Schlossberg lauds more than $2M in federal funding to support local affordable housing project

(Oct 14, 2021)

ALLENTOWN, Oct. 14 – Federal funding of $2.04 million was awarded to help ensure Allentown residents have access to safe and affordable housing, state Rep. Mike Schlossberg, D-Lehigh, announced today. “The residents of our district deserve to have fair, safe and affordable places to call home,” Schlossberg said. “From day one I have been an advocate for this project because of the positive impact it will have on the community by providing more affordable housing at a time when it’s desperately needed. I am pleased to see the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency understands the severe lack of housing for low-income families and that this project is getting the financial support it needs.” Schlossberg said the funding includes $1.19 million in federal Low Income Housing Tax Credits and $846,429 from the National Housing Trust Fund, which will go to the Alliance for Building Communities and HDC MidAtlantic to create 49 affordable rental units at 1528 W. Hamilton St. in Allentown. The funding is administered by the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency and was part of a package awarding 37 multifamily housing developments tax credits to preserve and create 1,974 total rental units. A total of $43.6 million in Low Income Housing Tax Credits, more than $7.4 million in PennHomes funding and more than $15.9 million in National Housing Trust Funds was awarded. The full list of housing developments can be viewed here: Read more

 

Schweyer, Schlossberg to host job fair October 7

(Sep 30, 2021)

ALLENTOWN, Sept. 30 – State Reps. Peter Schweyer and Mike Schlossberg, both D-Lehigh, will host a job fair from 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 7 at IBEW Local 375, located at 101 South 7th St., Allentown. “As we continue the economic recovery from the pandemic, there are several industries right here in our community with good job openings who are looking for workers,” Schweyer said. “My hope is this event will be a one-stop shop for prospective employees to find the positions which match their skills with these companies.” “Across the region, workers are looking for jobs and employers are looking for workers,” Schlossberg said. “This job fair is meant to help build bridges so people can find jobs and employers can find workers, and I hope we can help make those connections.” Attendees will be able to meet with representatives from the building trades, Civil Service Commission, Lehigh Valley CareerLink and many other organizations and businesses from the greater Lehigh Valley. Both representatives and their staff will also be in attendance to meet attendees and answer any of their state-related questions. Read more

 

House Democrats to Republican colleagues: ‘Stop the charade’

(Sep 20, 2021)

House Democratic leadership issued the following statement today calling on legislative Republicans to drop their radical anti-health agenda and come to the table for an honest discussion on helping Pennsylvanians recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.“Pennsylvania is currently experiencing a steady increase in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations with a positive testing rate that indicates substantial or high community spread of the virus. Our hospital system is strained and emergency rooms in both central Pennsylvania and southwestern Pennsylvania recently have been forced to divert ambulances simply because they couldn’t accept additional patients. Read more

 

Schlossberg supports statewide school mask requirement

(Aug 31, 2021)

I completely support this announcement and applaud the governor’s leadership. Every school leader has the same goal this year: 180 days of in-person learning. Masks help achieve that goal. Read more

 

August 2021 Newsletter

(Aug 10, 2021)

State up to date with my latest newsletter. Read more

 

Q&A: State Rep. Mike Schlossberg scored big for Allentown and Bethlehem school districts. ‘This is just the start, I hope’

(Jul 02, 2021)

Pennsylvania’s poorest school districts, including Allentown and Bethlehem, are getting more state funding because of state Rep. Mike Schlossberg of Allentown. The new state budget dedicates $100 million to the 100 districts most in need, based on “Level Up” legislation that Schlossberg proposed. Read more

 

Gov. Wolf praises Schlossberg’s help for poor schools as Lehigh Valley districts get funding increases ranging from $117,000 to $16 million

(Jun 30, 2021)

HARRISBURG — Allentown state Rep. Mike Schlossberg collected a public kudo from Gov. Tom Wolf Wednesday for his successful push to get $100 million in state funds doled out to Pennsylvania’s 100 poorest school districts, including Allentown and Bethlehem. Read more

 

Allentown, Bethlehem schools get big boost in state funding as lawmakers endorse Schlossberg proposal to help poor districts

(Jun 26, 2021)

HARRISBURG — The Allentown and Bethlehem school districts will be big financial winners after the state Legislature adopted a proposal from Rep. Mike Schlossberg to direct $100 million in new state funding to the 100 poorest districts in the state. Read more

 

Schlossberg’s Level Up proposal for education funding included in 2021-22 state budget

(Jun 25, 2021)

HARRISBURG, June 25 – State Rep. Mike Schlossberg said he voted for the 2021-22 state budget citing the inclusion of his Level Up education funding proposal for the poorest school districts in Pennsylvania. “This is a monumental breakthrough in the ongoing fight for fair education funding for the school districts that need it the most,” said Schlossberg, D-Lehigh. “This funding will benefit some of Pennsylvania’s hardest hit districts in Allentown, Philadelphia, Scranton, Reading, Harrisburg, York and Erie which have been grossly underfunded for too long and help give every student the chance to succeed.” Schlossberg said the Allentown School District, in his district, will see an increase in Basic Education funding, totaling $15.9 million. $9.5 million from Pennsylvania’s Basic Education Funding formula and $6.4 million made possible from his Level Up proposal. The school district will also see an increase in Special Education funding totaling $1 million. The Parkland School District, also in Schlossberg’s district, will see a 12.8% increase in Pennsylvania’s Basic Education funding and a 4.6% increase in Special Education funding. According to Schlossberg, the 2021-22 state budget includes language that is identical to his H.B.1167 , and will provide $100 million to the 100 poorest school districts in Pennsylvania. The money can be used to hire more educators, upgrade schools that were built more than a Read more

 

House Democrats: state budget full of missed opportunities

(Jun 25, 2021)

This program will send $100 million to the 100 poorest school districts in the commonwealth, helping urban and rural districts alike. We can use this program in the future to better fund our poorest school districts – this is a major win. Read more

 

How Pennsylvania bill is a blatant effort to suppress Democratic votes

(Jun 22, 2021)

Stepping into the voting booth, pen in hand, I think I had the same expectations that you did the last time you went to vote: That my vote would be counted fairly, that my ballot would be handled by professionals, and that my friends and neighbors would be able to vote in the manner that was easiest for them. Read more

 

Schlossberg, McNeill introduce legislation to address shortage of available mental health services

(Jun 15, 2021)

Seeking a bipartisan solution to a growing need, state Reps. Mike Schlossberg and Jeanne McNeill, both D-Lehigh, have joined with state Reps. Rosemary M. Brown, R-Monroe/Pike, and Jason Ortitay, R-Washington/Allegheny, to introduce legislation aimed at addressing the shortage of mental health services in underserved areas. Read more

 

Sanchez, Schlossberg officially introduce LGBTQ+ Panic Defense bill

(Jun 11, 2021)

While similar bills have been introduced in previous legislative sessions, the Sanchez/Schlossberg legislation would extend beyond the “gay” and “trans” terminology to include all members of this marginalized community by prohibiting the court system from allowing a defense of this nature in consideration of serious provocation or insanity. Read more

 

Pennsylvania lawmakers’ push to improve mental health would give insurance companies access to private prescription records

(Jun 04, 2021)

A bipartisan group of lawmakers in Harrisburg — in a quest to improve care for those with mental health and drug abuse problems — have unveiled proposed legislation that would give insurance companies “targeted” access to the so-called Prescription Drug Monitoring Program. Read more

 

Schlossberg: Legislative package would improve access to mental and physical health care

(Jun 02, 2021)

HARRISBURG, June 2 – As part of his ongoing efforts to improve access to mental health treatment in Pennsylvania, state Rep. Mike Schlossberg, D-Lehigh, and colleagues are unveiling a package that would modernize mental health and substance use disorder laws and promote “whole person” health care initiatives. “Right now, many Pennsylvanians who are seeking mental health treatment are encountering roadblocks from our own insurance laws and by making a few simple changes, we can remove these barriers to high quality care,” Schlossberg said. “This would be a big step in the right direction to ensure people with mental illnesses and afflictions are able to get the treatments they need.” The legislative package includes three bills, two would amend both Pennsylvania’s Mental Health Procedures Act and Drug and Alcohol Abuse Control Act to align with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 standards to allow providers, facilities and health plans to share patient’s mental health and substance use disorder-related information more easily. The third bill would amend the Achieving Better Care by Monitoring All Prescription Program Act to enable data sharing with insurers and to strengthen Pennsylvania’s efforts in combatting the opioid crisis. Under current Pennsylvania law, mental health and physical health information cannot be fully shared among providers. The proposed changes would Read more

 

Schlossberg, Schweyer: Tour further highlights needs of service providers, nonprofits

(May 13, 2021)

LEHIGH, May 13 – At a tour of the Lehigh Valley Center for Independent Living, PA House Democrats saw first-hand the strain on nonprofits that provide services to people living with disabilities and shared how the PA Rescue Plan could alleviate some of those challenges with an investment of federal funding. The tour, led by the center’s executive director, Amy Beck, highlighted how empowering people living with disabilities is an integral component of operation. LVCIL is one of 17 centers for independent living in the state. Centers are governed, managed and staffed at all times by a majority of people with disabilities. State Rep. Mike Schlossberg said, “This pandemic has exposed significant injustices and shortfalls in our world. In most of our communities, access to emergency resources starts with the friendly face and compassionate heart of community-based nonprofit organizations. While performing miracles, these organizations have seen their bottom lines take enormous hits. The staff are overworked and underpaid. Volunteers have put their health on the line with no expectation of personal gain. The Pennsylvania Rescue Plan will offer these organizations, serving our most vulnerable neighbors, extra support to offset increased expenses and lost revenue from contributions or events so they can meet demand in our community.” “The PA Rescue Plan provides a unique opportunity for us to invest in humans, not government,” added state Read more

 

PA House Dems to tour Lehigh Valley Center for Independent Living, identifying where PA Rescue Plan can help

(May 11, 2021)

ALLENTOWN, May 11 – The pandemic further strained those providing services to our most vulnerable Pennsylvanians and state Reps. Mike Schlossberg and Pete Schweyer will explain how proposed investments of over $350 million via the PA Rescue Plan would close the service gap by helping the helpers provide much-needed services. The media are invited to join members for the tour of Lehigh Valley Center for Independent Living at 1 p.m. Thursday, May 13, followed by a 2 p.m. opportunity to discuss the impact investments with legislators and Lehigh Valley Center for Independent Living. The PA Rescue Plan aims to ensure federal American Rescue Plan funding is invested for immediate impact and long-term success. Additional information about the plan is available at www.pahouse.com/parescueplan . Read more

 

PA Rescue Plan, $1.7 billion investment in workers’ focus of House Democratic leaders’ rally in State College Wednesday

(May 11, 2021)

STATE COLLEGE, May 11 – The workers who have been hit hardest by the pandemic need support. The PA House Democratic leadership team is hosting a rally Wednesday to make the case for workers’ rights to a fair wage, hazard pay and paid family and sick leave and how the PA Rescue plan would do just that. The rally will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, May 12 at The Borough Building, 243 S. Allen St., State College . The media is encouraged to attend. The PA Rescue Plan includes more than $1.5 billion for job training, hazard pay, wage boosts for direct-care workers and job creation efforts to kickstart the economy in communities across the state. The PRP aims to ensure federal American Rescue Plan funding is invested for immediate impact and long-term success. Additional information about the plan is available at www.pahouse.com/parescueplan . Read more

 

House Democrats touring the state to talk with the people about the Pennsylvania Rescue Plan

(May 05, 2021)

HARRISBURG, May 5 – After weeks of gathering public support for the Pennsylvania Rescue Plan to invest federal dollars to do the most good for working families, the House Democratic Leadership team released the following statement on the next steps to discuss the plan and how it would help us recover, restore and reimagine a better future coming back from COVID-19. “Next week more than $7 billion is coming to the Keystone State as part of the American Rescue Plan, and we have to make sure that money is invested properly, not hidden away in a government vault for a rainy day – because it’s hard to imagine a storm that could hit harder than COVID-19. People need help now. “As USA TODAY network coverage noted, House Democrats have a plan that helps schools, workers, businesses, families, renters, landlords and more while Republicans have no plan to distribute the funds. We urge the majority party to get on board and do the right thing for people everywhere. “We’ve received an overwhelming response to the PA Rescue Plan so far, and next week we’ll be taking the plan to the people with a statewide tour – starting Monday in Philadelphia and Reading talking about investing in infrastructure and rebuilding our downtowns, continuing Tuesday in Pittsburgh and Erie discussing housing, Wednesday in Harrisburg and State College talking worker pay, and finishing up on Thursday in Scranton and Allentown to discuss helping Read more

 

Schlossberg lauds $166,000 grant for D&L Trail

(Apr 21, 2021)

The Lehigh Valley has wonderful trails, but they aren’t equally available to all neighborhoods. Allentown, as the heart of the Lehigh Valley, is surprisingly disconnected from some of the great opportunities north of the city. Projects like this will help to increase equity within our region. Read more

 

Schlossberg lauds more than $2M in federal funding to support local affordable housing project
Oct 14, 2021

Schweyer, Schlossberg to host job fair October 7
Sep 30, 2021

House Democrats to Republican colleagues: ‘Stop the charade’
Sep 20, 2021

Schlossberg supports statewide school mask requirement
Aug 31, 2021

August 2021 Newsletter
Aug 10, 2021

Q&A: State Rep. Mike Schlossberg scored big for Allentown and Bethlehem school districts. ‘This is just the start, I hope’
Jul 02, 2021

Gov. Wolf praises Schlossberg’s help for poor schools as Lehigh Valley districts get funding increases ranging from $117,000 to $16 million
Jun 30, 2021

Allentown, Bethlehem schools get big boost in state funding as lawmakers endorse Schlossberg proposal to help poor districts
Jun 26, 2021

Schlossberg’s Level Up proposal for education funding included in 2021-22 state budget
Jun 25, 2021

House Democrats: state budget full of missed opportunities
Jun 25, 2021

How Pennsylvania bill is a blatant effort to suppress Democratic votes
Jun 22, 2021

Schlossberg, McNeill introduce legislation to address shortage of available mental health services
Jun 15, 2021

Sanchez, Schlossberg officially introduce LGBTQ+ Panic Defense bill
Jun 11, 2021

Pennsylvania lawmakers’ push to improve mental health would give insurance companies access to private prescription records
Jun 04, 2021

Schlossberg: Legislative package would improve access to mental and physical health care
Jun 02, 2021

Schlossberg, Schweyer: Tour further highlights needs of service providers, nonprofits
May 13, 2021

PA House Dems to tour Lehigh Valley Center for Independent Living, identifying where PA Rescue Plan can help
May 11, 2021

PA Rescue Plan, $1.7 billion investment in workers’ focus of House Democratic leaders’ rally in State College Wednesday
May 11, 2021

House Democrats touring the state to talk with the people about the Pennsylvania Rescue Plan
May 05, 2021

Schlossberg lauds $166,000 grant for D&L Trail
Apr 21, 2021