Rozzi brings home $70,000 to help boost community health

(Oct 26, 2022)

READING, Oct. 26 – State Rep. Mark Rozzi, D-Berks, today announced that his district has been awarded $70,378 in grants to benefit local food distribution and athletic initiatives. Funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development was distributed as follows: Laureldale Borough: $20,378 to repave an existing basketball court and install two new poles and basketball hoops/nets. Helping Harvest: $50,000 to purchase a transit van, which will pick up donations from retail grocer partners and deliver food as a part of the Weekender Program for area elementary schools. “Bringing these grants back to Berks County helps ensure that residents of all ages can lead healthy lifestyles. Access to healthy food and after-school recreation opportunities make all the difference to students, especially at-risk kids,” Rozzi said. “I’m proud to bring this seventy grand home because I know that it’ll benefit families who need it most.” Questions may be directed to Rozzi’s office by calling 610-921-8921. Read more

 

$2M added to funding for work at FirstEnergy Stadium

(Oct 26, 2022)

"It is my honor to keep one of the greatest organizations, the Fightin Phils, right where it belongs, here in Reading," state Rep. Mark Rozzi said. Read more

 

Grant to buy van for Helping Harvest youth food program

(Oct 26, 2022)

"Bringing these grants back to Berks County helps ensure that residents of all ages can lead healthy lifestyles," state Rep. Mark Rozzi said. Read more

 

Rozzi invites district residents to free shredding event Sept. 10

(Sep 02, 2022)

READING, Sept. 2 – State Rep. Mark Rozzi will hold a free shredding event Saturday, Sept. 10, from 9 a.m. to noon (or until the truck fills) at Muhlenberg High School, located at 400 Sharp Ave. in Reading. “Shredding documents that contain sensitive information is one of the best ways to protect yourself from identity theft, so my office is happy to provide this free service,” Rozzi said. “Our last few shredding events have been a major success, so we wanted to organize another one. This is a free chance to declutter your home while ensuring your personal information doesn’t fall into the wrong hands.” There is a limit of 10 boxes of documents per vehicle. Only papers from individuals will be accepted. No businesses, electronics or trash. Rozzi and his staff will also be on-site at the event to answer any questions or address concerns on state-related matters. Questions may be directed to Rozzi’s office by calling 610-921-8921. Read more

 

Rep. Mark Rozzi's summer 2022 print newsletter

(Sep 01, 2022)

Rep. Rozzi's latest print newsletter which includes information on the state budget, progress on his legislation, reapportionment and more. Read more

 

Reps. Gregory, Rozzi call on AG to investigate Southern Baptist sex abuse

(May 28, 2022)

“We cannot delude ourselves into thinking this type of despicable, criminal behavior has not occurred within our Commonwealth,” they wrote. Read more

 

'Fastest path to justice': House Bill 951 for civil child abuse window stalled in Senate

(Apr 29, 2022)

State Rep. Mark Rozzi supports a special session if the bill does not get included in the budget. Read more

 

Rep. Rozzi joins governor and attorney general in calling for state Senate to ensure justice for survivors of childhood sexual abuse

(Apr 04, 2022)

HARRISBURG, April 4 – Rep. Mark Rozzi has been fighting for almost a decade in the Pennsylvania legislature to deliver justice for survivors of childhood sexual abuse and again is calling on Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman and Majority Leader Kim Ward to allow one final vote to complete the work and send a bill to the governor’s desk. Rozzi was joined by Gov. Tom Wolf and Attorney General Josh Shapiro at the Capitol today to urge the Senate to consider H.B. 951 , which would provide a retroactive two-year window for victims to file civil lawsuits while also partially lifting sovereign immunity protection for public institutions in sexual abuse cases. The bill would allow for civil cases where the injuries to the plaintiff were caused by actions or omissions by state or local agencies that constitute negligence. "This is a necessary, important step to hold abusers – and the institutions that enabled them – accountable. It is the fastest path to justice for survivors," Wolf said. "The Senate should act right now to pass House Bill 951. If the Senate fails to act to support survivors, I will call a special session to bring the General Assembly back to Harrisburg and get this done because survivors deserve to have this issue resolved." “It’s been a full year since this bill passed in the House of Representatives, and the Senate needs to act now,” Rozzi said. “Many senators are on record as Read more

 

Wolf vows special session if Berks lawmaker’s child sexual abuse legislation isn’t passed

(Apr 04, 2022)

Wolf made the demand in the Capitol Rotunda with victims of child sex abuse accompanying him. Among them was Muhlenberg Township Democratic Rep. Mark Rozzi, a victim himself who has been pushing for the legislation for years. Read more

 

Rozzi and others call on Senate Republican leadership to allow vote on statute of limitations

(Apr 03, 2022)

HARRISBURG, April 3 – State Rep. Mark Rozzi, joined by other senior state leaders, will host a news conference calling on the Pennsylvania Senate’s Republican leadership to allow an up-or-down vote on legislation that would extend Pennsylvania’s statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse survivors. Also in attendance will be national victims’ rights advocate and constitutional law scholar Marci Hamilton. Hamilton is chief executive officer of Child USA, an interdisciplinary think tank to prevent child abuse and neglect. The press conference will take place at 10:30 am Monday, April 4 at the Capitol Rotunda. Media coverage is invited. Rozzi’s House Bill 951 would provide a retroactive two-year window for victims abused during childhood to file civil lawsuits, no matter how long ago the abuse took place. It also would partially lift sovereign immunity protection for public institutions in sexual abuse cases, holding both public and private institutions accountable. The bill passed the House by a margin of 149-52 on April 7, 2021. Fourteen days later, it passed the Senate Judiciary Committee 11-3. It has not advanced from there despite the advocacy of hundreds of abuse survivors, including Rozzi himself. In 2019, Rozzi led the successful effort to abolish Pennsylvania’s criminal statute of limitations on childhood sexual abuse. Questions may be directed to Rep. Mark Rozzi at 717-783-3290. Read more

 

Rozzi announces $150K grant awarded to Reading School District

(Mar 14, 2022)

READING, March 14 – State Rep. Mark Rozzi today announced that Reading School District received a $150,000 grant to invest in software that will create personalized learning plans. “It’s rewarding to see that through my advocacy, state dollars come back to Reading and benefit area students. Investing in this software will help ensure that Reading’s youth reach their full potential,” Rozzi said. “The ability to produce personalized learning plans will help students focus on their strengths and make more informed choices about their future. This is just one of many initiatives I am spearheading with local districts to ensure students in the 126th have access to every possible tool to ensure positive outcomes for our youth.” The grant is from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. Questions may be directed to Rozzi’s office by calling 610-921-8921. Read more

 

Rep. Rozzi's Feb. 2022 Newsletter

(Feb 28, 2022)

Rep. Rozzi's Feb. 2022 newsletter including updates on his legislation, grants awarded to the community and happenings around the district. Read more

 

Rozzi announces $25K grant to help address food insecurity among elementary school students

(Jan 06, 2022)

MUHLENBERG TWP., Jan. 6 – State Rep. Mark Rozzi today announced that Helping Harvest food bank has been awarded a $25,000 grant to benefit Muhlenberg Elementary Center’s Weekender Backpack Program. This program provides low-income elementary school students with weekly bags filled with enough non-perishable foods for meals and snacks to last a weekend or the duration of a holiday break. This grant will help fund the costs of food, personnel and transportation. “Countless children depend on their school cafeteria to ensure they eat that day. Food insecurity is a problem not unique to our area, but the COVID-19 pandemic really brought this issue to light and it’s rewarding to see our community stepping up to address it,” Rozzi said. “Every child deserves access to nutritious food regardless of their family’s economic status, and I’m proud to see Muhlenberg’s Weekender Backpack Program bring this ideal to life.” Funding for this grant comes from the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services. The grant was awarded to Helping Harvest, who will supply non-perishable food items to the backpack program. “Helping Harvest is extremely grateful for the efforts of Representative Mark Rozzi in securing this state grant to help us launch our newest Weekender Program site at Muhlenberg Elementary Center,” Helping Harvest President Jay Worrall said. “Because of this funding, as many as 400 at-risk Read more

 

Rozzi applauds $143K grant to develop Laurel Run Park

(Dec 30, 2021)

MUHLENBERG TWP., Dec. 30 – State Rep. Mark Rozzi today announced that Laurel Run Park in Muhlenberg Township has been selected to receive a $143,500 grant to go toward park renovations and additions. The award will help fund the renovation of a parking area and access drive, the construction of pickleball courts, a multi-purpose field, a pavilion and pedestrian walkways, strengthening ADA access, landscaping and other related site improvements. “This funding will go a long way toward ensuring community members of all ages and abilities have a safe and modern space to enjoy outdoor activities,” Rozzi said. “It’s highly rewarding to see state dollars at work right here in Berks County and going toward a project that truly benefits everybody.” This grant is from the Community Conservation Partnerships Program, an initiative administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Its goal is to support recreation and conservation organizations with projects related to parks, recreation and conservation. More than 300 projects across the commonwealth received grants through this program. More information on DCNR grant programs can be found on the department’s website . Read more

 

Rozzi’s Christmas Gift Giving supports 100 local families this year

(Dec 10, 2021)

READING, Dec. 10 – State Rep. Mark Rozzi’s annual Christmas Gift Giving event concluded this week with 100 Reading families adopted for the holiday season. Rozzi’s office holds this donation drive every year where participants choose to support a local family in need. Sponsors buy items on the family’s wish list, wrap and label the presents so they are ready to be put under the tree by Christmas morning. “My Christmas Gift Giving drive is one of my favorite events of the year because it highlights the generosity of our community and ensures that every child has a present to open on Christmas,” Rozzi said. “The incredible support for this event never ceases to amaze me, and I sincerely thank all of this year’s sponsors for making a child’s holiday magical.” Rozzi’s office receives 400+ detailed wish lists from over 100 families every year. Rozzi and his staff coordinate connecting families with sponsors to obtain all the items on their lists, creating happy holidays for all throughout the 126th Legislative District. Photos of presents from this year are available on Rozzi’s website: https://www.pahouse.com/Rozzi/PhotoGallery?g=5066 . “While this is supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year, it’s stressful for so many people. My office is happy to help relieve this pressure for families in need and replace financial worries with happy memories, instead,” Rozzi Read more

 

Rozzi applauds $2.25 million grant for improvements to Reading’s Medical Arts building

(Dec 06, 2021)

READING, Dec. 6 – State Rep. Mark Rozzi today announced that Reading’s Medical Arts building has been selected to receive a $2.25 million grant to fund interior and exterior renovations, as well as a two-story addition to the facility. The project will consist of construction of a two-story addition in the adjacent vacant lot, masonry and window repair, a roof replacement, modernization of ground-floor retail space, lobby restoration, utility improvements, and the addition of 35 residential apartments. “Revamping Reading’s Medical Arts building into apartments and retail space has been a project in the works for years. Securing this state funding will ensure that this historic building maintains its original Art Deco touches that make it a crucial piece of Reading’s history,” Rozzi said. “Modernizing and utilizing this facility is just one example of continued efforts to redevelop and revitalize the city of Reading. I’m incredibly thankful for this $2 million investment and will keep working to bring more state dollars home to benefit our community.” The grant comes from the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program. RACP is a grant program administered by the Office of the Budget for the acquisition and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic, recreational and historical improvement projects. More information is available online at https://www.budget.pa.gov/Programs/RACP/ . Questions may be Read more

 

Berks lawmakers Applaud $7.5 Million in State Funding for Reading Phils, Tout Community Effort to Improve Stadium

(Dec 03, 2021)

READING, Dec. 3 – Sen. Judy Schwank, Rep. Mark Rozzi and Rep. Manny Guzman, all D-Berks, applauded today’s awarding of $7.5 million in Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program funding by Gov. Tom Wolf and the Pennsylvania Office of the Budget in support of the construction of new facilities at FirstEnergy Stadium. In December of 2020, Major League Baseball contracted and consolidated its affiliations with minor league baseball franchises. Reading was offered a license, which maintained its affiliation with the Philadelphia Phillies MLB franchise. As part of the new Minor League Baseball license agreements, improvements must be made to stadium facilities at all minor league baseball venues within the next two years. Improvements needed at FirstEnergy Stadium include, among other things, the construction of home and away team clubhouses and new player practice and training facilities. “Losing the Reading Fightin Phils was never an option and keeping the team in Reading has been one of my top economic development priorities,” Schwank said. “Officials from the state, county and local level were all on the same page and acted quickly and with urgency to find funding. We really worked together, and across party lines, to get this done. The R-Phils have a storied history in Berks County as the longest-running minor league affiliate in professional baseball. People who grew up going to games now take their own kids to the ballpark. We would have Read more

 

Rozzi announces $238K grant to address gun violence

(Dec 02, 2021)

READING, Dec. 2 – State Rep. Mark Rozzi today announced that the Salvation Army of Reading received a $238,062 grant to implement trauma-informed group sessions for families and children impacted by gun violence. The grant from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime & Delinquency will support the salary of a full-time social worker and their benefits, travel expenses, one laptop, food, crafts and educational supplies. Additional costs would be for the behavioral health specialist leading the trauma-informed groups and training of staff on trauma-informed support. Other costs include utilities, property, liability, phone, and postage. “Sadly, too many families have been impacted and too many lives have been lost by gun violence in Reading. When someone experiences something this traumatic, they often don’t know where to go or who to reach out to in order to feel understood and heard, so I’m confident that funding from this grant will help change that,” Rozzi said. This grant comes from PCCD’s Violence Intervention & Prevention grant program. VIP funding is intended to support effective local intervening and preventative measures to stop gun and group violence in areas experiencing high rates of violent crime within Pennsylvania. Learn more about this program here: https://www.pccd.pa.gov/criminaljustice/GunViolence/Pages/Grants-and-Funding.aspx . Anyone with questions should call Rozzi’s office at 610-921-8921. Read more

 

Pennie's Open Enrollment Period is now open

(Nov 01, 2021)

Pennie is Pennsylvanian's insurance marketplace and provides individuals and families with the ability to shop for high-quality health care plans and easily apply for financial assistance. Read more

 

O’Mara, Guzman and Rozzi release statements on Berks County’s mail-in ballot error

(Oct 22, 2021)

READING, Oct. 22 — State Reps. Jennifer O’Mara, Manny Guzman and Mark Rozzi denounced Berks County commissioners’ colossal error disenfranchising Spanish speaking voters by providing the wrong return-by date on mail-in ballots with following statements: “The people deserve answers. I am demanding an immediate full investigation into how this massive error could have happened – you don’t slip a finger and type ’18’ when you mean to type ‘2.’ And, if this is more than an accident, we need to demand resignations. For my part I am working with state Democratic leadership to convene a Policy Committee hearing in Reading to get the facts we all need to restore public trust. The actions of right-wing extremists in Harrisburg and Washington D.C. show us how fragile our democracy truly is – we cannot afford to shatter democracy in Berks County,” Guzman said. “Voting is one of our most sacred rights in America, and if people are being told wrong information regarding elections – that’s voter suppression. This cannot be remedied by simply mailing a letter, the county commissioners need to be more open and proactive about correcting their mistake to ensure that every voice is heard on Election Day. The county commissioners’ failure to share accurate information is nothing but a veiled attempt at voter suppression, and Rep. Guzman and I will continue shedding light on this issue Read more

 

Rozzi brings home $70,000 to help boost community health
Oct 26, 2022

$2M added to funding for work at FirstEnergy Stadium
Oct 26, 2022

Grant to buy van for Helping Harvest youth food program
Oct 26, 2022

Rozzi invites district residents to free shredding event Sept. 10
Sep 02, 2022

Rep. Mark Rozzi's summer 2022 print newsletter
Sep 01, 2022

Reps. Gregory, Rozzi call on AG to investigate Southern Baptist sex abuse
May 28, 2022

'Fastest path to justice': House Bill 951 for civil child abuse window stalled in Senate
Apr 29, 2022

Rep. Rozzi joins governor and attorney general in calling for state Senate to ensure justice for survivors of childhood sexual abuse
Apr 04, 2022

Wolf vows special session if Berks lawmaker’s child sexual abuse legislation isn’t passed
Apr 04, 2022

Rozzi and others call on Senate Republican leadership to allow vote on statute of limitations
Apr 03, 2022

Rozzi announces $150K grant awarded to Reading School District
Mar 14, 2022

Rep. Rozzi's Feb. 2022 Newsletter
Feb 28, 2022

Rozzi announces $25K grant to help address food insecurity among elementary school students
Jan 06, 2022

Rozzi applauds $143K grant to develop Laurel Run Park
Dec 30, 2021

Rozzi’s Christmas Gift Giving supports 100 local families this year
Dec 10, 2021

Rozzi applauds $2.25 million grant for improvements to Reading’s Medical Arts building
Dec 06, 2021

Berks lawmakers Applaud $7.5 Million in State Funding for Reading Phils, Tout Community Effort to Improve Stadium
Dec 03, 2021

Rozzi announces $238K grant to address gun violence
Dec 02, 2021

Pennie's Open Enrollment Period is now open
Nov 01, 2021

O’Mara, Guzman and Rozzi release statements on Berks County’s mail-in ballot error
Oct 22, 2021