Legislation authored by State Rep. Darisha Parker to establish a grant program for schools to provide free menstrual products to students on Tuesday passed the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. “We have fought tirelessly for menstrual equity for women and girls in Pennsylvania and House Bill 851’s passage is a step closer to that goal,” Parker, D-Phila., said. “I never want another young girl entering womanhood to experience embarrassment or consider themselves as less than because of a natural biological process.” Parker said she was extremely motivated by the advocacy of Gov. Josh Shapiro and First Lady Lori Shapiro for menstrual equity in Pennsylvania, referring to Shapiro’s call for $3 million to provide menstrual products for students in his annual budget proposal. “I am incredibly grateful to everyone who helped move Pennsylvania women forward by fighting for and passing menstrual hygiene legislation,” Parker said. “I want to thank my colleagues and advocates, especially Lynette Medley, founder of No More Secrets, who stood with me to advocate for women across the commonwealth, not just during menstrual awareness month or on Tampon Tuesday – but every day!” Parker said this bill will move to the state Senate Health and Human Services Committee as did her previous menstrual hygiene bill, House Bill 850. That bill would allow women who participate in Read more
Majority Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee Rep. Jordan Harris along with local state Representatives host a community conversation on the 2024-25 state budget in Northwest Philadelphia.More at http://www.HouseAppropriations.com Read more
NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency: 2024 County Jail-Based Vivitrol Program Who May Apply: Funding is available to all counties with a county jail seeking to establish or expand a jail-based substance use treatment program. Use: Implementation or expansion of a county jail-based Vivitrol program. Funds: A total of $7.175 million in Act 80 funds is available. Application Deadline: July 17, 2024 More information: PCCD Website Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency: Attorney & Judge Training – Children with Disabilities Who May Apply: Local governments, local and national nonprofit organizations, and institutions of higher education which demonstrate, in their application, an ability to collaborate with state and local partners to develop and deliver statewide training for attorneys and a commitment to the improvement of child abuse investigations in the Commonwealth. Use: Costs associated with the development and delivery of a trauma-focused, child-focused, training curriculum for attorneys and judges who participate in hearings involving child abuse victims in Pennsylvania who have verbal, cognitive, and/or physical disabilities. Funds: A total of $128,990 in federal Children’s Justice Act funds is available to support this initiative. PCCD expects to fund one grant with a budget not to exceed $128,990. Application Read more
State Reps. Darisha Parker and Carol Hill-Evans stood again with Speaker Joanna McClinton, menstrual health professionals and Pennsylvania students to spread awareness about period poverty and advocate for the Senate to pass legislation to help this important issue. Parker and Hill-Evans authored legislation, H.Bs. 850 and 851, to make period products more accessible for low-income women. “We need to speak about periods bluntly,” Parker said. “No more euphemisms or hiding tampons in our sleeves to use the restroom. “It’s crazy that this natural biological process – a beautiful one that has the power to create life is still considered a taboo subject,” Parker continued. “It’s not just a financial issue but barriers to period products can lead to substantial health issues for women and perpetuate a cycle of poverty that can be impossible to escape from.” The lawmakers said that H.B. 850 would allow for women who participate in the SNAP or WIC program to purchase expensive period products using these programs, which Parker said would help empower women to take charge over their own bodies. “Tampons and pads aren’t a luxury for us,” Parker said. “We don’t choose to participate in our periods every month, these are products we need to preserve our dignity and participate in all of life’s important milestones.” Read more
It’s still May and that means we’re talking about periods! Next Thursday, May 23, please join Philadelphia Alumnae Chapter of Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.’s president, Dr. Penny Sparks Nixon, for a call to action on the PA Senate!Join the cause and come out on May 23 at 5:30 p.m. at The Spot, 4811 Germantown Ave., learn what the Spot does for our community and how you can help get HB 850 passed. Read more
“This legislation would remove barriers for those who menstruate and utilize these programs. Period poverty disproportionately affects communities of color, so this bill would address that systemic problem,” Parker said. “We need to provide dignity amongst women and girls. It’s sad many have to deal with scarcity of feminine products and diapers.” Read more
Updates on school environmental grants, PPA illegal parking initiatives, and more inside! Read more
Recidivism rates are way too high & without giving folks a real second chance it will only keep growing. Re-Entry Job Fairs like this one that I hosted with my House & Senate colleagues, go a long way to helping keep folks where they belong: with their families. Read more
Communities of color are often the hardest hit when analyzing the effects of health epidemics in the United States. In fact, Black and brown Americans are often disproportionately impacted by chronic diseases and illnesses due to systemic and historic injustices that continue to plague society to this day. When looking at the impact of the obesity epidemic, this trend unfortunately continues, and has wreaked havoc on vulnerable communities. As a state representative, I’ve had the honor and privilege of meeting Pennsylvanians in their communities, seeing firsthand the importance of adequate health care and quality treatment options. Many in our state battle obesity each day, and with it, the more than 200 severe chronic diseases that can be brought on by the impact of obesity on one’s body. While there are treatments on the market to help battle obesity — known as anti-obesity medications, or AOMs — many are out of reach for everyday community members due to a lack of insurance coverage. However, with recent movement in Washington, there is finally hope on the horizon for families. The Treat and Reduce Obesity Act, which has bipartisan and bicameral support in Congress, would make it possible for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to provide coverage for AOMs, but has not yet had a hearing or vote in either chamber. If our congressional delegation here in Pennsylvania worked to support this legislation and pass it into law, we would see Read more
NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Department of Agriculture: Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program Who May Apply: Agricultural producers or processors and nonprofits, for-profits, local government entities, and institutions such as schools, universities or hospitals that operate middle of the food chain activities or invest in equipment that will benefit middle of the supply chain activities. Use: Activities that expand capacity and infrastructure for the aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storing, transporting, wholesaling or distribution of targeted local and regional agricultural products Funds: Grants will be awarded to the extent that funds are available. Grant requests shall be between $10,000 and $100,000. Application Deadline: May 15, 2024 More information: PDA Website Department of Health: WalkWorks Grant Program Who May Apply: Municipalities located in either a PA Department of Health State Physical Activity and Nutrition (SPAN) priority county or in communities with an overall percentile rating above 60 in the PA Department of Environmental Protection’s PennEnviroScreen Tool. The 10 current SPAN counties include Clearfield, Erie, Fayette, Greene, Lawrence, Luzerne, Lycoming, Mercer, Northumberland, and Philadelphia. Use: Funds and structured pre-planning assistance will be available to a limited number of municipal and/or multi-municipal applicants to complete the steps necessary to prepare to apply in the future for funds Read more
I’m going to continue to raise awareness of my legislation that will improve lives for women! I'm talking about HB 850 that Senator Michelle Brooks won't move. HB 850 would allow Pennsylvania women to buy expensive period products using their SNAP or WIC benefits. Read more
NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Department of Transportation: Automated Red Light Enforcement Transportation Enhancements Grant Program (ARLE Program) Who May Apply: Local governments, planning organizations, or Commonwealth agencies. Use: Eligible uses include, but are not limited to, roadway safety, mobility, and capacity upgrades, bicycle and pedestrian improvements, local technical assistance program projects, and traffic signal improvements. Funds: PennDOT anticipates $32 million available with the intent of funding worthwhile projects that can be completed at a relatively low cost. Application Deadline: A pre-application scoping form is required to be submitted by April 30, 2024. Feedback will be provided by May 31, 2024. The application period will be open from June 1, 2024, to June 30, 2024. More information: PennDOT Website Commission on Crime and Delinquency: Intermediate Punishment Treatment Program Who May Apply: Counties Use: Funds for the proposed program must be used to support restrictive conditions that are imposed as part of a county probation sentence and may be used for needed drug and alcohol-related services, and mental health treatment and supportive services for eligible individuals Funds: Funding is contingent upon the availability of funds in the FY 2024-25 budget. Application Deadline: May 1, 2024 More information: PCCD Website Department of Community and Economic Development: Multimodal Transportation Fund (MTF) Read more
NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Commission on Crime and Delinquency: Intermediate Punishment Treatment Program Who May Apply: Counties Use: Funds for the proposed program must be used to support restrictive conditions that are imposed as part of a county probation sentence and may be used for needed drug and alcohol-related services, and mental health treatment and supportive services for eligible individuals Funds: Funding is contingent upon the availability of funds in the FY 2024-25 budget. Application Deadline: May 1, 2024 More information: PCCD Website PROGRAMS OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS: Department of Agriculture: Farm Vitality Planning Grant Who May Apply: Farmers, prospective farmers, and others may apply. Use: Strategic business planning to expand or diversify farms or support transition of ownership. Funds: $500,000 in funding is available. Grants shall not exceed $7,500. Application Deadline: Applications will be received until funds are exhausted. More information: Pennsylvania Bulletin Commission on Crime and Delinquency: Recruitment Incentives for Law Enforcement Who May Apply: Local law enforcement agencies, campus or university police, railroad or street railway police, airport authority police, and county park police. Use: Funding is explicitly to support Act 120 training and recruitment activities for law enforcement officers that will take place between Oct. 19, 2023 and June 30, 2025. Funds: $14 million in Read more
PHILADELPHIA, March 21 – State Rep. Darisha Parker, D-Phila., said that as a member of the Pa House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, she applauds the work Gov. Josh Shapiro and Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding did to engage with the Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Association as it moved through the process of purchasing the HP Hood milk manufacturing plant in the city of Philadelphia. MVDA announced that in addition to the purchase it will undertake an expansion project at the plant that will retain 178 existing jobs — 137 of them being union jobs — and increase production capabilities from 10 million gallons to 25 million gallons of milk annually. “This is a huge opportunity for our community and our city, and further highlights what we already know — that agriculture is not broken down across urban and rural lines,” Parker said. “This purchase by MVDA will keep jobs in our city and strengthen the state’s economy. I see it as a win all the way around.” Read more
NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs: Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Drop-In Centers Who May Apply: Existing organizations that have the capacity to provide or expand drop-in center services for individuals with SUD, including single county authorities, DDAP licensed treatment providers, organizations that offer clinical services and recipients of DDAP’s prior funding opportunities for Drop-In Centers. Use: To expand drop-in center services for individuals with SUD. Funds: Up to $6,575,000 is available. DDAP expects to award approximately eight grants totaling $750,000 each. Application Deadline: April 12, 2024 More information: DDAP Website PROGRAMS OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS: Department of Agriculture: Farm Vitality Planning Grant Who May Apply: Farmers, prospective farmers, and others may apply. Use: Strategic business planning to expand or diversify farms or support transition of ownership. Funds: $500,000 in funding is available. Grants shall not exceed $7,500. Application Deadline: Applications will be received until funds are exhausted. More information: Pennsylvania Bulletin Commission on Crime and Delinquency: Recruitment Incentives for Law Enforcement Who May Apply: Local law enforcement agencies, campus or university police, railroad or street railway police, airport authority police, and county park police. Use: Funding is explicitly to support Act 120 training and recruitment Read more
NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Commonwealth Financing Authority: Public School Facility Improvement Grant Who May Apply: School entities, defined as a school district or an area career and technical school. Use: Facility improvement projects, including but not limited to roof repair/replacement, heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment, plumbing systems, window repair/replacement, health and safety upgrades, and accessibility projects. Funds: $100 million in total funding is available. Grant requests shall not exceed $5 million per eligible improvement project. School entities may submit more than one application, but no school entity shall receive more than 20% of the total funding available. Application Deadline: May 31, 2024 More information: CFA Website Commission on Crime and Delinquency: STOP Violence Against Women Grant Program Who May Apply: County governments and non-profit victim service agencies are eligible to apply. Faith-based organizations may be eligible to apply under certain circumstances. Use: Funds may be used to support cross-system, collaborative efforts to respond to victims of violence against women crimes. This includes, but is not limited to, personnel and benefit costs associated with specialized units in law enforcement or core direct victim services, supplies and operating expenses related to the STOP project, equipment necessary for implementation, and training or professional development. Funds: A total of $12 Read more
Same job? Same pay. It's that simple. But in 2024 in Pennsylvania, it's not that simple. March 12th is Women's Equal Pay Day, the day a woman has to work into the next year to earn what a man made in the previous year. It's bad for women. Bad for families. Bad for our economy. It's time to close the gap. Read more
NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Department of Agriculture: Commonwealth Specialty Crop Block Grant Program Who May Apply: State and local organizations, producer associations, academia, community-based organizations, and other eligible specialty crops stakeholders. Use: The purpose of the Program is to enhance, but not replace, the Federal Specialty Crop Block Grant Program by establishing a Commonwealth Specialty Crop Block Grant Program for specialty crops that are not currently eligible for grant payments under the Federal Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, or that are otherwise designated high-priority specialty crops by the Secretary. Funding for the Program will assist the growth, certification of seed and marketing of these eligible specialty crops. Funds: $460,000 in funding is available. Application Deadline: April 19, 2024 More information: Pennsylvania Bulletin PROGRAMS OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS: Department of Agriculture: Farm Vitality Planning Grant Who May Apply: Farmers, prospective farmers, and others may apply. Use: Strategic business planning to expand or diversify farms or support transition of ownership. Funds: $500,000 in funding is available. Grants shall not exceed $7,500. Application Deadline: Applications will be received until funds are exhausted. More information: Pennsylvania Bulletin Commission on Crime and Delinquency: Recruitment Incentives for Law Enforcement Who May Apply: Local law enforcement Read more
PHILADELPHIA, March 4 – Ghost guns are increasingly being confiscated by law enforcement during criminal investigations, and the House Majority Policy Committee examined the loopholes that allow criminals to purchase these untraceable weapons with no background checks. “Today’s hearing highlighted the frustration of law enforcement to provide justice to victims of gun violence and their families,” Speaker of the House Joanna McClinton said. “Pennsylvania is behind the curve in passing legislation to address gun violence, and it highlighted the reason we need bipartisan support for these measures.” Ghost guns are privately purchased kits that can be assembled into firearms with no traceable serial number or identifying characteristics. They do not require a background check for purchase, because kits – or firearm parts – are not considered firearms in Pennsylvania. Kits can be assembled with the use of a drill or ordinary tools, and some kits contain the drill bit needed for final assembly. “It’s infuriating to know, as I mentioned during the judiciary committee hearing on HB 777, how quickly I could use my cellphone to purchase a ghost gun without any meaningful checks,” said meeting host Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, who represents portions of Philadelphia. “We are talking about untraceable firearms that can be assembled with ease. They are completely untraceable, and they are legal to purchase without Read more
PA state Rep. Darisha Parker and the House Majority Policy Committee discuss the need for legislation to keep PA consumers from falling victim to misleading contracts. Read more
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