Press Releases
Berks County Lawmakers Announce $100K Grant for City of Reading
HARRISBURG, April 16, 2021 – State Sen. Judy Schwank (D-11th district) and state Reps. Mark Rozzi (D-126th district) and Manny Guzman (D-127th district) announced a grant totaling $129,230 has been approved for the city of Reading through the state’s Multimodal...
State Lawmakers Announce $499K Grant for Albright College
Reading - April 13, 2021 - Berks County state lawmakers Sen. Judy Schwank (D-11th district) along with Reps. Mark Rozzi (D-126th district) and Manny Guzman (D-127th district) announced a $499,711 PASmart Advancing Grant has been approved for Albright College to expand...
Schwank to Discuss Coronavirus Vaccines with PA Dept of Health Acting Sec. Beam, local health experts at Zoom Town Hall Meeting
READING, March 30, 2021 – State Sen. Judy Schwank (D-11th district) will host a Zoom town hall tomorrow at 7 p.m. on issues associated with the coronavirus COVID-19 vaccines. Joining her are medical professionals including: Acting Pennsylvania Secretary of Health...
Democratic Senators Intervene in Fracking Lawsuit Against DRBC
BUCKS COUNTY − March 12, 2021 − State Senator Steve Santarsiero (D-10) was joined by Democratic colleagues today in New Hope to announce their action to protect clean drinking water for millions of Pennsylvanians from the environmental hazards of fracking. Their...
Schwank Announces Three Non-Profit Security Grants Awarded in Berks
Reading, March 10, 2021 − Three Berks organizations each received a Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) Non-Profit Security Grant to improve the safety and security of their facility, State Sen. Judy Schwank (D-11) announced. The grants, which...
PA Women’s Health Caucus Chairs Join PA Advocates to Share their Legislative Agenda for the 2021 Session
HARRISBURG, PA − March 8, 2021 − Chairs, members, and advocates of the Pennsylvania Women’s Health Caucus (WHC) gathered today to share their legislative agenda for the 2021-2022 Legislative session. Chairs of the caucus, Senator Judy Schwank (D-Berks), Senator...
Schwank Implores State to Provide Berks Specific Vaccine Distribution Plan
Reading − March 8, 2021 − In a letter to Pennsylvania Department of Health Acting Secretary Alison Beam, State Sen. Judy Schwank (D-11th district) asked that Berks County officials and residents be provided with an update specific to Berks regarding the COVID-19...
Schwank Hosting Second Lady Fetterman, Secretary Redding in Roundtable Discussion on Food Insecurity in Berks County
Reading, February 24, 2021 State Senator Judy Schwank (D-11th district) is hosting a virtual Roundtable Discussion on Food Insecurity in Berks County on Wednesday, March 3, at 7 p.m. on Zoom. The panel of guests includes: Second Lady of Pennsylvania Gisele Fetterman,...
House, Senate Democrats call for repairs to hazardous, toxic schools across the commonwealth
HARRISBURG – February 19, 2021 – State Sen. Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) and Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler (D-Philadelphia) were joined by several Democratic House and Senate members from a cross Pennsylvania on Friday to call for repairs to hazardous and toxic...
PA Women’s Health Caucus Chairs Respond to Today’s Joint Policy Hearing on Maternal Health Caucus
Harrisburg, PA − February 10, 2020 − Today, the Pennsylvania Women’s Health Caucus (WHC) hosted a Joint Policy Hearing with the PA House and Senate Democratic Policy Committees on the topic of Maternal Health Amidst COVID-19. Co-Chairs of the WHC include Senator Judy...
State Legislators Issue Joint Letter to Governor Wolf Urging Use of Reprieve
HARRISBURG − February 8, 2021 — In response to soaring rates of COVID-19 infection and death among incarcerated people and throughout the Pennsylvania prison system, nearly three dozen State Senators and State Representatives have issued a joint letter to Pennsylvania...
Schwank Hosting BCTV Show on Pennsylvania’s Economic Outlook for 2021
Reading, January 25, 2021 − State Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks) is hosting a live telecast on BCTV on Thursday, Jan. 28, at 8 p.m. The program is on Pennsylvania’s Economic Outlook for 2021 and will include a panel conversation between Matthew Knittel, director of the...
PA Women’s Health Caucus Joins PCCY to call on Governor Wolf to restore Subsidies to Child Care Centers
HARRISBURG − January 22, 2021 − Yesterday, members of the Pennsylvania’s Women’s Health Caucus (WHC), Public Citizens for Children and Youth (PCCY), and other elected officials held a press conference to call on Governor Tom Wolf to restore subsidies to child...
Schwank to Chair Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee, Takes on Leadership Role
Reading, January 15, 2021 − Sen. Judy Schwank (D-11th district) will continue her post as the Democratic Chair of the Senate Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee for the 2021-2022 legislative session, Senate Minority Leader Sen. Jay Costa (D-43rd district)...
PA Senate Democrats Release Statement on Violent Protest in DC
Harrisburg, PA – January 6, 2021 – The PA Senate Democrats released the following statement on the violent protest today in the nation’s Capitol: The First Amendment is one of our most sacred. It is not political and it is not partisan. The rights to free speech,...
Schwank Applauds Grant Award to Address Sexual Assault
Reading, January 5, 2020 − State Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks) is thrilled to see Albright College receive an “It’s On Us PA” grant award for nearly $30,000. Albright College was awarded $29,969 to address campus sexual assault through Gov. Tom Wolf’s “It’s On Us PA”...
Albright College, Alvernia University to Receive State Grant Funds
Reading, December 23, 2020 Two Berks County institutions of higher learning will receive $5 million in state grant funding, announced State Sen. Judy Schwank (D-11th district). Alvernia University will receive $4 million from the Pennsylvania Redevelopment Assistance...
Statement: 16 Democratic State Senators Denounce Frivolous Election Lawsuits and Continued Attempts to Undermine our Democracy
HARRISBURG – December 10, 2020 – Today the following members of the Pennsylvania State Senate signed a joint statement – set forth below – denouncing the brazen attempt of the attorneys general of Texas and seventeen other states to disenfranchise millions...
Reading Receives $800k to Fund Road Safety Project
Reading, December 7, 2020 − The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has awarded $812,416 to the city of Reading through the Automated Red Lights Enforcement (ARLE) program to make safety improvements on city roads, announced State Sen. Judy Schwank (D-11th...
Schwank Office Open for Calls, E-mail Only Effective Monday, November 30
Reading, November 20, 2020 − In response to the continuing spread of COVID-19, beginning Monday, November 30, State Sen. Judy Schwank’s district office at 210 George Street will be temporarily closed to the public and will instead serve constituents by e-mail, phone...
Schwank and Rozzi Hosted Free ACA Event for Constituents
Reading, November 18, 2020 – State Sen. Judy Schwank (D-11th district) and State Rep. Mark Rozzi (D-126th district) hosted a free Affordable Care Act (ACA) enrollment event at the Muhlenberg Township Building on Wednesday, Nov. 18.
Senate District 11 Receives More Than $150k in Safe School Grants
Harrisburg, November 16, 2020The Pennsylvania Department of Education has awarded $155,000 to Berks County schools to prevent and reduce violent incidents, to purchase safety and security-related equipment, and to provide for the training and compensation of school...
Schuylkill Valley Community Library Receives $130,000 Keystone Grant
Reading, November 12, 2020 − The Pennsylvania Department of Education today awarded Schuylkill Valley Community Library $134,712 in a Keystone Grant for building improvements, including replacing the roof, improving ADA accessibility and adding restrooms, State Sen....
Schwank Receives Penn State Agricultural Council Leadership Award
Reading, October 15, 2020 The Penn State Agricultural Council today recognized State Senator Judy Schwank (D-11th district) as their Leadership Award recipient for 2019. The Council, first formed in 1961, is comprised of organizations, groups and businesses that...
Schwank Milk Labeling Bill Passes Senate
Harrisburg, October 6, 2020 Today the Pennsylvania Senate approved 50-0 a bill that would allow milk processors more flexibility in labeling. The legislation was inspired by a dairy industry study Sen. Judy Schwank (D-11th district) requested in 2018 which suggested...
Caltagirone, Rozzi, Schwank Announce $190K State Grants for Berks
READING, Sept. 15, 2020 – State Reps. Tom Caltagirone and Mark Rozzi and State Sen. Judy Schwank announced three Berks county organizations received more than $190,000 from the COVID-19 Cultural and Museum Preservation Grant Program. The program, funded through the...
PA Senate Democrats & Small Businesses Rally Behind Legislation Supporting Business Interruption Insurance Claims
Harrisburg, PA – August 27, 2020 – Today, State Senators Iovino, Street, Brewster, Schwank, and Hughes joined members of the Commonwealth’s small business community via Zoom to advocate for bipartisan legislation that would help Pennsylvania businesses file claims on...
Schwank Announces $1.78 Million Grant Funding for District 11
Reading, August 17, 2020 Twelve Berks County municipalities and municipal authorities, including the City of Reading, have been awarded state water and sewer infrastructure grants totaling $1.78 million by the Commonwealth Finance Authority, State Sen. Judy Schwank (D-11th district) announced today.
Democratic State Legislators Host Virtual Hearing on Maternal Mortality During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Harrisburg – August 12, 2020 – At the request of state Senator Judy Schwank (D- Berks) and state Representatives Morgan Cephas (D- Philadelphia) and Mary Jo Daley (D- Montgomery), the Senate Democratic Policy Committee today held a joint virtual public hearing with...
Schwank Lauds Industrial Sites Reuse Program Announcement
Reading, July 31, 2020 State Sen. Judy Schwank (D-11th district) applauds $878,612 for the former Buttonwood Gateway site in Reading granted to the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Reading through the Industrial Sites Reuse Program (ISRP). The ISRP provides...
Upgrades for Fleetwood Water Distribution System Approved by PENNVEST
Harrisburg, July 22, 2020 Upgrades to Fleetwood Borough’s Water Distribution System will be completed thanks to $3.5 million in funding from the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST), state Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks) said today. “This state...
Sen. Schwank and Rep. Gillen Announce $600,000 State Investment in Berks
HARRISBURG, July 16, 2020 – A Wyomissing Borough development/transportation enhancement project will again receive a much-needed boost thanks to $633,264 in Multimodal Transportation Fund grant funding approved today by the Commonwealth Financing Authority. Multimodal...
Schwank Announces Fresh Food Financing Initiative Now Taking Applications
Reading, July 9, 2020 − The Pennsylvania Fresh Food Financing Initiative (FFFI), a statewide public-private financing program that invests in new or expanding grocery stores and other healthy food retail outlets in the state, has received $10 million as part of the PA...