In light of the recent campaign to spread false information at the state and national levels about the security of elections, the Pennsylvania House Democratic Policy Committee will convene to defend democracy by discussing the 2020 elections process and how it may be protected from future fraudulent attacks. The meeting will be held virtually from 10 a.m. to noon Tuesday, Jan. 19 and can be viewed at www.pahouse.com/policycommittee or via the Policy Committee’s Facebook account --@padempolicy. The media and public are invited to tune in. Policy Committee Chairman Ryan Bizzarro and Democratic Caucus members will hear from a bipartisan group of testifiers on their 2020 election experience and what legislative action they may need to protect future elections from misinformation campaigns and to continue to maintain election security. The meeting will be one in a series addressing the false allegations of election fraud that culminated in the seditious and deadly attack on our nation’s Capitol by insurgent groups. Read more
HARRISBURG, Jan. 15 – In light of the recent campaign to spread false information at the state and national levels about the security of elections, the Pennsylvania House Democratic Policy Committee will convene to defend democracy by discussing the 2020 elections process and how it may be protected from future fraudulent attacks. The meeting will be held virtually from 10 a.m. to noon Tuesday, Jan. 19 and can be viewed at www.pahouse.com/policycommittee or via the Policy Committee’s Facebook account: @padempolicy. The media and public are invited to tune in. Policy Committee Chairman Ryan Bizzarro and Democratic Caucus members will hear from a bipartisan group of testifiers on their 2020 election experience and what legislative action they may need to protect future elections from misinformation campaigns and to continue to maintain election security. The meeting will be one in a series addressing the false allegations of election fraud that culminated in the seditious and deadly attack on our nation’s Capitol by insurgent groups. Read more
“I am looking forward to continuing to work with the Policy Committee, now as one of its vice chairs,” Ciresi said. “The committee’s policy agenda is one that will help us lead the way out of this pandemic and create a better, stronger economy for all Pennsylvanians. I look forward to working on these important issues – the work we were sent to Harrisburg to do – with my fellow committee members.” Read more
HARRISBURG, Jan. 12 - State Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler, D-Phila., has been named chair of a new subcommittee by House Democratic Caucus Policy Committee Chairman Ryan Bizzarro. Fiedler will serve as the chair of the Subcommittee on Progressive Policies for Working People. “I am proud to chair this subcommittee and lay out a policy agenda that focuses on valuing the lives of working and poor people, over big corporate profit,” Fiedler said. The subcommittee will focus on five major areas: health care, tax reform, environmental policy, criminal justice and housing. While these topics are vital to House Democrats, Fiedler said she believes they need to be tackled at a structural level, working closely with the people who are directly affected by these issues, and working on bold plans with a clear race/class lens. “Our politics in Harrisburg and D.C. are dominated by corporate and special interests,” Fiedler said. “We are repeatedly told that the status quo is the best we can get. That is not true. All our families deserve quality health care that doesn’t send them into bankruptcy, clean water and air, fair taxes and so much more. I am excited to work with my colleagues to build a transformative platform for working people, and to amplify and center the life experiences of the 99%. I’m excited for the work we will accomplish, and grateful to Leader McClinton and Chair Bizzarro for their commitment to facilitating this important Read more
HARRISBURG, Jan. 12 -- State Rep. Ryan Bizzarro said he was thrilled to convene an organizational meeting of the Pennsylvania House Democratic Policy Committee and appoint colleagues from across the state to help lead the committee. As the new chairman for the 2021-22 Legislative Session, Bizzarro said the committee will focus on COVID-19 recovery; economic and community development; education; infrastructure and jobs. “Our main priority is working Pennsylvanians. We know this pandemic has ravaged many small businesses and we must craft meaningful solutions that help get people back to work. The pandemic has highlighted many inequities in how funding is distributed, how children are educated and the opportunities we must foster for a thriving state,” Bizzarro explained. “The future of our commonwealth depends on crafting bipartisan solutions to these issues. Our colleagues have had the majority for quite some time and, despite their rhetoric, continue to favor profits over people. It’s time we come together for the benefit of all Pennsylvanians.” The chairman announced that state Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler of Philadelphia will serve as chair of the newly created Subcommittee on Progressive Policies for Working People. The subcommittee will focus on a fair and equitable criminal justice system; clean water and air; quality healthcare for all; housing as a human right; and economic policies that benefit the working class. State Read more
Full public hearing held in Harrisburg on October 26, 2020. Read more
Materials from a public hearing held in the Capitol and co-chaired by State Rep. Pete Schweyer. Read more
HARRISBURG, Oct. 22 – State Rep. Mike Sturla, D-Lancaster, announced today that the House Democratic Policy Committee will hold a public hearing on utility shutoffs. The hearing will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, Oct. 26 in Room G-50 Irvis Office Building. The media and public are invited to watch the livestream at www.pahouse.com/live . Requested by Rep. Pete Schweyer, D-Lehigh, the hearing will discuss what more the legislature can do to protect consumers faced with their utilities being shut off, especially during a pandemic. Testifiers will speak remotely, while members will participate in person and remotely. Testifiers will include: Tanya McCloskey , acting Pennsylvania consumer advocate. Elizabeth Marx , executive director, Pennsylvania Utility Law Project. Gladys Brown Dutrieuille , chairman, Pennsylvania Utility Commission. Terry Fitzpatrick , president and CEO, Energy Association of Pennsylvania. Following the hearing, testimonies and full hearing video will be posted at www.pahouse.com/policycommittee . Read more
Full public hearing held in Carnegie on October 15, 2020. Read more
Materials from a public hearing hosted by State Rep. Anita Kulik. Read more
Materials from a public hearing held virtually and co-chaired by State Rep. Sara Innamorato. Read more
Full public hearing held in Ebensburg on October 13, 2020. Read more
Materials from a public hearing hosted by State Rep. Frank Burns. Read more
PITTSBURGH, Oct. 9 – State Rep. Sara Innamorato, D-Allegheny, announced today that she will co-chair a House Democratic Policy Committee virtual public hearing on radioactive and hazardous waste loopholes. The hearing will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 14 via www.pahouse.com/live . The media and public are invited to watch this livestream. Requested by Innamorato, the hearing will feature testimony from state officials and policy experts about the impact of radioactive and hazardous waste loopholes on communities, worker safety and public health. She will be joined by HDPC Chair Mike Sturla, D-Lancaster, and other committee members. Testifiers will include: Rebecca Franz , chief deputy attorney general for Environmental Crimes Section, Office of Pennsylvania Attorney General. Dr. John Stolz , director, Duquesne University’s Center for Environmental Research and Education. Melissa Troutman , research and policy analyst, Earthworks. Justin Nobel , investigative journalist. Veronica Coptis , executive director, Center for Coalfield Justice. Dr. Marsha Haley , radiation oncologist, Physicians for Social Responsibility. Lois Bauer-Bjornson , outreach coordinator, Clean Air Council. Industry workers. Following the hearing, testimonies and full hearing video will be posted at www.pahouse.com/policycommittee . Read more
HARRISBURG, Oct. 9 – In their ongoing efforts to keep people in their homes, state Reps. Morgan Cephas, Malcolm Kenyatta and Sara Innamorato held a public hearing today to discuss legal aid for tenants facing eviction amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The three brought members of the House Democratic Policy Committee and experts together to discuss legislation they are introducing to provide legal representation to low-income tenants facing an eviction hearing. "A study from the Center for American Progress shows nearly 90% of landlords and property managers across the country have access to legal representation compared to just 10% of tenants. And in most eviction cases, tenants without representation lose," said Cephas, D-Phila. "This ultimately comes down to fairness and the need to prevent our most vulnerable neighbors from being tossed out on the street. Our plan aims to connect them with the quality protection they need to help keep a roof over their head, especially during this health crisis." “The CDC’s moratorium will only stave off evictions until the end of the year, but the threat of a large-scale housing crisis still looms, so we must act now,” said Kenyatta, D-Phila. “During these uncertain and incredibly stressful times in which medical experts are urging everyone to stay at home, Pennsylvanians should be able to take solace in having a home of their own to retreat to. Read more
Full public hearing held virtually on October 9, 2020. Read more
Materials from a public hearing held virtually and co-chaired by State Reps. Malcolm Kenyatta, Sara Innamorato and Morgan Cephas. Read more
CARNEGIE, Oct. 9 – State Rep. Anita Kulik, D-Allegheny, announced today that she will host a House Democratic Policy Committee public hearing on women in business and how they fared through the COVID-19 pandemic. The hearing will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 15 at the Andrew Carnegie Free Library and Music Hall, 300 Beechwood Ave. The public also may watch the livestream at www.pahouse.com/live . Requested by Kulik, the hearing will feature testimony from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development and local businesswomen about their experiences. She will be joined by HDPC Chair Mike Sturla, D-Lancaster, and other committee members. Testifiers will include: Carol Kilko , deputy secretary for business finance, DCED. Eva Trout , artist and owner, Firebox Art Studio. Tammy Bellotti , travel agent and owner, Magical Moments Vacations. Marianne Skiba , Emmy-winning makeup artist and owner, Glam Earth. Tiffany Battaglini , insurance agent and agency owner, Erie Insurance. Kanak Iyer , owner, Kanakadhara Financial Enterprises LLC. Coleen Melani Baldwin , owner, Tootsie’s Diner. Following the hearing, testimonies and full hearing video will be posted at www.pahouse.com/policycommittee . Media coverage is invited Read more
HARRISBURG, Oct. 8 – State Rep. Melissa Shusterman hosted the Pennsylvania House Democratic Policy Committee for an online hearing today examining the progress that state and county officials have made securing the 2020 general election in Pennsylvania. Shusterman hosted the hearing at the request of committee Chair Mike Sturla, D-Lancaster. Testimony was heard from: Jonathan Marks , deputy secretary for elections & commission, Pennsylvania Department of State. Bill Turner , acting director, Chester County Voter Services. Vic Walczak , legal director, ACLU of Pennsylvania . Pat Christmas , policy director, The Committee of Seventy Carol Kuniholm , vice president of government and social policy, League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania. The full hearing is available to watch at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ILAO2YScj8&feature=emb_logo . “Ensuring that this fall’s election takes place securely and does so with the confidence of Pennsylvania voters is the most important work happening at all levels of government right now,” said Shusterman, D-Chester. “My House colleagues and I are laser-focused to ensuring that Pennsylvania’s voting procedures and personnel are dialed in and that the sanctity of our democracy is protected. “Having heard from this expert panel today, I am confident in telling my constituents that they can trust the integrity of this Read more
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