Christina Sappey and House Democratic Policy Committee Chairman Ryan Bizzarro hosted a special hearing on Pennsylvania public gardens Read more
KENNETT SQUARE, PA — State Rep. Christina Sappey, D-Chester, and House Democratic Policy Committee Chairman Ryan Bizzarro, D-Erie, hosted a special hearing on Pennsylvania public gardens yesterday at Longwood Gardens in East Marlborough Township. Read more
Christina Sappey and House Democratic Policy Committee Chairman Ryan Bizzarro, D-Erie, hosted a special hearing on Pennsylvania public Read more
HARRISBURG, April 21 – State Rep. Ryan Bizzarro announced will receive grants totaling $ 63,083 from the state's Greenways, Trails and Recreation Program. “The great outdoors have given our community a reprieve from the difficulties of this past year and I am always happy to see state dollars come back to Erie. Investing in maintaining and improving outdoor space helps keep Erie healthy and thriving,” Bizzarro said. The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy will use their $63,083 grant to aid with invasive species control on high priority sites in Northwestern Pennsylvania including Erie County. The Commonwealth Financing Authority’s GTRP funds planning, acquisition, development, rehabilitation and repair of greenways, recreational trails, open space, parks and beautification projects. Read more
Pennsylvanians looking for relief from the hardships of the past year can look to the House Democrats’ Pennsylvania Rescue Plan for solutions that do the most good for the most people. The House Democratic Leadership team released the following statement on how the plan would strengthen communities, help working people and support businesses and families: “We have a unique opportunity to drastically improve the lives of millions of Pennsylvanians with smart investments in people, businesses, health care and our workforce. The Pennsylvania Rescue Plan does just that by directing federal funds to help businesses get back on solid ground, invest in our frontline workers who were essential to getting us through the pandemic, repair our crumbling public schools so students can learn and teachers can teach in a non-toxic environment and strengthen our workforce through training tomorrow’s in-demand employees. Read more
Schools statewide are in urgent need of upgrades for the health and safety of students and staff, and a recent meeting of the House Democratic Policy Committee’s Subcommittee on Progressive Policies for Working People highlighted what actions the state can take to address toxic schools. Read more
Local lawmakers say expanding passenger rail could boost the state's economy. State Rep. Ryan Bizzarro (D-Erie) took part in a town hall Tuesday on rail traffic. Read more
State Reps. Pat Harkins, Bob Merski and Ryan Bizzarro, all D-Erie, announced that $804,200 in grant money will go toward enhancing fishing opportunities in Presque Isle Bay and Lake Erie. The projects are funded by the Erie Access Improvement program. Read more
Weidenhammer was one of more than a dozen passenger train proponents participating in the state House Democratic Policy Committee hearing, Read more
They say they built the train tracks over Read more
HARRISBURG, April 13 -- Passenger rail has the potential to improve regional access and reduce traffic congestion and state Rep. Joe Ciresi led today’s House Democratic Policy Committee to discuss how the state can get on board. The hearing featured three panels of testifiers highlighting President Joe Biden’s recent infrastructure plan and how rail connection across the state could help rural and suburban areas benefit from economic growth. Policy Committee Chairman Ryan Bizzarro shared, “Improving passenger rail has the potential to create jobs, streamline commutes and would have a positive environmental impact on the state. I thank Representative Ciresi for hosting today’s hearing and I look forward to continuing this conversation on how investment of state and federal dollars can boost economic development throughout the state.” "I was grateful to the testifiers and the participants in today's hearing for continuing an important conversation about investment in passenger rail service," Ciresi said. "What we learned today is critical to making wise decisions about infrastructure and what is involved to bring much-needed improvements to transportation in many parts of the state, especially in Pottstown, Royersford and other stops on the potential Reading-to-Philadelphia corridor that I've long been working to resurrect. Our partnerships, both with the private sector and our federal elected officials, will be Read more
ERIE, April 12 – State Rep. Ryan Bizzarro said he is happy to hear news that the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission announced nearly $650,000 in investments in projects that will benefit Presque Isle Bay and Lake Erie. Erie Access Improvement Program Grants impacting the third legislative district include the following: $205,000 -- Regional Science Consortium, Lake Erie Buoy Project, Lake Erie, Erie County $95,600 -- Fairview Township, Avonia Beach Park Improvements “Lake Erie is a booming natural resource. It brings economic activity to the region and I’m thrilled to see that fees collected here are staying here to help us protect that resource and preserve efforts to give anglers the best quality access to fishing opportunities,” Bizzarro said. Grants will fund the Regional Science Consortium’s Lake Erie buoy project to collect real-time information on wind, water and wave conditions and help collect data for aquatic health and water preservation efforts; and Fairview Township Avonia Beach Improvements. Other projects in Erie County include: the Erie-Western PA Port Authority received funding totaling $352,000 for Holland Street Pier fishing access and the Lampe Marina Fish Cleaning refrigeration unit. Funds are generated via special permitting fees and reinvested into the region through the Erie Access Improvement Program, made possible by Act 159 of 2004, which created a Read more
HARRISBURG, April 12 – As Pennsylvania expands vaccine eligibility, the House Democratic Policy Committee heard from the manufacturers tirelessly working to develop safe and effective vaccines for global use. At a Policy Committee hearing today, testifiers included representatives from Biotechnology Innovation Organization and Pfizer, who provided details on the technology behind the development of the COVID-19 vaccines and how the United States can reach herd immunity. Chairman Ryan Bizzarro and state Reps. Patty Kim and Darisha Parker facilitated the hearing, where Amy Walker, director of Infectious Diseases Policy for Biotechnology Innovation Organization and Lisa Coen, senior director, Vaccine Public Affairs with Pfizer, shared insight into the science behind the creation of COVID-19 vaccines, ongoing research, development and trials. Walker shared that five presidents, both Democratic and Republican, have been vaccinated, highlighting that the vaccines have received bipartisan support. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to have conversations based on science and fact. These vaccines will save lives and I encourage everyone eligible and interested to take the advice of scientists and medical professionals and help put this pandemic behind us,” Bizzarro implored. “It is important for us to hear this testimony today, especially for my constituents,” Parker said. “Communities of color have battled COVID extra Read more
HARRISBURG, April 12 – State Rep. Joe Ciresi is exploring how Pennsylvania can get passenger rail back on track for improved commuting and efficiency in transportation. He will host a House Democratic Policy Committee hearing at 1 p.m. Tuesday, April 13. The media and public are invited to watch online at www.pahouse.com/policy or on the committee’s Facebook page -- @PADemPolicy. Media inquiries may be submitted via email to policy@pahouse.net . Ciresi will lead the hearing to learn more about how state and regional transit authorities can play a role in improving Pennsylvania infrastructure and the role this investment would play in the state’s economy. Additional hearing information will be available by clicking here . Read more
Starting April 13th, everyone in Pennsylvania ages 16 and up will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. Read more
HARRISBURG, April 9 – The committee will hear from the biotech industry and COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers at a House Democratic Policy Committee hearing hosted by state Reps. Patty Kim and Darisha Parker. The hearing will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, April 12 . The media and public are invited to watch online at www.pahouse.com/policy or on the committee’s Facebook page--@PADemPolicy. Media inquiries may be submitted via email to policy@pahouse.net . Chairman Ryan Bizzarro, Vice Chair Mary Isaacson and members of the House Democratic Policy Committee will join Kim and Parker to discuss how supply is catching up with demand and how vaccine distribution is meeting the needs of Pennsylvanians seeking vaccination. Additional hearing information will be available by clicking here or visiting www.pahouse.com/policycommittee . Read more
HARRISBURG, April 8 -- Schools statewide are in urgent need of upgrades for the health and safety of students and staff, and today’s meeting of the House Democratic Policy Committee’s Subcommittee on Progressive Policies for Working People highlighted what actions the state can take to address toxic schools. The public virtual hearing, hosted by Subcommittee Chair Elizabeth Fiedler and state Sen. Vincent Hughes, brought together educators from across the state, healthcare and legal professionals, and labor experts to discuss the implications of inaction and benefits of investment in school safety. Policy Committee Chairman Ryan Bizzarro explained, “Pennsylvania schools need repair. Addressing these concerns will put our skilled laborers to work at family sustaining wages and set children and educators up for good health and success now and in the future.” “Most of Pennsylvania’s schools were built in the 50s when the knowledge of safe materials was limited,” Fiedler said. “But there are plenty of schools built even before that. Those old buildings pose so many health problems to our children, teachers and the community at large where they are.” “While we are in the middle of conversations to make upgrades and accommodations to our schools because of COVID, let’s take this time to discuss what overall solutions are available to make these sick buildings healthy for our kids and everyone who Read more
HARRISBURG, April 6 – State Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler, chair of the Subcommittee on Progressive Policies for Working People, is partnering with state Sen. Vincent Hughes to host a public hearing to discuss the current state of toxins in schools and the impacts they have on health and learning outcomes. The hearing will be held at 3 p.m. Thursday, April 8 . The media and public are invited to watch online at www.pahouse.com/policy or on the committee’s Facebook page--@PADemPolicy. Media inquiries may be submitted via email to policy@pahouse.net . Fiedler will be joined by Chairman Ryan Bizzarro and members of the House Democratic Policy Committee for members to learn more about repair and remediation options available to schools and how the General Assembly can support efforts to address the issue. Additional hearing information will be available by clicking here . Read more
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