“This decision, like others, solidifies that women have a constitutional right to reproductive freedom,” said Rep. Mary Jo Daley, D-Montgomery, who serves as Democratic chairwoman of the Women’s Health Caucus and also serves on the House Health Committee. Read more
HARRISBURG, June 27 –State Rep. Mike Sturla, D-Lancaster, announced today that the PA House Democratic Policy Committee will hold a public hearing on reopening Pennsylvania schools. The hearing will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, June 30 in Room G-50 Irvis Office Building in Harrisburg. The media and public are invited to attend or watch the livestream at www.pahouse.com/live . The hearing will feature testimony from the Pennsylvania Department of Education and Mathematica about its recent research report that provides guidance for reopening schools. Sturla, who is chairman of the House Democratic Policy Committee, will be joined by other committee members in person and virtually. Testifiers will include: Matthew Stem , deputy secretary for elementary and secondary education, Pennsylvania Department of Education. Dr. Brian Gill, senior fellow, Mathematica Dr. Art Levinowitz , school director of Upper Dublin School District and representative for the Pennsylvania School Boards Association. Dr. Shane Hotchkiss , superintendent of Bermudian Springs School District and representative for the Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators. Aaron Chapin , vice president, Pennsylvania State Education Association. For more information about the Policy Committee and copies of testimony, go to www.pahouse.com/policycommittee . ### Read more
Ciresi was an early cosponsor of the bill, supported it in the Local Government Committee and authored an amendment that ensures the most recent evaluating manual would be used to properly assess the value of manufactured homes. Read more
State Rep. David Delloso from Delaware County reminds residents to stay safe this summer while enjoying the outdoors. Read more
“Today’s unanimous votes are a significant first step toward addressing social justice issues that have driven a divide between law enforcement and the community,” Ciresi said. “To bridge that gap, we have much work still to do. This legislation marks the beginning of necessary work we all must do – as a commonwealth and as fellow human beings – to rebuild trust and fulfill our obligation to equal justice under the law.” Read more
“These bills, I'm proud to say, passed unanimously today and should soon become law. It was a great day to be a state representative, and please know that I will continue to work with colleagues from both sides of the aisle to ensure that all citizens of this great state are treated fairly and equally. There is much work that still needs to be done.” Read more
“How much in uncompensated care is the Pottstown Hospital providing, to justify its non-profit status? Our constituents deserve more than talking points from a hospital spokesman. It’s a shame.” Read more
“My bill would make sure that local boards and commissions can continue to conduct public business in any situation, be it the COVID-19 pandemic or anything that might happen in the future.” Read more
One bill would add public participation requirements when municipal officials meet remotely, and the other bill would suspend time frames for consideration of applications filed with municipal boards and commissions during emergency or disaster declarations. Read more
Proposed in late May and officially filed this week, H.B. 2586 would give local governments and authorities the ability to delay the expiration of existing permits issued before a disaster declaration took effect. Read more
HARRISBURG, June 10 – The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency awarded two Montgomery County programs a total of $247,007 to meet the needs of Montgomery County children and parents affected by domestic violence, substance abuse and crime. Family Services of Montgomery County, in partnership with the Montgomery County Reentry Initiative, was awarded $147,010 in Violence and Delinquency Prevention Program funding to expand the Positive Parenting Program helping parents who are recently released from incarceration. Montgomery County Children’s Advocacy Center’s Mission Kids program will receive $99,997 to continue family advocacy work, particularly to accompany children to medical evaluations court appearances. “In addition to providing direct support to returning parents, this money also supports a key position at Mission Kids,” said state Rep. Steve Malagari, D-Montgomery. “With the increased demands for these services, Mission Kids needs a family advocate who can appropriately support the needs of our communities.” "In my role as a state representative – specifically with regard to my position on the Children and Youth Committee – and most importantly in my role as a parent, the safety and wellness of children and families will always be my top priority,” said state Rep. Ben Sanchez, D-Montgomery. “That is why I am grateful for this opportunity to improve Read more
Broad reopenings, or reopenings that are not structured around ongoing social distancing, universal masking and other public health guidance, would likely result in a spike of cases and new stay-at-home and closure orders. Read more
HARRISBURG, June 10 – State Rep. John Galloway, D-Bucks, announced that his Covid-19 related bills, which would waive penalties for early CD withdrawals during COVID-19 (H.B. 2580) and would waive fees for remote banking and ATM charges during COVID-19 (H.B. 2581), were both introduced and referred to the House Consumer Affairs Committee on Monday. “Families across Pennsylvania have been hard hit financially from the repercussions of the Covid-19 pandemic,” Galloway said. “My bills are aimed at alleviating the pains that have ensued by removing penalties from early withdrawals of CDs and by making it illegal for financial institutions to charge fees for remote transactions or uses of ATMs. “If they were enacted, both bills would be in effect until 90 days after the COVID-19 disaster emergency declaration issued by the governor has expired.” Galloway said that CDs, or a certificates of deposit, are popular products offered by banks and credit unions because they provide higher interest rates in exchange for leaving a lump-sum deposit untouched for a period of 6 months to 3 or more years.. At the end of the term, known as the maturity date, the depositor can withdraw his or her funds penalty free, and with a few dollars in earned interest on top of the initial deposit. According to Galloway, CDs are a safer and more conservative way for people to invest their money than Read more
LEVITTOWN, June 5 – State Rep. Tina Davis has announced that she will be introducing legislation that would require insurance companies to provide a 90-day grace period for the payment of insurance premiums during a disaster emergency. “Many Pennsylvanians have lost their jobs or had to close their businesses due to the COVID-19 pandemic and are now struggling to pay their bills,” Davis said. “People shouldn’t have their insurance canceled because of an inability to keep up with insurance premiums during this period of unprecedented economic hardship . By requiring insurance companies to provide a 90-day grace period for insurance premium payments during a disaster emergency, my legislation would protect Pennsylvanians from having their insurance terminated at a time they need it most.” Currently, Pennsylvania has only recommended insurers grant a grace period to policy holders during the pandemic. Davis said that many states have required such grace periods in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and in the aftermath of natural disasters. Residents with questions should contact Davis’ office by phone at 267-580-2660 or email ( repdavis@pahouse.net ). Read more
I, like many of you, have been absolutely consumed by the news unfolding over the last week since the horrible footage of George Floyd’s murder took over our airwaves and newsfeeds. Read more
Now, more than ever, is the time to come together and pass legislation that seeks to protect our frontline and essential workers, pay them fairly, assist those struggling without employment, health care or child care, and, above all, keep our citizens safe. Read more
HARRISBURG, May 20 – State Rep. John Galloway today announced his two bills to expand and support children’s mental health services in Pennsylvania’s schools were unanimously voted out of committee. “Our students are crying out for help,” Galloway said. “Earlier this year, Attorney General Josh Shapiro said that the majority of the 40,000 calls last year to the anonymous tip line, Safe2Say Something, concerned students struggling with mental health issues such as suicide, self-harm, depression and anxiety. “Now it’s time to expand the mental health resources available for our children in the commonwealth.” According to Galloway, approximately one in six U.S. children between the ages of 6 and 17 has a treatable mental health disorder such as depression and anxiety. Unfortunately, only half of these children receive counseling. Those left with untreated mental health disorders often: struggle with behavioral and academic issues in school, such as delinquency and dropping out; have trouble with the criminal justice system; abuse drugs as a means to cope with their illness; become dependent on social services; and, in extreme cases, commit suicide. “Children’s untreated mental health issues are one of the most pressing issues our society faces,” said Galloway, D-Bucks. “Early detection and treatment of mental health issues literally saves lives, Read more
HARRISBURG, May 19 – State Rep. Perry Warren, D-Bucks, issued the following statement after working with Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration to improve Pennsylvania’s real estate reopening plan. “Real estate services are open statewide,” he said. “Throughout this unfolding process, I have been working toward a safe and effective reopening of the real estate services industry with Governor Wolf's administration, the state departments of Health and Community and Economic Development and my colleagues in the General Assembly. “Governor Wolf just announced that this plan is open today statewide, including for counties in the red phase. Because of our combined efforts, this plan is a safer, more comprehensive and faster alternative to vetoed House Bill 2412 and will help ensure safety and promote confidence for real estate professionals, homeowners and consumers. We achieve solutions when we work together.” Read more
These tiny arachnids feed on the blood of mammals, birds and other creatures. They can be infected with bacteria, viruses or parasites, and the Tick Research Lab of Pennsylvania recognizes 11 different tick-borne illnesses that have been identified in this state. Read more
“Livestock producers spend countless hours breeding, raising and feeding animals to ensure that food products so many of us take for granted are available each day,” Hanbidge said. “Many of these producers, along with those who supply them with feed for their livestock, are faced with a financial dilemma because, while their income may have slowed down or been cut off altogether during these difficult times, their operational costs have remained the same.” Read more
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