State Rep. Mike Schlossberg, D-Lehigh, today announced a combined total of more than $144,000 in relief funding was awarded to two cultural organizations in Allentown through the COVID-19 Cultural and Museum Preservation Grant program for cultural organizations and museums to offset lost revenue caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more
The House Democratic Housing Working Group announced a package of bills to protect people across Pennsylvania as the state’s moratorium on evictions and foreclosures expires Read more
HARRISBURG, July 15 -- Bipartisan legislation introduced by state Reps. Mike Schlossberg, D-Lehigh, and Frank Farry, R-Bucks, that would establish an emergency responder mental wellness and stress management program in Pennsylvania is headed to the governor’s desk. Read more
ALLENTOWN, July 12 – State Rep. Mike Schlossberg issued the following statement regarding a disturbing video showing Allentown police. Read more
Renters and homeowners who were financially impacted by the economic slowdown related to the coronavirus pandemic will be able to access applications for rent and mortgage relief beginning Monday, June 29. At that time, applications will be accessible from a red banner on the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency’s website at www.PHFA.org . Homeowners who became unemployed after March 1 or who suffered at least a 30 percent reduction in annual income due to reduced work hours and wages related to COVID-19 may be eligible for financial assistance to help with missed mortgage payments. To qualify for the Pandemic Mortgage Assistance Program, the applicant must be an owner-occupant of their residence, the dwelling must consist of one or two separate units, the mortgage must be at least 30 days delinquent, and the applicant-homeowner’s annual household income must not exceed the Area Median Income for their county of residence adjusted for the number of people in their home. For renters to be eligible for financial assistance under the CARES Rent Relief Program, they will need to document at least a 30 percent reduction in annual income since March 1 related to COVID-19, or they must have become unemployed after March 1. If unemployed, they must have filed for Unemployment Compensation. Their household income cannot exceed the Area Median Income for their county of residence adjusted for the number of people in their home. For more information Read more
Applications are expected to be available June 30 for a new program aimed at providing critical funding to local businesses hurt by the coronavirus. Read more
HARRISBURG, June 18 – State Reps. Maureen Madden, D-Monroe, Eddie Day Pashinski, D-Luzerne, and Mike Schlossberg, D-Lehigh, held a “ PA Needs a Just Recovery” Zoom press event to discuss the steps the Pennsylvania General Assembly needs to take to create a just recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and to heed the call for racial justice demanded by Pennsylvanians. A Just Recovery for all Pennsylvanians includes: Racial justice and police reforms. Making sure that Pennsylvanians returning to work have the resources they need to protect themselves from COVID-19. Instituting additional small business stimulus packages. Making sure schools and students have the resources, including internet access, to facilitate proper socially distant learning. Working towards providing quality housing for every Pennsylvanian. Instituting tax fairness initiatives. Continuing to ensure that all Pennsylvanians have access to the vote so their voices can be heard. Madden said House Democrats are determined to work together, not just to protect and reward frontline workers during this crisis, but to ensure that everyone -- with no exceptions -- can secure fair pay, a safe workplace and to be able to stay in their homes. “Our constituents are undergoing record levels of unemployment and hourly work reductions, and they now have to face the grueling reality of paying rent,” Read more
HARRISBURG, June 15 – State Reps. Maureen Madden, D-Monroe, and Mike Schlossberg, D-Lehigh, plan on introducing legislation aimed at helping renters stay in their homes by establishing a Tenant Eviction Mitigation bill package . Both lawmakers said among the hardships Pennsylvanians are facing across the state due to COVID-19, is the fear of possibly losing their home. It’s one of the most prominent fears, and for this reason they will introduce a bill package to help renters. “We are on the brink of a housing crisis during the COVID-19 pandemic and we need to do everything we can to keep people in their homes,” Madden said. “Our constituents are undergoing record levels of unemployment and hourly work reductions, and they now have to face the grueling reality of paying rent. While we work to protect our essential workers and our most at-risk people, it is our responsibility to ensure they are safe in their homes.” “In the aftermath of the Great Recession, several counties in PA—including Lehigh County, took steps to create a mortgage mitigation program,” Schlossberg said. “Courts took steps to protect endangered homeowners and helped to keep people in their homes. This legislation takes a similar approach to protect tenants and also helps landlords work toward a process for securing past-due rents. These are terribly difficult times and the more we can do help landlords and tenants navigate this Read more
HARRISBURG, MAY 13 – A new bill which would provide additional financial support to nonprofit organizations serving Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable residents during the COVID-19 pandemic was introduced this week, according to state Reps. Peter Schweyer and Mike Schlossberg, both D-Lehigh. “Nonprofit organizations not only protect the health and wellbeing of our residents, they also employ a substantial number of people. I have heard from many nonprofits who are in desperate need of financial assistance to keep their employees working,” Schweyer said. “We cannot turn our backs on them during this crisis.” House Bill 2515 would transfer $100 million from the Rainy Day Fund to re-open the state’s COVID-19 Working Capital Access loan program to additional small businesses. It would also open the loan program to nonprofit organizations with 100 or fewer employees and that provide critical services such as domestic violence and rape crisis services, health and counseling services, homeless shelters, hunger-relief services, and more. “By strengthening our nonprofits, we strengthen our entire community, help our people and alleviate the government of the need to engage in monstrous spending projects,” Schlossberg said. “We have to do whatever we can to ensure these community organizations survive and thrive.” Schweyer added that H.B. 2515 will be assigned to a Read more
Dear Mr. President, Welcome to the Lehigh Valley. I hope this visit finds you well. Like so many Americans and Pennsylvanians, we have struggled during this outbreak. Allentown has a per capita infection rate almost 4.5 times as the rest of Pennsylvania. We’ve lost 121 people in Lehigh County, where you are visiting today. Over 2,000 Allentown residents are ill. Over 3,700 are sick throughout this county. On behalf of the people of the 132nd Legislative District, I have some questions: You have recently tweeted that Pennsylvanians “want their freedom.” What is the national testing strategy? How can we ensure freedom and safety at the same time? What are the plans to provide our health care professionals, first responders and essential workers with the Personal Protective Equipment necessary to keep them safe? In the next year, Allentown and the Lehigh Valley risks losing thousands of teachers, police officers and firefighters as a result of budget cuts. These aren’t “red” employees or “blue” employees, but American ones. They are people who educate our kids and keep us safe. What is the plan to help us pay for teachers, police officers, firefighters and more? You’ve been arguing for people to get back to work. You said in a news conference that, “we have met the moment and prevailed,” yet COVID-19 seems to be running Read more
In Pennsylvania, everyone counts and April 1 is National Census Day! If you haven’t already, don't forget to fill out your census form. Our population count determines our voice in government and how much federal funding we’ll receive for education, health care, transportation and more. Whether you respond online, mail or by phone , participate and help shape PA’s future. Your responses are anonymous and protected by law. To learn more, visit pa.gov/census #PAcounts #2020Census Read more
In light of the current COVID-19 pandemic affecting Pennsylvania, we wanted to provide you with the following resources and information to help you and your family in the days ahead. Please note that this webpage will be updated as needed with additional information and resources. State Services and Resources The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has created a COVID-19 guide to assist everyone. It includes information on social distancing, mental health resources, unemployment, food assistance, changes from PennDOT and resources for small business: https://www.pa.gov/guides/responding-to-covid-19/ For individuals : https://www.pa.gov/guides/responding-to-covid-19/#ForIndividuals For families : https://www.pa.gov/guides/responding-to-covid-19/#ForFamilies For businesses : https://dced.pa.gov/resources COVID Support for PA Businesses : The following provides information and and links to federal, state, local and private resources. https://www.pahouse.com/News/?id=113388 **Self-employed, independent contractors, gig economy workers: Apply here for federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) benefits .** https://www.pa.gov/guides/responding-to-covid-19/#ForBusinessesUtilities Information from the PA Dept. of Labor and Industry on the federal CARES Act: https://www.uc.pa.gov/COVID-19/CARES-Act/Pages/default.aspx The following link provides you with Read more
The PA Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) has established a new resource account where businesses and staff can submit questions on exemptions regarding the closure of physical locations for non-life-sustaining businesses in the Commonwealth. Businesses seeking exemptions from closure: Please contact ra-dcexemptions@pa.gov . Other questions about closures can be directed to ra-dcedcs@pa.gov . For more COVID-19 business information, DCED has set up a web site that continually will be updated as information becomes available: https://dced.pa.gov/resources . Read more
HARRISBURG, March 18 – Following the announcement that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court would be halting all eviction notices, multiple House Democrats, who earlier in the day requested this halt, issued the following statement: “We’re extremely appreciative to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court for showing judicious leadership in halting all evictions statewide through at least April 3 and possibly beyond depending on the COVID-19 pandemic. “As we continually urge Pennsylvanians to stay home out of great concern for their personal health as well as the health of their community, it’s unconscionable that they could still be evicted and thrown into a world of instability when stability is what they need most. This halting of evictions doesn’t only help the homeowner or lessee, it helps the entire community. “Far too many people are living paycheck to paycheck and now face the real situation of being out of work for an extended period of time. Ensuring they have a roof over their heads for the foreseeable future isn’t simply the right thing to do, it’s the moral thing to do.” The following House Democratic legislators signed on to a letter, which can be viewed here, requesting the Pennsylvania Supreme Court halt all eviction proceedings: Democratic Leader Frank Dermody, D-Allegheny. Democratic Whip Jordan Harris, D-Phila. State Rep. Mary Isaacson, D-Phila. State Read more
ALLENTOWN, March 12 -- State Rep. Mike Schlossberg, D-Lehigh, released the following statement on COVID-19 and the temporary closure of his district office: “We have unquestionably entered an uncharted moment in modern history. It is not an exaggeration to say that how we act now will determine the fate of thousands, if not millions. “The good news is that the vast majority of us will ultimately live through this outbreak, and after some time, resume our daily lives. The bad news is that the coronavirus will result in the deaths of fellow Pennsylvanians. It will make even more people sick. Stopping it is no longer an option. Promisingly, as has been made clear by conversations with medical professionals and public health experts, we are not powerless to lessen its impact. We all have a critical role to play. “Members of the public must understand that the official count of 21 cases of COVID-19 in Pennsylvania is unquestionably a low number. It comes as a result of what represents the disease’s relatively long incubation time, a lack of symptoms and a lack of tests. The real number of people who have the new coronavirus is unquestionably higher. “If we avoid unnecessary contact, we can slow the spread of this disease. This will give hospitals time to treat the sick and help maintain their capacity to treat the thousands who will need treatment. Any large social gathering should be postponed or moved to virtual means. Please, Read more
ALLENTOWN, March 11 – Today, state Reps. Mike Schlossberg, Peter Schweyer and Jeanne McNeill joined leaders from the Lehigh County Humane Society and The Humane Society of the United States in a call to advance legislation to better protect animals from abuse in Pennsylvania. Read more
HARRISBURG, Feb. 26 – Parkland School District today was awarded a $45,000 grant to support and implement school safety initiatives, announced state Rep. Mike Schlossberg. Read more
HARRISBURG, Feb. 26 – Allentown School District will undertake additional school safety improvements thanks in part to a $45,000 state grant that was approved today, announced state Reps. Mike Schlossberg and Peter Schweyer. Read more
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ALLENTOWN, Feb. 4 – State Rep. Mike Schlossberg, D-Lehigh, has issued the following statement regarding Gov. Tom Wolf’s proposed budget for 2020-21: “Governor Wolf’s proposed budget marks a significant commitment to many of the things important to the 132 nd Legislative District and I am encouraged by what I see in the details. “I certainly applaud Governor Wolf’s proposal to increase funding for education. Governor Wolf’s leadership has resulted in historic increases in state commitment and we must continue to fight for the resources necessary to better our schools. “The task of charter school reform is a necessary part of this budget. It is also tough conversation. For many families, including many in the 132 nd Legislative District, students attend good charter schools where they find meaningful education. The negative effects on the Allentown School District, the students who attend those schools—and cash-strapped taxpayers—cannot be ignored. In 1998, ASD’s budget for charter school costs was $3 million. This year, that number is $64 million. This is $1 out of every $6 of ASD’s budget. Can you imagine trying to run your household with 1/6 of your income being controlled by somebody else? It cannot be done and ASD’s leaders have no say in the matter. This is one illustration for why we need charter school reform so badly. “Last week, local news reported one area Read more
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