COATESVILLE, July 2 – State Rep. Dan Williams, D-Chester, hosted Wednesday night a successful Community Police Partnership Forum shedding light on police/community relations and systemic racism. Dozens of constituents attended while more than 100 tuned in via livestream to interact with Williams, area chiefs of police, Chester County’s sheriff and district attorney. “I want to thank everyone who participated as we attempt to take a step forward together,” Williams said. “We need to open the dialogue around policing to implement effective change. This is only the beginning – 400 years of racism cannot be addressed in only one night. Here in Pennsylvania, we’ve passed legislation, including my own House Bill 1910, to make historic changes that I’m confident will save lives and increase our police force’s efficiency for years to come.” A recording of the discussion is available on Williams’ Facebook page. For more information, those interested can contact Williams’ office at (484) 200-8256. Read more
“Week after week, year after year, most workers contributed to the Unemployment Trust Fund through payroll deductions,” Ciresi said. “Yet the failures of this system have left too many without income during the COVID-19 pandemic, a time when they need these benefits more than ever.” 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. The first round of the $225 million COVID-19 Relief Statewide Small Business Assistance grant program is expected to open for applications on Tuesday, June 30 and will remain open for 10 business days. Additionally, applications will continue to be accepted after 10 business days to be considered for future rounds of funding. Those rounds will be announced soon. This program will award grants ranging from $5,000 - $50,000 to small businesses economically impacted by the coronavirus, and money is specifically set aside for businesses owned by socially and economically disadvantaged people. For an application preparation checklist, criteria for eligibility and consideration, and a full list of participating Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), please click below to go to the COVID-19 Relief Statewide Small Business Assistance website. https://pabusinessgrants.com/ Read more
“This decision, like others, solidifies that women have a constitutional right to reproductive freedom,” said Rep. Mary Jo Daley, D-Montgomery, who serves as Democratic chairwoman of the Women’s Health Caucus and also serves on the House Health Committee. Read more
HARRISBURG, June 27 –State Rep. Mike Sturla, D-Lancaster, announced today that the PA House Democratic Policy Committee will hold a public hearing on reopening Pennsylvania schools. The hearing will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, June 30 in Room G-50 Irvis Office Building in Harrisburg. The media and public are invited to attend or watch the livestream at www.pahouse.com/live . The hearing will feature testimony from the Pennsylvania Department of Education and Mathematica about its recent research report that provides guidance for reopening schools. Sturla, who is chairman of the House Democratic Policy Committee, will be joined by other committee members in person and virtually. Testifiers will include: Matthew Stem , deputy secretary for elementary and secondary education, Pennsylvania Department of Education. Dr. Brian Gill, senior fellow, Mathematica Dr. Art Levinowitz , school director of Upper Dublin School District and representative for the Pennsylvania School Boards Association. Dr. Shane Hotchkiss , superintendent of Bermudian Springs School District and representative for the Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators. Aaron Chapin , vice president, Pennsylvania State Education Association. For more information about the Policy Committee and copies of testimony, go to www.pahouse.com/policycommittee . ### Read more
Ciresi was an early cosponsor of the bill, supported it in the Local Government Committee and authored an amendment that ensures the most recent evaluating manual would be used to properly assess the value of manufactured homes. Read more
State Rep. David Delloso from Delaware County reminds residents to stay safe this summer while enjoying the outdoors. Read more
“Today’s unanimous votes are a significant first step toward addressing social justice issues that have driven a divide between law enforcement and the community,” Ciresi said. “To bridge that gap, we have much work still to do. This legislation marks the beginning of necessary work we all must do – as a commonwealth and as fellow human beings – to rebuild trust and fulfill our obligation to equal justice under the law.” Read more
“These bills, I'm proud to say, passed unanimously today and should soon become law. It was a great day to be a state representative, and please know that I will continue to work with colleagues from both sides of the aisle to ensure that all citizens of this great state are treated fairly and equally. There is much work that still needs to be done.” Read more
“How much in uncompensated care is the Pottstown Hospital providing, to justify its non-profit status? Our constituents deserve more than talking points from a hospital spokesman. It’s a shame.” Read more
“My bill would make sure that local boards and commissions can continue to conduct public business in any situation, be it the COVID-19 pandemic or anything that might happen in the future.” Read more
One bill would add public participation requirements when municipal officials meet remotely, and the other bill would suspend time frames for consideration of applications filed with municipal boards and commissions during emergency or disaster declarations. Read more
Proposed in late May and officially filed this week, H.B. 2586 would give local governments and authorities the ability to delay the expiration of existing permits issued before a disaster declaration took effect. Read more
HARRISBURG, June 10 – The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency awarded two Montgomery County programs a total of $247,007 to meet the needs of Montgomery County children and parents affected by domestic violence, substance abuse and crime. Family Services of Montgomery County, in partnership with the Montgomery County Reentry Initiative, was awarded $147,010 in Violence and Delinquency Prevention Program funding to expand the Positive Parenting Program helping parents who are recently released from incarceration. Montgomery County Children’s Advocacy Center’s Mission Kids program will receive $99,997 to continue family advocacy work, particularly to accompany children to medical evaluations court appearances. “In addition to providing direct support to returning parents, this money also supports a key position at Mission Kids,” said state Rep. Steve Malagari, D-Montgomery. “With the increased demands for these services, Mission Kids needs a family advocate who can appropriately support the needs of our communities.” "In my role as a state representative – specifically with regard to my position on the Children and Youth Committee – and most importantly in my role as a parent, the safety and wellness of children and families will always be my top priority,” said state Rep. Ben Sanchez, D-Montgomery. “That is why I am grateful for this opportunity to improve Read more
Broad reopenings, or reopenings that are not structured around ongoing social distancing, universal masking and other public health guidance, would likely result in a spike of cases and new stay-at-home and closure orders. Read more
LEVITTOWN, June 5 – State Rep. Tina Davis has announced that she will be introducing legislation that would require insurance companies to provide a 90-day grace period for the payment of insurance premiums during a disaster emergency. “Many Pennsylvanians have lost their jobs or had to close their businesses due to the COVID-19 pandemic and are now struggling to pay their bills,” Davis said. “People shouldn’t have their insurance canceled because of an inability to keep up with insurance premiums during this period of unprecedented economic hardship . By requiring insurance companies to provide a 90-day grace period for insurance premium payments during a disaster emergency, my legislation would protect Pennsylvanians from having their insurance terminated at a time they need it most.” Currently, Pennsylvania has only recommended insurers grant a grace period to policy holders during the pandemic. Davis said that many states have required such grace periods in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and in the aftermath of natural disasters. Residents with questions should contact Davis’ office by phone at 267-580-2660 or email ( repdavis@pahouse.net ). Read more
I, like many of you, have been absolutely consumed by the news unfolding over the last week since the horrible footage of George Floyd’s murder took over our airwaves and newsfeeds. Read more
Now, more than ever, is the time to come together and pass legislation that seeks to protect our frontline and essential workers, pay them fairly, assist those struggling without employment, health care or child care, and, above all, keep our citizens safe. Read more
HARRISBURG, May 19 – State Rep. Perry Warren, D-Bucks, issued the following statement after working with Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration to improve Pennsylvania’s real estate reopening plan. “Real estate services are open statewide,” he said. “Throughout this unfolding process, I have been working toward a safe and effective reopening of the real estate services industry with Governor Wolf's administration, the state departments of Health and Community and Economic Development and my colleagues in the General Assembly. “Governor Wolf just announced that this plan is open today statewide, including for counties in the red phase. Because of our combined efforts, this plan is a safer, more comprehensive and faster alternative to vetoed House Bill 2412 and will help ensure safety and promote confidence for real estate professionals, homeowners and consumers. We achieve solutions when we work together.” Read more
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