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Policy Committee hears testimony on concerns in Latino community

(Sep 15, 2023) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

“I learned so much from our panelists this morning, and I appreciate the work they are doing in our communities – specifically breaking down the stigma associated with mental health and particularly with the mental health needs of our children,” Speaker Joanna McClinton said. “So I appreciate all of our testifiers who are working to help people with challenges and needs. They placed a spotlight directly on the need for more services because of the positive impact they have in our communities in Philadelphia as well as throughout the entire state.” Read more

 

The first hearing to fix Pennsylvania’s education funding system showed it will be a tough task

(Sep 15, 2023) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

"Thus, we are here trying to figure it out, so that we can make sure we are educating our children and not losing another generation," Isaacson said. Read more

 

Matzie: House Consumer Protection, Technology and Utilities Committee reviewing bills to safeguard PA consumers, ratepayers

(Sep 15, 2023) Rep. Robert Matzie

HARRISBURG, Sept. 15 – The House Consumer Protection, Technology and Utilities Committee is moving swiftly to strengthen safeguards for PA consumers by reviewing bills to ban predatory sales practices and protect utility ratepayers, Majority Chairman Rep. Rob Matzie announced today. Matzie said the committee’s most recent efforts are aimed at banning predatory practices that make it difficult for consumers to afford or obtain concert tickets and other high-demand items. “We’re seeing consumers targeted by increasingly predatory practices,” Matzie said. “From speculative ticketing – in which resellers list tickets before they even have them in hand – to ‘grinch bots’ – which scalpers use to buy up mass quantities of tickets and other high-demand items for resale at inflated prices – consumers are being left out in the cold. The committee is working quickly to keep pace by reviewing bills my colleagues and I have introduced, including my bill to ban speculative ticketing. We can’t afford to wait around as new threats emerge.” Matzie said the committee is also examining bills to help protect utility consumers. “Factors driving utility rates are complex, but that doesn’t mean we can’t examine ways to contain costs and improve conditions for consumers,” Matzie said. “The committee recently reviewed a bill to Read more

 

Why Pa. Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman should approve a bill on menstrual hygiene

(Sep 15, 2023) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

Menstrual hygiene products are a necessity. HB 850 allows recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) to purchase menstrual products with those benefits. In our region, the stakes could not be higher. Nearly two million Pennsylvanians were using SNAP benefits as of September 2022; in Philadelphia, between 450,000 and 500,000 people receive these benefits. Read more

 

Caregiver workforce crisis discussed in latest House Majority Policy hearing

(Sep 14, 2023) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

People living with disabilities, their caregivers and advocates testified about the current caregiver workforce crisis to members of the House Majority Policy Committee during a hearing Thursday afternoon. Read more

 

Support rises for Rabb and Solomon’s open primary legislation

(Sep 14, 2023) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

Support continues to grow for voting access legislation authored by state Reps. Jared Solomon and Chris Rabb, both D-Phila. Philadelphia’s prestigious newspaper of record, The Philadelphia Inquirer, recently endorsed their bill to bring more voters into Pennsylvania’s election process. Rabb and Solomon said that the fastest growing group of voters in Pennsylvania are unaffiliated voters. Their proposed legislation would open primary elections to unaffiliated voters, which make up more than one million voters in Pennsylvania. “As a strong and established advocate of voters’ rights, I don’t believe there should be any one disenfranchised or a so-called second class of voters,” Rabb said. “Independent voters have a right to cast their ballot and be a part of the democratic process.” Solomon reiterated, “Opening the closed primary system in Pennsylvania would allow over one million more people to participate in the democratic process. An open primary system would go a long way to create more civic engagement, introduce fresh ideas and promote a healthy democracy.” Due to bipartisan support across the state, demonstrated in polling data, Rabb and Solomon are calling on the House State Government Committee to call this bill for a vote and move the bill to the House floor. According to Rabb and Solomon, 30 states have chosen to include unaffiliated voters in their primary elections, allowing voters who Read more

 

Pa. could pass a ‘lemon law’ for homes to protect residents from shoddy construction

(Sep 11, 2023) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

State lawmakers from Philadelphia are trying to pass new legislation that would help prevent rowhomes from being damaged by adjacent demolitions and reduce defects in newly built houses. Read more

 

Testifiers detail need for Community Development Financial Institutions in PA

(Sep 08, 2023) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

The House Majority Policy Committee convened a hearing Friday afternoon to discuss the need for Community Development Financial Institutions and support for workforce development in certain Pennsylvania communities. Read more

 

Pennsylvania lawmakers consider data privacy bill

(Sep 08, 2023) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

In a March memoranda prior to bill’s introduction, the HB 1201’s prime sponsor, state Rep. Ed Neilson said that consumers have a right to data privacy and to know how their information is being used online.“In the near future, I intend to reintroduce legislation that gives consumers rights when it comes to their personal data and requires certain businesses to protect consumer privacy and limit the collection of consumer data,” Neilson said in March. Read more

 

Neilson: PA Needs New Ideas For Funding Transportation

(Sep 08, 2023) Rep. Ed Neilson

Throughout the trip, we all agreed that transportation is a nonpartisan issue – a people issue – that must be addressed. The lack of funding to fix our infrastructure in a timely manner before roads and bridges become a safety concern is a real problem from one end of the state to the other. Read more

 

House Consumer Protection, Technology and Utilities Committee hears testimony on Matzie bill to ban ‘speculative ticketing’

(Sep 07, 2023) Rep. Robert Matzie

“Speculative ticketing is not only deceitful, but it is inherently unfair to fans and consumers,” Matzie said. “You should know – without a shadow of a doubt – who you are buying a ticket from and that the ticket is in the possession of the seller. House Bill 1658 addresses a simple question: How can you sell something that you do not have?” Read more

 

State Rep. Tarik Khan, others introduce bipartisan resolution marking September 2023 as ‘National Recovery Month’

(Sep 07, 2023) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

HARRISBURG, Sept. 7 – State Rep. Tarik Khan, D-Phila., and several other state legislators on Wednesday circulated a bipartisan co-sponsorship memo that would designate September 2023 as National Recovery Month in the commonwealth if passed by the state House. “As a nurse, I’ve seen the impact of substance use on persons in our community. Too often, individuals struggle with substance use because of the failures of our healthcare system, including unscrupulous drug companies, inadequate policies and regulations,” Khan said. “I’m proud to have helped lead this bipartisan legislation to recognize that recovery is possible and highlight the importance of supporting recovery efforts in our commonwealth.” Rep. Jamie Flick, R-Lycoming/Union, a prime co-sponsor, echoed Khan’s remarks. “Recovery is possible. Treatment works. There are programs and people in place to help every person struggling with addiction, and resources for families of addiction. I cannot stress enough that every person – regardless of how long they’ve been struggling with addiction – is deserving of recovery,” Flick said. Another co-prime sponsor, Rep. Mike Cabell, R-Luzerne, highlighted the horrors of substance use disorder, adding that this is an area of major concern for legislators on both sides of the aisle. “National Recovery Month holds special meaning for me due Read more

 

Pa. House panel examines consumer data privacy bill

(Sep 07, 2023) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

The Commerce Committee looked at House Bill 1201 aimed at protecting consumers’ digital privacy, allowing them to access their personal information that’s been collected, giving them legal rights to decline or opt out of the sale of their personal information and banning the sale of all private information for consumers under age 16.HB1201 sponsored by Rep. Ed Neilson, D-Philadelphia, would give the state attorney general authority to enforce a digital privacy law. Read more

 

Protecting Medicare Advantage

(Sep 06, 2023) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

Affordable and high-quality health care for seniors and individuals with disabilities remains a big concern in Pennsylvania. Read more

 

Pennsylvania working on plans to celebrate nation's 250th anniversary

(Sep 05, 2023) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

“We are trying to do something transformational,” said Rep. Jared Solomon, D-Philadelphia, a cosponsor of the law and committee member Tuesday. He said the celebration can shape how we look at Pennsylvania’s past, its present in 2026 and future in decades to come. Read more

 

Pa. lawmakers consider moving up state’s presidential primary date

(Sep 05, 2023) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

Pennsylvania is a pivotal battleground state and moving up the primary election will provide Pennsylvanians the political weight we deserve by giving us a voice earlier in the process,” Solomon said. “At the same time, Jewish Pennsylvanians shouldn’t have to choose between celebrating Passover and going to the polls.Kenyatta added that April 2 is also the presidential primary date for Wisconsin, “another battleground,” and neighboring Delaware and New York. Read more

 

Pennsylvania’s 2024 presidential primary could move to as early as March 19

(Sep 05, 2023) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta (D., Philadelphia) introduced a proposal with Rep. Jared Solomon (D., Philadelphia) to move the primary to April 2. This is the earliest that the state could move the election while still allowing candidates to begin collecting petitions to get on the ballot after the Christmas holiday. Read more

 

Philadelphia House Delegation advancing eviction reform

(Aug 30, 2023) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 30 – In response to a series of violent incidents involving landlord-tenant officers taking place in the city, members of the Philadelphia House Delegation today said the organization has been working hand in hand with the House Housing and Community Development Committee to help end the practice of private contractors performing eviction services. As part of this collaboration, both organizations held a public hearing Tuesday in the Philadelphia City Council Chambers on proposed reforms regarding landlord and tenant officers and evictions. Rep. Morgan Cephas, chair of the Philadelphia House Delegation, explained that a vital concern is that the eviction services are executed by people without the proper training, and carrying guns. “Moving forward there needs to be accountability and transparency with an agency that is responsible to the citizens of Philadelphia,” Cephas said. “We are determined to take this task away from the unaccountable, private entities. “We respect the need for landlords to run their business and receive their payments in a timely manner. However, the need for compassionate, respectful interaction with tenants was made obvious in the hearing,” she added. Rep. Mike Sturla, chair of the PA House Housing and Community Development Committee, highlighted that when it comes to housing it is important to look at the Read more

 

Testifiers detail opportunities for passenger rail expansion in Pennsylvania

(Aug 30, 2023) Rep. Bridget M. Kosierowski, Rep. Kyle T. Donahue, Policy Committee

Testifiers detailed potential projects for the House Majority Policy Committee during a hearing Wednesday morning to discuss the importance of passenger rail in Pennsylvania, and what leaders can do to get the commonwealth back on track. Read more

 

Mullins introduces legislation to expand much-needed access to dental care

(Aug 29, 2023) Rep. Kyle Mullins

“There’s a growing body of evidence showing that poor oral health is tied to several serious health conditions, which is why I’m concerned that many Pennsylvanians are going without the dental care they desperately need,” Mullins said. “In many parts of the state, there simply are not enough dentists and dental hygienists to meet the demand for services. If passed, this bill would be an important step forward in addressing our dental workforce shortages.” Read more

 

Policy Committee hears testimony on concerns in Latino community
Sep 15, 2023

The first hearing to fix Pennsylvania’s education funding system showed it will be a tough task
Sep 15, 2023

Matzie: House Consumer Protection, Technology and Utilities Committee reviewing bills to safeguard PA consumers, ratepayers
Sep 15, 2023

Why Pa. Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman should approve a bill on menstrual hygiene
Sep 15, 2023

Caregiver workforce crisis discussed in latest House Majority Policy hearing
Sep 14, 2023

Support rises for Rabb and Solomon’s open primary legislation
Sep 14, 2023

Pa. could pass a ‘lemon law’ for homes to protect residents from shoddy construction
Sep 11, 2023

Testifiers detail need for Community Development Financial Institutions in PA
Sep 08, 2023

Pennsylvania lawmakers consider data privacy bill
Sep 08, 2023

Neilson: PA Needs New Ideas For Funding Transportation
Sep 08, 2023

House Consumer Protection, Technology and Utilities Committee hears testimony on Matzie bill to ban ‘speculative ticketing’
Sep 07, 2023

State Rep. Tarik Khan, others introduce bipartisan resolution marking September 2023 as ‘National Recovery Month’
Sep 07, 2023

Pa. House panel examines consumer data privacy bill
Sep 07, 2023

Protecting Medicare Advantage
Sep 06, 2023

Pennsylvania working on plans to celebrate nation's 250th anniversary
Sep 05, 2023

Pa. lawmakers consider moving up state’s presidential primary date
Sep 05, 2023

Pennsylvania’s 2024 presidential primary could move to as early as March 19
Sep 05, 2023

Philadelphia House Delegation advancing eviction reform
Aug 30, 2023

Testifiers detail opportunities for passenger rail expansion in Pennsylvania
Aug 30, 2023

Mullins introduces legislation to expand much-needed access to dental care
Aug 29, 2023