Sen. Schwank Visits Berks WIC Facility, Touts the Importance of Boosting Enrollment

Reading, PA November 4, 2021 − Yesterday, State Senator Judy Schwank (D-11th district) toured and met with the staff at the Berks Women, Infant and Children (WIC) Nutrition Center at 1110 C Rockland Street, Reading, PA 19604.

WIC has improved the nutrition and health of families in Pennsylvania since 1974 by providing access to healthy foods, nutrition services, breastfeeding support, health care and social service referrals. Through WIC, pregnant women, mothers, and caregivers of infants and young children learn about good nutrition to keep themselves and their families healthy. All WIC services are free to women, infants and children who are Pennsylvania residents, at nutritional risk and meet the income guidelines.

The 100 percent federally funded program is the cornerstone for producing a healthy mother and baby. However, PA’s WIC program has been in decline for many years, despite a critical need for the program to grow, evolve, and connect families with a broad array of social, mental, education and other healthy support programs.

“The opportunity I had to meet with that staff members who deliver this resource to our community everyday was invaluable,” Schwank said. “The staff shared some great ideas with me on how we can grow WIC and make sure we are engaged with the people that could benefit most from this service. I’m not sure everyone knows this is available, so spreading the word is vital. A person’s income should never decide the quality of care they receive, especially not babies and children. I’m a firm believer that all children deserve a healthy start. I look forward to continuing to work with the dedicated team at WIC and will support them in any way I can in the state legislature.”

For more information on the WIC program and information on how to apply, call 1-800-WIC-WINS. You can also apply online at www.pawic.com/OnlineApplication.aspx.

###

Schwank, Adams Announce Pardon Project of Berks County

Reading, PA- November 1, 2021- Today, State Senator Judy Schwank (D-11th district) and Berks County District Attorney John Adams announced the beginning of the Pardon Project of Berks County.

Pardon Projects pair individuals seeking a pardon for a past crime with a pardon coach. Pardon coaches help applicants tell their stories and walk them through the application process free of charge. Anyone looking to volunteer can become a pardon coach by attending a training session.

Since 2019, eight out of 10 applicants have received a hearing before the Pennsylvania Board of Pardons. Governor Tom Wolf approves over 95% of applications recommended by the board.

“Pardon Project has the potential to be a game-changer in Berks County,” Schwank said. “As soon as I learned about the possibility of implementing something like this here in our community, I knew it could make a difference in a lot of people’s lives. Having a record can make it difficult for people who just want to move on with their lives to land a job or receive the occupational license they need. Pardon Project removes the unnecessary barriers to success people face and rewards them for doing the right thing.”

Philadelphia Lawyers for Social Equity (PLSE) Pardon Project Director Tobey Oxholm has been working to establish projects in counties across Pennsylvania. Oxholm contacted Schwank’s office in the Spring of 2021 about convening a Pardon Project presentation for key community groups and elected officials in Berks County. The presentation took place in early June. Oxholm has applauded how quickly the Berks County Pardon Project steering committee got up to speed.  

“Over the past year, I have been working in a dozen counties across Pennsylvania to help set up Pardon Projects,” said Oxholm. “None, not one, has moved as quickly from idea to action as the one in Berks County. What’s been achieved here in record time shows the rest of the state just what is possible when a whole community comes together in common cause to help their own. I applaud Senator Schwank and all who have been working with her to make this day possible.”

Oxholm also noted that only 29 people living in Berks County submitted applications for pardon review last year.

Adams was a leading member of the steering committee tasked with establishing Pardon Project and played a crucial role in determining the eligibility guidelines for applicants.

“The burden of a criminal record can handicap individuals from obtaining employment, professional licenses, housing and many other things,” Adams said. “Pardon Project will assist people who have established a proven track record as law-abiding, productive members of our community an opportunity to obtain relief from the burden of a criminal record. Pardon Project will help those candidates apply for a pardon from the Pennsylvania Board of Pardon if they can demonstrate true remorse and change. This will be beneficial not only to the individuals seeking a pardon but in the long run, will benefit our entire community.”

Pardon Project will be overseen by Berks Connections / Pretrial Services (BCPS). The program will launch initially with a selected group of participants and pardon coaches to pilot the program and assure the process runs smoothly. As the program grows, BCPS will work with non-profits, colleges, universities, churches and other institutions to establish pardon hubs throughout Berks County.

“We have witnessed firsthand how someone’s criminal history can hinder their success long after they have completed their sentence,” said Nicole Schnovel, Co-Executive Director of BCPS. “BCPS is thrilled to coordinate the efforts of the Pardon Project of Berks County and serve as the official Pardon Hub. It a natural extension of our Life Improvement Business and we look forward to being able to offer this service to the community!”

BCPS provides pretrial services and programs for individuals re-entering society and has been leading the effort to implement a Pardon Project in Berks County since Oxholm’s presentation in June. 

Brandon Flood, who was appointed as Secretary of the Pennsylvania Board of Pardons in 2019, knows first-hand how a criminal record can hinder success. Flood had his own prior conviction forgiven by the board and Gov. Wolf just weeks before taking the position. Flood spoke at the event and touted the promises of the project.

“Applying for a pardon in Pennsylvania is easier than it’s ever been,” Flood said. “The Berks County Pardon Project will in essence serve as an extension of our office by ensuring that prospective pardon applicants in Berks County are provided with the tools and resources that they need in order to confidently navigate the executive clemency process. The fine residents of Berks County have both Senator Schwank and the project coordinators to thank for this vitally important development.”

Although lawyers are not needed to apply for a pardon, they often volunteer as pardon coaches. The Berks County Bar Association coordinated the first Berks County pardon coach training session and contacted local lawyers about participating.

“Our members are proud to volunteer their skills for this collaborative effort to remove barriers blocking far too many from better jobs and from contributing to our community,” said Bar Association President Justin D. Bodor. “Attorneys are uniquely qualified to help balance the scales for individuals who have earned a second chance. And the Bar Association is truly grateful for the unwavering support and guidance provided by Sen. Schwank and District Attorney Adams as we embark on this new initiative together.”

It’s not just attorneys that recognize the potential impact a pardon can have on someone’s life. Magisterial District Judge Tonya Butler has voiced support for Pardon Project and served as a member of the steering committee.

“The Pardon Project of Berks County represents hope and opportunity for these members of our society who will no longer be held back due to a criminal record,” said Butler. “In my experience, many ex-offenders have already made positive impacts in our community and need to be able to realize their full potential.”

As Pardon Project gets up and running, eventually, BCPS will look to help establish pardon hubs throughout Berks County. Pardon hubs increase access to pardon information and coaches. Reading Area Community College (RACC) is one local institution that has express interest in becoming a pardon hub.

“Education can be a gateway to social and economic mobility,” said Dr. Susan Looney, President of RACC. “Providing access, opportunity, excellence and hope to those willing to commit to a fresh start is a critical and essential community investment strategy.”

Individuals who would like to be paired with a pardon coach are encouraged to contact BCPS at PardonMeBerks@bcpsreentry.org. Individuals who are interested in volunteering as Pardon Coaches can contact BCPS at BerksPardonCoach@bcpsreentry.org.

###

 

 

Sen. Schwank and Sen. Vogel Announce Legislation to Protect Pennsylvania Grain Farmers

Harrisburg – October 22, 2021 – This week Sen. Judy Schwank (D-11th district) and Sen. Elder Vogel (R-47th district) announced plans to introduce legislation that 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.

###

Schwank Offers Amendment to Allow DACA Recipients to Receive Teaching Certifications

Harrisburg, PA – October 18, 2021 – State Senator Judy Schwank (D-11th district) introduced an amendment to SB 224 that would authorize Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) recipients to obtain teaching certifications in Pennsylvania.

SB 224 removes barriers teachers from out of state face when trying to obtain a teaching certification in Pennsylvania to help address the commonwealth’s ongoing teacher shortage. Schwank’s amendment also seeks to address the teacher shortage by allowing DACA recipients to teach in Pennsylvania.

“We all know about the teacher shortage. It’s a big problem, and even though I support SB 224, I don’t think this legislation alone will get us where we need to be,” Schwank said. “We are trying to fix the teacher shortage by importing teachers from other states while we have people who are already living in Pennsylvania who are ready, willing, and capable of teaching in our schools, but we aren’t letting them. That doesn’t make sense to me. We should be doing both.”

Schwank also noted that DACA recipients who want to teach often join Teach for America or relocate to neighboring states.  

“Young teachers who grew up in Pennsylvania and want to go back into the communities they call home and make a difference are being pushed away. These are individuals with college degrees and all the necessary qualifications. The only thing holding them back is where they were born, which they had no control over. Not to mention, in addition to the teacher shortage, we are also struggling with a real lack of diversity among our teachers which has real consequences.”

Numerous studies have found that students perform better in the classroom when their teacher is a racial or ethnic match. According to The Education Trust, a national non-profit working to close the diversity gap in schools, 12.1 percent of Pennsylvania students are Latino while only 1.1 percent of teachers are.

The amendment failed by a vote of 21-27. SB 224 passed unanimously and is now headed to the Pennsylvania House or Representatives.

Senate Dems Virtual Hearing Focuses on Legislation to Better Accommodate Working Pregnant Pennsylvanians

HARRISBURG, October 5, 2021 – State Senator Katie Muth (D- Berks/Chester/Montgomery), chair of the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Policy Committee, today joined state Sens. Amanda M. Cappelletti (D-Montgomery/Delaware) and Judy Schwank (D-Berks) to host a virtual public hearing on the need for workplace accommodations for pregnant Pennsylvanians.

“Statistics show that women make up about half of the workforce, and working women are the primary or sole breadwinners in 40% of American families. Even still, women face obstacles in the workplace that compromise their ability to provide for their families – including pregnancy discrimination and an employer’s refusal to grant an employee’s reasonable request for temporary, minor accommodations,” Muth said. “Senate Bill 716 is commonsense legislation that would protect pregnant Pennsylvanians and I hope today’s hearing brought attention to these much-needed accommodations in the workplace.”

The Policy Committee heard support from testifiers for Senator Cappelletti’s Senate Bill 716, which makes it unlawful for an employer to refuse an employee’s request for a reasonable accommodation, unless doing so would represent an undue hardship to the employer.

“Today’s hearing illustrated how necessary the protections in Senate Bill 716 are for pregnant Pennsylvanians,” Cappelletti said. “Pregnant people should not have to choose between a paycheck and a healthy pregnancy, especially when small and reasonable changes can be made to accommodate pregnant workers while maintaining a healthy, productive work environment.”

Participants in the hearing included Marianne Fray, CEO, Maternity Care Coalition; Sophia Elliot, Legal Fellow, Women’s Law Project; Kerin Kohler, Social Worker, Women’s Health Center; and Myra Taylor, SEIU member, Registered Nurse, Allegheny General Hospital.

“The problems we face in terms of workplace accommodations for pregnant women aren’t new. As our testifiers highlighted, far too many women face pregnancy discrimination in the workplace, and disproportionately, they tend to be women of color. Denying pregnant women simple, commonsense accommodations can lead to long-term health complications and force women out of the workforce,” Schwank added. “Enacting SB 716 is a long overdue, noncontroversial measure that will no longer force women to choose between their health and a paycheck.”  

Per the bill, some reasonable accommodations include providing periodic rest or a chair for an employee who stands for a long period of time, assistance with heavy lifting, access to drinking water, uncompensated break time and temporary job restructuring. Additionally, the legislation will forbid employers from denying employment opportunities to employees based on their request for accommodations.

“When an employer denies a pregnant person reasonable accommodations — like a

break to use the restroom or access to drinking water—the pregnant employee is forced to choose between a paycheck and working in unsafe conditions,” Sophia Elliot, Women’s Law Project, said. “SB 716 ensures that employers protect the safety and advance the equality of a critical and large segment of the workforce, but by the same token this bill does not impose an undue hardship on any employer.”

Currently, twelve states have passed legislation requiring employers to provide reasonable accommodations to pregnant employees.

“The number of pregnancy discrimination claims filed annually with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has been steadily rising for two decades,” Marianne Fray, CEO, Maternity Care Coalition, said. “Pregnancy discrimination affects all birthing people, but disproportionately affects women of color, many of whom are represented in low-income jobs.”

All submitted testimony from today’s hearing and the full video is available at SenatorMuth.com/Policy

# #  #

Testimony

Women’s Health Caucus Urges Legislators and Advocates to Focus on Policies Which Help Pennsylvania’s New Parents 

Harrisburg, PA September 27, 2021 − The Co-Chairs of the Pennsylvania Women’s Health Caucus again calls on their colleagues and the citizens of Pennsylvania to support the #OptInPA Campaign, a movement to help birthing people and improve maternal health across the state with policies that would ensure families have a healthy start for newborn Pennsylvanians. 

Once a Pennsylvanian is born, their new parents need to have the resources available to give the newborn a safe, healthy life that will have a successful and happy outcome. The goals of this campaign ensure just that. 

The #OptInPA campaign is motivated by two goals:

  1. Highlighting Pennsylvania’s need for holistic, extended postpartum coverage, specifically as it pertains to families that participate in Medical Assistance;
  2. Gaining public support for the program to implement its permanent extension through action at Pennsylvania’s executive level.

Maternal mortality is a crisis in Pennsylvania that has been climbing over the last few years. It is driven by inequities in healthcare coverage. An estimated 1 in 10,000 women and birthing individuals, including 1 in 5,000 black birthing people are dying after childbirth. Fifty-eight percent of those deaths occurred between 42 and 365 days after delivery, beyond the standard 60 days of Medical Assistance (MA) coverage for pregnant people in Pennsylvania. In addition, 53 percent of the cases of maternal death between 2013 and 2018 affected birthing parents who were enrolled in Medical Assistance when they delivered.

This policy change can be transformative for Pennsylvania’s new parents. It is within the power of the executive branch to permanently extended this expansion, which is the ultimate goal of this campaign. 

Legislators must focus on policies like #OptInPA, rather than wasting time and energy on policies which have the proven effect of increasing maternal mortality rates. Our work is done best when we are working to solve problems and improve everyone’s access to healthcare. We ask our allies in this fight to continue to voice their support for #OptInPA and other measures that will increase access to healthcare and lead to positive outcomes for Pennsylvania’s families. 

###

Pa Senate Democrats Call on Republican Colleagues to Take Action on Government Transparency and Accountability Measures

Harrisburg, Pa. − September 22, 2021 − Senators Lindsey M. Williams (D-Allegheny), Katie Muth (D-Chester, Montgomery, and Berks), Amanda M. Cappelletti (D-Montgomery and Delaware), John Kane (D-Chester and Delaware), Tim Kearney (D-Chester and Delaware), and Judy Schwank (D-Berks) held a press conference yesterday to urge Senate Republicans and Majority Leader Senator Kim Ward to join them in making a real commitment to accountability and transparency by giving consideration to the 14 individual Senate Rules Amendments that they have introduced.

“It’s time to stop talking about how we can be better at transparency and accountability and time to actually do better,” said Senator Williams. “These Rules Amendments are all simple, non-partisan measures that will ensure the voices of every Pennsylvanian are heard, not just those with power and influence. We are asking Senator Ward, as the Chair of the Rules and Executive Nominations Committee, to consider these individual Resolutions on their merits, because each and every one is a good government measure aimed at improving the quality of representation, accessibility, and transparency of the Senate for all Pennsylvanians and instilling more confidence in this institution.”

The Senate adopts its own Operating Rules every two years at the beginning of the new Session. This past January, Senator Muth and Senator Williams introduced an alternative set of Senate Rules that incorporated many of today’s Amendments; unsurprisingly, these changes never received consideration and the Majority Party’s “status quo” proposal was adopted over the objections of many in the Minority Party.

“Our government should be transparent but unfortunately many of the operating rules of the Senate allow the Majority Party to prioritize politics over policy and silence other members who are trying to advocate for their constituencies and often, for what is right and just,” Senator Muth said. “For far too long, we have allowed the majority to dictate the rules and operations of the State Senate – our package of Senate Rules Reform Resolutions signals that our Caucus will no longer accept business as usual when it comes to an open and fair legislative process.” “The way the Senate operates is inherently broken,” stated Senator Cappelletti. “It furthers a power imbalance that silences the voices of all Pennsylvanians. By reforming the Senate rules, we can have more equity and transparency. We can have a government that hears the people and works for the people.”

Also included in the Senate Rules Amendment package are measures that require that all legislation receives a vote (SR 76) in committee. Currently, fewer than 1 out of every 5 bills introduced by the General Assembly ever receives consideration. Action would also be required on bills that receive unanimous approval in the House or that are co-sponsored by a majority of members from the Majority Party and a majority of members from the Minority Party,  (SR 85).

“It is time for partisan games to come to an end and real accountability to begin,” stated Senator Kearney. “Voters didn’t send us here to waste time and taxpayer money, they sent us here to grow our economy, fix our broken infrastructure, make our communities healthy, and support our children’s education. I have been in this chamber for almost three years, and every day it becomes clearer how much of an impact these rules have on my ability to do my job.”

“I’m a working class guy — I spent four decades as a union plumber. And I don’t think you should need an advanced degree to follow and voice your opinion about what your elected officials are doing,” said Senator Kane. “My colleagues and I are introducing rules reforms to make sure our government is working for the people. It’s long past time that Pennsylvanians had real representation in the Senate.”

“Our constituents deserve the highest level of transparency when it comes to what is happening within our state government,” said Senator Schwank. “All the bills proposed as a part of this package will help give people faith that our government is working for them, and they should expect nothing less. Many of these measures are commonsense solutions that give everyone an opportunity to be heard.”

The full list of Rules Resolutions introduced and awaiting action by the Senate Rules Committee is:

SR 75 (Cappelletti): Ensuring Adequate Public Notice of Senate Action

SR 76 (Williams):  Every Bill Gets a Vote

SR 77 (Muth): Expanding Legislative Requirements and Action for Bills on Concurrence

SR 78 (Williams): Requiring Majority and Minority Party Participation to Conduct Official Business

SR 79 (Muth): Ensuring Bipartisan Representation on Special Committees

SR 80 (Muth): Every Resolution Gets a Vote

SR 81 (Muth): Every Amendment Gets a Vote

SR 82 (Williams): Ensuring Equitable Representation on Standing Committees

SR 83 (Williams): Requiring Amendment Votes to be Placed on the Senate Publicly Facing Website

SR 85 (Kearney): Require Action on Bipartisan and Unanimous Legislation

SR 86 (Muth): Live Video Feed of Senate Floor

SR 114 (Kane): Mandating a Two-Thirds Vote for Certain Motions

SR 155 (Schwank): Authorizing Minority Party Chairs to Hold Committee Hearings

SR 156 (Schwank): Empowering Minority Chairs to Add Legislation to the Committee Agenda

Senator Amanda M. Cappelletti Contact:   Sara Kelly
Sara.Kelly@pasenate.com/ 845-216-4057 

Senator Katie Muth Contact:   Jeff Cavanaugh
Jeffrey.Cavanaugh@pasenate.com/ 570-351-6138

Senator John Kane Contact:   Abby Diebold
Abby.Diebold@pasenate.com/ 484-861-4686

Senator Tim Kearney Contact:   Aignér Cleveland
Aigner.Cleveland@pasenate.com/ 610-544-6120

Senator Judy Schwank Contact:   Spencer Thornburg
Spencer.Thornburg@pasenate.com/ 610-929-2151

Senator Lindsey M. Williams Contact:   Becky Boyle
Becky.Boyle@pasenate.com/ 412-364-0469 

###

 

State Senators Saval and Schwank to Introduce State Mask Legislation

Harrisburg, PA – August 30, 2021 – Today, State Senators Nikil Saval and Judy Schwank announced they will soon introduce legislation to support Governor Tom Wolf’s call for mask mandates in the state. Senator Schwank’s forthcoming bill would require general indoor masking in early childhood education and childcare programs on a conditional basis for those over the age of 2, regardless of vaccination status. Senator Saval’s bill would require school districts to implement universal indoor masking within K-12 classrooms.

Both pieces of legislation will be introduced in the wake of Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman and House Speaker Bryan Cutler rejecting the Governor’s request for the General Assembly to reconvene and approve a statewide requirement for masks to be worn in schools. According to the health and safety plans submitted to the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), currently fewer than 10% of schools have enacted a masking policy, which is counter to CDC guidance for K-12 schools.

“The past 18 months have been devastating for all of us, but school children—isolated from their friends, teachers, and school support systems—have experienced a particular and acute version of this trauma. We need to do everything in our power to ensure that kids can return to their schools, while simultaneously ensuring that teachers, family members, and communities can stay safe. In-door masking policies, as part of a school’s COVID prevention strategy, are effective to the degree that transmission levels in schools are often lower than community transmission levels. For the physical and mental safety of our children and the stability of working families throughout the Commonwealth, it’s crucial that PA schools adhere to CDC guidance and implement universal indoor masking,” said Senator Saval.

The call for a statewide mask mandate in schools has been supported by the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Pennsylvania State Education Association.

“The COVID-19 pandemic badly exacerbated the problems we face with childcare. The closing of childcare facilities has adversely affected our workforce, especially the role of women in our workforce. I know for parents and guardians across the commonwealth, the health and safety of their children is their highest priority. Because a lot of children are still unable to get vaccinated and the uncertainty around new variants, we need to do everything we can to ensure our youngest students, educators, childcare workers and all staff are protected,” said Senator Schwank.

###

Local Legislators Announce $475K in Grant Funding for Berks

READING, PA August 2, 2021 − State Sen. Judy Schwank (D-11th district) and Rep. Mark Rozzi (D-126th district) announced three Berks County organizations received a total of $475,000 in Keystone Communities Program (KCP) grant funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED).  

The City of Reading received $400,000 in grant funding for the Downtown 800 Block Penn Street South Courtyard Improvement Project, which aims to add new lighting to improve safety, install a new drainage system and create new paving and landscaping. The project also includes increased parking for visitors and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant walkways within the courtyard.

Berks Alliance was granted $50,000 in funding for the Reading Façade Improvement Program. The program seeks to improve to external appearance, lighting and security of storefronts and enhance the overall aesthetic of downtown Reading.

The West Reading Community Revitalization Foundation received $25,000 in support of priorities identified by the Vision and Master Plan of Downtown West Reading. The grant funding will go towards façade improvements that will further boost the attractiveness of West Reading.

“The funding awarded to the City of Reading, Berks Alliance and the West Reading Community Revitalization Foundation is well deserved,” Schwank said. “All three groups have put together thoughtful plans that will make Berks County a more beautiful place to live while simultaneously improving safety and boosting economic development.”

“Revitalization and the continual improvement of Reading and West Reading bring positive social and economic change to Berks County,” Rozzi said. “I’m happy to see these state dollars going to work right here in our community and contributing to the betterment of our area.”

###

Three Boroughs Represented by Schwank Receive Grant Funding for Traffic Safety Improvements

Reading, PA  July 7, 2021 − Kutztown, Shillington and Wyomissing Boroughs were awarded Green Light-Go grant funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) totaling over $780,000, according to State Senator Judy Schwank.

Kutztown received $40,054, Shillington $320,911 and Wyomissing $420,384 in Green Light-Go grant support. The funding will be used to replace outdated controllers, upgrade LED lenses, enhance operational equipment and other modernization upgrades.  

“Local officials know better than anyone what their residents want,” Schwank said. “All three municipalities receiving Green Light-Go funding recognized the need to improve traffic safety. Our citizens want to be sure the roads and intersections they use for their daily commutes are equipped with the latest advancements in traffic safety. The funding award will help make sure that is the case in each of these communities.”

-30-

Uptick in Unemployment Fraud Scams

Reading, PA June 29, 2021 − My office has seen a significant uptick in calls related to unemployment fraud since the implementation of the new Unemployment Compensation (UC) system. As many are aware, the rollout of this new system has been very difficult. Unfortunately, the rise in fraud claims will only exacerbate problems we are seeing and steer resources away from claimants who truly need help. Even members of my staff and I have been the targets of phishing attempts and fraudulent claims.

If you believe someone may have used your identity to file an unemployment claim, including Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) or Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC), you should do the following:

To report someone who has filed for UC benefits using your personal information such as your name, Social Security Number, and date of birth without your knowledge or consent, please visit the UC Benefits Website and click “Report Fraud” to complete and submit the Identity Theft Form. Do not log in.

  • To report benefit fraud related to Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), fill out a Benefits Fraud Form on the L&I website.
  • You can also call the L&I Fraud Hotline at 1-800-692-7469.
  • File a police report with your local municipality. A copy of the police report must be provided to the Office of Unemployment Compensation.
  • If you are a victim of identity theft, please visit the Federal Trade Commission website to learn how to start a recovery plan.
  • If you can’t access the FTC website, call your federal representative for assistance.
  • If you are concerned your personal information may have been stolen and want to protect your identity when filing a federal tax return, you can request an Identity Protection Pin (IP PIN) from the IRS.

Recently scammers have been attempting to use text messages to collect sensitive information. L&I sends automated text alerts but will never request your personal information via text message. Please exercise caution if you receive text messages from unverified numbers or comments on social media offering help via an email address or direct link. Additionally, never give out personal information through messaging apps or social media.  

-30-

Schwank Sponsored Milk Bill Passes Senate

Harrisburg, PA − June 23, 2021 − The Pennsylvania Senate voted 50-0 to approve a bill that would allow milk processors more flexibility in labeling. The legislation stems from a dairy industry study Sen. Judy Schwank (D-11th district) requested in 2018 which suggested clarifying milk date coding requirements as a way for the state to bolster the dairy industry.

SB 434 allows milk processors to use a “best by” date rather than a “sell by” date, which was one of the steps recommended by the Dairy Future Commission. The proposal also allows milk processors to request a later “best by” or “sell by” date than the current 17-day milk code, which allows Pennsylvania milk to compete with milk processed in other states.

“A lot of other states don’t have 17-day milk code requirements which have nothing to do with safety,” Schwank said. “Milk doesn’t spoil once you get to day 18. When consumers are in the milk aisle at the grocery store, they are going to reach for the carton with the latest date. This is putting our dairy industry at a competitive disadvantage. This legislation will change that and make Pennsylvania milk the fresher choice.”

The bill will be headed to Governor Tom Wolf’s desk to be signed into law.

-30-

 

Berks County Awarded Grant Funding from Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency

Reading, June 10, 2021  Three projects put forward by the Berk County will receive $884,403 in grant funding from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) for three projects according to Sen. Judy Schwank (D-11th district), Rep. Mark Rozzi (D-126th district) and Rep. Manny Guzman (D-127th district).

Berks County will also receive $409,955 in State Intermediate Punishment Treatment Funds for the Berks Intermediate Punishment FY21/22 project and $454,448 in Improvement of Adult Probation Service Grant-In-Aid Funds for the Berks County APO Grant in Aid FY20/21 project. The funding will be used to provide treatment for individuals facing drug related offenses and to strengthen services for those on probation. 

Berks will also receive $20,000 in support from the Capital Case Indigent Defense Funds. The funds will be used for a mitigation expert for a capital homicide case from July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022.

“These grant funds will have an immediate positive impact on the health and safety of all Berks County residents,” said Sen. Schwank. “Strategic investments in our justice system are crucial and have tremendous social benefits for entire communities.”

“This much-needed state support will go a long way to improve the criminal justice system here at home,” Rep. Rozzi said. “These grants will allow for the increase of treatment services, including supporting detox and alcohol intervention. In short, these funds will allow the people who want help find the support they need and progress toward making a positive impact in their family’s lives as well as in their community.”

“I remain committed to fighting for criminal justice reform and ending mass incarceration, and while much more work still needs to be done, I’m pleased to see that one of these grants will allow the Berks County Jail System to decrease its incarcerated population,” Rep. Guzman said. “Implementing a probation program with restrictions for people convicted of non-violent drug or alcohol offenses will allow people to recover and receive the treatment they need. Jail is not the only answer for every person, at some point we also need to treat the issue that led to the crime.”

-30-

Contact: Spencer Thornburg
Sen. Judy Schwank
Phone: 610-929-2151
Email: spencer.thornburg@pasenate.com

Legislators Reaffirm their Commitment to Protecting Access to Abortion Hosted by PA Women’s Health Caucus

HARRISBURG, PA −  May 25, 2021 − Chairs, members, and advocates of the Pennsylvania Women’s Health Caucus (WHC) gathered today to reaffirm their commitment to protecting abortion access in response to the recent anti-abortion hearings in the Pennsylvania House Health Committee and the current anti-abortion legislation moving through the General Assembly. 

Chairs of the caucus, Senator Judy Schwank (D-Berks), Senator Amanda M. Cappelletti (D-Montgomery, Delaware), Representative Morgan Cephas (D-Philadelphia) and Representative Mary Jo Daley (D-Montgomery) were joined by Representative Dan Frankel (D-Allegheny), member and co-founder of the caucus, as well as a patient advocate, Kelsey, who shared her story. 

“I proudly stood with my colleagues of the Women’s Health Caucus today, in support of reproductive healthcare,” said Senator Schwank. “Today, we heard about commonsense evidence-based policies that will increase the health and wellbeing of people from across the Commonwealth.  These policies, which include steps to address maternal mortality outcomes, increase access to contraceptives and protect a person’s medical information, have been overlooked.  Instead, House Republicans chose to promote legislation that totally undermines the constitutional right that all people have to make their own healthcare choices. Women choose to have an abortion for a myriad of reasons, all of which are deeply personal.   We can never fully know or even understand the situations that people face in their lives, particularly their reproductive healthcare.  Their choice is one that is fundamentally their own to make, and politicians have no place in this decision.”  

As a caucus, we remain committed to fighting anti-abortion legislation and rhetoric. Additionally, we propose that the House Health Committee address issues that are real challenges for every day Pennsylvanians, rather than waste time and taxpayer money on advancing this shame-based, anti-abortion rhetoric that will end in a veto from the Governor. 

“Rather than focus our efforts on building a better and more equitable healthcare system that delivers adequate and coordinated care, our Republican colleagues chose to spend our time and tax payers’ dollars on hearings seeking to block women from accessing constitutionally protected abortion care,” said Representative Cephas. “During a pandemic we have real issues and challenges facing Pennsylvanians. With an ending in sight for COVID-19, now is the time to have real conversations and move policies that are geared towards ensuring the health of communities across the Commonwealth.”

Today, the PA House Health Committee voted three anti-abortion bills out of committee. Read them here: HB1500, HB118, HB904. These bills all have the same ultimate goal, to make abortions illegal in Pennsylvania. The WHC will continue to work to protect access to abortion and call out shame-based, anti-abortion rhetoric. 

“I am proud to stand with members of the Women’s Health Caucus as we pledge to the women of Pennsylvania that we will continue to stand up for their right to choose – not what to choose.  We know that women are perfectly capable of making their own decisions about their own bodies and that women will make the best decisions for themselves and their families,” said Representative Daley. 

The Governor has also reaffirmed his will veto any bill that comes across his desk which would limit access to reproductive health care. 

“I stand firm in my commitment and support of reproductive rights,” said Governor Tom Wolf.“While members of the legislature continue to play politics around health choices, I will not let the Commonwealth go backwards on reproductive rights or access to health care. I will veto any anti-choice legislation that lands on my desk.”  

“Controlling what happens to our bodies is a fundamental right. Patients are entitled to bodily autonomy without the legislature intervening in personal and private medical decisions. I suggest my colleagues focus on the numerous real issues facing our Commonwealth, like the increasing maternal mortality rate, rather than wasting resources on pushing shame-based, anti-abortion rhetoric by introducing bills that will end up being vetoed,” said Senator Cappelletti. 

Watch the full press conference here.

### 

PA Senate Democrats Hold Policy Hearing on the Impact of the State System of Higher Education Redesign Plan

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.

PA Senate Democrats Introduce Spending Plan for $7 Billion in Federal American Rescue Plan Funds – The New Deal For PA

Harrisburg, Pa. – May 12, 2021 Today, Pennsylvania Senate Democrats unveiled the “New Deal for PA” – a $6.15 billion investment of federal funds coming to the Commonwealth pursuant to the American Rescue Plan. 

“My Senate democratic colleagues and I today announced our plan to help Pennsylvania recover economically from the COVID-19 pandemic. The New Deal for PA focuses on three major topics: Jobs, Opportunity and Equity,” Schwank said. “It’s going to take time to bring us back to “normal,” but this plan starts us on the right foot.”

The New Deal for PA focuses on Jobs, Opportunity, and Equity with the following breakdown:

People — $2.470 billion
21st Century Child Care
Business Assistance
Education/Community Supports
Job Training/Workforce Development
Utility Assistance

Projects — $2.493 billion
Economic Development
Infrastructure

Public Health — $1.185 billion
Public Health Equity/Vaccine Confidence
Rewarding Frontline Worker Service

By making targeted investments in people, projects, and public health, we can use this once-in-a-lifetime infusion of federal funds into PA to make positive, long-lasting improvements that will lay the foundation to create transformative change across the Commonwealth. 

The New Deal for PA uses a data-driven approach to respond to what we learned during the pandemic. 

The caucus looked at the current situation to determine where financial assistance is still necessary to help individuals, families, and small business recover from the devastating impacts of the pandemic. Then, the caucus looked ahead and assessed how to best invest ARP funds to ensure that we come out of the pandemic better than we went in and build resiliency across the commonwealth in preparation for the next crisis.

Finally, the caucus compared its proposal with the U.S. Treasury guidance released on May 10, 2021, to ensure we are on solid footing in using the funds as we propose. 

Federal guidance on allowable uses of the funds coming to Pennsylvania from the American Rescue Plan’s (“ARP”) State Fiscal Relief Fund was released on May 10, 2021. Pennsylvania will receive approximately $7.3 billion in flexible funding from the State Fiscal Relief Fund.  Senate Democrats believe it is time to begin the conversation on investing these funds so we can allocate the monies with the FY 2021-2022 budget

The Senate Democrats’ proposal distributes $6.05 billion from the following sources:

State Fiscal Relief Fund — $4,797,500,000
Capital Projects Fund — $280,000,000
ESSER Fund — $505,000,000
Emergency Assistance for Nonpublic Schools — $150,000,000
Pandemic Response Fund — $25,000,000
Other Funds — $55,000,000
Local Matching Funds — $335,000,000

Counties and municipalities will receive approximately $6.1 billion from the American Rescue Plan’s Local Fiscal Relief Fund and school districts will receive approximately $4.5 billion from the ESSER Fund.  If these local government units take advantage of these programs, state matching funds will average approximately $4 for every $1 of local funding. 

The Senate Democratic Caucus plan targets investments to craft a just recovery so Pennsylvania can Build Back Better.

More information on the plan can be found at PASenate.com/NewDeal

###

PA Women’s Health Caucus Responds to Today’s Dangerous Anti-Abortion Hearing in the House Health Committee

Harrisburg, PA − May 4, 2021 − The co-chairs of the Pennsylvania Women’s Health Caucus (WHC), Senator Judy Schwank (D-Berks), Senator Amanda M. Cappelletti (D-Montgomery, Delaware), Representative Morgan Cephas (D-Philadelphia) and Representative Mary Jo Daley (D-Montgomery), released the following joint statement after today’s House Health Committee Anti-Abortion Hearing:

“Today’s hearing in the Pennsylvania House Health Committee was a dangerous display of misinformation that hinders public understanding about safe and legal medical procedures. Hearings are supposed to serve as a forum for dialogue between legislators and expert testifiers so we, as elected officials, can create policy that is based in reality and driven by facts. Unfortunately, that has not been the case for the series of hearings that have been paraded in front of us for the last few weeks because the experts who testified were counterbalanced by unqualified and politically motivated individuals. At today’s hearing in particular, the Majority Chair of the Health Committee gave a platform to an actor whose false and dangerous rhetoric has been linked to inciting violence.

David Daleiden, who was invited to testify before today’s Health Committee, was at the center of a nationwide publicity stunt to destroy Planned Parenthood by falsely accusing them of trafficking fetal tissue in heavily edited videos. The publicity stunt has been completely debunked. No investigation, including in Pennsylvania, found that Planned Parenthood broke any laws.

Daleiden and his allies have made no secret that their end goal is to ban access to safe, legal abortion in America, and we have seen them stop at nothing in pursuit of that goal — no matter who gets hurt, what laws they break, or how many people they prevent from accessing health care.

Despite being widely discredited, Daleiden’s campaign nonetheless stoked an increase in violence and threats against abortion providers, staff, and patients—including a 2015 shooting spree at a Colorado Springs Planned Parenthood, where nine people were injured and three people were murdered.

As a legislature, we should be working to disqualify this false rhetoric, not inviting its amplifiers to our chambers, and complimenting them with the title of an expert. As the Women’s Health Caucus, we condemn the Majority Chair of the House Health Committee’s irresponsible and dangerous decision to use the power and resources of the legislature to disseminate politically motivated, false, and malicious accusations about abortion providers.

We thank those Representatives on the committee who have continually stood up for reproductive justice throughout these hearings, including our own co-chair Representative Morgan Cephas, and one of the WHC’s founders, Representative Dan Frankel.”

Read the joint statement from Women’s Law Project and Pennsylvania advocates to  condemn today’s “Pro-life Hearing” in the PA House Health Committee here.

Read our latest press release “Facts Matter in discussion about abortion.

Follow the Women’s Health Caucus on Twitter and Facebook. Check out our website here.

###

PA Senate Democrats Joined by PA Sec. of Ag & Second Lady Gisele Fetterman for Policy Hearing on Food Insecurity in Pennsylvania

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.

###

Senate Votes to Strengthen First Amendment Rights for Teachers

HARRISBURG – April 19, 2021 – The Senate of Pennsylvania unanimously approved a measure to align Pennsylvania with every other state in the nation in preserving and protecting First Amendment rights for educators, according to the measure’s sponsors, Senators Kristin Phillips-Hill (R-York) and Judy Schwank (D-Berks).

The senators’ proposal would eliminate a section from the state’s Education Code that prohibits teachers from wearing any dress, mark, emblem, or insignia indicating his or her faith or denomination.

“The Senate took a major stance today to show our unified support of protecting our First Amendment rights to freedom of speech and freedom of religious expression,” Phillips-Hill said. “A teacher should not be worried about his or her job for simply wearing a cross on a necklace. Our First Amendment rights do not end simply because a teacher walks into a classroom.”

Throughout the late 1800s and early 1900s, the Ku Klux Klan supported similar laws across the nation due to anti-Catholic sentiment at the time. Pennsylvania’s original 1895 law served as the model for three dozen states that pursued similar anti-First Amendment laws. Today Pennsylvania is the only state in the nation with this law in place. Nebraska was the most recent state to repeal their law in 2017.

“It’s about time we join the rest of the country in abolishing a rule that serves no use,” Schwank said. “Punishing teachers for something as innocuous as wearing a cross necklace or hijab doesn’t help anyone – certainly not students. In fact, it’s better for students to be exposed to people who are different from them. It’s a way to foster more acceptance and empathy as they grow into adults.”

The senators argue the existing archaic law is in violation of the First Amendment.

A federal court case was brought forward in 2003 after a Pennsylvania teacher was suspended from her job pursuant to Section 1112 as well as the intermediate unit’s religious affiliations policy. Her suspension was due to her refusal to comply with her supervisor’s request that she remove or conceal a small cross she regularly wore on a necklace. The court ruled in favor of the teacher, who was rehired with back pay.

The court’s ruling found that the intermediate unit’s religious affiliations policy violates the free exercise of religion and free speech clauses of the First Amendment.

Senate Bill 247 moves to the House of Representatives for its consideration.

VIDEO (PHILLIPS-HILL)\

###

Berks County Lawmakers Announce $100K Grant for City of Reading

HARRISBURG, April 16, 2021 – State Sen. Judy Schwank (D-11th district) and state Reps. Mark Rozzi (D-126th district) and Manny Guzman (D-127th district) announced a grant totaling $129,230 has been approved for the city of Reading through the state’s Multimodal Transportation Fund.

The grants project includes: 

  • City of Reading: Approved for $129,230 for a project to replace approximately 2,700 feet of dated log and cable guiderail at four separate street sites.

“I’m glad to see the city of Reading pursue all avenues possible when it comes to funding important safety updates,” Schwank said. “The new guiderails will protect both motorists and pedestrians.” 

The approved project was one of 43 announced throughout the state Friday to address improvements in highway, bridge, rail, pedestrian trails and bike trails.

“The fact that the state managed to cover about 70 percent of the estimated cost of this project is fantastic,” Rozzi said. “This project will improve the safety in our city, and it eases the financial burden on our city and taxpayers.” 

PennDOT evaluated the applications and made selections based on criteria such as safety benefits, regional economic conditions, the technical and financial feasibility, job creation, energy efficiency and operational sustainability.

“This is a much-needed project to help improve the safety in our city,” Guzman said. “High-gauge W-beam guardrails not only help to minimize some traffic accidents, but they protect pedestrians and personal and city property.”

###

 

Schwank to Discuss Coronavirus Vaccines with PA Dept of Health Acting Sec. Beam, local health experts at Zoom Town Hall Meeting

READING, March 30, 2021 – State Sen. Judy Schwank (D-11th district) will host a Zoom town hall tomorrow at 7 p.m. on issues associated with the coronavirus COVID-19 vaccines. Joining her are medical professionals including:

  • Acting Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Alison Beam
  • Reading Tower Health Chief, Section of Infectious Diseases Dr. Debra Powell
  • Dr. Kim Wolf, Senior Medical Director/Quality, Penn State Health St. Joseph,
  • Dr. Lloyd Wolf, Regional Medical Director, Penn State Health Community Medical Group
  • Representatives from the Hospital Association of Pennsylvania; and the Pennsylvania Pharmacist Association

Register for the town hall here or visit www.pasenate.com/vaccine and select the March 31st event.

-30-

Democratic Senators Intervene in Fracking Lawsuit Against DRBC

BUCKS COUNTY − March 12, 2021 − State Senator Steve Santarsiero (D-10) was joined by Democratic colleagues today in New Hope to announce their action to protect clean drinking water for millions of Pennsylvanians from the environmental hazards of fracking. Their action is in response to a lawsuit filed by Republican senators against the Delaware River Basin Commission to allow natural gas drilling in the Delaware River Basin in Pennsylvania.

Arguing for the constitutional right of millions of Pennsylvanians to clean water, the motion to intervene was filed earlier in the day in United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania in the case of Yaw v. The Delaware River Basin Commission.  Republican caucus members had filed suit against the DRBC in January 2021, and in late February the Delaware River Keeper Network successfully intervened in the case.

“Clean water and air is a constitutional right for all Pennsylvanians, and it’s the duty of the General Assembly to ensure those rights are not infringed upon,” said Sen. Santarsiero. “The people of Bucks County – and the rest of the Delaware River Basin – have a constitutional right to clean, safe drinking water.  We are not going to allow the oil and gas industry to contaminate that water.  Working within its authority, the DRBC has been a steadfast champion for protecting the assets of the Delaware River Basin since its inception.  Thanks to the DRBC and the work of environmental advocates, an incredible amount of progress has been made over the years to clean our waterways and create a reliable source of drinking water for millions of people.  We have come too far to cede that progress to the damaging effects of fracking on our environment and land.”

“The DRBC was created 60 years ago to manage the river system and protect our water resources, including protecting the watershed from the harmful impacts of fracking,” said Sen. Carolyn Comitta (D-19), Minority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee. “The DRBC exercised its authority, with all four basin states voting to ban fracking. Individual Pennsylvania legislators don’t get to pick and choose when it comes to the compact’s decisions. We support the DRBC in its decision to ban fracking – one that upholds Pennsylvania’s Environmental Rights Amendment and protects our right to clean water.”

More than a decade ago, DRBC unanimously voted in favor of a moratorium on fracking pending the adoption of new regulations.  Since then, the Commission has received almost 80,000 public comments which have been considered in updated draft rules.

“There is mounting evidence from throughout our Commonwealth that fracking cannot be conducted safely and, in many cases, permanently and completely contaminates our shared drinking water resources,” said Sen. Katie Muth.  “I applaud the Delaware River Basin Commission for preventing this dangerous and harmful industrial activity from rendering the drinking water for 8.3 million Pennsylvanians unsafe and unusable.  Moreover, I am appalled that my Senate colleagues from the Majority Party are willing to sacrifice the health of their constituents in the name of industry profit.  Without water, our homes are rendered valueless, our public health severely deteriorates due to toxic and radioactive fracking waste, and our environment is polluted for generations to come.  I stand in defense of the public health and environmental quality for all Pennsylvanians and strongly oppose any effort to harm our drinking water resources in the name of corporate greed.”

“Clean drinking water is a constitutional right in Pennsylvania, and an imperative to our health and survival as a species,” said Sen. Amanda Cappelletti (D-17). “The Delaware River Basin delivers drinking water to 13.3 million people. We joined the DCRB to maintain the safety of that water. Legislators who are threatening that mission should be ashamed of their thinly veiled attempt at a power grab. The citizens of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvanian and the citizens of New York, New Jersey and Delaware have an inviolable right to keeping this water, their drinking water, clean.” 

Five million Pennsylvanians across 17 counties reside in the Basin, which includes Bucks, Delaware, Montgomery, Chester and Philadelphia counties. The Delaware River Basin spans 6,471 square miles in the Commonwealth, across 522 municipalities.

“I chose to sign on as an intervenor in this case because I know my constituents and all Pennsylvanians take seriously their constitutional right to clean air and water,” said Sen. Judy Schwank (D-11). “It is my solemn and sworn duty to protect that right. This may be our last stand in attempting to protect the waters of the Delaware River Basin from the environmental hazards created by fracking. These waters are a drinking, agricultural and industrial water resource for more than 13 million Pennsylvania, Delaware, New York and New Jersey residents.”

Sen. Maria Collett (D-12) added, “My constituents and I know firsthand what it’s like to have to fight for “pure water” as guaranteed by the Environmental Rights Amendment of the Pennsylvania Constitution and the terror felt when that bond has been broken. The argument made by my Republican colleagues that, as trustees of Pennsylvania’s national resources under this Amendment, they must protect the pecuniary value of such resources over the health and survival of the people and ecosystems dependent on them is not just unconstitutional, it’s inhuman.”

Sen. Vince Hughes (D-7) said, “Protecting the quality of ground and surface water and the future of the Delaware River Basin has broad support from the public in Pennsylvania and the other three states impacted by the Delaware River Basin Commission. Simply put, the commission is acting to protect those interests and the right to pure water. We join in this suit to protect those rights and to prevent adverse impacts from affecting our region.”

In a February 2021 DRBC meeting the 4 member states unanimously voted to ban fracking in the Delaware River Basin. During the special meeting, the United States abstained from the vote, but indicated support for the result.

“My colleagues and I are intervening to fight for the 13 million people who get their water from the Delaware River Basin and protect the Constitutional right of all Pennsylvanians to clean air and clean water,” said Sen. John Kane (D-9). “The DRBC voted unanimously to ban fracking after hearing tens of thousands of comments over several years — that’s what our communities want, and that’s how to keep Pennsylvanians safe. I’m proud to stand alongside my colleagues in intervening in support of the DRBC.”

Sen. Sharif Street (D-3) said, “The Delaware River Basin Commission’s decision is not only within their authority as custodians of the waters of the Delaware River Basin but is also constitutionally sound. I’m proud to stand with my colleagues to protect our environment and the people of Pennsylvania. ”

Environmental groups have long advocated for protecting the Delaware River Basin and for the constitutional right of all Pennsylvanians to clean air and water.  They shared their overwhelming support for the Democratic Senators’ intervention in the lawsuit in written statements.

In a statement read during the press conference, Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania said, “We would like to thank Senator Santarsiero and his colleagues in the Pennsylvania Senate for filing a motion to intervene in Yaw v. DRBC. Thousands of residents and countless elected officials and experts have spoken out in support of banning fracking in the Delaware River Basin.”

Maya van Rossum, leader of the Delaware Riverkeeper Network said, “The Delaware River is irreplaceably important to our entire region.   To allow it to be sacrificed to the fracking industry, to be used to advance the climate crisis, and to be used to help advance an industry that is devastating the health, safety, lives, property values, quality of life and local economies of entire communities is indefensible.  It is even worse that the republican legislative caucus, Senators Yaw and Baker would be seeking to misuse Pennsylvania’s constitutional environmental rights amendment and to deny Pennsylvania’s support for the Delaware River Basin Commission is an abuse of power and trust.  I would like to thank Senator Steve Santarsiero and the legislators of the Democratic Caucus for seeking to join the ongoing lawsuit so they can rise up and defend our river, our environment and the environmental rights of the people of Pennsylvania.”

“PennEnvironment applauds the state senators who’ve come together today from across the Delaware River watershed to stand up and defend this great river,” said PennEnvironment Executive Director David Masur in a written statement.  “Fracking shouldn’t be allowed anywhere, much less near an iconic natural waterway like the Delaware River, which provides drinking water for millions of Americans. Given that local Pennsylvanians voiced their overwhelming support for protecting the Delaware River from fracking during the public input processes, it’s unfortunate that the elected officials who are the plaintiffs in the ‘Yaw v. DRBC’ case are using the courts to undo the will of local residents.

The Democratic Caucus members who have signed onto the lawsuit are Senators Steve Santarsiero (D- Bucks), Carolyn Comitta (D- Chester), Amanda Cappelletti (D- Montgomery, Delaware), Maria Collett (D- Montgomery, Bucks), Wayne Fontana (D- Allegheny), Art Haywood (D- Montgomery, Philadelphia), Vince Hughes (D- Philadelphia), John Kane (D- Chester, Delaware), Tim Kearney (D- Delaware), Katie Muth (D- Berks, Chester, Montgomery), John Sabatina (D- Philadelphia), Nikil Saval (D- Philadelphia), Judy Schwank (D- Berks), Sharif Street (D- Philadelphia), Tina Tartaglione (D-Philadelphia) , and Anthony Williams (D-Philadelphia).

 

##

Schwank Announces Three Non-Profit Security Grants Awarded in Berks

Reading, March 10, 2021 − Three Berks organizations each received a Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) Non-Profit Security Grant to improve the safety and security of their facility, State Sen. Judy Schwank (D-11) announced.

The grants, which stemmed from legislation supported by Schwank (Act 83 of 2019), are meant for non-profit 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 safety or security of the non-profit organization

The three Berks recipients are:

  • Reform Congregation Oheb Sholom, Wyomissing, $9,897
  • The LGBT Center of Greater Reading, Reading, $11,525
  • Abilities in Motion, Reading, $6,500

“The organizations who received these grants are well deserving of the funding and will put it to good uses,” Schwank said. “I am thankful that PCCD saw the relevance of funding these key organizations in our community.”

-30-

 

PA Women’s Health Caucus Chairs Join PA Advocates to Share their Legislative Agenda for the 2021 Session

HARRISBURG, PA − March 8, 2021 − Chairs, members, and advocates of the Pennsylvania Women’s Health Caucus (WHC) gathered today to share their legislative agenda for the 2021-2022 Legislative session. Chairs of the caucus, Senator Judy Schwank (D-Berks), Senator Amanda M. Cappelletti (D-Montgomery, Delaware), Representative Morgan Cephas (D-Philadelphia) and Representative Mary Jo Daley (D-Narberth) were joined by Sara Jann, Director of Policy & Advocacy of Maternity Care Coalition and Tara Murtha, Director of Strategic Communications at the Women’s Law Project. Together, the chairs and advocates shared their legislative priorities and their mission to work together with the caucus, advocates, and other elected officials to push policy and legislation to support women – cis, trans, and femme-identifying individuals – and family health in Pennsylvania. 

The Pennsylvania Women’s Health Caucus is a bipartisan, bicameral caucus of legislators partnering with interest groups and advocacy organizations to develop and implement legislation and social policy that protects and respects women’s health, including the right to make private, personal medical decisions.

As a caucus, our legislative priorities for the current legislative session fall into four categories.

  1. Maternal & Childcare including Medicaid expansion and affordable childcare.
  2. Workplace Justice including fair wages and workplace accommodations.
  3. Dignity for Incarcerated Women including access to feminine hygiene products and prohibiting shackling of pregnant women.
  4. Healthcare including increasing access to reproductive health coverage including abortion care and access to tele-health.

As a caucus, we are committed to advocating for legislation that will actively support all femme-identifying people in leading healthy, just, and happy lives, with access to the rights they deserve. This means taking into consideration the ways in which systemic barriers and policy decisions have affected women of color, trans-women, and all women across the Commonwealth. 

“The Women’s Health Caucus will continue to raise these issues; we will continue to advocate for the women and families of Pennsylvania. We will continue to recognize and acknowledge that black and brown women have been disproportionately hurt by policies that leave women behind,” said Representative Daley. “We will continue to stand up for our mothers, daughters, nieces, and girlfriends of all ages, of all colors and of all gender identities. “

Today’s conference happily coincided with International Women’s Day. The theme of today’s celebration is #ChoosetoChallenge, a perfect time to challenge the PA General Assembly to stand with us in prioritizing women’s health this legislative session.

“As we recognize Women’s History Month and International Women’s day the health and well-being of Pennsylvania’s women couldn’t be more relevant,” said Representative Cephas. “The COVID-19 pandemic has created new struggles, but it has also exacerbated challenges that have existed for far too long. I will continue using my role in the PA Women’s Health Caucus to create policies and pass legislation to improve the quality of life and quality of care for women and families across the commonwealth including my proposals to restore dignity to incarcerated women, combat maternal mortality, and increase access to affordable childcare.”

This sentiment was echoed by fellow legislators. Throughout the press conference, our members shared their excitement in celebrating International Women’s Day. 

“Today, on International Women’s Day, the Women’s Health caucus reaffirmed its commitment to Pennsylvania’s women – ciswomen, transwomen, and femme-identifying individuals,” said Senator Cappelletti. “We will continue this conversation and advocacy, as we fight for bold change that will help everyone in the Commonwealth. Our support extends beyond our districts and our goal is to create a more just and equitable society for women and families.”

Through the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen how hard the crisis has hit women, especially women of color. Many of these challenges have illustrated themselves in ways that exacerbated existing inequalities and showed how damaged our systems are when it comes to women’s health. 

“Mothers are, in many ways, bearing the brunt of this pandemic. The impact of which has been determined by systemic inequities that were in place long before this crisis arrived at our door. This year, MCC, along with our partners, is prioritizing mothers by advocating for equitable maternal health policies,” said Sara Jann, Director of Policy & Advocacy at Maternity Care Coalition

Our agenda prioritizes mothers and working women, expressly focusing on maternal health and access to affordable, quality healthcare as a way to save women’s lives in Pennsylvania.  

“How many pregnant Pennsylvanians have to unnecessarily die to warrant the attention of “pro-life” leadership? It is unbelievable that even during a pandemic, as a new report shows that more Pennsylvanians than ever are dying of pregnancy-related conditions, our House Health leadership has prioritized legislation that medical experts say would increase maternal mortality,” said Tara Murtha, Director of Strategic Communications at Women’s Law Project.  “The Women’s Law Project proudly supports the evidence-based policies championed by the Women’s Health Caucus, and calls on legislative leadership to protect, rather than politicize, pregnant Pennsylvanians by advancing these bills.”

“The Women’s Health Caucus recognizes that women’s health is truly integral and directly related to Pennsylvania’s economic health, and that change can be brought about by introducing carefully thought-out proposals based on actual need and evidence,” Schwank said. “Our policy initiatives can literally save women’s lives by reducing the maternal mortality rate – an issue that predominately affects women of color. Lowering that rate is as easy as simply expanding health care coverage. If saving women’s lives wasn’t enough, every life saved translates into dollars saved by taxpayers,” said Senator Schwank.“Another major focus of the WHC is supporting and expanding quality childcare options, which is a critical component of our state’s economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The caucus will continue to work on these goals through the legislative session and advocate for women across Pennsylvania through their legislative action and daily work. 

Stay up to date with our members and what the caucus is doing to advocate for this agenda by following us on social media and checking our website. Check out our website and what we are up to here: https://www.pahouse.com/WomensHealthCaucus. Check out our Twitter here.  Check out our Facebook here. You can watch the full press conference here.

###

Schwank Hosting Second Lady Fetterman, Secretary Redding in Roundtable Discussion on Food Insecurity in Berks County 

Reading, February 24, 2021 Image State Senator Judy Schwank (D-11th district) is hosting a virtual Roundtable Discussion on Food Insecurity in Berks County on Wednesday, March 3, at 7 p.m. on Zoom.

The panel of guests includes:

  • Second Lady of Pennsylvania Gisele Fetterman, co-founder of 412 Food Rescue, Pittsburgh
  • Secretary Russell Redding, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
  • Jay Worrall, President of Helping Harvest, Reading
  • Sandra Wise, Executive Director of Friend, Inc. Community Services, Kutztown
  • Rev. Mary Wolfe, Hope Evangelical Lutheran Church, Reading

“The coronavirus has made us all the more aware of how prevalent food insecurity is here in Berks County,” Schwank said. “This roundtable is an opportunity to learn more about how our community has responded to this need, and what we can do going forward to support efforts to combat hunger.” 

The public and media are invited. To register for this free event, visit www.senatorschwank.com/roundtable

-30-