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

 

Schweyer, Schlossberg announce $100,000 in funding for homeless assistance and prevention

(Apr 20, 2021)

ALLENTOWN, April 20 – As part of the ongoing efforts to assist people and families experiencing homelessness in the city of Allentown, seven organizations will share a portion of $100,000 in federal CARES Act funding. “There is no question that life during the pandemic has been especially challenging, but the difficulty of those challenges has risen exponentially for those Pennsylvanians facing homelessness,” state Rep. Peter Schweyer, D-Lehigh, said. “This is critical funding to ensure these entities can continue their dedication to helping those in need.” The following organizations will each receive a portion of the grant funding: Allentown City: Valley Youth House - Rapid Rehousing. The Lehigh Conference of Churches - Rapid Rehousing. Allentown Rescue Mission - Emergency Shelter. Salvation Army Hospitality House - Emergency Shelter. Sixth Street Shelter - Emergency Shelter. YMCA Warming station - Emergency Shelter. Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence: Turning Point of Lehigh Valley - Emergency Shelter. State Rep. Mike Schlossberg, also D-Lehigh, added, “Health and housing are so critically connected. When somebody’s housing is in doubt, it makes it difficult to stay safe and healthy. In the midst of a pandemic, this becomes more pronounced as families in crisis end up in overcrowded Read more

 

House Democratic Leadership continues to push Pennsylvania Rescue Plan to reimagine Pennsylvania’s recovery

(Apr 20, 2021)

Pennsylvanians looking for relief from the hardships of the past year can look to the House Democrats’ Pennsylvania Rescue Plan for solutions that do the most good for the most people. The House Democratic Leadership team released the following statement on how the plan would strengthen communities, help working people and support businesses and families: “We have a unique opportunity to drastically improve the lives of millions of Pennsylvanians with smart investments in people, businesses, health care and our workforce. The Pennsylvania Rescue Plan does just that by directing federal funds to help businesses get back on solid ground, invest in our frontline workers who were essential to getting us through the pandemic, repair our crumbling public schools so students can learn and teachers can teach in a non-toxic environment and strengthen our workforce through training tomorrow’s in-demand employees. Read more

 

Allentown, Bethlehem school districts would get extra money under push to fix ‘atrocious reality of underfunding’

(Apr 16, 2021)

HARRISBURG — Fifth grade teacher Mike Faccinetto sees the effects of school underfunding in his Allentown classroom every day. Read more

 

Level Up coalition launches effort to increase funding for 100 severely underfunded Pa. school districts

(Apr 16, 2021)

“It is no secret that hundreds of public schools across the commonwealth are grossly underfunded as a result of Pennsylvania’s property tax scheme and chronic underfunding at the state level,” said Rep. Mike Schlossberg. Read more

 

Schlossberg: $830K grant to City of Allentown for traffic safety improvement

(Apr 16, 2021)

ALLENTOWN, April 16 - State Rep. Mike Schlossberg, D-Lehigh, announced a grant totaling $830,750 to the City of Allentown for traffic signal and safety improvements at four heavily travelled intersections between Highland Street and Summer Avenue. Schlossberg said the improvements include installation of a new traffic signal, traffic signal upgrades and installation of a pedestrian flasher. Read more

 

Sanchez, Schlossberg aim to close LGBTQ+ Panic Defense loophole

(Apr 08, 2021)

“Let’s be honest: There are people who look for an excuse to hate and hurt others,” Schlossberg said. “It’s awful that we need to provide protections like this, but it’s our reality. There is no place in our society for fear-based attacks on another person.” Read more

 

Schlossberg seeks to help child victims of domestic abuse

(Mar 31, 2021)

HARRISBURG, March 31 – Continuing his commitment to helping victims of domestic violence get away from their abusers, state Rep. Mike Schlossberg is introducing legislation that would expand the reasons for granting a mutual consent divorce to include violence against children in the home. Read more

 

Miss my Telephone Town Hall? Check out the discussion here.

(Mar 26, 2021)

Find out what your friends and neighbors had to say about the issues that matter. Read more

 

Schweyer, prime co-sponsors introduce bill to repeal Pa. fireworks law

(Mar 19, 2021)

HARRISBURG, March 19 – State Rep. Peter Schweyer, D-Lehigh, along with state Reps Jeanne McNeill, D-Lehigh, Robert Freeman, D-Northampton, Steve Samuelson, Mike Schlossberg, all D-Lehigh, and Mark Rozzi, D-Berks, today introduced a bill which would repeal Pennsylvania’s law allowing residents to purchase and set-off powerful fireworks. “For the past few years, I, along with many of my neighbors have been awakened at all hours of the night from the loud barrage of fireworks near my home and with the Fourth of July holiday approaching, it is time again to address this problem,” Schweyer said. “This goes beyond the borders of Allentown. Many of my colleagues in the House from Philadelphia to Easton and Pittsburgh to Erie have all shared similar fireworks problems in their communities. This legislation would repeal the most recent changes made to the fireworks law and would provide all municipalities more power to enforce the law and help restore quality of life back to city residents.” "As the Memorial Day weekend draws closer, followed by the July Fourth holiday, so too will the inevitable calls and complaints to my office about fireworks activity," McNeill said. "Last summer, as noted by conversations I had with many residents throughout Lehigh County, it seemed as though the COVID pandemic produced an uptick in pyrotechnic use. This increased nighttime activity added to the stresses in our communities: upsetting pets, Read more

 

House Democratic Leaders call on Republicans to honor promise to survivors of childhood sexual abuse

(Mar 19, 2021)

With time running out to provide a chance at justice for survivors of childhood sexual abuse through an emergency constitutional amendment, the House Democratic leadership team released the following statement calling on Republican leadership to commit to bringing the measure up for a vote on Monday:“In early February, Republican leadership made a public promise on the House floor to get an emergency constitutional amendment to the Senate and provide a chance at justice to the survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Due to their wavering and inaction this week, we’re now dangerously close to running out of time to get this in front of Pennsylvanians in the May Primary Election. Read more

 

Schlossberg Fighting to End Nuisance Fireworks

(Mar 19, 2021)

Lehigh Valley lawmakers have had enough of random nights sounding like the Fourth of July. Read more

 

Schlossberg Celebrates New Ambulance with Allentown Officials

(Mar 12, 2021)

ALLENTOWN, Pa. - State and local officials revealed a new EMS ambulance in Allentown Friday. Read more

 

Schlossberg congratulates Sons of Israel on $25K grant

(Mar 10, 2021)

HARRISBURG, March 10 – Congregation Sons of Israel, located on West Tilghman Street in Allentown, today was awarded a $25,000 state grant, according to Rep. Mike Schlossberg. Read more

 

Schlossberg optimistic about plan to get teachers vaccinated

(Mar 03, 2021)

HARRISBURG, March 3 – State Rep. Mike Schlossberg is optimistic about today’s announcement by Gov. Tom Wolf that Pennsylvania teachers will be added to the state’s vaccine distribution plan, but also is encouraging him to include all school personnel. Read more

 

Schlossberg leads discussion on key role paraprofessionals have in Pa. Education services

(Feb 18, 2021)

HARRISBURG, Feb. 18 – The House Democratic Policy Committee and state Rep. Mike Schlossberg, D-Allentown, hosted a roundtable discussion today on the crucial role paraprofessionals play in student success and what the state can do to support those efforts. “These professionals help ensure students receive a quality educational experience and have the resources needed to overcome any obstacles or difficulties they are facing. It was an important discussion on how we can better support them at the state level. Today’s hearing further highlighted the need for education dollars to go through a fair and equitable education formula,” Policy Committee Chairman Ryan Bizzarro said. Schlossberg added, “Paraprofessionals play an integral role in serving our students and community. They help students living with disabilities, disadvantaged students, those living with homelessness and more overcome those challenges. We have an obligation to provide a quality education for all students and their role in that process is absolutely essential. I look forward to further exploring meaningful ways we can provide the funding and support needed to cultivate future generations of empowered individuals who know they can overcome their challenges, achieve their dreams and make meaningful contributions to their communities." Roundtable participants included Dr. Lucretia Brown, deputy superintendent at the Allentown School District; Elizabeth Moyer, president Read more

 

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

Schweyer, Schlossberg announce $100,000 in funding for homeless assistance and prevention
Apr 20, 2021

House Democratic Leadership continues to push Pennsylvania Rescue Plan to reimagine Pennsylvania’s recovery
Apr 20, 2021

Allentown, Bethlehem school districts would get extra money under push to fix ‘atrocious reality of underfunding’
Apr 16, 2021

Level Up coalition launches effort to increase funding for 100 severely underfunded Pa. school districts
Apr 16, 2021

Schlossberg: $830K grant to City of Allentown for traffic safety improvement
Apr 16, 2021

Sanchez, Schlossberg aim to close LGBTQ+ Panic Defense loophole
Apr 08, 2021

Schlossberg seeks to help child victims of domestic abuse
Mar 31, 2021

Miss my Telephone Town Hall? Check out the discussion here.
Mar 26, 2021

Schweyer, prime co-sponsors introduce bill to repeal Pa. fireworks law
Mar 19, 2021

House Democratic Leaders call on Republicans to honor promise to survivors of childhood sexual abuse
Mar 19, 2021

Schlossberg Fighting to End Nuisance Fireworks
Mar 19, 2021

Schlossberg Celebrates New Ambulance with Allentown Officials
Mar 12, 2021

Schlossberg congratulates Sons of Israel on $25K grant
Mar 10, 2021

Schlossberg optimistic about plan to get teachers vaccinated
Mar 03, 2021

Schlossberg leads discussion on key role paraprofessionals have in Pa. Education services
Feb 18, 2021