Press Releases
Frankel, Schwank Announce Jewish Legislative Caucus
HARRISBURG, March 21 – State. Rep. Dan Frankel, D-Allegheny, and Sen. Judy Schwank, D-Berks, announced Tuesday the formation of Pennsylvania’s first ever Jewish Legislative Caucus. “Representing the community that suffered the deadliest antisemitic attack in American...
State Lawmakers Secure Funding for Schuylkill River Passenger Rail Feasibility Study
Reading — March 17, 2023 — Today, a group of Democratic state lawmakers announced $250,000 in Local Share Account grant funding to study the restoration of passenger rail between Reading and Philadelphia. In April of 2022, County Commissioners representing...
Senate Democrats Discuss Strategies to Prevent Youth Violence at Policy Hearing
READING, March 17, 2023 – State Senator Katie Muth (D-Chester/Montgomery/Berks), Chair of the Senate Democratic Policy Committee, joined Senator Judy Schwank (D-Berks) and Senator Art Haywood (D-Montgomery/Philadelphia) earlier this week at Alvernia University in...
Schwank Announces $4.62 million in Local Share Account Funding
Reading — March 16, 2023 — Today, Sen. Judy Schwank (D-11) shared that 20 11th Senatorial District projects received a total of $4.62 million in grant funding from the Commonwealth Financing Authority. The Local Shares Account-Statewide program was established by...
Lower Alsace Awarded $850,000 for Sidewalk Construction
Reading — March 16, 2023 — This morning, The Commonwealth Financing Authority awarded Lower Alsace Township $850,000 in Multimodal Transportation Fund grant funding for the construction of sidewalks along Carsonia Road. The sidewalk will stretch from...
Democratic Senators, Representatives Praise Budget as A Good Start, Call for Continued Collaboration Throughout Budget Process
HARRISBURG, PA: Today, Senate Democrats and House Democrats held a joint press conference to respond to Governor Shapiro’s Budget Address. Senate Democrats are pleased with a commonsense budget that invests in the future of Pennsylvania, and are excited to continue...
Senators Lindsey M. Williams and Judy Schwank, Advocates Applaud Gov. Shapiro’s Proposed $38.5 Million Budget Investment in School Meals
Harrisburg, PA- March 7, 2023 — Following Governor Josh Shapiro’s inaugural Budget Address to the Joint General Assembly today, Senator Lindsey M. Williams (D-Allegheny), Senator Judy Schwank (D-Berks) and advocates applauded the Governor’s proposed $38.5 million...
Amid Rising Hate, Democratic Senators Reintroduce Safe Spaces Bill
HARRISBURG, PA – March 6, 2023 – On Friday, March 3rd Senators Street, Schwank, Tartaglione and Hughes, reintroduced Sacred Spaces legislation, amending Section 3307 of Title 18 (Institutional Vandalism) to enhance the existing statute to give District...
PA Women’s Health Caucus kicks off the 2023-2024 legislative session with a new mission and a reasserted commitment to reproductive rights on the first day of Women’s History Month
(Harrisburg, PA) March 1, 2023 --- Today, on the first day of Women’s History Month, Chairs of the Pennsylvania Women’s Health Caucus, Senator Judith Schwank (D-11 Berks), Representative Mary Jo Daley (D-148 Montgomery), and Representative Gina Curry (D-164 Delaware)...
Schwank Opens Satellite Office in Spring Township Building
Reading — February 14, 2023 — Today, state Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks) announced that her office has opened a satellite constituent services office in Spring Township. The office is in the Spring Township Administration Building located on 2850 Windmill Rd,...
Schwank Provides Public Comment on Whole Home Repairs at County Commissioner’s Meeting
Reading — February 9, 2023 — This morning, Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks) spoke during the public comment section of the Berks County Commissioner’s meeting to express her interest in collaborating with county officials on the rollout of the Whole Home Repairs program....
Schwank Issues Statement on Purchase of Clover Farms
Reading, PA - January 24, 2023 - State Sen. Judy Schwank issued the following statement regarding Cream-O-Land Dairy, Inc.’s purchase of Clover Farms. "I've been aware that the owners of Clover Farms were looking at the possibility of selling for quite some time now....
Senate Approves Bipartisan Bill to Strengthen First Amendment Rights for Teachers
HARRISBURG – The Senate of Pennsylvania approved a measure to eliminate a section from the state’s Education Code that prohibits a teacher from wearing any dress, mark, emblem, or insignia indicative of his or her faith or denomination, according to the measure’s...
Over 100 People Attend Expungement and Pardon Clinic
Reading — January 13, 2023 — 107 Berks County residents attended and received assistance at Thursday evenings expungement and pardon clinic. The event took place at the DoubleTree in Reading and was hosted by Magisterial District Judges Tonya...
Schwank Applauds Awarding of Violence Intervention and Prevention Grant Funding
Reading — January 11, 2023 — Today, state Sen. Judy Schwank applauded the awarding of over $4.3 million in Violence Intervention Program grant funding from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency. The awards in Berks County are as follows: Berks...
11th District Receives Over $5 Million in Community Safety Grant Funding
Reading — December 14, 2022 — This morning, the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency announced that the 11th Senatorial District received a total of $5,160,209 in grant funding for community safety initiatives. The funding comes from a variety of different...
Schwank Retains Democratic Caucus Leadership Position for 2023-2024 Legislative Session
Harrisburg — November 15, 2022 — State Sen. Judy Schwank was reappointed Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus Administrator, retaining her role in caucus leadership for the upcoming 2023-2024 legislative session. Schwank said she is grateful for the opportunity to...
Schwank Applauds Neighborhood Assistance Program Investments for Berks County
Reading — November 3, 2022 — Today Gov. Tom Wolf announced $1.82 million in tax credits to support projects in the 11th Senatorial District through the Neighborhood Assistance Program. NAP encourages private sector investment into projects that will help...
Schwank Applaud Passage of Expedited Partner Therapy Act
Harrisburg — November 1, 2022 — The Pennsylvania House of Representatives recently passed Senate Bill 317, sponsored by Sens. Patrick Browne (R-Lehigh), Lisa Baker (R-Luzerne), Judy Schwank (D-Berks), and Anthony Williams (D-Philadelphia) by a vote of 173 to 26. ...
Senate Democrats Discuss Issue of Anti-Abortion Centers at Capitol Hearing
HARRISBURG, October 28, 2022 – State Senator Katie Muth (D- Berks/Chester/Montgomery), chair of the Senate Democratic Policy Committee, today joined state Senator Judy Schwank (D-Berks) and Senator Amanda Cappelletti (D-Montgomery/Delaware) to host a hearing to...
Schwank Announces $20.5 Million in State Funding for the 11th District
Reading — October 26, 2022 — This evening Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks) announced $20.5 million in Redevelopment Assistance Capitol Program grant funding for seven 11th Senatorial District projects. Alvernia University was awarded $7.5 million in funding for...
Sens. Vogel, Schwank Send Letter to Milk Marketing Board Voicing Opposition to House Bill 224
Harrisburg — October 25, 2022 — Today, state Sens. Elder Vogel (R-Beaver) and Judy Schwank (D-Berks), the chairs of the Pennsylvania Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, sent a letter to the Pennsylvania Milk Marketing Board (PMMB) expressing their...
Schwank to Host Telephone Town Hall on Voting in the Upcoming Election
Reading — October 21, 2022 — On Thursday, October 27, 2022, state Sen. Judy Schwank will host a telephone town hall on voting and the upcoming general election. The event will begin at 7 P.M. and will offer individuals to ask questions about drop boxes, mail-in...
Non-Profit Security Grant Now Open, $5 Million Available for Enhanced Security Measures
Reading — September 30, 2022 — The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency will begin accepting applications for a new round of the Non-Profit Security Grant Fund Program today with a pool of $5 million available. The application period will run from...
Women’s Health Caucus Highlights Summer Recess Activities, Plans to Continue Advocating for Abortion Rights in Fall Session
Harrisburg — September 22, 2022 — Building on great progress made for maternal health over the last year, the Pennsylvania Women’s Health Caucus continues the fight to improve health outcomes for women and families and continues to work to protect reproductive...
Women’s Health Caucus Holds Press Event on Postpartum Medicaid Expansion, Protecting Access to Abortion
Harrisburg—September 21, 2022 — This morning, members of the Women’s Health Caucus, the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, and an advocate from Planned Parenthood held a press event to talk about postpartum Medicaid expansion and the need to protect...
Schwank, Rozzi Announce $222,321 in Act 13 Grant Funding
Reading — September 20, 2022 — Today Sen. Judy Schwank and Rep. Mark Rozzi announced a total of $222,321 in Act 13 grant funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. Lower Alsace Township received $200,000 in Flood...
Schwank Announces $642,426 in PCCD Grant Funding for Berks County
Reading − September 15, 2022 − Yesterday the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency approved grant funding for three Berks County projects. Kutztown University received $133,300 in Federal State Opioid Response Funds in support of the SBIRT Enhancement...
Roundtable Focuses on Deceptive Practices of So-Called “Crisis Pregnancy Centers”
HARRISBURG, September 7, 2022 – State Senator Katie Muth (D- Berks/Chester/Montgomery), chair of the Senate Democratic Policy Committee, joined state Senator Judy Schwank (D-Berks) and state Reps. Bridget Kosierowski (D-Lackawanna) and Melissa Shusterman...
State Sen. Judy Schwank Issues Statement in Support of Statewide Nursing Home Worker Strike
Reading — September 2, 2022 — Today, state Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks) joined striking nursing home workers of the Fairlane Gardens Nursing and Rehabilitation at Reading in support of their demands for fair pay and staffing. She issued the following statement on...
Schwank Applauds $2 Million in Grant Funding for Sustainable Agriculture Research
Reading — July 31, 2022 — Today, Sen. Judy Schwank, minority chair of the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, applauded the Wolf Administration for awarding six organizations with over $2 million in grant funding for sustainable agriculture research. Two...
Women’s Health Caucus Holds Third Post-Roe PA Policy Hearing in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh — August 11, 2022 — This morning, the Pennsylvania Women’s Health Caucus, in conjunction with the House and Senate Democratic Policy Committees, held its third hearing on post-Roe Pennsylvania at Chatham University. The hearing featured testimony from...
Schwank, BCPS Announce $100,000 in State Funding for Pardon Project
Reading — August 10, 2022 — Today, Sen. Judy Schwank and Berks Connections/Pretrial Services (BCPS) announced that BCPS received $100,000 in grant funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Education to support the Pardon Project of Berks County. Pardon Projects pair...