House Democrats’ aggressive bipartisan agenda results in passage of more than 100 bills to date this year

Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus    June 26, 2023 | 10:41 AM

Harrisburg, June 26 – Just six months into the 2023-24 legislative session, Pennsylvania House Democrats are delivering on their promise to prioritize the issues Pennsylvanians care about by passing more than 100 bills focusing on a variety of critical issues that will improve lives for Pennsylvanians. 
  
“I’m proud that House Democrats are continuing to advance a people-first agenda,” Speaker of the House Joanna McClinton, D-Phila./Delaware, said. “In just the past few weeks our caucus has advanced measures that would make more seniors eligible for the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program, plus increase their rebates. We passed an expanded Child and Dependent Care Enhancement Tax Credit -- because when families can afford childcare, more Pennsylvanians can work. We passed tax credits for people in some of the commonwealth’s most in-demand and understaffed professions like nurses, teachers and police. We’re helping all Pennsylvanians save for retirement using our Keystone Saves Program. And we advanced a long-overdue boost in the state minimum wage, which lags every surrounding state and has kept too many Pennsylvanians in poverty.” 
  
“After a dozen years of inaction on issues that Pennsylvanians truly care about, we have put forth a diverse, aggressive and bipartisan agenda that will ensure Pennsylvania is a better place to live, learn and work,” said House Majority Leader Matt Bradford, D-Montgomery. “Our strength is our diversity, and that’s why we’re focusing on a wide variety of issues. We’re just getting started and we look forward to continuing to advance good measures.” 
  
“Over the last few weeks, we’ve seen legislation move with bipartisan support that's unfortunately been bottled up for years under Republican leadership,” said House Appropriations Chairman Jordan Harris, D-Phila. “This is what a people-first agenda looks like. House Democrats are moving legislation that will improve the lives of all Pennsylvanians young and old, and we look forward to continuing to do what’s best to improve communities around the state.” 
  
“House Democrats have kept promises and passed legislation to lift all boats. For those who have doubted our strength, we are sending a clear message that united, Democrats are fighting for every working person in this state,” said Majority Whip Dan Miller, D-Allegheny. “While we understand that we are in a divided legislature and stand willing to work and reasonably compromise, we are proud of what we have done, excited for the future, and we want to tell working families that we’ve just begun.” 
 
Of the 109 bills that have passed the PA House this year, the overwhelming majority were passed with bipartisan support. They will deliver for Pennsylvania through the following issues: 
 
Better Jobs: Raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour, creating tax credits that will help offset the cost of childcare as well as tax credits for lower income working families, incentivizing new workers in vital professions, guaranteeing the right to organize, protecting against wage theft, strengthening workplace protections, and helping ex-offenders who have paid their debt to seek better job opportunities. 
 
Better Schools: Making historic investments in public schools, including basic education, special education, our most vulnerable districts and infrastructure, creating programs and incentives to attract and retain more teachers into this noble profession, and requiring carbon monoxide detectors in daycare centers. 
 
Better Communities: Protecting LGBTQ+ Pennsylvanians from discrimination, providing a path to justice for survivors of childhood sexual abuse, expanding property tax relief for seniors, investing $100 million in mental health services, addressing community violence with commonsense gun safety protections, strengthening safety standards for our extensive rail systems, ensuring adequate funding of lifesaving 911 emergency and 988 suicide prevention services. 
 
“House Democrats are delivering for Pennsylvanians, and we’re just getting started,” McClinton said.  
  
Pennsylvania House Democrats are committed to ensuring better jobs, better schools and better communities for all Pennsylvanians. More information on the majority’s successful efforts is at pahouse.com/deliveringforpa.