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Reps. Ciresi, Young seek creation of Education Reform Commission

(Mar 10, 2021) Rep. Joseph Ciresi, Rep. Regina Young

The commission would be tasked with performing an in-depth study of the current educational needs in Pennsylvania, projecting out those needs over the next 25 years, and determining what can and should be done to help reform the current education system and prepare Pennsylvania for the future. Read more

 

House State Government Committee hearing highlights safety and security of PA voting machines

(Mar 10, 2021) Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta

This hearing focused on the certification and operation of voting machines, which have been subject to unfounded claims of fraud by Republican members of the General Assembly. Election officials testified that Pennsylvania’s voting systems allowed the state to hold a free and fair election last November. Read more

 

McNeill: It’s time we know what the big gas companies know

(Mar 09, 2021) Rep. Jeanne McNeill

State Rep. Jeanne McNeill, D-Lehigh, has joined Rep. Dan Miller, D-Allegheny, in sponsoring H.B. 838, legislation that would adopt the recommendation from state Attorney General Josh Shapiro that all chemicals in the fracking process in the commonwealth be disclosed 14 days prior to use at any stage of the process, including drilling. Read more

 

Conklin: It’s time to level the athletic playing field for public, private schools

(Mar 09, 2021) Rep. Scott Conklin

Conklin, D-Centre, said the current system’s rules, as required by the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association, which operates all state championship tournaments, provide an unfair advantage to private and parochial schools, which aren’t limited by the geographic boundaries public school districts are required to follow. Read more

 

Arts funding and PEMA Nonprofit Security grant programs now open for applications

(Mar 08, 2021) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

STATE GRANT PROGRAMS NOW OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS: Pennsylvania Council on the Arts: Creative Communities (Funding Source: General Fund) Who May Apply : Lead applicant must be a unit of government, nonprofit 501(c)3 or 501(c)6) organization. Required partnership of at least two organizations, one of which will serve as the lead applicant. Please note: Creative Communities projects are currently underway in the following counties: Crawford, Indiana, Lancaster, Lehigh, Mercer, and Philadelphia. Counties without existing projects will receive priority. Use : To provide multi-year funding to community-driven, arts-based projects that serve as catalysts for livability, economic development, and community connectedness. Funds : Up to $25,000 per year for up to four years. Application Deadline : March 19 More Information : Click on 2021_PCA_Creative_Communities_Letter_of_Interest.pdf (pa.gov) . Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency: Nonprofit Security Grant Program (Funding Source: F ederal Funding ) Who May Apply : 501(c)3 nonprofits, including religious institutions. Must be at a high risk of a terrorist attack based on the following: (1) Substantiation of prior threats or attacks (from within or outside the U.S.) by a terrorist organization, network, or cell against the applicant based on their ideology, beliefs, or mission; (2) Symbolic value of the site(s) as a highly recognized Read more

 

Kinkead, Pashinski introduce bill to help Pennsylvanians save money on medications

(Mar 08, 2021) Rep. Emily Kinkead, Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski

Kinkead, D-Allegheny, and Pashinski, D-Luzerne, said H.B. 833 would also design a potential prescription drug importation program in Pennsylvania when the study demonstrates significant cost savings for consumers. Read more

 

Burns implores Biden to retain Trump tariffs on foreign steel

(Mar 05, 2021) Rep. Frank Burns

Burns, D-Cambria, outlined the importance of maintaining the tariffs – which are backed by the United Steel Workers and the domestic steel industry – in a written request to Biden, stressing the chance for bipartisan cooperation early in his tenure. Read more

 

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

 

Reps. Ciresi, Young seek creation of Education Reform Commission
Mar 10, 2021

House State Government Committee hearing highlights safety and security of PA voting machines
Mar 10, 2021

McNeill: It’s time we know what the big gas companies know
Mar 09, 2021

Conklin: It’s time to level the athletic playing field for public, private schools
Mar 09, 2021

Arts funding and PEMA Nonprofit Security grant programs now open for applications
Mar 08, 2021

Kinkead, Pashinski introduce bill to help Pennsylvanians save money on medications
Mar 08, 2021

Burns implores Biden to retain Trump tariffs on foreign steel
Mar 05, 2021

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