan Cephas (D-Philadelphia) and Representative Mary Jo Daley (D-Narberth).
“Today’s policy hearing on maternal health amidst COVID-19 was incredibly informative. This was a broad discussion about maternal mortality and its prevalence in black women; COVID vaccines; telemedicine and other innovative tools for patients to keep in touch with their health care providers; and the impact of quarantine on pregnant and postpartum individuals,” said Representative Mary Jo Daley. “In Pennsylvania, we are so fortunate to have health care practitioners including physicians, nurse-midwives and psychologists as well as lactation consultants and doulas who provide services during the pregnancy and postpartum time. The need for legislative action on policies that support pregnant women and their families was discussed by the panelists, most of whom have direct interaction with pregnant women, their families, and their support systems.”
Since the onset of the pandemic, the Pennsylvania Department of Health has cautioned pregnant women to take preventative measures in avoiding exposure to COVID-19, as they are considered to be at greater risk of becoming seriously ill if infected with the virus, including possible adverse birth outcomes. A study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates pregnant women are more likely to be hospitalized in the intensive care unit and receive mechanical ventilation than non-pregnant women, but they are not at greater risk of death from COVID-19 than non-pregnant women (American Hospital Association, 2020).
“Today’s hearing proved once again how important it is to listen to women, and that we need to focus on inclusion and diversity,” Senator Judy Schwank said. “Some of the suggestions we heard today could literally save lives if we’re able to implement them through policy change or legislation. For example, several of our experts mentioned ensuring pregnant patients have access to monitoring equipment, like an at-home blood pressure cuff, to catch potentially life-ending health problems early. We’ve asked the experts for their advice and they’ve absolutely risen to that challenge. Now my colleagues and I must take this torch and keep this momentum going.”
Policy recommendations from our panelists included eliminating barriers to healthcare access, expanding broadband access for telemedicine, and expanding postpartum Medicaid coverage to one year.
“As co-chair for the Women’s Health Caucus and a newly appointed member of the Pennsylvania Commission for Women, it is imperative for me to ensure that conversations on maternal health continue to be elevated. Testifiers from today’s hearing helped us to understand the impacts of COVID19 on pregnant individuals, mothers, and the healthcare system, but also reiterated much of what we already knew. I look forward to working alongside my colleagues in the House and Senate to take what we discussed in today’s hearing and turn it into substantial reforms that improve maternal health outcomes across the commonwealth,” said Representative Cephas.
The panels covered diverse topics relative to maternal health, including Maternal Care During COVID-19, Vaccines & Pregnancy, Telemedicine, Prenatal Care, & Labor & Delivery, the COVID-19 Vaccine, and the Impact of Quarantine on Pregnant & Postpartum Individuals.
“Today’s policy hearing highlighted the struggle pregnant and nursing people faced prior to the pandemic and how that struggle has increased exponentially since the pandemic. As policymakers, we must take what we heard today and continue to fight for the support and programs pregnant and nursing people need for them and their families to thrive. One vital aspect to that is access to the COVID-19 vaccine,” said Senator Cappelletti. “We must provide pregnant and nursing individuals with scientifically valid, trustworthy, and easy to access information about how it may or may not affect their health and the health of their child.”
As a caucus, we would like to thank our panelists, and everyone who participated in and coordinated today’s hearing. We will continue this conversation far past today and continue to hold important discussions on Women’s Health issues. Our caucus is committed to advocating for the health of women and families across the Commonwealth.
Below are all who testified in today’s hearing:
- Dr. Mark Woodland, M.S., M.D., FACOG, Chair & Clinical Professor OB-GYN, Reading Hospital/Tower Health, Interim Academic Chair, OBGYN Drexel University College of Medicine
- Dr. Hyagriv “Hy” Simhan, UPMC Magee-Women’s Hospital, Division Chief of Maternal Fetal Medicine
- Dr. Richard Beigi, UPMC Magee-Women’s Hospital, President, OB-GYN
- Dr. Aasta Mehta , M.D., M.P.P., FACOG – Philadelphia MMRC, Philadelphia Dept of Health, PA MMRC
- Dr. Sindhu Srivinas , Director of Obstetrical Services – UPenn/Penn Medicine
- Nicole Chaney, Certified Nurse-Midwife, Reading Hospital
- Markita Glenn, Doula, Pettaway Pursuit Foundation
- Dr. Elizabeth Morgan, Maternal Fetal Health Specialist, Baystate Health
- Dr. Richard S. Legro, M.D, Chair, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Public Health Sciences, Penn State Health College of Medicine and Penn State Health
- Dr. Catharine I. Paules, M.D., Assistant Professor, Infectious Diseases, Penn State Health College of Medicine and Penn State Health
- Dr. Rhonda C. Boyd, Ph.D., Psychologist in the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
- Demia Horsley, M.P.H., CLC (DONA), LCCE, Director of Strategic Initiatives, Healthy Start, Inc.
The full recording of today’s hearing will be available at: https://www.senatormuth.com/policy/
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August 12, 2020
Harrisburg – August 12, 2020 – At the request of state Senator Judy Schwank (D- Berks) and state Representatives Morgan Cephas (D- Philadelphia) and Mary Jo Daley (D- Montgomery), the Senate Democratic Policy Committee today held a joint virtual public hearing with the House Democratic Policy Committee on maternal mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lawmakers and experts in the field discussed the innovative responses to maternal mortality before and during the coronavirus pandemic, which put a unique strain on the overall healthcare system and traditional services.
“The increasing rates of maternal mortality in the United States were extremely concerning before the coronavirus pandemic hit, but as we continue to fight the spread of COVID-19, we need to make sure that we are continuing to work for policies that give new moms and babies the healthiest outcomes possible,” Schwank said. “Not only must our healthcare system continue bracing for the effects of COVID-19, it must also continue to be vigilant in making sure that pregnant and new mothers are receiving the best treatment and care possible.”
Senator Lisa Boscola (D- Lehigh/Northampton), chair of the Senate Democratic Policy Committee, continued, “We have spent a lot of time during this pandemic discussing the best ways to protect so many different segments of society. Maternal mortality is not just a women’s issue, it affects the family unit as a whole. Today we had the opportunity to discuss the best ways to protect mothers and their babies in their most vulnerable moments. This overdue conversation, and practical solutions that came from it, will save lives.”
According to the Harvard Business Review, women in the United States have the greatest risk of dying from pregnancy complications among 11 high-income countries. From 1991 to 2014, maternal mortality in the U.S. increased from 10.3 per 100,000 live births to 23.8 per 100,000 live births.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has swept our communities by surprise both in health and the economic aftermath. As we continue to take a look at the issue of maternal mortality, we must come together to examine ways that we can secure more funding and develop policies that result in better health outcomes for all mothers so they can thrive and take care of their families,” Cephas said. “As this virus rages on, I look forward to hearing from the experts so that we can better inform leaders across all sectors and ensure that our future looks brighter than our past.”
Daley continued, “Pennsylvania has an alarming maternal morbidity rate, and the pandemic is highlighting the barriers and inequity in care. I am grateful for the experts who have joined us today to discuss best practices to protect our mothers and newborns, and I am hopeful these will transition to statewide policies.”
Pennsylvania’s Secretary of Health, Dr. Rachel Levine, said in 2019 that nearly 700 women die from pregnancy-related complications each year in the United States, and more than half of those deaths are preventable. She added that Black women face almost double the rates of maternal mortality when compared to the general population.
“A nation’s rate of maternal mortality is often used to measure overall effectiveness of the health care delivery system through assessment of general medical care. It is necessary to keep this in mind when crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic manifest,” Dr. Aasta Mehta, Medical Officer of Women’s Health, Philadelphia Department of Public Health, Division of Maternal, Child and Family Health, said.
“When it comes to dismantling racism in our institutions and within the U.S. healthcare system, implicit bias is a driving factor that we must bring attention to and address,” Zahada Gillette-Pierce, Trainer at the sexual and reproductive health organization AccessMatters, said. “Implicit bias often shows up in healthcare settings when healthcare providers do not acknowledge pain, when providers restrict traditional cultural birthing practices, or ultimately take on a hierarchical decision-making role because of the stereotypes they hold or deeply-rooted biases.”
While COVID-19 has not proven to be any more dangerous to pregnant mothers than those who are not pregnant, there has been a significant change to birthing procedures in almost every hospital across the nation. Expectant mothers not only have to wear a mask for their entire hospital stay, they also have been limited to choose just one person to accompany them during delivery and their hospital stay. This has caused women who have given birth during the pandemic to lose out on the birthing support of midwives, doulas and other specialist who can ease the stress of childbirth and potentially lower instances of maternal mortality, according to an article published by the Harvard School of Public Health, and echoed by the testifiers today.
Nicole Chaney, a certified nurse midwife at the Reading Birth Center, said, “Twenty-two percent of Pennsylvania counties do not have a hospital with a maternity unit.”
Chaney not only advocates for expanded maternal care across the state, but she also said that integrating midwifery into more medical settings improve the birthing experiences and health out comes for both moms and babies, “When we value reproductive health as a society, and provide as many options as possible for people’s childbirth experience, the outcomes will improve.”
The following testified at today’s hearing:
- Aasta Mehta, MD, MPP, Medical Officer of Women’s Health, Philadelphia Department of Public Health, Division of Maternal, Child and Family Health
- Robert Ferguson, MPH, Chief Policy Officer, Jewish Healthcare Foundation
- Dr. Mark Woodland, Chair & Clinical Professor OBGYN, Reading Hospital
- La’Tasha D. Mayes, President & CEO, New Voices for Reproductive Justice
- Nicole Chaney, CNM, Midwife, Reading Birth Center
- Marianne Fray, CEO, Maternity Care Coalition
- Emily C. McGahey, DM, MSN, CNM , Associate Clinical Director of The Midwife Center for Birth and Women’s Health, State Legislative Co-Chair, PA-American College of Nurse Midwives
- Sindhu Srinivas, MD, MSCE, Director of Obstetrical Services, Vice Chair for Quality and Safety Department OBGYN, Co-Founder Heart Safe Motherhood Program, Penn Medicine
- Zahada Gillette-Pierce, Trainer, AccessMatters
- Kimberly Seals Allers, Maternal and Infant Health Strategist, Founder, Irth app.
Senators who attended this hearing include:
Jay Costa (D- Allegheny), Larry Farnese (D- Philadelphia), Katie Muth (D- Berks/Chester/Montgomery), Maria Collett (D- Bucks/Montgomery), Art Haywood (D- Philadelphia/Montgomery), and Lindsey Williams (D- Allegheny).
Representatives who attended include:
Mike Sturla (D- Lancaster), Thomas Caltigirone (D- Berks), Mark Longietti (D- Mercer), Chris Sainato (D- Lawrence), Kevin Boyle (Philadelphia/Montgomery), Melissa Shusterman (D- Chester/Montgomery), Dan Frankel (D-Allegheny), Sara Innamorato (D- Allegheny), Joanna McClinton (D- Philadephia/Delaware), Wendy Ullman (D- Bucks), Mary Issacson (D-Philadelphia), and Joe Webster (D-Montgomery).
The Senate and House Democratic Policy Committees have hosted a number of hearings related to COVID-19, including the reopening of schools, the impact on nursing and veterans homes, food supply chain disruptions, the disproportionate effect of COVID-19 on the African American Community, pandemic-related funding for childcare centers, and assuring that protective equipment and other support is accessible for all frontline workers.
A full recording of this hearing, and links to all previous hearings, is available at senatorboscola.com/policy.
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May 27, 2020
Harrisburg – May 27, 2020 – At the request of state Senators Judy Schwank (D – Berks) and Lindsey Williams (D – Allegheny), the Senate and House Democratic Policy Committees today held a virtual public hearing to discuss critical funding for childcare centers, pre-K, and Head Start programs; and their hard-working employees affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic has exposed the true struggle of working families to access quality childcare at all levels,” Schwank said. “As we ask these essential workers to put themselves on the frontlines of fighting this virus, they should have the peace of mind that their children have the highest quality of care and academic resources.”
Williams added, “Pre-pandemic, one of the most important issues we as a Commonwealth faced was access to quality, affordable childcare. Asking parents to return to work now without providing them quality childcare for their children is unthinkable. We need to pay providers the wages they deserve for keeping our children safe and educating them during such crucial development periods. A fair and just economic recovery for our workforce must include investing in childcare.”
Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler (D-Phila.) said, “Investing in childcare centers is investing in the next generation, our children. As a working mom with two young kids I know just how important it is to have great childcare right in the neighborhood, providing safe, reliable care. Childcare centers are places of learning, growing and nurturing for our children, and we need to do everything we can to support them so that when working parents are at work, their doors are open!”
Rep. Mary Jo Daley (D-Montgomery) added, “Balancing childcare and a job is one of the very real challenges that parents face in normal times. Considering the topsy-turvy world of COVID-19 and the economic necessity of getting people back to work, we must do everything we can to stabilize and support childcare centers so that our children and caregivers have a safe, healthy place to work and play.”
According to the Start Strong PA and Pre-K for PA campaigns, Pennsylvania could see the permanent closures of nearly one-third of its childcare centers due to this extended economic shut down.
Pennsylvania has received $106 million in funding to support childcare providers through the federal CARES Act, with $51 million already being allocated and in the process of being distributed to eligible certified childcare providers through regional Early Learning Resource Centers.
However, Schwank, Williams, Fiedler and Daley plan to introduce legislation to further assist childcare centers with administrative expenses, including payroll, and compensate for the loss of tuition payments from families. They also want to extend Pre-K and Head Start programs into the summer to mitigate early childhood learning losses for students.
“We need to make every effort to support our essential workers, and also to support those who will be returning to work as our counties enter the Yellow and Green phases of reopening across Pennsylvania,” said Sen. Lisa Boscola (D – Lehigh/Northampton), chair of the Senate Democratic Policy Committee. “I am very happy that we are able to host these virtual hearings to obtain ideas on the best ways to help our workers during this COVID-19 pandemic.”
Rep. Mike Sturla (D-Lancaster) chair of the House Democratic Policy Committee, thanked Representatives Fiedler and Daley for “requesting this important hearing. Childcare centers serve a vital role in our economy that must not be overlooked, and they deserve our support to ensure safety for all.”
Testifiers at the policy committee hearing included numerous experts and advocates who spoke on what is needed in the childcare sector during this pandemic, and the best ways that the legislature can assist workers and their families.
“Childcare is a critical infrastructure to the economic well-being of Pennsylvania and her citizens now,” said Tracey Campanini, deputy secretary of the state’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning. “High-quality childcare is critical to Pennsylvania’s future. As important as the discussion is to reopen childcare, I would just remind you there were funding needs of this industry that existed prior to COVID-19.”
Oriana Hood, owner of Pembroke Pee Wee Daycare & Little People Daycare School of Lehigh Valley, told the lawmakers that childcare centers face great uncertainty and daunting financial challenges as Pennsylvania struggles to regain some level of “normalcy.”
“We need help recouping monies lost; we need help to open and remain functional until everyone feels comfortable coming back, she said. “I pray that the businesses I have worked so hard to make a success can remain intact. But for all of this to happen we need funds to operate.
Joining Campanini and Hood, the following testified:
- Jen DeBell, executive director, Pennsylvania Association for the Education of Young Children;
- Donna Cooper, executive director, Public Citizens for Children and Youth;
- Cara Ciminillo, executive director, Trying Together;
- Damaris Alvarado-Rodriguez, executive director, Children’s Playhouse Early Learning Center;
- Laura Heckart, director, Albright Early Learning Center;
- Laura Crispin, Professor of Economics, Saint Joseph’s University;
- Kate Reber, parent; and
- Beckey Flaherty, executive director, Shady Lane School
In addition to Boscola, Schwank and Williams, the following senators participated: Pam Iovino (D-Allegheny), Maria Collett (D-Bucks/Montgomery), John Blake (D-Lackawanna) and Shariff Street (D-Phila.) Joining Sturla, Fiedler and Daley were the following House Legislators: Sara Innamorato (D-Allegheny), Ed Gainey (D-Allegheny), Joe Webster (D-Montgomery) and Dan Miller (D-Allegheny).
A full recording of the hearing will be available at senatorboscola.com/policy.
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June 9, 2016
Reading – June 9, 2016 – At the request of state Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks), the Senate Democratic Policy Committee held a roundtable discussion today on Pennsylvania’s Zika Virus response plan that focused on measures available for state, local and health officials to educate the public about potential health impacts.
“While I’m pleased to see that our state has already put an extensive plan into place, it is imperative that we do all we can to track the spread of this virus and to keep people informed about how they can best protect themselves,” Sen. Lisa Boscola (D-Northampton/ Lehigh) said. “Today’s hearing is aimed at making sure government is doing all it can to coordinate the best possible statewide response.”
Boscola serves as Democratic chair of the Democratic Policy Committee.
Schwank, who serves as the Democratic chair of the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, said “this effort will require a great deal of cooperation and coordination between state, federal and local agencies. It is imperative that we get this right and do this right.”
The Zika virus was first detected in Brazil over a year ago. Spread by infected mosquitos, the virus generally causes very mild symptoms and rarely leads to serious side effects. However, it does pose a serious threat to pregnant women because the infection can cause birth defects.
Experts at the hearing said the risk for Pennsylvanians is low, but the Ebola scare taught lessons about being prepared for things to change.
“As a community and as a state, we’re going to collaborate. It’s cirtical that our communication is clear and that it provides honest information,” said Marie Keim, Director of Epidemiology, Infection Control and Prevention, Reading Hospital. “Whether it’s twitter, whether it’s facebook, whether it’s the news, it’s important that we’re getting it out in a language that is easy to understand.
As of May 2, there were no reports of the virus being spread by mosquitoes in the continental United States yet. However, Pennsylvania does have 19 confirmed cases of people who have the virus — with 178 test results still pending.
Dr. Jason Rasgon, Associate Professor of Entomology and Disease Epidemiology at Penn State University noted the rapid manner in which research and information on Zika evolves. “I would say something and it would be outdated the next day,” Dr. Rasgon said. “That’s how quickly things are changing.”
The Wolf Administration has already established an extensive Zika response plan that outlines the phases of education, tracking, and response activities that are to occur based on various levels of mosquito activity in Pennsylvania.
Boscola credited the plan for including public awareness and education. She also said it would be critical for government agencies to work closely together to assure that the state is as prepared as possible. The state Department of Health has already set up a website on the virus at www.zika.pa.gov.
The best way to prevent mosquito bites is to use an insect repellant, take steps to keep mosquitoes out of your home; reduce standing water outside; and wear long sleeves and pants outdoors.
Joining the senators for the roundtable discussion were:
- Dr. Loren Robinson, Deputy Secretary for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, PA Department of Health
- Dana Aunkst, Deputy Secretary of Water Programs, PA Department of Environmental Protection
- Dr. Jason Rasgon, Assoc. Prof. of Entomology and Disease Epidemiology, Pennsylvania State University
- Dr. Robert S. Jones, D.O., Medical Director, Infection Prevention, Reading Health System
- Marie Keim, Director of Epidemiology, Infection Control and Prevention, Reading Hospital
- Dean Druckenmiller, District Executive, Berks County Conservation District
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August 24, 2011
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 Penn State University, Berks Campus.
“Protecting Pennsylvania’s food supply is of paramount importance, not only to maintaining the profitability of the state’s agricultural industry, but to the health and safety of Pennsylvania citizens,” said committee Chair Lisa Boscola (D-Northampton/Lehigh). “I am happy to have had this opportunity to meet with top agriculture and food safety experts in the state to discuss ways to keep Pennsylvania consumers safe from food-borne illnesses that threaten the health of the public and the economic development of the state.”
The discussion centered on how to keep food safe and Pennsylvania agriculture profitable. Topics included legislation regarding food safety regulations, particularly how they pertain to fresh produce, farmers, and farmers markets; a discussion on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP); a discussion on food-borne illnesses and the most common causes of the illnesses; and information on how Pennsylvania producers are keeping food safe, as well as the challenges the industry faces regarding food safety.
“We have all read about the series of recent incidents regarding food-borne illnesses throughout the nation and here in Pennsylvania. As both a lawmaker and a consumer, this greatly concerns me,” said state Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks). “It was very beneficial for my Senate colleagues to join me here in Berks County to discuss this critical issue. We must understand how these illnesses spread and eliminate that problem from the food supply chain. It is important to our citizens and to the economic welfare of the state, as agriculture is our leading industry.”
Schwank, who serves as Democratic Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, requested this meeting in an effort to examine current policy on food safety and to discuss concerns the industry and the public have regarding the issue.
The informal roundtable discussion featured experts and educators from agriculture, academia, health and the food industry.
“This roundtable discussion is a step in ensuring that our current food safety laws are working to keeping consumers safe,” said Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny). “Senate Democrats are dedicated to protecting the health and welfare of our citizens and we thank the panelists for their expert input on this issue. As we move forward in this process, it is our hope that we can rely on these experts to help guide future policy on this matter.”
State Sen. John Wozniak (D-Cambria/Somerset/Centre/Clinton/Clearfield) was also on hand at the event.
“It is important that we all work together — the legislature, the industry, and the public — to protect against food-borne illnesses,” Wozniak said. “This discussion was a great opportunity to begin open dialogue on food safety issues.”
Panelists included Dr. Lydia Johnson, director of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Bureau of Food Safety and Laboratory Services; James Weaver, GAP-certified farmer at Meadow View Farm; Dr. Hassan Gourama, associate professor of food science at PSU Berks; Gary Zanecosky, director of quality at Giorgio Foods, Inc.; Brian Snyder, executive director of the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture; and Brent Ennis, Southeast district executive director of the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
Johnson stated that the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture is committed to protecting Pennsylvania citizens from food-borne illness.
“It is essential that we protect the citizens of Pennsylvania,” Johnson said. “Because contamination can happen at every step in the food process, we must have consistent regulations.”
Weaver expressed concerns that cuts in funding make it difficult for farmers to comply with regulation requirements.
“Cuts in funding hurt farmers,” Weaver said. “It makes the process progressively harder as time goes on. I fear there will come a point in time where it is too hard for farmers.”
Gourama discussed the importance of researching food-borne illnesses and their causes, but also stressed the importance of funding this research.
“We must improve detection methods to determine where contamination is coming from,” Gourama said. “Researching this issue takes money, but it is harder to get funding due to the economy.”
Zanecosky stressed the importance of collaboration between the agricultural industry and academia.
“In order to stay in this business, you have to be on the cutting edge,” Zanecosky said. “Academia is the cutting edge.”
Snyder stressed the need for assistance from the legislature to keep food safe and agriculture profitable.
“There are four things that the legislature can do to assist farmers,” Snyder said. “Provide access to capital and quality insurance; clear, flexible and consistent regulations; tax code adjustments, and public support.”
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