Press Releases
Schwank Hosts Model Senate Program for Local High Schoolers
Reading – February 18, 2022 – Sen. Judy Schwank (D-11th district) welcomed roughly 40 students from local high schools to her office in Muhlenberg Township to participate in the first of three sessions for her annual model senate program. After a year...
Schwank Visits Amanda E. Stout Elementary School to Promote Certified Librarian Legislation
Reading – February 16, 2022 – Today, Sen. Judy Schwank (D-11th district) visited Amanda E. Stout Elementary school to meet and read to a first grade class and to discuss SB 964, which would require Pennsylvania public schools to have a certified librarian on staff....
PA Women’s Health Caucus Responds to Governor Tom Wolf’s Budget Address
Harrisburg, PA − February 9, 2022 − The co-chairs of the Pennsylvania Women’s Health Caucus (WHC) applaud Governor Tom Wolf for his budget proposal that utilizes the nearly $6 billion budget surplus and puts Pennsylvania on the path to make historic investments in...
Sen. Schwank to Host Student Mental Health Webinar
Reading − February 1, 2022 – On Thursday, Feb. 3 at 6:30 p.m., Sen. Judy Schwank (D-11th district) will be hosting a virtual event on student mental health via zoom. The event is open to the public and will feature four Berks County based experts who have been working...
State Announces $4.5 Million for Nonprofit Security Grant Program
Reading – January 27, 2022 – This morning, Gov. Tom Wolf and members of the Pennsylvania House and Senate announced $4.5 million in funding from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) would be made available for non-profits that could be the...
State Awards BCAP $600 Thousand for Violence Prevention Programming
Reading – January 26, 2022 – This afternoon, the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) announced the Berks Community Action Program, Inc. (BCAP) received $600,000 for violence prevention initiatives. Over $24 million in Violence Intervention and...
Sen. Schwank and Sen. Vogel Unveil Legislation to Protect Pennsylvania Grain Farmers
Harrisburg – January 25, 2022 – Today, Sen. Judy Schwank (D- 11th district) and Sen. Elder Vogel (R-47th district) unveiled Senate Bill 1032, which would protect farmers from grain handlers that become insolvent. Pennsylvania currently has no...
Schwank Applauds $176 Thousand in Safe Schools Target Grants
Reading – January 21, 2022 – Sen. Judy Schwank (D-11th district) applauded today’s awarding of $176,798 in Safe Schools Targeted Grants to Berks County school districts by Gov. Tom Wolf and the Pennsylvania Department of Education. “Every investment we can make in...
5 Berks County Conservation Projects Receive State Grant Funding
Reading – December 30, 2021 – The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) today announced that five Berks County projects were awarded $894,200 in grant funding. Statewide, 317 projects, including four in the 11th senatorial...
Schwank Releases Statement on Joint Fireworks Hearing
Harrisburg, PA – December 15, 2021 – After today’s joint Pennsylvania House and Senate Agricultural and Rural Affairs committee hearing on fireworks law, Sen. Judy Schwank (D-11th District) provided the following statement: “Today’s hearing was useful. We...
Wolf Administration, General Assembly Announce $11.4 Million Investment in Cold Storage Infrastructure for Food Banks
Reading, PA – December 9, 2021 − First Lady Frances Wolf joined members of the General Assembly and representatives from the charitable food network today at Mary’s Shelter in Reading to announce an $11.4 million investment in cold...
Baby Formula Manufacturer ByHeart Awarded $1.75 Million in Grant Funding
Reading- December 6, 2021 − Sen. Judy Schwank (D-11th District) announced today that ByHeart was awarded $1.75 million in Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) grant funding for improvements to a Reading-based facility. ByHeart’s Project Lexington is...
Alvernia’s Reading CollegeTowne Awarded $1 Million in Grant Funding
Reading − December 6, 2021 − The second phase or Alvernia’s Reading CollegeTowne project was awarded $1 million in Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) grant funding for Gov. Tom Wolf and the Pennsylvania Office of the Budget.\ The grant funding will go...
Senate Dems Discuss Evaluating and Improving Drug Treatment Centers at Policy Hearing
READING, December 6, 2021 – State Senator Katie Muth (D- Berks/Chester/Montgomery), Chair of the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Policy Committee, today joined Senators Judy Schwank and Christine Tartaglione to host a public hearing on evaluating and improving drug...
International Union of Operating Engineers Local 542 Receives $745 Thousand for Training Facility
Reading − December 3, 2021 − Sen. Judy Schwank and the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 542 announced $745,000 in Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) grant funding from Gov. Tom Wolf and the Pennsylvania Office of the Budget. The funding...
Schwank, Rozzi and Guzman Applaud $7.5 Million in State Funding for R-Phils, Tout Community Effort to Improve Stadium
Reading − December 3, 2021 − Sen. Judy Schwank (D-11th district), Rep. Mark Rozzi (D-126th) and Rep. Manny Guzman (D-127th) applauded today’s awarding of $7.5 million in Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) funding by Gov. Tom Wolf and the...
Borough of Topton Receives Multimodal Transportation Fund Grant
Reading – November 19, 2021 – State legislators Sen. Judy Schwank (D-11th district) and Rep. Ryan Mackenzie (R-134th district) announced today that the Borough of Topton was awarded a $168,594 Multimodal Transportation Fund (MTF) grant from the Pennsylvania Department...
Governor Mifflin, City of Reading, Fleetwood Awarded $1.35 Million from State
Reading, PA – November 19, 2021 – Berks County State Legislators announced three Greater Reading Area projects received a total of $1,352,687 in grant funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Community of Economic Development’s (DCED) Commonwealth...
Sen. Schwank to Host Telephone Town Hall on Fraud
Reading, PA – November 15 - State Sen. Judy Schwank (D-11th district) will host a telephone town hall on Thursday, November 18 at 7 P.M. on fraud prevention. The event will give constituents an opportunity to ask questions they may have about how to protect themselves...
Schwank Comments on Senate Passage of Capital Budget Project Itemization Act
Harrisburg - November 10, 2021 - State Senator Judy Schwank (D-11th district) today announced that the Pennsylvania Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 915, the Capital Budget Project Itemization Act of 2021-2022, which includes potential funding for...
Senate Dems Virtual Hearing Focuses on Ending Lifetime Parole in PA
HARRISBURG, November 4, 2021 – State Senator Katie Muth (D- Berks/Chester/Montgomery), chair of the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Policy Committee, today joined state Sens. Sharif Street (D-Philadelphia), Anthony Williams (D-Philadelphia/Delaware) and Judy Schwank...
Sen. Schwank Visits Berks WIC Facility, Touts the Importance of Boosting Enrollment
Reading, PA − November 4, 2021 − Yesterday, State Senator Judy Schwank (D-11th district) toured and met with the staff at the Berks Women, Infant and Children (WIC) Nutrition Center at 1110 C Rockland Street, Reading, PA 19604. WIC has improved the nutrition and...
Schwank, Adams Announce Pardon Project of Berks County
Reading, PA- November 1, 2021- Today, State Senator Judy Schwank (D-11th district) and Berks County District Attorney John Adams announced the beginning of the Pardon Project of Berks County. Pardon Projects pair individuals seeking a pardon for a past crime with a...
Sen. Schwank and Sen. Vogel Announce Legislation to Protect Pennsylvania Grain Farmers
Harrisburg – October 22, 2021 – This week Sen. Judy Schwank (D-11th district) and Sen. Elder Vogel (R-47th district) announced plans to introduce legislation that would protect farmers from grain handlers that become insolvent. Pennsylvania currently has no...
Schwank Offers Amendment to Allow DACA Recipients to Receive Teaching Certifications
Harrisburg, PA – October 18, 2021 – State Senator Judy Schwank (D-11th district) introduced an amendment to SB 224 that would authorize Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) recipients to obtain teaching certifications in Pennsylvania. SB 224 removes barriers...
Senate Dems Virtual Hearing Focuses on Legislation to Better Accommodate Working Pregnant Pennsylvanians
HARRISBURG, October 5, 2021 – State Senator Katie Muth (D- Berks/Chester/Montgomery), chair of the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Policy Committee, today joined state Sens. Amanda M. Cappelletti (D-Montgomery/Delaware) and Judy Schwank (D-Berks) to host a virtual...
Women’s Health Caucus Urges Legislators and Advocates to Focus on Policies Which Help Pennsylvania’s New Parents
Harrisburg, PA − September 27, 2021 − The Co-Chairs of the Pennsylvania Women’s Health Caucus again calls on their colleagues and the citizens of Pennsylvania to support the #OptInPA Campaign, a movement to help birthing people and improve maternal health across the...
Pa Senate Democrats Call on Republican Colleagues to Take Action on Government Transparency and Accountability Measures
Harrisburg, Pa. − September 22, 2021 − Senators Lindsey M. Williams (D-Allegheny), Katie Muth (D-Chester, Montgomery, and Berks), Amanda M. Cappelletti (D-Montgomery and Delaware), John Kane (D-Chester and Delaware), Tim Kearney (D-Chester and Delaware), and Judy...
State Senators Saval and Schwank to Introduce State Mask Legislation
Harrisburg, PA – August 30, 2021 – Today, State Senators Nikil Saval and Judy Schwank announced they will soon introduce legislation to support Governor Tom Wolf’s call for mask mandates in the state. Senator Schwank’s forthcoming bill would require general indoor...
Schwank Hosts Telephone Town Hall on Back-to-School Health and Safety
Reading, August 16, 2021- State Senator Judy Schwank (D-11th district) is hosting a telephone town hall on back-to-school health and safety for the upcoming school year on Tuesday, August 17 at 7 p.m. Guests will include: Olubunmi Ojikutu, Chair, Department of...
Local Legislators Announce $475K in Grant Funding for Berks
READING, PA − August 2, 2021 − State Sen. Judy Schwank (D-11th district) and Rep. Mark Rozzi (D-126th district) announced three Berks County organizations received a total of $475,000 in Keystone Communities Program (KCP) grant funding from the Pennsylvania...
Three Boroughs Represented by Schwank Receive Grant Funding for Traffic Safety Improvements
Reading, PA − July 7, 2021 − Kutztown, Shillington and Wyomissing Boroughs were awarded Green Light-Go grant funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) totaling over $780,000, according to State Senator Judy Schwank. Kutztown received...
Uptick in Unemployment Fraud Scams
Reading, PA − June 29, 2021 − My office has seen a significant uptick in calls related to unemployment fraud since the implementation of the new Unemployment Compensation (UC) system. As many are aware, the rollout of this new system has been very difficult....