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Conklin’s PIAA playoff reform bill advances from committee to full House

(May 12, 2025)

HARRISBURG, May 12 – In a move to level the playing field for Pennsylvania’s public school athletes, the Pennsylvania House Intergovernmental Affairs and Operations Committee today approved state Rep. Scott Conklin’s bill that would allow the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association to create separate playoffs and championships for boundary and non-boundary schools. Conklin, D-Centre, said he introduced H.B. 41 because reforming the current PIAA playoff system – which jeopardizes the health and safety of public school athletes – is an urgent priority. “The current system isn’t just putting public school athletes at a disadvantage, it’s endangering their health and safety,” Conklin said. “It’s forcing students from public schools, which must recruit from within district boundaries, to compete against students from private schools, which can recruit from anywhere and amass teams that are larger and stronger. “The system is also depriving public school students of scholarship and recruitment opportunities and teaching them the wrong lessons. K-12 sports are supposed to be about building confidence and reinforcing concepts of fair play and good sportsmanship. We can’t be doing that with a system that puts some students on an unlevel playing field before they even walk out onto the field.” Conklin emphasized that his bill Read more

Rivera bill to promote recovery-oriented language passes House

(May 06, 2025)

HARRISBURG, May 6 -- State Rep. Nikki Rivera’s bill that would update Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Program statutory language with recovery-oriented terminology passed the House today with overwhelming bipartisan support, 201-2. “Words matter. Too many people suffering from substance use disorders don’t seek the help they need due to stigmatizing language surrounding the condition,” Rivera said. “Though positive, recovery-oriented programs in treatment and prevention are the standard, DDAP’s archaic and negative statutory language is perpetuating negative stereotypes about substance abuse. The department should be leading the way in discussing substance abuse in today’s evidence-based and recovery-focused terms. Substance use is a treatable disease and should be discussed as such to promote treatment. “As DDAP plays a central role in the commonwealth’s response to the substance use crisis, I’ve worked with the agency to introduce this legislation that updates the language defining the department’s duties with recovery-oriented language that promotes dignity, respect, and greater access to care and substance abuse disorders as chronic but treatable conditions. “The commonwealth needs to model the supportive approach to treating substance abuse disorders so that families and communities can provide the necessary support to those struggling with substance abuse,” Rivera said. Read more

Smith-Wade-El’s legislation to seal eviction records for millions of Pennsylvanians who struggle to find housing reported out of committee

(May 05, 2025)

HARRISBURG, May 5 – State Rep. Ismail Smith-Wade-El’s legislation that would seal eviction records for the millions of Pennsylvanians whose records prevent them from being able to secure adequate housing was reported out of committee today with overwhelming bipartisan support, 23-3. “Pennsylvania’s families deserve access to safe and affordable housing where they can raise their children and our workers deserve the opportunity to secure career-advancing jobs,” Smith-Wade-El said. “But millions of Pennsylvanians, who have eviction records, can’t find housing because of a past eviction, creating instability in family life and disrupting workforce development for entire communities.” Smith-Wade-El introduced H.B. 1095 to protect communities and ensure fair housing access by instituting a statewide policy that would establish procedures to limit access to eviction records in certain cases, such as no-fault evictions. In cases where the tenant has been determined to be at fault by a judge, the records would remain accessible to the public for seven years, bringing them into line with policies related to bankruptcies and foreclosures. According to Smith-Wade-El, most landlords and property managers now use automated tenant screening measures that deny the application of anyone with a single eviction record. That’s even the case if the motion to evict was withdrawn, the court found in favor of the tenant, or the tenant Read more

Smith-Wade-El holds news conference to encourage state investment in small businesses

(May 01, 2025)

LANCASTER, May 1 – State Rep. Ismail Smith-Wade-El held a news conference Wednesday to draw attention to the critical importance of state investments in small businesses as drivers of local economies. The news conference at ASSETS in Lancaster specifically highlighted the role that the PA Department of Community & Economic Development’s Historically Disadvantaged Business Assistance Program has played in helping minority-owned businesses succeed in today’s competitive marketplace. Historically disadvantaged small businesses are defined under this program as minority businesses generating annual revenues of $1 million or less and employing fewer than 25 full-time equivalent employees. According to DCED, disadvantaged businesses on average have less access to capital, are three times more likely to be denied loans, are more likely to pay a higher interest rate and are more likely to receive lower loan amounts than non-minority owned firms. To rectify this historical economic inequity, Gov. Josh Shapiro secured $20 million in state funds for historically disadvantaged small businesses for the first time in the 2023-24 state budget. The new state-funded Historically Disadvantaged Business program opened in 2024, disbursing microgrants ranging from $2,000 to $10,000 to qualifying minority-, women- and veteran-owned businesses. “As we prepare to pass another budget — a moral statement of Read more

Guzman announces $450K grant for Alvernia University

(Apr 30, 2025)

READING, April 30 – State Rep. Manuel Guzman, D-Berks, today announced that Alvernia University will benefit from nearly half a million dollars through the PAsmart Advancing Grants for Career and Technical Education programs and the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Guzman explained that the funds are aimed at supporting efforts to improve STEM education and workforce development in Berks County. The funding comes as part of a $10.35 million investment that expands access to computer science and science, technology, engineering and math education for learners across Pennsylvania. The grant was awarded to: Alvernia University. - $450,000 for innovative projects to expand access to CTE computer science and STEM experiences for both students and adults. “I welcomed these grants with great enthusiasm. This state funding will create more opportunities for professional development in our community and help students keep pace with a constantly evolving job market,” Guzman said. “I believe it is crucial to equip students with the necessary tools and skills to match industry needs and these high-demand careers paths,” he said. Read more