Having completed my in-depth review of the budget, I want to discuss more local matters. Throughout the year, my office staff and I have had many conversations with the municipalities which comprise the 61st. We often send out information about grants, liaise regarding PennDOT issues, and share information about events we host. Read more
We remain at an impasse on the implementation of this year’s budget until the Senate returns to session so that it may be formally sent to the Governor for his signature. As I mentioned last week, both the House and Senate have voted in favor of the budget, but a petty procedural blockade by the Senate means that the spending plan, as well as necessary code bills, are in limbo. Read more
As promised, this week and next I’ll do an overview of the General Appropriations Bill, H.B. 611. The House passed this bill on June 5. Read more
As expected, the Senate failed to send a timely and negotiated budget over to the House before the end of our fiscal year. Read more
While the budget deadline is imminent, it appears that the Senate continues to fail on proposing a budget of their own, or voting on the budget proposal sent from the House on June 5. Read more
“Empowering women to have conversations about menopause with medical professionals and their loved ones can help destigmatize this natural process," Hanbidge said. Read more
A full-time worker earning minimum wage in the commonwealth makes around $15,000 annually. The 2023 federal poverty level for a single earner is indexed at $14,580. Read more
This week continues the trend of very busy session days while we await further iterations of the budget. Read more
I am happy to share that the House passed some incredibly meaningful pieces of legislation impacting a vast number of citizens of the commonwealth this week. June is the month that we pass the budget, and since we are in Harrisburg much of the month, there’s usually a fair amount of movement on bills and on our priorities. Read more
Good Governance begins with Thorough & Thoughtful Legislation Read more
Firearm-related injuries are the leading cause of death among U.S. children Read more
Affordable Access to High-Quality Childcare Read more
Addressing the Need for Educators Read more
Governing in the Majority Read more
HARRISBURG, April 26 – Today, House Bill 507 introduced by state Reps. Elizabeth Fiedler, D-Phila., and Liz Hanbidge, D-Montgomery, passed the Pennsylvania House unanimously. The legislation would require medical providers to receive explicit consent from a patient before performing an invasive pelvic or rectal exam on an unconscious patient for medical training purposes. Right now in Pennsylvania, medical students can legally perform a pelvic or rectal exam on a patient who is under anesthesia for an unrelated procedure. The invasive exam is done solely for medical students’ training purposes and not to ensure the health of the patient. The patient often is entirely unaware of what is being done to her/his body while are under anesthesia. Fiedler first learned about the practice from a constituent who was disturbed to learn that when she was a patient, a pelvic exam might have been conducted on her. Fiedler shared how her constituent’s experience inspired her to learn more about this practice and ultimately introduce this bill. She also expressed her joy to see this bill pass the House and called on the Senate to get it to Gov. Josh Shapiro’s desk. “The more I researched the situation, the more horrified I was,” Fiedler said. “Making sure we have highly trained medical professionals is incredibly important, and at the same time, patients should be asked for their consent ahead of time. This Read more
The Future of Medicine is in our Back Yard Read more
Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee visits Rodale Institute Read more
I am so pleased to share that some of the first bills to move through the committee process this session are bills I’ve either sponsored or co-sponsored. Read more
HARRISBURG, March 29 – Today, a bill introduced by state Reps. Elizabeth Fiedler, D-Phila., and Liz Hanbidge, D-Montgomery, to require patient consent for pelvic exams passed in the Health Committee. Right now, medical students can perform a pelvic exam on a female patient who is under anesthesia for an unrelated procedure. The pelvic exam is done solely for medical students’ training purposes and not to ensure the health of the patient. The patient often has not given explicit consent and is entirely unaware of what is being done to her body while under anesthesia. This bill, H.B. 507, will now head to the house floor for a vote. Fiedler first learned about the practice from a constituent who believed a practice pelvic exam might have been conducted on her while she was under anesthesia. Fiedler shared how her constituent’s experience inspired her to learn more about this practice and ultimately introduce this bill. “A couple of years ago, a resident of my district came to me concerned about what happened to her while she was a patient for a medical procedure, under anesthesia,” Fiedler said. “She worried that while she was unconscious, her body had been used for a practice pelvic exam. A year later she still didn't have answers, despite asking her doctor directly. “The more I researched the situation, the more horrified I was. I learned that, in our commonwealth, Read more
The Children of Sorrow Seek Change- Addressing Gun Violence Read more
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