Rep. Mike Sturla
Chairman

The House Democratic Policy Committee (HDPC) holds public hearings and meetings across the state and serves as the catalyst to   enacting major policy initiatives put forth by members of the House Democratic Caucus. State Rep. Mike Sturla, D-Lancaster, has been   chosen by the caucus to lead this committee since 2009.  

The Policy Committee typically holds hearings outside of Harrisburg to investigate the local impact of certain issues and collect valuable expert input. Check back here regularly for the Committee's hearing schedule and collected testimony.

You can Follow the House Democratic Policy Committee on Twitter to be the first to know when hearings are announced and testimonies are posted online. You also can "Like" the House Democratic Policy Committee’s facebook page and Follow the House Democratic Policy Committee on Instagram to see hearing photos, news releases and testimonies in your News Feed.

You also can Follow Chairman Sturla on Twitter and "Like" Chairman Sturla's facebook page to get news from him.

Featured News

Upcoming Public Hearings

Policy Committee
Latest News

Otten, Democratic lawmakers to hold news conference on legislation to increase accessibility of menstrual hygiene products

(1 day ago) Policy Committee

EXTON, Oct. 18 – State Rep. Danielle Friel Otten, D-Chester, will hold a news conference next week on H.B. 1708 , which would require public schools serving students in grades six through 12 to provide free menstrual hygiene products in school bathrooms. Reps. Sara Innamorato, D-Allegheny, and Isabella Fitzgerald, D-Phila., and state Sen. Maria Collett, D-Bucks/Montgomery, will also speak on menstrual equity bills they will be introducing. The news conference will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 22 in the Capitol Rotunda. Otten said her bill was inspired by one student’s concern over “period poverty,” or the lack of access to menstrual hygiene products. Seventeen-year-old Lilly Minor from Owen J. Roberts High School told Otten that access to these products is limited in school bathrooms, and while they can be obtained at the nurse’s office, this is not the most accessible solution. “Lilly brought this issue to my attention and reminded me that this issue is occurring even in a relatively affluent area, so the problem is likely to be significantly worse in less well-off regions of our commonwealth,” Otten said. “If girls and women cannot access these products, it impacts their ability to work, go to school and enjoy aspects of everyday life.” Innamorato’s bill will focus on providing free menstrual hygiene products in the bathrooms of classroom buildings at Read more

10/18/19 – Youth Mental Health – Exton

(1 day ago) Policy Committee

Materials from a public hearing hosted by State Rep. Danielle Friel Otten. Read more

10/17/19 – Comprehensive Sex Education – Philadelphia

(1 day ago) Policy Committee

Materials from a public hearing hosted by State Rep. Brian Sims. Read more

10/16/19 – Student Loan Debt – Radnor

(1 day ago) Policy Committee

Materials from a public hearing hosted by State Rep. Jennifer O’Mara. Read more

10/15/19 – Stormwater Management and Infrastructure – West Chester

(1 day ago) Policy Committee

Materials from a public hearing hosted by State Rep. Christina Sappey. Read more

Sims, Policy Committee look at comprehensive sex education

(Oct 17, 2019) Policy Committee

PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 17 – State Rep. Brian Sims, D-Phila., today hosted a House Democratic Policy Committee hearing at Thomas Jefferson University to explore mandating science-based, inclusive and age-appropriate sex education to help reduce teen pregnancy, cases of sexual assault and better prepare Pennsylvania’s youth to be healthy adults. “Pennsylvania students are not being fully prepared when it comes to their sexual health and well-being before graduating into adulthood. Teen births in the United States still hover at 20.3 births per 1,000 for females aged 15 to 19, people under 25 account for nearly half of new cases of sexually transmitted infections annually, and sexual violence is rampant on college campuses,” Sims said. “The abstinence-only teaching is archaic and does not address sexual, cultural or identity questions students face in their formative years. It is imperative that we implement a mandatory comprehensive and inclusive sex education curriculum that is thorough and digestible for all grade levels to educate our young people about healthy sexual behavior.” Sims has introduced H.B. 1586 that would require Pennsylvania school districts to integrate comprehensive sex education into the curriculum for all grade levels, teach contraception methods for older students and mandate affirmative sexual consent as part of the required sexual violence awareness educational program at higher education institutions. Read more

O’Mara, Policy Committee and Republican lawmakers examine student loan debt

(Oct 17, 2019) Policy Committee

RADNOR, Oct. 17 – State Rep. Jennifer O’Mara, D-Delaware, hosted a House Democratic Policy Committee hearing Wednesday at Cabrini University on the student debt crisis. O’Mara was joined by both Democratic and Republican lawmakers from throughout Pennsylvania, including Policy Committee Chairman Mike Sturla, D-Lancaster, and Reps. Meghan Schroeder and Wendi Thomas, both R-Bucks. “Student loan debt is crushing Americans across the country, but most particularly right here in Pennsylvania. Our commonwealth ranks third highest in the nation for student loan debt, with our college graduates owing an average of about $37,000,” O’Mara said. “College graduates are carrying this debt for the majority of their lives, and its impacting not only their personal finances, but Pennsylvania’s economy as well,” Sturla said. “It’s forcing graduates to postpone major life decisions like getting married, having children and buying houses.” The committee heard testimony from college graduates; Ken Mash, president, Association of Pennsylvania State College & University Faculties; Tom Foley, president, Association of Independent Colleges & Universities of Pennsylvania; Nathan Hench, senior vice president for Strategy and Public Affairs, Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency; Nick Smyth, assistant director for Financial Consumer Protection, Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Read more

Sappey, Policy Committee examine stormwater management and infrastructure

(Oct 16, 2019) Policy Committee

State Rep. Christina Sappey, D-Chester, hosted a House Policy Committee hearing at the East Bradford Township Building on severe weather’s impact on infrastructure and stormwater management. Read more

Otten to hold policy hearing on youth mental health Friday in Exton

(Oct 15, 2019) Policy Committee

EXTON, Oct. 15 – State Rep. Danielle Friel Otten, D-Chester, will hold a House Democratic Policy Committee hearing on youth mental health. The hearing will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 18 at the Lionville YMCA, 100 Devon Drive. The media and public are invited to attend. Otten requested the hearing to discuss factors contributing to the growing youth mental health crisis, along with efforts and proposed solutions to end the stigma associated with mental health and improve access to care and outcomes for children and youth. Otten will be joined by state legislators from across the state, including Policy Committee Chairman Mike Sturla, D-Lancaster. Panelists will include: Dr. Jane Thompson, psychotherapist, Chester Springs Clinical Associates LLC Anna Wojcik, student, Downingtown East High School Sara Stein, student, Downingtown East High School Mary Kwiatkowski, parent, Owen J. Roberts School District Bradley J. Dyer, pediatrician and founder, All Star Pediatrics Perk Musacchio, author, retired teacher and educational consultant Monica Reinhard-Gorney, author/educational counselor Cindy Kruse, Educational and Workforce consultant Dr. Pamela Brown, Southeastern Region president, PSEA Dr. Bridgette Miles, principal, Coatesville Area School District Cynthia Black, president, board of directors, Communities That Care of Greater Downingtown Candy Read more

Daley to co-chair Policy Committee hearing about the Waters of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg on Monday

(Oct 15, 2019) Rep. Mary Jo Daley

Daley requested the hearing to discuss issues facing rivers, dams, the fishing and outdoor recreation industry and agriculture all related to the waters of Pennsylvania. Read more

View more news items

Videos