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
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 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
“With the inescapable economic hardships that have accompanied this coronavirus pandemic, it’s critical that we do whatever we can to keep families in their homes and local businesses alive,” Sanchez said. “So many have been furloughed or have lost jobs entirely, and we’re all being instructed to stay home and stay safe. To do so, we need the assurance of a place to call home.” Read more
HARRISBURG, May 13 – State Rep. Perry Warren, D-Bucks, announced his liquor reform bill, H.B. 327, passed the Senate today with overwhelming bipartisan support and is now on its way to the governor’s desk. The bill would amend the Liquor Code to clarify the process for a referendum on whether to allow for the sale of liquor in their municipality in a primary, municipal or general election. “The passage of this bill, coupled with Act 48 enacted last year, streamlines the process for residents’ right to decide whether to permit alcohol sales in a municipality,” Warren added. House Bill 327 also has a COVID-19 emergency provision which would allow licensed restaurants and hotels that have lost more than 25% of their average monthly sales during the disaster to sell prepared beverages or mixed drinks for off-premise consumption in quantities of 4 oz. to 64 oz. during the disaster emergency and mitigation period. “The passage of this bill is great news for Pennsylvania’s restaurant industry during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Warren said. “It enables our local restaurants selling food, beer and wine to add another product for curbside pickup and takeout during this crisis. I thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle in both the House and the Senate for supporting this legislation.” Lower Makefield Township has scheduled a liquor referendum for the June 2 primary election. Read more
The resolution would direct the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to study the costs and benefits of electric vehicles of all kinds on the commonwealth’s infrastructure, environment, employment, transportation methods and economy. Read more
HARRISBURG, May 8 – State Rep. Perry Warren, D-Bucks, announced that his legislation, which prohibits marriage before the age of 18, was signed into law as Act 18 today by Gov. Tom Wolf. “With Governor Wolf’s signature, Pennsylvania becomes the third state to protect its children by ending child marriage, and sets an example for other states, including Minnesota, whose legislature this week also unanimously voted to end child marriage and where the bill awaits its governor’s signature,” Warren said. “I am honored to be a part of Pennsylvania’s leadership in protecting our children.” The bipartisan bill, H.B. 360, which was jointly sponsored by Rep. Jesse Topper, R-Bedford/Fulton/Franklin, sets the minimum age at which a marriage license may be issued to 18. Previously under Pennsylvania law, a marriage license could be issued to an applicant younger than 16 with court approval. A marriage license also could have been issued where an applicant is older than 16 but younger than 18 with the consent of a parent or guardian. Warren said it was the overwhelming support from colleagues on both sides of the aisle in both chambers that helped this bill become law. He said Topper and Sen. John Sabatina worked hard to raise awareness of this child protection issue in the legislature and throughout the state. “Thank you to Representative Topper and on the Senate side to Senator Read more
HARRISBURG, May 8 – State Rep. Joe Ciresi, D-Montgomery, today announced that he is sponsoring a pair of bills that would help small businesses and nonprofits throughout the state. The legislation would create the COVID-19 Banking on Small Business Program and COVID-19 Banking on Nonprofits Program within the Department of Banking and Securities to provide cooperation between small businesses and nonprofits and banks and credit unions for loan deferrals, repayment plans, and loan modifications. “Many of our small businesses and non-profits are contemplating closing their doors,” Ciresi said. “They do not have the same resources as larger corporations, and many times they are missing out on pandemic relief banking opportunities only because they do not have an attorney or financial specialist on call 24/7. If we want to give them a chance to survive this pandemic, we need to make sure they have the same chances at extensions of credit and deferred loans as the bigger corporations. I am working on this pair of bills to support our hardworking small business owners and the nonprofits that need this help the most.” The two bills would direct the attention of small businesses and nonprofits to the good work that banks and credit unions are already doing to help businesses stay afloat through extensions of credit or financial assistance in the form of deferred loans or new repayment options. Eligible small Read more
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