Press Releases
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...
Schwank to Introduce Legislation to Repeal Fireworks Act
Harrisburg, June 29, 2020 State Sen. Judy Schwank (D-11th District) will soon introduce legislation to repeal the Fireworks Act of 2017. The legislation is inspired by municipalities and police and fire departments across the Commonwealth who are unable to...
Schwank District Office Reopening Monday, June 29
Reading, June 26, 2020 − Starting Monday, June 29, State Senator Judy Schwank’s district office at 210 George Street will reopen to the public. While following Senate COVID-19 policies and precautions, Schwank and staff will once again be available to help...
Occupational Reform Bill on Way to Governor’s Desk
Harrisburg, June 25, 2020 − The Pennsylvania Senate approved a bill introduced by Sen. Judy Schwank (D-11th district) and Sen. John DiSanto (R-15th district) that enacts a series of reforms designed to remove several barriers to licensure for Pennsylvanians with...
State Senate Hearing Focuses on COVID-19’s Impact on the Food Supply Chain
Harrisburg – June 18, 2020 – At the request of state Senators Judy Schwank (D- Berks) and Maria Collett (D- Bucks/Montgomery), the Senate Democratic Policy Committee held a virtual public hearing today on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Pennsylvania’s food...
PA Senate Democrats Announce $225 Million for Small Business Assistance Grants Statewide
HARRISBURG – June 8, 2020 – Members of the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus announced the direction of $225 million in federal CARES Act funding to aid small businesses across the commonwealth. This funding was authorized by the recently enacted COVID-19...
Joint Policy Hearing Focuses on Pandemic Funding for Childcare Centers
Harrisburg – May 27, 2020 – At the request of state Senators Judy Schwank (D – Berks) and Lindsey Williams (D – Allegheny), the Senate and House Democratic Policy Committees today held a virtual public hearing to discuss critical funding for childcare centers, pre-K,...
Schwank Proposal Exempting CARES Act Payments from Disqualifying Pennsylvanians from State Assistance Programs Approved by Senate Finance Committee
Harrisburg, May 11, 2020 Legislation proposed by state Sen. Judy Schwank (D-11th district) that would ensure Pennsylvanians who receive federal stimulus payments don’t lose state related benefits because of an increase in income received unanimous support from...
Schwank Announces PA Office of Consumer Advocate to Intercede on Behalf of PAWC Ratepayers
READING, May 7, 2020 – At the request of State Sen. Judy Schwank (D-11th district), the Pennsylvania Office of Consumer Advocate will intercede on behalf of ratepayers in a case involving the Pennsylvania American Water Company’s request to increase its overall water...
Schwank to Talk Coronavirus with Medical and Unemployment Professionals at Telephone Town Hall
READING, May 1, 2020 – State Sen. Judy Schwank (D-11th district) will be hosting a live telephone town hall on issues associated with the coronavirus COVID-19 on Wednesday, May 6, at 6:05 p.m. Joining her are: Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry...
Senate and House Democrats Discuss Legislative Action to Fight COVID-19 in Pennsylvania
Harrisburg – April 23, 2020 – State Senators Judy Schwank (D – Berks) and Lindsey Williams (D – Allegheny) joined State Representatives Joanna McClinton (D- Philadelphia) and Sara Innamorato (D – Allegheny) for a telephone town hall hosted by the State Innovation...
Schwank, Caltagirone, Rozzi: Reading School District and Berks IU Receive Funds
READING, April 22, 2020 – Reading School District and the Berks County Intermediate Unit have been selected for Continuing of Education Equity Grants (CEEG) for the 2019-2020 academic year, State Sen. Judy Schwank (D-11th District),...