|
|||||
|
In this Update:
Senate Approves ‘Save Women’s Sports Act’ to Protect Fairness in Female Athletics
The Senate took a bipartisan step to support biological women through fair competition in the Commonwealth by approving Senate Bill 9, the Save Women’s Sports Act. The measure will ensure athletic teams designated for women are reserved for biological females in Pennsylvania’s K–12 and collegiate sports. The bill, now headed to the House of Representatives for consideration, aims to protect competitive fairness, athletic opportunity and safety for female athletes across the commonwealth. I was honored to sponsor this legislation alongside Senators Kristin Phillips-Hill, Kim Ward, Lisa Baker, Michele Brooks, Camera Bartolotta, Tracy Pennycuick, Rosemary Brown, Linda Schlegel Culver and Dawn Keefer. We cannot allow the opportunities that Title IX enshrined for women to be lost. With our passage of the Save Women’s Sports Act, my colleagues and I showed that they will defend women and their right to safe and fair competition. You can view my full comments before the Senate, here. Pennsylvania Award for Student Success Scholarship Program Moves Forward
In a significant step toward expanding education access and reforming outcomes in the state’s most challenged schools, the Senate Education Committee advanced the bipartisan scholarship legislation I sponsored with Senator Anthony Williams. Senate Bill 10, also known as the Pennsylvania Award for Student Success (PASS) scholarship program, would establish scholarship accounts for eligible students, allowing them to pursue educational opportunities outside of their assigned public school if that school ranks in the bottom 15% statewide based on academic performance. The program would be administered by the Pennsylvania State Treasury and funded through appropriations, grants, donations or other contributions from public and private sources. I am proud to join with my colleagues to stand up for children and their future by passing the Pennsylvania Award for Student Success scholarship program out of the Senate Education Committee. This program will empower parents to make the decisions that are best for their child and ensure all children in the commonwealth have the chance at a quality education that fits their needs. The need for additional educational options is underscored by troubling statewide assessment results. According to the 2024 Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA), 72% of eighth-grade students in public schools are not proficient in math and 48% are not proficient in language arts. In the bottom 15% of public schools, only 7% of high school students and 10% of elementary students are proficient in math. In 18 of these schools, not a single student is proficient in either reading or math. Support for scholarship programs like PASS is strong among Pennsylvania voters. According to a recent poll from the American Federation for Children, 71% of Pennsylvanians support scholarships for primarily low-income students to attend schools that better meet their needs. Gov. Josh Shapiro has also expressed support in the past for a similar scholarship program. It is our hope when the bill heads to his desk, he will continue that support by signing it into law. Senate Bill 10 now heads to the full Senate for consideration. You can view my remarks before the Senate Education Committee, here. Championship Lady Marauders Recognized at Capitol
I was thrilled to welcome the Bishop Guilfoyle Academy girls’ basketball team, Head Coach Kristi Kaack, Assistant Coach Kristen Baer and Athletic Director Joe Landolfi, to the Capitol this week as they made history with their record-tying 9th PIAA state championship in the Class 1A title. Along with me were Representatives Lou Schmitt and Scott Barger. The girls were able to take a Capitol tour and enjoyed lunch while they were here. The Lady Marauders finished the season with a stellar record of 30-2, capping the year with a second consecutive title for the second time in school history. It takes dedication, strength and sacrifice to win a state championship, and these impressive women displayed these qualities with excellence all season. I was pleased to introduce them on during session and provide them with Senate citations. You can view my comments, here. Joint Transportation Committee Hearing
As Majority Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, I convened a joint public hearing with the House Transportation Committee this week with the purpose to collect testimony to improve Pennsylvania’s ignition interlock law. Act 33 of 2016 created the Ignition Interlock Limited License (IILL), which permits a DUI offender to serve a portion of their license suspension with ignition interlock. Under the law, DUI offenders must install ignition interlock in any vehicle the individual intends to operate, and the ignition interlock device prohibits a vehicle from operating if it detects alcohol. There has been widespread confusion on when the DUI offender is eligible to install ignition interlock in their vehicle. If the DUI offender installs ignition interlock before their eligibility date, the individual will not receive credit towards the one-year ignition interlock requirement. The committees received expert testimony from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, the court system and ignition interlock vendors with ideas for legislation to overhaul the program, streamline the application process and provide for immediate eligibility to install ignition interlock following the DUI conviction. You can click here to view the hearing. Bill Ensuring Uninterrupted Transportation of Milk Approved by Senate
The Senate has passed legislation I sponsored with Sen. Gene Yaw to ensure the uninterrupted transportation of milk during inclement weather and declared emergencies. Senate Bill 481, commonly referred to as the Milk Hauler Exemption Bill, would allow licensed milk haulers to operate during weather-related commercial vehicle travel bans and emergency declarations. Under the bill, milk transportation vehicles are permitted to move on highways 24 hours a day, seven days a week during such restrictions, provided they display a one-time decal issued by the Pennsylvania Milk Board. The dairy industry operates around the clock, and cows don’t stop producing milk because of bad weather. This legislation ensures that our dairy farmers can get their product to market without unnecessary delays, preventing waste and supporting our agricultural economy. The bill addresses concerns raised by dairy producers in her district who have previously been forced to discard milk due to transportation restrictions during emergencies. By allowing milk haulers to assess road conditions and make informed decisions, the legislation aims to balance public safety with the practical needs of the dairy industry. Senate Bill 481 received bipartisan support and now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration. You can click on the image above to view my comments on the legislation. Nurses Week in Pennsylvania
During the month of May, Pennsylvania’s nurses will receive much-deserved recognition through Senate resolutions that celebrate Nurses Week during May 6-12, School Nurse Day on May 7, and Skilled Nursing Care Week from May 11-17. I joined my colleague and fellow nurse, Sen. Maria Collett, to honor the hard-working nurses across our Commonwealth, by introducing these resolutions in recognition of Pennsylvania’s largest segment of health care providers. These resolutions highlight the countless ways that nurses of all types are working to transform health care. Nursing is a challenging and rewarding profession, but despite these challenges nurses can combine a love of caring with an understanding of health, illness and human behavior. Nurses are on the front lines of healthcare. They sacrifice time with loved ones and work long hours to ensure that those entrusted to them get the care they need and deserve. We thank these amazing professionals for their expertise, empathy, patience and compassion. You can click the image above to view my comments on the resolutions. Armed Forces Day Ceremony on May 17
Bill Strengthening PA’s Sexual Offender Registry Approved by Senate
The Senate unanimously approved legislation this week to better protect children in Pennsylvania against sexual predators. Senate Bill 255 would require a sports official, volunteer or employee of a nonprofit association who is convicted of sexual assault to register as a sexual offender under the Sexual Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). Under current law, a conviction for this offense does not require registration as a sex offender. Closing this loophole will strengthen SORNA and ensure potentially violent sex offenders can be properly monitored. The bill, which now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration, is part of a larger Senate Republican priority of making commonwealth communities safer. PA Treasury Continues Working to Return Money to the People
More than 40,000 Pennsylvanians may soon find a check in their mailbox for money they didn’t know they had, thanks to legislation passed by Senate Republicans. PA Money Match is a new law that allows Treasury to automatically return certain unclaimed property. The program includes properties valued at $500 or less that belong to a single owner. Those with eligible properties will receive a letter in the mail to confirm their address. About 45 days later, they’ll receive a check for their property. PA Treasurer Stacy Garrity is working to return more than $4.5 billion in unclaimed property, which includes dormant bank accounts, uncashed checks, rebates and insurance payments. The average claim is worth more than $1,000. Because PA Money Match will not automatically return properties exceeding $500 or those that may have more than one owner, you are still encouraged to regularly use Treasury’s website to check if you have unclaimed property. Happy Mother’s Day!
Mothers are the backbone of our communities. Whether they sat in the stands cheering us on at our games, brought cupcakes to every PTA bake sale or roughed it in the woods with our scout troop, they put action to their love. On Mother’s Day, we recognize the special women who love and care for us at all stages of our lives. Their support sets us up to be happy, healthy members of society. Out and About in the 30th DistrictLocal Nurses Visit the Capitol Session brought friendly faces from the district to Harrisburg this week. I got the chance to speak with two constituents of mine, Beth White and Sheilah Yohn, about the importance of Senate Bill 25 and giving nurse practitioners full practicing authority. Another nurse, Nicole, joined us as well and spoke about her current goal of becoming a nurse practitioner.
Trout Stocking in Claysburg It is always a great time on our annual trout stocking adventure with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission at Beaverdam Creek in Claysburg. Good luck to all our anglers this year!
Commonwealth Prayer Breakfast On Tuesday, the Commonwealth Prayer Breakfast was held with keynote speaker, Pastor Ted Winsley, chaplain of the Philaldephia Eagles. The breakfast this year was organized by Reps. Jamie Barton and Anthony Bellmon. It is a great opportunity for members of the faith community and elected officials to come together. Reverend Timothy Senior provided the closing prayer.
Friendly Faces Stop by the Capitol Anita and Denny Terchanick, along with Maryann Bennis stopped by the Capitol. Anita is the current Blair County Register of Wills and Recorder of Deeds. She has been a standout public servant since her election in 2020 and has given the residents of Blair County her very best. Maryann was the former Register of Wills and Recorder of Deeds in Blair County, leaving big shoes to fill when she announced her retirement in 2019 after 16 years in office. It was such a pleasure to have them join me in Harrisburg for the day!
Smart Hearts Sports Coalition Calls for Action on AEDs As a cardiac rehab nurse, I understand the importance of heart health and what having an AED nearby can truly mean. I stood with survivors, one from my own district, and advocates, urging the legislature to act and ensure that schools are prepared to respond to cardiac events with AEDs. Spencer Davis, a football player from Hollidaysburg, suffered from a cardiac event last year and was fortunate enough to have an AED near by that saved his life. I am grateful to my senate colleagues for taking up this important issue.
If you are not already subscribed to this newsletter please sign up here. |
|||||
|
|||||
Want to change how you receive these emails? 2025 © Senate of Pennsylvania | https://senatorjudyward.com | Privacy Policy |
