August 24, 2016
Harrisburg – Aug. 24, 2016 – State Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks) congratulated the owners of two Berks County farms who joined the ranks of more than 5,000 Pennsylvania farms preserved through the efforts of the State Agricultural Land Preservation Board.
“Berks County is a big reason Pennsylvania has preserved over 5,000 farms,” Schwank said today following the Pennsylvania Farmland Preservation Board’s meeting at Smuckerland Farms located in Bird-in-Hand, Lancaster County.
“The 227 acres of prime, local agricultural space added by the board means Berks County farms will remain a leader in producing nutritious food for generations to come.”
The total conservation easements for the following Berks County farms totals $566,750:
- Wagner Farms Partnership, Oley Township, 113.20 acres;
- Leon S. & Alta M. Zimmerman, Longswamp & Maxatawny Township, 113.50 acres.
In Berks County, 713 farms consisting of 70,354 acres have been preserved.
“Our county has preserved more acres of farmland than any other county,” said Schwank. “We have demonstrated and made preserving farms a priority.”
Pennsylvania is recognized as a national leader for farms and acres preserved. Since the Farmland Preservation program began in 1988, more than $1.3 billion has been invested by federal, state, county and local governments to preserve more than half a million acres on farms in 57 counties for future agricultural production.
-30-
August 11, 2016
Harrisburg – Aug. 11, 2016 – Upgrades at Reading’s Fritz Island Waste Water Treatment Facility will be completed thanks to $27.1 million in additional funding from the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST), state Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks) said today.
“I’m encouraged by the approval of additional state funding to support this important project” Schwank said. “Our residents depend on the efficient operation of this plant for clean water and a functional sewer system. These upgrades are critical to the future of the plant.”
The $27.1 million loan is in addition to $121.8 million that was previously approved by PENNVEST for the facility.
Schwank said that the funding was approved at a special meeting of the PENNVEST board today. The additional funding ensures that all necessary improvements to the facility can be made.
At the Fritz Island solids plant, the dollars will be used to address numerous discharge system issues. It will also pay for the construction of a primary clarifier distribution structure, the rehabilitation of other primary clarifiers and other system improvements.
At the liquids plant, the funds will be used for construction projects to prevent the discharge of sewage into the Schuylkill River.
PENNVEST funding comes from a combination of state funds approved by voters, grants from the U.S. Environmental Protection agency, and recycled loan repayments from previous PENNVEST funding awards.
Reading is under a federal consent decree to fix problems in the city’s sewer system, which serves more than 22,000 households in Reading and customers in other municipalities
-30-
July 22, 2016
Harrisburg – July 22, 2016 – Legislation recently signed into law by Governor Tom Wolf legalizing the growing of industrial hemp in Pennsylvania represents a significant step forward for the agricultural industry in Pennsylvania, State Senator Judy Schwank (D-Berks) said today.
“Pennsylvania will now be on the same playing field as other states that have passed hemp legislation” Schwank said. “Bringing this multi-million dollar industry back to Pennsylvania will provide new opportunities for farmers and give Pennsylvania the chance to open new doors for generations of farmers to come.”
Schwank spearheaded the legislation in the Senate and was a tireless advocate for the reestablishment of the industrial hemp industry. Her legislation was unanimously approved by the Senate, while companion legislation – introduced in the House – made its way through the General Assembly and onto the governor’s desk earlier this week.
Act 92 allows for the growing, cultivation and marketing of market industrial hemp within the state and permits growing industrial hemp for research purposes by agencies, colleges, and universities. The new law also establishes the Hemp Research Board and charges it with developing regulations, applications for registration, inspections, a database of registered persons, registration fees, guidelines for labeling and testing.
Schwank said there are many ways to use industrial hemp including its application in textiles, building materials, industrial and environmental products, food and paper.
-30-
July 1, 2016
HARRISBURG — July 1, 2016 — The Berks County Industrial Development Authority (BCIDA) was approved today by the Commonwealth Financing Authority for a state low-interest Business In Our Sites (BIOS) loan in the amount of $1,119,709 to improve electrical infrastructure at the Reading Airport Industrial/Business Park located in Bern Township, according State Senator Judy Schwank.
Senator Schwank noted that the funds will help the Authority pay for needed work to extend power lines and install related infrastructure to expand electrical power capacity and availability at the airport, which will accommodate existing and future industrial development and growth in the area.
“The Reading Airport holds tremendous potential for development and the BCIDA and the local officials have been working diligently to ensure that the infrastructure is in place to entice new businesses to locate here,” said Senator Schwank.“This investment of state funds will help put us in a better position to attract new ventures to our area and promote job growth.”
Senator Schwank noted that the Business In Our Sites Program provides loans for the acquisition and development of key sites for future use by businesses, private developers, and others. The program is administered through the Commonwealth Financing Authority (“CFA”).
###
July 1, 2016
HARRISBURG, July 1, 2016 – Three regional conservation, watershed protection, and civic improvement groups will receive a total of $470,000 in new state investments for their ongoing efforts to protect and enhance the outdoor experience for Berks County residents.
Sen. Judy Schwank and Reps. Thomas Caltagirone and Mark Rozzi today said the Commonwealth Financing Authority approved grants for:
- Implementation of the Berks County Conservancy’s Angelica Park master plan, $200,000;
- Recreation Commission of the Antietam Valley, Carsonia Park Improvement Project and Watershed Restoration Project, $215,000;
- Berks County Community Foundation, 18th W.O.N.D.E.R. Neighborhood Improvement Project, $55,000.
“All three of these projects are especially significant because they not only will vastly improve regional recreational resources and preserve the local environment, but also because they are the result of remarkable cooperation among a diverse array of elected and appointed officials and community-based organizations and agencies,” Sen. Schwank said following CFA’s approval of the new investments. “I am just as grateful for the dedication, passion and vision of the many people who work for these groups and strive to improve the quality of life for all Berks Countians.”
“These grant awards are great news for the City of Reading and surrounding communities,” Rep. Caltagirone said. “Everyone who worked so hard to put together such high quality proposals for these competitive grant funds deserves special recognition”
“These projects represent important investment not only in the present needs of our community, but for future generations,” Rep. Mark Rozzi said. “Residents of the Antietam Valley, the City of Reading and beyond will benefit from these projects for decades to come. I was pleased to work with my colleagues and local officials and citizens to make these a reality.”
###
Contact: Stacey Witalec
Sen. Judy Schwank
Phone: (717) 787-7683
switalec@pasenate.com
Contact: Chris Winters
Rep. Thomas Caltagirone
Phone: (717) 787-3525
cwinters@pahouse.net
Contact: Chad Schlanger
Rep. Mark Rozzi
Phone: (717) 783-3290
cschlanger@pahouse.net
July 1, 2016
HARRISBURG, July 1, 2016 – Historic Skyline Drive will soon be receiving much needed upgrades thanks to a $969,298 Multimodal Transportation Fund grant approved today by the Commonwealth Financing Authority to reconstruct a 2.4 mile stretch of Skyline Drive in Alsace and Lower Alsace Townships and the City of Reading, according to Sen. Judy Schwank and Reps. Thomas Caltagirone and Mark Rozzi. All three state legislators worked together to strongly advocate for the grants approval.
According to the state legislators, Lower Alsace Township will receive the grant and will work with Alsace Township and the City to complete the project. As part of the reconstruction of Skyline Drive, road markings will be added to create shared pedestrian/bicyclist lanes and crosswalks added at key locations to improve safety. Stormwater facility upgrades will be installed to improve water runoff and limit potential water damage to the roadway in the future.
“This project represents an important investment in improving one of Berks County’s most iconic roadways,” said Senator Schwank. “This effort is especially significant because it involves cooperation among three municipalities, incorporates multiple modes of transportation, and improves safety for motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians alike.”
“Skyline Drive provides access to some of the most beautiful vistas in all of Pennsylvania, as well to our City’s most recognizable and historic landmark, the Pagoda,” added Rep. Caltagirone. “These improvements will help ensure that both residents and visitors continue to have access to these beautiful natural and historical resources.”
“In recent years, Greater Reading has earned an international reputation for being a destination of choice for cyclists, hikers, and outdoor enthusiasts, who are drawn to both the beauty and challenges Mount Penn offers,” noted Rep. Rozzi. “This project will build on that reputation, enhancing not only access to the recreational opportunities the mountain offers, but also creating economic benefits by drawing more visitors to our area and attracting more premiere events like the Reading 120 and the Duryea Hill Climb.”
###
Contact: Stacey Witalec
Sen. Judy Schwank
Phone: (717) 787-7683
switalec@pasenate.com
Contact: Chris Winters
Rep. Thomas Caltagirone
Phone: (717) 787-3525
cwinters@pahouse.net
Contact: Chad Schlanger
Rep. Mark Rozzi
Phone: (717) 783-3290
cschlanger@pahouse.net
June 27, 2016
HARRISBURG, June 27, 2016 – Two co-chairs of the legislature’s Women’s Health Caucus praised today’s U.S. Supreme Court decision striking down a Texas abortion law that caused all but a few clinics there to close. The number of clinics in Pennsylvania also dropped after a more limited version of the stricken law was enacted here in 2011.
State Rep. Dan Frankel, D-Allegheny, said: “Today’s 5-3 decision by the Supreme Court clearly exposes the sham arguments made by abortion opponents that restricting access to safe, legal abortion is somehow in the best interest of women and their health.
“The motivation for these draconian legislative proposals – requiring hospital admitting privileges for abortion providers and requiring expensive construction overhauls of abortion facilities – has been clear to many of us for a long time,” said Frankel, the WHC House Democratic chair. This should also put the brakes on Pennsylvania efforts to pass additional abortion restrictions. It’s great to see the United States Supreme Court strike down the terrible law in Texas.”
Sen. Judy Schwank, D-Berks, said: “Today’s ruling is an important victory for a woman’s constitutional right to make her reproductive decisions. It reinforces very clearly that government cannot burden this right simply by claiming it is protecting women’s health.
“Those who want to restrict reproductive rights now know for sure that they have to prove their claims,” said Schwank, the WHC Senate Democratic chair. “And that just like decisions on health care, decisions on health legislation need to be based on facts.”
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 a woman’s right to make private, personal medical decisions.
— 30 –
June 9, 2016
Reading – June 9, 2016 – At the request of state Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks), the Senate Democratic Policy Committee held a roundtable discussion today on Pennsylvania’s Zika Virus response plan that focused on measures available for state, local and health officials to educate the public about potential health impacts.
“While I’m pleased to see that our state has already put an extensive plan into place, it is imperative that we do all we can to track the spread of this virus and to keep people informed about how they can best protect themselves,” Sen. Lisa Boscola (D-Northampton/ Lehigh) said. “Today’s hearing is aimed at making sure government is doing all it can to coordinate the best possible statewide response.”
Boscola serves as Democratic chair of the Democratic Policy Committee.
Schwank, who serves as the Democratic chair of the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, said “this effort will require a great deal of cooperation and coordination between state, federal and local agencies. It is imperative that we get this right and do this right.”
The Zika virus was first detected in Brazil over a year ago. Spread by infected mosquitos, the virus generally causes very mild symptoms and rarely leads to serious side effects. However, it does pose a serious threat to pregnant women because the infection can cause birth defects.
Experts at the hearing said the risk for Pennsylvanians is low, but the Ebola scare taught lessons about being prepared for things to change.
“As a community and as a state, we’re going to collaborate. It’s cirtical that our communication is clear and that it provides honest information,” said Marie Keim, Director of Epidemiology, Infection Control and Prevention, Reading Hospital. “Whether it’s twitter, whether it’s facebook, whether it’s the news, it’s important that we’re getting it out in a language that is easy to understand.
As of May 2, there were no reports of the virus being spread by mosquitoes in the continental United States yet. However, Pennsylvania does have 19 confirmed cases of people who have the virus — with 178 test results still pending.
Dr. Jason Rasgon, Associate Professor of Entomology and Disease Epidemiology at Penn State University noted the rapid manner in which research and information on Zika evolves. “I would say something and it would be outdated the next day,” Dr. Rasgon said. “That’s how quickly things are changing.”
The Wolf Administration has already established an extensive Zika response plan that outlines the phases of education, tracking, and response activities that are to occur based on various levels of mosquito activity in Pennsylvania.
Boscola credited the plan for including public awareness and education. She also said it would be critical for government agencies to work closely together to assure that the state is as prepared as possible. The state Department of Health has already set up a website on the virus at www.zika.pa.gov.
The best way to prevent mosquito bites is to use an insect repellant, take steps to keep mosquitoes out of your home; reduce standing water outside; and wear long sleeves and pants outdoors.
Joining the senators for the roundtable discussion were:
- Dr. Loren Robinson, Deputy Secretary for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, PA Department of Health
- Dana Aunkst, Deputy Secretary of Water Programs, PA Department of Environmental Protection
- Dr. Jason Rasgon, Assoc. Prof. of Entomology and Disease Epidemiology, Pennsylvania State University
- Dr. Robert S. Jones, D.O., Medical Director, Infection Prevention, Reading Health System
- Marie Keim, Director of Epidemiology, Infection Control and Prevention, Reading Hospital
- Dean Druckenmiller, District Executive, Berks County Conservation District
# # #
June 9, 2016
Harrisburg – June 9, 2016 – The Pennsylvania Agricultural Land Preservation Board today approved an additional 194 acres of Berks County farmland for preservation, state Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks) said today.
“The farmland preservation program is so vitally important to the agriculture community of Berks County and all across the state,” Schwank said. “Preserving farmland for agricultural purposes enhances family farming, promotes efficient land use and keeps acres in production without outside development pressures.”
Schwank who is a member of the board in addition to serving as Democratic chair of the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, said that 110. 7 acres in Centre Township and another 82.7 acres in Perry Township will be preserved.
The board approved conservation easements valued at $483,500 to preserve the farmland.
“Berks County has been a statewide leader in preserving farmland,” Schwank said. “We have a long history of farming in the county and with the help of preservation activities we will continue to keep land in agricultural production.”
The farm that will be preserved in Centre Township belongs to Dale and Carolyn Machmer. The Perry Township farm is owned by Marie Strause and Carol Fetherol.
Statewide 4,977 farms totaling 522,545 acres have been preserved since the program’s inception. In Berks County, 711 farms consisting of 70,227 acres have been preserved. Berks County has preserved more acreage of farmland than any other county in the state program.
-30-
June 8, 2016
Harrisburg – June 8, 2016 – Legislation sponsored by state Senator Judy Schwank (D-Berks), requiring the POW-MIA flag to be flown on state grounds is one step closer to becoming law today after a unanimous vote by the Senate State Government Committee.
Schwank praised the efforts of her colleagues to honor the lives and service of military personnel listed as prisoners of war or missing in action.
“I am so pleased that my colleagues joined me in realizing that we can never forget the names and the faces of those held prisoner and those still waiting to return home,” Schwank said. “This legislation will allow us to show support for our service men and women and their families, while honoring their service and sacrifice.”
Senate Bill 1157 would require the POW-MIA flag be flown along with the U.S. flag on state grounds and buildings. The legislation does not impose the requirement on local governments or school districts.
In the last 100 years, more than 1,100 Pennsylvania families have lost loved ones whose bodies have no known resting spot where their service and sacrifice can be marked and remembered. The black-and-white POW-MIA flag depicts the silhouette of a soldier with his head bowed. Behind the soldier are the images of a watchtower, a strand of barbwire and the words “POW,” “MIA” and “You are not forgotten.”
Congress designated the flag in 1990 as “the symbol of our nation’s concern and commitment to resolving as fully as possible the fates of Americans still prisoner, missing and unaccounted for in Southeast Asia.
Senate Bill 1157 now heads to the full Senate for consideration.
30 –
June 6, 2016
Harrisburg – June 6, 2016 – State Senator Judy Schwank today announced that the filing deadline for Pennsylvania’s Property Tax/Rent Rebate program has been extended from June 30 to Dec. 31, 2016.
“More than half a million Pennsylvanians took advantage of the Property Tax/Rent Rebate program last year,” Schwank said. “Extending the program application deadline to the end of the year provides the opportunity for more Pennsylvanians in need to take advantage of this important program.”
Pennsylvania’s Property Tax/Rent Rebate program benefits those eligible age 65 and older; widows and widowers age 50 and older; and people with disabilities age 18 and older. The income limit for the program is $35,000 per year for homeowners and $15,000 annually for renters. Half of Social Security income is excluded.
Funded through the Pennsylvania Lottery and slots gaming revenue, the maximum standard rebate is $650 however supplemental rebates for qualifying homeowners can bolster rebates to nearly $1,000. Since the beginning of the Property Tax/Rent Rebate program in 1971, eligible Pennsylvanians have received more than $5.9 billion in property tax and rent relief.
For more information about the Property Tax/Rent Rebate program or to apply visit www.revenue.pa.gov or call toll-free 1-888-222-9190.
30 –
May 18, 2016
Harrisburg, May 18, 2016 – With drug overdose deaths reaching epidemic levels, Senate Democrats unveiled legislation today to address the opioid addiction crisis from prevention through recovery.
“Addiction is a disease that does not discriminate and there is no easy solution to fix the problem,” Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) said. “When addiction finds its way into a family, it can nearly paralyze them for fear of what the future may hold.”
Recognizing the need to provide support at all levels, the Senate Democrats’ legislation focuses on providing new opportunities for education and treatment as well as expanded support options in the community for addicts, professionals and families.
“We cannot address this problem in a vacuum and must work to provide the necessary services and support to everyone involved,” Costa said. “Families are being affected and communities torn apart as a result of opioid abuses and heroin addiction.”
Opioids are a class of drug that include heroin as well as the prescription pain relievers oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine, morphine, fentanyl and others. According to a University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health study, fatal drug overdoses in Pennsylvania increased 14 fold between 1979 and 2014.
“We are in the midst of the worst ever overdose death epidemic and the worst public health crisis of the last 100 years, Secretary of Drug and Alcohol Programs Gary Tennis said. “It will continue to take a collaborative effort among many partners to effectively address this crisis.”
The package of legislation includes:
Emergency Addiction Treatment Program – Charging the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs with establishing a comprehensive program that includes new addiction treatment facilities for those drug users that are currently going without care; new intake methods to provide information to those with addiction problems or their family and friends; advice and assistance in accessing treatment; and data collection to help identify patterns of addiction.
School Aged Children Opioid Awareness Education Program – Requiring the Departments of Drug and Alcohol Programs, Health, and Education to work cooperatively to design an opioid awareness education programs to be delivered in schools.
Addiction Treatment Professional Loan Forgiveness Program – Require the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) to develop an addiction treatment professional loan forgiveness program.
Opioid Addiction Prevention and Treatment Assessment – Impose a 10 percent assessment on the first sale of an opioid into the state. Revenues from the assessment will be used to support the purchase of naloxone for local law enforcement and emergency management personnel in addition to supporting addiction prevention and treatment programs.
Responding to the Senate Democratic proposals to the drug and alcohol problem, Deb Beck from the Drug and Alcohol Service Providers Organization of Pennsylvania said that the drug and alcohol problem “has reached epidemic levels in the state and these proposals will be life saving in impact.”
###
May 17, 2016
HARRISBURG, May 17, 2016 – Newborn and infant children of mothers affected by postpartum depression (PPD) would be eligible for early intervention services under legislation introduced today by Sens. Judy Schwank (D-Berks) and Camera Bartolotta (R-Washington).
Senate Bill 1269 would add PPD to the list of conditions that qualify for assessments, tracking and early intervention services. The state already monitors infants with certain medical conditions, such as low birth weight or lead poisoning, as well as those born into potentially dangerous environments, including children born to chemically dependent mothers, homeless children and infants who suffer from abuse and neglect
“Postpartum depression is a severe and potentially long-lasting condition that can put the health of the mother and the baby at risk,” Bartolotta said. “By adding postpartum depression to the list of qualifying conditions, we hope to ensure infants and their mothers who suffer from this condition have access to the services that are already in place in our communities to support healthy child development.”
“All babies deserve a healthy start in life,” said Schwank, Senate Democratic chair of the Women’s Health Caucus. “Making sure that babies of mothers with PPD are able to get available services they may need is important, and it just makes sense for both the mother and child.”
The American Psychological Association estimates that more than one in seven new mothers experience PPD. The condition can adversely affect a baby’s cognitive development, and carries an increased risk of abuse and neglect.
Postpartum depression is typically defined as a major depressive episode for the mother arising either during her pregnancy or within a year of the baby’s birth. About 21,000 babies and mothers in Pennsylvania annually are believed to suffer from it, and the American Academy of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that all mothers be screened for this illness.
###
CONTACT: Colleen Greer (717) 787-1463 (Sen. Bartolotta)
William Casey (717) 787-8925 (Sen. Schwank)
May 10, 2016
HARRISBURG, May 10, 2016 – Sparked by the tragic death of a Berks County mom who died after being imprisoned for her child’s delinquent truancy fines, Sen. Judy Schwank has won the Pennsylvania Senate’s approval of a bipartisan bill to keep parents from this kind of punishment.
Senate Bill 359 is heading to the House on a 48-0 vote.
“There are many causes for truancy, but we have largely been relying on a single solution to it: treating it as a crime with the unfounded belief that that would fix the problems,” Schwank said today during floor debate. “Mrs. Dinino died in prison, with her children at home alone, simply because she could not pay $2,000 in fines that had accumulated against her.”
The Berks County Democrat said the 2014 death of Eileen DiNino – a widowed mother of seven who was placed in Berks County Prison because Pennsylvania law mandates a five-day sentence for failing to pay truancy fines – was the “wake-up call.”
“It was a shock … to learn that Pennsylvania mandated a prison sentence in truancy cases. It was an even greater shock to discover that not only do we have this bad idea of mandating prison for parents who are unable to pay truancy fines but, even worse, it is randomly applied.”
Should Senate Bill 359 win the approval of the House and governor, Schwank said no parent will go to jail for a delinquent truancy bill under most circumstances.
Also, the senator emphasized that the bipartisan legislation, which she worked on with Republican Sens. Stewart Greenleaf (Montgomery County) and Lloyd Smucker (Lancaster), will remind people that getting children an education is the most important reason for updating the law.
“Eileen’s death, sadly, put a human face to this ineffective injustice, and this bill today will not bring her back to her family and friends,” Sen. Schwank said. “But it did prompt a very deep and serious reconsideration of the issue that resulted in SB 359.
“The causes of truancy are much deeper than a child simply choosing not to go to school. There are reasons for these choices, and they reflect many other concerns than whether or not a child attended class on a given day.”
###
Follow Sen. Schwank on her website, Facebook and Twitter.
April 25, 2016
READING, April 25, 2016 – More than five dozen Berks County EMS and fire companies will receive state grants totaling more than $840,000 to help with training, equipment purchases and construction or renovation of facilities, Sen. Judy Schwank announced today.
Twelve Berks County EMS units will receive $86,156, and 54 fire companies are counting a total of $755,728 from the Fire Company, Volunteer Ambulance Service Grant Program.
“Our first responders need the public’s support to help protect our homes and property and come to our aid when we are in distress,” Sen. Schwank said. “Getting this money to our many fire departments and EMS units will help accomplish many goals while improving public safety.”
All fire companies and volunteer ambulance and rescue squads are eligible for the grants.
The following Berks County EMS and fire companies have been earmarked for support:
EMS
Bally Community Ambulance Assoc., $6,991.46
Southern Berks Regional EMS Service, $7,147.70
Blandon Community Ambulance Inc., $7,201.70
Boyertown Lions Community Ambulance Service Inc., $7,201.70
Fleetwood Volunteer Fire Co No 1, $7,201.70
Hamburg Emergency Medical Services Inc., $7,201.70
Lower Alsace Ambulance, $7,201.70
Muhlenberg Area Ambulance, $7,201.70
Oley Fire Company, $7,201.70
Schuylkill Valley Emergency Medical Services, $7,201.70
Topton American Legion Comm Amb Service Inc., $7,201.70
Western Berks Ambulance Association Inc., $7,201.70
FIRE COMPANIES
Friendship Fire Company No 1 of Geigertown, $5,600
Central Berks Fire Company, $11,511.46
Rescue Fire Co No 1 Of Mt Aetna, $11,511.46
Marion Fire Company of Stouchburg, $11,739.29
Union Fire Company Of Bethel, $11,739.29
Alsace Manor Fire Company Truck Crew, $11,967.12
Community Volunteer Fire Company of Lower Alsace Township, $11,967.12
Pioneer Hose Co No 1, $11,967.12
Community Fire Co of Frystown, $12,194.96
Ruscombmanor Fire Company No 1, $12,194.96
Walnuttown Fire Co #1, $12,194.96
Central Fire Co #1 of Laureldale, $12,422.79
Hamburg Volunteer Forest Fire Crew Inc., $12,422.79
Community Fire Co of Seisholtzville, $12,650.62
Community Fire Company Virginville, $12,650.62
Friendship Fire Company # 2, $12,650.62
Shoemakersville Fire Co No 1, $12,650.62
Lyons Volunteer Fire Co 1, $12,878.46
Shartlesville Community Fire Company No 1, $12,878.46
Kenhorst Volunteer Fire Company No 1, $12,900.00
Monarch Fire Co #1, $13,334.12
Amity Fire Company, $13,561.96
Blandon Fire Company No 1, $13,561.96
Fleetwood Volunteer Fire Co No 1, $13,561.96
Gibraltar Fire Co., $13,561.96
Greenfields Fire Co. 1, $13,561.96
Keystone Fire Co No 1 of Shillington, $13,561.96
Keystone Fire Company Rehrersburg, $13,561.96
Kutztown Volunteer Fire Department, $13,561.96
Mount Pleasant Fire Company, $13,561.96
Temple Fire Company 1, $13,561.96
Topton Volunteer Fire Company, $13,561.96
Western Berks Fire Department, $13,561.96
Berks Emergency Strike Team, $13,789.79
Bernville Community Fire Company, $13,789.79
Brecknock Township Fire Company No 1, $13,789.79
City of Reading Pennsylvania Dept of Fire & Rescue Services, $13,789.79
Cumru Township Volunteer Firefighters Association, $13,789.79
Exeter Township Volunteer Fire Department, $13,789.79
Goodwill Fire Co #1 of Hyde Park, $13,789.79
Hereford Fire Company, $13,789.79
Kempton Fire Co Inc., $13,789.79
Mount Penn Fire Company, $13,789.79
Oley Fire Company, $13,789.79
Strausstown Volunteer Fire Company No 1, $13,789.79
Township of Spring Firefighters Inc., $13,789.79
Twin Valley Fire Department, $13,789.79
Union Fire Company No 1 of Leesport, $13,789.79
Union Fire Company No. 1 of Hamburg, $13,789.79
West Reading Fire Company No 1, $13,789.79
Womelsdorf Volunteer Fire Company, $13,789.79
Wyomissing Fire Department, $13,789.79
Eastern Berks Fire Department, $36,561.96
Boyertown Area Fire & Rescue Inc., $36,789.79
###
Follow Sen. Schwank on her website, Facebook and Twitter.
April 14, 2016
HARRISBURG, April 14, 2016 – The number of acres of Berks County agricultural land protected by Pennsylvania’s farmland preservation program eclipsed 70,000 today, state Sen. Judy Schwank said.
The milestone happened when the Pennsylvania Agricultural Land Preservation Board, of which Schwank is a member, added four more Berks County farms, totaling 169.9 acres, to its ag easement list.
“Nearly 110 square miles of Berks County are now dedicated to all things agriculture,” Sen. Schwank said. “This is a remarkable achievement and something for every Berks County resident to be proud about reaching.”
The four farms added to the farmland preservation program received total ag easements of $424,750. The tracts are owned by:
- Kenneth & Diane Leiby, Perry Township, 37.6 acres
- John & Kimberly McGrath, Amity Township, 61 acres
- Kathy M. Reifsnyder, Upper Tulpehocken Township, 34.2 acres
- Kenneth R. Sholl, Bethel Township, 37.1 acres
Berks County now has 709 farms – and 70,031 acres – in the state’s farmland preservation program. Berks County has preserved more acreage of farmland than any other county in the program.
Since the farmland preservation program started in 1988, Pennsylvania has protected 4,951 farms totaling 520,619 acres.
For more information on PA’s farmland preservation program, visit the Bureau of Farmland Preservation’s website.
###
Follow Sen. Schwank on her website, Facebook and Twitter.
April 4, 2016
HARRISBURG, April 4, 2016 – The Pennsylvania Senate today unanimously approved Sen. Judy Schwank’s resolution for an advisory task force to find better ways to address drug addiction and treatment.
“I believe the task force will find that Pennsylvania needs better coordination and, perhaps, a stronger commitment to drug addiction prevention, care and intervention, especially as heroin and opioid overdoses have racked so many of our communities,” Schwank said.
“We suspect more can and should be done because we read about Pennsylvanians dying from drug overdoses too many times on too many days. I’ve listened during public forums and impromptu meetings with constituents who say treatment programs should have the resources to provide more beds for care or they should be able to act quicker and with more focus.
“I look forward to the advisory panel’s work and final report to help stop this growing problem, and I thank the Senate for its understanding and support to make this happen. Treatment works.”
The special panel proposed in Schwank’s Senate Resolution 267 would complete an inventory of the locations and types of drug treatment programs and determine if there is a need for additional help or better coordination.
It would also determine the ease and availability of access by Pennsylvania residents to effective treatment; examine the prevalence and practical impact of using private or public funding or health insurance coverage to pay for treatment; decide how to better help consumers determine the effectiveness and value of different types of treatment and programs, and propose how to nurture promising emerging types of treatment and best practices.
The task force will work under the supervision of the Joint State Government Commission – a bipartisan, bicameral research agency – and have 18 months to deliver its report and recommendations.
###
Follow Sen. Schwank on her website, Facebook and Twitter.
Contact: Mark Shade
Phone: (717) 787-5166
mshade@pasenate.com
March 28, 2016
READING, March 28, 2016 – Women business owners and entrepreneurs will have the unique opportunity to learn how to grow their businesses Wednesday, March 30, during a special seminar in Reading sponsored by Sen. Judy Schwank and a group of private and public partners.
The “W.E. R.O.A.R. Summit: Women Entrepreneurs, Relationships, Opportunities, Assistance and Resources,” is a free event that will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Doubletree Hotel, 701 Penn St., Reading.
“Women business owners and entrepreneurs are critical to the strength and vitality of our local, state, and national economies, but they face many unique challenges and obstacles in achieving success,” said Sen. Schwank. “The ‘W.E. R.O.A.R. Summit’ will bring together, in one event and at one place, a diverse array of business experts, agencies, and organizations, whose purpose is to help women-owned businesses succeed.”
Schwank said the summit is designed to benefit seasoned business owners, start-ups, and entrepreneurs alike.
Erin Andrew, director of the Office of Women’s Business Ownership for the United States Small Business Administration, will deliver the keynote address.
The event will also include breakout sessions led by business experts on: “Starting and Growing A Business,” “Securing Financing,” “Strategic Planning,” and “Taking Your Business to the Next Level.”
A variety of economic development organizations, financial institutions, and agencies will be available to provide information and guidance to help attendees succeed with their businesses.
Schwank said the summit is a collaborative effort with The Pennsylvania Community Development and Finance Corp, Tompkins VIST Bank, and the Kutztown University Small Business Development Center, with special assistance from the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Even though the event is free to attend, registration is required. For more information or to attend, people may call 610-898-6151 or visit https://weroar2016.eventbrite.com.
###
Follow Sen. Schwank on her website, Facebook and Twitter.
March 22, 2016
HARRISBURG, March 22, 2016 – On the plaza of the state government building that houses Pennsylvania’s highest appellate courts, state Sens. Anthony Hardy Williams and Judy Schwank called for renewed efforts to improve the accountability of commonwealth justices and said punishment still must be delivered to those involved in the recent email scandal.
The statewide email scandal ensnared former PA Supreme Court Justice Michael Eakin, who announced his retirement a week ago.
“Pennsylvania cannot continue to have a system that allows – and shields – its jurists and prosecutors from punishment for unethical behavior,” Sen. Williams (D-Philadelphia/Delaware) said in response to a growing public mistrust of the judicial discipline system. “The Court of Judicial Discipline must be free from conflicts of interest like those which arise naturally when disciplining their own appointing authority.”
“The inappropriate handling by the Judicial Conduct Board in recent cases against sitting state Supreme Court Justices show how vulnerable our current investigative and disciplinary processes are to inappropriate influence by the Supreme Court,” Sen. Schwank (D-Berks) said. “To restore confidence in the courts and our judicial process, we need now to deal effectively with judicial misconduct at all levels.”
As part of their reform efforts, the senators co-sponsored Senate Bill 1083 to remove the state Supreme Court from the judicial discipline process, and to:
- Revitalize the conduct board and disciplinary court by transferring the Supreme Court’s power to appoint members to those panels to the governor and legislature
- Reduce the number of judges allowed to sit on the panels and increase the number of public citizen members
- Make them fiscally independent of the court and prohibit the Supreme Court from inserting itself in these cases.
The lawmakers said their proposal needs to be considered soon by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
“If you’re a woman, a minority, LGBT, these emails reveal just how so many people charged with protecting you and your interests view you and talk about you in private,” Schwank said. “Tragically, it’s the same way that people who make you feel unsafe in your home view you: as an unequal, as an object to be mocked, mistreated and abused.”
Also egregious, the senators said, was Judicial Conduct Board Chief Counsel Robert Graci’s purposeful decision to not immediately disclose his role as campaign manager for Eakin.
“Graci’s performance and the co-conspiracy to cover up these embarrassing emails by state Attorney General First Deputy Bruce Beemer and state Supreme Court Special Counsel Robert Byer are why we are re-stating our call for them to be removed from office,” Williams said. “We are also seeking sanctions against federal prosecutors who were involved in this outrage.”
Sen. Williams said he received a “pro-forma” response to a Dec. 4 letter he mailed to Peter J. Smith, the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District in Harrisburg. That letter asked Smith to reprimand or terminate the assistant U.S. attorneys under his charge involved in this matter. No such action has been made public in the nearly three months since that initial response.
###
Contact: Mark Shade
Phone: 717-787-9220
mshade@pasenate.com
March 21, 2016
HARRISBURG, March 21, 2016 – Two of Pennsylvania’s leading legislative voices for better performance and oversight of the commonwealth’s judicial system will hold a press conference at 11 a.m., tomorrow, Tuesday, March 22, to call for judicial performance and oversight proposals to be considered and for further measures against former Supreme Court Justice Eakin and those involved in “Hategate.”
Sen. Anthony H. Williams (D-Philadelphia/Delaware) and Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks) will demand punitive action against those involved in the widespread dissemination of pornographic, racist and misogynistic emails.
Media coverage is invited.
WHAT: Sens. Williams, Schwank to hold press conference on judicial reform
WHEN: 11 a.m., Tuesday, March 22
WHERE: Plaza, PA Judicial Center, 601 Commonwealth Ave., Harrisburg
###
March 16, 2016
HARRISBURG, March 16, 2016 – State Sen. Judy Schwank’s proposal to return hemp as a legal, cash crop in Pennsylvania was overwhelmingly approved by the Senate today.
Senate Bill 50, which Schwank and Sen. Mike Folmer introduced more than a year ago, was approved by the upper chamber, 49-0.
“The United States imports $650 million worth of hemp from Canada and China,” Schwank said during floor remarks. “In Canada hemp is estimated to be more than a $2 billion crop. Pennsylvania farmers who can grow hemp should be allowed to once again.”
If approved by the governor, SB 50 would start small with a pilot program under the supervision of academic and state government experts.
“The goal is to research best practices and clear the way for Pennsylvania to become a hemp-farming powerhouse,” Schwank said. “I am not expecting hemp to be used commercially for many years, but this pilot program gets Pennsylvania’s foot in the door, and opens the possibilities for future generations of farmers.”
Senate Bill 50 has yet to garner a negative vote. The Senate Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee, of which Schwank is the Democratic chair, voted 11-0 in favor of the bill this past October.
The legislation moves to the House now for consideration.
“Hemp would allow Pennsylvania to be on the same playing field with states that have already passed some form of hemp legislation,” Schwank said. The soil and climate here in PA is perfect for growing hemp and hemp got its start in PA. We have townships such as Hempfield Township in Lancaster that were named after the crop and its viability in the area.
“I don’t think there are arguments against hemp; I look at it more as a misunderstanding.”
###
Follow Sen. Schwank on her website, Facebook and Twitter.
March 16, 2016
HARRISBURG, March 16, 2016 – The state Senate Health and Welfare Committee today unanimously approved a proposal by state Senator Judy Schwank (D-Berks) calling for a broad study of addiction treatment concerns in Pennsylvania.
The proposal now goes to the full Senate for consideration.
“The sharp increases in heroin and opioid abuse in recent years here and across the country have really revealed the great need for a more coordinated understanding of and approach to dealing with addiction,” Schwank said following the committee’s approval. “Our work to fight this growing crisis has been earnest, but it remains too fragmented.
“Having a task force focus on the problem will allow us to identify necessary changes that we hope can make a huge difference for the many families who are facing the impact and challenges of addiction.”
Under Schwank’s resolution, SR 267, which has broad bi-partisan support of a majority of the Senate, the task force would be created under the Joint State Government Commission, which is a research agency of the General Assembly.
The task force would:
- Count the locations and types of treatment programs
- Assess the need for additional treatment resources
- Determine the ease and availability of access by Pennsylvania residents to effective treatment
- Examine the prevalence and practical impact of using private or public funding or health insurance coverage to pay for treatment
- Decide how to better help consumers determine the effectiveness and value of different types of treatment and programs, and
- Propose how to nurture promising emerging types of treatment and best practices.
Representatives from the departments of Corrections, Drug and Alcohol Programs, Education, Health, Human Services, Insurance, the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts, hospitals, treatment providers, medical professionals, recovering former users, family members of users, and other appropriate groups will serve on the task force.
The advisory task force would be required to deliver its report within 18 months.
###
Follow Sen. Schwank on her website, Facebook and Twitter.
February 18, 2016
HARRISBURG, Feb. 18, 2016 – Five more Berks County farms totaling 393 acres will be protected from future development following the approval of their applications today by Pennsylvania’s farmland preservation program, state Sen. Judy Schwank said.
“We closed out 2015 by preserving Berks County’s 700th farm and I’m pleased to report that we are continuing to lead this green effort in a strong way by adding five new farms to the preservation program,” Sen. Schwank, a member of the Pennsylvania Agricultural Land Preservation Board, said following the panel’s decision. “The largest farm preserved today is 119 acres; the smallest, 21 acres. But they are all living large because of their commitment to agriculture in Berks County.”
The five farms added to the farmland preservation program received total ag easements of $979,250. The tracts are owned by:
- Glenn & Janet Brubaker, Marion Township, 102.7 acres
- Burkholder & Sauder families, Maxatawny Township, 79.3 acres
- Charles Durkin Jr., Albany Township, 70.3 acres
- Charles Durkin Jr. #2, Albany Township, 119.2 acres, and
- Michael Laskoskie, Perry Township, 20.6 acres
Berks County now has 705 farms – and 69,861 acres – in the state’s farmland preservation program. Berks County has preserved more acreage of farmland than any other county in the program.
Since the farmland preservation program started in 1988, Pennsylvania has protected 4,919 farms totaling 518,827 acres.
The long-term goal of the state’s program is to permanently preserve farmland. The holders of the easements have the right to prevent development or improvements of the land for purposes other than agricultural production.
For more information on PA’s farmland preservation program, visit the Bureau of Farmland Preservation’s website.
###
Follow Sen. Schwank on her website, Facebook and Twitter.
February 1, 2016
February 1, 2016: Senator Judy Schwank (D-11) and Representative Mark Rozzi (D-126) today announced that Lower Alsace Township has been awarded a $41,300 Municipal Services Program Shared Services Grant through the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development to enhance a joint code enforcement program with Mount Penn Borough.
According to the state legislators, the two neighboring communities are consolidating their separate code enforcement officers into a joint program under the operational control of the Central Berks Regional Police Department, which serves both municipalities. These state grant funds will pay up-front and transition costs and two years of costs and increased level and quality of services, including database and website development. The total cost of the project is $82,875.
“I commend Lower Alsace and Mount Penn Officials for pursuing this joint effort to improve services in their municipalities,” said Senator Schwank. “This cooperative effort will save money and help improve the quality of life for residents of the Antietam Valley and is another excellent example of cooperation between these municipal neighbors.”
“This unique blending of police and code services is an innovative approach to managing growth and keeping blight in check,” noted Representative Rozzi. “Local officials are taking proactive steps to the maintain character and viability of area neighborhoods and that is a smart and effective approach to community-building.”
The Municipal Assistance Program administered by the Department of Community and Economic Development is part of the Commonwealth’s ongoing efforts to promote the efficient and effective delivery of municipal services and improve communities across the Commonwealth.
# # #
January 28, 2016
HARRISBURG, Jan. 28, 2016 – Work to improve trails and parks in Berks County received new state investments of about $490,000 today, state Sen. Judy Schwank and Rep. Mark Rozzi announced.
The investments, from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, are called Community Conservation Partnership Program grants, or C2P2, and target Hopewell Big Woods, Green Hills, and Carsonia Park.
“More people will be able to enjoy the beauty of these Berks County places with the help of these new state investments,” Sen. Schwank said. “Outdoor experiences make our lives richer. Fresh air, challenging hiking trails, and being close to water can broaden our horizons and help to give us new perspective.”
DCNR announced $28 million in C2P2 grants today, including the following Berks County investments:
- Phase 1 of the gateway to Hopewell Big Woods — $72,000 for the development of Gateway to the Hopewell Big Woods Rustic Park, Birdsboro. Work will include construction of pedestrian footbridge and walkway, ADA access, landscaping, project sign and other related site improvements.
- Green Hills Preserve, $35,000 for the acquisition of approximately 1.9 acres in Robeson Township for critical habitat and expansion of the Green Hills Preserve. National Lands Trust Inc.
- Green Hills Preserve, $103,000 for the acquisition of approximately 34 acres in Robeson Township for open space, critical habitat and expansion of the Green Hills Preserve. National Lands Trust Inc.
- Carsonia Park development ($250,000) and acquisition ($27,700) for the rehabilitation and further development of Carsonia Park in Exeter and Lower Alsace townships. Work to include construction of basketball and multi-purpose courts, baseball/multi-purpose field, stormwater management measures and pedestrian walkway, ADA access, landscaping, project sign and other related site improvements. Recreation Commission of the Antietam Valley.
“Carsonia Park is one of Berks County’s historic places, and DCNR’s decision to deliver $278,000 in grants will greatly help its supporters begin to bring it back to life,” Rep. Rozzi said. “The park opened in 1896 and was an amusement park for many years. Restoring this space will deliver wonderful amusement to its visitors for generations to come.”
Schwank and Rozzi noted that competition for the C2P2 grants was fierce.
DCNR said it received 430 grant applications seeking more than $92 million. Grants were awarded for municipal and regional community recreation and park projects, land acquisition, rivers conservation efforts, and planning.
###
Follow Sen. Schwank on her website, Facebook and Twitter.
