Read my Fall 2021 Newsletter now! Read more
More than 45 House members wrote to the Pa. Supreme Court to ask them to stop evictions for those who have applied for the Emergency Rental Assistance Program while they wait for applications to be processed. Read more
Republicans have decided that a number of outrageous voting restrictions are needed, arguing that these restrictions would not infringe upon the voting rights of American citizens. If these restrictions truly do not infringe upon Americans’ right to vote, then surely these same restrictions will not infringe upon Americans’ right to bear arms. Read more
PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 11 – Reopening Philadelphia’s schools was the focus of a tour and roundtable of the House Democratic Policy Committee hosted by state Rep. Mary Isaacson, D-Phila., on Wednesday. Philadelphia School District Chief Information Officer Melanie Harris led the tour of Kensington Health Sciences followed by a roundtable with legislators to discuss the challenges faced this year and beyond. “Over the last 18 months, we have invested in solutions for students to safely learn virtually from home, and now, with COVID-19 still very much with us and variants on the rise, we are asking school districts — not just in Philadelphia but across the Commonwealth — to create the answers for how our students can safely return to schools and keep them open," Isaacson said. "This is a question that we've never had to answer, one that the CDC is constantly revising as the virus mutates. Today, we heard concerns and sought answers as to how our students will return to classrooms and be provided a quality education in a structured, safe and welcoming classroom when so much is uncertain and ever-changing. Much needs to be done to help our schools navigate these uncharted waters or our children and the next generation are the ones who will be lost.” “The flexibility and resilience of the Philadelphia School District has been impressive,” said Policy Chairman Ryan Bizzarro. Read more
HARRISBURG, Aug. 3 – As the opioid addiction crisis rages on and access to treatment and monitoring programs hangs in the balance, two Philadelphia area state lawmakers are urging House Republican leaders to end the summer recess now so lawmakers can vote to extend the governor’s statewide opioid disaster declaration. On Jan. 10, 2018, Gov. Tom Wolf signed an executive order declaring a statewide disaster emergency due to the opioid epidemic and has continued to renew it since. Wolf said he intends to renew this declaration again on Aug. 5, but recent changes to the Pennsylvania Constitution will cause the emergency order to expire 30 days from that date unless the Pennsylvania General Assembly votes to extend it. As such, the renewal would expire on Aug. 26. The House is not scheduled to return to voting session until Sept. 27. State Reps. Mary Isaacson and Joe Hohenstein, both D-Phila., on Monday sent a letter to House Speaker Bryan Cutler , R-Lancaster, urging him to bring lawmakers back to session before that Aug. 26 expiration so they can vote to extend the emergency declaration. “The opioid epidemic continues to ravage communities throughout our state. Last year, over 5,000 individuals died in Pennsylvania from overdose -- a 16% increase from 2019,” the lawmakers wrote to Cutler. “Each of those numbers represents a life cut short. Each represents families who will never be whole again.” Isaacson and Hohenstein said the Read more
In honor of Park and Recreation Month 2021, which wraps up at the end of the July, I am honoring 15 parks, recreation centers and playgrounds across our district, along with the employees and volunteers who help those sites operate. Our community benefits from having these sites nearby, and from the hard work and dedication of those people who allow them to exist and keep them maintained. Green spaces and places to get some recreation and enjoy the outdoors bring us closer to our environment and enrich our lives. Learn more about Park and Recreation Month, ways to protect open space, connect children to nature and more at https://www.nrpa.org/ . To all the following parks, recreation centers and playgrounds, and to all the people who make them possible, I say THANK YOU! Read more
PHILADELPHIA, July 20 – Carbon capture and its place in limiting greenhouse gas emissions and contributing to the green economy will be explored at a hearing hosted by state Rep. Joe Hohenstein. The hearing will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 21 at the Port of Philadelphia, 3460 N. Delaware Ave., 19134. The media is invited to attend and media inquiries may be submitted via email to policy@pahouse.net . Hohenstein, D-Phila., will be joined by Vice Chair Mary Isaacson and members of the House Democratic Policy Committee to discuss nationwide efforts to support carbon capture and its impact on the economy and environment. Information about this and other House Democratic Policy Committee hearings can be found at www.pahouse.com/policycommittee . ### CONTACT: Nicole Brunner The Office of State Representative Ryan Bizzarro Phone: 717-645-7316 Email: nbrunner@pahouse.net Read more
From support for local businesses to job training, there are a number of grant funding opportunities in Pennsylvania. Here's a look at what's available right now: STATE PROGRAMS NOW OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection: Driving PA Forward Level 2 EV Charging Rebate Program (Funding Source: State Mitigation Trust - Volkswagen Emissions Settlement) Who May Apply : Business, charitable organizations, incorporated nonprofits, local government entities, school districts, and other entities. Use : Rebates for Level 2 EV charging equipment for public use at government owned property, public use at non-government owned property, non-public use at work places, non-public use at multi-unit dwellings. Funds : Maximum rebates of $4,000 per plug for full public access and networked charging projects, $3,500 per plug for multi-unit dwelling projects and $3,000 per plug for all other eligible projects, including workplace charging. Application Deadline : First come, first-served. More Information : Click on https://gis.dep.pa.gov/drivingpaforward/ . Pennsylvania Department of Human Services: Children’s Trust Fund (Funding Source: Children’s Trust Fund) Who May Apply : Any organization operating in Pennsylvania that provides direct services and meets the criteria in this Request for Applications (“RFA”) is eligible to apply. Use : To support community-based child abuse and neglect Read more
STATE PROGRAMS NOW OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS: Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol: Pregnancy Support Services (Funding Source: Federal Funding) Who May Apply : Community service providers able to serve pregnant and postpartum women with stimulant or opioid misuse issues. Single County Authorities (county drug and alcohol offices) and Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) licensed treatment providers are not eligible to apply. Use : To provide pregnancy support services or make referrals to aid pregnant and postpartum women with opioid use disorder. Funds : Approximately 10 to 12 grants up to $600,000 each will be awarded for 18-month projects. Application Deadline : July 13 at 12 PM. More Information : Click on https://www.ddap.pa.gov/DDAPFunding/Pages/Funding-Opportunities.aspx . Pennsylvania Commission on Crime & Delinquency: 2021-22 PA Academic and Career/Technical Training (PACTT) Competitive Funding (Funding Source: General Fund) Who May Apply : Privately operated residential facilities, community-based providers, and juvenile probation offices that are not currently PACTT Affiliates. Use : To develop programs in the following PACTT service areas that adhere to PACTT Standards in order to gain affiliate status: core programming; academic instruction; work related services; and job skills training. Funds : Grants of up to $20,000. No Read more
State Rep. Mary Isaacson announced more than $3.3 million in Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement, of PHARE (PHARE) funds, has been awarded to 16 organizations in the 175th Legislative District. Read more
It's always wonderful to share that grant dollars are coming back to our district! This award is one of 54 awarded to organizations through the state. Learn more about all the awards here . Read more
Check out the Investing in Women presentation that the PA Department of Banking and Securities and I have partnered to give. Read more
Nationally, women’s median weekly earnings are $891 versus men’s median weekly earnings of $1,082. That translate to women earning 82 cents for each dollar men earn. Read more
HARRISBURG, May 25 – State Rep. Mary Isaacson and Sen. Nikil Saval announced today that a $14,000 grant to fight blight in Fishtown has been awarded to the Fishtown Kensington Area Business Improvement District. “I am very excited to help bring this money home to the business district as well as Fishtown and Kensington neighbors to both address quality of living issues and make investments and improvements on a block-by-block basis,” Isaacson said. “Our public spaces are the hearts of our communities,” Saval said. “This grant is important for the health and vitality of the district and its residents, and I’m proud to join Representative Isaacson in offering support and congratulations!” The Fishtown Kensington Area Business Improvement District requested the funds because, it noted in its application, the Fishtown District has suffered from blight, hindering its economic growth. The Fishtown Kensington Area Business Improvement District said it would use grant funds to develop a comprehensive blight plan where one currently does not exist. “Blight, no matter what the scope, hinders the continued growth and vitality of the Fishtown/Kensington commercial corridor,” said Marc D. Collazzo, executive director of the Fishtown Kensington Area Business Improvement District. “We are gratified to receive this generous funding award to prepare an active and comprehensive plan to take blighted, vacant Read more
Pa. state Rep. Mary Isaacson explains how the #PaRescuePlan would invest in education and in our future. This plan is all about making sure that funding helps the hardworking families and children who need it most. Read more
Pa. state Rep. Mary Isaacson and her colleagues in the House Democratic Caucus have a plan to make the most of billions in federal American Rescue Plan funds on their way to the Commonwealth. Two major components of the Pennsylvania Rescue Plan are helping local businesses and non-profits to reopen and making sure our workforce has the resources it needs to get back to work. Read more
The U.S. Small Business Administration has announced that the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant application portal will reopen on Saturday, April 24. Updated documents and guidance will be available today (Friday, April 23rd) by clicking here . This is a grant program established by the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits, and Venues Act, and amended by the American Rescue Plan Act. The program includes over $16 billion in grants to shuttered venues, and is administered by SBA’s Office of Disaster Assistance. Eligible applicants may qualify for grants equal to 45% of their gross earned revenue , with the maximum amount available for a single grant award of $10 million. $2 billion is reserved for eligible applications with up to 50 full-time employees. Eligible entities include: Live venue operators or promoters. Theatrical producers. Live performing arts organization operators. Museum operators. Motion picture theater operators (including owners). Talent representatives. Other requirements of note: Must have been in operation as of February 29, 2020. Venue or promoter who received a PPP loan on or after December 27, 2020, will have the SVOG reduced by the PPP loan amount. Read more
In honor of Women’s History Month, Representative Mary Isaacson has launched the annual Women Leading the 175th recognition program, a program that recognizes and honors the impact women are making across the 175th legislative district. Each of the 2021 inaugural honorees of Women Leading the 175th has been chosen due to the actions she has taken in shaping the future of our neighborhoods and our great City. Each honoree has received a Pennsylvania House of Representative citation formally celebrating each of their contributions. Read more
HARRISBURG, March 29 – Responding to the Capitol insurrection in January and the signing of new restrictions on voting rights last week in Georgia, House Democrats are taking action to protect American democracy. Today, a website was launched that summarizes policy proposals to defend democracy as well as links to more information and the ability for people to quickly email their elected officials, noting their support of the bills. The House Democratic Caucus has been working on these proposals since a House Democratic Policy Committee Hearing in January, when members were briefed by legal scholars, hate crimes experts and members of Congress on the language of false conspiracy and election fraud being used to undermine democracy. That same language has shifted from encouraging outright attack to what many perceive as insidiously undermining basic voting rights. “We cannot allow the outrage and disgust of the American people watching an armed invasion of our government to be subverted by a slick rebranding into attacks on our right to fair and free elections” Policy Committee Chairman Ryan Bizzarro said. Members of the House Democratic Caucus have introduced dozens of measures to expand voting rights, preserve election security, protect access to mail-in ballots and polling places, and to clarify and consolidate the often-outdated Election Code. Bizzarro said the site – www.pahouse.com/policy/defendingdemocracy -- will serve as a great Read more
Pa. state Rep. Mary Isaacson joined many of her Democratic House colleagues at a press conference to speak out against the racism and hate crimes that are destroying our communities. The press conference was held by Rep. Patty Kim, the only Asian American Pacific Islander member of the Pa. House to push for stronger anti-hate laws in response to the recent murders in Georgia. Read more
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