Schweyer Applauds School Facility Construction Funding

(Dec 21, 2023)

Pa. state Rep. Peter Schweyer, chair of the House Education Committee, spoke at a press conference at South Philadelphia High School highlighting how additional funding for school facilities will help schools across Pennsylvania, including William Allen High School in his district which desperately needs a new boiler system. Schweyer thanked his colleagues for getting this measure across the finish line and will continue fighting for additional funding to upgrade aging school facilities. Read more

 

State lawmakers tout budget funding for school facilities

(Dec 21, 2023)

PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 20 – Today, House Appropriations Committee Majority Chairman Jordan Harris, D-Phila., hosted a news conference at South Philadelphia High School discussing school facilities funding in the 2023-24 state budget. The budget includes $175 million for school facility improvements. Pennsylvania has some of the oldest schools in the country. The average school building is around 70 years old and was built when lead pipes and asbestos were standard building materials. Discoveries of asbestos and other toxins have led to school closures across the Commonwealth, including seven Philadelphia schools in 2023 alone. In the same year, 100 schools statewide closed due to excessive heat. Harris stated that he believes this funding will help to address this issue that’s plagued Pennsylvania schools for a long time. “This funding is paramount to improving the health and safety of our educators, students and school staff, Harris said. “This major Democratic priority is a significant investment and critical step toward ensuring that receiving an education in Pennsylvania does not equate to sick or injured students, teachers, or staff. There is more work to do, and we intend to continue our work until every Pennsylvania school is a safe learning environment for our children.” Harris was joined by members of the Philadelphia House Delegation, including state Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler, D-Phila., and members of the House Read more

 

Lehigh legislators, officials applaud law to add judge to Court of Common Pleas

(Dec 20, 2023)

Based on court statistics, Lehigh has some of the highest caseloads among similar counties but has as many as five fewer judges comparatively. Read more

 

LVHN Planning Merge With Jefferson Health Network

(Dec 20, 2023)

Both state Reps. Mike Schlossberg and Peter Schweyer of Lehigh County promised to continue communication with LVHN to ensure continued quality care and job security. Read more

 

Schweyer, Schlossberg, Siegel, and Miller announce over $7.1 million in state grants

(Dec 19, 2023)

State Reps. Peter Schweyer, Mike Schlossberg, and Josh Siegel along with state Sen. Nick Miller today announced a total of over $7.1 million was awarded to 13 projects throughout Lehigh County by the Commonwealth Financing Authority. Read more

 

LVHN and Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals plan to merge

(Dec 19, 2023)

"The news today of Lehigh Valley Health Network announcing their proposed merger with Jefferson University Hospital, no doubt has many of us wondering what this may mean to the thousands of employees of LVHN and the patients of one of the many LVHN practices throughout the Greater Lehigh Valley," said State Rep. Peter Schweyer, D-Lehigh. Read more

 

Schweyer responds to LVHN & Jefferson University merger proposal

(Dec 19, 2023)

ALLENTOWN, Dec. 19 – State Rep. Peter Schweyer today issued the following statement following the news of the proposed merger with Lehigh Valley Health Network and Jefferson University Hospitals. “I was an employee of Sacred Heart Hospital, an independent healthcare provider, that merged with another healthcare network. I understand that consolidations can be worrisome to neighborhoods, patients, and employees. But, when done right, mergers can mean quality patient care remains, jobs are not lost, and communities see economic development and investment. "The news today of Lehigh Valley Health Network announcing their proposed merger with Jefferson University Hospital, no doubt has many of us wondering what this may mean to the thousands of employees of LVHN and the patients of one of the many LVHN practices throughout the Greater Lehigh Valley. "I will continue to communicate with LVHN through this process and do everything possible to ensure the LVHN staff have job security and that the quality of care and healthcare provider-patient relationships we all have come to expect remain intact.” Read more

 

LVHN and Jefferson Health announce plans to merge. Here’s what it means for the Lehigh Valley

(Dec 19, 2023)

State Rep. Peter Schweyer, D-Allentown, said in a statement he would continue to communicate with LVHN through the merger process and do everything possible to ensure the job security of LVHN staff and that the quality of care for patients remains intact. Read more

 

State Reps. Schweyer, Schlossberg and Siegel applaud community safety grants

(Dec 14, 2023)

State Reps. Peter Schweyer, Mike Schlossberg and Josh Siegel announced today a total of $718,149 awarded for the city of Allentown to staff and fund police departments and for increased security for multiple organizations in their districts. Read more

 

Pa. Legislature passes education bills without Level Up funding

(Dec 13, 2023)

“Given what we’ve seen from the Senate, they weren’t going to accept it [Level Up] so we compromised on more money for facilities,” Rep. Schweyer told the Capital-Star. Read more

 

Schweyer lauds passage of fiscal, school codes

(Dec 13, 2023)

HARRISBURG, Dec. 13 – Pennsylvania House Education Committee Majority Chairman, state Rep. Peter Schweyer today celebrated the passage of the fiscal and school codes to help students, teachers and provide long overdue funding to address school infrastructure problems. “As the father of two girls in the Allentown School District, I have seen firsthand the dire need for school building upgrading and modernization,” said Schweyer, D-Lehigh. “For the first time in nearly a decade, funding passed by the House will give school districts the necessary resources to make the building upgrades which ensure safe and comfortable learning environments exist for children across the commonwealth.” According to Schweyer, on Wednesday, the General Assembly passed the two codes which contain the following: $175 million for school facility improvements. $10 million for student-teacher stipends. EITC transparency and administrative fee reforms. Added Schweyer, “While this is much needed funding to address serious issues with school buildings, the work for education funding is far from over. After the Commonwealth Court ruled our schools are underfunded, we are ensuring that fairly funding schools and upholding this constitutional obligation is a top priority.” Read more

 

Lehigh Valley lawmakers want to stop ‘book ban’ arguments. They just disagree on how.

(Dec 11, 2023)

“We’re not going to waste any staff power, any attention span in Harrisburg, on figuring out how many books are appropriate to ban, period, full stop,” Peter Schweyer, D-Lehigh, said, calling the bill “stupid.” Read more

 

State Senate legislation requiring schools to identify sexual content in books, class material currently blocked in House

(Dec 04, 2023)

“They couch it in language to soften the blow because the politics around book bans are so fraught right now,” Schweyer said. “But it's a book ban and you don't need my word for it." Read more

 

Schweyer’s office to hold monthly veterans outreach Dec. 15

(Dec 01, 2023)

ALLENTOWN, Dec. 1 – State Rep. Peter Schweyer, D-Lehigh, is alerting local veterans that his monthly support program will be held on Friday, Dec. 15 at his district office in Allentown. A representative from the American Legion will be available for appointments at Schweyer’s district office, 1501 Lehigh St., Suite 206. Appointments are available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The service officer will be available to assist veterans and their families with benefits and services available to them. The representative also will be available to discuss pensions and other compensation, as well as education, health care and death benefits. Legion membership is not required; however, anyone interested in speaking with the adviser should schedule appointments by contacting Schweyer’s office at 610-791-6270. Read more

 

Pa. lawmakers propose new community solar legislation

(Nov 28, 2023)

State Reps. Rob Matzie, D-16, Harmony Township, and Peter Schweyer, D-134, Lehigh County, introduced House Bill 1842, or the Community Solar Act, with the support of two dozen bipartisan co-sponsors. Read more

 

Gov. Shapiro, Lehigh Valley lawmakers acknowledge political divisions, outstanding education funding

(Nov 26, 2023)

House Education Committee Chairman Peter Schweyer (D-Lehigh County), who is a member of the BEF Commission, told LehighValleyNews.com recently the discussions around producing a report have been productive. Read more

 

As partisan tensions thaw in Harrisburg, Pa. lawmakers eye unfunded housing, school priorities

(Nov 13, 2023)

“While we’re having the bigger fights over the big dollar spending, we can still be doing our job,” Rep. Schweyer told Spotlight PA. “And we’re seeing that, and that’s a good thing.” Read more

 

Student Assessments & Early Literacy Testimony

(Nov 13, 2023)

The House Education Committee held an informational meeting on student assessments & early literacy. Read more

 

Schweyer: Rural School Districts Need More Support

(Nov 13, 2023)

Majority Chair of the Pa. House Education Committee, state Rep. Peter Schweyer highlights the state's inadequacies in public education funding and how our rural school districts are up against similar challenges that our suburban and city districts experience. This stop on the Basic Education Funding Commission Tour emphasized just how necessary more funding is for the rural districts in Pa. Read more

 

Schweyer’s office to hold monthly veterans outreach Nov. 17

(Nov 03, 2023)

ALLENTOWN, Nov. 3 – State Rep. Peter Schweyer, D-Lehigh, is alerting local veterans that his monthly support program will be held on Friday, Nov. 17 at his district office in Allentown. A representative from the American Legion will be available for appointments at Schweyer’s district office, 1501 Lehigh St., Suite 206. Appointments are available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The service officer will be available to assist veterans and their families with benefits and services available to them. The representative also will be available to discuss pensions and other compensation, as well as education, health care and death benefits. Legion membership is not required; however, anyone interested in speaking with the adviser should schedule appointments by contacting Schweyer’s office at 610-791-6270. Read more

 

Schweyer Applauds School Facility Construction Funding
Dec 21, 2023

State lawmakers tout budget funding for school facilities
Dec 21, 2023

Lehigh legislators, officials applaud law to add judge to Court of Common Pleas
Dec 20, 2023

LVHN Planning Merge With Jefferson Health Network
Dec 20, 2023

Schweyer, Schlossberg, Siegel, and Miller announce over $7.1 million in state grants
Dec 19, 2023

LVHN and Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals plan to merge
Dec 19, 2023

Schweyer responds to LVHN & Jefferson University merger proposal
Dec 19, 2023

LVHN and Jefferson Health announce plans to merge. Here’s what it means for the Lehigh Valley
Dec 19, 2023

State Reps. Schweyer, Schlossberg and Siegel applaud community safety grants
Dec 14, 2023

Pa. Legislature passes education bills without Level Up funding
Dec 13, 2023

Schweyer lauds passage of fiscal, school codes
Dec 13, 2023

Lehigh Valley lawmakers want to stop ‘book ban’ arguments. They just disagree on how.
Dec 11, 2023

State Senate legislation requiring schools to identify sexual content in books, class material currently blocked in House
Dec 04, 2023

Schweyer’s office to hold monthly veterans outreach Dec. 15
Dec 01, 2023

Pa. lawmakers propose new community solar legislation
Nov 28, 2023

Gov. Shapiro, Lehigh Valley lawmakers acknowledge political divisions, outstanding education funding
Nov 26, 2023

As partisan tensions thaw in Harrisburg, Pa. lawmakers eye unfunded housing, school priorities
Nov 13, 2023

Student Assessments & Early Literacy Testimony
Nov 13, 2023

Schweyer: Rural School Districts Need More Support
Nov 13, 2023

Schweyer’s office to hold monthly veterans outreach Nov. 17
Nov 03, 2023