February 19, 2024
Reading — February 19, 2024 — Officials from Antietam School District, Mt. Penn Borough and Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks) and Rep. Mark Rozzi (D-Berks) issued the following statement following this morning’s mediation meeting regarding the traffic study required before renovations can take place at the Mt. Penn Primary Center.
“Through extensive discussion and open communication, we were able to come to an agreement that will allow Antietam School District to begin phased construction at the Mt. Penn Primary Center and to satisfy Mt. Penn Borough requirements under the Zoning Hearing Board decision and statewide Uniform Construction Code. Those requirements are not based on the district’s special exception application for a high school but can be used for any configuration of the building.
We are all committed to working collaboratively to overcome the challenges facing our community. Now that we’ve sat down, we are confident that our students will have a safe, in-person learning environment for the 2024-2025 school year and beyond. Antietam School District and Mt. Penn Borough would like to emphasize that both entities have acted in good faith throughout this process and are pleased that they were able to reach an agreement in this matter.”
In attendance at the meeting was Antietam School District Superintendent Heidi Rochlin, Antietam School Board President A. Michael Roberts, Antietam School Board Vice President Kyla Ramsey, Mt. Penn Borough Council President Troy Goodman, Mt. Penn Borough Council Member Michael Kindlick, Mt. Penn Borough Manager Hunter L. Ahrens, Sen. Judy Schwank and Rep. Mark Rozzi.
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January 22, 2024
Reading −January 22, 2024 −Today, Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks) announced that she has secured an additional $1 million for the Reading School District and $500 thousand for the Antietam School District in Ready to Learn Block Grants.
Ready to Learn Block Grants support pre-K and elementary school educational programming in public schools. The grants are awarded to school districts using a formula established by the fiscal code for the 2023-2024 Pennsylvania state budget. The 2023-2024 budget allocated $295 million to Ready to Learn Block Grants throughout the commonwealth.
Under the formula, Reading received $4,785,693 and Antietam $167,132. The additional support secured by Schwank brings those totals to $5,785,693 for Reading and $667,132 for Antietam. Schwank said she’s been working behind the scenes with the Senate Democratic Caucus in Harrisburg for months to pull down additional state resources for the two school districts.
“It was important to me that these two school districts didn’t get lost in the shuffle during this year’s drawn-out budget process,” Schwank said. “Both districts are working tirelessly to meet the needs of students. I’m proud to partner with the leadership of both Reading and Antietam and support their efforts to provide students with a high-quality public education.”
Although Ready to Learn Block Grants aren’t eligible for facility improvements, Schwank said the 300% increase Antietam received could free up other dollars already allocated towards eligible programming.
“This funding is not in direct response to the flooding over the summer, but it will take some economic burden off the school district. Hopefully, it will provide Antietam more flexibility as they continue working towards a long-term plan.”
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August 10, 2023
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 began at Centro Hispano for a meeting with City of Reading Mayor Eddie Morán and Reading’s state house delegation. The group discussed ways the commonwealth can support ongoing economic development projects in the city.
Following the meeting, Schwank and Siger made stops at the GoggleWorks, Alvernia University’s Reading CollegeTowne and FirstEnergy Stadium, all of which have completed or are in the process of undertaking projects using state grant funding.
“I really appreciate Sec. Siger for taking the time to join us in Reading today and learn about some of the exciting things happening here,” Schwank said. “Reading has a lot of potential for economic growth, and I want to make sure all the tools the state has available are brought to bear. With a new administration and secretary in place, it’s invaluable for us to have an opportunity to meet with DCED and show them what we’ve been able to accomplish in recent years with support from the commonwealth.”
“It was a pleasure to join Sen. Schwank today to see first-hand what Reading has to offer,” said Siger. “Projects like GoggleWorks and CollegeTowne are excellent examples of what makes this city so diverse and vibrant. DCED looks forward to working with Sen. Schwank, Mayor Moran and Reading’s leadership as they continue to build a foundation for future growth and prosperity.”
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October 26, 2022
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 the development of the vacant sixth floor of the Reading CollegeTowne building, which will allow the university to expand program offerings and student housing.
Reading Area Community College received $5 million in funding for the Weitz Health Pavilion. With funding, Weitz Hall will undergo a series of physical improvements to increase learning space for health care students and workers. The project would allow all health care programming to be housed in one building.
Albright College was granted $3 million in funding for renovations to the Leo Camp Building. The building will become the home of the Science Research Institute, which offers after-school and summer learning programs to middle school and high school-age students. The renovations will include the addition of a food and brewery science lab that will accelerate scientific exploration, foster community relationships, and establish Albright as one of the leading centers for innovation in the region.
“I’m very pleased to see Gov. Wolf continue to support Berks County’s thriving network of higher education,” Schwank said. “We now have three institutions of higher education operating in Reading that are able to move forward with big projects that will provide students with world-class educational opportunities and help the commonwealth meet its long-term workforce needs.”
The Olivet Boys and Girls Club received $1 million in funding for safety and infrastructure improvements around four centers operating in the City of Reading. This includes electrical, HVAC, and plumbing upgrades and full line of sight doors, electronic locking doors, security cameras, and outdoor lighting.
KidsPeace was awarded $1 million in grant funding for improvement at its Berks County facility located in Muhlenberg Township. The funding will be used on an upgraded HVAC system, a roof replacement, health, and safety upgrades and to repave sidewalks around the facility.
Schwank said the Olivet Boys and Girls Club and KidsPeace projects will help fill youth programming needs in Berks County.
“We need organizations ready and willing to provide a helping hand to our youngest citizens,” Schwank said. “I had the opportunity to meet with the staff at the Olivet Boys and Girls Club and KidsPeace and I know that the support they are being given by the commonwealth will make a positive impact on the lives of Berks County’s youth.”
$2 million in funding was awarded to FirstEnergy Stadium in continued support of renovations that are necessary to meet the facility standard issued by Major League Baseball.
The Reading Housing Authority was granted $1 million in funding to support the Oakbrook Homes Center for Community Services. The project will renovate the former boiler plant to create a core, shell, and exterior for a new Family Services Complex.
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September 20, 2022
Reading — September 20, 2022 — Today Sen. Judy Schwank and Rep. Mark Rozzi announced a total of $222,321 in Act 13 grant funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.
Lower Alsace Township received $200,000 in Flood Mitigation funding for the second phase of the ongoing Stony Creek Streambank Rehabilitation project. Over several years severe storms have caused damage to Antietam Creek, which now floods during heavy rains and threatens nearby Antietam School District facilities.
The funding will go towards rebuilding the collapsed creek wall, dredging the creek to remove debris, removing dead vegetation, and replacing sections of deteriorated sidewalks. Phase two will also rebuild a pedestrian bridge that was damaged by storms and create a safe pathway to and from school buildings.
Laureldale Borough received Greenways, Trails, and Recreation grant funding. The borough was awarded $22,321 to install a walking path at Manzella Park.
“We’re fortunate to have outdoor spaces throughout Berks County that can be enjoyed by people of all ages,” Schwank said. “These projects improve accessibility to greenspaces and will address a public safety risk around the Antietam School District. I commend both local governments for taking action to preserve our natural resources.”
“Well maintained recreational areas are an important components of an active and healthy community,” Rozzi said. “I’m encouraged to see Lower Alsace and Laureldale take full advantage of these funding opportunities. All three will be of great benefit to nearby residents.”
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June 24, 2022
Harrisburg − June 24, 2022 − Co-chairs of the Pennsylvania Women’s Health Caucus (WHC) and members of the Pennsylvania State Senate Democratic Caucus criticized today’s ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. The ruling by the court not only upheld a Mississippi law banning abortion after 15 weeks but also goes further and overturns both Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, opening the door for states to outright ban or severely restrict abortion.
The ruling eliminates the constitutional right to an abortion recognized by the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision. Since a draft of the opinion written by Justice Samuel Alito was leaked and its authenticity subsequently confirmed by the court, advocacy groups, elected officials, and stakeholders have been issuing dire warnings about what such a radical decision would mean and the detrimental impact it would have on the health of millions of Americans.
After today’s decision, the 13 states that passed trigger laws now have bans or severe restrictions already enshrined into law, leaving millions of Americans without access to abortion immediately. Arkansas, Idaho and Oklahoma law now criminalizes abortion with penalties ranging from 5 to ten years in prison.
“The Supreme Court’s decision is absolutely gutting and a severe blow to women across the country,” said WHC co-chair Sen. Judy Schwank (D-11th). “We have a maternal mortality crisis in the commonwealth and the U.S. that will only be furthered by this reckless and ideologically driven decision. Our goal now needs to be preserving the access Pennsylvanians currently have to reproductive health care that will no doubt be subject to renewed attacks in the state legislature.”
“The overturning of Roe v. Wade is a devastating decision that will impact millions of women and child-bearing individuals across the country,” said WHC co-chair Sen. Amanda Cappelletti. “Women and child-bearing individuals are not second-class citizens. Bodily autonomy is a human right and abortion is still legal in Pennsylvania. I will do everything in my power to ensure it stays that way here in our commonwealth.”
“Despite today’s decision, here in Pennsylvania, we have to ensure that we maintain the right to legal and safe abortion access and that we continue fighting for women and families across the state for this option,” said WHC co-chair Rep. Morgan Cephas (D-192nd). “Limiting access to abortion healthcare will only exacerbate the maternal health care deserts that we’ve seen across our state and worsen the burden of the decisions that women and families need to make during this challenging time in their lives.”
“This decision is not only an extreme disappointment, but it is completely out of step with what the majority of Americans support, including here in Pennsylvania,” said State Senate Democratic Leader Sen. Jay Costa (D-43rd). “When reproductive rights are threatened, women’s health care on all levels is at risk. Instead of restricting health care for women, Senate Democrats are committed to making the healthcare system work even better for women and their specific health needs. Instead of stripping women of their rights and opening the door for others to lose fundamental rights as well, Senate Democrats will use our positions to identify real health challenges and solutions for women in this Commonwealth. Proactive, unbiased, convenient, and supportive healthcare should easily be a reality for women, and we will continue to make it a priority.”
“It’s a very scary day for our country,” said Sen. Katie Muth (D-44th). “This decision shows that the highest court in the land now includes radical politics into their decision-making process. This is what happens when the bench is stacked by a President who was unfit to serve the public. Now, we must take our anger and turn it into action, and hold every elected official accountable because we will never back down in the fight to protect our rights, our bodies, and our right to choice.”
“While this decision was expected, it is no less devastating,” said Sen. Maria Collett (D-12th). “Without Roe, what happens in the Pennsylvania legislature is more important than ever, and members of the Republican majority have already moved unpopular bills that turn back the clock and effectively ban all abortion. We need to be expanding access to healthcare across our commonwealth, not eliminating it, and I will continue to fight to ensure women can control their own medical decisions.”
“Fundamentally, the SCOTUS’ decision to overturn Roe v. Wade is an attack on every person’s constitutional right to make decisions about their bodies and reproductive health,” said Sen. Tim Kearney (D-26th). “Research shows that limiting access to abortions will cause more harm, inequities, and possibly deaths—especially for the poor and communities vulnerable to health disparities or lack of adequate healthcare. Now Pennsylvania must take the necessary steps to protect abortion rights. The onus will fall on our Commonwealth, and voters this coming election to select candidates whose policy positions align with their own. We must do what we can to ensure that Pennsylvanians continue to have access to safe and legal abortions.”
“To say I am disappointed in this decision would be a tremendous understatement,” said Sen. Carolyn Comitta (D-19th). “This ruling from the Supreme Court is a blatant attack on the personal freedoms, reproductive rights, and access to healthcare of women across the nation. Abortion is healthcare. Decisions women make about their own bodies should only be between them and their doctors. Today’s ruling will stand as an organizing call to redouble our efforts to protect reproductive rights and access to vital women’s healthcare in Pennsylvania and across the U.S.”
“I am appalled and disappointed in the Supreme Court for overturning decades of precedent and nearly overnight rolling back generations of work that had been hard-fought and won,” said Sen. Christine Tartaglione (D-2nd). “Make no mistake, the Supreme Court today did not end abortions in the United States, they ended safe abortions in the United States. We must now continue the fight that so many have been fighting for years and elect pro-choice, pro-women candidates this fall. We must now act to ensure and enshrine in Pennsylvania law the right to access abortion care for all women.”
Collectively, the WHC co-chairs are now expressing the importance of organizing around abortion rights and moving to preserve the access to abortion that is currently available in Pennsylvania.
As of now, abortion remains safe and legal in Pennsylvania, however, Pennsylvania House and Senate Republicans have signaled they will move aggressively to ban or restrict abortion in the commonwealth.
They’re currently floating the possibility of moving a vaguely worded constitutional amendment stating that there is no constitutional right to an abortion in Pennsylvania through both chambers to circumvent a veto. The constitutional amendment could be placed on the ballot as early as the 2023 primary election.
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June 13, 2022
Reading—June 13, 2022— The following is a statement from state Sen. Judy Schwank (D-11th) on the passing of Reading City Council President Jeffrey S. Waltman, Sr.
“I’m incredibly saddened by the sudden passing of my friend and colleague Jeffrey Waltman, who served the City of Reading honorably for 22 years. Reading has lost a wonderful public servant and an incredible human being. During his time on council representing his district and as president and vice president, Jeff demonstrated a passion for the place he called home. He fought tirelessly for a future full of promise on behalf of the citizens of Reading. He was a champion for economic development and historic preservation in the city. He understood that the city’s rich history was worth celebrating and saw the city’s potential even during difficult times. Even on the most contentious issues, Jeff was a patient and understanding leader on City Council with an ability to bring all stakeholders together and work towards pragmatic solutions. His leadership and business acumen helped the city navigate challenging financial situations and move beyond Act 47. Everything he did throughout his career was in pursuit of the common good for his family, friends, neighbors, and constituents. While we acknowledge his loss is painful, we can take solace in knowing his service has paved the way towards a brighter tomorrow for the City of Reading.”
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April 14, 2022
Reading – April 14, 2022 – Today, three organizations located in Pennsylvania’s 11th Senatorial District received a total of $194,000 in Nonprofit Security Grant Program funding from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD).
The Nonprofit Security Grant Program, which stemmed from legislation introduced by Sen. Judy Schwank (Act 83 of 2019), is available to nonprofit entities that principally serve individuals, groups, or institutions that are included within a bias motivation category for a single bias hate crime incident identified by the FBI. Those incident categories include: race/ethnicity/ancestry, religion, sexual orientation, disability, gender, and gender identity.
Eligible projects include:
- Purchase of safety and security equipment
- Threat awareness and response training
- Upgrades to existing structures that enhance safety and security
- Vulnerability and threat assessments
- Any other safety or security-related project that enhances the safety or security of the nonprofit organization
Schwank was a part of discussions with the governor and other state legislators about improving security for organizations that could be the targets of a hate crime following the Tree of Life synagogue shooting in October of 2018. During the current legislative session, Schwank introduced SB 228, which would permanently fund the Nonprofit Security Grant Program. The bill was referred to the Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee on Feb 22, 2021 and is yet to receive consideration.
Earlier this year, Gov. Tom Wolf announced that $4.5 million in American Rescue Plan dollars would be put towards the program on top of the $500,000 remaining available funds. After funding for the program was replenished, Schwank reached out to eligible organizations in her district to inform them about the grant opportunity.
The three 11th Senatorial District organizations awarded funding are:
- GoggleWorks – $150,000
- Sacred Heart School – $25,000
- Reform Congregation Oheb Sholom – $19,094
“This is a program I’m proud to support and I’m very happy to see organizations in Berks County consistently take advantage of this opportunity,” Schwank said. “This is a good example of how small dollar grants can go a long way towards improving community safety. Everyone deserves to feel safe, especially in schools or places of worship. I remain hopeful that we can come to an agreement in Harrisburg to make the Nonprofit Security Grant Program permanent.”
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February 16, 2022
Reading – February 16, 2022 – Today, Sen. Judy Schwank (D-11th district) visited Amanda E. Stout Elementary school to meet and read to a first grade class and to discuss SB 964, which would require Pennsylvania public schools to have a certified librarian on staff.
Schwank became the primary sponsor of SB 964 when its previous sponsor, John Sabatina, left the Pennsylvania Senate. In 2021, 48 school districts in Pennsylvania did not have a certified librarian in any of its buildings, impacting nearly 90 thousand K-12 students.
Schwank said her time as a volunteer tutor for the Ready.Set.READ! program gave her insight into the important work school librarians do helping students hone their reading skills.
“During my time as a tutor, I spent a lot of time in school libraries and got to see up close the impact a good librarian can have on students,” Schwank said. “Librarians play a crucial role helping students find and analyze reliable sources of information and apply it to their schoolwork. So, whether it’s sparking a student’s interest in reading or helping them navigate the shelves in order to find the information they need for a project, there are multiple ways librarians have a big impact on educational outcomes.”
Schwank also noted that one of the reasons schools go without librarians is inadequate education funding. Schwank added that Gov. Tom Wolf’s recent budget proposal, which would increase basic education funding for all 18 public schools in Berks County, would make it easier for schools to afford librarians and reduce reliance on local tax bases.
“Librarians disappearing from our public schools may seem like a small problem, but it’s a symptom of a much larger issue the commonwealth hasn’t been willing to reckon with,” Schwank said. “The way we fund public schools is broken and has been for quite some time.”
Schwank added that despite ranking fifth in total population among the 50 states, Pennsylvania ranks 46th in funding allocated by state governments to education.
SB 964 and its Pennsylvania House of Representatives companion bill HB 1168 have been co-sponsored by a bi-partisan group of lawmakers in the Pennsylvania General Assembly. To date, both bills are yet to be considered in either the House or Senate Education committees.
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January 25, 2022
Harrisburg – January 25, 2022 – Today, Sen. Judy Schwank (D- 11th district) and Sen. Elder Vogel (R-47th district) unveiled Senate Bill 1032, which would protect farmers from grain handlers that become insolvent.
Pennsylvania currently has no regulations providing indemnification coverage to farmers if a grain buyer goes out of business. The inspiration for the legislation came from two Berks County farmers who lost thousands of dollars when the dealer they’d been working with to sell their grain went out of business.
“The lack of protection afforded to Pennsylvania’s grain farmers puts them at significant risk and makes other farmers think twice before doing business here,” Schwank said. “This legislation will make sure other farmers don’t have to endure this economic hardship and blow to their livelihood when they’ve lived up to their end of the bargain. Other states protect their farmers. It’s time for Pennsylvania to do the same.”
The legislation would create a fund called the Agricultural Commodity Indemnity Fund (ACIF) to be used to reimburse farmers if their grain handler goes out of business. The ACIF will be funded by a half cent per bushel fee paid by farmers selling or storing grain with licensed grain handlers, and annual grain handler license fees. The per-bushel assessment will be discontinued once the fund reaches $10 million, and the assessment will not be reinstated unless the fund drops to $8 million.
“The establishment of ACIF will provide security for Pennsylvania farmers who do business with grain dealers, by preventing potentially devastating impacts should the company with which they have engaged in business become insolvent,” Vogel said. “Further, it will promote local licensed grain handlers in areas of the Commonwealth that border states with such a fund already in place.”
Several other states offer similar protections. The legislation proposed by Schwank and Vogel is based on laws adopted in other states and has the support of the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau.
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May 25, 2021
Reading, May 25, 2021 − The city of Reading and the Redevelopment Authority of the County of Berks have been awarded state Blight Remediation Program grants totaling $200,000 by the Commonwealth Finance Authority, State Sen. Judy Schwank (D-11th district) announced today.
“These state funds will help improve some neighborhoods in the city by offering quality, affordable housing options and revitalizing neighborhood infrastructure,” Schwank said. “I was happy to advocate for both of these projects and look forward to seeing the results.”
These are the funded projects:
Reading, Buttonwood Gateway West Improvements Project, $125,000
- The project involves street improvements made to the roadway, curbs, ADA ramps, pavement markings, and the replacement of storm water inlets in the four hundred block of Miltimore Street.
Redevelopment Authority of the County of Berks, Berks County Blight Remediation Projects, $75,000
- The Redevelopment Authority of the County of Berks (RACB), in partnership with the Berks County Non-Profit Development Corporation (BCNDC), will use the funds for a project located in the Reading’s “South of Penn Area.” BCNDC will perform the total rehabilitation on three properties they currently own. Once the three property renovations are completed, these homes will be sold to low- and moderate-income families in Reading.
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September 26, 2018
Harrisburg, September 26, 2018 – The Pennsylvania Senate today approved a bill introduced by Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks) and Sen. Randy Vulakovich (R-Allegheny) to criminalize the coercion of sexual conduct.
Senate Bill 1134, which Schwank and Vulakovich introduced earlier this year, was approved by the upper chamber, 48-0.
Sextortion occurs when sex or sexual images are demanded in lieu of money or other items with financial value. The act is recognized as a form of sexual assault and is criminalized in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Texas and Utah.
“This legislation was brought forward by the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape (PCAR), and I was proud to join their efforts to end sexual extortion,” Schwank said. “Its use has grown in both intensity and frequency in the digital age, outpacing our current laws and mechanisms, and leaving victims without adequate recourse.”
“As a former police officer, I have seen this inexcusable and exploitive behavior,” Vulakovich said. “Too often, victims are often unable to recover from the stigma and its psychological repercussions. This legislation will create stronger punishments to help deter this cruel behavior.”
Donna Greco, PCAR’s Policy Director, applauded both senators for the legislation.
“PCAR is grateful to senators Schwank and Vulakovich for their leadership on this legislation. We applaud the senate for their unanimous passage of SB 1134 today,” Greco said. “Establishing sextortion as a crime in the commonwealth will help protect victims who too often fall through the cracks of our criminal justice system. This bill clarifies and elevates sexual extortion as the serious sex crime that it is.”
The bill moves to the House now for consideration.
Contact: Jamie Klein (610) 929-2151, jklein@pasenate.com (Schwank)
Nathan Silcox (717)-787-6538, nsilcox@pasen.gov (Vulakovich)
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February 26, 2015
READING, Feb. 26, 2015 – Frustrated by inadequate proposals to address Pennsylvania’s multi-billion dollar public and municipal pension problems, Sen. Judy Schwank today said she has formally introduced her bill to create an expert panel that would devise the best solution to the crisis.
Senate Bill 564 would create the Public Pensions Review Commission and the 25-member panel would have six months to propose Pennsylvania’s path to pension solvency.
“Make no mistake,” Sen. Schwank said during a press conference here, “every senator in my caucus – and most public officials I have talked with – believe the gaping unfunded pension gap is a very serious problem. To say or think otherwise is disingenuous.
“What has been the problem with the ideas that have been floated is they, at best, would do very little to help the situation and, at worst, would exacerbate it.
“The PPRC would be given the time and the resources to light a path that ends the burden for Pennsylvania taxpayers and frees the commonwealth to use those dollars to properly invest in education, in businesses, and our communities,” Schwank said.
The Public Pensions Review Commission would include the governor; the revenue secretary; state budget director; director of the Office of Administration; the leaders of the four legislative caucuses; the director of the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts; the chancellors of the PA State System of Higher Education; the presidents of Penn State, Pitt, Temple and Lincoln universities; executive directors of the Pennsylvania League of Municipalities, County Commissioners Association of PA, Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors, Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs, and Pennsylvania School Boards Association; representatives of the three public employee unions; and three public members possessing special expertise in issues relating to public pensions appointed each by the governor, president pro tempore and speaker of the House of Representatives.
The PPRC would be authorized to conduct hearings and receive appropriate information and analysis and be supported by the Joint State Government Commission. Its budget would be $1 million.
The commission would also be subject to right-to-know, sunshine and state ethics laws.
“At the end of six months, the PPRC would be required to do as the law would suggest and ‘recommend statutory and or regulatory changes needed or desirable to achieve … long-term, sound, stable, public pension structure for state and local governments’,” Sen. Schwank said.
While the combined unfunded pension liability for the Public School Employees’ Retirement System and the State Employees’ Retirement System is about $50 billion, Auditor General Eugene DePasquale said in January the municipal pension shortfall is $7.7 billion.
In 2013, PSERS paid $5.5 billion in retirement payments statewide, and SERS paid $2.9 billion.
Nearly half of Pennsylvania’s 1,223 municipalities (562) are distressed and underfunded.
“Much is at stake, and it’s important we get this right the first time,” Sen. Schwank said. “It’s why we need the PPRC, and it’s why we must start this process now.”
Joining Sen. Schwank at today’s press conference where:
- Reading City Councilwoman Marcia Goodman-Hinnershitz
- Craig Hafer, principal, Walsky Investment Management Inc., Wyomissing, and
- Dr. Solomon Lausch, executive director, Berks Business Education Coalition and retired superintendent for the Schuylkill Valley School District.
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More information on Sen. Schwank is available on her website, Facebook and Twitter.
January 30, 2015
Improved accessibility, expanding lifelong learning opportunities goals of service
HARRISBURG, Jan. 30, 2015 – Named as one of the newest members of the organization that governs Pennsylvania’s 14 state-owned universities, Sen. Judy Schwank today said she intends to focus on making college more affordable and expanding opportunities for lifelong learning.
“The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education was created to deliver affordable, high-quality instruction and it is a mission that must be refocused,” Schwank said after being appointed to the PASSHE board by Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa. “Our 14 universities suffered financially during the past four years because their mission wasn’t supported.
“As we are looking to modernize and improve the way the state is funding basic education, so must we re-examine how we are valuing higher education,” she said. “I believe the emphasis on post-secondary schooling has been missing for too long.”
The State System of Higher Education’s 20-member board of governors is responsible for the planning and coordination of the development and operation of the 14-university network. While 11 of the governors require appointment by the governor and confirmation by the senate, three of the board members are students and four are from the Pennsylvania legislature.
One of the system’s universities, Kutztown, is located in Schwank’s 11th Senatorial District.
“Auditor General Eugene DePasquale has raised some troubling financial flags about our state-owned and state-related universities but the problems are not the direct result of how these great schools have managed their resources. To the contrary, their work has kept each institution running,” Schwank said.
“I intend to work with the board of governors to ensure that good changes and new ideas help to propel forward our 14 universities,” she said.
Schwank said another idea of hers is to work to bring more adult-level learning opportunities to Pennsylvanians, no matter how long it’s been since they graduated from college.
“While we are all happy ‘to be done’ with school when we graduate from college, many people want to keep learning new things throughout their lives. The State System of Higher Education can focus on delivering these opportunities,” Sen. Schwank said.
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More information on Sen. Schwank is available on her website, Facebook and Twitter.
January 13, 2015
Panel would finally employ PA’s arsenal of experts
READING, Jan. 13, 2015 – Faced with a growing multi-billion dollar pension deficit and no good proposal to solve the problem, state Sen. Judy Schwank today said she will introduce a bill that would direct a new commission to properly examine the issue and propose a bipartisan solution.
The proposal would require a Public Pensions Review Commission to submit its solution to the commonwealth’s pension problem no later than six months after the bill is signed into law.
“We have known for years that Pennsylvania’s pension systems have been suffering because of the decisions of the past,” Schwank said. “But those decisions, like the proposals that have since been offered and rejected, were made without the full benefit of their implications.
“We continue to face a very serious problem in funding our state pension systems yet legislators persist in proposing solutions that fail to cure the actual problem,” she said.
If Schwank’s bill is approved, the Public Pensions Review Commission would be comprised of representatives from each branch of state government plus state system universities, state-related universities, the separate state organizations of county governments, municipal governments and school districts, major public employee unions, and the general public.
The PPRC would be authorized to conduct hearings and receive appropriate information and analysis and be supported by the Joint State Government Commission.
The commission would also be subject to right-to-know, sunshine and state ethics laws.
Sen. Schwank said she and other lawmakers understand that pension reform will be a top issue during the 2015-2016 legislative session. While well intentioned, she said she believes Senate Bill 1 will not be much better than past proposals that looked to cure Pennsylvania’s pension crisis.
“Most of those ‘solutions’ have failed miserably because they didn’t address the current unfunded liability and they didn’t look at how the current plans could be managed differently,” Schwank said. “Those proposals might have resolved the problem in the future but they did nothing to resolve the problem we are facing now.”
Pennsylvania’s pension plans – the State Employees’ Retirement System, or SERS, and the Public School Employees’ Retirement System, or PSERS – have a combined shortfall of $48 billion, Schwank said.
“We have wasted too much time rehashing the same proposals and political posturing while the pension issue festers. We need to get the right people to the table and find the right solutions to the pension problem,” Schwank said. “We need solutions that are equitable to state and public school employees as well as Pennsylvania taxpayers.”
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More information on Sen. Schwank is available on her website, Facebook and Twitter.
October 16, 2014
HELLAM, Oct. 16, 2014 – Pennsylvania became the first state in the country today to preserve 500,000 acres of valuable farmland and three Berks County farms helped accomplish the milestone, Sen. Judy Schwank said today.
“Berks County is a big reason the commonwealth has protected half a million acres of farmland,” Schwank said today following the Pennsylvania Farmland Preservation Board’s meeting at Flinchbaugh’s Orchard and Farm Market. “Our county has preserved more acres of farmland than any other county in the program.
“The 300 acres of prime agricultural space that were removed from the specter of development today by the board means 678 farms and 68,000 local acres of Berks County farms will be producing nutritious food for generations to come.”
The total conservation easements for the following three farms totals $748,000:
- Larry & Patricia Bauscher, Greenwich Township, 8 acres
- Benjamin & Karah Davies, Washington Township, 1 acres
- Larry & Carol Mertz, Maxatawny Township, 5 acres
Since its inception in 1988, the commonwealth has protected 4,704 farms totaling 500,079 acres with $1.3 billion in easements. In Berks County, 678 farms consisting of 67,991 acres have been preserved.
The long-term goal of the state’s program is to permanently preserve farmland. The holders of the easements have the right to prevent development or improvements of the land for purposes other than agricultural production.
Local, county or state government – or any combination of the three – may buy easements. Counties that decide to have an easement purchase program must create an agricultural land preservation board.
For more information on PA’s farmland preservation program, visit the Bureau of Farmland Preservation’s website.
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October 7, 2014
HARRISBURG, Oct. 7, 2014 – Sen. Judy Schwank will host her annual “College Financial Aid Awareness Night” from 7 p.m. until 8:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 9, at Muhlenberg High School.
The free event will include presentations by Schwank and financial aid experts from the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency, or PHEAA, and Reading Area Community College.
“With the cost of postsecondary education continuing to rise, it is vitally important for students and parents to understand the financial aid resources that are available to them,” said Sen. Schwank. “Our expert presenters will provide families with information on planning for college, the types of assistance that are available, and how to apply for student aid.”
Additional information is available by contacting Schwank’s Reading District office, 610-929-2151.
Media coverage is invited.
WHO: Sen. Judy Schwank, PHEAA, Reading Area Community College
WHAT: “College Financial Aid Awareness Night”
WHEN: 7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 9
WHERE: Muhlenberg High School, 400 Sharp Ave., Reading
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More information on Sen. Schwank is available on her website, Facebook and Twitter.
September 29, 2014
HARRISBURG, Sept. 29, 2014 – Standing with the dozen eggs, loaf of bread and box of cereal she attempted to buy with the $7.25 Pennsylvania’s minimum-wage workers receive for 60 minutes of labor, state Sen. Judy Schwank today joined a statewide action campaign to urge an increase in the state’s base hourly rate.
Schwank said the $7.25 was not enough money to buy the three food staples.
“You know that you and I couldn’t make ends meet on $7.25 an hour, and our friends, relatives and neighbors cannot do it either,” Schwank told press conference attendees in the Capitol Rotunda today.
“A business whose plan works only on the exploitation of the labor of people who couldn’t find higher paying jobs is not a model that’s sustainable for our country nor is it sustainable for our commonwealth,” she said.
Schwank said she supports legislation, Senate Bill 1300, that would incrementally increase Pennsylvania’s minimum wage to $10.10 by 2016 and tie future increases to inflation.
“As our neighbors go, we go as well. It’s important we make the effort to get the minimum wage bill passed in Pennsylvania, tie it to the Consumer Price Index so that we don’t have to wait for legislators to take action … and we can help solve this problem, once and for all,” Schwank said.
Schwank’s participation in today’s state Capitol press conference was part of Raise the Wage PA’s statewide action day, which included similar events in nine other Pennsylvania communities: Reading, Allentown, Altoona, Erie, Media, Morrisville, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and York.
Ten states and Washington D.C. have raised their minimum wage rates this year to something higher than Pennsylvania’s $7.25 an hour commitment. To date, 23 states and D.C. pay their front-line workers more than the federal minimum.
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More information on Sen. Schwank is available on her website, Facebook and Twitter.
September 25, 2014
READING, Sept. 24, 2014 – Representing one of Pennsylvania’s 20 communities that are financially distressed, state Sen. Judy Schwank has voted to change the law that governs the commonwealth’s municipal recovery program.
Schwank’s vote Wednesday helped to send the Act 47 proposal, House Bill 1773, to the governor for his consideration.
“I voted to make comprehensive changes to Act 47 because I don’t want Reading to be stuck in an otherwise positive program for decades, as have some other communities,” Schwank (D-Ruscombmanor Township) said today.
“Reading has a recovery plan, thanks to Act 47. If it continues to follow the prescription, it should be well on its way to a brighter economic future. While I am confident it will enjoy better times, we must make sure the city – or any local municipality – has the tools it needs to get back to self-sufficiency in a reasonable period of time,” she said.
Reading’s Act 47 recovery plan, approved Nov. 12, 2009, is designed to improve the city’s management and accountability, advance its oversight of housing codes and funding sources, and rethink how it pays for and delivers city services.
HB 1773, if signed into law, would limit municipalities’ participation in the program to five years and give the Department of Community and Economic Development more authority in enforcing a recovery plan.
Municipalities in the program when the law goes into effect are allowed one three-year extension after their first five-year program expires.
Also, HB1773 delivers fairer taxing options that local governments can consider to quickentheir exit from Act 47 financial distress.
Of the 20 municipalities under Act 47, the commonwealth has watched Farrell (1987), Mercer County; Aliquippa (1987), Beaver County; Braddock (1988), Clairton (1988) and Rankin (1989), Allegheny County; and Franklin (1988), Cambria County, the longest.
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More information on Sen. Schwank is available on her website, Facebook and Twitter.
September 23, 2014
HARRISBURG, Sept. 23, 2014 – Urged by state Sen. Judy Schwank to examine the growing problem of heroin and prescription drug abuse, the Center for Rural Pennsylvania canvassed the state and issued its report today.
Sen. Schwank said she worked with Sen. Gene Yaw, the center’s chairman of the board, to study the problem following a spate of heroin and prescription drug-related overdoses and deaths in Topton, Berks County.
As the center released its report today at the Capitol, Schwank said she is “encouraged” by their work and how Pennsylvanians will benefit.
“There is recognition now that this very serious problem is something that can be dealt with in the commonwealth. And I look forward to being a part of it,” Schwank said during the Center for Rural Pennsylvania’s press conference. “I look forward to seeing what we will accomplish as a legislature and as a commonwealth to help target this problem.
“This is our blueprint. This is where we go from here, not only to make sure we pass the legislation that’s sitting before us right now, but to think about what we have to do in the future and focus on that.
“Legislation isn’t going to be the silver bullet. We need to ensure that our community members are educated; our youth, certainly, are educated; and our medical community understands the problem. It takes all of us, including law enforcement and our judiciary, to work together to resolve this.”
Schwank said she went to work on the heroin epidemic after 5 Topton residents died this past spring.
After first organizing a town hall meeting that attracted more than 10 times the people she expected to attend, Schwank said she looked across the commonwealth and approached Sen. Yaw.
Parents, families and communities were hurting, and continue to hurt, she said.
“You have to look into the face of an anguished parent to understand what they’re dealing with. And, there are so many of them out there,” Schwank said. “I don’t use the words epidemic or crisis lightly. But in the case of heroin abuse and opioid drug abuse, I believe those words are the words we should be using. That’s how serious this problem is.
“We applaud the Center for Rural Pennsylvania for focusing specifically on the issue in rural Pennsylvania. We know that this is an issue in our urban and suburban areas as well.”
Schwank recognized Reading Hospital’s chief of emergency medicine, Dr. Charles Barbera, for his role in helping to guide the response to the epidemic.
“He has been a wonderful advocate for us on this issue and has helped to guide us in some of our efforts in Berks County,” Schwank said.
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More information on Sen. Schwank is available on her website, Facebook and Twitter.
September 16, 2014
HARRISBURG, Sept. 16, 2014 – Sen. Judy Schwank issued the following statement following the Senate Finance Committee’s 6-5 approval of Senate Bill 76, which would reform the way schools generate revenue from property owners:
“Although it was a narrow vote, it was a positive vote and the full Senate will now get the chance to consider SB 76,” Schwank, who is one of the bill’s prime sponsors, said.
“There will be more discussion, debate and consideration given to this issue, which is as it should be. There is no doubt that too many families in Berks County and throughout the commonwealth are being crushed by steep property levies. They need relief, and they need it quickly.
“Today’s vote was in property owners’ favor.”
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More information on Sen. Schwank is available on her website, Facebook and Twitter.
September 9, 2014
READING, Sept. 9, 2014 – Sen. Judy Schwank today said Leesport residents will benefit from a new $100,000 state grant that will help the Berks County community pay for a sewer replacement project.
Commonwealth Financing Authority approved the “Small Water and Sewer System Program” grant for Leesport Borough Authority. The project will happen along Leesport Avenue.
“This is an important investment in Leesport and I am pleased that CFA recognized the benefits that we articulated when we urged the authority to approve this grant,” Sen. Schwank said. “The money will deliver environmental and economic benefits to the borough’s residents.”
The “Small Water and Sewer System Program” grant helps Pennsylvania communities like Leesport pay for the construction, improvement, expansion, rehabilitation or repair of a water supply or sanitary sewer system. Eligible projects have must cost between $50,000 and $150,000.
Complete details of the grant program are available on the Department of Community and Economic Development’s website.
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More information on Sen. Schwank is available on her website, Facebook and Twitter.
September 9, 2014
READING, Sept. 9, 2014 – – The Commonwealth Financing Authority today approved a state Multimodal Transportation Fund grant in the amount of $1 million to support a road improvement and bridge replacement along Saint Bernardine Street in Angelica Park in the City of Reading’s Millmont Section, according to Sen. Judy Schwank and Rep. Thomas Caltagirone.
The $2.7 million project includes the upgrade of St. Bernardine Street through Angelica Park, including the replacement of a bridge and the installation of pedestrian walkways, bike pathways, and street lighting. Alvernia University has committed significant resources to support the project as well. While additional funds still need to be secured to move forward with this project, the approval of this state grant funding represents a significant step forward.
“I am pleased that these grant funds have been approved for this important project,” said Rep. Caltagirone, whose office worked closely with Alvernia University officials to prepare and develop the Multimodal Transportation Fund grant application. “With increased traffic to Alvernia University and the Millmont Section of Reading in recent years, this roadway and bridge is in dire need of upgrades for the safe growth of the university and community. These state funds will help provide safe access for vehicular traffic, pedestrians, and bicyclists.”
“These state funds represent an important investment in the safety of local residents and in the economic future of the city,” noted Sen. Schwank, who strongly advocated for the approval of the grant funds for the project. “With Alvernia University, the expected completion of the Berks County Conservancy Facility in the Park, several significant large employers already in Millmont, and additional parcels available for development in the neighborhood, this project will serve as a catalyst for continued growth in the area, which is good for the city.”
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July 22, 2014
READING, July 22, 2014 – Working to stem the tide of heroin overdoses and deaths in Berks County and throughout the state, Sen. Judy Schwank joined other elected and health officials today to talk about the “Heroin Crisis Facing Pennsylvania.”
The forum, held at the Reading Area Community College, was an opportunity for experts to talk about possible solutions to the heroin problem. The session was the second in a series of four public hearings scheduled by the Center for Rural Pennsylvania.
“Berks County has been wracked by heroin-related deaths and arrests in the past year, including the arrests earlier this summer of 13 Topton-area residents and the deaths of six Kutztown and Brandywine Heights high school graduates since 2013,” Schwank said in her opening statement. “Between 2009 and last year, 58 overdose deaths were reported in Berks County, spiking in 2011 at 16 and last year at 15, but none of them were heroin-related until this year, according to a report by the Pennsylvania Coroners Association.”
Across the commonwealth, Schwank noted an 89 percent increase in overall drug-overdose deaths since 1999.
Heroin’s affordability is one of the biggest problems, Schwank said.
“A typical bag that used to be $20 six years ago can be bought today in New York for $4 or even $2,” the senator said. “Rural areas in Berks and nearby face the issue of easy access to such several major metropolitan areas. In particular, Berks lies along the I-78 corridor.”
The Senate adopted legislation in May that would provide for prescription drug monitoring. Sen. Schwank, who voted for SB 1180, said the registry would increase the quality of patient care and help law enforcement agencies prevent fraud and drug abuse, and eventually help to curtail heroin use.
“Heroin is not subject to this registry, but victims have often turned to it after becoming addicted, to more costly prescriptive medications, and it is deadly because it’s purity level varies,” she said.
State Sens. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming) and the chairman of the Center for Rural Pennsylvania, Scott Wagner (R-York), and John Wozniak (D-Cambria) attended the heroin crisis forum, as did state Rep. Jerry Knowles (R-Berks).
Other forum participants included: PA Deptartment of Drug and Alcohol Programs Secretary Gary Tennis; Deb Beck, executive director, Drug & Alcohol Service Providers Organization of Pennsylvania; Phil Bauer, a parent who advocates for prescription drug safety; Linda Texter, director of the Reading Hospital Drug and Alcohol Center; George J. Vogel, executive director, Council on Chemical Abuse; Christine Gilfillan, associate director, Berks Women In Crisis; Kutztown Mayor Sandy Green; Brandywine Heights Area School District Superintendent Andrew M. Potteiger; Alison Snyder, personnel director, East Penn Manufacturing Co. Inc.; Dr. Gregory K. Sorensen, chief medical officer, Reading Health System; Berks County District Attorney John T. Adams; Michael J. Gombar – chief Berks County detective; Schuylkill County District Attorney Christine A. Holman; Berks County Court of Common Pleas Judge Scott D. Keller; and Berks County Magisterial District Judge Dean Patton.
The center will hold its next hearing at 9 a.m., Tuesday, Aug. 5, at St. Francis University in Loretto. Its final hearing, 8:30 a.m., Aug. 22, will be held at Clarion University.
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More information on Sen. Schwank is available on her website, Facebook and Twitter.
July 16, 2014
READING, July 16, 2014 – Sen. Judy Schwank, members of the Pennsylvania National Guard, local emergency responders, family, and other public officials will hold a dedication ceremony at 10 a.m., Friday, July 18, to officially name a stretch of Route 662 in Ruscombmanor Township, Berks County, as the “Chief Warrant Officer-2 Jarett M. Yoder Highway.”
The community’s work and the senator’s legislative efforts brought this tribute. The governor signed House Bill 925 into law in November.
Yoder, a 26-year-old graduate of Oley Valley High School, died April 2013 in Afghanistan when his Apache helicopter crashed in Nangarhar Province.
The chief warrant officer was married to Heather Garay-Yoder and was the son of Diane and Gary Yoder.
The stretch of Route 662 to be named the “Chief Warrant Officer-2 Jarett M. Yoder Highway” is in Ruscombmanor Township, between Fleetwood Borough and Oley Township.
Media coverage is invited.
WHO: Sen. Judy Schwank, family of Officer Yoder, PA National Guard, local emergency responders
WHAT: Dedication ceremony to name stretch of Route 662 as the “Chief Warrant Officer-2 Jarett M. Yoder Highway”
WHEN: 10 a.m., Friday, July 18
WHERE: Reuben Strauss Park (Ruscombmanor Township, on Route 662 near the intersection with Route 12)
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More information on Sen. Schwank is available on her website, Facebook and Twitter.
