Last week, I had the opportunity to talk with White House officials about Rep. Todd Stephens’ and my “red flag” bill. Read more
SPRINGFIELD, Aug. 23 — State Reps. Jennifer O’Mara, D-Delaware, and Todd Stephens, R-Montgomery, joined White House officials and state legislative leaders from throughout the country last week to discuss Extreme Risk Protection, or “red flag,” laws. ERPO laws temporarily disarm people in crisis to disrupt spontaneous acts of violence that could quickly turn deadly. During the meeting, state lawmakers shared how they successfully passed ERPO laws, while O’Mara and Stephens discussed plans to advance their H.B. 1903 in the Pennsylvania legislature. "I lost my father to gun suicide and I miss him every day. We knew something was wrong, but we couldn't do anything to help him,” O’Mara said. “Although my story is devastating, it’s sadly not unique. Sharing my experience with White House officials and other state lawmakers from across the country was an opportunity to show how gun violence can touch people’s lives in different ways, but we can work together to prevent tragedies like the one my family went through.” “The mass shootings and alarming suicide rate across the country demonstrate the need for legislation like this to disarm those who pose a danger to themselves or others before they act,” Stephens said. “Our families and law enforcement need a way to temporarily prohibit those in crisis from possessing firearms, and to relinquish any firearms they may currently have, to Read more
Summer 2022 print newsletter featuring news on the state budget, important election deadlines, abortion access in Pennsylvania and more. Read more
Following legal challenges spurred by the majority, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court upheld our mail-in voting law, Act 77, last week. Read more
My husband, Brad, and I are so thrilled to introduce to the world our fierce little baby girl. Meet Katherine Rose Bitting, born on July 24, 2022, at 10:35 p.m. Read more
Last week was a busy one in Harrisburg. On Friday, July 8, the General Assembly passed a budget, and it was signed into law by the governor later that evening. Read more
HARRISBURG, July 15 – State Reps. Jennifer O’Mara and Melissa Shusterman today announced Apprentice Training for the Electrical Industry was awarded $394,383 for a program introducing young women to the electrical trade. “More women are entering the electrical trade than ever before,” O’Mara said. “It can be a great career path, and I am pleased we were able to help secure this important funding. Having more women learn this important trade will help break down old, incorrect stereotypes.” The program, “Rosie’s Girls,” is designed to familiarize young women with safety, tools, theoretical basics of electrical and telecommunications installation, and jobsite conditions, as well as an introduction to other career paths in the building and construction trades. This is a partnership with ATEI and the public-school districts in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties. “This program is a great way to give the young women in Southeastern Pennsylvania hands-on training in a career field once dominated by men,” Shusterman said. “I applaud the effort by Apprentice Training for the Electrical Industry to recruit women into the trades workforce. I am happy to see the state invest in a program that will help give young women more professional opportunities.” The grants, offered through the Pennsylvania Department of Labor Read more
HARRISBURG, July 8 – State Rep. Jennifer O’Mara, D-Delaware, said she supports this year’s state spending plan, particularly noting increased education funding with mental health and safety grants, funding for the Delaware County Health Department and environmental preservation initiatives. “This budget bill makes historic investments in education, sensibly uses federal American Rescue Plan dollars and directly benefits the people of Delco, so I voted in favor of it,” O’Mara said. Funding has also been earmarked for mental health and school safety initiatives. Each school district gets $100,000, plus $15 per student, in the forms of both a physical safety grant and a mental health grant, totaling $200,000 in student health and safety funding per district. Under this spending plan, Delaware County will receive 15.4% more education funding than last year; simultaneously, property tax rent rebates under the state’s PTRR Program will be increased. Recipients will receive an additional one-time check that is equal to 70% of what they receive in this year’s rebate. “We were able to increase Property Tax/Rent Rebates thanks to money Pennsylvania had received from the American Rescue Plan. While I would have liked to help more seniors living on fixed incomes get money back, I’m glad we were able to give them something extra,” O’Mara said. Read more
HARRISBURG, July 8 – State Reps. Malcolm Kenyatta, D-Phila., and Jennifer O’Mara, D-Delaware, are applauding the inclusion of the hunger free campus initiative they have championed in Harrisburg in this year’s state budget. Kenyatta and O’Mara were the lead co-sponsors of the program. O’Mara said the following: “One in nine people in our state are struggling with hunger. Furthermore, between one-third and one-half of college students are food-insecure. Representative Kenyatta and I recognized this problem over a year ago and introduced the Hunger Free Campus Act to ensure that every student can easily access nutritious food. We are immensely proud to see $1 million dollars finally reserved in this year’s budget to address this crisis that touches every corner of the commonwealth. As a first-generation college student who worked three jobs and took out extra student loans to be able to afford tuition, textbooks, and food, I know how necessary this initiative is to Pennsylvania’s students.” Kenyatta agreed with O’Mara. “One in nine people in our state are struggling with hunger. Furthermore, between one-third and one-half of college students are food-insecure. Representative O’Mara and I recognized this problem over a year ago and introduced the Hunger Free Campus Act to ensure that every student can easily access nutritious food.” He continued. “We engaged stakeholders, Read more
June is budget season for the legislature, and the deadline is June 30th. But as I write this email, on the morning of July 1st, we still have not finalized this year’s spending plan. Read more
Sunday, June 19, is Juneteenth. This holiday, formally known as Juneteenth Independence Day, commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. Read more
SPRINGFIELD, June 8 – State Rep. Jennifer O’Mara, accompanied by fellow Democratic and Republican Delaware County PA House members, will come together this Saturday to commemorate Delco Day. Lawmakers will present an official House citation to Delaware County recognizing June 10 as Delco Day, symbolizing a play on the calendar date and the county’s area code. The citation will be presented at this year’s host for Delco Day festivities, Marty Magee’s Irish Pub, 1110 Lincoln Ave., Prospect Park. Live music and activities will take place from 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday, June 11 into Sunday, June 12. “June 10, or 6/10, is an annual celebration of all things Delco. Our county is one of resilience, grit, and charm but, most importantly, unity. This is why Democratic and Republican state reps came to recognize this special day, to truly capture the essence of our community,” O’Mara said. Delco Day supports the HEADstrong Foundation, which works to provide housing for cancer patients. More information is available by calling O’Mara’s office at 610-544-9878. Additional details on Delco Day are also available online at https://delcolive.com/ . Read more
Today, June 3rd, is National Gun Violence Awareness Day aka Wear Orange Day. Read more
Wrap up your annual spring cleaning at a free shred and e-waste event that I’m hosting in partnership with state Sen. Amanda Cappelletti this weekend! Read more
The May 17 primary is right around the corner! As there are no constitutional ballot questions this time, only registered Democrats and Republicans may cast their ballots in this primary election. Read more
Happy Earth Day! Did you know that Pennsylvania’s constitution guarantees the right to clean air, clean water, and open space? Read more
SPRINGFIELD, April 19 – State Rep. Jennifer O’Mara today announced that Delaware County and organizations within have been awarded $2.5 million in grants to help create local apprenticeship programs, invest in electric vehicles and charging stations, and heighten safety measures at a local place of worship. “It’s rewarding to see state dollars working to preserve two of our constitutional rights – our right to religious freedom plus our state constitution guarantees Pennsylvanians the right to clean air and pure water,” O’Mara said. Funding has been awarded as follows: Beth El-Ner Tamid: $20,000 from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency to strengthen the synagogue’s safety and security measures. Delaware County: Two grants, both worth $300,000, from the Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant program , to go toward electric vehicle usage. One grant will go toward purchasing 69 electric cars for use by county departments, with 29 dedicated to the new health department for health care visits around the county. The second grant will install 22 Level 2 dual-plug charging stations, for a total of 44 chargers. The following grants were awarded through PAsmart and will provide regional employment and educational opportunities: BAYADA Home Health Care: $650,000 to Read more
Last week, I was glad to meet with students from Temple University and the University of Pittsburgh, plus rally with students from across the commonwealth to bring two important issues into the Capitol – tuition costs and college food insecurity. Read more
The PA Supreme Court finalized the Legislative Reapportionment Commission’s new maps last week. The maps were deemed constitutional and all legal challenges have been resolved, so these maps have officially been approved. Read more
Rep. O'Mara's March 2022 print newsletter including information on grant money brought home, reapportionment, upcoming events and more. Read more
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26 E. 4th StreetMedia, PA 19063-3042
P*: (610) 544-9878
F*: (484) 200-8270
Hours of Operation - Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on weekends by appointment only.
905 West Sproul RoadSuite 203Springfield, PA 19064-1254
217 Irvis OfficeP.O. Box 202165Harrisburg, PA 17120-2165
P*: (717) 783-4090
F*: (717) 772-2284