HARRISBURG, July 2 – As Pennsylvania lawmakers work to finalize the state budget and tuition bills are hitting mailboxes for the fall semester, two state lawmakers are looking to provide needed financial relief to student borrowers. State Reps. Jennifer O’Mara, D-Delaware, and Morgan Cephas, D-Phila., have introduced legislation ( H.B. 2476 ) that would exempt tuition reimbursement from the personal income tax, as well as codify that student loan forgiveness is not taxable income. According to the lawmakers, current and former college students in the U.S. have taken out approximately $1.75 trillion in student loans. Pennsylvania borrowers have an average of $39,375 in debt, making the state the third-highest average for student loan debt. The cost of both public and private four-year colleges has tripled since 1980, even when accounting for inflation, contributing to the need for students to take out more loans. “Pennsylvania is a state where borrowers struggle with student loans more than most,” O’Mara said. “It’s even more disheartening when they are handed a tax bill for what relief they do get from their employers in the form of tuition reimbursement. Students are constantly evaluating their career and financial paths to include ways to make college more affordable. When they find an employer who wants to help with those costs in exchange for getting a great employee, they shouldn’t be Read more
HARRISBURG, June 26 – House lawmakers, families and advocates this week renewed their call to pass legislation that addresses anti-bullying policies in Pennsylvania schools. At a Capitol news conference on Monday, the family of Sammy Teusch, a child who was bullied at his school in Indiana and died by suicide on May 5, joined state Reps. Danilo Burgos and Joe Hohenstein, both D-Phila.; Jennifer O’Mara, D-Delaware; Kiria Cora, executive director of the Cora Foundation; and others to call upon the legislature to act on anti-bullying legislation. The legislation includes O’Mara’s House Bill 1293 , which would require schools to notify parents and legal guardians when their child is involved in or experiences bullying, and a comprehensive series of bills known as the Rights and Protections for All Students package, introduced by Hohenstein and others. The urgent plea follows a series of meetings with advocates and the families of victims of bulling – including the Teusch family. The lawmakers said increased bullying incidents have profound impacts on students’ mental health, academic performance and overall well-being. Burgos, who chairs the Pennsylvania Legislative Latino Caucus, urged for the passage these bills. “ Passing anti-bullying legislation to address and prevent bullying in schools is not about punishment but about prevention, Read more
It’s budget month in Harrisburg, and as negotiations continue, the House did pass one bill to deliver historic education funding that would benefit every student in Pennsylvania. Read more
On Tuesday, State Rep. Jennifer O’Mara and fellow members of the bicameral Taiwan Caucuses marked the 45th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act. Read more
“Pennsylvania’s partnership with Taiwan has brought immense economic, cultural and social benefits to both sides. As we commemorate the 45-year anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act and the adoption of House Resolution 439, we reaffirm our commitment to the values of democracy, mutual respect and shared success,” O’Mara said. Read more
Last week was another busy voting week in Harrisburg! The week included legislative wins for the PA Momnibus, thanks to the leadership of our fearless PA Black Maternal Health Caucus, including Delco’s own Rep. Gina Curry! Read more
“An average person sees three traumatic events in their lifetime. A first responder can see up to nine in one year,” said State Rep. Jennifer O’Mara (D). Read more
Last week was one of my most productive weeks ever as a legislator. I had three bills pass out of the House and each now head to the Senate. The bills include House Bill 98, Equal Pay for All ... Read more
“My dad was a firefighter in Philadelphia – he was my hero – and he died by suicide in 2003. First responders are heroes, but they’re not superheroes," O'Mara said. Read more
Appliances sold in Pennsylvania would need to meet stricter efficiency standards under a measure passed by the state House. Read more
Legislation nearing a full vote by Pennsylvania's House of Representatives would allow firefighters, police officers, and emergency medical services personnel to file workers' compensation claims for post-traumatic stress injuries. Read more
HARRISBURG, May 6 – A bill ( H.B. 98 ) introduced by state Reps. Donna Bullock, Melissa Shusterman and Jenn O’Mara known as the Equal Pay Law, which would expand protections against wage discrimination, was passed by the Pennsylvania House of Representatives today. The legislation would prohibit employers from discriminating and paying workers less because of their gender, race or ethnicity. It would also add protections for retaliation and increase monetary penalties from $50-$200 to $2,500-$5,000 in cases where employers discharge or discriminate against an employee for filing a complaint. And, the legislators said, it would enhance pay transparency by requiring employers to include the expected compensation or the range for any position the employer publicly advertises as a job opening and to a prospective employee applying for employment upon reasonable request. “It’s well known that women, and especially women of color, have been insufficiently paid in the workplace. This is despite doing the same tasks, performing the same jobs, and sometimes doing them much better than our counterparts,” said Bullock, D-Phila. “This is a step toward economic justice. We moved this legislation forward to ensure all Pennsylvania workers receive equal pay for equal work and eradicate wage disparity once and for all. It's time for the Senate to do the same.” Read more
I have fought for years in Harrisburg to decrease the mental health stigma and for emergency responders to have easy access to the care and tools that they need to effectively serve their communities. This week, I watched these values converge as my House Bill 1632 made progress within the legislature. Read more
“Access to mental health services should be readily available and strongly encouraged, particularly for first responders, who we rely on to keep us safe. This bill works toward that by making high-quality, consistent care more accessible following a PTSI diagnosis,” O'Mara said. Read more
“Wanting to start a family but coping with infertility is a painful journey. It’s taxing physically, emotionally and financially. Couples can spend five to six figures on treatment, holding out hope after every injection, egg retrieval procedure, and embryo transfer, but results are never guaranteed,” O’Mara said. “Infertility doesn’t discriminate and could affect any Pennsylvanian. It’s important to show support to those struggling to conceive. I know from experience that a little bit of compassion and understanding can make a world of difference.” Read more
Election Day is Tuesday, April 23. To ensure you’re fully prepared to cast your ballot, you can find your polling place by visiting https://delcopa.gov/polls. Read more
The spring primary is right around the corner, so don’t let these important deadlines pass you by. Read more
HARRISBURG, March 27 – A bill ( H.B. 98 ) introduced by state Reps. Donna Bullock, Melissa Shusterman and Jenn O’Mara, known as the Equal Pay Law, which would expand protections against wage discrimination, was approved by the Pennsylvania House Labor and Industry Committee today. This legislation would prohibit employers from discriminating and paying workers less because of their gender, race or ethnicity. It would also add protections for retaliation and increase monetary penalties from $50-$200 to $2,500-$5,000 in cases where employers discharge or discriminate against an employee for filing a complaint. “It’s well known that women and people of color, and especially women of color, have been insufficiently paid in the workplace. This is despite doing the same tasks, performing the same jobs, and sometimes doing them much better than our counterparts,” said Bullock, D-Phila. “Enough is enough. The time for economic justice is now. We must move forward and ensure all Pennsylvania workers receive equal pay for equal work and eradicate wage disparity once and for all.” "We could add a staggering $482 billion to the U.S. economy by ensuring equal pay for equal work. We're talking billions in lost wages for women that they could spend on basic necessities, like food and clothing for their families,” said Shusterman, D-Chester. “Simply by Read more
“Multiple residents have brought up concerns regarding these roadways to my office, ranging from pedestrian safety to potholes and visibility issues,” O’Mara said. Read more
In case you missed it, March is Women’s History Month. Throughout March, we honor the extraordinary achievements, resilience, and contributions of women who have shaped our world. Let's commit to supporting and uplifting one another. Read more
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