Exploring the Connection Between Fertility Treatment and Reproductive Freedom

(Mar 14, 2024)

What’s unfolding in Alabama reminds us why fertility services need legislative backing. We are introducing the PARENT Act with our colleagues Reps. Steve Malagari, D-Montgomery, and Tarik Khan, D-Phila., which would preserve prospective parents’ rights to fertility treatments while simultaneously protecting providers who perform this care. Read more

 

Khan to roll out healthcare workforce legislative package

(Mar 14, 2024)

HARRISBURG, March 14 – State Rep. Tarik Khan, D-Phila., today announced that he plans to introduce two bills to help address shortages of healthcare workers so that all Pennsylvanians can receive high-quality medical care. These bills would provide for the recruitment and retainment of nursing faculty members and health care preceptors. The first bill would establish the New Nursing Faculty Grant Program to provide grants of up to $10,000 per year for newly employed, full-time nursing faculty members. The second bill would establish the Pennsylvania Health Care Preceptor Deduction to incentivize qualified individuals to serve as preceptors for advanced practice nurses, physicians, physician assistants and registered nurses by providing a $1,000 tax deduction for doing do. “As a nurse practitioner, I know how important it is to keep our healthcare workforce supply strong,” Khan said. “Recruiting nursing faculty is often difficult, and healthcare preceptors are often hard to find. Our bill will help ensure critical support for both nursing faculty and healthcare professional preceptors.” The nursing faculty grant program is modeled after a Maryland program that was highly successful. The second bill would make Pennsylvania the sixth state to take action to incentivize medical professionals to enter preceptorships. Nearly 80,000 applicants across the nation were not Read more

 

Grant Memo: Agricultural, Educational, Public Safety, Redevelopment and Additional Grant Opportunities

(Mar 13, 2024)

NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Commonwealth Financing Authority: Public School Facility Improvement Grant Who May Apply: School entities, defined as a school district or an area career and technical school. Use: Facility improvement projects, including but not limited to roof repair/replacement, heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment, plumbing systems, window repair/replacement, health and safety upgrades, and accessibility projects. Funds: $100 million in total funding is available. Grant requests shall not exceed $5 million per eligible improvement project. School entities may submit more than one application, but no school entity shall receive more than 20% of the total funding available. Application Deadline: May 31, 2024 More information: CFA Website Commission on Crime and Delinquency: STOP Violence Against Women Grant Program Who May Apply: County governments and non-profit victim service agencies are eligible to apply. Faith-based organizations may be eligible to apply under certain circumstances. Use: Funds may be used to support cross-system, collaborative efforts to respond to victims of violence against women crimes. This includes, but is not limited to, personnel and benefit costs associated with specialized units in law enforcement or core direct victim services, supplies and operating expenses related to the STOP project, equipment necessary for implementation, and training or professional development. Funds: A total of $12 Read more

 

Exploring the Connection Between Fertility Treatment and Reproductive Freedom

(Mar 13, 2024)

As an advocate for reproductive rights, health, and justice, and a new mother to 6-month-old baby Charlotte with my partner Heather, I’m working to ensure that all families trying for a child can access the high-quality fertility care they need here in Pennsylvania. Read more

 

Mayes aims to expand Medicaid coverage for blood pressure monitors

(Mar 12, 2024)

“With this legislation, we have the opportunity to address the maternal health care crisis, starting with one of the major causes of maternal morbidity and mortality: hypertension,” Mayes said. “By expanding Medicaid coverage of blood pressure monitors, pregnant or postpartum enrollees may detect high blood pressure and receive treatment before it’s too late. When left untreated, women’s risk of cardiovascular disease increases. This legislation will improve maternal health outcomes, Black maternal health, and women’s health care overall.” Read more

 

CROWN Act at front of mind for Black Pittsburghers

(Mar 11, 2024)

“You can be discriminated against if you are Black based on how you wear your hair, the locs, braids, afros and twists. You can lose your job, you can be denied the right to go to school, or be barred from restaurants and public spaces. We need to ban race-based hair discrimination, we are committed to getting it passed,” Mayes said during the GRWM Runway Experience last month. Read more

 

Mayes, McClinton launch Pennsylvania CROWN Act Coalition

(Mar 08, 2024)

“Speaker McClinton and I launched the Pennsylvania CROWN Act Coalition, inspired by the national CROWN Act Coalition, to stand together to create a world that respects natural hair and enact a statewide law to ban discrimination of how our hair naturally grows out of our head,” Mayes said. “When people face hair discrimination in the workplace like here in Pittsburgh in the case of Asani Porch who has a lawsuit against Aramark for hair discrimination, in school settings like Darryl George in Texas and public accommodations, it negatively affects their health. We must pass the CROWN Act to ensure that natural hair, hair styles and hair texture are respected in our commonwealth.” Read more

 

Pennsylvania has a program to donate unused cancer medications. But the drugs are being wasted

(Mar 08, 2024)

"I can see there being great benefits. Of course, the cost savings are undisputable, it's undeniable," said Rep. Mayes, District 24 (D). "Iowa, Michigan, and other states who have enacted, Georgia, who have enacted this type of program, this repository program, they're saving billions." Read more

 

Lawmakers willing to help constituents solve problems with school bus camera tickets

(Mar 07, 2024)

“My office has received quite a few complaints about the tickets,” she tells 11 Investigates. “It sounds like more people than not feel that they’ve been wronged in this process.” Read more

 

Pennsylvania's Black Maternal Health Caucus; Fighting for Futures

(Mar 07, 2024)

In a 2022 March of Dimes report, Pennsylvania had 6 counties classified as maternity care deserts. 14 counties had moderate access to maternity care. Read more

 

Grant Memo: Agricultural, Educational, Public Safety, Redevelopment and Additional Grant Opportunities

(Mar 05, 2024)

NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Department of Agriculture: Commonwealth Specialty Crop Block Grant Program Who May Apply: State and local organizations, producer associations, academia, community-based organizations, and other eligible specialty crops stakeholders. Use: The purpose of the Program is to enhance, but not replace, the Federal Specialty Crop Block Grant Program by establishing a Commonwealth Specialty Crop Block Grant Program for specialty crops that are not currently eligible for grant payments under the Federal Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, or that are otherwise designated high-priority specialty crops by the Secretary. Funding for the Program will assist the growth, certification of seed and marketing of these eligible specialty crops. Funds: $460,000 in funding is available. Application Deadline: April 19, 2024 More information: Pennsylvania Bulletin PROGRAMS OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS: Department of Agriculture: Farm Vitality Planning Grant Who May Apply: Farmers, prospective farmers, and others may apply. Use: Strategic business planning to expand or diversify farms or support transition of ownership. Funds: $500,000 in funding is available. Grants shall not exceed $7,500. Application Deadline: Applications will be received until funds are exhausted. More information: Pennsylvania Bulletin Commission on Crime and Delinquency: Recruitment Incentives for Law Enforcement Who May Apply: Local law enforcement Read more

 

Kenyatta introduces legislation to study impact of ‘benefits cliff’

(Feb 29, 2024)

HARRISBURG, Feb. 29 – State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, D-Phila., has introduced legislation to study the public assistance benefits cliff, which refers to a situation when public benefit programs phase out quickly for families as household earnings increase. This legislation would direct the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a study and issue a report on the impact of benefits cliffs in Pennsylvania. In Pennsylvania, roughly 12 percent of all Pennsylvanians live in poverty, with eight percent living in extreme poverty. “In many instances, Pennsylvanians living in poverty become constrained to a life of poverty due to the ‘cliff effect,’ which perpetuates the poverty cycle, rather than incentivizing individuals to become self-sufficient,” Kenyatta said. “This study should give us a better idea of just how much the benefits cliff affects Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable families, and how we can ensure these families get the most out of important public benefit programs.” Kenyatta is joined by state Reps. Morgan Cephas and Roni Green, both D-Phila., and La’Tasha D. Mayes, D-Allegheny, in introducing this bill. Cephas explained how benefits cliffs impact marginalized communities. “Not only are Black women paid less than white or male counterparts, opportunities to escape this cycle of poverty are fewer – leading to the public assistance Read more

 

Lawmaker: Welfare fraud punishment should 'fit the crime'

(Feb 28, 2024)

Mayes said that both the Shapiro administration and the Office of Inspector General support the proposal. Read more

 

Grants available as of Tuesday, Feb. 27

(Feb 27, 2024)

Grants available as of Tuesday, Feb. 27 Read more

 

Mayes’ legislation aims to address welfare fraud

(Feb 14, 2024)

“With my legislation, we have the opportunity to address welfare fraud while ensuring that the punishment fits the crime,” Mayes said. “This legislation will also assist the Office of the State Inspector General to pursue cases to recover fraudulent benefits, which we can utilize to allocate to eligible recipients.” Read more

 

Rep. Mayes' February Newsletter

(Feb 12, 2024)

Rep. Mayes' February Newsletter Read more

 

Grants available as of Thursday, Feb. 8

(Feb 08, 2024)

Grants available as of Thursday, Feb. 8 Read more

 

Mayes highlights Shapiro’s proposals for maternal health care

(Feb 07, 2024)

“With maternal mortality at its highest rates since 1965 and Black women at a higher risk of dying from complications during child birth, we must address the maternal health care crisis to reduce racial disparities in health care, as well as combat Black maternal morbidity and mortality,” Mayes said. “Even healthy women, such as U.S. Olympic sprinter Tori Bowie who died in May 2023 from pre-eclampsia, are at risk. As such, we must ensure Black women and Black pregnant people have access to equitable health care so that we may systemically combat maternal morbidity and mortality.” Read more

 

PBMHC applauds Shapiro’s proposals for investments in maternal health care

(Feb 07, 2024)

“We applaud the governor for working with us to address this crisis so we may ensure all Pennsylvanians have access to equitable health care of the highest quality.” Read more

 

SCOPA decision marks win for reproductive rights, health and justice

(Jan 30, 2024)

“Today’s decision marks a win for reproductive rights, health, and justice as now, advocates have the opportunity to defend Pennsylvanians’ ability to access reproductive health care, regardless of their income or use of public insurance,” Mayes said. “Currently, Medicaid does not cover abortions in Pennsylvania, preventing at least 28% of Pennsylvanians from accessing reproductive health care. With this decision from the state’s highest court, advocates can now challenge the Abortion Control Act of 1982 to ensure low-income patients have access to abortion and prevent Republicans from controlling the bodily autonomy of Pennsylvanians.” Read more

 

Exploring the Connection Between Fertility Treatment and Reproductive Freedom
Mar 14, 2024

Khan to roll out healthcare workforce legislative package
Mar 14, 2024

Grant Memo: Agricultural, Educational, Public Safety, Redevelopment and Additional Grant Opportunities
Mar 13, 2024

Exploring the Connection Between Fertility Treatment and Reproductive Freedom
Mar 13, 2024

Mayes aims to expand Medicaid coverage for blood pressure monitors
Mar 12, 2024

CROWN Act at front of mind for Black Pittsburghers
Mar 11, 2024

Mayes, McClinton launch Pennsylvania CROWN Act Coalition
Mar 08, 2024

Pennsylvania has a program to donate unused cancer medications. But the drugs are being wasted
Mar 08, 2024

Lawmakers willing to help constituents solve problems with school bus camera tickets
Mar 07, 2024

Pennsylvania's Black Maternal Health Caucus; Fighting for Futures
Mar 07, 2024

Grant Memo: Agricultural, Educational, Public Safety, Redevelopment and Additional Grant Opportunities
Mar 05, 2024

Kenyatta introduces legislation to study impact of ‘benefits cliff’
Feb 29, 2024

Lawmaker: Welfare fraud punishment should 'fit the crime'
Feb 28, 2024

Grants available as of Tuesday, Feb. 27
Feb 27, 2024

Mayes’ legislation aims to address welfare fraud
Feb 14, 2024

Rep. Mayes' February Newsletter
Feb 12, 2024

Grants available as of Thursday, Feb. 8
Feb 08, 2024

Mayes highlights Shapiro’s proposals for maternal health care
Feb 07, 2024

PBMHC applauds Shapiro’s proposals for investments in maternal health care
Feb 07, 2024

SCOPA decision marks win for reproductive rights, health and justice
Jan 30, 2024