Looking to build on the continued success of the Northeast region in the Commonwealth, state Rep. Jeanne McNeill assumed the role of chair of the Northeast Democratic Delegation in the PA House of Representatives today, a role previously held by state Rep. Maureen Madden. Read more
“I want to stand in support of HB 611,” Madden said. “And I’d like to mention that I’ve heard from many of our education advocates, and while they acknowledge that the House bill that we sent originally was a much better bill, they are happy with the funding of education in this bill, and because we’re trying to achieve equity.” Read more
During the brief House debate of the budget bill, Rep. Maureen Madden, D-Monroe County, noted the general fund budget the House passed that spent almost $1.4 billion more than the Senate budget bill was a better bill but the education advocates she heard from are happy with the education funding in this bill in trying to achieve equity as a February Commonwealth Court ruling ordered in declaring the school funding system unconstitutional. Read more
State Rep. Josh Siegel issued the following statement regarding the Pennsylvania Senate’s passage of a $100 million private school voucher program using state tax dollars. Read more
Pa. House Education Majority Chairman Peter Schweyer stands with House Democrats, teachers, and public education advocates to fight for adequate funding for Pa. Public schools. Schweyer says it’s time to stop demonizing the schools and teachers and start giving them the tools they need to succeed. Read more
State Rep. Josh Siegel released a statement on the possibility of the Soldiers and Sailors Monument in Allentown being removed. Read more
In her latest episode of Monroe Matters, state Rep. Maureen Madden, D-Monroe, welcomes state Rep. Mark Rozzi, D-Berks, whose ongoing fight for survivors of childhood sexual abuse defines his decade in office. Together, Madden and Rozzi go through the history of this fight, the legislative attempts to bring justice to survivors, and where the statute of limitations reform battle stands today. Read more
State Rep. Kyle Donahue today praised the passage of legislation to expand decoration eligibility for military members of friendly foreign nations. Read more
The House Transportation Committee today reported out a bill sponsored by Rep. Jeanne McNeill that would prohibit early termination fees of leased vehicles for medical reasons. Read more
From the rank and file to leadership, caucus members’ reactions to a potential compromise that includes state funding for private school tuition ranged this week from guarded skepticism to open hostility. Read more
House Education Committee Chair Peter Schweyer, D-Lehigh, said the push for vouchers could blow up current budget negotiations. The current scheme under consideration is "lifeline scholarships," which he strongly opposes. Read more
During debate on HB106 on Wednesday, June 28, state Rep. Maureen Madden, D-Monroe, voiced her support for the Patient Safety Act and noted its passage is a promise kept to nurses across Monroe County and the entire commonwealth, who've long been advocating for safer nurse-to-patient ratios. This is a great day for the unions who've been fighting for this for years, Madden said, and a giant step forward in prioritizing safety for hospital patients across the state. Read more
Pa. state Rep. Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz speaks in support of legislation that would mandate safe staffing levels in medical facilities across the Commonwealth. Read more
“As a nurse for more than 25 years, I can vouch for the attention that is required to appropriately care for a patient. By requiring hospitals to maintain staffing ratios, patients can feel confident that they will receive adequate care, while ensuring that nurses are not unnecessarily overwhelmed in what is already a stressful job,” said Kosierowski. Read more
At a House Education Committee meeting, Pa. state Rep. Tarah Probst stresses the importance of fair and equitable funding for cyber charter schools across the commonwealth. Probst says while this legislation begins to address the problem, there is much more work to be done to stop the hemorrhaging of dollars from our brick-and-mortar schools to cyber charters. Read more
Pa. state Rep. Peter Schweyer, Chair of the House Education Committee, comments on House passage of his legislation to fund improvements in the commonwealth's school buildings through new construction and maintenance work such as the removal of toxic substances and upgraded accessibility. Read more
During debate on legislation regarding SNAP benefits, Pa. state Rep. Manny Guzman stood up for immigrant communities who were insinuated as being criminals and drug dealers by fellow members of the House. Guzman urged his colleagues to rise above political rhetoric and better represent all the communities they serve. Read more
“This has been nothing but the weaponization of a critical process deliberately scheduled during low-turnout elections in the hopes that a few, select group of voters weigh in,” said Rep. Joshua Siegel, D-Lehigh. Read more
“The average age of public schools in Pennsylvania is roughly 70 years old and many are in need of repairs and upgrades to ensure students and staff have safe and comfortable learning environments,” said Schweyer, D-Lehigh. “I am pleased to see bipartisan support for this bill as this would benefit schools across the commonwealth in urban, suburban and rural communities.” Read more
Pa. state Rep. Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz urged support for her legislation which would remove restrictions for non-citizens in order to make it easier for them to become teachers. Cepeda-Freytiz says that in the Reading School District alone they have almost 100 vacancies and this legislation would help to fill that gap. The bill passed the House 110-93. Read more
“Let’s as a collective tackle this growing problem and let’s continue to eliminate some of these barriers that don’t apply to most careers in the Commonwealth, let alone in the United States,” said the bill’s primary sponsor, Rep. Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz, a Democrat from Berks County. Read more
Please use the form below to sign up for email updates. By completing this form you are acknowledging your request to receive periodic email updates.
By completing this form, you are verifying your request to opt in for email updates.
Thank you. Your email signup has been sent. You should start getting emails within 24 hours.