HARRISBURG, May 5 – State Rep. Maureen Madden, D-Monroe, plans to introduce legislation that would ensure health insurance coverage for people who need bariatric surgery for health reasons. Bariatric surgery on the stomach or intestines is designed to help patients with extreme obesity lose weight. Madden said bariatric surgery is a procedure of last resort for people, who, despite adopting medically recommended weight-loss programs, are unable to improve their body mass index. “According to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, nearly 70 to 80% of patients suffering from high blood pressure no longer require their medications and maintain normal blood pressure six months post operation,” Madden said. “Despite these statistics, insurers deny approximately 25% of patients considering the procedure three times before giving approval, and during that time patients may experience worsening health and out-of-pocket costs.” In addition, Madden said the report indicates 90% of patients with Type 2 diabetes enjoy reduction or complete freedom from all medications after the surgery, and blood sugar levels are maintained at normal values. She said patients with heartburn, high cholesterol, lower back pain and stress incontinence often see relief of all symptoms within a few days to weeks after surgery. “My legislation would automatically open pathways to better health for Pennsylvanians who face these challenges by Read more
Pa. state Rep. Maureen Madden participated in a joint House Education/Appropriations hearing with the PA State System of Higher Education concerning university consolidation and act 50 implementation. Madden says we must do our best to save the PASSHE system and that the proposed consolidation will result in a loss of jobs, education quality, and the identity of existing university communities. Read more
On this episode of Monroe Matters, Pa. state Rep. Maureen Madden discusses COVID-19 vaccination efforts in Monroe County, her Workplace Freedom Act, and the how the PA Rescue Plan will direct federal dollars to the people who need it most as we recover from the pandemic. Read more
Information on state and other grant programs that are open for applications. Read more
Pa. state Rep. Maureen Madden discusses how the PA Rescue Plan will help small businesses and workers across the state by investing in workforce development, job training, and expanded childcare for hard working Pennsylvanians. Read more
Pa. state Rep. Maureen Madden highlights the benefits of the House Democrats’ PA Rescue Plan, from expanding healthcare access, to job training opportunities and improved telehealth capabilities. Read more
Pa. state Rep. Maureen Madden joined colleagues and advocates to rally for the legalization of adult-use cannabis in Pennsylvania. Madden says there's momentum now and is hopeful current legislation will move forward soon. Read more
Spring 2021 Newsletter Read more
After a series of House State Government Committee hearings on the 2020 election, Pa. state Rep. Maureen Madden discusses her takeaways, saying the elections were fair and people supported the efforts to expand voter access. Read more
Here are the latest state grant programs that recently opened for applications, as well as a federally funded American Rescue Plan grant opportunity available to humanities organizations. Read more
Find information about state grant programs that are now open. Read more
How far have we come, and how far do we have to go to diminish -- and possibly eradicate -- racism in high schools and college campuses? Our hearing on racism on the topic pulled the curtain on the continued systematic injustice towards minority students on high school and college campuses and the lack of diversity in educators. In some Pennsylvania school districts there is a blatant lack of effort to recruit and retain educators of color and that is problematic. The historic limited access to education for people of color is still happening. Students shared their stories of the mental, physical and emotional toll their experiences with racism and discrimination have had on their well-being. Fortunately, these students turned their painful experiences into meaningful advocacy. Their testimony showed the challenge facing educational institutions in Pennsylvania. Educators, including teachers and administrators play a large role in dispelling hate in their schools. It’s imperative that they are reflective of the communities that they represent but the statistics show, they don’t. While students of color make up 33 percent of Pennsylvania’s population, less than 5 percent of teachers are people of color. Across the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education faculty, 4 percent are Black, 3 percent are Hispanic and just 6 percent are Asian. When students see a diversity that reflects them in their educators, it shows promise. It shows Read more
HARRISBURG, March 25 -- Education and shattering social norms are key in combatting racism in high schools and colleges, as evidenced by testimony at today’s House Democratic Policy Committee hearing hosted by state Reps. Maureen Madden and Malcolm Kenyatta. The Monroe and Philadelphia County legislators led today’s discussion bringing together state officials, students and educators to brainstorm solutions that aim to help break cycles of systemic racism via policy development and implementation. “How do we start conversations that help people understand that freedom of speech should not be a free pass for racism? We all deserve to be respected and the blatant hate and disrespect for others is impacting lives. Hate has no place in our education system. Students go to school to learn, grow and often overcome any barriers the hand that life has dealt them. I’m grateful for this forum today to learn what’s happening in our education system and what lawmakers can do to overcome the racism in our schools,” Madden shared. “Terms like ‘diversity quota’ and ‘affirmative action applicant’ are just some of the covertly racist insults that disparage the merits of students and faculty of color in academia. Ultimately, these slights have devastating effects on the emotional and mental health of these students and faculty, thereby straining their likelihood to graduate and excel at these institutions,” Read more
HARRISBURG, March 23 – Recent incidents of racism involving students at the high school and college levels will be discussed at a House Democratic Policy Committee virtual hearing hosted by state Reps. Maureen Madden and Malcolm Kenyatta. The hearing will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, March 25. To view the hearing, the media and public can tune in to www.pahouse.com/policycommittee or the committee’s Facebook page -- @PADemPolicy. Media inquiries may be submitted via email to policy@pahouse.net . Madden and Kenyatta will be joined by committee Chairman Ryan Bizzarro and Democratic Policy Committee members to hear from educators, state officials and advocates on how to curb racism with meaningful policy reforms. Additional hearing information will be available by clicking here . Read more
Several state grant programs are open for applications. Read more
Pa. state Rep. Maureen Madden visited Monroe County's first COVID-19 mass vaccination event at Pocono Raceway. Lehigh Valley Health Network sponsored the event, which vaccinated 3,000 people in an outdoor, drive-through setting. Read more
Pa. state Rep. Maureen Madden shares her frustrations with a bill that ignores the science behind the transmission of HIV/AIDS and would stigmatize those in the LGBTQ community. Read more
State grant programs now open for applications Read more
State grant programs open for applications. Read more
State Grant Programs Now Open for Applications: March 1 Update Read more
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