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Virtual Hearing: PASSHE Consolidation

(May 17, 2021) Policy Committee

A virtual hearing on the proposed PASSHE consolidation Read more

Schlossberg, Schweyer: Tour further highlights needs of service providers, nonprofits

(May 13, 2021) Policy Committee

LEHIGH, May 13 – At a tour of the Lehigh Valley Center for Independent Living, PA House Democrats saw first-hand the strain on nonprofits that provide services to people living with disabilities and shared how the PA Rescue Plan could alleviate some of those challenges with an investment of federal funding. The tour, led by the center’s executive director, Amy Beck, highlighted how empowering people living with disabilities is an integral component of operation. LVCIL is one of 17 centers for independent living in the state. Centers are governed, managed and staffed at all times by a majority of people with disabilities. State Rep. Mike Schlossberg said, “This pandemic has exposed significant injustices and shortfalls in our world. In most of our communities, access to emergency resources starts with the friendly face and compassionate heart of community-based nonprofit organizations. While performing miracles, these organizations have seen their bottom lines take enormous hits. The staff are overworked and underpaid. Volunteers have put their health on the line with no expectation of personal gain. The Pennsylvania Rescue Plan will offer these organizations, serving our most vulnerable neighbors, extra support to offset increased expenses and lost revenue from contributions or events so they can meet demand in our community.” “The PA Rescue Plan provides a unique opportunity for us to invest in humans, not government,” added state Read more

PA House Dems to tour Lehigh Valley Center for Independent Living, identifying where PA Rescue Plan can help

(May 11, 2021) Policy Committee

ALLENTOWN, May 11 – The pandemic further strained those providing services to our most vulnerable Pennsylvanians and state Reps. Mike Schlossberg and Pete Schweyer will explain how proposed investments of over $350 million via the PA Rescue Plan would close the service gap by helping the helpers provide much-needed services. The media are invited to join members for the tour of Lehigh Valley Center for Independent Living at 1 p.m. Thursday, May 13, followed by a 2 p.m. opportunity to discuss the impact investments with legislators and Lehigh Valley Center for Independent Living. The PA Rescue Plan aims to ensure federal American Rescue Plan funding is invested for immediate impact and long-term success. Additional information about the plan is available at www.pahouse.com/parescueplan . Read more

Rep. Bizzarro, Policy Committee see how PA Rescue Plan could benefit Erie economy

(May 11, 2021) Policy Committee

ERIE, May 11 – State Rep. Ryan Bizzarro, D-Erie, said he was thrilled to welcome House Democratic leadership to Erie for a tour of how Pennsylvania Rescue Plan investments could help generate job opportunities with redevelopment and transportation infrastructure projects. Tina Mengine, chief executive officer of the Erie County Redevelopment Authority, led legislators on the tour of the former Quin-T Paper Company, located at East 16th and French streets; the former Erie Malleable Iron, located at 12th and Cherry streets; and Colony Plaza, Millcreek Township, located at West 8th Street. “Erie is perfectly situated to be a great hub for business and economic development. There is great potential in our community, and we have the chance to capitalize on federal funding to help accelerate pandemic recovery efforts. We are all eager to return to a new normal and the investments would help us recover, restore and reimagine a brighter future for our state. I’m proud to have my colleagues from across Pennsylvania join me at home and see first-hand the opportunities Erie can offer that will have statewide benefits,” said Bizzarro, chairman of the House Democratic Policy Committee. The PA Rescue Plan aims to ensure federal American Rescue Plan funding is invested for immediate impact and long-term success. Additional information about the plan is available at www.pahouse.com/parescueplan . Read more

PA Rescue Plan, $1.7 billion investment in workers’ focus of House Democratic leaders’ rally in State College Wednesday

(May 11, 2021) Policy Committee

STATE COLLEGE, May 11 – The workers who have been hit hardest by the pandemic need support. The PA House Democratic leadership team is hosting a rally Wednesday to make the case for workers’ rights to a fair wage, hazard pay and paid family and sick leave and how the PA Rescue plan would do just that. The rally will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, May 12 at The Borough Building, 243 S. Allen St., State College . The media is encouraged to attend. The PA Rescue Plan includes more than $1.5 billion for job training, hazard pay, wage boosts for direct-care workers and job creation efforts to kickstart the economy in communities across the state. The PRP aims to ensure federal American Rescue Plan funding is invested for immediate impact and long-term success. Additional information about the plan is available at www.pahouse.com/parescueplan . Read more

Reading tour showcases successful implementation of opportunity zones and regional needs

(May 10, 2021) Policy Committee

READING, May 10 – State Rep. Manuel Guzman, D-Reading, and the Reading Redevelopment Authority showed the House Democratic Policy Committee how an infusion of investment could benefit Reading and how that success could be duplicated in communities across the state. Overcoming post-pandemic concerns for public safety was a point of concern from Reading Economic Development Director Jamal Abodalo. Alvernia University President John Loyack discussed the university’s renovation and small business incubator investments in Reading. “We have the potential to help lift people out of poverty with investments that would revitalize communities, encourage private investment and put people to work, said Policy Committee Chairman Ryan Bizzarro. “We must capitalize on federal funding to help people across the state recover from the hardships of the pandemic.” “Our PA Rescue Plan would get money to local businesses, working people and schools to help them recover and thrive as we make our way through the COVID-19 pandemic,” Guzman said. “In the absence of any plan on the part of the majority party in Harrisburg to direct federal pandemic relief funds to these areas, I am happy to welcome my colleagues to the heart of Reading’s Keystone Opportunity Zone so that we can show the public how the plan I am working to enact would improve cities like Reading and communities throughout the state.” The PA Rescue Plan proposes a $475 Read more

Green collar jobs and clean energy investments focus of PA Rescue Plan hearing

(May 10, 2021) Policy Committee

PHILADELPHIA, May 10 – House Democratic Leader Joanna McClinton today hosted a public hearing highlighting her caucus’s proposal to invest federal funding to help Pennsylvania recover, restore and reimagine, starting with investments in green collar jobs. The House Democratic Policy Committee hearing, held at the Community College of Philadelphia, focused on investments in clean energy and how the proposed $50 million investment would get Pennsylvanians back to work in jobs that pay livable wages. The committee heard testimony from: Dr. Donald Guy Generals, president, Community College of Philadelphia; Michael Neill, apprentice training director, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers 98; Brian Myers, assistant apprentice training director, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers 98; and Anna Shipp, executive director, Green Stormwater Infrastructure Partners, Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia. “Green collar jobs are high-tech, high-wage and the fastest-growing career sector in any industry,” said McClinton, D-Phila./Delaware. “By investing in the clean energy industry and supporting job training to get workers on the job, the PA Rescue Plan is creating a greener future in more ways than one.” State Rep. Ryan Bizzarro, chairman of the Policy Committee added, “The last year doesn’t have to cripple our future. We can use federal dollars to help make Pennsylvania a leader in creating Read more

PA Rescue Plan: Green Collar Jobs

(May 10, 2021) Policy Committee

PA Rescue Plan hearing on green collar jobs hosted by Democratic Leader Joanna McClinton Read more

PA Rescue Plan: Green Collar Jobs

(May 09, 2021) Policy Committee

Pennsylvania Rescue Plan: Green Collar Jobs Read more

Rep. Bizzarro, Policy Committee to see how PA Rescue Plan could benefit Erie economy

(May 07, 2021) Policy Committee

ERIE, May 7 – People and goods being able to get in and out of Erie businesses is vital to the region’s economy, and on Tuesday it will be the focus of a walking tour led by House Democratic Policy Committee Chairman Ryan Bizzarro. The tour of local Brownfield sites will start at 2 p.m. Tuesday, May 11 . The tour will focus on how money from the proposed PA Rescue Plan can be used in Erie for job creation and transportation infrastructure projects. The media is invited to join state representatives from across Pennsylvania on the tour, which will end at 3 p.m. with interview opportunities for members of the media. Tour stops include: The former Quin-T Paper Company, located at E. 16th Street and French Street. The former Erie Malleable Iron, located at 12th and Cherry streets. Colony Plaza, Millcreek Township, located at W. 8th Street. The PA Rescue Plan aims to ensure federal American Rescue Plan funding is invested for immediate impact and long-term success. Additional information about the plan is available at www.pahouse.com/parescueplan . Read more