This week, state Rep. Dan Frankel, D-Allegheny and Democratic chair of the PA House Health Committee, signed onto an amicus brief in support of legal abortion in Dobbs v. Women’s Health Organization, the Supreme Court case likely to decide the future of reproductive freedom in the United States. Read more
In response to the Pennsylvania Department of Health order mandating masks be worn by everyone in all K-12 schools and daycare facilities, Rep. Dan Frankel, D-Allegheny, issued a statement of support. Read more
Surrounded by fellow lawmakers, medical professionals and parents, state Rep. Dan Frankel, D-Allegheny, unveiled legislation that would give teens power over their own healthcare decisions and require vaccine-hesitant parents to receive vaccine resources and information on a yearly basis. Read more
State Rep. Dan Frankel, D-Allegheny, offered his support for Gov. Tom Wolf’s announcement requiring certain commonwealth employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19 or undergo weekly testing. Read more
HARRISBURG, Aug. 4 – A bill that would discriminate against LGBTQ+ students by restricting their ability to participate in their school’s sports programs as the gender they identify with was condemned by the LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus after a House Education Committee hearing on the proposed Republican legislation, according to the caucus’ co-chair, state Rep. Brian Sims, D-Phila. House Bill 972 would prohibit trans girls and women from playing scholastic and collegiate sports. “Republicans are again advocating for open discrimination against LGBTQ+ youth masked as a bill to protect girls and women,” Sims said. “As a former collegiate athlete, I know that LGBTQ+ kids, like all kids, see countless positive outcomes from engagement in sports. The opportunity to build skills, foster friendships and learn to work as a team are essential in development, especially for Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable population, trans kids. The trans community is at higher risk of being victims of assault and experiencing depression, anxiety and, tragically, suicide. The fact that the majority party would aim to subject trans and non-binary youth to further exclusion and harassment is sickening and it is also illegal. We should be striving for inclusion in Pennsylvania, not sending a message of hate to LGBTQ+ youth and their families.” “Republican leaders are holding a hearing on a pretend issue and on a bill that stands zero chance of Read more
In a letter sent Tuesday afternoon, state Rep. Dan Frankel, D-Allegheny, asked Gov. Tom Wolf to have his administration investigate recent announcements by Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream and enforce Act 163, which bars the commonwealth from contracting with any company engaging in a boycott when the action is based on race, color, religion, gender or national affiliation or origin of the targeted person or entity. Read more
State Rep. Dan Frankel, D-Allegheny, welcomed UPMC’s Wednesday morning announcement that President Jeffrey Romoff’s time at the helm of the organization is coming to a close, and noted UPMC’s potential for a bright future now that Romoff’s reign is ending. Read more
State Reps. Dan Frankel and Emily Kinkead introduced legislation to lower costs for prescription drugs and prevent surprise billing for “facility fees” to keep health care affordable and accessible for Pennsylvanians Read more
Rep. Dan Frankel, D-Allegheny, applauded moves by President Joe Biden to protect workers from the ubiquitous use of noncompete clauses, which employers increasingly use to block employees from accepting new jobs. Read more
In the end, I voted no on this budget bill. There were simply too many opportunities to allocate $10 billion to our residents left on the table. I saw this budget as the General Assembly turning their backs on the first responders, frontline workers, students and families of our great commonwealth. Read more
HARRISBURG, June 26 – With the deadline to apply fast approaching, the members of the PA SAFE Caucus are urging nonprofits and local governments to apply for a share of $5 million available to help fund programs aimed at reducing gun violence in Pennsylvania. “Every day, communities around Pennsylvania feel the impacts of gun violence, and we simply have to do more to keep people safe,” said Rep. Brian Kirkland, D-Delaware and co-chair of the PA SAFE Caucus. “I’m hopeful that this funding will help local nonprofits and government organizations implement programs that will reduce the violence that devastates so many families. I encourage those eligible to apply soon.” According to the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, which manages the grant program, the organization will prioritize support for nonprofit organizations working at the neighborhood and community level to prevent and reduce gun violence, especially those that have not previously received funding. “The crisis of gun violence is destroying families and communities every day in Pennsylvania, and we need to make sure that that we are using every possible tool to combat it,” said Rep. Dan Frankel, D-Allegheny and co-chair of the PA SAFE Caucus. “This grant program creates opportunities for community organizations that know their neighborhoods best to lead the way in improving public safety.” More information about the grant program Read more
HARRISBURG, June 22 – The LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus has called for statewide anti-discrimination protections after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of a private Catholic agency and not with the city of Philadelphia last week, despite the fact the agency had violated a Philadelphia law by refusing to consider placing children for adoption with married LBGTQ+ couples. “This ruling is more evidence that elections matter and that we in Pennsylvania cannot and should not rely on the courts for protections for LGBTQ+ people,” said state Rep. Brian Sims, D-Phila., co-chair of the LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus. “Because we cannot rely on the right-leaning U.S. Supreme Court, we lawmakers at the state level must pass nondiscrimination laws to protect the people in our commonwealth. “LGBTQ+ rights are human rights, and I will continue to fight for the rights that I and so many others across our state are entitled to,” Sims added. The LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus is a bicameral, bipartisan group of Pennsylvania legislators who advocate for equal protections for LGBTQIA+ Pennsylvanians. “This is obviously a disappointment and a reminder that the battle for LGBTQ+ equality is far from over,” said state Rep. Dan Frankel, D-Allegheny, who co-chairs the LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus with Sims and state Sen. Katie Muth. “As long as we have Read more
In order to extend protection from discrimination to LGBTQ+ Pennsylvanians, lawmakers in the LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus unveiled the PA Fairness Act on Tuesday. If passed, the PA Fairness Act would prohibit discrimination against an individual based on their sexual orientation or gender identity or expression in the commonwealth, providing a long-overdue update to Pennsylvania’s law. Read more
HARRISBURG, June 9 – The Pennsylvania LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus, a bipartisan and bicameral caucus made up of members of the General Assembly who advocate for equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer residents, has released an open letter to Gov. Tom Wolf, and state Senate and House leadership, urging them to include funding for LGBTQ+ communities in this year’s state budget. “Each year we negotiate a budget that should support all Pennsylvanians and ensure that the commonwealth is inclusive and competitive place to live and work,” said Rep. Brian Sims, Caucus co-chair. “Unfortunately, our budget has historically excluded LGBTQ+ communities in Pennsylvania and it’s time that we prioritized and empowered the people, places and organizations that make Pennsylvania the diverse and vibrant place that it is.” Highlighting critical issues in health care, housing and education that LGBTQ+ Pennsylvanians have to endure, lawmakers emphasized the need for immediate action. “I knew when I became co-chair of the LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus this year that although the wind may be at our back, there is a fight to be had to enact even the most basic protections in Pennsylvania for our LGBTQ+ family,” said Sen. Katie Muth, Caucus chair. “Spending priorities should align with equitable policy that actually improves the lives and well-being of our queer communities. Make no mistake, sexual minorities Read more
Legislation passed this week puts politics ahead of patients’ health Read more
LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus open letter to the governor, state Senate and House leadership, highlighting health care, housing, and education needs. Read more
Legislation would allow communities to respond to shootings, violence by ending state preemption Read more
The legislation, H.B. 1444, would ensure that doctors cannot be forced to provide or withhold information or treatment in a way that is not evidence based or medically accurate – a response to a national movement by conservative state legislatures to require doctors and other healthcare professionals to stick to a certain script, even if it conflicts with medically accurate information. Read more
Heath Committee hearing on organ donation veers into pseudoscience, unfairly attacks Pitt Read more
Says legislature needs to address health disparities, mental health needs, family support Read more
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