News Center

Ciresi offers bill to boost library revenue

(Mar 04, 2021) Rep. Joseph Ciresi

Current state law allows libraries to use isolated sales – fewer than seven days each year – of used books without paying sales tax as a means of generating additional revenue. Ciresi’s legislation would expand that to allow libraries to sell used books for supplemental income without paying sales tax throughout the year. Read more

 

PA Women’s Health Caucus urges Biden administration to restore Title X mandate

(Mar 04, 2021) Women’s Health Caucus

The letter from WHC co-chairs Rep. Mary Jo Daley, D-Montgomery, Rep. Morgan Cephas, D-Phila., Sen. Amanda Cappelletti, D-Montgomery/Delaware, and Sen. Judy Schwank, D-Berks, strongly supports reinstatement of the regulations that governed the Title X program before 2019. Read more

 

Brown, Bizzarro take bipartisan approach to empowering first-time homebuyers

(Mar 04, 2021) Rep. Ryan Bizzarro

The First-time Homebuyers Savings Accounts would allow account holders to make tax deductible contributions at a total of $50,000 over a 10-year period, with an annual contribution cap of $5,000 for single taxpayers and $10,000 for those filing a joint return. Read more

 

Pro-life is Pro-vaccine

(Mar 04, 2021) Rep. Ryan Bizzarro

Get your vaccine. If you’re concerned about the Bishop of the Pittsburgh Diocese being angry, listen to the St. Louis diocese who said Catholics can get that vaccine “in good conscience if no other alternative is available.” If you’re still worried, don’t be. The Vatican disagrees and is even mandating all Vatican employees must get a vaccine or risk being fired. Read more

 

Kosierowski joins Gov. Wolf, COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force to announce plan to vaccinate schoolteachers and staff

(Mar 03, 2021) Rep. Bridget M. Kosierowski

“By allocating the Johnson & Johnson vaccine to our educators, contracted staff and childcare workers we are providing a way to prioritize the health and safety of both our teachers and our students while paving a path to get our children safely back into the classrooms.” Read more

 

Pisciottano chairs roundtable discussion on improving mental health for high school students

(Mar 03, 2021) Policy Committee, Rep. Nick Pisciottano

Strengthening teachers and support staff was a natural part of the discussion that highlighted how the pandemic has exacerbated existing systemic issues with providing services to students, teachers and staff. Read more

 

PA’s unfair special education funding for charter schools: Ciresi op/ed

(Mar 03, 2021) Rep. Joseph Ciresi

The system in which Pennsylvania pays charter schools for special education is broken. For every special education student who leaves a traditional public school to attend a charter school, their home district is required to reimburse that charter school based on an illogical average cost to educate special education students. Read more

 

Enduring racial inequity in Pa. requires systemic solutions, including reparations: Rep. Chris Rabb

(Mar 03, 2021) Rep. Christopher M. Rabb

It is hard to look at our state as a commonwealth when what has been most common in our history is the exploitation and marginalization of Black people in all facets of life as fomented or condoned by our legislature, courts and state agencies.For these reasons, and because systemic problems require systemic solutions, the legislation I am introducing will focus solely on the culpability of Pennsylvania in systemic racism against its Black residents. The same government that created these enduring injustices must be the one responsible for solving the societal damage it caused. Read more

 

Committee approves Harkins bill to remove offensive School Code language

(Mar 02, 2021) Rep. Patrick J. Harkins

Harkins, D-Erie, said he introduced H.B. 365 to eliminate derogatory terminology that reinforces the stigma surrounding mental health issues and disabilities. Read more

 

Reforms needed to address Charter Crisis

(Mar 02, 2021) Policy Committee, Rep. Mary Isaacson

"COVID-19 has had a huge impact on school districts' budgets throughout our commonwealth, presenting new challenges to meet the constitutional mandate. Being able to have a discussion now with administrators on the front lines of dealing with the impact of COVID-19 and the charter school funding crisis was an important step in working toward solutions." Read more

 

Kinkead, Isaacson: Bill would enable students to easily transfer from community college to PASSHE

(Mar 01, 2021) Rep. Emily Kinkead, Rep. Mary Isaacson

"Community colleges are critical in making higher education accessible and affordable to the most students, especially as we work to address equity in education and economic opportunity." Read more

 

Ciresi: Mark Veterans Day as a school holiday

(Mar 01, 2021) Rep. Joseph Ciresi

As the law stands now, federal, bank and state workers are allowed off work to observe Veterans Day, though schools are not required to close. Read more

 

Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta joins Hunt-Kean Leadership Fellows Cohort 7

(Mar 01, 2021) Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta

Kenyatta will join 29 other senior-level elected officials from across the country in Cohort 7, bringing the total number of Hunt-Kean Leadership Fellows to 141, which includes former Pennsylvania Auditor General Eugene DePasquale (Cohort 2). Read more

 

Ciresi joins Gov. Wolf in Unveiling Bipartisan Charter School Accountability Plan to Protect All Students and Taxpayers

(Feb 26, 2021) Rep. Joseph Ciresi

“We owe it to our students, families, teachers, and taxpayers to fix a broken and out-of-date 25-year-old charter school law, with issues I’ve seen over 12 years as a school board member,” said Rep. Joe Ciresi. Read more

 

Markosek bill would establish epilepsy management and training plans in Pa. schools

(Feb 26, 2021) Rep. Brandon Markosek

House Bill 622, to be known as Haley’s Law, would establish procedures for parents to give their child’s school a physician-approved seizure management and treatment plan. It would also connect teachers, faculty and staff with seizure recognition training and basic first aid skills. Read more

 

With greater numbers at risk, Merski bill takes aim at human trafficking

(Feb 26, 2021) Rep. Robert Merski

Merski, D-Erie, said he introduced H.B. 644 – which would require that the National Human Trafficking Hotline number be posted in stalls, on mirrors, and by all hand dryers and paper towel dispensers – to increase access to a lifesaving tool at a time when pandemic-based hardships have upped the risks for trafficking victims. Read more

 

Merski bill would shed light on local board decision-making

(Feb 25, 2021) Rep. Robert Merski

Merski said H.B. 647 – which would require municipal authorities, boards and other local government bodies to maintain public websites listing board members’ names and other information – would bring greater transparency to the decision-making process. Read more

 

Frankel lauds plans for vaccine registry, encourages ongoing equity efforts

(Feb 24, 2021) Rep. Dan B. Frankel

“The use of a registry system will bring order and transparency to the process, and allow us to clearly see and respond to the communities that need more outreach,” Frankel said. Read more

 

McNeill: We Must Protect the Sanctity of Unions and Religious Freedom for Pennsylvanians

(Feb 24, 2021) Rep. Jeanne McNeill

“Marriage is one of the most important steps two people can take in their lives,” said McNeill. “Sadly, under our current law, couples who have their marriages officiated by a minister ordained online face uncertainty.” Read more

 

COVID Safety and Recovery in Public Transportation at the center of House Democratic Policy Committee hearing

(Feb 23, 2021) Policy Committee

“The vitality of our public transit systems is important to our commonwealth’s success. People need to get to work safely and on time. It’s also a key factor in business development decisions when companies are making decisions on where to set up shop,” Rep. Bizzarro explained. Read more

 

Ciresi offers bill to boost library revenue
Mar 04, 2021

PA Women’s Health Caucus urges Biden administration to restore Title X mandate
Mar 04, 2021

Brown, Bizzarro take bipartisan approach to empowering first-time homebuyers
Mar 04, 2021

Pro-life is Pro-vaccine
Mar 04, 2021

Kosierowski joins Gov. Wolf, COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force to announce plan to vaccinate schoolteachers and staff
Mar 03, 2021

Pisciottano chairs roundtable discussion on improving mental health for high school students
Mar 03, 2021

PA’s unfair special education funding for charter schools: Ciresi op/ed
Mar 03, 2021

Enduring racial inequity in Pa. requires systemic solutions, including reparations: Rep. Chris Rabb
Mar 03, 2021

Committee approves Harkins bill to remove offensive School Code language
Mar 02, 2021

Reforms needed to address Charter Crisis
Mar 02, 2021

Kinkead, Isaacson: Bill would enable students to easily transfer from community college to PASSHE
Mar 01, 2021

Ciresi: Mark Veterans Day as a school holiday
Mar 01, 2021

Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta joins Hunt-Kean Leadership Fellows Cohort 7
Mar 01, 2021

Ciresi joins Gov. Wolf in Unveiling Bipartisan Charter School Accountability Plan to Protect All Students and Taxpayers
Feb 26, 2021

Markosek bill would establish epilepsy management and training plans in Pa. schools
Feb 26, 2021

With greater numbers at risk, Merski bill takes aim at human trafficking
Feb 26, 2021

Merski bill would shed light on local board decision-making
Feb 25, 2021

Frankel lauds plans for vaccine registry, encourages ongoing equity efforts
Feb 24, 2021

McNeill: We Must Protect the Sanctity of Unions and Religious Freedom for Pennsylvanians
Feb 24, 2021

COVID Safety and Recovery in Public Transportation at the center of House Democratic Policy Committee hearing
Feb 23, 2021