HARRISBURG, June 24 – B ipartisan legislation sponsored by state Reps. Rick Krajewski and Sheryl Delozier that would end the practice of intercepting public benefits intended for foster youth was reported out of committee today with a unanimous vote and is ready for a vote by the full House . The bill (H.B. 151) would prevent PA agencies from intercepting the Social Security benefits intended foster youth receive, such as survivors benefits, and instead require those benefits to be conserved in a savings account for when a foster youth exits care. The federal Office of Administration for Children and Families in December demanded that states no longer intercept benefits, and 10 states have already worked to prohibit it. “These are funds that for many could mean the difference between homelessness and stable housing, between needing to work multiple jobs and having time to attend college, between lacking healthcare and receiving necessary treatment. These youth are not asking for handouts, they’re asking for what’s already theirs,” said Delozier, R-Cumberland, the co-prime sponsor of the bill. “It’s a bipartisan issue. Not one that’s defined by Republicans or Democrats, urban or rural. This is an issue that affects children in the foster care system no matter where they live.” “What makes up a fraction of our state’s spending could make a huge difference in the lives of foster youth, who often Read more

HARRISBURG, June 22 – Today, the House voted with strong bipartisan support to pass two bills introduced by state Rep. Rick Krajewski, D-Phila., that would establish a legal petition process to reinstate parental rights (H.B. 133) and protect the rights of incarcerated parents (H.B. 138). Under federal law, when a child has been in the custody of the state for more than 15 months, the Department of Human Services is required to petition for the involuntary termination of parental rights. Krajewski said that Pennsylvania must take measures to provide second chances and support more families. House Bill 133 , which passed 191 to 11, would establish a standard legal framework and procedure for parents whose rights have been terminated to petition to have their rights reinstated. “Even when parents do the work to address the issues that resulted in the termination of their rights – building a career, finding stable housing, recovering from a substance use disorder or ending a period of incarceration – the loss of the parent-child relationship is a punishment that lasts a lifetime,” Krajewski said. “Parents can change. They deserve a fair chance to be reunited with their children, and kids deserve to finally go home.” “At its core, House Bill 133 is about creating a pathway that represents the best interests of children and families,” said state Rep. Sheryl Delozier, Read more

HARRISBURG, June 9 – Today, the Pennsylvania House Consumer Protection, Technology and Utilities Committee voted 17-9 to advance the Return on Equity bill, which is co-sponsored by Committee Chair Danilo Burgos, D-Phila., and House Energy Committee Chair Elizabeth Fiedler, D-Phila.House Bill 2224 would create a default, formula-based return on equity for investor-owned utilities that reflects the true market-based cost of equity. It would ensure that ratepayers pay no more than what is necessary to attract capital investments. Read more

PHILADELPHIA, June 8 – On Saturday, state Rep. Anthony Bellmon, state Sen. Sharif Street, PA House Appropriations Chair Jordan Harris, all D-Phila., and Councilmember Anthony Phillips held a news conference where they presented a $4 million check to the Lawncrest Recreation Center. Bellmon and Street helped secure this $4 million in state funding that will be used to construct a new pool at the Lawncrest Recreation Center. Construction has begun. “Lawncrest Recreation Center is a centerpiece of the Lawncrest community, providing a safe space for children to grow, families to gather, and neighbors to build connections,” Bellmon said. “This pool is another reason for members of our community to gather at the rec center during the summers to cool off, stay active and interact with neighbors. I was proud to secure this funding, and as construction is currently underway, I look forward to seeing the finished product.” “Investing in safe places for children and families to gather is of the utmost importance, especially in the summer when school is not in session,” Street said. “I am proud to work with Representative Bellmon to provide support for the pillars of our community like Lawncrest Rec Center. This funding is about more than a pool, it is about showing folks that they are deserving of beautiful spaces to enjoy themselves. I will continue to work for them and fight for those spaces Read more

PHILADELPHIA, June 4 – The PA Department of Community and Economic Development recently announced a more than $1.9 million investment in five Pennsylvania schools through the Solar for Schools grant program. State Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler, D-Phila., who introduced the Solar for Schools legislation, celebrated the announcement. “We saw overwhelming demand in the first year of Solar for Schools, with schools requesting more than three times the funding available. I am so glad we have another opportunity this year to award funding to even more schools.” said Fiedler. “From right in my South Philly district all the way to Elk County, these awards show us that what connects Pennsylvania schools is the desire to do right by their communities and invest in their future.” "We are thrilled to celebrate the first round of the 2026 PA Solar for Schools grant program awards! This is a big win for clean energy, education, and local communities across Pennsylvania. We encourage more schools to apply as the DCED is accepting applications on a rolling basis. Every dollar a school district spends on a utility bill is a dollar that is NOT going toward a teacher's salary, a new library, or updated technology for our students," said Shannon Crooker, Generation180's Pennsylvania director. As energy prices rise nationwide, schools are struggling to keep up with utility costs, which are already their Read more

HARRISBURG, June 3 – The House Children and Youth Committee on Tuesday voted unanimously to report out two pieces of legislation reforming Pennsylvania’s child welfare system. The first bill ( H.B. 133 ) would create a process for reinstating parental rights after they’ve been terminated. Following the lead of 22 states, Pennsylvania would provide the opportunity to petition for the reinstatement of parental rights, in cases where the child has been unable to successfully find an adoptive home and the parent has resolved the cause of their prior termination. “While many states provide an opportunity to reinstate the parent-child relationship under specific conditions, in PA, termination is permanent,” said state Rep. Rick Krajewski, D-Phila., the prime sponsor of the legislation. “Even when parents do the work to address the issues that resulted in termination – building a career, finding stable housing, recovering from a substance use disorder or ending a period of incarceration – the loss of the parent-child relationship is a punishment that lasts a lifetime. We must be more compassionate, promote second chances and ensure that children are not left needlessly languishing in county care.” “At its core, House Bill 133 is about creating a pathway that represents the best interests of children and families,” said state Rep. Sheryl Delozier, R-Cumberland, the bill’s Read more

HARRISBURG, June 2 – Today, lawmakers, labor leaders, environmental advocates and impacted workers gathered in the state Capitol to call on the legislature to pass Workplace Heat Protections ( H.B. 1580 ). Introduced by Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler, D-Phila., and Rep. Jim Haddock, D-Lackawanna/Luzerne, H.B. 1580 would require employers to implement heat illness prevention plans during extreme heat. The plans would require paid rest breaks, water and access to shade; education on signs and symptoms of heat illness, such as heat stroke; and training on emergency response procedures. "All workers share the desire to earn a good wage and support their families, whether they cook food in kitchens, build our commonwealth’s infrastructure on construction sites, or teach kids in classrooms. But Pennsylvania’s lack of heat protections is threatening that goal and endangering workers,” said Fiedler . “This bill provides basic safety measures for all Pennsylvania workers, regardless of sector or workplace, so they can return home safely to their loved ones at the end of each day.” “Currently workers in Pennsylvania have no workplace heat protections on the federal level or on the state level. Unbelievably, in Pa. we have laws on the books to protect our dogs and cats during extreme heat, but not humans. It is time to pass laws for our Pennsylvania workers, to protect them just like we do our furry Read more