HARRISBURG, Nov. 18 -- Members of the House Democratic Caucus’ Southeast Delegation unanimously re-elected Rep. Jennifer O’Mara, D-Delaware, as chairwoman for the 2023-24 legislative session. As chairwoman, O’Mara will lead the 43-member delegation on legislative initiatives and negotiations within the chamber. The Southeast Delegation is the new majority caucus’ largest and fastest-growing delegation, consisting of members from Berks, Bucks, Chester, Dauphin, Delaware, Lancaster, Montgomery and York counties. “I’m so grateful to once again serve as chairwoman of the Southeast Delegation. As leader of the caucus’ largest delegation, I’m able to lift up the voices of the people we represent and the issues that matter most to the people of Delco and the surrounding region,” O’Mara said. “I’m humbled to lead this group of lawmakers for the next two years and I look forward to what we can accomplish working together.” O’Mara will begin her third term in office and second term as delegation chair after she is sworn in in January 2023. She said that in her new term, she will continue to focus on supporting veterans and first responders, increasing access to mental health services, preserving the commonwealth’s environment and addressing the student debt crisis. A photo of O’Mara in the House chamber may be downloaded here: Read more
I would like to extend my sincerest thanks to everyone who participated in last week’s election. Poll workers and election officials, security and law enforcement personnel, candidates, campaign staff, volunteers, and of course, everyone who cast their ballot. Read more
MORTON, Nov. 4 – State Rep. Jennifer O’Mara’s measure designating a Delaware County roadway as the “Captain Daniel Clement Memorial Highway” was signed into law. O’Mara dedicated a portion of State Route 2025 in Morton and Rutledge boroughs to the late Clement, who died on Sept. 3, 2021. Clement was a U.S. Airforce veteran, Swarthmore EMT, police officer at Temple University, and volunteer firefighter and captain for the Morton-Rutledge Fire Company. “Dan was my good friend and I know that he meant so much to many people. I know that his friends, family, fellow firefighters, his beloved community and I miss and love him every day,” O’Mara said. “While the Captain Daniel Clement Memorial Highway will never fill the void his absence has created, it can serve as a physical reminder of him. I will continue doing everything I can to honor Dan’s legacy through my work supporting veterans and first responders day in and day out.” Gov. Tom Wolf signed the omnibus House Bill 2637 on Nov. 3, which contained multiple bridge/road dedications including O’Mara’s original H.B. 2808 . For more information, call O’Mara’s office at (610) 544-9878. Read more
Election Day is just a few days away, and I want to ensure that you are fully prepared to carry out your civic duty on Tuesday. Read more
MARPLE, Nov. 3 – State Rep. Jennifer O’Mara announced that the Marple Police Department has been selected for a $268,150 state grant. Funding will go toward purchasing equipment. The funding may be used to buy body cameras, mobile video camera systems, accessories, cloud storage and stationary license plate readers with installation and maintenance. All of these investments would support the department for five years. “I’m always happy to work with my district’s first responders to ensure they have the necessary tools and funding to do their jobs safely and effectively,” O’Mara said. “Upgrading the Marple Police Department’s equipment will help them protect the people they serve and their property, while fairly and swiftly holding those who break the law accountable. Transparency is necessary in law enforcement, and I know that this investment will only strengthen the positive relationship that the Marple police force maintains with the community.” O’Mara was instrumental in bringing this funding home and wrote a letter of support for the Marple Police Department. For more information, call O’Mara’s office at (610) 544-9878. Read more
I have some positive news regarding our community hospital. Read more
In light of World Mental Health Day on Oct. 10, I want to touch on one of the greatest public health issues facing our country. Read more
The summer recess recently ended, and the Pennsylvania House of Representatives reconvened for the first time in two months on Monday, September 12. Read more
O’Mara said Pennsylvania law needs to improve how it handles for-profit health systems, especially during shutdowns. Read more
HARRISBURG, Sept. 23 – State Reps. Eddie Day Pashinski, D-Luzerne, and Jennifer O’Mara, D-Delaware, introduced legislation on Friday that would bring more accountability to the process of hospital closures to ensure that Pennsylvanians can receive uninterrupted care and that hospital systems must honor their duty to their patients, staff, and the communities they serve. The legislation is a companion to State Sen. Carolyn Comitta’s S.B. 1324 , introduced earlier this month. “When hospitals and health care facilities close or drastically reduce services with little or no notice, their patients, doctors, nurses, and staff suffer,” Pashinski said. “We’re witnessing this firsthand in Luzerne County with the sudden announcement that First Hospital intends to close by October without any apparent plans in place to provide for continuity of care or help their staff transition. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation would be a significant step toward ensuring health care facilities planning to close provide local communities and government agencies the time, information, and opportunity they need to adequately address these significant impacts and plan for related challenges.” “Pennsylvania law needs to improve how it handles for-profit health systems, especially during shutdowns,” O’Mara said. “We need more time to study to find out the impact that closures have on communities, as well as on what Read more
HARRISBURG, Sept. 20 — State Rep. Jennifer O’Mara, D-Delaware, attended a ceremonial bill signing today that commemorated the passage of her legislation to increase donation amounts to the Veterans Trust Fund. Senate Bill 96, which contains language initially introduced and championed by O’Mara since her first term in 2019, raises contributions to the Veterans Trust Fund when drivers renew their license. The annual contribution amount rose from $3 to $5 and the biannual contribution amount, from $6 to $10. “One hundred percent of donations to the VTF go directly into the fund. The Department of Military and Veterans Affairs charges no administrative costs, salaries or fees to the VTF. Every dollar goes directly to assisting veterans,” O’Mara said. “Minimally increasing the amount that Pennsylvania drivers may donate is an easy, yet highly effective way to bolster donations. I’m proud to see this measure I’ve worked on for the last three years finally make its way to the governor’s desk.” The VTF issues grants to organizations that assist veterans with needs such as shelter and necessities of living. Grants from the VTF may also help veterans with obtaining federal veterans benefits and pensions earned by virtue of their service and sacrifice. This measure was signed into law and became Act 55 of 2021 on June 30, 2021, and has been implemented by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Photos Read more
It’s back to school time! I hope that everyone heading into a new academic year has a happy and successful one. Read more
Last week, I had the opportunity to talk with White House officials about Rep. Todd Stephens’ and my “red flag” bill. Read more
SPRINGFIELD, Aug. 23 — State Reps. Jennifer O’Mara, D-Delaware, and Todd Stephens, R-Montgomery, joined White House officials and state legislative leaders from throughout the country last week to discuss Extreme Risk Protection, or “red flag,” laws. ERPO laws temporarily disarm people in crisis to disrupt spontaneous acts of violence that could quickly turn deadly. During the meeting, state lawmakers shared how they successfully passed ERPO laws, while O’Mara and Stephens discussed plans to advance their H.B. 1903 in the Pennsylvania legislature. "I lost my father to gun suicide and I miss him every day. We knew something was wrong, but we couldn't do anything to help him,” O’Mara said. “Although my story is devastating, it’s sadly not unique. Sharing my experience with White House officials and other state lawmakers from across the country was an opportunity to show how gun violence can touch people’s lives in different ways, but we can work together to prevent tragedies like the one my family went through.” “The mass shootings and alarming suicide rate across the country demonstrate the need for legislation like this to disarm those who pose a danger to themselves or others before they act,” Stephens said. “Our families and law enforcement need a way to temporarily prohibit those in crisis from possessing firearms, and to relinquish any firearms they may currently have, to Read more
Summer 2022 print newsletter featuring news on the state budget, important election deadlines, abortion access in Pennsylvania and more. Read more
Following legal challenges spurred by the majority, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court upheld our mail-in voting law, Act 77, last week. Read more
My husband, Brad, and I are so thrilled to introduce to the world our fierce little baby girl. Meet Katherine Rose Bitting, born on July 24, 2022, at 10:35 p.m. Read more
Last week was a busy one in Harrisburg. On Friday, July 8, the General Assembly passed a budget, and it was signed into law by the governor later that evening. Read more
HARRISBURG, July 15 – State Reps. Jennifer O’Mara and Melissa Shusterman today announced Apprentice Training for the Electrical Industry was awarded $394,383 for a program introducing young women to the electrical trade. “More women are entering the electrical trade than ever before,” O’Mara said. “It can be a great career path, and I am pleased we were able to help secure this important funding. Having more women learn this important trade will help break down old, incorrect stereotypes.” The program, “Rosie’s Girls,” is designed to familiarize young women with safety, tools, theoretical basics of electrical and telecommunications installation, and jobsite conditions, as well as an introduction to other career paths in the building and construction trades. This is a partnership with ATEI and the public-school districts in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties. “This program is a great way to give the young women in Southeastern Pennsylvania hands-on training in a career field once dominated by men,” Shusterman said. “I applaud the effort by Apprentice Training for the Electrical Industry to recruit women into the trades workforce. I am happy to see the state invest in a program that will help give young women more professional opportunities.” The grants, offered through the Pennsylvania Department of Labor Read more
HARRISBURG, July 8 – State Rep. Jennifer O’Mara, D-Delaware, said she supports this year’s state spending plan, particularly noting increased education funding with mental health and safety grants, funding for the Delaware County Health Department and environmental preservation initiatives. “This budget bill makes historic investments in education, sensibly uses federal American Rescue Plan dollars and directly benefits the people of Delco, so I voted in favor of it,” O’Mara said. Funding has also been earmarked for mental health and school safety initiatives. Each school district gets $100,000, plus $15 per student, in the forms of both a physical safety grant and a mental health grant, totaling $200,000 in student health and safety funding per district. Under this spending plan, Delaware County will receive 15.4% more education funding than last year; simultaneously, property tax rent rebates under the state’s PTRR Program will be increased. Recipients will receive an additional one-time check that is equal to 70% of what they receive in this year’s rebate. “We were able to increase Property Tax/Rent Rebates thanks to money Pennsylvania had received from the American Rescue Plan. While I would have liked to help more seniors living on fixed incomes get money back, I’m glad we were able to give them something extra,” O’Mara said. 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.
Please use the form below to email Rep. Jennifer M. O'Mara.
Thank you. Your feedback has been sent.
26 E. 4th StreetMedia, PA 19063-3042
P*: (610) 544-9878
F*: (484) 200-8270
Hours of Operation - Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on weekends by appointment only.
Springfield Library, Adult Section Quiet Room70 Powell RoadSpringfield, PA 19064-2446
Hours of Operation - Every Tuesday 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
217 Irvis OfficeP.O. Box 202165Harrisburg, PA 17120-2165
P*: (717) 783-4090
F*: (717) 772-2284