A handful of House Democrats chose this shop to once again call for a minimum wage hike. For Patty Kim (D-Dauphin and Cumberland), the issue’s been a slow drip as she’s been pushing it for each of her 11 years. Read more
They also addressed the House Democratic Caucus’ additional legislative proposals to strengthen workers’ rights and protections for all Pennsylvanians, including measures to protect workers from union-busting and to extend OSHA protections to public sector workers. Read more
Unless your circumstances have changed, you do *not* need to re-apply – your caseworker will use your previous information to process this year’s application. Read more
“We’re going to see two types of benefits by growing this digital literacy program. On an individual basis, it will teach crucial skills to people who need employment but have been disconnected from other educational opportunities due to circumstances such as homelessness, growing up in foster care, and disability,” Hill-Evans said. Read more
LANCASTER, Aug. 18 – State Rep. Ismail Smith-Wade-El, D-Lancaster, announced that $53,136 in state funding has been awarded to two Lancaster elementary schools to provide fruits and vegetables to students under the federal Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program. They are: Burrowes Elementary School $21,384 Carter & MacRae Elementary School $31,752 Through the program, the schools will receive reimbursement for the cost of making free fresh fruits and vegetables available to students during the school day. These fresh fruits and vegetables must be provided separately from the lunch or breakfast meal in one or more areas of the school during the school day. “This funding will help our schools provide healthy snack alternatives to our students during the day, helping to make healthy eating a habit,” Smith-Wade-El said. “This funding will help give our community’s school children the tools to make healthy choices for themselves. Students will learn that not only are fruits and vegetables the smart choice, but also the tastiest.” The goal of FFVP is to introduce children to fresh fruits and vegetables, to include new and different varieties, and to increase overall acceptance and consumption of fresh, unprocessed produce. Additionally, the program promotes nutrition education, resulting in healthier school environments for learners. To be eligible, schools must participate Read more
The York County Literacy Council will receive a grant to bolster its program that helps job seekers improve their digital literacy skills so they can be more likely to succeed in their employment endeavors, state Rep. Carol Hill-Evans announced Friday. Read more
HARRISBURG, Aug. 17 – State Rep. Patty Kim, D-Dauphin/Cumberland, announced that $95,472 in state funding has been awarded to three area schools to provide fruits and vegetables to students under the federal Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program. Benjamin Franklin School $56,520 Downey School $27,792 Premier Arts and Science Charter School $11,160 Through the program, the schools will receive reimbursement for the cost of making free fresh fruits and vegetables available to students during the school day. These fresh fruits and vegetables must be provided separately from the lunch or breakfast meal in one or more areas of the school during the school day. “To help our students make smart choices in what they eat, we need to make sure that healthy choices are available,” Kim said. “According to the CDC, childhood obesity has tripled since the 1970s and, most recently, kids gained weight even faster during the pandemic. This FFVP funding will help area schools play a fundamental role in preventing obesity by teaching students to make smart health choices by offering tasty, fresh fruits and vegetables as snacks. Thanks to this federal funding, our schools will be teaching kids how to live healthy lives.” The goal of FFVP is to introduce children to fresh fruits and vegetables, to include new and different varieties, and to increase overall acceptance and Read more
Hill-Evans said the grants will allow the schools to provide free fresh fruits and vegetables to students throughout the school day to supplement their regular school meals. The food will be provided separately from lunch and breakfast and made available in multiple areas throughout each school. Read more
State Rep. Justin Fleming, D-Dauphin, today announced $64,564 in state funding has been awarded two area schools to provide fruits and vegetables to students under the federal Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program. Read more
HARRISBURG, Aug. 14 – State Rep. Justin Fleming, D-Dauphin, today announced $384,928 in the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s Green Light-Go program funds have been awarded to update signal equipment at Colonial Road (SR 3017), Colonial Park Mall Driveway/Colonial Road (SR 3017) and Crums Mill Road/Devonshire Road in the 105th District. “Thanks to these grants from PennDOT’s Green Light-Go program, our communities will be able to update signal equipment at key intersections to reduce congestion and increase traffic flow, ensuring that motorists travel quickly, efficiently and safely through our streets,” Fleming said. “These traffic signal updates will also help ensure pedestrians are safer as well. This funding is an example of how government is working to improve services and the quality of life for our residents.” Green Light-Go grants are provided as reimbursement to municipalities for updates to improve the efficiency and operation of existing traffic signals. These projects will be funded through the appropriation for fiscal year 2023-24. Grant funding through the Green Light-Go program may be utilized for a range of operational improvements including, but not limited to, light-emitting diode technology installation, traffic signal retiming, developing special event plans and monitoring traffic signals, as well as upgrading traffic signals to the latest technologies. For more information, residents may contact Read more
HARRISBURG, Aug. 10 – House Aging & Older Adult Services Committee majority chair, state Rep. Patty Kim, D-Dauphin/Cumberland, joined Gov. Josh Shapiro at the West Shore Senior Center in New Cumberland for the ceremonial signing of H.B. 1100. The new law expands the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program to nearly 175,000 more Pennsylvania seniors and people with disabilities and doubles rebates for many of the 400,000 people who already qualify. A co-prime sponsor of H.B. 1100, Kim said that the bill delivers the largest targeted tax break for Pennsylvania seniors in nearly two decades. The new income limits and increased rebates from Act 7 of 2023 will be used when the 2024 program opens. “As majority chair of the Aging & Older Adult Services Committee, I’ve heard from many Pennsylvania seniors and individuals with disabilities about how important it is for them to stay in their homes for their health and sense of wellbeing,” Kim said. “The PTRR expansion will provide a critical financial lifeline to members of our families, friends and neighbors that will help enable them to keep up with the cost of living.” Act 7 of 2023 will increase the income limit to $45,000 for both homeowners and renters and raise the maximum rebate amount from $650 to $1,000. The overwhelmingly bipartisan passage of the law marks the first time the program has been updated since 2006 and the first time since 2009 that the income limits to qualify for Read more
Legislation that expands the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program to benefit hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians was signed into law Aug. 4 by Gov. Josh Shapiro, who was joined at the event by state Rep. Carol Hill-Evans, Rep. Patty Kim, Rep. Ismail Smith-Wade-El, and the bill’s additional prime co-sponsors. Read more
Statewide, local health centers and programs like Family First and United Health are partnering to support Pennsylvanians navigate federal changes to Medicaid and CHIP renewal requirements so they can complete their renewals and stay covered.? Read more
“As we’ve visited communities around Pennsylvania, one thing is clear: every community – rural, urban or suburban – they all want the best opportunities for their students,” Speaker Joanna McClinton, D-Phila/Delaware, said. “And as a state we owe them that much. It is enshrined in our Constitution. We need to start living up to the promise we make our students and the promise we’ve made in our state’s future.” Read more
The House Democratic leadership team and Policy Committee joined students, teachers, and education advocates in Reading Tuesday morning for a tour of two local high school buildings and a discussion on education inequality in Pennsylvania. Read more
HARRISBURG, July 6 – State Rep. Patty Kim, D-Dauphin/Cumberland, today issued the following statement regarding the state budget passed by the General Assembly Wednesday: “Late on Wednesday night, in a bipartisan vote, the House passed the 2023-24 fiscal budget for the Commonwealth, which includes a $717 million increase in education funding. This is a historic investment in K-12 education funding that will help provide relief to our schools that are struggling financially. “I was very proud to be part of this process -- knowing that each party succeeded in securing some of their respective efforts, including a much-needed allocation of money to help our talented students succeed in a rapidly changing world.” “They are worth it and deserve the investment.” Kim noted the following funding will be awarded to local school districts: Harrisburg City School District - $12,166,916 (15.3% increase). Camp Hill School District - $150,939 (5.9% increase). East Pennsboro Area School District - $906,876 (9.6% increase). West Shore School District - $1,619,171 (7.9% increase). Kim said she also was pleased with projected Level Up funding for two districts: Harrisburg School District: $2,718,453 East Pennsboro Area School District: $206,628 “As many are aware, this funding will help ‘level up’ school funding for our underfunded schools so their students will get the high-quality education Read more
HARRISBURG, July 6 – State Rep. Justin Fleming, D-Dauphin, today issued the following statement regarding the state budget passed by the General Assembly: “Last night in a bipartisan vote, the House of Representatives passed the 2023-24 state budget, which now goes to Governor Shapiro's desk for approval. I have spoken to many residents in Lower Paxton, Penbrook, and Susquehanna Township about their priorities, and I'm pleased that this budget addresses some of those priorities. While there is more to be done, this budget makes historic investments in education, public safety, health care, community and economic development, and much more. “Additionally, House Bill 1100 was sent to the governor's desk. This bill would raise the income limits for the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program from $35,000 to $45,000 and provide for larger rebates for eligible participants. The passage of this bill will bring relief for thousands of seniors across the Commonwealth. Fleming noted some of the critical investments included in the 2023-24 budget: Education $567 million increase for Basic Education Funding. $50 million increase for Special Education Funding. $46.5 million for universal school breakfast. $10 million to provide annual stipends to student teachers. Economic Development $23.5 million for workforce training and career & technical education. $6 million for apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs. $20 Read more
Taking the first significant step toward increasing income limits for Pennsylvania’s Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program for the first time in 16-plus years, the Finance Committee passed legislation Tuesday to do just that. Read more
STATE COLLEGE, May 11 – New funding of up to $400,000 will boost Centre County resources to fight substance use disorder, state Rep. Scott Conklin announced today. Conklin, D-Centre, said the funding from the state Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs will allow Pinnacle Treatment to expand programs for residents in Centre and Washington counties. “Although existing programs and outreach have made inroads in the fight against substance use disorder, too many residents and the families who love them still feel the devastating impact of addiction,” Conklin said. “Securing this funding will allow us to expand the kinds of evidence-based treatment programs, recovery and peer supports, education and other resources that can get more folks back on the path to productive lives.” The funding – which is provided from the opioid settlement funds appropriated to DDAP by the General Assembly – is for a 12-month period beginning July 1, through June 30, 2024. Funds may be applied to a range of activities, including building infrastructure, staffing and evidence-based programming. More about the funding is available here: https://www.media.pa.gov/Pages/DDAP_details.aspx?newsid=275 . Read more
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