June 11, 2015
READING, June 11, 2015 – Berks County communities working to help teenagers and young adults better understand the consequences of drinking and alcohol abuse today received nearly $260,000 in grants from the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board.
Sen. Judy Schwank, Rep. Tom Caltagirone, and PLCB Chairman Tim Holden announced the grant recipients today during a press conference at Penn State-Berks. Representatives from area colleges and municipal governments joined them.
“Our purpose here today is not to take credit, get attention, or seek congratulations,” Sen. Schwank said. “Instead, we gather here today to share some great news: three of our local colleges and universities, two local governments, two police forces, and one school district have been awarded nearly $260,000 in grants from the PLCB to better help our children who might be tempted by underage drinking.”
“With the PLCB’s help, these Berks County communities and organizations will use these new investments to make lives better for minors, their families and the neighborhoods they call home,” Rep. Caltagirone said. “‘Drink Responsibly’ is a marketing slogan that is too often ignored by minors and these funds will be used to raise awareness of the dangers and consequences of underage drinking.”
The PLCB is awarding nearly $2.3 million in grants to organizations statewide. In Berks County, eight awards are headed to the following:
Kutztown University – $40,000
Kutztown School District – $40,000
Kutztown Borough – $32,622
Wyomissing Borough Police – $25,536
Alvernia University – $40,000
Penn State Berks Campus Police – $21,817
Albright College – $39,793
Spring Township Police Department – $19,108
Today’s announcement is nearly 60 percent greater than the PLCB’s investment two years ago when just Kutztown University ($40,000), Kutztown Borough ($36,615), Albright College ($27,254), Wyomissing Borough PD ($24,478), and PSU-Berks ($20,065) received grants.
Grant recipients will invest the PLCB dollars in efforts that involve training, law enforcement patrols, and other prevention programs.
Schwank said alcohol is the most commonly used and abused drug among youth in the U.S. and is responsible for more than 4,300 annual deaths among underage drinkers. Every year, she added, hospitals across the country are visited by thousands of underage persons for alcohol related incidents.
“The value of Pennsylvania’s liquor store system is evidenced by the investment made today in our Berks County communities,” Caltagirone said. “These grants represent significant backing and education for our children and the places we call home.”
“I want local residents and officials to know that though the statistics are daunting, real work is being done to educate students and young people about the dangers of illegal and dangerous alcohol use,” Schwank said. “These participants that have gathered here today are working to ensure that our community is a safe one where alcohol is consumed responsibly and legally.”
The other participants joining Caltagirone, Schwank and Holden included:
- Dr. Keith Hillkirk and Chief Kevin Rudy from Penn State Berks
- Dr. Lex O. McMillan III, Albright College
- Dr. Joe Cicala, vice president of university life at Alvernia University
- Dr. Carlos Vargas, Kutztown University
- Dr. Ed Meyers and Mr. Barry Flicker, Kutztown School District
- Chief Jeffrey Beihl, Wyomissing Police, and
- Kutztown Mayor Sandra Green
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June 8, 2015
HARRISBURG, June 8, 2015 – Holly Doppel of Lenhartsville emailed Senators David G. Argall (R-Schuylkill/Berks) and Judy Schwank (D-Berks) after she read the lawmakers were interested in spearheading a bipartisan effort to strengthen safety in work zones.
Doppel was referring to the lawmakers’ push to add speed cameras to ensure the speed limit is followed in work zones.
A fatal accident on the morning of May 2 near Bensalem on the Pennsylvania took the life of a motorist and sent four construction workers to the hospital. Doppel’s youngest son was working with the Bensalem crew that was involved in the accident, but left at 1 a.m. The accident occurred at 5:30 a.m.
“I am for having the cameras at the work zones,” Doppel wrote to the Senators. “Also, I am for any other project that can be used to protect our construction workers.”
The two Berks County lawmakers introduced Senate Bill 840 that would allow for automated speed cameras in active work zones across the state.
“With the added investment to fix our roads and bridges, we need to do everything we can to protect the lives of the men and women making those improvements possible,” Argall said. “One life lost is one too many and this proposal would allow PennDOT and the Turnpike Commission to identify areas where workers are most at risk. This measure has been proven in other states to change driver behavior and create a safer experience for both motorists and workers alike.”
“Our goal is to make sure that both motorists and workers are as safe as they can be when highway work is being done,” Schwank said. “We believe this bill is a fair balance that will get motorists to pay more attention when improvements and construction change the normal highway routines.”
The bipartisan proposal would create a five-year pilot program for automated speed enforcement on interstate highways under the jurisdiction of PennDOT and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission. Motorists caught exceeding the speed limit will be subject to a $100 fine. The areas with speed-monitoring cameras will be adequately marked to inform motorists as well, including posted to the PennDOT and the Turnpike’s respective websites.
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May 14, 2015
READING, May 14, 2015 – One of Pennsylvania’s champions for education has converted Gov. Tom Wolf’s idea for career and technical instruction into a proposal that is now before a Senate committee for consideration.
Sen. Judy Schwank’s Senate Bill 114 would deliver as much as $15 million for public-private training partnerships focusing on high-demand, high-growth occupations that pay a living wage and promise career growth opportunities.
“Companies throughout Berks County and the commonwealth need people who know what they are doing and have the aptitude to do more,” Sen. Schwank said today after her legislation was referred to the Senate Education Committee. “These public-private training partnerships would be laser focused on delivering skilled workers for in-demand jobs.”
If approved, school districts, career and technology centers, higher education institutions, employers and labor organizations would be eligible for as many as 30 grants of up to $500,000.
Grants would be targeted – but not guaranteed – for each Workforce Investment Area.
“If that happens, students would have the chance to earn college credit and industry credentials through work-based learning,” Schwank said.
Additionally, Senate Bill 114 proposes to provide $5 million in equipment grants for career and technical education.
The legislation also offers $8 million to help school districts fund college and career counseling in middle schools and high schools.
“Pennsylvania works very hard to attract good companies to move, expand or start here but the incentives we dangle aren’t always enough or the promises of job growth delivered,” Schwank said. “But if we make sure Pennsylvania has the best-trained employees, companies will be hard-pressed to look elsewhere, workers will get better jobs with better pay, and local economies will undoubtedly improve.
“Gov. Wolf had the vision to make investments in career and technology training, and I’m pleased to make sure the legislation is in place that will carry this economic development initiative to fruition.”
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Follow Sen. Schwank on her website, Facebook and Twitter.
May 12, 2015
Harrisburg – May 12, 2015 – After a recent series of accidents in construction zones, a bipartisan group of senators and state officials detailed legislation today that’s designed to protect workers in the zones.
Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) was joined by Sens. Judy Schwank (D-Berks), David Argall (R-Schuylkill), and Camera Bartolotta (R-Washington) in addition to PennDOT Secretary Leslie Richards and Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission Chair Sean Logan to discuss how the measures will improve safety in the construction zones.
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The senators and state officials outlined their plan for increased penalties for those striking or killing highway employees and first responders in construction zones.
“Far too often vulnerable workers and first responders in construction zones are ignored by motorists focused on getting to their destination instead of heeding safety protocols,” Costa said. “We have to remember that these are not just employees reporting to work each day – they are somebody’s mother, father sibling or friend.
“They each deserve the opportunity to leave work as safely as they arrived.”
The bills offered by Costa and Bartolotta would increase fines and penalties by $1,000 for minor violations and $5,000 for more serious offenses involving highway workers or first responders, plus a six month drivers license suspension.
“Too many construction workers have been sent to the hospital in recent weeks and too many turnpike employees killed over the years by speed and distraction in work zones,” Logan said. “Motorists simply aren’t getting the message.
“The enforcement tools we have at our disposal today are not making enough of an impact.”
Bartolotta reflected on the impact of careless driving in many incidents and stressed the need for drivers to remain aware in their travels.
“We owe it to all of these workers and their families to do our part to protect them against reckless, irresponsible and distracted drivers,” she said.
With a focus on increased safety measures in work zones, legislation introduced by Schwank and Argall would provide speed cameras in active work zones on limited access highways.
“Families of the men and women who work to improve our roads can’t wonder if their moms or dads are going to return home from work every day,” Schwank said. “Drivers must know that if they go too fast through a construction zone they will be hit in the wallet with a stiff fine,” Schwank said.
“The recent tragedy on the Pennsylvania Turnpike near Bensalem reminds us that, as more state dollars are invested in improving our infrastructure, the problem facing our construction workers will only grow more dangerous,” Argall said.
Ensuring that work zones are safe places is a top priority for PennDOT, according to Pennsylvania Transportation Secretary Leslie S. Richards.
“Since 1970, 85 PennDOT workers have been killed in the line of duty,” Richards said. “Our workers want to see their families at the end of their work days. Work zone safety awareness is essential, for your safety and ours.”
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May 11, 2015
HARRISBURG, May 11 – Members of the legislature’s Women’s Health Caucus today unveiled their “Pennsylvania Agenda for Women’s Health” for the new session at a Capitol news conference.
The caucus is co-chaired by Reps. Dan Frankel, D-Allegheny, and Frank Farry, R-Bucks; and Sens. Judy Schwank, D-Berks, and Chuck McIlhinney, R-Bucks.
Frankel said, “We need to do more than honor women with words and Mother’s Day cards – our bipartisan caucus is putting forth a package of legislation that would make specific progress for Pennsylvania women in areas such as family-friendly working conditions, economic fairness, ensuring healthy lives and help for victims of domestic violence.”
Farry said, “Women’s health is an important issue and we in the General Assembly take it seriously, including the health of our female veterans and active duty military personnel. In Pennsylvania alone, there are nearly 80,000 women veterans. While the proportion of women veterans to male veterans continues to increase, the unique health needs of women can be overlooked in providing services to a large, and predominantly male, veteran population. This comprehensive package of bills will go a long way in ensuring all Pennsylvania women, including our veterans, have health care options to meet their needs.”
Schwank said, “Women and families play a pivotal role in the overall health of our communities and the commonwealth. To know that there are still many things we can do to help deliver better policies, better laws and better protections for all means we still have some work to do. That is why this bipartisan caucus is coming forward again with good proposals to make a difference.”
McIlhinney said, “The idea of safeguarding women’s health goes well beyond simply ensuring access to quality care. I am proud to work with my colleagues to address a wide variety of topics related to women’s health, including measures to improve working conditions and accommodations for women and families.”
The bills in the Pennsylvania Agenda for Women’s Health include:
Family-friendly working conditions
- Workplace accommodations for pregnant women: H.B. 1176, sponsored by Reps. Sheryl Delozier, R-Cumberland, and Mark Cohen, D-Phila.; and S.B. 40, sponsored by Sen. Matt Smith, D-Allegheny. This legislation would require a covered employer to make reasonable accommodations related to pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions unless those accommodations would prove an undue hardship on the employer’s operations.
- Sanitary conditions for nursing mothers: H.B. 1100, sponsored by Reps. Mary Jo Daley, D-Montgomery, and David Parker, R-Monroe; S.B. 826, sponsored by Sen. Chuck McIlhinney, R-Bucks. This legislation would require employers to provide a private, sanitary space for employees who need to express breast milk. It would fix two main loopholes in federal law. It would apply to all employees, including those that are exempt from federal overtime provisions. Secondly, it would require employers to provide a private, sanitary space for mothers to express milk beyond one year after birth. The legislation mirrors the federal provision that exempts small employers from these requirements if they would present an undue hardship to the employer.
- Protecting all employees from sexual harassment: B. 846, sponsored by Rep. Mike Schlossberg, D-Lehigh; and S.B. 506, sponsored by Sen. Jay Costa, D-Allegheny. These similar bills would end the exemption from state sexual harassment law for those who employ three or fewer people.
Economic fairness
- Equal pay: H.B. 1160, sponsored by Reps. Tina Davis, D-Bucks, and Brian Sims, D-Phila.; and S.B. 303, sponsored by Sens. Rob Teplitz, D-Dauphin, and Anthony Williams, D-Phila. This legislation would clarify and update the legal standards for pay-equity lawsuits, including by closing the “factor other than sex” defense to apply only to bona fide business-related factors such as education, training or experience.
- Raising the minimum wage: B. 250, sponsored by Rep. Patty Kim, D-Dauphin; and S.B.s 195 and 196, sponsored by Sen. Christine Tartaglione. These bills would raise the minimum wage in steps to $10.10 per hour and also increase the lower minimum wage for tipped workers to 70 percent of that rate (Senate legislation) or 75 percent (House bill).
- Retirement security: H.B.s 1185 and 1186, sponsored by Rep. Steve Santarsiero, D-Bucks. This legislation would require that a public employee obtain spousal consent for any benefit payment structure that does not provide at least a 50 percent survivor benefit to the employee’s surviving spouse. The federal government and 27 states have a spousal consent requirement to protect spouses, usually women, from being blindsided after a spouse’s death when they discover that they are not entitled to any of their deceased spouse’s pension benefit.
- Exempt more earned income from TANF income limits: H.B. 1123, sponsored by Rep. Michelle Brownlee, D-Phila.; S.B. 203, sponsored by Schwank. This legislation would raise the exemption from 50 percent to 75 percent to encourage people to work, acknowledging that low-income working families’ expenses use up a large percentage of their take-home pay. At the current level, families in Pennsylvania often find themselves in roughly the same spot financially after they start working as they were before they started working, taking into account taxes, transportation, clothing and child care co-payments.
Ensuring healthy lives
- Patient trust: H.B. 1105, sponsored by Frankel. This legislation would protect patients and providers from inappropriate, unscientific legislative intrusion into medical decision-making. It would protect the patient-provider relationship from statutory directives to practice care in a manner that is not in accordance with the standard of care.
- Creating a task force on women veterans’ health care: H.R. 234, sponsored by Farry and Rep. Pamela DeLissio, D-Phila./Montgomery. The task force would submit a report by April 2016 on health care issues unique to women veterans, along with the quality of and access to care for women veterans.
- Ensuring access to health care facilities: S.B. 809, sponsored by Sen. Larry Farnese, D-Phila.; and H.B. 1158, sponsored by Rep. Matt Bradford, D-Montgomery. This legislation would create 15-foot buffer zones around health care facilities where picketing, patrolling or demonstrating that blocks patients’ access to the facilities would be banned. Some cities such as Pittsburgh and some states such as Colorado and Massachusetts have passed such laws already.
Protecting victims of domestic violence
- Cell phone contract termination for domestic violence victims: H.B. 1108, sponsored by Rep. Kevin Schreiber, D-York. This legislation would exempt domestic violence victims from fees when removing themselves from an abuser’s cell phone contract or having the abuser removed. It also would require cell phone companies to provide new phone numbers to domestic violence victims with appropriate documentation.
- Early lease termination for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking: H.B. 1051, sponsored by Rep. Madeleine Dean, D-Montgomery. This legislation would allow for early termination of a rental lease with 30 days’ notice if the tenant is the victim of domestic violence, sexual assault and/or stalking, and to have their locks changed within three days at the tenant’s expense.
- Safe Campuses legislation: S.B. 202, sponsored by Schwank; H.B. 1173, sponsored by Reps. Tina Davis, D-Bucks, and Maria Donatucci, D-Phila./Delaware. This legislation would require all colleges and universities to adopt policies and programs to make students, staff and officials aware of the risks of sexual assault and intimate partner violence. It would also require colleges and universities to submit annual reports on occurrences of sexual assault and intimate partner violence on campus.
The Pennsylvania Women’s Health Caucus is a bipartisan, bicameral caucus of legislators partnering with interest groups and advocacy organizations seeking to develop and implement legislation and social policy that protects and respects a woman’s right to make private, personal medical decisions.
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April 29, 2015
Gather with friends and family members while getting important information that will help you now and in your future!
Join us Thursday, May 7th from 5:30-7:30 PM at Reading High School’s Main Café.
Come and learn about:
- How to obtain a driver’s license
- Recreational after school activities
- College financial assistance
- Health insurance; healthy behaviors
- Certificate and degree programs after high school
- How to build credit; managing your budget
- State assistance programs
And much more information to help you! A number of organizations will be on hand for this event, so don’t miss out! Refreshments & pizza will be served.
Download the event flyer here: All About You – Youth Expo Flyer
April 28, 2015
Reading – April 28, 2015 – At the request of state Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks), the Senate Democratic Policy Committee today held a roundtable discussion on employment challenges facing people with criminal records.
“While acknowledging that reasonable restrictions and prohibitions are appropriate in some cases, we must do all we can to remove needless barriers that prevent non-violent ex-offenders from accessing the job market,” said Sen. Lisa Boscola (D-Northampton), who chairs the committee.
Schwank added, “When it comes to lesser crimes, few people believe that a person’s past mistakes should relentlessly haunt or curtail their ability to find a decent job to support themselves and their family. This discussion focuses on problems that both ex-offenders and employers face.
“I asked that this committee discussion be held in Reading to give local advocates and experts an opportunity to amplify their views on this difficult issue.”
Schwank said that onerous expungement requirements and other impediments such as pre-interview screening have had tragic consequences. She said barriers to employment have led to increased homelessness, more crime, recidivism and prompted cities and states nationwide to spend billions on housing and other support services for ex-offenders who are perfectly capable and willing to work.
“About a fifth of men and women on probation or parole are at risk of re-incarceration, and many return to prison within three years,” Schwank noted. “These folks need a decent job and place to live, or they could tragically fall back into the criminal justice system.”
Several lawmakers have introduced bills aimed at removing work barriers; expediting the criminal record expungement process; and prohibiting employers from pre-screening job
applicants for criminal records. Last legislative session, a bill (Senate Bill 391) that would have reformed the expungement process unanimously passed the state senate, but stalled out in the House of Representatives.
“With prison costs devouring more and more budget dollars, we cannot afford to ignore the growing prison population trend,” Schwank said. “Pennsylvania’s prison population has quadrupled since the 1980s. If we can just help non-violent ex-offenders get hired, we can help reduce corrections costs, cut crime in our communities and strengthen our economy by putting more people to work.”
Peggy Kershner, who serves as co-executive director of the Berks Connections Pre-trial Services, said that her organization helps remove employment barriers facing ex-offenders. She said much of the emphasis needs to be aimed at educating and encouraging business owners to give ex-offenders a second chance.
Local businessman Hamid Chaudhry recommended that state government establish a statewide toll-free employer support hotline. Attorney Janet Ginzberg from Community Legal Services asked that state laws be strengthened and clarified governing when and how employers may use background checks. Berks District justice Victor Frederick asked that the state consider issuing occupation-limited driver’s licenses for certain motorist’s whose licenses were suspended.
Schwank and Boscola were joined at the hearing by Senators Shirley Kitchen (D-Phila.), and Larrry Farnase (D-Phila.). The took part in the discussion:
- Vaughn D. Spencer, Mayor of Reading
- Peggy Kershner, Co-Executive Director of the Berks Connections Pre-Trial Services
- Janet Ginzberg, Staff Attorney, Employment Law Unit, Community Legal Services, Philadelphia
- Dan McIntyre, Deputy Executive Director, PA State Board of Probation and Parole
- James C. Young, Criminal Justice Committee Chair, Reading NAACP
- Hamid Chaudhry and Steve Elmarzouky, local business owners
- Rev. Sandra L. Strauss, Director of Public Advocacy, PA Council of Churches
- Mark Mekilo, chief counsel to Sen. Vince Hughes.
- Christopher Brader and Darryl Blackwell, Berks County residents.
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April 27, 2015
At the request of state Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks), the state Senate Democratic Policy Committee is coming to Reading to hold a roundtable discussion on employment challenges facing people with criminal records.
The meeting will take place at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, April 28, in the Schmidt Technology and Training Center Building, Reading Area Community College, 10 S. 2nd St, Reading, PA 19603. The public is welcome to attend.
“When it comes to lesser crimes, few people believe that a person’s past mistakes should relentlessly haunt or curtail their ability to find a decent job to support themselves and their family,” Schwank said. “This discussion will focus on problems that both ex-offenders and employers face.
“I requested that this committee discussion be held in Reading to help amplify our region’s input on this important statewide issue,” Schwank said.
“While acknowledging that reasonable restrictions and prohibitions are appropriate in many cases, we must still do all we can to remove needless barriers that prevent qualified workers from accessing the job market”, said Sen. Lisa Boscola (D-Northampton), who chairs the committee. “These same barriers hamper businesses from fulfilling their workforce needs.”
Boscola said the open-ended discussion will likely focus on pending “second chance” legislation that would expedite the criminal record expungement process for non-violent offenders. She said the panel would also focus on preventing prison recidivism and improving workforce opportunities and access for non-violent offenders.
In addition to committee members, the following are expected to take part in the discussion:
- Vaughn D. Spencer, Mayor of Reading
- Peggy Kershner, Co-Executive Director of the Berks Connections Pre-Trial Services
- Janet Ginzberg, Staff Attorney, Employment Law Unit, Community Legal Services, Philadelphia
- Cindy Daub, Executive Director of Re-entry and Quality Assurances, PA State Board of Probation and Parole
- James C. Young, Criminal Justice Committee Chair, Reading NAACP
- Hamid Chaudhry and Steve Elmarzouky, local business owners; and
- Rev. Sandra L. Strauss, Director of Public Advocacy, PA Council of Churches
Media coverage is welcome and encouraged.
April 22, 2015
HARRISBURG, April 22, 2015 – Residents of a southeastern Berks County community will enjoy better drinking water following the completion of a sanitary sewer project that today was awarded a $5.3 million investment from the commonwealth.
State Sens. Judy Schwank (D-Ruscombmanor Township) and John Rafferty (R-Collegeville) said PENNVEST’s funding for the Geigertown project includes a $3.33 million grant.
“Geigertown residents will win the benefits of cleaner drinking water and improved pollution controls, and Geigertown taxpayers will not have to pay the full bill to correct the village’s problems,” Sen. Schwank said following the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority’s approval of the project. “It’s a win-win for Geigertown residents and our environment.”
Malfunctioning “on-lot” sewage systems have been sending sewage runoff into the Hay Creek Watershed.
“Geigertown sits near French Creek State Park so today’s PENNVEST decision will help to improve the quality of life for the village’s residents and it will safeguard a special public space that entertains visitors and serves as a habitat for wildlife,” Sen. Rafferty said.
Under the terms of the PENNVEST investment, Geigertown will have 20 years to pay back $2 million. The loan carries a 1-percent interest rate.
The project will result in the construction of more than 12,000 linear feet of 8-inch pipe, more than 1,600 feet of 6-inch pipe, 51 new manholes, two pumping stations, plus other technology.
It will also eliminate the need for a non-compliance order from the state Department of Environmental Protection that was written to correct the sewage runoff problems.
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April 22, 2015
HARRISBURG, April 22, 2015 – The City of Reading will get a much needed boost in its ongoing efforts to upgrade its wastewater treatment plant, meet the terms of a federal order, and protect the quality of the Schuylkill River with the approval today of an $84.6 million investment by a state agency that’s dedicated to improving the quality of drinking water and local environments throughout Pennsylvania.
PENNVEST approved the low-interest loan during its meeting today. The $84.586 million decision will help the city upgrade its sewage treatment plant and help to resolve National Pollutant Discharge System violations.
The project will also create 140 construction jobs.
“We worked together to get this low-interest loan approved and it will be the residents of the City of Reading who will benefit from an upgraded and properly functioning treatment plant and a cleaner Schuylkill River,” Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Ruscombmanor Township) said. “Tens of thousands of people depend on the city’s treatment plant and need it to enjoy a better quality of life.”
“This vital state investment means Reading will be able to meet the federal order that is requiring the city to have a new treatment plant ready to go in less than three years,” Rep. Thomas Caltagirone (D-Reading) said. “More importantly, it will restore a quality service that is desperately needed.”
The U.S. Department of Justice amended the federal consent decree in February 2014 to give Reading the ability to rebuild the current plant on Fritz’s Island.
“We all live downstream,” said Rep. Mark Rozzi (D-Temple), “so we become better stewards of our local environment and we ensure the sustainability of the Schuylkill River and the Delaware Estuary with this critical state investment. The excellent work between local, state and federal governments is also saving millions of dollars for Reading as we move forward.”
The $84.6 million loan carries a one-percent interest rate and a 20 year repayment plan.
Among other things, the money will pay for the construction of a new pumping station, a primary clarifier distribution structure, the rehab of primary water clarifiers, and the conversion of aeration tanks.
PENNVEST approved a $10 million low-interest loan for the treatment plant project in April 2012.
Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority funding comes from a combination of state funds approved by voters, federal grants to PENNVEST from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and recycled loan repayments from previous PENNVEST funding awards.
Funds for the projects are disbursed after bills for work are paid and receipts are submitted to PENNVEST.
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April 17, 2015
HARRISBURG, April 17, 2015 – With the May 1 deadline quickly approaching, state Sen. Judy Schwank today reminded Berks County students who are headed to college or are renewing their application to apply soon for a state grant.
During the 2014-’15 academic year, the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency awarded 3,989 grants worth $9.12 million to students in Schwank’s 11th Senatorial District.
The average grant to local residents, which do not require repayment, was valued at nearly $3,000.
“Students looking for help in paying their college or junior college tuition bills can get that help from PHEAA,” Schwank said today. “Better yet; grant recipients will not have to pay back those awards.”
Students planning to attend a community college, a trade school, school of nursing or a two-year program that is not transferrable have until Aug. 1 to apply for a state grant.
To apply or renew, the senator said students or parents should visit PHEAA’s website.
First-time applicants will need to be armed with the date they received – or plan to receive – their high school diploma or GED, Social Security number, and a recent statement (if applicable) from their PA Treasury 529 College Savings Program account.
Applicants will also have to open a ledger with American Education Services’ “Account Access” student aid management tool. They must also complete the 2015-‘16 Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA.
Easy instructions for opening the accounts are on PHEAA’s website.
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Follow Sen. Schwank on her website, Facebook and Twitter.
April 16, 2015
HARRISBURG, April 16, 2015 – Berks County’s reputation as a leader in farmland preservation grew by another 406 acres today when the Pennsylvania Agricultural Land Preservation Board added five farms to the historic program.
The preservation board, of which Sen. Judy Schwank is a member, valued the tracts at $1,015,000.
Berks County now has 692 farms and 69,028 acres that are being protected from future development by their inclusion in the program.
“It takes dedicated farmers who, despite the challenges of farming, want and plan to continue producing delicious foods for our tables,” Schwank said. “Working to preserve farms in Berks County and across the commonwealth is a great mission, and it is helping us to ensure the availability and affordability of nutritious meat, vegetables, and dairy for generations to come.”
The conservation easements approved today by the board were paid to the following Berks County land owners:
- Lottie and Richard Berger – Greenwich Township,103.8 acres
- Christopher J. Hartman – Oley Township, 23.8 acres
- Glenn and Nancy Hoffman – Hereford Township,74 acres
- Phares & Ellen Newswanger – Maxatawny Township, 93.1 acres
- Kenneth Sanner – Greenwich Township, 111.1 acres
Since its inception in 1988, the commonwealth has protected 4,782 farms totaling 506,761 acres with nearly $1.4 billion in easements.
Local, county or state government – or any combination of the three – may buy easements. Counties that decide to have an easement purchase program must create an agricultural land preservation board.
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.
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April 14, 2015
HARRISBURG, April 14, 2015 – A legislative proposal by Sen. Judy Schwank dealing with sexual assault on college campuses in Pennsylvania took a positive step forward today.
Schwank’s “PA Safe Campuses Act” received unanimous approval from the Senate Judiciary Committee.
“Events like the recent one involving Kappa Delta Rho fraternity at Penn State and similar reports from across the county prove again and again how necessary it is for schools to be more proactive in addressing sexual crimes,” Sen. Schwank said following the committee’s vote to send Senate Bill 202 to the floor. “We know that only about 12 percent of campus rapes are reported to police, but every one of them leaves behind a wounded victim.
“The Senate Judiciary Committee’s vote today shows that lawmakers understand the problem and we need to do more to make school a safe experience, regardless of gender.”
Under Schwank’s legislation, all post-secondary schools, colleges and universities would be required to adopt policies and establish programs to make students, staff and officials aware of the risks of sexual assault and intimate partner violence.
If signed into law, campuses would be mandated to annually report the number of instances of sexual assault and intimate partner violence on campus, and the security policies and procedures they have established to deal with these issues.
Reports would be public records and they would be required to be posted on the school’s official website.
Schools would also be required to have sexual assault and intimate partner violence policies to ensure that students, employees, volunteers and officials are aware of the rights of victims and responsibilities of witnesses, and to ensure that instances involving minors are immediately reported.
“Existing public disclosure requirements usually do not bring victims forward, so others are never really made aware of the potential risks and dangers at the school they are interested in attending, visiting, or working,” Schwank said.
Schwank proposed a similar bill, SB 337, during the General Assembly’s prior two-year session.
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More information on Sen. Schwank is available on her website, Facebook and Twitter.
April 1, 2015
HARRISBURG, April 1, 2015 – Berks Countians who need help paying their heating bills or covering emergency repairs will have another month to apply for Pennsylvania’s federally funded LIHEAP program, Sen. Judy Schwank said today.
The deadline to apply has been moved from Friday to May 1.
“Winter was very cold and troublesome for many people, so the extended deadline should help residents get the assistance they need to keep the heat on during the cool spring or to pay for repairs to overworked heating systems, broken windows or replace cracked pipes,” Sen. Schwank said.
LIHEAP is a grant program. Qualified participants do not have to pay back any award they receive. Annual household income limits apply, however.
INCOME GUIDELINES:
Household Maximum Income
1 $17,505
2 $23,595
3 $29,685
4 $35,775
5 $41,865
6 $47,955
7 $54,045
8 $60,135
9 $66,225
10 $72,315
LIHEAP crisis grants can be between $25 and $500 while the minimum cash benefit is between $100 and $1,000.
Residents who need a LIHEAP application should contact Sen. Schwank’s district office, 210 George St., Suite 210, Reading, or call 610-929-2151.
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More information on Sen. Schwank is available on her website, Facebook and Twitter.
March 31, 2015
Public Utility Commission to talk electric choice
READING, March 31, 2015 – Residents of Centerport and northern Berks County will have the opportunity at 7 p.m., Thursday, April 2, to learn more about electric choice and share their thoughts and concerns on other topics during Sen. Judy Schwank’s next town hall meeting.
“Electric choice has been around for a while but not everyone is aware of how it works or what to do to take advantage of the program,” Schwank said. “An expert on the topic from the PUC will join the town hall to make sure everyone’s questions are answered. They’ll also show attendees how to save money on their monthly utility bills.
“We will also talk about other local issues, thoughts and concerns.”
Thursday’s town hall will happen at the Central Berks Lions Club. These community-wide meetings are an essential part of the senator’s work in the 11th Senatorial District.
Media coverage is welcomed.
WHAT: Sen. Judy Schwank to hold town hall meeting in Centerport
WHEN: 7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
WHERE: Central Berks Lions Club, 2207 Main St., Centerport
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March 25, 2015
OLEY, March 25, 2015 – A Berks County school devoted to career and technical education tonight recognized state Sen. Judy Schwank as the recipient of its “Friend of Career and Technical Education Award.”
“You join a list of distinguished individuals from our community who have demonstrated a strong commitment to career and technical education and the students we serve,” said Robert Lees, administrative director for the Berks Career & Technology Center. “I can’t think of a more deserving person.”
Sen. Schwank is the center’s first publicly elected official to receive the award since its inception in 1991.
“We invest in career and technical education because we believe it is a vital part of our community and a great way for Berks County residents to learn new skills, become great tradesmen and women, and to make themselves the kind of employees our employers are seeking,” Schwank said.
“I am honored to receive the ‘Friend of Career and Technical Education Award’ because it means I am working with dedicated Berks County residents, employers and educators who are passionate about making a difference,” she said.
The Berks Career & Technology Center’s Joint Operating Committee voted to give the award to Sen. Schwank last month. The JOC presented the lawmaker with the award during its meeting tonight.
BCTC, founded in 1968, operates campuses in Leesport and Oley. The school is regarded as one of the premier career and technical education facilities in the commonwealth because of the performance and success of its students.
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More information on Sen. Schwank is available on her website, Facebook and Twitter.
March 19, 2015
HARRISBURG, March 19, 2015 – To better protect Pennsylvanians from the unsolicited and embarrassing publication of their private, intimate pictures, state Sens. Judy Schwank (D-Berks) and Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia) said today they will introduce a proposal similar to the recently enacted so-called “revenge porn” law, that would make it a crime for someone to steal and publish unauthorized images of strangers and others.
“The theft and distribution of naked or sexual pictures of someone other than a partner or former partner is much less common than the ‘revenge publishing’ of photos against a former partner, but last fall’s hacking of celebrity photos and videos shows that it happens,” Sen. Schwank said. “So, perhaps, might the recent events at the Penn State fraternity.”
Schwank said the new proposal would apply the same civil and criminal penalties as the law passed last year – which applies only to situations involving sexual or intimate partners – where the victim and perpetrator have no such relationship.
“We need to make sure we have strong enough sanctions to deter someone from unreasonably taking such pictures or making them public without the victim’s consent,” she said.
Sen. Hughes, the Democratic chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said he is joining Sen. Schwank in this proposal because it’s the right thing to do.
“We must make sure that our laws evolve with technology,” said Hughes. “It is now incredibly easy to share photographs, videos, and other forms of media electronically. This is generally a positive thing, especially for staying in touch with our loved ones over long distances. However, we have to ensure that the public is protected from individuals who would use technology for nefarious purposes.”
If approved by the legislature, Schwank’s and Hughes’ proposal would make these acts a crime under the Invasion of Privacy law.
Under the “Unlawful Dissemination of Intimate Images” law passed last year, posting sexual images to annoy or harm a partner or former partner carries potential penalties of up to two years in jail when an adult is the victim and up to five years when the victim is a minor.
Offenders are also financially responsible for the injuries they cause their victims, through civil suit.
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More information on Sen. Schwank is available on her website, Facebook and Twitter.
March 13, 2015
HARRISBURG, March 13, 2015 – Underscoring her leadership and reputation as someone who fights for families, women and the less fortunate, Sen. Judy Schwank has been appointed to serve on a commission that’s charged with making sure fairness and equal justice are applied in Pennsylvania’s court system.
Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa appointed Schwank to a two-year term this week on the Pennsylvania Interbranch Commission for Gender, Racial, and Ethnic Fairness.
“We know the hand of justice is usually sensible and right. At times, though, it needs oversight and redirection,” Sen. Schwank said. “I thank Sen. Costa for giving me this opportunity to work with a well-established organization, and I am looking forward to lending my voice and ideas for the equal application of the law.”
The panel emerged when the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ordered the “Supreme Court Committee on Racial and Gender Bias in the Justice System” to embark on a three-year study in 1999 gauging the effect of race and gender bias in the justice system.
Since its inception, the 24-member Interbranch Commission has earned a reputation as a model for the nation’s courts and it has:
- Devised a statewide policy for the Pennsylvania courts on Non-Discrimination and Equal Employment Opportunity,
- Played a critical role in the passage of landmark legislation on the provision of interpreter services in the courts and administrative agencies, and
- Produced a key report on enhancing the safety of victims of domestic violence and sexual assault in Pennsylvania’s courthouses.
The Commission meets quarterly in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh or Harrisburg.
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More information on Sen. Schwank is available on her website, Facebook and Twitter.
March 10, 2015
HARRISBURG, March 10, 2015 – In conjunction with the state Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, state Sen. Judy Schwank is reminding Pennsylvania veterans that the time is now to apply for special one-time payments in honor of their service during Persian Gulf operations in 1990 and 1991.
The deadline to apply is Aug. 31.
The payments are for veterans who were on active duty during Operations Desert Shield or Desert Storm between Aug. 2, 1990, and Aug. 31, 1991.
“This could be hundreds of dollars for Pennsylvania veterans who laid it all on the line and fought to defend us in the Persian Gulf,” Sen. Schwank said.
Schwank said the DMVA is also asking veterans who might have previously been denied the bonus to reapply. New applications are required to reopen a claim.
So far, some 11,000 Persian Gulf veterans have applied for the bonus program since the program’s start in 2008.
The bonus pays $75 per month for qualifying, active-duty service members, up to a $525 maximum.
For personnel whose death was related to illness or injury received in the line of duty in Operations Desert Shield or Desert Storm, there is an additional $5,000 available to the surviving family. Service members who were declared prisoners of war may also be eligible for an additional $5,000.
In each case, the service member must have:
- Served with the U.S. Armed Forces, a reserve component of the U.S. Armed Forces or the PA National Guard,
- Served on active duty in the Persian Gulf Theater of Operations during the period from Aug. 2, 1990, until Aug. 31, 1991, and received the Southwest Asia Service Medal,
- Been a legal resident of Pennsylvania at the time of active duty service,
- Been discharged from active duty under honorable conditions, if not currently on active duty. And,
- Received the Southwest Asia Service Medal.
For detailed instructions on how to apply, visit www.persiangulfbonus.state.pa.us.
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More information on Sen. Schwank is available on her website, Facebook and Twitter.
March 3, 2015
HARRISBURG, March 3, 2015 – State Sen. Judy Schwank issued the following statement today after listening to Gov. Tom Wolf present his first budget proposal to a joint session of the General Assembly:
“Gov. Wolf has presented an assertive and wide ranging budget that opens the door to many opportunities for the commonwealth. He has boldly addressed some issues that have been neglected for too long, and it is important to note that the budget is a starting point and we have a lot of work ahead to find consensus.
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“I intend to spend the ensuing days and weeks, especially in my role as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, to get into the details on this budget and determine how it impacts my constituents.
“I’m pleased that the governor has not wavered on his commitment to education – not just K-12 but also our community colleges, technical institutions and state universities. It’s encouraging as well that the burden of school property taxes on too many of our citizens is also front-and-center on the governor’s agenda.
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“I’m ready to get to work not only to learn the details but also talk with my constituents about their perspective on the budget,” Sen. Schwank said.
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More information on Sen. Schwank is available on her website, Facebook and Twitter.
February 26, 2015
READING, Feb. 26, 2015 – Frustrated by inadequate proposals to address Pennsylvania’s multi-billion dollar public and municipal pension problems, Sen. Judy Schwank today said she has formally introduced her bill to create an expert panel that would devise the best solution to the crisis.
Senate Bill 564 would create the Public Pensions Review Commission and the 25-member panel would have six months to propose Pennsylvania’s path to pension solvency.
“Make no mistake,” Sen. Schwank said during a press conference here, “every senator in my caucus – and most public officials I have talked with – believe the gaping unfunded pension gap is a very serious problem. To say or think otherwise is disingenuous.
“What has been the problem with the ideas that have been floated is they, at best, would do very little to help the situation and, at worst, would exacerbate it.
“The PPRC would be given the time and the resources to light a path that ends the burden for Pennsylvania taxpayers and frees the commonwealth to use those dollars to properly invest in education, in businesses, and our communities,” Schwank said.
The Public Pensions Review Commission would include the governor; the revenue secretary; state budget director; director of the Office of Administration; the leaders of the four legislative caucuses; the director of the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts; the chancellors of the PA State System of Higher Education; the presidents of Penn State, Pitt, Temple and Lincoln universities; executive directors of the Pennsylvania League of Municipalities, County Commissioners Association of PA, Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors, Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs, and Pennsylvania School Boards Association; representatives of the three public employee unions; and three public members possessing special expertise in issues relating to public pensions appointed each by the governor, president pro tempore and speaker of the House of Representatives.
The PPRC would be authorized to conduct hearings and receive appropriate information and analysis and be supported by the Joint State Government Commission. Its budget would be $1 million.
The commission would also be subject to right-to-know, sunshine and state ethics laws.
“At the end of six months, the PPRC would be required to do as the law would suggest and ‘recommend statutory and or regulatory changes needed or desirable to achieve … long-term, sound, stable, public pension structure for state and local governments’,” Sen. Schwank said.
While the combined unfunded pension liability for the Public School Employees’ Retirement System and the State Employees’ Retirement System is about $50 billion, Auditor General Eugene DePasquale said in January the municipal pension shortfall is $7.7 billion.
In 2013, PSERS paid $5.5 billion in retirement payments statewide, and SERS paid $2.9 billion.
Nearly half of Pennsylvania’s 1,223 municipalities (562) are distressed and underfunded.
“Much is at stake, and it’s important we get this right the first time,” Sen. Schwank said. “It’s why we need the PPRC, and it’s why we must start this process now.”
Joining Sen. Schwank at today’s press conference where:
- Reading City Councilwoman Marcia Goodman-Hinnershitz
- Craig Hafer, principal, Walsky Investment Management Inc., Wyomissing, and
- Dr. Solomon Lausch, executive director, Berks Business Education Coalition and retired superintendent for the Schuylkill Valley School District.
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More information on Sen. Schwank is available on her website, Facebook and Twitter.
February 25, 2015
HARRISBURG, Feb. 25, 2015 – State Sen. Judy Schwank and advocates will hold a press conference at 3 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 26, in the senator’s district office, to announce the introduction of her bill to best address Pennsylvania’s pension crisis.
The combined unfunded pension liability for the Public School Employees’ Retirement System and the State Employees’ Retirement System is about $50 billion, and the municipal pension shortfall has reached $7.7 billion.
Nearly half of Pennsylvania’s 1,223 municipalities are distressed and underfunded.
“Much is at stake, and it’s important we get this right the first time,” Sen. Schwank said.
Media coverage is invited.
WHAT: Sen. Judy Schwank to formally introduce pension review bill
WHEN: 3 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 26
WHERE: Commissioner’s Boardroom, 1st floor, 210 George St., Reading
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More information on Sen. Schwank is available on her website, Facebook and Twitter.
February 12, 2015
READING, Feb. 12, 2015 – Pennsylvania farmers would be able to grow a new cash crop and participate in a wide range of manufacturing opportunities if a bill that Sens. Judy Schwank (D-Berks) and Mike Folmer (R-Lebanon) formally introduced today.
Senate Bill 50 would re-establish the industrial hemp industry in Pennsylvania.
“From paper to fuel, clothing to biodegradable plastics, the return of industrial hemp would give Pennsylvania’s farmers the opportunity to grow an in-demand crop that benefits tens of millions of people all over the world,” Schwank, the Democratic chair of the Senate Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee, said.
“Sen. Folmer and I are planning to fervently work to return industrial hemp to Pennsylvania’s menu of growing options,” she said.
The federal 1937 Marijuana Tax Act restricted industrial hemp production. In 1970, the Controlled Substances Act declared hemp to be illegal.
The 2014 Farm Bill loosened restrictions on the production of industrial hemp.
“Industrial hemp does not have a psychoactive effect; the THC level is less than 0.03 percent,” Sen. Folmer said. “Misconceptions are withholding Pennsylvania from an opportunity for our agricultural and business industries to thrive.
“Twelve other states are already ahead of Pennsylvania in this industry. We are long overdue on utilizing the prospects that the Farm Bill of 2014 has offered to us as a state.”
Folmer is planning to hold a town hall meeting March 11 in Annville to discuss this industrial hemp proposal as well as legislation (Senate Bill 3) that would allow the use of medical cannabis.
Under Senate Bill 50, the cultivation and processing of industrial hemp would be allowed in Pennsylvania as part of a research program at a college or university – in accordance with federal law – under the regulation of a five-member Industrial Hemp Licensing Board that would be established within the Department of Agriculture.
Industrial hemp would also be recognized in Pennsylvania as an oilseed.
Should the U.S. government act to once again regulate industrial hemp, Pennsylvania’s Industrial Hemp Act would 60 days after the enactment of that federal statute.
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More information on Sen. Schwank is available on her website, Facebook and Twitter.
February 12, 2015
HARRISBURG, Feb. 12, 2015 – Add another 250 acres of Berks County land to Pennsylvania’s farmland preservation program.
The three tracts, valued at nearly $625,000, were approved for inclusion in the record-setting operation today by the Pennsylvania Agricultural Land Preservation Board, Sen. Judy Schwank said.
The 250 acres added by the panel now mean 687 Berks County farms and 68,622 acres are now protected from future development.
“As food costs continue to increase, it’s extremely important that we make sure Pennsylvania’s farms – especially those in Berks County – are able to grow and harvest produce, meat and cheese for local residents,” Schwank, a member of the preservation board, said. “Buying locally is one of the surest ways to ensure the affordability of a good, nutritious food source.”
The conservation easements approved today by the board total $373,750 and were paid to the following Berks County land owners:
- Louise Rick, Lower Heidelberg Township, 44 acres
- Earl & Ann Martin, Maxatawny Township, 85.3 acres
- Mae Baver, Greenwich Township, 120.6 acres
Since its inception in 1988, the commonwealth has protected 4,750 farms totaling 504,252 acres with nearly $1.4 billion in easements.
Local, county or state government – or any combination of the three – may buy easements. Counties that decide to have an easement purchase program must create an agricultural land preservation board.
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.
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February 12, 2015
READING, Feb. 12, 2015 – Berks Countians looking for help in paying college tuition can get free guidance and tips this Saturday, Feb. 14, during a FAFSA Preparation Seminar in Sen. Judy Schwank’s district office.
“While improvements have been made to the online Free Application for Federal Student Aid, it can still be overwhelming and confusing, so I am encouraging anyone who plans to attend college or is planning to help someone cover their tuition to attend my free seminar Saturday morning,” Sen. Schwank said.
Financial aid experts from the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency, or PHEAA, and Kutztown University will be on hand to guide participants.
Computers will be available for attendees so they can complete and submit their FAFSA applications.
Seating is limited, so interested residents should call Sen. Schwank’s office to reserve a spot at 610-929-2151.
Media coverage is welcomed.
WHAT: Sen. Judy Schwank to hold FAFSA Preparation Seminar
WHEN: 11 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 14
WHERE: Sen. Schwank’s district office, 210 George St., Reading, Suite 201
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