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The 2025 federal budget is an attack on America

(Jun 26, 2025) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

It’s survival of the richest. I think of a budget as a statement of priorities. It’s supposed to support working families — who are the backbone of Pennsylvania — care for the poor, the sick and the vulnerable; spur economic growth; and allot for expenses necessary to carry our country smartly and soundly into the future. And it must ensure that our environment is safe for all. What stunned me about the 2025 federal budget was the absence of these priorities, which have made the United States a beacon of light to the nations. The budget does a “Reverse Robin Hood,” transferring wealth to the rich by funding tax cuts with cuts to programs for low-income Americans. It’s literally stealing from the poor to make the rich richer. The budget evisceration of Medicaid funding will put the nail in the coffin of our already overburdened health system. If Medicaid is slashed, many of our hospitals and nursing homes will buckle and close under the impossible financial strain of caring for the uninsured. None of us can afford the destruction of our health care system. The bill also takes food off the table of food-insecure Pennsylvanians, reducing federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program funding by hundreds of millions. If Pennsylvania can’t fund the difference, food assistance would have to be drastically cut by either removing 1 million Pennsylvanians from the food assistance program or cutting the benefit amounts Read more

 

State must step up as federal government abandons commitment to homeless students

(Jun 26, 2025) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

Child and youth homelessness in Pennsylvania has grown to crisis proportions over the past few years, with 46,714 children and youth identified as homeless in 2023, according to a state report. Despite this unprecedented increase in need, the federal resources that allow schools, nonprofits and other institutions to support these vulnerable young people in their educational pursuits are being cut off and are at risk of disappearing entirely. If we are serious about providing every child in Pennsylvania with the education they’ll ultimately need to land stable employment and contribute to our economy, the commonwealth must dedicate targeted state dollars to support students experiencing homelessness. Although this need has never been more urgent, federal support is evaporating. In March, the U.S. Department of Education abruptly canceled spending extensions for American Rescue Plan funds, eliminating hundreds of millions in education funding for Pennsylvania schools. This funding rescission’s effects are being felt most acutely by our most vulnerable students. The U.S. Department of Education clawed back $9.2 million specifically designated to help homeless children and youth access education. That’s a whopping 29% of the initial $36 million investment meant to support these students. Even more troubling, the budget proposal that is moving through Congress would, if passed, eliminate all funding for the federal Education for Homeless Children and Read more

 

Powell bill to establish program to tackle the housing crisis passes PA House

(Jun 26, 2025) Rep. Lindsay Powell

HARRISBURG, June 26 – To take on the ongoing housing crisis across the state, the Pennsylvania House has passed state Rep. Lindsay Powell’s bill that would establish a new grant program to support improvements to housing stock. House Bill 1650 , introduced by Powell, D-Allegheny, and co-prime sponsored by state Reps. Brandon Markosek, D-Allegheny, and Tim Twardzik, R-Schuylkill, would establish the Pennsylvania Home Preservation Grant Program, a Department of Community and Economic Development-administered program to help local governments improve the existing housing stock in their communities. “Having a safe, healthy home is vital in allowing residents to establish a sense of stability,” Powell said . “This bill would enable people to stay in their homes, while also tackling the housing crisis and allowing our communities to prosper.” The program would address the long waitlists for home repairs by focusing on critical cases, a key success of the Commonwealth’s previous Whole Home Repairs Program, which was funded through one-time federal American Rescue Plan dollars. Over 18,000 homeowners ended up on waitlists for home repairs under the prior program. The bill was considered by the House Housing & Community Development Committee, which reported it out of committee earlier this week in a bipartisan manner. “As chairman and co-prime of the bill, I moved Read more

 

Committee approves Haddock recommendation to study salaries of PA conservation officers compared to other states

(Jun 26, 2025) Rep. Jim Haddock

“Our conservation officers deserve to be compensated fairly for the work they do protecting our state," Haddock said. Read more

 

Committee OKs Freeman bill to compensate communities with high percentage of tax-exempt properties

(Jun 26, 2025) Rep. Robert L. Freeman

“Municipalities with a large amount of tax-exempt properties are faced with the challenge of providing residents with essential services but without a sustaining real estate tax revenue base," Freeman said. Read more

 

Parker bill to get period products to people in need passes House

(Jun 26, 2025) Rep. Darisha Parker

HARRISBURG, June 26 – Legislation introduced by state Rep. Darisha Parker, D-Phila., that would have the state make a greater commitment to menstrual equity for women and girls passed the House today. House Bill 1100 would authorize the Pennsylvania departments of human services and health to apply for a federal waiver to allow people receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Women, Infants, and Children assistance to purchase menstrual hygiene products with program funds should such a waiver be made available to states. Current federal regulations for SNAP and WIC do not allow for the purchase of period products. “I continue to fight vigorously for menstrual equity for women and girls in Pennsylvania because equity for this basic necessity in life does not currently exist,” Parker said. “More than half of the world’s population are menstruating individuals, and they should not have to miss work, school or other life events, or put their personal health in jeopardy, due to not having access to essential, clean and sanitary period products. “These products are readily available in grocery and convenience stores because they are considered essential necessities, along with food. With this legislation, we are sending a clear signal to the federal government that Pennsylvania government has put a priority on ending period poverty for our residents and that they should respond in kind,” Read more

 

Neilson bill to expedite abandoned vehicle processing passes House

(Jun 26, 2025) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

Legislation introduced by state Rep. Ed Neilson, D-Phila., that would expedite junk title processing of abandoned vehicles in the state passed the House today. House Bill 593 would require PennDOT to complete certain administrative steps in processing abandoned vehicles and certificates of salvage within 10 business days to ensure a timely process. Neilson, who chairs the House Transportation Committee, said that after clearing the scene of an accident or removing abandoned vehicles from the side of the road, tow truck operators often hold vehicles in storage at their own expense until the owner claims their property. In some cases, these vehicles, often in a state of poor condition with little value, are simply abandoned by their owners, forcing tow truck operators to file paperwork with PennDOT to obtain a junk title. “Right now, it can take up to six months for PennDOT to process junk titles, which leaves tow truck operators responsible for the non-working vehicle,” Neilson said. “Ensuring the reasonable processing and delivery of junk titles will greatly assist tow truck operators who don’t have the space or resources to store vehicles for an extended period of time.” This is the second time the House has passed this legislation, having sent a similar version to the state Senate in the last legislative session, where it languished. It again moves to that chamber for consideration. Read more

 

Agricultural, Environmental, Public Safety, Redevelopment, Transportation, and Additional Grant Opportunities

(Jun 26, 2025) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

Here are multiple grant programs that are currently open for applications. Read more

 

Hanbidge bill to help more families qualify for dependent care tax credit passes House

(Jun 25, 2025) Rep. Liz Hanbidge

“Childcare is not a luxury. It’s a necessity and it’s vital to us having a functional and growing economy. No qualifying family should be left behind. State tax laws meant to benefit working families should not be overly complicated nor set up to exclude families who are using all options available to them to ensure their children are safe and cared for while they work,” Hanbidge said. Read more

 

Legislators, school leaders celebrate Solar for Schools grants in bipartisan event; call for renewed funding

(Jun 25, 2025) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

HARRISBURG, June 25 – Today, lawmakers from both chambers and both parties in the PA General Assembly joined school leaders from across the commonwealth to celebrate the recipients of Solar for Schools grants. The awards were announced earlier this year after the program’s first-ever round of applications. Introduced by state Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler, D-Phila, and passed into law in 2024, Solar for Schools provides schools with funding to install solar arrays. By generating their own electricity, these investments can save school districts millions of dollars over the life of one project, as well as generate new renewable energy at a time when energy demand is increasing statewide. Currently, electricity bills are the second-highest cost for schools in Pennsylvania as energy prices are expected to rise. “This is a transformational bill that helps us solve many problems at once: improve school funding, create jobs, add renewable energy to the grid, and make the air cleaner for our kids.” Fiedler said. “We’re just in the first year of Solar for Schools, so these 73 schools are paving the way for what’s possible in Pennsylvania. I am so excited to see how this program will impact schools for years to come.” “I am thrilled about the overwhelming response from schools across the state interested in participating in the Solar for Schools program," state Sen. Camera Bartolotta , Read more

 

Democrats fight to make Cyber Charter Students safer, demand accountability from online schools

(Jun 25, 2025) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

It is our goal to close loopholes, too often exploited by the purveyors of cyber charter schools that allow some students to fall through the cracks. Read more

 

PA House passes ‘Morgan Rose’s Law’ to take on Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy

(Jun 25, 2025) Rep. Lisa Borowski

“The medical community still has a lot to learn about what triggers SUDEP, and this legislation would help supply them with the data they need to be able to better educate patients and their families about its signs and risks,” Borowski said. Read more

 

House passes bipartisan bill for food allergy training and medication in daycare facilities

(Jun 25, 2025) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

HARRISBURG, June 25 – Bipartisan legislation co-sponsored by state Reps. Bridget Kosierowski and Kristin Marcell to help childcare facilities better manage food allergies ( H.B. 928 ) overwhelmingly passed the House on Tuesday with bipartisan support ( 197-6 ). “As a nurse for nearly 30 years, I saw how crucial it is to quicky and expertly identify the signs of an allergic reaction and provide the right medication,” said Kosierowski, D-Lackawanna. “This bill will provide the necessary training and medication so that Pennsylvania day care workers can immediately identify the signs of an allergic reaction and provide life-saving medication like epinephrine. The lives of some of our most vulnerable residents depend on it. “As more and more hospitals are closing and with proposed federal budget cuts threatening to overwhelm our already overwhelmed emergency rooms with Pennsylvanians who’ve lost their Medicaid coverage, the day care will have to replace the emergency room as the site where life-saving care is provided. This legislation will save lives.” Known as Elijah’s Law, the bill is named after 3-year-old Elijah Silvera who died from an allergic reaction to a dairy product he ingested at his day care. Following his son’s death, Thomas Silvera has advocated for the passage of Elijah’s Law that would require the education and provision of life-saving medicine to childcare workers and teachers. The bill Read more

 

House Education Committee approves Kazeem’s cosmetology training through CTCs

(Jun 24, 2025) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

HARRISBURG, June 24 – Legislation sponsored by State Rep. Carol Kazeem, D-Delaware, that would make the cosmetology out-of-school training program a permanent career and technical education offering was unanimously approved by the House Education Committee today. Read more

 

Salisbury introduces bill to mandate newborn screening for Gaucher disease

(Jun 24, 2025) Rep. Abigail Salisbury

HARRISBURG, June 24 – State Rep. Abigail Salisbury today introduced legislation that would require all Pennsylvania newborns to be tested for Gaucher disease – an inherited genetic disorder with far-reaching health consequences. Salisbury, D-Allegheny, said H.B. 1652 would ensure diagnosis at the earliest possible time, when treatment can help alleviate some symptoms of the disease. “Currently, there is no cure for Gaucher disease, which causes fatty substances to accumulate and enlarge the liver and spleen,” Salisbury said. “People born with the disorder can develop a litany of problems, from organ, blood and bone disorders to gynecological and obstetric problems, to even some cancers. “The good news is that timely detection and treatment can alleviate some of the symptoms and help people achieve better outcomes. My bill would ensure that Gaucher testing is included among the diseases for which Pennsylvania newborns are screened. It’s a simple step that can make a huge difference in the life of someone born with this disease.” Gaucher disease is a genetic condition in which a person is missing an enzyme that breaks down lipids – fatty compounds in the body that serve various important functions. This can result in symptoms including a large liver and spleen, low number of red blood cells, easy bruising, bone pain, bone fractures and lung disease. In rare cases, the Read more

 

House unanimously passes Rabb bill to crack down on deed fraud

(Jun 24, 2025) Rep. Christopher M. Rabb

Legislation to grade deed fraud as second-degree felony advances to Senate Read more

 

Williams’ bill to expand Medicaid access in Pennsylvania passes state House

(Jun 24, 2025) Rep. Dan Williams

HARRISBURG, June 24 – Bipartisan legislation introduced by state Rep. Dan Williams, D-Chester, that would help Pennsylvanians take advantage of new federal Medicaid rules that give patients and clinicians more telehealth options for behavioral health services passed the PA House today with overwhelming support. “The longstanding and outdated ‘four walls’ requirement has limited Medicaid reimbursement to services within the physical walls of a clinic,” said Williams. “This only creates barriers to care, particularly in rural areas and regions experiencing mental health workforce shortages.” The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services gave states the option to waive the requirement on Jan. 1. In response, the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services has submitted a State Plan Amendment to adopt this flexibility, which is currently awaiting federal approval. House Bill 1590 would repeal state regulations that conflict with the new federal flexibility. Importantly, the bill would not change existing rules requiring in-person treatment hours for outpatient behavioral health clinics. “Under this bill, Pennsylvania can fully implement the change, expanding access to behavioral health services and reducing care gaps for our vulnerable populations across the Commonwealth,” Williams said. The bill now moves to the state Senate for consideration. Read more

 

The 2025 federal budget is an attack on America [column]

(Jun 24, 2025) Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus

This Sunday, LNP published my view on how the 2025 federal budget is an attack on America by eviscerating support for: working families; care for the poor, the sick and the vulnerable; environmental protections; and smart economic policies to drive growth and save money for the future. Instead, it’s survival of the richest. Read more

 

Fleming bipartisan bill to protect firefighters’ income passes House

(Jun 24, 2025) Rep. Justin Fleming

HARRISBURG, June 23 – Bipartisan legislation from state Reps. Justin Fleming and Joe Kerwin that would exempt income tax on length of service awards for volunteer firefighters passed the House today. “Every day, our volunteer firefighters give their time and put themselves in danger to safeguard our community's health, safety, and property," said Fleming, D-Dauphin. "Our bill keeps the hard-earned money these men and women deserve in their pockets." House Bill 1306 would exclude contributions to length of service award programs from the definition of income under the Pennsylvania Personal Income Tax. “Firefighters answer the call 24/7 to protect our communities. There are great demands on their time, and they shouldn’t be taxed on the income that departments use as a retention incentive,” Kerwin, R-Dauphin, said. To retain volunteers during an ongoing statewide firefighter shortage, some fire companies are choosing to offer length of service award programs to volunteers who remain with the fire company for a dedicated amount of time. The representatives said they feel these award programs not only honor the sacrifices of the brave men and women who keep Pennsylvania safe, but also provide a retention incentive. They are concerned that contributions made by a fire company to a volunteer firefighter through a length-of-service award program can currently be Read more

 

State lawmakers introduce landmark bills to protect abortion care in Pa.

(Jun 24, 2025) Women’s Health Caucus

HARRISBURG, June 24 – Marking the third anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision, which has dismantled access to abortion health care in states across the country, Pennsylvania lawmakers today introduced two packages of bills to fight back and protect reproductive health care rights in the commonwealth. Recognizing that the fight for reproductive freedom now rests with the states, the group of legislators said that codifying legal protections for patients and providers into state law is not just a policy choice – it’s now required to uphold the rights that millions lost when Dobbs was decided. "We cannot solely rely on courts to decide women’s rights, and we will not tolerate attempts to criminalize women’s health care in our commonwealth,” said Women’s Health Caucus Co-Chair state Rep. Mary Jo Daley, D-Montgomery . “These protections are the culmination of three legislative sessions of work since Dobbs was handed down in 2022. We listened to women, expert stakeholders, human rights lawyers, doctors and nurses to clearly identify the protections that Dobbs has threatened, and then we created bills to re-establish and enshrine each of those protections at the state level. “These laws draw a clear line: we protect our patients, our providers and their privacy – regardless of where they come from. Abortion care is legal in Pennsylvania, and it must always remain Read more

 

The 2025 federal budget is an attack on America
Jun 26, 2025

State must step up as federal government abandons commitment to homeless students
Jun 26, 2025

Powell bill to establish program to tackle the housing crisis passes PA House
Jun 26, 2025

Committee approves Haddock recommendation to study salaries of PA conservation officers compared to other states
Jun 26, 2025

Committee OKs Freeman bill to compensate communities with high percentage of tax-exempt properties
Jun 26, 2025

Parker bill to get period products to people in need passes House
Jun 26, 2025

Neilson bill to expedite abandoned vehicle processing passes House
Jun 26, 2025

Agricultural, Environmental, Public Safety, Redevelopment, Transportation, and Additional Grant Opportunities
Jun 26, 2025

Hanbidge bill to help more families qualify for dependent care tax credit passes House
Jun 25, 2025

Legislators, school leaders celebrate Solar for Schools grants in bipartisan event; call for renewed funding
Jun 25, 2025

Democrats fight to make Cyber Charter Students safer, demand accountability from online schools
Jun 25, 2025

PA House passes ‘Morgan Rose’s Law’ to take on Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy
Jun 25, 2025

House passes bipartisan bill for food allergy training and medication in daycare facilities
Jun 25, 2025

House Education Committee approves Kazeem’s cosmetology training through CTCs
Jun 24, 2025

Salisbury introduces bill to mandate newborn screening for Gaucher disease
Jun 24, 2025

House unanimously passes Rabb bill to crack down on deed fraud
Jun 24, 2025

Williams’ bill to expand Medicaid access in Pennsylvania passes state House
Jun 24, 2025

The 2025 federal budget is an attack on America [column]
Jun 24, 2025

Fleming bipartisan bill to protect firefighters’ income passes House
Jun 24, 2025

State lawmakers introduce landmark bills to protect abortion care in Pa.
Jun 24, 2025