April 6, 2022
Harrisburg – April 6, 2022 – Today, State Sens. Judy Schwank and Sharif Street issued a co-sponsor memorandum for a bill they plan to introduce that would ban the sale of delta-8 THC products in Pennsylvania.
The Food and Drug Administration defines delta-8 THC as a psychoactive substance found in the cannabis sativa plant, of which marijuana and hemp are two varieties. It can be manufactured in higher amounts by synthetically converting a better-known non-intoxicating compound, CBD, into delta-8 THC. In September of 2021, the FDA issued a warning that “potentially unsafe household chemicals” are sometimes used to convert CBD to delta-8 THC.
Under the federal Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, hemp was removed from the definition of marijuana in the Controlled Substance Act (CSA). The act defines hemp as a cannabis plant that contains 0.3% delta-9 THC or less, which is considered too low to have a psychoactive effect. However, the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 did not address delta-8 THC, allowing it to go unregulated at the federal level.
This omission created a loophole that allows vendors to sell delta-8 THC products like edibles, vapes, and tinctures with no oversight. Currently, delta-8 THC products can be purchased by individuals 21 or older at gas stations and neighborhood corner stores.
“What we are seeing right now is a completely unregulated market for these products and they are becoming more popular with each passing day,” Schwank said. “I’m particularly concerned about underage teens using these products because we have no clue how they are manufactured. I’ve already heard about high school-age children in my district getting sick after using delta-8 THC, so they are finding ways to access it.”
Schwank also noted that the outlandish flavors these products come in seem to be geared towards teenagers.
“The omission of delta-8 THC from federal regulation has left us with a legally defined ‘hemp’ product with psychotropic effects that exists outside PA’s Medical Marijuana Program and may be accessible to those under the age of 21,” Street said. “It was never the intent for hemp to get anyone high. It is important that consumers are aware of what they are purchasing, and it is our responsibility as government to ensure safety and consumer protection. This legislation fixes this problem and reminds us of the importance of a well-regulated and secure market for cannabis.”
You can read the full co-sponsor memo here.
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November 4, 2021
HARRISBURG, November 4, 2021 – State Senator Katie Muth (D- Berks/Chester/Montgomery), chair of the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Policy Committee, today joined state Sens. Sharif Street (D-Philadelphia), Anthony Williams (D-Philadelphia/Delaware) and Judy Schwank (D-Berks) to host a virtual public hearing on the need to end lifetime parole in Pennsylvania.
“We are spending far too many resources as a state on tracking down non-violent, technical parole violations instead of focusing our efforts on enhancing and expanding re-entry programs and resources to ensure that those who have served their time have the opportunity to thrive and succeed,” Muth said. “We need to end the ineffective punishment of the prison and parole cycle. The research shows that lifetime parole sentences do not improve public safety or decrease crime. Our state has both the highest number of people on parole and the highest rate of parole supervision in the country. Pennsylvania taxpayers are paying for this useless mechanism of indefinite control that negatively impacts the lives of people who are trying to establish their lives in a positive and productive way.”
The Senate Democratic Policy Committee heard support from testifiers for drafted legislation that proposes ending lifetime parole sentences in Pennsylvania. The proposed Sunset for Probation and Parole Act would cap parole sentences at six years and allow a pathway for a reduction of that sentence to three years by creating a system to reduce the length of a parole sentence by 30 days for each 30 days the person goes without a parole violation.
“Pennsylvania has too many people under supervision, we lead the nation in this regard. Mass supervision and mass incarceration are inextricably linked. Probation and Parole was intended to reduce the number of people we incarcerate. But given the abuses and how the system has evolved it is now feeding mass incarceration,” Street said. “I appreciate the humanity of today’s testifiers and advocates for presenting ideas around policy to fix this. It is a moral imperative that we not over incarcerate and over supervise. It is also a fiscal imperative that government be good stewards of the taxpayers’ money. Ultimately the people we pay to do this work will have a fuller lives as will those under constant supervision.”
Participants in the hearing included three Pennsylvania residents impacted by parole; Megan French-Marceilin, Color of Change; Reuben Jones, Dignity and Power Now; Insha Rahman, Vera Institute for Justice; and Nicole Porter, Sentencing Project.
“It is unacceptable that members of our communities, who have served the allotted time for the crimes they were convicted of, go on to face an unending parole sentence upon their release. This does not make our communities safer or reduce recidivism, it does the exact opposite. It allows innocent people to be sent back to jail for technically violating the terms of their parole but committing no additional criminal offenses,” Williams added. “This is not justice, and we must end this systemically unjust practice that results in a costly and undue revolving door from our communities back into the prison system.”
According to a report by Human Rights Watch, Pennsylvania has the highest rate of parole in the nation, and in 2016, more people were sent to state correctional facilities for parole violations than for any other crime.
“Like many states, Pennsylvania hasn’t taken the steps necessary to improve the fairness of our criminal justice system. More and more, people are beginning to realize that locking people up isn’t always the best answer to society’s problems. What we can do is invest in people and provide everyone with an opportunity to right wrongs and live up to their current potential,” Schwank said. “This excellent group of testifiers very powerfully shared how we can go about doing this in Pennsylvania and why it’s important that we take action now.”
According to the Prison Policy Initiative, approximately sixteen states have abolished or curtailed discretionary parole. Most states range from having a system of presumptive parole — when certain conditions are met, release on parole is guaranteed — to having policies and practices that make earning release very difficult.
“The testimony heard this morning throws into sharp relief the onerous and cruel design of the current parole system – a system that is working precisely as designed to extend carceral punishment through invisible shackles,” Megan French-Marcelin, PhD, Campaign Director for Criminal Justice at Color of Change, said. “If we know that more than half of people in state prisons are there on parole violations, we could cut the prison population in half – thus ending family separation and encouraging the socioeconomic stability of families and communities.”
All submitted testimony from today’s hearing and the full video is available at SenatorMuth.com/Policy
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Testimony
Panel 1: Directly Impacted People Sentenced to Lifetime Parole
Panel 2: Policy
Panel 3: National Experts
April 30, 2021
Harrisburg – April 30, 2021 – At the request of Pennsylvania State Senators Judy Schwank (D- Berks), Tina Tartaglione (D- Philadelphia), and Sharif Street (D- Philadelphia), the Senate Democratic Policy Committee held a virtual policy hearing to discuss the issue of food insecurity in Pennsylvania.
“The pandemic has exposed many issues over the last year, but perhaps most striking of all is the issue of food insecurity,” Schwank said. “I know few of us will forget seeing the long lines of families waiting for food assistance. Today we learned how our local food banks met the extraordinary challenge of feeding our communities and what we need to consider moving forward as the issue of food insecurity is far from solved.”
Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding said that reports compiled by the organization Feeding America show that the number of Pennsylvanians facing food insecurity in 2020 grew substantially to 1.77 million individuals, an increase of 30 percent. The number of children in Pennsylvania facing food insecurity rose to 537,080, an increase of nearly 40 percent in just one year.
“Food Insecurity is defined as the lack of access to enough food for a healthy and active life and at its core equals hunger. Across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, it is estimated that 11% of the population is food insecure with the highest percentage right here in Philadelphia county,” Dixie James, President and COO of Einstein Healthcare Network, said.
Second Lady of Pennsylvania, Gisele Fetterman, also testified at the hearing about her work to address food insecurity through Free Store 15104 and 412 Food Rescue.
“My work exists because of failures in policy,” Fetterman said.
She said that making a state law to prevent perfectly good food from going to waste, as numerous other states have done, would help to address food insecurity by redirecting resources, and also addressing the environmental impact of discarding perfectly good food that could otherwise feed populations.
“We know it is not a lack of food, it is how food gets distributed,” Dr. Kathy Reeves, Senior Associate Dean of Health Equity, Diversity & Inclusion and Director at the Center for Urban Bioethics and Professor of Pediatrics Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, said.
Dr. Reeves also advocated in her testimony to treat food as a prescription to address the overall health of Pennsylvanians.
“Food insecurity is intertwined with so many of Pennsylvania’s chronic ills, problems like poverty and health disparities that have been exacerbated by the lingering coronavirus pandemic,” Senator Tartaglione said. “This thorough conversation is imperative as we seek to make nutrition universally accessible in the Commonwealth.”
Loree Jones, CEO of Philabundance which serves five counties in Pennsylvania, said that 40 percent of the 60 percent increase Philabundance has seen in need this past year were people using the emergency food system for the first time. She said that Feeding America is projecting that nationally more than 42 million people, including 13 million children, may experience food insecurity due to COVID-19.
Secretary Redding said that additional funding to provide food in the pandemic has come from both federal and state resources, providing additional funding for United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) foods purchases through The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). As of April 17, 2021, food banks in Pennsylvania report having distributed in excess of 2.4 million of these food boxes, weighing more than 51.5 million pounds.
“The lessons learned over this past year have provided us a fresh lens to look at our grant programs to ensure they are equitable and meeting the needs of those we serve. The gaps in the system have been highlighted such as meat processing delays and lack of access to fresh foods. We will continue to enhance our current programs and investigate additional ways to address these needs,” Sec. Redding said. “Additionally, expanding broadband access throughout the commonwealth will assist in providing equal access to resources and e-commerce platforms.”
Scott Cawthern, Acting Deputy Secretary for the Office of Income Maintenance at the PA Dept. of Human Services, also testified about the work that the Dept. of Human Services did in expanding services during the COVID-19 pandemic, and how increased and continued investment in these programs will address food insecurity and improve long-term health outcomes for Pennsylvanians.
“On the state level, we would like to see more coordination between all the food 9 systems in the state including the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), SNAP, NSLP, and others to ensure that eligible families are receiving all the food assistance for which they qualify and to ensure that children and families receive the nutrition supports as they grow,” Cawthern said.
Jay Worrall, President of Helping Harvest Food Bank, testified to the importance of community partners in the distribution of food and resources to families and how increasing funding for its signature food insecurity programs, the State Food Purchase Program (SFPP), and the Pennsylvania Agricultural Surplus System (PASS), and increase the flexibility for how those funds can be expended would assist even more Pennsylvanians in need.
“Unfortunately, many Pennsylvanians have been and still are struggling to meet their basic needs. Working families across our state face countless situations, such as jobs paying only poverty wages due to wealth inequality and corporate greed, food deserts, unexpected bills for car maintenance or medical treatment, layoffs, and now a global pandemic, all of which cause temporary or permanent financial instability, food insecurity and hunger. Pennsylvania food insecurity rates have increased from 11.1% in 2018 to over 33% as of March 2020. According to the PA Department of Agriculture, before the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 1.53 million Pennsylvanians endured chronic hunger every day, including 478,500 older Pennsylvanians and about 437,000 children,” Sen. Katie Muth (D- Berks/Chester/Montgomery), chair of the Senate Democratic Policy Committee, said. “Food insecurity makes it impossible to survive let alone thrive. Every human should have guaranteed access to reliable and nutritious meals. We need to act urgently to end food insecurity in Pennsylvania and across our nation.”
Below are all who participated in today’s hearing:
- Dixie James, President & COO, Einstein Healthcare Network
- Gisele Fetterman, Second Lady of Pennsylvania
- Secretary Russell Redding, PA Department of Agriculture
- Scott Cawthern, Acting Deputy Secretary for the Office of Income Maintenance at the PA Dept. of Human Services
- Dr. Kathy Reeves, MD. FAAP, Senior Associate Dean, Health Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Director, Center for Urban Bioethics – Professor, Pediatrics Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University
- Andy Toy, Development and Communications Director, SEAMAAC
- Tyler Ray, Neighborhood Community Organizer, Urban Creators
- Maddy Booth, COO, Vetri Community Partnership
- Mark Edwards, President & CEO, Food Trust
- Loree Jones, CEO, Philabundance
- Jay Worrall, President, Helping Harvest Food Bank
The full recording of this roundtable, as well as the written testimony from participants, can be found at senatormuth.com/policy. A full recording of this hearing can also be found on the PA Senate Democratic Facebook page.
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March 12, 2021
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).
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February 8, 2021
HARRISBURG − February 8, 2021 — In response to soaring rates of COVID-19 infection and death among incarcerated people and throughout the Pennsylvania prison system, nearly three dozen State Senators and State Representatives have issued a joint letter to Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf, urging him to utilize his power of reprieve to immediately release incarcerated people who are elderly or medically vulnerable.
Pennsylvania’s correctional institutions now see a death rate from COVID-19 three times that of the general population.
“There is a growing crisis in our correctional facilities. Department of Corrections Secretary Wetzel has testified that they cannot stop the spread of the virus within the prison walls. Facility spread threatens to enhance community spread as more men and women die behind the walls and in our communities every day. I urge Governor Wolf to once again use his reprieve power to protect our communities,” said Senator Sharif Street (D–Philadelphia).
“As elected officials, we have taken an oath to do everything in our power to keep those we represent safe,” said Senator Nikil Saval (D–Philadelphia). “Each person who has died leaves behind them a grieving family and community. These unnecessary deaths are unacceptable. We call upon Governor Wolf to act immediately to prevent additional suffering and additional loss of life.”
More than 1,200 people were identified as being eligible for reprieve by Governor Wolf’s administration in Spring 2020, but since that time, reprieve has been granted to only 159 people.
Senator Anthony H. Williams (D–Philadelphia/Delaware) recognized the urgent need for immediate government action to keep people safe, stating, “Gandhi captured it best, ‘The true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members.’”
On January 28, Senators Williams, Street, and Saval released a co-sponsorship memorandum titled “Expanded Eligibility for Medical and Elderly Release to Mitigate COVID-19 in PA’s Prisons,” with the objective of expanding eligibility and improving the process to facilitate the release of those most at risk for severe illness and death.
“We cannot allow a prison sentence to be a death sentence,” said Senator John Kane (D–Delaware/Chester). “COVID deaths in prisons are preventable—period. I urge the Governor to use his reprieve power to prevent these unconscionable deaths.”
This letter represents a significant bicameral effort among legislators, with 16 Democratic Senators (a majority of the Senate Democratic Caucus) and 16 Democratic State Representatives signed on, and with particular support from the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus.
“I am heartbroken by the countless stories from constituents in my district of loved ones in jail who have gotten sick during this pandemic, and we know people are dying in jails on a weekly basis,” said Representative Rick Krajewski (D–Philadelphia). “There is an absolute health crisis in Pennsylvania’s prisons. The governor has the ability to end this suffering right now, these deaths are unnecessary and I am urging the governor to recognize his power and responsibility to grant reprieve to people in prison who are at risk from COVID-19.”
Representative Chris Rabb (D–Philadelphia) emphasized the boundless impact of the pandemic, and the need for bold action for the sake of public health.
“Community spread does not acknowledge social status. The virus is opportunistic and spreads irrespective of the politics or position of the people it infects, and doesn’t care about the nature of the congregate population it devastates,” said Representative Rabb. “Without speedy releases of incarcerated Pennsylvanians following the guidance of public health officials, men and women in our prisons will continue to receive de facto death sentences due to the inaccurate—and now dangerous—assumption that people convicted of certain criminal offenses are a significant threat to the public. We cannot let politics and misinformed public perception about bold necessary public health measures get in the way of making Pennsylvanians safer. It is not fair to DOC staff nor to incarcerated people, nor all those with whom they come in contact beyond the prison walls.”
People who are incarcerated do not have the ability to socially distance. As a result, the Department of Corrections has resorted to the use of solitary confinement—a punitive measure—to try to prevent widespread infection and harm. Findings from throughout the country have definitively linked COVID-19 outbreaks in prison settings with increased cases in the surrounding community.
“Asking Governor Wolf to exercise his power of reprieve is just sound public health policy. This will save the lives of those incarcerated and the individuals who work at our correctional facilities,” said Senator Amanda M. Cappelletti (D–Montgomery/Delaware). “Of the 47,000 people in state prisons and community corrections centers, many are elderly or have health conditions that put them at greater risk of hospitalization and death should they become infected with COVID-19. We must take the necessary steps to protect their health and ensure they are safe. This is what is best for our public.”
Senator Lisa M. Boscola (D–Lehigh/Northampton) noted efforts on behalf of incarcerated people as part of holistic work for the health of the state.
“Last session I was proud to work in a bipartisan fashion to craft legislation to release elderly and sick nonviolent prisoners because it costs taxpayers too much money,” said Senator Boscola. “Releasing elderly and medically vulnerable individuals who are not a danger to the community in order to reduce the likelihood they will get COVID in prison is in line with responsibly reducing our prison population.”
On January 7, at the request of Senators Williams and Street, the Senate Democratic Policy Committee held the hearing “Pandemic in Our Prisons—Protecting People and Communities.” Recommendations following the hearing included urging Governor Wolf to use reprieve to reduce the prison population.
“Every day that passes with no action taken to expand reprieve efforts adds an increase in risk for incarcerated elderly and medically vulnerable individuals,” said Senator Katie Muth (D–Montgomery/Chester/Berks), Chair of the Senate Democratic Policy Committee. “Urgent action is needed now and we cannot wait another minute for the unnecessary and unjust harm to take another life.”
“The Wolf administration should be commended for introducing the reprieve program in April,” said Senator Judy Schwank (D–Berks). “However, it hasn’t done what it needed to and our state prisons are still overwhelmed by the coronavirus. We ask Governor Wolf to reevaluate this program.”
Read the full letter here
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December 10, 2020
HARRISBURG – December 10, 2020 – Today the following members of the Pennsylvania State Senate signed a joint statement – set forth below – denouncing the brazen attempt of the attorneys general of Texas and seventeen other states to disenfranchise millions of Pennsylvanians and voters in three other states by asking the United States Supreme Court to prevent electors in Pennsylvania and those other states that voted for Joe Biden from certifying him the winner when they meet in Harrisburg and the other state capitals on Monday, December 14.
The statement reads as follows:
“The lawsuit by the attorneys general of Texas, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah and West Virginia is based on the outright lie that voter fraud prevented Donald Trump from getting re-elected. Since Election Day, the Trump legal team has filed scores of such suits trying to overturn the will of the people. Time and again, the judges in those matters – in many cases conservative, Republican judges, some of whom Donald Trump appointed himself – have found that there was no evidence to support those claims and dismissed the suits accordingly.
The bedrock of our democracy is the right to vote and the right of voters to be sure that their votes will be counted. This lawsuit and the others like them are a direct attack on that fundamental principle. It seeks to perpetuate the lie that the presidential election was somehow stolen. While partisan politics – and a desire to appease the president’s restive base – may be the motivation for this latest court challenge, allowing it to go forward in silence is dangerous and, we believe, would constitute a dereliction of our duty as elected representatives of the people to uphold the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
The facts are these: Joe Biden received over 81 million votes, more than any candidate for president in the history of the United States and about 7 million more than Donald Trump. He received 80,555 more votes than the president in Pennsylvania. Mr. Biden received the most votes in 25 states and the District of Columbia, and, therefore, on December 14 when the Electoral College convenes, will be awarded 306 electoral votes, 36 more than the 270 needed to be elected president. Every vote cast for Joe Biden was cast freely and fairly, whether in person or by mail. In each state the vote-counting process was transparent and undertaken pursuant to law. Local and state officials, both Republican and Democratic alike, have attested to those facts, and, as noted, the courts have agreed. Joe Biden won the election.
Donald Trump has lost his bid for re-election; he seems incapable of accepting that fact. For the first time in American History, a sitting president who lost re-election has refused to acknowledge his loss, acting instead like a would-be autocrat who cannot accept any outcome that does not have him staying in power. While that may be a commentary on the character of the man, it cannot be a cause for setting aside the will of the people.
All of us have a responsibility – indeed we would go so far as to say a sacred duty – to ourselves, our fellow Americans and generations to come to prevent the lie that this election was stolen from living on and undermining future elections. For these reasons we have signed this statement and call upon others to likewise speak out and denounce this lawsuit against our state for what it is: an attack on our democracy.”
Signed,
Senator Steve Santarsiero, 10th District
Senator Vincent Hughes, 7th District
Senator Maria Collett, 12th District
Senator Judy Schwank, 11th District
Senator Tim Kearney, 26th District
Senator Christine Tartaglione, 2nd District
Sen.-Elect Amanda M. Cappelletti, 17th District
Sen.-Elect Carolyn Comitta, 19th District
Senator Jay Costa, 43rd District
Senator Anthony H. Williams, 8thDistrict
Senator Katie Muth, 44th District
Senator Art Haywood, 4th District
Senator Sharif Street, 3rdDistrict
Senator Lindsey Williams, 38th District
Sen.-Elect Nikil Saval, 1st District
Sen.-Elect John Kane, 9th District
August 27, 2020
Harrisburg, PA – August 27, 2020 – Today, State Senators Iovino, Street, Brewster, Schwank, and Hughes joined members of the Commonwealth’s small business community via Zoom to advocate for bipartisan legislation that would help Pennsylvania businesses file claims on their business interruption insurance policies, a potential source of funds that could help prevent businesses from being forced to close their doors. Business interruption insurance is coverage that replaces income lost in the event that business is halted due to a disaster. Since the pandemic and resulting shutdown, many Pennsylvania small businesses have sought financial relief by filing claims on their business interruption insurance policies, only to be denied due to ambiguous insurance policy language.
“To confront the most daunting economic challenge of our time, we need to put in place every available option to provide safety nets and recovery tools to support our businesses and our economy – and that includes business interruption insurance,” said Senator Pam Iovino (D – Allegheny & Washington). “Businesses that have consistently paid their business interruption insurance premiums expect their insurance coverage to provide security during a time of need. They need to know that a lifeline they planned for is available and within reach, and this bipartisan bill would do just that.”
Senator Iovino’s legislation, Senate Bill 1127, is designed to clarify Pennsylvania law and specifically applies to businesses with business interruption coverage that contains a “civil authority” clause. These clauses provide protections when government action, typically taken in response to a natural disaster or similar life-threatening event, prevents the business from operating. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has characterized the pandemic as a “natural disaster and a catastrophe of massive proportions.” Also, the legislation would clarify that the presence of COVID-19 in a community constitutes “property damage.”
Under this legislation, businesses would not receive additional payment beyond what their existing coverage permits. Insurance companies would not be mandated to immediately pay claims – the normal claims review process would take place before any payments are made.
Senate Bill 1127 was referred to the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee on April 30. The next step in the legislative process would be a Senate hearing.
“The economic damage caused by the pandemic is something our communities have never faced,” said Senator Sharif Street (D – Philadelphia). Small businesses are the foundation of economic ecosystems throughout communities in the Commonwealth, we must do all we can to sustain them. As Democratic Chair of the Banking & Insurance committee I am committed to working with Chairman Scavello (R) to convene a hearing pending growing reports of businesses across communities having their insurance claims denied. This bill will ensure that we protect the small businesses that drive our economy which have been interrupted through no fault of their own. I’m proud to join Senator Iovino, a leader in this bipartisan effort. “
“Businesses that have paid insurance premiums to financially protect themselves when there is an interruption in operations – such as when the coronavirus pandemic struck – shouldn’t have to struggle when a claim is made,” said Senator Jim Brewster (D – Allegheny & Westmoreland). “Entrepreneurs and small business owners rely on insurance to cover these types of situations.
Covering losses from situations beyond the control of businesses is exactly why you buy and pay for insurance. There should be no problems when operations are suspended and claims are filed.”
Lori Poe, who co-owns The Tandem Connection Bike & Running Shop in Washington County with her husband, said “if we were able to get some reimbursement from our insurance company for the business interruptions and loss of our second store, it would help us stay above water in the winter months when we are typically very slow. We appreciate Senator Iovino, her staff, and other legislators going to bat for the small businesses in our area.”
“As President/CEO of the Pittsburgh Airport Area Chamber of Commerce, one of the largest regional chambers in the Commonwealth, I feel compelled to advocate and to support legislation that is specifically designed to add a ‘lifeline’ to our small business community devastated by the pandemic,” said Chris Heck. “Financial relief should not be denied to those due to ambivalent insurance policy language. We support Senate Bill 1127, introduced by our PA Senator, Pam Iovino.”
“There’s no doubt about it – small businesses in Pennsylvania are suffering,” Senator Judy Schwank (D – Berks) said. “These businesses, which have done everything we’ve asked of them, should not be further penalized by their insurance carriers because of vague language.”
Jack Goodrich, a Pittsburgh attorney who specializes in business interruption insurance claims, said that “all we want to do is protect the small business owners that are the backbone of this country. They paid their premiums for years and deserve compensation now for their business losses through no fault of their own.”
“Small businesses all across Pennsylvania are bearing an undue share of the economic collapse caused by the coronavirus pandemic,” said state Senator Vincent Hughes (D – Philadelphia & Montgomery). “Taking action on business interruption insurance is a must. We should be providing every option possible to help their survival and recovery because they are the backbone of our economy.”
A downloadable video of today’s virtual press conference can be accessed here.
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April 8, 2020
Harrisburg, PA − April 8, 2020 − The Senate adjourned Tuesday afternoon after the House Republicans indicated they would not be taking up Senate Bill 841, legislation that would have enabled local municipalities to hold their meetings remotely, permitted e-notary use; lengthened the time period a property tax payer can receive an early payment discount and delay penalties for late payments to Dec. 31st; and allowed businesses to make delayed payments on EITC. Another important amendment offered by Senator Pam Iovino (D-Allegheny) allowed school districts to renegotiate contracts to ensure contracted school workers can get paid and continue to receive benefits.
The amended SB 841 passed the Senate with bipartisan support. While the Senate Democrats and Republicans chose to put partisan difference aside, the House Republicans were pushing to please special interests and big donors. Intending to use this crisis as leverage, Speaker Turzai and his caucus passed legislation to prematurely allow businesses to reopen during this public health crisis and create a partisan task force to interfere with the Governor’s disaster response, both of which unnecessarily risk lives and threaten to expend the emergency.
“While the Governor and Department of Health Secretary offer leadership on public safety in daily briefings and Democratic members of the PA House and Senate draft legislation to protect working people who are either out of work or employed on the front lines of essential businesses, Republicans are putting lives at risk and undermining the Governor and Secretary Levine’s best efforts to end this crisis,” said Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr. “Instead of taking the advice of our Health Secretary, they are trying to slow down our response and hasten the re-opening of non-essential businesses against the guidance of every public health entity in the country.”
The House Republicans were seeking even more egregious measures to provide civil immunity to big businesses, upend school districts ability to pay their teachers, and leave our corrections department employees at serious threat of the Coronavirus. Perhaps worst of all, the language does nothing to protect frontline workers, provide assistance to those that are out of work, or to help small businesses weather this crisis.
In an amendment to Senate Bill 327, House Republicans designed a task force with partisan appointees to usurp the Governor’s ability to rapidly respond to this quickly-evolving crisis. Their bill would require the Secretary of Health to leave PEMA, take hours away from public health crisis planning and defend her work in front of a redundant, political body.
The Senate Democratic Caucus will not support these bills. Alternatively, this caucus will be supporting legislation on the following issues:
- The American Working Family Relief Action Plan for front-line worker protections (Collett/L. Williams)
- Protecting workers during public health emergencies (Santarsiero)
- COVID-19 Food Worker Safety Act (Tartaglione)
- COVID-19 Grocery Store Worker Safety Act (Tartaglione)
- Payment of contract services in schools (Iovino)
- Childcare assistance (Schwank/L. Williams)
- Emergency expansion of the Family Medical Leave Act to provide paid sick leave (Farnese)
- Crisis grants for volunteer fire and EMS companies due to COVID-19 (Brewster)
- Require business interruption insurance to cover COVID-19 related business closures (Hughes)
- Eviction protection for all disaster emergencies (Farnese)
- Coronavirus disease and schools: allowing for online instruction (Dinniman)
- Creating a Common Wealth Fund to collect donations from individuals to provide for essential needs of those in need (AH Williams)
- Providing a presumption of eligibility for Workers’ Compensation benefits for workers that get sick in the workplace (Tartaglione)
- Ensuring receipt of a stimulus check from the Federal government is not included in an individual’s income for purposes of qualifying for social safety nets (Schwank)
- Exempting stimulus checks from the Federal government from State and local taxation (Brewster)
- Collaborating with financial institutions to mandate mortgage loan forgiveness, assistance to homeowners that were laid off due to state emergencies (Farnese)
“While many working Pennsylvanians are suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic, facing lost hours or even complete unemployment, others who find themselves in more fortunate circumstances have expressed a desire to help their fellow citizens by either donating to a local charity or patronizing local businesses,” said Senator Anthony H. Williams. “By establishing the “Pennsylvania Common Wealth” restricted account, taxpayers could redirect all or a portion of their stimulus check to the state, which in turn would be authorized to direct those funds into programs which help the neediest Pennsylvanians – property tax & rent rebates, temporary assistance for needy families, CHIP or medical assistance.”
“Pennsylvania needs solutions that help protect its working people who have been hit the hardest by the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic,” Senator Vincent Hughes said. “We in the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus have put forth a number of policy proposals that would do just that, meanwhile House Republicans have chosen to ignore these needs and push an agenda that jeopardizes public health and puts additional pressure on working people by delaying immediate relief. Our mission should be helping people in this unprecedented time of need and we will remain vigilant in protecting hardworking folks across the commonwealth.”
“As public servants, our most important duty is to protect the health, safety and welfare of our citizens. This includes making difficult decisions in challenging times. We all want businesses to reopen, employees back on the job, students back in classrooms and some semblance of normal life to resume, but that cannot happen unless we first continue mitigation efforts and follow the advice of our scientists and experts,” said Senator Wayne D. Fontana. “Anything contrary can set back progress and cause further harm on our economy and most importantly, on human health. The bipartisan legislation the Senate approved provides some necessary guidance and relief to local governments, businesses, school employees and property taxpayers during this unprecedented situation. It is unconscionable that House Republicans blatantly disregarded that duty and have chosen not to act.”
“The spread of coronavirus has not quieted the voice of special interests in Harrisburg and that’s tragic,” said Senator Larry Farnese. “Mitigation through isolation is working and we have to recognize that sacrifice through legislation that actually helps front-line workers instead of just saying nice things on social media.”
“This crisis and the Commonwealth’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic requires leadership, transparency and cooperation – not partisan politics,” said Senator John Blake. “While we’ve worked well with the Senate majority on real solutions that actually help people in this crisis, the House majority looks to undermine the executive authority of the Governor as well as the advice of medical and scientific experts regarding public health. I applaud the work being done by Governor Wolf and his administration to keep Pennsylvanians safe and to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. I will continue to support important legislation to help our business community, front-line workers and medical professionals; and to protect our citizens, schools and local governments across this state. We need to remain vigilant in following the recommendations of the PA Department of Health and the federal CDC.”
“Issues that the Commonwealth was already facing have been exacerbated by this pandemic, and child care services and early learning programs are near the top of the list. Childcare centers are teetering on the brink of insolvency, which is why part of our legislative package addresses early childhood learning and safe, quality childcare. We will not be able to restart Pennsylvania’s economy without this key component,” Senator Judy Schwank said. “Additionally, it’s vital that the income requirements of state programs like PACENET and Property Tax and Rent Rebate are adjusted so that Pennsylvanians receiving federal aid are not penalized later.”
“The key to an effective response to the pandemic is to ensure that our citizens are protected, health risks are addressed, and our economy restarts quickly,” Senator Jim Brewster said. “That’s why I introduced a six-point stimulus plan that will help small business, protect workers and create jobs once we are clear the threat posed by the pandemic. In addition, we need to make sure to address the immediate and long-term needs of first responders and all workers and businesses who are providing essential services during this time of extraordinary stress.”
“There is no segment of our Commonwealth that hasn’t been upended by this crisis. Everything is a priority. But in order to save livelihoods, we must first save lives,” said Senator Maria Collett. “As a nurse, I know firsthand the challenges our health care workers are up against and the urgency of passing legislation like the American Working Family Relief Action Plan for Front-Line Workers. Our doctors, nurses, first responders, senior care aides and others should not have to worry about getting sick or infecting others while performing their essential work.”
“It is irresponsible for the state to reopen businesses at the height of the COVID-19 outbreak. Those who are not essential workers should remain home,” said Senator Art Haywood. “We need to do all we can as legislators to support essential employees risking their lives on a daily basis,” said Senator Haywood (D-Montgomery/Philadelphia). “I will continue to support the work Governor Wolf and Secretary Levine have done to inform the public to remain safe and stay home.”
“The citizens of Pennsylvania are counting on their elected representatives to save lives by responding swiftly, pragmatically, and in a bipartisan manner to slow the spread of this highly contagious virus,” said Senator Pam Iovino. “To fulfill our duty to the public, we must follow the consensus guidance of public health professionals, focus on protecting front-line essential workers, and put in place protections that allow furloughed or unemployed workers and small businesses to weather the economic disruption.”
“As the Democratic chair of the Local Government Committee, I worked with stakeholders for weeks to craft the provisions of SB 841, I am disappointed these commonsense measures, which passed the Senate with bipartisan support, are being held up by House Republicans for little reason,” said Senator Tim Kearney. “The House should immediately pass SB 841 and focus on bringing relief to Pennsylvanians, rather than sabotaging the Governor’s efforts to keep our families safe.”
“Yesterday, the majority party in both chambers failed to use their legislative power, where they can literally pass any bill they want to, and instead decided to pack up and go home without,” said Senator Katie Muth. “Failing to pass meaningful bills when people are fighting for their lives is simply negligent.”
“Now is not the time to play politics,” said Senator Steve Santarsiero. “Saving lives has to be the first priority. In order to do that, we must all do our part and follow the Governor’s and Department of Health’s plans as they’ve been explained to us countless times. SB 841 is just one of many ways our caucus has worked in a bipartisan effort to provide relief to those who need it most. However, SB 327 is exactly what our healthcare professionals warn us against. Promoting a premature return to normalcy will only undermine our effort to keep the public safe, and further endanger thousands of lives.”
“Government’s most important role is the protection of its people. Since the COVID-19 crisis the Senate has met three times, with little to show for it. Communities across the commonwealth have no interest in the paralysis of government especially in the most desperate of times. What they do care about is the protection of our essential workforce, the interruption of our small businesses, job loss, staying in their homes and educating their children. The only thing that matters is the preservation and protection of every resource needed to keep families safe during this health crisis,” said Senator Sharif Street.
“We need to be back in Harrisburg, we need to get back to work. We must work together to ensure our communities are protected during uncertain times.”
“As thousands of Pennsylvanians continue to get sick and hundreds die, now is no time to play partisan politics,” Senator Tina Tartaglione said. “As public leaders, we must unite behind the common goal of reducing the threat of this virus and mitigating the harm being done to our constituents. The package of bills we have proposed will directly help all Pennsylvania families, including essential workers, displaced workers, first responders, school children, those who have become sick, and those in need. I urge all legislators from all political parties to support these bills.”
“Stopping the spread of COVID-19 and saving lives is our top priority. We also need to protect and support our constituents, our communities, and our businesses,” said Senator Lindsey Williams. “Our front-line essential workers – our hospital workers, grocery store workers, emergency service personnel and others – cannot afford to wait for PPE. They needed it weeks ago. Our childcare facilities need our help to stay open and provide care to the children of our essential workers while they risk their lives for us. Our small businesses need financial support to stay afloat. Our municipalities need the ability to meet remotely and make decisions that will ensure the safety of all of residents. There are a lot of needs right now and our constituents do not have time for us to waste playing partisan games or naming bridges. The Senate Democrats have offered concrete solutions that will help people. We should all be working together to get them to the Governor’s desk for signature as soon as possible.”
More information on the work of the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus during the COVID-19 crisis can be found at pasenate.com/covid19.
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June 24, 2019
Harrisburg, Pa. − June 24, 2019 − Members of the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus today jointly sent a letter to Governor Tom Wolf requesting a disaster declaration for gun violence in the Commonwealth.
“We believe it is necessary to raise the public’s awareness of the massive loss of human life and the suffering inflicted on affected family, friends and neighbors where this tragedy is unfolding daily,” they wrote. “Just as you have signed six disaster declarations to provide every tool at the Commonwealth’s disposal to combat the opioid epidemic, the death toll and impact from illegal guns should merit immediate and coordinated attention.”
Specifically, a disaster declaration could do the following:
- Establish a task force led by the Department of Health to create and implement a public health framework for addressing gun violence
- Establish a command center in the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency to coordinate state and local law enforcement response
- Enhance the Joint-Local State Firearm Taskforce through additional personnel and funding to take illegal guns off the street
- Expand information gathering and sharing between all levels of law enforcement and community groups
- Increase law enforcement presence, both local and state, in targeted areas where gun violence is most prevalent
- Expedite and expand grants and other funding sources for community groups and nonprofit associations with a proven record of violence reduction and prevention
- Provide additional state resources for behavioral and mental health
- Bringing to bear the significant wealth of knowledge and experience in the Departments of Health and Human Services to provide de-escalation and de-confliction training throughout the community
- Require the Pennsylvania Department of Education provide training and professional development on trauma-informed education
View full letter →
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May 7, 2019
Schwank, Sabatina, Street promote organics, tax-exemptions, tax credit expansion, urban agriculture
Harrisburg – May 7, 2019 – Senate Democrats introduced key pieces of the PA Farm Bill today, including measures to promote organic farming, exempt taxes for beginning farmers, increase tax credits and stimulate urban farming.
The four-bill package is being sponsored by Sens. Judy Schwank (D-Berks), John Sabatina (D-Philadelphia) and Sharif Street (D-Philadelphia).
“The bills we are offering cover a wide range of issues that impact farmers,” Schwank said. “The measures will not only help current farmers deal with industry issues and regulations but will spur urban agriculture and aid novice farmers as they deal with tax issues.”
Schwank, the Democratic chair of the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, has two bills in the package. The first bill (Senate Bill 623) would establish the Pennsylvania Preferred Organic Program. Pennsylvania is second among all states in organic sales. The voluntary program would ensure that the PA Preferred trademark is applied across all production modes and encourages organic producers to meet federal standards.
“The legislation builds on Pennsylvania’s stature in organic farming, will enhance brand recognition and open new doors for marketing our products around the nation,” Schwank said.
Schwank’s second measure (Senate Bill 624) would exempt beginning farmers from paying the realty transfer tax on the purchase of a farm preserved under the Farmland Preservation Program. Pennsylvania now has more than 5,500 farms involved the program.
“Our farmland preservation program is highly successful, yet in some areas new farmers are reluctant to purchase preserved land due to high land prices,” Schwank said. “This bill helps remove a cost impediment and will be an incentive for beginning farmers to put more land under cultivation.”
Sabatina, who served as Democratic chair of Agriculture and Rural Affairs as a member of the state House of Representatives and is now a member of the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, is sponsoring a measure designed to encourage natural resource protections and promote efficiency in agriculture production.
The Northeast Philadelphia lawmaker’s bill (Senate Bill 622) would increase tax credits offered through the Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP) Program for implementing best management practices to $3 million. The bill would also raise the lifetime cap to $250,000 from the current $150,000 per operation.
“Access to tax credits encourage farmers to implement best management practices, and rewards those already doing so,” Sabatina said. “Using the best methods to farm: cuts overall costs, makes farms more productive and protects natural resources.
“For a relatively small costs, Pennsylvania will receive significant benefits.”
Urban agriculture would be boosted in the fourth bill (Senate Bill 627) in the package offered by Street. Street, a North Philadelphia lawmaker who serves on the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, is sponsoring a bill that would provide grants to improve agriculture and increase market opportunities.
The bill would offer grants for projects that focus on developing urban farms and market opportunities. The program would reimburse urban farmers, market developers, aggregators and other projects involving resource sharing and community development for project costs.
“There are tremendous opportunities for urban farmers and those interested in developing agriculture in large cities because of sheer market concentration,” Street said. “Those who live in cities need access to fresh foods and locally grown products.
“Small plots of ground can be cultivated, which can lead to the creation of locally-developed farm markets.”
Schwank said the governor should be applauded for bringing such a large and multi-faceted farm proposal to the General Assembly. She said that the package’s approach not only aids producers but also meets market needs.
“Our agriculture industry has the potential for rapid growth if we make the kind of sweeping changes that are necessary to help future generations of farmers,” Schwank said. “The PA Farm Bill addresses producer and market needs, combines innovation with investment and focuses on real solutions.”
Schwank, Sabatina and Street called for bipartisan support of the PA Farm Bill. They said they are open to working with Republicans and the governor to ensure that key aspects of the plan are adopted prior to the General Assembly’s summer recess.
“There are many farming-related issues where we can build bipartisan support and move key legislation quickly,” Sabatina said. “The bills offered by Senators Schwank, Street and I are realistic, commonsense measures that meet immediate needs.”
Street said he is encouraged that Democrats and Republicans in both the House and Senate have expressed interest in moving pieces of the PA Farm Bill.
“We can all get behind the effort to help farmers, producers and market developers access new business opportunities,” Street said. “This strengthens farming overall and bolsters Pennsylvania’s economy.”
The senators said they expect the PA Farm Bill to be a high priority during budget deliberations.
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Contact: Hugh Baird
Phone: 717 787-5166
Email: Hugh.Baird@pasenate.com
November 1, 2017
Philadelphia – November 1, 2017 – At the request of state Sen. Lawrence Farnese (D-Phila.), the Senate Democratic Policy Committee today held a roundtable discussion at City Hall on strategies for preventing street harassment.
“It is really important to have this meeting at a time when we’re talking about this on a national level and at a state level,” Farnese said. “Street harassment is not a new problem but by bringing it to light and making it a policy issue, it’s my hope we can empower women to understand and let them know there are folks around the state who believe and support them and want this to end.”
Sen. Lisa Boscola, who chairs the committee, added, “This affects everyone. In light of recent national news about sexual harassment and violence and the subsequent #MeToo social media campaign, it’s clear that people simply aren’t going to take it anymore. No one should have to tolerate it. The panelists today provided insightful and helpful input on initiatives that are already in place, resources that are available and ideas on ways we can all discourage street harassment further.”
Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks), who chairs the Women’s Health Caucus said, “Everyone at some point has experienced this type of harassment and has, unfortunately, considered it to be part of life. In a way, this recent national conversation has brought it to a new light in all levels of society, so this is exactly right time to address this. While it may be difficult to talk about it, this is the time to talk about it and how we change this culture.”
“It’s important that we engage the public to educate people so everyone can feel safe and welcome in all environments in Pennsylvania,” said state Sen. Sharif Street (D-Phila.). “I appreciate the community engagement today to help us develop what will hopefully be effective policies to address this issue.”
According to a 2014 survey of 2,000 women commissioned by the organization Stop Street Harassment, 65 percent of women said they experienced some form of street harassment. More than half experienced verbal harassment and 41 percent endured physical aggressive forms ranging from being followed to sexually touched.
The lawmakers added that members of the LBGTQ community and religious, ethnic and racial minorities are also routinely subjected to street harassment.
The panelists addressed how to continue the conversation and develop a roadmap to educate the public about and ensure consequences for perpetrators of street harassment.
Panelists said that this is a complex issue, so as a society we should approach street harassment as a social, cultural, economic, public health and a law enforcement issue that requires the community, the government, the workforce and law enforcement to work together to prevent it.
“It’s a human rights issue because when women experience street harassment, society is saying that they do not have equal access to public spaces,” said Dr. Nina Ahmad, Ph.D., the City of Philadelphia’s deputy mayor for Public Engagement. “The consequences to this disparity impacts us in many ways. It’s not a mere inconvenience; it translates into affecting our livelihoods.”
“It’s not just a woman’s issue. It hurts all of us. We need to do a better job of changing the culture,” said Jovida Hill, executive director of the Philadelphia Commission for Women.
“It begins at a very age so it’s our job to protect children because victims are often children. Changing the culture is very important.”
Nuala Cabral, communications manager at Temple University Community Collaborative, made a film about street harassment and discovered that the ways people respond to street harassment depend on the location and situation. “We are making decisions in a matter of seconds about how to safely respond,” she said. “We need to emphasize the importance of teaching consent. Honestly, we can start at kindergarten, we can start talking about consent. Students are hungry about this conversation and they’re not having it.”
“Black girls under 18 are extremely vulnerable to harassment and attacks. We need to acknowledge this problem in a delicate way. We need to teach resistance — that not only is it wrong but there’s something you can do about it,” said Temple student Kayla Watkins. “Young women aren’t aware that it’s not their fault.”
Further, Watkins added, “Education is the best way to get ahead of this thing.”
Among the recommendations were educating children, educating the public at large, collecting data, developing codes of conduct, promoting a culture of consent and enforcing and improving laws.
Roundtable participants included the following:
- Amber Hikes, executive director, Office of LGBT Affairs, City of Philadelphia;
- Dr. Nina Ahmad, Ph.D., Deputy Mayor for Public Engagement, City of Philadelphia;
- Attorney Terry Fromson, managing attorney, Women’s Law Project;
- Donna Greco, policy director, Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape;
- Dr. Monique Howard, executive director, Women Organized Against Rape
- Nuala Cabral, communications manager, Temple University Community Collaborative;
- Kayla Watkins, Temple University student;
- Jovida Hill, executive director, Philadelphia Commission for Women; and
- Noelle Marconi, member of the legislative Policy and Advocacy Committee for the Philadelphia Commission for Women.
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September 1, 2017
Senate Democrats have been in the forefront of efforts to address exposure to lead
Harrisburg – September 1, 2017 – State Sen. Vincent J. Hughes and Senate Democrats applauded Gov. Tom Wolf’s support of universal testing of children under the age of 2 to determine their risk of lead poisoning.
The governor has urged the state Department of Health to work collaboratively with the General Assembly and community partners on crafting legislation to compel testing of children under the age of 2 for lead exposure.
Hughes (D-Philadelphia), along with several Senate Democrats, including Sens. Wayne Fontana (D-Allegheny), Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) Judy Schwank (D-Berks), John Yudichak (D-Luzerne), Sharif Street (D-Philadelphia) and Art Haywood (D-Philadelphia) have been leaders in the effort to combat lead poisoning.
Senate Democrats have offered a comprehensive legislative package to help children, day care centers and home buyers deal with the threat of lead poisoning. Senate Resolution 33, which called for a task force to study lead exposure, was approved by the Senate in early June.
“The governor’s call for universal lead testing of children under the age of 2 is a huge step forward,” Hughes said. “Finding out the depth of the problem will enable us to better design a more effective strategy to deal with lead and help prevent problems associated with lead.”
According to the Department of Health, 28 percent of children in Pennsylvania under 2 years of age were tested for lead in 2015. Several years ago, lead seeping into Flint, Michigan’s public water system caused a devastating health crisis and spurred governments to examine the levels of lead exposure. Eighteen Pennsylvania cities tested higher than Flint for elevated blood lead levels.
Senate Democrats first introduced a comprehensive package of measures dealing with lead in 2016 following the Flint crisis. The legislative package included five bills that would establish a task force to study the issue and account for the age of the state’s housing stock, pipelines and school buildings; require school buildings to be tested for lead; require the licensing of lead testing centers; require property sales agreements to include an option for water testing for lead; and create a “Superfund for Lead Abatement” that would help pay lead remediation costs.
“We can do better and protect children and families from lead poisoning,” Hughes said. “The governor’s support is key to our success in addressing lead in our communities, homes and schools.
“My Senate Democratic colleagues and I are ready to move aggressively on legislation that gets to the root cause of the problem.”
Information about the incidence of lead exposure would enable families to access available services, Hughes said.
In December 2016, Hughes announced that $125,000 in state grant dollars were available to help Philadelphia deal with lead issues.
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