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Bellmon, McClinton school conflict resolution bill approved by Education Committee

(Jun 28, 2023) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

HARRISBURG, June 28 – Today, H.B. 1448 introduced by state Rep. Anthony Bellmon, D-Phila., and Pennsylvania House Speaker Joanna McClinton, D-Phila./Delaware, was voted out of the House Education Committee and is headed to the full House for future consideration. The bill would r equire public schools to provide instruction on conflict resolution to all students. This instruction would include topics such as skills of conflict resolution; respect for different cultures, races, and beliefs; effectively managing emotions; and how to resolve differences peacefully. The bill also would require the instruction to be age appropriate and incorporated into an appropriate area of study. The Department of Education would compose a list of evidence-based model programs schools can use to provide this instruction to students. Bellmon said that teaching conflict resolution in schools can help reduce violence. “In areas across the commonwealth, such as Philadelphia, we’re seeing far too many young lives taken by gun violence,” Bellmon said. “It’s imperative that our children know that conflicts can be resolved in a non-violent way, and that’s why I introduced this bill that can help save lives.” This is Bellmon’s first bill to be voted out of a House standing committee. He is urging quick passage in the full House. Read more

 

Kinsey bill to honor K. Leroy Irvis approved by House committee

(Jun 28, 2023) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

HARRISBURG, June 28 – Today, H.B. 651 , introduced by state Reps. Stephen Kinsey, D-Phila., and Patty Kim, D-Dauphin/Cumberland, was unanimously approved by the House State Government Committee and will head to the full House for future consideration. Kinsey’s bill would rename the South Lawn of the Pennsylvania State Capitol Complex as the “Irvis Equality Circle,” in honor of K. Leroy Irvis, who was the first Black speaker of the Pennsylvania House, and of any state legislature in the country’s history since Reconstruction. The Harrisburg community through the “Gathering at the Crossroads” commissioned a monument that now sits outside of the Irvis Office Building on the South Lawn in honor of the old 8 th Ward and the work that Speaker Irvis was able to do while serving in the legislature from 1958 to 1988. The South Lawn sits outside of the K. Leroy Irvis Building. It is bordered by Walnut Street and Commonwealth Avenue. “Speaker Irvis was an important trailblazer in our state’s history, and it’s only right that we continue to honor his legacy,” Kinsey said. “I’m glad to see this bill move out of committee. Now I hope to see my House colleagues vote to honor Speaker Irvis and everything he’s meant to our commonwealth.” “The “Irvis Equality Circle” will remind us that we must protect our fundamental right to vote with Read more

 

PA House Labor & Industry Committee approves resolution condemning exclusion of mandated water breaks for workers

(Jun 28, 2023) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

HARRISBURG, June 28 – During a voting meeting today, the Pennsylvania House Labor and Industry Committee reported a resolution ( H.R. 159 ) out of committee and to the full House that would condemn the elimination of local rules in Texas mandating water breaks for construction workers. State Rep. Jose Giral introduced the resolution after Texas recently eliminated local ordinances mandating water breaks for construction workers, undermining their safety and well-being. “I believe it is appallingly brutal to institute legislation that would disregard the basic needs of any human being. I wholeheartedly condemn the Texas legislation that eliminates mandated water breaks for construction workers,” Giral said. “People are not machines; these decisions impact the health and mental wellness of human lives. We need to protect all workers’ rights and collectively raise our voices against this irrational and inhumane legislation in Texas.” Read more

 

PA House establishes Roberto Clemente Day

(Jun 28, 2023) Rep. Nick Pisciottano

Adopts resolution commemorating baseball legend, humanitarian Read more

 

Pa. House votes to extend I-95 disaster proclamation until next June

(Jun 28, 2023) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

A resolution that would extend to next June Gov. Josh Shapiro’s emergency disaster declaration issued in the response to the collapse of a bridge on I-95 in Philadelphia passed the state House of Representatives. Read more

 

Neilson’s automated speed enforcement legislation passes PA House

(Jun 27, 2023) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

Legislation authored by state Rep. Ed Neilson, D-Phila., chair of the House Transportation Committee, that would renew and expand automated enforcement programs throughout Philadelphia, passed the Pennsylvania House of Representatives today with bipartisan support. House Bill 1284 would eliminate the December 2023 expiration date of the Automated Speed Enforcement Program along Roosevelt Boulevard in Philadelphia. It would also expand the ASE program to all roads in Philadelphia, contingent on PennDOT’s approval and the city’s adoption of a local ordinance and make necessary improvements to the ASE program. The ASE program on Roosevelt Boulevard in Philadelphia, first implemented in June 2020, uses cameras to detect and record motorists exceeding the posted speed limit by 11 miles per hour or more along the boulevard. Crashes along Roosevelt Boulevard have declined by 36% since speed cameras were deployed, while total crashes in the rest of the city, where there are no speed cameras, have only declined by 6%. According to the Philadelphia Parking Authority, the ASE program has reduced speeding along Roosevelt Boulevard by a staggering 95%. Finally, and most importantly, Neilson said, the bill would protect schoolchildren on their walks through busy school zones by making fixes to the current law that authorizes school districts to use automated school bus stop-arm cameras and establishing a five-year pilot program for speed cameras in active Read more

 

PA House passes legislation allowing recycled materials in stuffed toys

(Jun 27, 2023) Rep. Jason Dawkins

HARRISBURG, June 27 – A bill sponsored by state Rep. Jason Dawkins, D-Phila., that would allow recycled materials to be used in stuffed toys passed the Pennsylvania House of Representatives by a vote of 163-40. This legislation ( H.B. 1333 ) would bring Pennsylvania in line with all other global stuffed toy requirements, enabling manufacturers and retailers to make and sell stuffed toys with recycled materials in the commonwealth. “This is really just commonsense legislation,” said Dawkins, chair of the House Labor and Industry Committee. “Not only is the use of recycled materials commonplace because it is safe and the materials undergo the same extensive testing as new materials, but it also allows toy manufacturers to reach their sustainability goals and is better for the environment.” House Bill 1333 is a companion bill to S.B. 756 , introduced by Pennsylvania Sens. Devlin Robinson, John Kane and Art Haywood. The bill now goes to the Pennsylvania Senate for consideration. Read more

 

Giral doubles up efforts to reduce opioid and prescription drug abuse

(Jun 27, 2023) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

HARRISBURG, June 27 – Today, bills (H.B. 817 and H.B. 818) introduced by state Rep. Jose Giral, D-Phila., passed the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. The bills represent Giral’s dual effort to educate and support pharmacies to help reduce opioid and prescription drug abuse in communities. House Bill 817 (Educate pharmacies about drug takeback locations) would direct the State Board of Pharmacy to educate pharmacies about drug takeback programs. Pharmacies can institute takeback programs now, but many do not because they lack the necessary guidance and logistics plan. Giral highlights that the educational component in his bills is essential because educating pharmacies on the option to aid Pennsylvanians with safely and responsibly disposing of their unwanted or expired medications is crucial to preventing the misuse and diversion of prescription drugs. House Bill 818 (Provide support for drug takeback locations at pharmacies) would establish the Pharmaceutical Collection Sites Educational Program within the Department of State to assist pharmacy board efforts. The program would help pharmacies meet the cost and complete the necessary steps of setting up a takeback location. “I am proud to say today that we are moving legislation forward to address this issue,” Giral said. “We are now a step closer to take control of this serious public problem in our state. I am thankful to Read more

 

House passes Benham, Ortitay bill to help kids in kinship care

(Jun 27, 2023) Rep. Jessica Benham

Would expand foster care tuition waiver program Read more

 

Solomon and Kenyatta introduce a series of good government transparency legislation

(Jun 27, 2023) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

State Reps. Jared Solomon and Malcolm Kenyatta, both D-Phila., reaffirmed their commitment to good government and transparency by introducing several bills that would reform redistricting, campaigns and elections, as well as accountability after a candidate is elected. Read more

 

Pa. House passes bill to address inadequate school facilities

(Jun 27, 2023) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

House Bill 1408 would enact PlanCon 2.0, legislation that was recommended by the Pennsylvania Public School Building Construction and Reconstruction Advisory Committee, and has not been invested in since 2016. It is a reimbursement program for school construction. Read more

 

Pa. House recognizes LGBTQ+ Pride Month

(Jun 27, 2023) Rep. Jessica Benham

“As levels of LGBTQ+ hate and discrimination continue to rise, we must also recognize that the fight for full equality is far from over. My colleagues and I in the LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus stand in solidarity with members of the LGBTQ+ community and will continue advocating for policies like the Fairness Act that move us toward a more accepting, loving, and inclusive society.” Read more

 

Smith-Wade-El’s resolution to study the impact of housing and health quality adopted by House

(Jun 27, 2023) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

HARRISBURG, June 27 – State Rep. Ismail Smith-Wade-El, D-Lancaster, announced that his resolution, H.R. 66, that directs the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a study and issue a report on the impact of housing on health in Pennsylvania passed the House on Monday. “We have a housing crisis in Pennsylvania,” Smith-Wade-El said. “Not only is there not enough affordable housing, but most housing dates from before 1978 and exposes residents to lead contamination, poor ventilation, ill-constructed waste systems, and other unsafe and toxic conditions. “Bad housing is having a devastating impact on people’s health and on our health services,” Smith-Wade-El said. “We’ve got to use our resources to find a remedy for a literally toxic situation by studying the health care costs associated with substandard housing and building affordable housing connected to local health care and social service systems.” According to Smith-Wade-El, studies have shown that substandard housing is a contributing factor to negative health outcomes and can perpetuate economic struggle and housing insecurity for some of the most vulnerable Pennsylvanians. The LBFC will reach out to relevant stakeholders to gain insight on the impact housing has on residents’ health and provide recommendations for housing solutions. “Everyone deserves a safe and healthy home,” Smith-Wade-El said. “Not only Read more

 

Cepeda-Freytiz praises passage of bill that would lessen teacher shortages

(Jun 26, 2023) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

HARRISBURG, June 26 – State Rep. Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz, D-Berks, today praised House passage of her bill, which would provide educator certification and employment for immigrants in Pennsylvania. The bill ( H.B. 1067 ), now on its way to the Senate for consideration, would amend the qualifications of a teacher by adding that department-certified or permitted teachers who hold a valid immigrant visa, work visa, or valid employment authorization document which allows them to work in the United States are eligible to teach in the public schools of the Commonwealth. Cepeda-Freytiz said enactment of this bill would expand much-needed access to teacher certification. The Pennsylvania Department of Education’s Teacher Information Management System prevents non-U.S. citizens from completing an application for certification unless they are applying for a certificate to teach a foreign language or hold an immigrant visa (Green Card) and sign an affidavit of intent to become a U.S citizen. “Education is the foundation of progress. We need a commonsense approach that can help us put Pennsylvania back on track. I am proud to champion this issue and I cannot wait until this bill is signed into law,” Cepeda-Freytiz said. “Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) participants are unable to attain educator certification in Pennsylvania. The removal of this barrier could help the Commonwealth address its teacher shortage areas, including one of the Read more

 

Pa. House passes Isaacson’s legislation regarding community college

(Jun 26, 2023) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

“Community college is an affordable path to a great future,” Isaacson said. “We need to embrace community college students by ensuring that they have every opportunity to transfer to a four-year college or university with ease.” Read more

 

Neilson’s I-95 resolution adopted by House

(Jun 26, 2023) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

State Rep. Ed Neilson, D-Phila., sponsored H.R. 154, which seeks to extend the governor’s emergency declaration to help repair the collapsed part of I-95. “We cannot let this project run out of funds,” Neilson said. “I-95 is one of the busiest highways in the commonwealth, maybe even the whole Northeast. This resolution would ensure that we have the funding we need to complete construction on this vital roadway.” After a truck tanker caught fire and the extreme heat caused a portion of I-95 in Philadelphia to collapse, Gov. Josh Shapiro issued an emergency proclamation on June 12 to acquire federal funds to help fix the collapsed road. Unless the Senate also acts on Neilson’s resolution, that emergency proclamation will run out in 21 days (July 2) because of a constitutional amendment added to the state constitution in 2021, in which emergency declarations by the governor may only last for 21 days. Neilson said this limitation was enacted to stop supposed overreach during the COVID-19 pandemic. While the highway reopened on Friday, June 23, it’s not a permanent solution. Neilson said that this resolution would ensure the complete rebuild of that section of I-95. Read more

 

Pa. House passes Kinkead bill to guarantee college credit transfers

(Jun 26, 2023) Rep. Emily Kinkead

Legislation to help community college students advances Read more

 

Boyle preventive care bill including mental health protections passes House

(Jun 26, 2023) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

HARRISBURG, June 26 – Today, H.B. 1050 , introduced by PA House Insurance Committee Chair Kevin Boyle, D-Phila., passed the Pennsylvania House and is headed to the Senate for future consideration. This bill would require health insurers to cover preventive health care services including mental health treatment without cost-sharing. A similar federal law is part of the federal Affordable Care Act, which gives Americans access to no-cost preventive health care. But earlier this year, a judge in Texas struck down that part of the Affordable Care Act . If appeals are unsuccessful, millions of Pennsylvanians could lose access to potentially life-saving preventative health care such as cancer screenings, depression and anxiety screenings, multiple vaccines, and annual well-woman visits. Boyle’s legislation would protect Pennsylvanians regardless of what the federal courts do. “Regardless of what the federal courts decide, we must ensure all Pennsylvanians have access to life-saving preventive health care without having to pay a copay, coinsurance or deductible,” Boyle said. “I urge my Senate colleagues to do right by the millions of Pennsylvanians who need these crucial preventive care services and get this bill to Governor Shapiro’s desk to be signed into law.” According to Boyle, over 80 advocacy groups support this bill because it protects preventive care services. Read more

 

House Democrats’ aggressive bipartisan agenda results in passage of more than 100 bills to date this year

(Jun 26, 2023) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

Harrisburg, June 26 – Just six months into the 2023-24 legislative session, Pennsylvania House Democrats are delivering on their promise to prioritize the issues Pennsylvanians care about by passing more than 100 bills focusing on a variety of critical issues that will improve lives for Pennsylvanians. “I’m proud that House Democrats are continuing to advance a people-first agenda,” Speaker of the House Joanna McClinton, D-Phila./Delaware, said. “In just the past few weeks our caucus has advanced measures that would make more seniors eligible for the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program, plus increase their rebates. We passed an expanded Child and Dependent Care Enhancement Tax Credit -- because when families can afford childcare, more Pennsylvanians can work. We passed tax credits for people in some of the commonwealth’s most in-demand and understaffed professions like nurses, teachers and police. We’re helping all Pennsylvanians save for retirement using our Keystone Saves Program. And we advanced a long-overdue boost in the state minimum wage, which lags every surrounding state and has kept too many Pennsylvanians in poverty.” “After a dozen years of inaction on issues that Pennsylvanians truly care about, we have put forth a diverse, aggressive and bipartisan agenda that will ensure Pennsylvania is a better place to live, learn and work,” said House Majority Leader Matt Bradford, D-Montgomery. “Our Read more

 

Fiedler, PFT, Phila. councilmembers urge funding school facilities in 2023-24 budget

(Jun 23, 2023) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

PHILADELPHIA, June 23 – State Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler , D-Phila., hosted a news conference at South Philadelphia High School Friday morning, calling on the Commonwealth to increase funding for school facilities improvements. Pennsylvania "has billions of dollars that should be invested in public infrastructure, job creation and education,” Fiedler said. The Commonwealth is currently sitting on $11 billion in reserve cash. “Governor Shapiro’s budget has proposed $100 million in school facilities funding, which is a great start,” Fiedler said. While Shapiro’s budget proposal did not indicate a method of distribution for these funds, Fiedler has co-sponsored H.B.1408, which provides a vehicle for distributing school facilities funds. Her bill updates PlanCon, a method of funds distribution that has not been utilized since 2016. “I am hopeful H.B. 1408 will get a House vote next week, and I’m committed to pursuing all avenues through which we may remediate and repair our schools across the Commonwealth,” she emphasized, who has spearheaded the issue in the House. Ana Tapia , Sunrise of Philadelphia’s South Philadelphia High School site director, spoke directly to her experience running the school’s after-school program. “Too often we hear on the news that budgets have increased for everything except for schools, after-school programming, and Read more

 

Bellmon, McClinton school conflict resolution bill approved by Education Committee
Jun 28, 2023

Kinsey bill to honor K. Leroy Irvis approved by House committee
Jun 28, 2023

PA House Labor & Industry Committee approves resolution condemning exclusion of mandated water breaks for workers
Jun 28, 2023

PA House establishes Roberto Clemente Day
Jun 28, 2023

Pa. House votes to extend I-95 disaster proclamation until next June
Jun 28, 2023

Neilson’s automated speed enforcement legislation passes PA House
Jun 27, 2023

PA House passes legislation allowing recycled materials in stuffed toys
Jun 27, 2023

Giral doubles up efforts to reduce opioid and prescription drug abuse
Jun 27, 2023

House passes Benham, Ortitay bill to help kids in kinship care
Jun 27, 2023

Solomon and Kenyatta introduce a series of good government transparency legislation
Jun 27, 2023

Pa. House passes bill to address inadequate school facilities
Jun 27, 2023

Pa. House recognizes LGBTQ+ Pride Month
Jun 27, 2023

Smith-Wade-El’s resolution to study the impact of housing and health quality adopted by House
Jun 27, 2023

Cepeda-Freytiz praises passage of bill that would lessen teacher shortages
Jun 26, 2023

Pa. House passes Isaacson’s legislation regarding community college
Jun 26, 2023

Neilson’s I-95 resolution adopted by House
Jun 26, 2023

Pa. House passes Kinkead bill to guarantee college credit transfers
Jun 26, 2023

Boyle preventive care bill including mental health protections passes House
Jun 26, 2023

House Democrats’ aggressive bipartisan agenda results in passage of more than 100 bills to date this year
Jun 26, 2023

Fiedler, PFT, Phila. councilmembers urge funding school facilities in 2023-24 budget
Jun 23, 2023