News Center

Policy Hearing: Misclassification hurts workers, taxpayers and state

(Jan 27, 2023) Policy Committee

“This is a widespread, multimillion-dollar illegal practice happening across Pennsylvania in numerous industries and career fields,” Policy Chairman Ryan Bizzarro said. “It’s robbing our workers, it’s hurting our families, and – quite honestly – it’s creating a greater tax burden on the citizens and employers who are living by the rules and paying their fair share. The testimony we heard today should motivate responsible lawmakers to support a multi-faceted response, including several of the recommendations put forth by the task force.” Read more

 

Health care staffing at 'crisis' level

(Jan 27, 2023) Policy Committee

"A patient my age who came in for abdominal surgery that was pretty simple died because there were not enough staff," Michelle Boyle, a union nurse with SEIU Healthcare PA, told the panel. "Those nurses (involved in that patient's care) no longer work in nursing" because of the personal impact of the case." Read more

 

Worker Misclassification

(Jan 27, 2023) Policy Committee

Testimony for the House Democratic Policy Committee hearing on worker misclassification Read more

 

Policy Hearing: Testifiers detail issues affecting health care staffing

(Jan 26, 2023) Policy Committee

“While the pandemic did not cause these issues, it crystalized the problem in a way where the public became acutely aware of its importance,” said Rep. Arvind Venkat, an emergency physician and the first physician to serve in the PA General Assembly in about 60 years. “Unfortunately, no silver bullet – or magical solution – exists to fix this complicated problem. As we saw when we peeled back layers of the issue today, addressing one issue often calls for the need to find a solution to several more related issues." Read more

 

Health Care Staffing Crisis

(Jan 26, 2023) Policy Committee

Submitted and written testimony for the Thursday, Jan. 26 Policy Committee hearing on the Health Care Staffing Crisis. Read more

 

Roundtable: Union Organizing

(Jan 12, 2023) Policy Committee

House Democratic Policy Committee roundtable on union organizing. Read more

 

Hearing: Election Reform

(Jan 12, 2023) Policy Committee

House Democratic Policy Committee hearing on election reform. Read more

 

Bizzarro welcomes new leaders to House Democratic Policy team

(Dec 08, 2022) Policy Committee

State Rep. Ryan Bizzarro, chairman of the House Democratic Policy Committee, announced new vice chairs, as well as two new subcommittee chairs. Read more

 

Online higher education takes center stage at House Dem Policy hearing

(Oct 26, 2022) Policy Committee

The House Democratic Policy Committee convened a hearing Wednesday morning in Harrisburg to discuss the affordability and accessibility of online higher education options across Pennsylvania. Read more

 

Online Higher Education

(Oct 25, 2022) Policy Committee

Submitted testimony on hearing on Online Education hosted Oct. 25, 2022 in Harrisburg. Read more

 

Education Funding: The Promise of Level Up, Need for Charter Funding Reform, and Threat of School Vouchers

(Oct 12, 2022) Policy Committee

Submitted testimony for Policy Committee hearing held on Oct. 12, 2022 in Sharon. Read more

 

Testifiers plea for updated Pa. charter school law during policy hearing

(Oct 11, 2022) Policy Committee

The House Democratic Policy Committee convened a hearing Tuesday afternoon to discuss the need to reform Pennsylvania’s charter school law and address teacher shortages across the state. Read more

 

The Future of Education in Cambria County

(Oct 11, 2022) Policy Committee

Submitted testimony by testifiers for the Policy Committee hearing on Oct. 11, 2022 in Johnstown. Read more

 

Environmental Justice

(Oct 05, 2022) Policy Committee

Submitted testimony for the joint hearing on environmental justice held with the Policy Committee and the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus on Oct. 5, 20022 in Harrisburg. Read more

 

State government should refocus its efforts on environmental justice

(Oct 05, 2022) Policy Committee

“As we heard in testimony today, many of the biggest challenges facing our communities are rooted in race,” Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus Chair Donna Bullock said. “In order to overcome these challenges – including poverty and environmental burdens – it is imperative we address and eliminate racial disparities by changing policies and some of the flawed practices we have seen in the past.” Read more

 

Joint HDPC/PLBC Hearing: Environmental Justice

(Oct 04, 2022) Policy Committee

The Policy Committee will join with the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus for a discussion on environmental justice and the impact it has on different communities across Pennsylvania. Read more

 

Policy committee tours groundbreaking research incubator in Bucks County

(Oct 04, 2022) Policy Committee

The House Democratic Policy Committee was in Bucks County Tuesday morning for a tour and roundtable discussion at the Blumberg Institute in Doylestown. Read more

 

Policy hearing identifies problems and solutions of stormwater management

(Oct 03, 2022) Policy Committee

The House Democratic Policy Committee convened a hearing Monday in Montgomery County to discuss stormwater management and the impact it has on community infrastructure. Read more

 

Stormwater Management & Infrastructure Management

(Oct 03, 2022) Policy Committee

Submitted written testimony for the hearing Stormwater Management and Infrastructure Management on Monday, Oct. 3. Read more

 

Hearing explores growing need to support grandparents

(Sep 28, 2022) Policy Committee

“I first became aware of this issue more than a decade ago when I was fortunate enough to meet several heroes in our communities – grandparents who stepped in to raise their grandchildren for various reasons,” said Pashinski, D-Luzerne. “We passed three bills in 2018 to create important resources for grandparents, bills that I’m very proud will help thousands of people in need. However, our work on this issue is not complete, and it’s one reason why I’m trying to pass House Bill 2858 that would provide for legal services – including adoption – that kinship care families desperately need.” Read more

 

Policy Hearing: Misclassification hurts workers, taxpayers and state
Jan 27, 2023

Health care staffing at 'crisis' level
Jan 27, 2023

Worker Misclassification
Jan 27, 2023

Policy Hearing: Testifiers detail issues affecting health care staffing
Jan 26, 2023

Health Care Staffing Crisis
Jan 26, 2023

Roundtable: Union Organizing
Jan 12, 2023

Hearing: Election Reform
Jan 12, 2023

Bizzarro welcomes new leaders to House Democratic Policy team
Dec 08, 2022

Online higher education takes center stage at House Dem Policy hearing
Oct 26, 2022

Online Higher Education
Oct 25, 2022

Education Funding: The Promise of Level Up, Need for Charter Funding Reform, and Threat of School Vouchers
Oct 12, 2022

Testifiers plea for updated Pa. charter school law during policy hearing
Oct 11, 2022

The Future of Education in Cambria County
Oct 11, 2022

Environmental Justice
Oct 05, 2022

State government should refocus its efforts on environmental justice
Oct 05, 2022

Joint HDPC/PLBC Hearing: Environmental Justice
Oct 04, 2022

Policy committee tours groundbreaking research incubator in Bucks County
Oct 04, 2022

Policy hearing identifies problems and solutions of stormwater management
Oct 03, 2022

Stormwater Management & Infrastructure Management
Oct 03, 2022

Hearing explores growing need to support grandparents
Sep 28, 2022