url,title,date,year,month,party,chamber,state,member_name,bioguide_id,domain,scraper,source,date_source,text,has_text,collected_at,updated_at http://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/in-2020-casey-produces-results-for-pa-constituents,"In 2020, Casey Produces Results for PA Constituents",2020-12-31,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,PA,Bob Casey,C001070,www.casey.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) is finishing 2020 having delivered results for Pennsylvania families. Below is a list of Senator Casey's 2020 work on behalf of Pennsylvania constituents. Securing COVID-19 Relief for America's Families Securing $100 Million for Nursing Home Oversight: As part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act (Public Law 116-136), provisions from Senator Casey's Coronavirus Relief for Seniors and People with Disabilities Act (S. 3544) led to the passage of $100 million to promote infection control in nursing homes during the pandemic through enhanced surveys and inspections. Shedding Light on the Nursing Home Crisis: Senator Casey authored multiple investigative reports, alongside U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Gary Peters (D-MI), documenting the Trump Administration's repeated failures to contain the spread of COVID in nursing homes. Following the Senators' oversight, the Trump Administration implemented federal data collection requirements and the public release of information on COVID cases, deaths and supply shortages in nursing homes. Securing $1 Billion to Keep Seniors Safe at Home: Senator Casey led efforts to obtain vital funding to support seniors sheltering in place during the pandemic. Stemming from S. 3544, the Senator secured roughly $1 billion for essential services, including home-delivered meals and caregiver respite, across two relief packages passed by Congress the CARES Act and the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public Law 116-260). To date, Pennsylvania has received $47 million of these relief funds. Delivering Food Boxes to Seniors in Need: Also stemming from his bill, S. 3544, Senator Casey obtained $13 million in additional funding to support food delivery to low-income seniors during the COVID pandemic through the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, also known as the senior food box program. His advocacy also helped to secure an additional $80 million in funding for the program in FY2021. This money will allow states to serve more low-income seniors with shelf-stable food boxes. Both the COVID-19 and FY2021 funding was secured as part of Congress's year-end agreement (P.L. 116-260). Standing Up for Seniors Passing the Improving Low-Income Access to Prescription Drugs Act: Senator Casey's bipartisan Improving Low-Income Access to Prescription Drugs Act (S. 1999) was passed into law as part of Congress's year-end deal (P.L. 116-260). This important legislation makes permanent a federal program to ensure low-income seniors and people with disabilities retain affordable access to their prescription medications as they transition to Medicare. Passing the Reauthorization of the Older Americans Act: Senator Casey co-led the bipartisan reauthorization of hallmark legislation, now Public Law 116-131, to deliver essential services and supports to America's seniors. This 5-year reauthorization provides respite services to grandfamilies, advances innovation and evaluation within the Act, prioritizes funding to bring kids and seniors together, requires data collection on LGBT seniors and ensures younger adults with Alzheimer's disease are eligible for services. Passing a Law to Close Harmful Coverage Gaps in Medicare: Key provisions from Senator Casey's bipartisan Beneficiary Enrollment Notification and Eligibility Simplification Act (BENES) Act (S. 1280) were passed into law as part of Congress's year-end agreement (P.L. 116-260). These policies will ensure people new to Medicare have more immediate access to health insurance, closing coverage gaps that led seniors and people with disabilities to go without essential care. Securing Continued Support for Grandfamilies: The Advisory Council to Support Grandparents Raising Grandchildren, created by Senator Casey's bipartisan bill signed into law in 2018, will continue to meet in 2021 as a result of funding the Senator obtained through the appropriations process (P.L. 116-260). The Council is tasked with developing a one-stop shop of resources to help grandparents raising grandchildren navigate programs and benefits. Allowing Families to Access Long-Term Care at Home: Through his Protecting Married Seniors from Impoverishment Act (S. 2000), Senator Casey continues to stand up for financial protections to prevent spouses whose partners need home and community-based services under Medicaid from falling into abject poverty. Congress's year-end agreement (P.L. 116-260) includes a 3-year extension of these vital protections. Advancing Best Practices to Stop Senior Scams: Senator Casey's bipartisan Stop Senior Scams Act (S. 149) passed the U.S. Senate. The Senator's bill would establish a federal advisory council charged with bringing together relevant government officials, industry representatives, advocates and consumer representatives to collect and develop model educational materials for retailers, financial institutions and wire transfer companies to use in stopping scams on seniors. Combatting Age Discrimination in the Workplace: Senator Casey's bipartisan Protecting Older Workers from Age Discrimination Act (S. 485) passed the U.S. House of Representatives. The Senator's bill would restore standards undone by a 2009 Supreme Court decision that made it more difficult for older workers to successfully seek restitution in court for age discrimination they experienced. Leading Efforts for Individuals with Disabilities Fighting for Continued Access to Disability Benefits and Supports: Senator Casey led efforts, along with 40 Senators, to call for the withdrawal of a proposed rule that would make it more difficult for people with Social Security disability benefits to retain needed support. The Senator also led an initiative to encourage the public to tell the Social Security Administration directly how the proposal would harm them, resulting in more than 125,000 comments submitted on the rule. Promoting Care Continuity from Home to the Hospital: The CARES Act (P.L. 116-136) included a provision that Senator Casey fought for to ensure direct service providers could enter and provide services and supports to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who were admitted to hospitals and rehabilitation settings because of COVID or other health-related concerns. Making it possible for those providers who care for people in their homes while they are in the hospital allows for continuity of care, better communication among hospital and community caregivers and makes the transition back to their homes safer and healthier. Preventing COVID Infections Among People with Disabilities: Senator Casey advocated that the CARES Act (P.L. 116-136) include funding increases for Centers for Independent Living to provide COVID prevention services during the pandemic. Pennsylvania received $2.75 million to be distributed among its eleven federal Centers for Independent Living. The funds make it possible to provide people with disabilities with personal protective equipment (PPE) in their own homes, to transition from congregate care settings to home settings, to translate COVID information into other languages and many more preventive actions to reduce the risk of infection for people with disabilities. Fighting for Rural Communities and Expanding Broadband Access Supporting Rural Innovation: Senator Casey secured increased funding for the Small Business Administration's Regional Innovation Clusters (RIC) program in the FY 2021 appropriations bill (P.L. 116-260). The RIC program provides an increased focus on outreach to rural areas in leveraging a region's unique competitive strengths and geographically-concentrated, interconnected network of complementary businesses, suppliers and associated organizations that engage in a particular industry sector. These types of programs are essential to Pennsylvania businesses to fight the economic effects of COVID-19. Don't Break Up the T-Band: Senator Casey led efforts with U.S. Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) and other colleagues to enact the Don't Break Up the T-Band Act into law (P.L. 116-260). The Don't Break Up the T-Band Act will ensure that our brave first responders throughout Pennsylvania and the rest of the country have access to the tools they need to effectively communicate with other first responders when responding to public safety emergencies. Hyndman Cellular Tower: In October, Senator Casey announced the completion of a project to provide cellular service in Bedford County via Hyndman Cellular Tower, ensuring that thousands of Bedford County residents have reliable service. After train derailments and feedback from local and state first responders highlighted the urgent need for better emergency response telecommunications, Senator Casey advocated for more than two years for AT&T to prioritize rural areas like Hyndman for First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) tower sites. Fighting for Jobs and a Secure Retirement Standing up for Federal Workers: Senator Casey led a letter opposing proposed changes to the Department of Defense's procurement policy in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would have undermined the role depots and shipyards play in the readiness and maintenance of our armed forces. This effort led to stringent oversight requirements over decisions that lead to undermining depot and shipyard workforces. Fighting for Pay Equity for Army Depot Workers: A version of Senator Casey's Locality Pay Equity Act (S. 3015) was included in the FY 2021 NDAA passed by the U.S. House of Representatives. This legislation would put an end to locality pay adjustment disparities between salaried and hourly workers at federal facilities, including Tobyhanna and Letterkenny Army Depots in Pennsylvania. Strengthening Unemployment Benefits: Senator Casey pushed for the expansion and strengthening of unemployment benefits for workers affected by COVID as was done in the CARES Act that passed into law in March (P.L. 116-136). Senator Casey also strongly pushed for the extension of vital unemployment benefit programs that were slated to expire at the end of this year, which was achieved in the end-of-year relief package (P.L. 116-260). Fighting to Combat Hunger and Support our Farmers Leading Efforts to Expand Access to Food for the Most Vulnerable: As the pandemic increased food insecurity for households who lost access to paychecks, Senator Casey worked to build the capacity of the food assistance system to assist families in Pennsylvania and across the country. He led letters to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and grocery retailers urging innovative solutions to expand access to home delivery and curbside pickup for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants, especially for seniors and immunocompromised individuals. He introduced the Increasing Access to SNAP Delivery During COVID-19 Act to support retailers in expanding their SNAP delivery offerings during the pandemic. Senator Casey also advocated for and supported Pennsylvania's participation in the SNAP Online Purchasing Program and will continue working for additional access to delivery services. Advocating for the Expansion of Hunger Assistance Programs: Senator Casey fought to protect critical nutrition assistance programs for our most vulnerable citizens. From the beginning of the COVID pandemic, he advocated for the expansion of SNAP benefits to respond to the food insecurity crisis. He led a Pennsylvania delegation letter urging the inclusion of a 15 percent increase in SNAP benefits levels. A six-month increase in these benefits was ultimately included in the most recent COVID relief package (P.L. 116-260). Senator Casey also advocated for critical nutrition waivers for Pennsylvania to access food assistance and necessary flexibilities throughout the pandemic. In addition to COVID-related food security needs, he also led appropriations efforts to support the Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI), a program modeled after Pennsylvania's Fresh Food Financing Initiative. Supporting our Farmers and Food Production System: Senator Casey worked tirelessly to support our farmers, who play a critical role in feeding families throughout Pennsylvania and the Nation. He introduced and co-sponsored legislation to support farmers who faced significant market losses and supply chain disruptions. He introduced the Farmers Feeding Families Act, building on his work to establish Farm to Food Bank projects in the 2018 Farm Bill. He was also an original cosponsor of the Food Supply Protection Act to help strengthen the food supply chain, protect workers, reduce food waste and support farmers and families in need. Additionally, Senator Casey led a Pennsylvania delegation letter to the Small Businesses Administration to ensure that loans and programs are available and work for farmers and agricultural businesses. Protecting the Environment Securing Funding for the Chesapeake Bay Watershed: Senator Casey joined the Chesapeake Bay delegation in working to secure increased funding for the Chesapeake Bay Program in the FY 2021 spending agreement (P.L. 116-260). Senator Casey also introduced the bipartisan Farmer Driven Conservation Outcomes Act, which would direct USDA to establish a process through which it could measure, evaluate and report on conservation program outcomes, including water quality improvements. He continues to build on wins from the 2018 Farm Bill for water quality by ensuring that programs are implemented to benefit the Bay. He led a bipartisan letter to USDA regarding implementation of key provisions in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) to improve water quality. Addressing the Climate Crisis: Senator Casey worked to address the climate crisis through efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, protect the health of our communities, create good paying jobs and address environmental injustices. He was an original cosponsor of the Clean Economy Act of 2020, which would empower the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to design and implement a national plan to rapidly reduce the country's greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 or sooner. He continued to stand up against the Trump Administration's efforts to roll back bedrock environmental laws. Additionally, Senator Casey is working to ensure that farmers can be part of the solution to address the climate crisis by introducing legislation to measure, evaluate and report on the outcomes associated with farm bill conservation programs, including carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas emissions reductions. PFAS Contamination: Senator Casey continued to stand up for communities impacted by PFAS contamination. He fought for inclusion of key PFAS provisions in the NDAA and advocated for funding to expand PFAS monitoring, standards development and cleanup capabilities. Senator Casey also continued to engage in efforts to implement a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study on the effects of PFAS on long-term health. He led efforts to secure this funding and Pennsylvania's Bucks and Montgomery Counties were included in the multi-year site study. Preserving Public Lands in Pennsylvania: Senator Casey introduced legislation to extend authorization of Pennsylvania's National Heritage Areas (NHAs). The Pennsylvania National Heritage Area Act would extend authorization of the Pennsylvania NHAs set to expire between FY 2021 and FY 2022. Additionally, this legislation would eliminate incongruent funding restrictions and streamline appropriations levels for NHAs. Senator Casey will continue to work to ensure these extensions are secured and to protect our natural and cultural resources while strengthening communities and stimulating local economies. Fighting for Miners' Benefits Leading Efforts to Protect Retired Miners: Senator Casey successfully advocated for language in the year-end agreement (P.L. 116-260) to protect the health care benefits of all retired miners in the event of future bankruptcies, no matter when the bankruptcies occur. Previous efforts to protect coal miner health care specified the year of a company's bankruptcy; The United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) anticipate the remaining coal companies with retiree health care obligations will declare bankruptcy within the next 6-12 months. This language will ensure coal miners' health care is fully covered if a coal company goes bankrupt and also ensures Congress does not have to act each time a company is relieved of its obligations to pay for retiree health care by a bankruptcy court. According to UMWA, the majority of retirees and widows covered by this provision are over 80 years old. Standing Up For Veterans Veterans Affairs and Veteran Health: Senator Casey and U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS), working with House colleague U.S. Representative Elaine Luria (D-VA-2), successfully introduced and passed the Department of Veterans Affairs Website Accessibility Act (P.L. 116-213). This law directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to report to Congress regarding the accessibility of VA websites (including attached files and web-based applications) to individuals with disabilities. Senator Casey continues to advocate for robust funding for veterans health, supporting efforts to secure PPE, vaccines, mental health support and additional resources to VA workers and patients in response to the COVID pandemic. Passage of the Rosie the Riveter Congressional Gold Medal Act: The bipartisan Rosie the Riveter Congressional Gold Medal Act honors American women who joined the workforce in support of the war effort during World War II by awarding them a Congressional Gold Medal. These Rosie the Riveters answered the Nation's call to action and learned new skills, many building the vehicles, weaponry and ammunitions that were critical to the war effort. Senator Casey led the effort along with U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) and U.S. Representatives Jackie Speier (D-CA-14) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-1). 76 senators co-sponsored the Senate bill, including every female senator, and it has now been enacted into Public Law 116-195. Keeping Communities Safe and Our Judiciary Working Law Enforcement Reform: In response to a national reckoning regarding the systemic violence and injustice impacting communities of color across the Nation, Senator Casey helped to advance a critical conversation focused on transformative change within law enforcement. Senator Casey joined thirty-four of his colleagues, led by U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Kamala Harris (D-CA), to introduce the Justice in Policing Act of 2020. The bill would put in place the most significant police reforms in our Nation's history by focusing on officer accountability, data transparency and enhancing police practices and training. He also led the Law Enforcement Education and Accountability for People with Disabilities (LEAD) Initiative to help counter the high rate of violent interactions between police and people with disabilities. The LEAD Initiative is comprised of two bills the Safe Interactions Act and the Human-services Emergency Logistic Program (HELP) Act. Combined, these bills would: (1) divert non-criminal, non-fire and non-medical emergency calls from the 9-1-1 system to the 2-1-1 system; and (2) provide grants to enable non-profit disability organizations to develop training programs in partnership with police academies and agencies to support safe interactions between law enforcement officers and people with disabilities. Fighting for Prison Safety During COVID: Senator Casey has repeatedly pressed the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Bureau of Prisons (BOP) for answers and reforms in response to the COVID pandemic. Senator Casey wrote multiple letters in March and April to DOJ and BOP leadership raising significant concerns about BOP's inmate transfer policies, supply of PPE and other general concerns related to the BOP's preparation for COVID. After raising these concerns and calling on the DOJ to require mandatory testing before transferring any incarcerated individual, BOP announced in May that it had decreased internal movement by 90 percent and committed to testing all incarcerated individuals prior to leaving a local detention facility. Criminal Justice Reform: Senator Casey introduced the bipartisan Clean Slate Act of 2020 with U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), which would automatically seal the federal records of individuals convicted or arrested for simple drug possession, and establish a process for individuals to petition to seal records for other nonviolent offenses. This landmark piece of legislation would give tens of millions of Americans a second chance to fully participate in society by removing major barriers for finding employment, securing housing and accessing education. The Clean Slate Act is modeled after Pennsylvania's own Clean Slate Act, which was the first Clean Slate law in the Nation after it was enacted into law with tremendous bipartisan support in 2018. Federal Judges: Senator Casey worked with U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R-PA) to confirm two more Federal judges to the District Courts in PA. Since 2011, Senators Casey and Toomey have worked together, in a bipartisan fashion, to fill vacancies on the federal bench in Pennsylvania. Together they have now vetted, recommended and confirmed 27 Federal District Court Judges for Pennsylvania. Only two states - New York and Texas - have had more district court judges confirmed to their federal benches during this time. Combat Online Predators: Senator Casey led efforts with Senator Toomey to enact the Combat Online Predators Act into law in December 2020 (P.L. 116-249). This bipartisan law was drafted in response to the traumatic experiences of a Pennsylvania family and will give judges additional tools to ensure that perpetrators who stalk or cyberstalk children are held accountable with serious penalties. Fighting for Consumer Health Leading Senate Efforts to Modernize FDA Regulation of Over-the-Counter Drugs: Senator Casey, along with retired U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA), led a multi-year effort to overhaul and modernize the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) regulatory authority for over-the-counter (OTC) monograph drugs. These products, including drugs like painkillers, allergy medicines and sunscreens, are used by millions of Americans and are subject to certain requirements known as monographs. The OTC system was outdated, making it hard for FDA to take action to protect public health and hard for companies to innovate. With the passage of the Over-the-Counter Monograph Safety, Innovation, and Reform Act (P.L. 116-136), the FDA has new tools and resources at its disposal, and consumers will benefit from increased regulatory oversight and new innovation. Fighting for Children Leading Efforts to Increase Federal and State Efforts to Investigate and Collect Information When an Infant or Young Child Die: Senator Casey's bipartisan legislation, named after Pittsburgh child Scarlett Pauley, will help combat Sudden Unexpected Infant Death and Sudden Unexpected Death in Childhood by providing grants to help states, municipalities and nonprofits improve data collection and death scene investigations related to unexpected infant and child deaths. The bill will also help promote safe sleep practices for children and support local efforts to conduct infant and child death reviews. This legislation was signed into law by the President as Public Law 116-273 on December 31, 2020. Leading Efforts to Extend the Creating Hope Act: Senator Casey led a bipartisan effort to reauthorize the Creating Hope Act, which authorized the FDA's pediatric priority review voucher program. This important program encourages the development of new drugs to treat rare pediatric diseases, and was first authorized in 2012 following Senator Casey's efforts. The Creating Hope Reauthorization Act was included as a provision in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (P.L. 116-260) and extends the program for an additional four years. Leading Efforts to Reauthorize Critical Program for Emergency Medical Care for Children: Senator Casey led a bipartisan, bicameral coalition to reauthorize the Emergency Medical Services for Children (P.L. 116-49), a federal program that works to improve the quality of emergency care provided to children and ensure that hospitals and emergency workers providing emergency care to children are properly equipped. Fighting for Health Care Children's Hospital Graduate Medical Education (CHGME) Program: Senator Casey, the Senate champion of the Children's Hospital Graduate Medical Education (CHGME) and author of several laws to extend and improve the program, secured additional funding for the program through the appropriations process. Funding for the program was increased by $10 million from $340 to $350 million for FY2021 (P.L. 116-159). Fighting the Administration's Immigration Cruelty Care of Immigrant Children in U.S. Custody: At Senator Casey's request, the Government Accountability Office opened an investigation into the conditions and care of migrants, including children, in Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) custody. The report revealed that CBP illegally used funds designated for medical care and food for children in detention on dirt bikes, dog food and leashes, boats and other unrelated items. The report also shined a light on significant gaps in care for children in custody and CBP's failure to follow its own health and safety guidelines. Helping Children Learn More Now to Earn More Later Early Care and Education COVID Relief: Senator Casey has fought to provide assistance to childcare providers facing financial hardship and families struggling to find care due to COVID. In March, aspects of Senator Casey's Supporting Child Care Providers and Families Affected by Coronavirus Act (S. 3562) was included in the CARES Act (P.L. 116-136), helping to secure $3.5 billion in emergency relief for the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) and $750 billion for Head Start. His continued advocacy to provide an additional $50 billion for early education helped to secure $10 billion for CCDBG and $250 million for Head Start COVID relief in the FY2021 omnibus appropriations and COVID relief legislation (P.L. 116-260). Ensuring Opportunity For Students: Senator Casey's Stopping Unfair Collateral Consequences from Ending Student Success Act or SUCCESS Act (S.5079) was included in the FY2021 omnibus appropriations and COVID relief legislation (P.L. 116-260). The SUCCESS Act repeals provisions of the Higher Education Act that limits access to federal student aid for students convicted of drug-related offenses. To date, according to the ALCU, this provision has prevented about 200,000 students from receiving federal student aid. This legislation will help to reduce recidivism, over-criminalization and taxpayer burdens by stopping the suspension of college aid for young people who made a mistake but want to get their lives back on track. It affirms that the United States is a country of second chances, not second punishments. Protecting the Nation and Promoting American Values Abroad International Disability Rights: Senator Casey introduced the Office of International Disability Rights Act (S. 3880) to require the State Department to develop and implement a formal policy for disability inclusion in foreign assistance programming and establish State Department Office of International Disability Rights headed by an Ambassador-at-Large (AAL) for International Disability Rights. He also introduced S. Res. 445, a resolution recognizing International Day of Persons with Disabilities. These efforts to promote disability rights globally will continue into the 117th Congress. Global Impacts of COVID: Senator Casey led letters to the Trump Administration urging increased funding to combat increasingly global food insecurity due to COVID, as well as assessment of COVID's impact on children's mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS). Senator Casey intends to introduce legislation next Congress addressing child MHPSS globally. Promoting a Peaceful and Inclusive Future: Senator Casey successfully secured $10 million in the FY21 NDAA to improve training and inclusion of Afghan women in Afghanistan's security forces. These efforts will serve to integrate and create opportunities for Afghan women to have a say in Afghanistan's future. Senator Casey and U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) also led a letter to the Trump Administration urging emergency humanitarian funding for the Nagorno-Karabakh region for the clearance of cluster munitions deployed during the fall 2020 hostilities that put children at particular risk of exposure to unexploded ordnance. The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 was signed into law as Public Law 116-283 on January 1, 2021. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.casey.senate.gov/news/releases/in-2020-casey-produces-results-for-pa-constituents,"In 2020, Casey Produces Results for PA Constituents",2020-12-31,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,PA,Bob Casey,C001070,www.casey.senate.gov,,,legacy,,0,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://lamb.house.gov/media/press-releases/lamb-statement-following-votes-provide-additional-covid-relief-and-support,LAMB STATEMENT FOLLOWING VOTES TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL COVID RELIEF AND SUPPORT TROOPS,2020-12-28,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,PA,Conor Lamb,L000588,lamb.house.gov,,,legacy,"(WASHINGTON, DC) Representative Conor Lamb (PA-17) issued the following statement regarding his votes for the Caring for Americans with Supplemental Help (CASH) Act to increase economic impact payments to $2,000 and to override the President's veto of the bipartisan William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 6395) Conference Report: You can't get two-thirds of this Congress to agree on much, but tonight we had overwhelming bipartisan votes to increase stimulus checks from $600 to $2,000, and to overturn the President's absurd veto of our bipartisan bill to fund the military and pay our troops. We've asked people to sacrifice a lot this year for the sake of public health jobs, businesses, wages and working hours, time with loved ones. And working families have been forced to wait far too long for their government to provide any support to make those sacrifices just a little bit easier. Mitch McConnell should not make them wait any longer, but he will. We know that about him. The important thing is that we do not and will not accept it. By not adopting his radical, do-nothing view of being a Senator, we got a bill signed into law yesterday. And we aren't done. Visit Lamb's website for more information on the additional legislation Congress passed to address the coronavirus public health crisis, as well as the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 6395). ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/casey-releases-statement-on-covid-relief-legislation,Casey Releases Statement on COVID Relief Legislation,2020-12-22,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,PA,Bob Casey,C001070,www.casey.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) is releasing a statement on the COVID-19 relief legislation: The COVID-19 relief legislation is a bipartisan compromise that will put money in the pockets of working families and invest vital dollars into vaccine deployment. While agreement on this latest COVID-19 relief bill is welcome and long overdue, the legislation is nowhere near what must be done to address the full scope of our Nation's public health and economic crisis. Due to the intransigence of Senate Republicans, this relief bill does not include critically-needed money to state and local governments to prevent service cuts and layoffs of firefighters, law enforcement and local health departments. It also lacks meaningful policies and investments to protect nursing home residents and workers and to allow seniors and people with disabilities to receive needed care at home. I will continue to fight for these measures. When a new Congress convenes in January and President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris are sworn in, we must begin work on bold, robust legislation that will allow America to build back better and provide families a full measure of support.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://dean.house.gov/2020/12/house-passes-budget-includes-rep-dean-s-priorities-pfas-atf-funding-substance,"House Passes Budget that includes Rep. Dean’s Priorities on PFAS, ATF Funding, Substance Abuse Disorders, and, Disability Assistances",2020-12-22,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,PA,Madeleine Dean,D000631,dean.house.gov,dean,https://dean.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON — The House voted on the budget to increase non-defense spending by $12.5 billion, allowing for strong investments in American families and communities. The budget supports better schools, expands access to housing, tackles food insecurity, builds safer communities, and protects the environment. “It’s important that we expand funding for 2021 to ensure that American families are the priority.” Rep. Dean said. “I am grateful we were able to include my priorities including the PFAS health study and funding for pregnant and postpartum women struggling with substance use disorders.” Reps. Dean and McBath co-led a letter to increase the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives funding to $1.48 billion. ATF plays a critical role in protecting Americans from gun violence. This $83.9 million increase from last year’s allocation will help ATF investigate gun crime, prevent illegal gun trafficking, and ensure gun dealers comply with federal law and regulations. Reps. Dean and Rose co-led a letter to secure an extra $1 million (from last year’s allocation) for the Pregnant and Postpartum Women program in SAMHSA. This program is specifically targeted at women suffering with substance use disorders and is designed to expand the availability of comprehensive, residential substance abuse treatment, prevention and recovery support with a family-centered approach. Rep. Dean also led a letter to secure $15 million for the CDC-ATSDR PFAS health study which will help study exposure to PFAS, an issue that has impacted Montgomery County for decades. Additionally, $6 million for Disability CDFI funds was secured. These funds will go to CDFIs that grant loans for disability related purchases and help organizations like the PA Assistive Technology Foundation. The year-end package also included Rep. Dean’s Fostering Stable Housing Opportunities Act which addresses the needs of foster youth by providing vouchers from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to those who are at risk of homelessness – rather than forcing them to spend years on waiting lists.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-28T00:42:23Z https://dean.house.gov/2020/12/rep-dean-passes-bipartisan-covid-relief-deal,Rep. Dean Passes Bipartisan COVID Relief Deal,2020-12-22,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,PA,Madeleine Dean,D000631,dean.house.gov,dean,https://dean.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON — Last night, Rep. Dean helped pass the necessary and long-awaited $900 Billion COVID-19 relief package. The package now includes the following measures and more: Small Business: $284 billion for first and second forgivable PPP loans, expanded PPP eligibility, modifications to PPP to serve smallest businesses, nonprofits, and independent restaurants; $20 billion for EIDL Grants Rent Assistance: $25 billion in rental assistance and an extension of the eviction moratorium. Direct Payments: Worth up to $600 per adult and child Unemployment: $300 per week UI enhancement for Americans out of work. Food Insecurity: $13 billion in increased SNAP and child nutrition benefits Education and Child care: $82 billion in funding for colleges and schools and $10 billion for child care assistance to help get parents back to work and keep child care providers open. Broadband: $7 billion to increase access to broadband, including a new Emergency Broadband Benefit to help millions of students, families and unemployed workers afford the broadband they need during the pandemic. State and Local Governments: The bill included Rep. Dean and Rep. Thompson’s LOCAL Act – which extends the time state and local governments can use CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) dollars until the end of 2021. “I voted yes on the relief package because the situation is dire and folks need relief now, but this does not mean the package is sufficient.” Rep. Dean said. “But, we couldn’t wait any longer to extend funding for unemployment assistance, or to get funding to those who are hungry, or struggling to stay in their homes, and immediate relief for small businesses.” Rep. Dean is hopeful the relief will be out to Americans as quickly as possible. The package also includes billions in funds to accelerate the free and equitable distribution of safe vaccines and funds to implement a strong national testing and tracing strategy. However, the bill fails to go far enough to replenish State and local funding or provide adequate direct payments. However, this emergency relief bill is an important initial step, which will be built upon under the Biden-Harris Administration. Rep. Madeleine Dean is a mother, grandmother, attorney, professor, former four-term member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and U.S. Representative for the Fourth District of Pennsylvania.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-28T00:42:23Z https://dean.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-passes-budget-includes-rep-dean-s-priorities-pfas-atf-funding-substance,"House Passes Budget that includes Rep. Dean’s Priorities on PFAS, ATF Funding, Substance Abuse Disorders, and, Disability Assistances",2020-12-22,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,PA,Madeleine Dean,D000631,dean.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON The House voted on the budget to increase non-defense spending by $12.5 billion, allowing for strong investments in American families and communities. The budget supports better schools, expands access to housing, tackles food insecurity, builds safer communities, and protects the environment. It's important that we expand funding for 2021 to ensure that American families are the priority. Rep. Dean said. I am grateful we were able to include my priorities including the PFAS health study and funding for pregnant and postpartum women struggling with substance use disorders. Reps. Dean and McBath co-led a letter to increase the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives funding to $1.48 billion. ATF plays a critical role in protecting Americans from gun violence. This $83.9 million increase from last year's allocation will help ATF investigate gun crime, prevent illegal gun trafficking, and ensure gun dealers comply with federal law and regulations. Reps. Dean and Rose co-led a letter to secure an extra $1 million (from last year's allocation) for the Pregnant and Postpartum Women program in SAMHSA. This program is specifically targeted at women suffering with substance use disorders and is designed to expand the availability of comprehensive, residential substance abuse treatment, prevention and recovery support with a family-centered approach. Rep. Dean also led a letter to secure $15 million for the CDC-ATSDR PFAS health study which will help study exposure to PFAS, an issue that has impacted Montgomery County for decades. Additionally, $6 million for Disability CDFI funds was secured. These funds will go to CDFIs that grant loans for disability related purchases and help organizations like the PA Assistive Technology Foundation. The year-end package also included Rep. Dean's Fostering Stable Housing Opportunities Act which addresses the needs of foster youth by providing vouchers from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to those who are at risk of homelessness rather than forcing them to spend years on waiting lists. Furthermore, the bill incentivizes young people to participate in self-sufficiency activities such as pursuing education, workforce development opportunities, or employment, by extending their assistance for up to an additional two years.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://dean.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-dean-passes-bipartisan-covid-relief-deal,Rep. Dean Passes Bipartisan COVID Relief Deal,2020-12-22,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,PA,Madeleine Dean,D000631,dean.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Last night, Rep. Dean helped pass the necessary and long-awaited $900 Billion COVID-19 relief package. The package now includes the following measures and more: Small Business: $284 billion for first and second forgivable PPP loans, expanded PPP eligibility, modifications to PPP to serve smallest businesses, nonprofits, and independent restaurants; $20 billion for EIDL Grants Rent Assistance: $25 billion in rental assistance and an extension of the eviction moratorium. Direct Payments: Worth up to $600 per adult and child Unemployment: $300 per week UI enhancement for Americans out of work. Food Insecurity: $13 billion in increased SNAP and child nutrition benefits Education and Child care: $82 billion in funding for colleges and schools and $10 billion for child care assistance to help get parents back to work and keep child care providers open. Broadband: $7 billion to increase access to broadband, including a new Emergency Broadband Benefit to help millions of students, families and unemployed workers afford the broadband they need during the pandemic. State and Local Governments: The bill included Rep. Dean and Rep. Thompson's LOCAL Act which extends the time state and local governments can use CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) dollars until the end of 2021. I voted yes on the relief package because the situation is dire and folks need relief now, but this does not mean the package is sufficient. Rep. Dean said. But, we couldn't wait any longer to extend funding for unemployment assistance, or to get funding to those who are hungry, or struggling to stay in their homes, and immediate relief for small businesses. Rep. Dean is hopeful the relief will be out to Americans as quickly as possible. The package also includes billions in funds to accelerate the free and equitable distribution of safe vaccines and funds to implement a strong national testing and tracing strategy. However, the bill fails to go far enough to replenish State and local funding or provide adequate direct payments. However, this emergency relief bill is an important initial step, which will be built upon under the Biden-Harris Administration. Rep. Madeleine Dean is a mother, grandmother, attorney, professor, former four-term member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and U.S. Representative for the Fourth District of Pennsylvania.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://dean.house.gov/press-releases?ID=7A874B8A-B42B-4354-8677-33857E304699,"House Passes Budget that includes Rep. Deans Priorities on PFAS, ATF Funding, Substance Abuse Disorders, and, Disability Assistances",2020-12-22,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,PA,Madeleine Dean,D000631,dean.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON — The House voted on the budget to increase non-defense spending by $12.5 billion, allowing for strong investments in American families and communities. The budget supports better schools, expands access to housing, tackles food insecurity, builds safer communities, and protects the environment. “It’s important that we expand funding for 2021 to ensure that American families are the priority.” Rep. Dean said. “I am grateful we were able to include my priorities including the PFAS health study and funding for pregnant and postpartum women struggling with substance use disorders.” Reps. Dean and McBath co-led a letter to increase the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives funding to $1.48 billion. ATF plays a critical role in protecting Americans from gun violence. This $83.9 million increase from last year’s allocation will help ATF investigate gun crime, prevent illegal gun trafficking, and ensure gun dealers comply with federal law and regulations. Reps. Dean and Rose co-led a letter to secure an extra $1 million (from last year’s allocation) for the Pregnant and Postpartum Women program in SAMHSA. This program is specifically targeted at women suffering with substance use disorders and is designed to expand the availability of comprehensive, residential substance abuse treatment, prevention and recovery support with a family-centered approach. Rep. Dean also led a letter to secure $15 million for the CDC-ATSDR PFAS health study which will help study exposure to PFAS, an issue that has impacted Montgomery County for decades. Additionally, $6 million for Disability CDFI funds was secured. These funds will go to CDFIs that grant loans for disability related purchases and help organizations like the PA Assistive Technology Foundation. The year-end package also included Rep. Dean’s Fostering Stable Housing Opportunities Act which addresses the needs of foster youth by providing vouchers from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to those who are at risk of homelessness – rather than forcing them to spend years on waiting lists.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-06-28T00:42:23Z https://dean.house.gov/press-releases?ID=C56A57B5-7274-43E4-9D8D-569FB1899C16,Rep. Dean Passes Bipartisan COVID Relief Deal,2020-12-22,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,PA,Madeleine Dean,D000631,dean.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON — Last night, Rep. Dean helped pass the necessary and long-awaited $900 Billion COVID-19 relief package. The package now includes the following measures and more: Small Business: $284 billion for first and second forgivable PPP loans, expanded PPP eligibility, modifications to PPP to serve smallest businesses, nonprofits, and independent restaurants; $20 billion for EIDL Grants Rent Assistance: $25 billion in rental assistance and an extension of the eviction moratorium. Direct Payments: Worth up to $600 per adult and child Unemployment: $300 per week UI enhancement for Americans out of work. Food Insecurity: $13 billion in increased SNAP and child nutrition benefits Education and Child care: $82 billion in funding for colleges and schools and $10 billion for child care assistance to help get parents back to work and keep child care providers open. Broadband: $7 billion to increase access to broadband, including a new Emergency Broadband Benefit to help millions of students, families and unemployed workers afford the broadband they need during the pandemic. State and Local Governments: The bill included Rep. Dean and Rep. Thompson’s LOCAL Act – which extends the time state and local governments can use CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) dollars until the end of 2021. “I voted yes on the relief package because the situation is dire and folks need relief now, but this does not mean the package is sufficient.” Rep. Dean said. “But, we couldn’t wait any longer to extend funding for unemployment assistance, or to get funding to those who are hungry, or struggling to stay in their homes, and immediate relief for small businesses.” Rep. Dean is hopeful the relief will be out to Americans as quickly as possible. The package also includes billions in funds to accelerate the free and equitable distribution of safe vaccines and funds to implement a strong national testing and tracing strategy. However, the bill fails to go far enough to replenish State and local funding or provide adequate direct payments. However, this emergency relief bill is an important initial step, which will be built upon under the Biden-Harris Administration. Rep. Madeleine Dean is a mother, grandmother, attorney, professor, former four-term member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and U.S. Representative for the Fourth District of Pennsylvania.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-06-28T00:42:23Z https://doyle.house.gov/media/press-releases/congress-approves-new-covid-relief-bill,Congress Approves New COVID Relief Bill,2020-12-22,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,PA,Mike Doyle,D000482,doyle.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, DC U.S. Representative Mike Doyle (PA-18) announced that he voted in favor of legislation to provide $900 billion in COVID-related relief to American households and small businesses. The bill, H.R 133, the Omnibus Appropriations and Emergency Coronavirus Relief Act, was approved by the House and Senate last night and sent to the President for his signature. The COVID-19 relief legislation will provide urgently needed help for unemployed Americans and our struggling small businesses, Congressman Doyle said after the vote. This bill will provide a $600 stimulus check to most Americans, for example, and it will extend federal unemployment assistance for 11 more weeks. The COVID relief bill also provides $300 billion in new aid for small mom and pop businesses, and it includes reforms to ensure that aid gets to the small and minority-owned businesses that were all too often left out of the first round of business relief. This bill also provides the funding necessary to purchase and distribute the newly approved vaccines for COVID-19. It also included legislation I negotiated to help eliminate the Digital Divide' that's been highlighted and exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. This legislation provides less aid than I had hoped and fought for, but it will make a big difference in millions of Americans' lives, Congressman Doyle explained. Taken as a whole, I believe that the compromise reached on COVID relief deserved my support. It's a good down payment on controlling the coronavirus, getting the economy back on track, and putting people back to work. Democrats fought successfully for many policy and spending provisions that were included in H.R. 133, Congressman Doyle added. I believe that it was the best deal possible at this time, it was long overdue, and it contains aid that millions of families and small businesses desperately need. With the enactment of this bill, Congress will have provided more than $4 trillion this year for responding to the COVID-19 pandemic that has caused more than 300,000 American deaths. I look forward to working with the Biden-Harris Administration next year to meet the remaining COVID-related needs of the American people, getting the coronavirus under control, and setting our economy on course for a strong recovery, Congressman Doyle said. Here are some highlights of the bill. Families and Individuals Unemployment insurance (UI) This bill extends the unemployment benefit coverage for the self-employed, gig workers, and others in non-traditional employment (Pandemic Unemployment Assistance or PUA). It increases the amount of time than an individual can claim these benefits by 11 weeks, for a total of 50 weeks of eligibility. It extends federally-funded unemployment benefits for individuals who have exhausted their regular state benefits (Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation or PEUC) by 11 weeks, for a total of 50 weeks of eligibility. The extension was critical in preventing 12 million Americans from losing this economic lifeline at the end of this year. The bill provides an extra benefit of $100 per week for some workers who have both wage and self-employment income, but whose base UI benefit calculation doesn't take their self-employment into account. In addition, the bill provides an additional $300 per week for all workers receiving unemployment benefits, through March 14, 2021. Direct Payments This bill will provide Economic Impact Payments (stimulus checks) to most American households similar to the ones included in the CARES Act enacted by Congress with my support in March. The difference is, that instead of $1,200 for every adult and $500 for every qualifying dependent child, this time the Economic Impact Payments will total $600 for each adult and their child dependents. As with the previous round of stimulus checks, the payments will phase out starting at annual incomes of $75,000 per adult and $150,000 per couple.Rental Housing Assistance The bill includes an extension of the eviction moratorium through Jan. 31. It also includes $25 billion in critically needed rental assistance for families struggling to stay in their homes. The assistance, which would be administered by state or community housing organizations, could be used to help pay rent or utility bills, including those owed since the beginning of the pandemic. In addition, The bill strengthens the Low Income Housing Tax Credit to help increase affordable housing construction and provide greater certainty to new and ongoing affordable housing projects in the future. Hunger Alleviation The COVID relief bill includes $13 billion to increase SNAP benefits by 15 percent to help relieve the historic hunger crisis that has left up to 17 million children food insecure. Earned Income Tax Credit & Child Tax Credit The bill will help millions of families who faced unemployment or reduced wages during the pandemic by increasing the size of their Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC). It will do it by allowing them to calculate these credits based on their 2019 income, which in many cases will be larger than their income this year during the pandemic. Child Care The bill includes $10 billion to help child care providers stay in operation despite the higher costs associated with changes necessary to keep operating during the pandemic. This will help many parents get back to work as well as keep a number of child care providers open. Education The package includes the largest expansion of Pell Grant recipients in over a decade, reaching 500,000 new recipients and ensuring more than 1.5 million students will now receive the maximum benefit. Small Businesses Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) The bill includes $284 billion in new funding to help small businesses hurt by the pandemic through the PPP. It will provide new loans for eligible small businesses, including second loans for businesses that applied for and received loans this summer, and it expands eligibility for non-profit organizations and news providers. It also dedicates $12 billion in PPP funding to mom and pop businesses and low-income neighborhoods through proven community lenders like Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) and Minority Depository Institutions (MDIs). The bill also includes PPP program reforms to help non-profits and small businesses like restaurants such as simplifying the loan forgiveness process for loans under $150,000. Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) The bill also includes $20 billion for targeted EIDL Grants which are critical to many smaller businesses on Main Street. The bill dedicates $15 Billion in PPP funding for live concert venue, independent movie theaters, and cultural institutions. Employee Retention Tax Credit The agreement extends and improves the Employee Retention Tax Credit to encourage employers to keep workers in their jobs during coronavirus closures or reduced revenue. State and Local Government While the bill didn't include comprehensive assistance for state and local governments, it did include some assistance targeted to specific government agencies. Education $82 billion in funding for colleges and K-12 schools, including ventilation repair and replacement, to help prevent virus transmission and reopen classrooms Transportation $14 billion for transit systems like the Port Authority of Allegheny County $10 billion for highways $2 billion for airports Telecommunication As Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, Congressman Doyle worked successfully to include legislation in the bill to provide an investment of $7 billion in increasing access to broadband, including a new Emergency Broadband Benefit to help millions of students, families and unemployed workers afford the broadband they need during the pandemic. It included: o $3.2 billion in emergency funds for low-income families to access broadband o $250 million dollars in additional funding for telehealth services Health Care The COVID relief legislation provides billions in urgently need funds to carry out the free and equitable distribution of safe vaccines to Americans as rapidly as possible, to implement an effective national testing and tracing strategy which includes billions of dollars that will be dedicated to eliminating the disparities facing communities of color, and to support health care providers on the front lines of the pandemic. $20 billion for procurement of vaccines and treatments $9 billion for vaccine distribution $22 billion for testing, tracing and COVID mitigation programs; of this amount, $2.5 billion will be specifically targeted at underserved areas, including both communities of color and rural communities. $9 billion in support for health care providers $1 billion for NIH to research COVID-19 $4.5 billion in mental health funding $3 billion to replenish the strategic national stockpile What's Not in the Bill Last, but not least, there are a number of provisions that weren't in the bill as approved by the House last night. The bill approved by the House doesn't include several Republican proposals that Democrats, including Congressman Doyle, considered serious threats to American workers and the recovery of our economy. One was a provision that could have unjustly put workers' health and safety at risk and taken away their right to legal recourse. The other would have hamstrung the Federal Reserve's ability to stabilize the economy and save jobs. We were successful in preventing the inclusion of those provisions in the final version of the bill. In addition, Democrats fought hard to include more COVID relief funding for state and local governments, which have been hit hard this year by the pandemic. State and local governments have been called upon to spend billions of dollars in emergency funding to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic - at the same time as the revenues they depend on dropped dramatically as a result of the shutdowns required to stop the spread of the coronavirus. Congressional Republicans refused to permit the inclusion of broad funding to help state and local governments in the bill. Nevertheless, the bill does contain some targeted assistance for specific local government operations like education, transportation, and vaccine distribution. Click here for a one-page fact sheet on the Coronavirus relief portions of the bill. Click here for a one-page fact sheet on the Appropriations portions of the bill. Click here for a one-page fact sheet on the Authorization portions of the bill. Click here for a section-by-section summary of the Coronavirus relief portions of the bill. Click here for a section-by-section summary of the Appropriations portions of the bill. Click here for a section-by-section summary of the Authorization portions of the bill. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://wild.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-wild-votes-support-small-businesses-expand-child-care-assistance-send,"Rep. Wild Votes to Support Small Businesses, Expand Child Care Assistance, Send Direct Payments to Pennsylvanians",2020-12-22,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,PA,Susan Wild,W000826,wild.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Today, U.S. Representative Susan Wild (PA-07) released a statement following Congressional passage of a COVID-19 relief package and 2020 omnibus appropriations bill: We should have passed this months ago, but last night we passed both a COVID-19 bill and a bill to avoid yet another shutdown and send desperately needed relief to the Lehigh Valley. Last night's relief package marks a down payment on real reliefstarting, first and foremost, with critical funding to get the COVID-19 vaccine distributed through our communities as quickly as possible. Providing a second round of Paycheck Protection Program loans for our hardest-hit main street businesses. Offering rental assistance supporting not only those struggling to make rent, but our landlords, too. Supporting child care providers so we can help give parents the options they need to return to work. Investing in funding for our schools to repair and replace HVAC systems so we can help get our students back in the classroom. And putting money directly in the pockets of Pennsylvanians. And I'm proud of the wins I secured in the omnibus appropriations bill, including a new $35 million crisis care initiative within the Mental Health Block Grant to help create 24/7 mobile mental health crisis units which can offer outreach and support and can travel to individuals in need, and a $67 million increase in funding for the Social Security Administration's operating expenses along with designated funds to address the disability hearings backlogwhich has left too many Pennsylvanians waiting for years to receive their benefits. But let me be clear: While I am encouraged by the long-awaited relief we were able to secure in this package and through appropriations funding, our work is by no means finished. PA-07 needs morenot only to get to the other side of this crisis, but to rebuild and thrive in the aftermath. We need specific assistance tailored to the small businesses that power our economyespecially the restaurants, gyms, barbershops and salons, event centers, community centers, and arts venues that rely on public gatherings. We need stronger funding for our schools. We need direct aid to our state and local governments, so they aren't forced to lay off frontline workers like bus drivers, cops, firefighters, teachers and more. As we move into the new year with a new Congress and administration, I am committed to working with my colleaguesDemocrat and Republican aliketo expand upon these bipartisan successes and pass additional legislation to fully address all our community's needs. My focus remains on getting our community down the road to recovery. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.casey.senate.gov/news/releases/casey-releases-statement-on-covid-relief-legislation,Casey Releases Statement on COVID Relief Legislation,2020-12-22,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,PA,Bob Casey,C001070,www.casey.senate.gov,,,legacy,,0,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/casey-releases-statement-following-meeting-with-health-and-human-services-secretary-nominee,Casey Releases Statement Following Meeting with Health and Human Services Secretary Nominee,2020-12-21,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,PA,Bob Casey,C001070,www.casey.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) is releasing a statement following his meeting with U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary nominee Xavier Becerra: Our Nation faces a once in a century pandemic which requires a Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) who is committed to the health and well-being of all Americans. After meeting with him and reviewing his record, I am confident that California Attorney General Xavier Becerra is the kind of leader our Nation needs at the Department of Health and Human Services during this challenging time. Xavier Becerra has dedicated his life to public service and at every turn he has fought to expand access to health care and improve the health and well-being of his constituents. As a Congressman, he was instrumental in developing the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and as California Attorney General he has been leading the fight to protect the ACA. Attorney General Becerra has been on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19 by standing up for California workers' safety on the job. Xavier Becerra's long fight to ensure all Americans have access to health care will continue when he is confirmed as HHS Secretary.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/casey-when-it-comes-to-the-rights-of-workers-and-womens-economic-empowerment-the-united-states-must-lead-,"Casey: When it Comes to the Rights of Workers and Women’s Economic Empowerment, the United States Must Lead",2020-12-21,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,PA,Bob Casey,C001070,www.casey.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. Following a request from U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) and U.S. Representative Earl Blumenauer (D-OR-3), the Government Accountability Office (GAO) published a report on women's rights and economic participation in trade preference programs. The GAO report highlights the lack of requirements for Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to monitor or report on women's economic participation and rights. The report, titled Observations On Whether Women's Rights and Economic Interests Are Protected or Promoted by U.S. Trade Preference Programs, reviewed ten years of agency reports, finding only episodic coverage of issues related to the rights of women and equal protection in trade programs. Around the world, women disproportionately face barriers to equal protection and economic participation, including legal barriers to work, restrictions on property ownership, restricted educational opportunities, wage discrimination and violence and harassment in the workplace. GAO's review of indicators related to women's rights and economic participation shows that beneficiary country performance on these measures varies widely. Key GAO Findings: 1. U.S. trade preference program statutes do not include provisions specifically promoting women's rights and economic interests. 2. U.S. agencies are not required to monitor or report on women's rights and economic interests with respect to trade programs. 3. GAO's review of 10 years of agency reports found only episodic coverage of issues pertaining to the rights of women and equal protection in trade programs. 4. Beneficiary country performance on indicators related to women's rights and economic participation varies widely. When it comes to the rights of workers and women, the United States should be a leader. Our trade laws should support women's full economic participation globally. Firms and countries should not be able to use discrimination, in any form, as a trade advantage, said Senator Casey. It is clear from this report that we have a long way to go with respect to advancing women's economic empowerment and participation, globally. Accordingly, our trade laws must be modernized to include binding measures on the rights of women and equal protection under the law, measures on non-discrimination as well as violence and harassment in the workplace. In June, Senator Casey introduced the Women's Economic Empowerment in Trade Act to strengthen and modernize Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) standards on worker rights and ensure countries receiving GSP afford equal rights and protection under the law, regardless of gender. The legislation also bars gross violations of human rights; includes measures on non-discrimination and violence and harassment in the workplace. Read the GAO report here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://boyle.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/boyle-statement-stopgap-covid-19-relief-package,BOYLE STATEMENT ON STOPGAP COVID-19 RELIEF PACKAGE,2020-12-21,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,PA,Brendan F. Boyle,B001296,boyle.house.gov,boyle,https://boyle.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Brendan F. Boyle (PA-02) released the following statement on tonight's bipartisan passage of legislation to fund the government and provide additional, long-overdue pandemic relief for the American people, including survival checks and enhanced unemployment: ""This is the second-largest bill in American history. While not as historic and encompassing as the HEROES Act passed by the House months ago, it will help provide some relief to the millions of Americans who are suffering. But, Congress must do more. When the first draft of this bill came out over a week ago, it did not contain any direct cash payments to the American people. This was completely unacceptable to me. I banded together with a group of like-minded House Democrats who agreed with me and pledged not to support any bill that failed to include these payments. I'm proud our effort was successful. ""While I'm glad to have helped lead the fight for direct cash payments, I am disappointed it is only a one-time check for $600. This is nothing but a Band-Aid for struggling families who are months behind on rent, utilities, and car payments. It's a disgrace that in the richest nation on Earth, millions of people will be spending this holiday season wondering if they will be able to keep a roof over their heads or pay for groceries in 2021. The bill now moves to the Senate for approval. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-28T00:42:23Z https://cartwright.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cartwright-statement-on-coronavirus-relief-and-government-funding-0,Cartwright Statement on Coronavirus Relief and Government Funding Compromise,2020-12-21,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,PA,Matt Cartwright,C001090,cartwright.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright (PA-08) made the following statement ahead of consideration of a bipartisan House-Senate compromise coronavirus relief and government funding bill, on which he will vote to pass on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives. The vote is expected later today. Seven months after the House passed the Heroes Act coronavirus relief bill that prioritized frontline workers, families, small businesses and older Americans, we have a negotiated agreement that falls short in many ways. But House negotiators fought for and won important battles to make sure aid reaches people who are struggling, and big corporations can be held accountable for keeping people safe. When Senate Leader Mitch McConnell was finally ready to end his self-described pause on relief', he then tried for months to block another round of direct payments, enhanced unemployment insurance, rental assistance, food aid and more. His main priority was to give corporations a pass even if they blatantly put the health and safety of their employees and customers at risk. That will not be forgotten, but the House succeeded in providing relief that puts people over corporate profits. In addition to stimulus checks, enhanced unemployment, rental assistance to help landlords and tenants, and food aid, this compromise also includes priorities For The People like funds for equitable vaccine distribution, relief for our smallest businesses, investments in broadband in rural places, education and child care support, and my bill to help schools modernize their ventilation systems. There is no question that many of the lifelines in this bill needed to be stronger, and more needed to be done to ensure we can continue to keep our police officers, first responders, teachers and other public employees on payroll. However imperfect this compromise is, our constituents cannot wait any longer for us to act. It is time for us to come together to fund the government for the next fiscal year and deliver long overdue aid to the people we serve, who for months have been looking to us for help during this painful crisis. With distribution of two safe and effective vaccines underway, there is light at the end of the tunnel. But we have to continue to be responsive to American people's needs until we get to the other side. The omnibus coronavirus relief and government funding bill includes the following provisions. Accelerates vaccine distribution:provides billions in urgently need funds to accelerate the free and equitable distribution of safe vaccines to as many Americans as possible as soon as possible, to implement a strong national testing and tracing strategy with billions reserved specifically for combating the disparities facing communities of color, and to support our heroic health care workers and providers. Ends surprise billing:includes bipartisan, bicameral legislation that will end surprise billing for emergency and scheduled care. Strong Support for Small Business:includes critical funding and policy changes to help small businesses, including minority-owned businesses, and nonprofits recover from the pandemic. The agreement includes over $284 billion for first and second forgivable PPP loans, expanded PPP eligibility for nonprofits and local newspapers, TV and radio broadcasters, key modifications to PPP to serve the smallest businesses and struggling non-profits and better assist independent restaurants,and includes $15 billion in dedicated funding for live venues, independent movie theaters, and cultural institutions. The agreement also includes $20 billion for targeted EIDL Grants which are critical to many smaller businesses on Main Street. Community Development Financial Institutions and Minority Depository Institutions: includes dedicated PPP set-asides for very small businesses and lending through community-based lenders like Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) and Minority Depository Institutions (MDIs); $9 billion in emergency U.S. Treasury capital investments in CDFIs and MDIs to support lending in low-income and underserved communities, including persistent poverty counties, that may be disproportionately impacted by the economic effects of the COVID19 pandemic; and $3 billion in emergency support for CDFIs through the CDFI Fund to respond to the economic impact of the pandemic on underserved low-income and minority communities. Rental assistance: Provides $25 billion in critically needed rental assistance for families struggling to stay in their homes and an extension of the eviction moratorium. Strengthens the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC): enhances the LIHTC to help increase affordable housing construction and provide greater certainty to new and ongoing affordable housing projects. Direct payment checks:authorizes a new round of direct payments worth up to $600 per adult and child, also ensuring that mixed-status families receive payments. Strengthens Earned Income Tax Credit & Child Tax Credit:helps ensure that families who faced unemployment or reduced wages during the pandemic are able to receive a strong tax credit based on their 2019 income, preserving these vital income supports for vulnerable families. Supports paid sick leave:provides a tax credit to support employers offering paid sick leave, based on the Families First framework. Employee Retention Tax Credit: extends and improves the Employee Retention Tax Credit to help keep workers in their jobs during coronavirus closures or reduced revenue. Enhanced Unemployment Insurance benefits:averts the sudden expiration of Unemployment Insurance benefits for millions and added a $300 per week UI enhancement for Americans out of work. Nutrition assistance for hungry families:provides $13 billion in increased SNAP and child nutrition benefits to help relieve the historic hunger crisis that has left up to 17 million children food insecure. Education and child care:provides $82 billion in funding for colleges and schools, including support for HVAC repair and replacement to mitigate virus transmission and reopen classrooms, and $10 billion for child care assistance to help get parents back to work and keep child care providers open. Historic expansion of Pell Grants: includes the largest expansion of Pell Grant recipients in over a decade, reaching 500,000 new recipients and ensuring more than 1.5 million students will now receive the maximum benefit. Broadband access:invests $7 billion to increase access to broadband, including a new Emergency Broadband Benefit to help millions of students, families and unemployed workers afford the broadband they need during the pandemic. Fights the climate crisis: includes sweeping clean energy reforms, R&D enhancements, efficiency incentives, and extends clean energy tax credits to create hundreds of thousands of jobs across the clean economy.The package also phases out superpollutant HFCs, positioning the U.S. to lead the world in avoiding up to 0.5 degree Celsius of global warming. WRDA: includes the bipartisan Water Resources Development Act of 2020 (WRDA), creating good-paying jobs and strengthening and improving the vital water infrastructure that Americans rely on while unlocking the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund. Global Health:provides an additional $3.36 billion for a total of $4 billion for GAVI, the international vaccine alliance, recognizing that we are not truly safe until the whole world is safe from the coronavirus.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://evans.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/evans-relief-package-bridge-next-year-and-biden-s-start,Evans: Relief Package is Bridge to Next Year and Biden’s Start,2020-12-21,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,PA,Dwight Evans,E000296,evans.house.gov,evans,https://evans.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON (Dec. 22, 2020) – Congressman Dwight Evans (D-PA-3rd) welcomed agreement on a new Covid relief package, something he has been advocating and voting for since May: ""While a new round of $600 direct payments, also known as ‘stimulus checks,' seems to me to be getting the most attention, that's only about 20 percent of the package. There's much more in this package to deliver help to people NOW. ""Since we are currently limited by both a Republican president and Republican-controlled Senate, we have to get as much relief for people as we can NOW, and come back for more starting in January. We cannot let the perfect be the enemy of the good when so many people are hurting, when so many people are at risk of homelessness or hunger in this pandemic winter. ""This package is a bridge to the new Biden-Harris administration that begins in just over four weeks. President-elect Biden has already expressed his determination to do more to provide relief, revive the economy and crush the virus. I look forward to working with him to do exactly that!"" Evans said the package includes many items he supported and even pressed for. Here are some highlights: Housing: $25 billion in emergency rental assistance, along with an extension of the eviction moratorium until Jan. 31. Evans recently led a letter with more than 50 of my colleagues urging the CDC to extend its eviction moratorium even further, to March 31, and he plans to continue pursuing that. Enhanced Unemployment Insurance benefits: Averting the sudden expiration of Unemployment Insurance benefits for millions and adding a $300 per week UI enhancement for Americans out of work. Evans supported a second $1,200 stimulus payment in the Heroes Act the House passed in May and will keep pressing for more. In the meantime, the enhanced and extended unemployment benefits will add up to even more help for many people in need than the stimulus payment. Help for hungry families: $13 billion in increased SNAP and child nutrition benefits to help relieve the historic hunger crisis that has left up to 17 million children food-insecure. Education and child care: The agreement provides $82 billion in funding for colleges and schools, including support for HVAC repair and replacement to mitigate virus transmission and reopen classrooms, and $10 billion for child care assistance to help get parents back to work and keep child care providers open. Small businesses: The agreement includes over $284 billion for first and second forgivable PPP (Paycheck Protection Program) loans, $20 billion for targeted EIDL grants to help small businesses, expanded PPP eligibility for nonprofit organizations, and key modifications to PPP to serve the smallest businesses and struggling nonprofits and better assist independent restaurants. The agreement also includes something Evans has pressed for: dedicated PPP set-asides for lending through community-based lenders like Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) and Minority Depository Institutions (MDIs). Evans said this is vital for making sure more of the aid reaches smaller businesses and minority-owned small businesses. Vaccine distribution and Covid testing funding: The package provides billions in urgently needed funds to speed the free and equitable distribution of safe vaccines to as many Americans as possible as soon as possible, to implement a strong national testing and tracing strategy with billions reserved specifically for combating the disparities facing communities of color, and to support health care workers and providers. ""As far as I'm concerned, this package is not the final word, just a way to get some urgently needed help to people NOW, and I will keep pressing for more relief!"" Evans said. Evans represents Pennsylvania's 3rd Congressional District, which includes Northwest and West Philadelphia and parts of North, South, Southwest and Center City Philadelphia. He serves on the influential House Ways and Means Committee, which oversees Medicare and much of the U.S. health-care system. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-28T00:42:23Z https://houlahan.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1932,Houlahan Passes Bipartisan COVID Relief Deal,2020-12-21,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,PA,Chrissy Houlahan,H001085,houlahan.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Today, Representative Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) helped to pass a long-awaited, long-overdue bipartisan COVID relief deal. Representative Houlahan is a member of the bi-partisan and bi-cameral Problem Solvers Caucus, and much of what is in the final negotiated legislation was proposed by this group. Included in the package is her Paycheck Protection Small Business Forgiveness Act, which will expedite forgiveness for recipients of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans of $150,000 or less, further helping small business owners keep their workers employed during this crisis. I have been clear from the start: our community and Commonwealth needed relief yesterday, said Houlahan. That's why I've been working alongside Democrats and Republicans to get a deal passed. Make no mistake: this deal is not end all be all. It is a down-payment of sorts to deliver immediate relief and to hopefully help Pennsylvanians weather these next very difficult weeks. I am very grateful to have earned wide bipartisan support for my PPP legislation, which will help our smallest of small business owners retain their workers and keep Pennsylvanians employed. As we look toward a transition to a new administration, I will continue negotiating to get another, more favorable deal on the table - particularly one that addresses the needs of state and local governments as they navigate vaccine distribution. This crisis is not over, and we as elected representatives have a responsibility to continue to rise to the occasion and meet the needs of the American people. Included in this package: Houlahan's bipartisan Paycheck Protection Small Business Forgiveness Act A second round of Paycheck Protection Program loans for smaller and harder-hit businesses that still need relief Authorization for certain nonprofit organizations to receive PPP funds and $15B in grants for the live event industry, which has been hit hard by the pandemic Modifications to other small business loan programs (such as 7(a) loans) to help more small businesses weather the crisis Additional assistance for small businesses in low income communities through the EIDL advance program Clarifies that deductions are allowed for expenses paid with proceeds of a forgiven PPP loan Extension of the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program, which will provide an additional $300/week until March 14, 2021, and extends coverage for self-employed and gig workers, as well as those who have exhausted their regular state unemployment benefits $166B in direct payments of $600 for individuals making up to $75,000 ($1,200 for couples making up to $150,000) and $600 per eligible child dependent. $25B for Emergency Rental Assistance and an extension of the eviction moratorium until January 31, 2021. Rep. Houlahan recently advocated for an extension until March 2021. Additional funding for farmers, including $100M for specialty crop farmers, like mushroom growers, and supplemental assistance to the dairy industry $1.7B for HBCUs, including Lincoln University $3B to provide grants and other financial assistance to CDFIs as they serve consumers, small businesses, and non-profits in their communities, including reserved funds for minority lending institutions $300M grant program to support broadband infrastructure deployment to areas lacking broadband, especially rural areas 15% increase in the monthly Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit through June 2021 and $400 million for the Emergency Food Assistance Program $250M for the FCC's COVID-19 telehealth program and $300M to support broadband infrastructure deployment in underserved areas Establish an office to focus on broadband adoption and access to HBCUs and other MSIs Extends the date by which state and local governments can use CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Funds through December 2021 $8.75B for vaccine distribution through state and local governments as well as nearly $20B for vaccine manufacturing and procurement $10B for child care providers More than $27B for transportation, including airports, highways, Amtrak, and transit agencies Houlahan is an Air Force veteran, an engineer, a serial entrepreneur, an educator, and a nonprofit leader. She's in her first term representing Pennsylvania's 6th Congressional District, which encompasses Chester County and southern Berks County. She serves on the House Armed Services Committee, the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and the House Small Business Committee. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://lamb.house.gov/media/press-releases/lamb-statement-following-passage-coronavirus-relief-package,LAMB STATEMENT FOLLOWING PASSAGE OF CORONAVIRUS RELIEF PACKAGE,2020-12-21,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,PA,Conor Lamb,L000588,lamb.house.gov,,,legacy,"(WASHINGTON, DC) Representative Conor Lamb (PA-17) issued the following statement after passage of the Omnibus Appropriations and Emergency Coronavirus Relief Package (H.R. 133), which includes a $900 billion COVID-19 relief bill: Too many families were stretched too thin for far too long this year. Our constituents have demanded over and over again that we set politics aside and just meet basic needs for cash and food. Finally, we are doing that in this bill, which is a credit to pragmatists in both parties who simply did not give up. We must do more in the new year without delay, but for now, the extra unemployment assistance, cash payments, and small business aid are a step in the right direction, and a reason to continue believing that our government can work if we just put the country first. Visit Lamb's website for more information on the additional legislation Congress has passed to address the coronavirus public health crisis. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://medium.com/@repmgs/constituent-success-stories-housing-d4ada0a4dfab?source=rss-c2708a5a087------2,Constituent Success Stories: Housing,2020-12-21,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,PA,Mary Scanlon,S001205,medium.com,,,legacy,"This year has been filled with uncertainty and economic hardship. During these difficult times, I want you to know our office is just a phone call away to assist you. While my team and I have been working around the clock to secure resources, send updates, and work on important pieces of legislation, our office remains committed to doing what we can to resolve any challenges that arise for our constituents, especially those concerning federal agencies. I'd like to share with you a few ways we can help you navigate one of these challengesHousing. Right here in PA-05, there are thousands of our neighbors only one unexpected expense away from being unable to make rent. This public health crisis and the resulting financial crisis have only made it worse, illuminating many inequities in our country, particularly in the areas of housing, health, and economic security. Housing is foundational to economic security and I remain committed to doing everything I can at the federal level to keep people in their homes. I want to share with you a few ways our office has helped constituents secure housing: Sylvia is a 100-year-old constituent who was on the verge of getting evicted from her assisted living community. She had spent most of her savings on the assisted living facility and was quickly running out of money. Her daughter, Kathy, had spent years trying to file a claim with the VA for spousal benefits but was denied. Not understanding why the claim was being denied, she reached out to the Delco VA but was met with more roadblocks They had lost her paperwork. Frustrated, confused, and overwhelmed, Kathy reached out to our office for help. Our casework team was able to locate and review their denial letter. We soon got to the bottom of what was missing that resulted in the denial and contacted the VA immediately. We worked with numerous VA departments to make sure proper documentation was submitted and requested the case to be immediately expedited due to her age. In a little over a month, she was awarded back pay of over $12,000 and an additional $1228 a month for the rest of Sylvia's life to cover any cost moving forward. Jim is a 64-year-old constituent who was homeless and living in his car when he reached out to us. He contacted our office inquiring about how we could help with the delays in housing inspection due to COVID-19 he was experiencing. We immediately reached out to the Delaware County Housing Authority. Because Jim didn't have access to a computer, we worked with DCHA to create and manage a web account for him. Within the week, Jim was able to move into a place of his own just in time for the holidays. *Sylvia, Kathy, and Jim are pseudonyms given to protect the anonymity of these constituents. We are committed to doing all we can to meet the needs of our constituents during this challenging time. If you need help with a federal agency, please call 6106262020. You will be connected, via phone, to a constituent services representative who will assist you.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://medium.com/@repmgs/constituent-success-stories-were-here-to-help-you-9cb5ee92432?source=rss-c2708a5a087------2,Constituent Success Stories: Were Here to Help You,2020-12-21,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,PA,Mary Scanlon,S001205,medium.com,,,legacy,"While my team and I have been working around the clock to secure resources, send updates, and work on important pieces of legislation, our office remains committed to doing what we can to resolve any challenges that arise for our constituents, especially those concerning federal agencies. I'd like to share with you a few ways we can help you navigate what challenges you might be having: Steve reached out to us after not receiving the tax refund he was due. He was struggling to get answers from the IRS due to certain department closures. We reached out to the IRS on his behalf and began communicating with a taxpayer advocate on his behalf. Since the errors resolutions department was closed for several months, we kept in contact with the taxpayer advocate, keeping Steve updated about the timeline of his refund every step of the way. When we were finally able to get him his refund, he received over $16,000 plus his accrued interest from the period it was withheld. Dr. Williams is a constituent who had recently received a grant to research Alzheimer's at a local university. Just before the pandemic, she went on a trip overseas to visit her mother. While abroad, the virus took hold of the world and many countries began restricting travel. In the country she was visiting, the consulate notified her that they would not be honoring the specific visa she was visiting with. The research grant Dr. Williams had received was under a very strict timeline and being stranded overseas would lead to wasted valuable research time. We were able to get a hold of the consulate and worked with them to resolve the visa issue and get her home asap so she could continue her research. We are committed to doing all we can to meet the needs of our constituents during this challenging time. If you need help with a federal agency, please call 6106262020. You will be connected, via phone, to a constituent services representative who will assist you. *Steve and Dr. Williams are pseudonyms given to protect the anonymity of these constituents.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.casey.senate.gov/news/releases/casey-releases-statement-following-meeting-with-health-and-human-services-secretary-nominee,Casey Releases Statement Following Meeting with Health and Human Services Secretary Nominee,2020-12-21,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,PA,Bob Casey,C001070,www.casey.senate.gov,,,legacy,,0,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.casey.senate.gov/news/releases/casey-when-it-comes-to-the-rights-of-workers-and-womens-economic-empowerment-the-united-states-must-lead-,"Casey: When it Comes to the Rights of Workers and Womens Economic Empowerment, the United States Must Lead",2020-12-21,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,PA,Bob Casey,C001070,www.casey.senate.gov,,,legacy,,0,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/casey-statement-on-receiving-the-covid-19-vaccine,Casey Statement on Receiving the COVID-19 Vaccine,2020-12-20,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,PA,Bob Casey,C001070,www.casey.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C.- Today, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) announced that he has received the COVID-19 vaccine: Our Nation now has a safe and effective vaccine for COVID-19, which has already claimed the lives of more than 300,000 Americans. Dr. Brian P. Monahan, the Attending Physician for the United States Congress and Supreme Court, recently issued a recommendation that all members of Congress receive the COVID-19 vaccine, which arrived at the Capitol this week in order to ensure continuity of government. This morning, I received the first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. I will receive my second dose in approximately three weeks. I encourage all Americans, in consultation with their doctor, to get the vaccine when it becomes available to them. I will continue to press the Administration to work to ensure that all Americans can receive the vaccine in a timely manner and insist that vaccines be distributed in an equitable fashion, particularly at nursing homes where residents and workers face an acute threat from the virus. The Food and Drug Administration granted an Emergency Use Authorization to the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine on December 12, 2020. The Office of the Attending Physician was notified this week by the National Security Council that consistent with Presidential Policy Directive 40 (PPD-40) (2016), Congress and the Supreme Court, along with Executive Branch agencies, will be provided with a specific number of these COVID-19 vaccine doses to meet long-standing requirements for continuity of government operations. These requirements are focused on essential operations and personnel. PPD-40 establishes continuity requirements for the Federal Government and states that continuity actions for the Executive Branch should be undertaken in parallel with the Legislative and Judicial branches of government. The small number of COVID-19 vaccine doses being provided reflects a fraction of the first tranche of vaccines being distributed throughout the country.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.casey.senate.gov/news/releases/casey-statement-on-receiving-the-covid-19-vaccine,Casey Statement on Receiving the COVID-19 Vaccine,2020-12-20,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,PA,Bob Casey,C001070,www.casey.senate.gov,,,legacy,,0,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/casey-releases-statement-following-meeting-with-agriculture-secretary-nominee,Casey Releases Statement Following Meeting with Agriculture Secretary Nominee,2020-12-19,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,PA,Bob Casey,C001070,www.casey.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) is releasing a statement following his meeting with U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary nominee Tom Vilsack: The pandemic and ensuing economic crisis have caused millions of children and their families to go hungry. Our farmers have faced significant market disruptions as well as the devastating effects of climate change. Given his experience and vision, I know that Tom Vilsack will make food security one of USDA's top priorities and ensure that farmers have the tools they need to play a critical role in protecting natural resources and addressing the climate crisis. I had the opportunity to virtually meet with Secretary Vilsack on Friday and we discussed the work that needs to be done to deliver relief for families and farmers in Pennsylvania and throughout the nation. He is committed to leading a diverse team at USDA and addressing the racial inequities in our food and agriculture system. At a time of national crisis, Tom Vilsack brings with him to USDA his eight years of prior experience as Secretary of Agriculture under President Obama, as well as first-hand, intricate knowledge of the department that will allow him to be effective on day one. I look forward to supporting his nomination.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.casey.senate.gov/news/releases/casey-releases-statement-following-meeting-with-agriculture-secretary-nominee,Casey Releases Statement Following Meeting with Agriculture Secretary Nominee,2020-12-19,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,PA,Bob Casey,C001070,www.casey.senate.gov,,,legacy,,0,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/casey-bill-inspired-by-pittsburgh-family-to-strengthen-investigations-into-sudden-unexpected-infant-and-child-deaths-passes-senate-goes-to-president-for-signature,"Casey Bill, Inspired by Pittsburgh Family, to Strengthen Investigations Into Sudden Unexpected Infant and Child Deaths Passes Senate, Goes to President for Signature",2020-12-18,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,PA,Bob Casey,C001070,www.casey.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) announced that his bipartisan legislation to strengthen efforts to investigate and collect information when a young infant or child dies, the Scarlett's Sunshine on Sudden Unexpected Death Act, has passed the U.S. Senate. This bill would help combat Sudden Unexpected Infant Death and Sudden Unexpected Death in Childhood by providing grants to help states, municipalities and nonprofits improve data collection and death scene investigations related to unexpected infant and child deaths. The bill would also help promote safe sleep practices for children and support local efforts to conduct infant and child death reviews. With its passage in the Senate, the legislation will go to President Trump for his signature. Scarlett's Sunshine is named after a little girl who was lost to Sudden Unexpected Death in Childhood, said Senator Casey. We must do more to understand why certain infants and young children have died unexpectedly, and to learn what is causing these deaths. I introduced the Scarlett's Sunshine on Sudden Unexpected Death Act to help increase our understanding of the causes of unexplained infant and child deaths and to help us develop new tools to prevent and reduce such deaths in the future. I am pleased that Congress has passed the Scarlett's Sunshine on Sudden Unexpected Death Act and I look forward to seeing its passage into law. On January 8th, 2017, our lives were shattered when our beautiful, healthy, thriving 16-month-old daughter, Scarlett Lillian Pauley, went to sleep and never woke up. And we do not know why,"" said Stephanie Zarecky and Ryan Pauley. ""Losing a child is the single greatest pain we could ever imagine and living without answers magnifies the tragedy exponentially. We try every day to spread Scarlett's Sunshine, allowing her memory to shine on and bring light to unexplained death in childhood, the medical mystery that took her from us. We thank Senator Casey for his leadership on Scarlett's Sunshine on Sudden Unexpected Death Act in honor of Scarlett and all of the other children who are deeply loved and missed. Sudden Unexpected Infant Death is any sudden and unexpected death that occurs during infancy (from birth to age one), including Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and other unforeseen deaths; SIDS is the fourth leading cause of infant deaths. Similarly, Sudden Unexpected Death in Childhood is the unexpected death of a child over the age of one. Currently, there are no nationwide standards for investigating and collecting data following an infant or child death. This often makes it impossible to determine the causes of these deaths, and decide what strategies can be implemented to help prevent these tragedies. The Scarlett's Sunshine on Sudden Unexpected Death Act is endorsed by: The American Academy of Pediatrics, March of Dimes, Children's Hospital Association, Cribs for Kids, First Candle, SUDC Foundation, KID: Fighting for Product Safety, Aaron Matthew SIDS Research Guild of Seattle Children's Hospital, Child Care Aware and Safe Kids Worldwide. Read more about the Scarlett's Sunshine on Sudden Unexpected Death Act here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://lamb.house.gov/media/press-releases/lamb-leads-bipartisan-effort-address-k-12-testing-during-covid-19,LAMB LEADS BIPARTISAN EFFORT TO ADDRESS K-12 TESTING DURING COVID-19,2020-12-18,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,PA,Conor Lamb,L000588,lamb.house.gov,,,legacy,"(WASHINGTON, DC) Today, Representative Conor Lamb (PA-17) led a bipartisan coalition of Members in a letter to Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos regarding standardized testing during the coronavirus public health crisis. The letter urges the U.S. Department of Education to provide clarity, guidance and support to K-12 schools as they navigate decisions around student assessments. The Pennsylvania School Boards Association and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) have endorsed the letter. Since the beginning of the 2020-2021 school year, our offices have heard from students, families, teachers, and school leaders who are concerned by COVID-19's disruption of student learning and effect on student learning outcomes, the lawmakers wrote. Many schools in the Commonwealth and other states are providing virtual-only or hybrid learning, and unfortunately, in most cases school leaders have been unable to identify when it will be safe for fully in-person learning to resume. We are committed to our students and understand that their futures rely on a high-quality education, which benefits from the close monitoring of students' learning through assessment. However, we are concerned about the challenges schools face in implementing federally required annual assessments during the COVID-19 pandemic. The letter asks the Department of Education to provide clarity about: Whether a waiver process similar to last year's will be considered this year; If the Department will provide flexibility in assessment design as states may need to make changes to how they assess students because of COVID-19; and What kind of guidance and support schools can expect from the Department on matters of testing and assessment during COVID-19. School districts across Pennsylvania are facing and overcoming unprecedented challenges to ensure their students are safe and learning during the pandemic. While assessments are a critical piece in helping our students stay on track, we know things will continue to look different through the spring. We appreciate Rep. Lamb and his colleagues for urging the Department of Education to provide additional clarity, flexibility, and guidance so we can continue to support and prioritize student success, said John Callahan, Chief Advocacy Officer of the Pennsylvania School Boards Association. There is no doubt that students need to be back in school as long as the appropriate safety measures are in place. But with COVID continuing to spread through communities at alarming rates, states need the option of waivers this school year. We should also think about more creative ways to assess students' progress such as year end and capstone projects, not just this year but moving forward, said Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers. In addition to Lamb, the bipartisan letter was signed by Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1), Brendan Boyle (PA-2), Dwight Evans (PA-3), Madeleine Dean (PA-4), Susan Wild (PA-7), Matt Cartwright (PA-8), Mike Doyle (PA-18), Alma Adams (NC-12) and Lauren Underwood (IL-14). Click here to view a copy of the Lamb letter. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.casey.senate.gov/news/releases/casey-bill-inspired-by-pittsburgh-family-to-strengthen-investigations-into-sudden-unexpected-infant-and-child-deaths-passes-senate-goes-to-president-for-signature,"Casey Bill, Inspired by Pittsburgh Family, to Strengthen Investigations Into Sudden Unexpected Infant and Child Deaths Passes Senate, Goes to President for Signature",2020-12-18,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,PA,Bob Casey,C001070,www.casey.senate.gov,,,legacy,,0,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/casey-ernst-introduce-legislation-to-seal-low-level-nonviolent-criminal-records,"Casey, Ernst Introduce Legislation to Seal Low-Level, Nonviolent Criminal Records",2020-12-17,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,PA,Bob Casey,C001070,www.casey.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Joni Ernst (R-IA) are introducing the Clean Slate Act to give more than 70 million Americans, with nonviolent criminal records, a second chance to fully participate in society. This bipartisan legislation would remove major barriers for many Americans in finding employment, securing housing and accessing education by automatically sealing the federal records of individuals convicted or arrested for simple drug possession. More than 1 in 3 adults have some form of a criminal record, keeping them from participating in many facets of everyday life as nearly nine in ten employers, four in five landlords and three in five colleges utilize background checks to screen applicants. Automated record sealing is a critical step in the ongoing fight for criminal justice reform. Too many Americans are not given a second chance at life because they are burdened by criminal records for nonviolent convictions or arrests that did not result in a conviction. With nearly half of U.S. children having at least one parent with a criminal record, automatically sealing these records helps us invest in our Nation's future by ensuring millions of parents with minor criminal histories, and their families, aren't prohibited from achieving a successful life, said Senator Casey. Those who have been charged with low-level, nonviolent misdemeanors oftentimes face significant barriers to employment, housing, and other necessities, even after they've paid their debt to society. This bipartisan legislation is a commonsense criminal justice reform to give these individuals a second chance, while keeping our communities safe, said Senator Ernst. Many states have ways to either seal or expunge some types of criminal records, but there is a considerable gap between those eligible to apply for clearance and those who actually complete the process. The Clean Slate Act aims to reduce this gap by automatically sealing federal arrest records for individuals not convicted and records for individuals convicted of simple drug possession after successfully completing their sentence. It would also establish new procedures to allow individuals to petition to seal records for other nonviolent offenses that are not automatically sealed. The Clean Slate Act is endorsed by the Center for American Progress, FreedomWorks, Justice Action Network, Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law, Faith & Freedom Coalition, JPMorgan Chase, Business Roundtable and Community Legal Services of Philadelphia. Read more about the Clean Slate Act here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cartwright.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cartwright-applauds-616054-research-grant-awarded-to-university-of,"Cartwright Applauds $616,054 Research Grant Awarded to University of Scranton Professor",2020-12-17,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,PA,Matt Cartwright,C001090,cartwright.house.gov,,,legacy,"Scranton, PA Today, U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright (PA-08) applauded a National Science Foundation (NSF) $616,054 federal grant awarded to a University of Scranton professor to fund an atmospheric research project. Nathaniel Frissell, Ph.D., assistant professor of physics and electrical engineering at The University of Scranton, was awarded the CAREER grant, a highly competitive award. NSF CAREER grant is a special funding program that is only available to early-career, tenure track faculty members and must include tightly integrated research and education components. Dr. Frissell's research will build on his previous studies of how space weather events affect the communications and GPS technologies that Americans rely on every day. The funding supports two research assistants at Scranton who will conduct data analysis and run models and code implementation using a new server that the grant will also fund. America's leadership in technology is due in large part to the work that goes on in places like the University of Scranton, said Rep. Cartwright, a member of the House Appropriations Committee.This kind of research not only moves us forward on innovation, the students who take part in it can then become part of a highly skilled workforce that attracts space and technology businesses to our area. I applaud Dr. Frissell and the University of Scranton for their pioneering work. In Congress, I will continue to support National Science Foundation initiatives that lift up Northeastern Pennsylvania's best minds. I am excited about the opportunities this grant gives for scientific discovery, engineering development, and the education and training of future technological leaders of America. This grant will bring new cutting-edge research to the University of Scranton while furthering America's ability to lead in the fields of space science, space weather, climate, and communications, said Nathaniel Frissell, Ph.D., assistant professor of physics and electrical engineering at The University of Scranton. The National Science Foundation (NSF) supports research, innovation and discovery that provides the foundation for economic growth in this country. By advancing the frontiers of science and engineering, our nation can develop the knowledge and cutting-edge technologies needed to address the challenges we face today and will face in the future.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://lamb.house.gov/media/press-releases/lamb-announces-pa-17-winner-2020-congressional-app-challenge,LAMB ANNOUNCES PA-17 WINNER OF 2020 CONGRESSIONAL APP CHALLENGE,2020-12-17,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,PA,Conor Lamb,L000588,lamb.house.gov,,,legacy,"(PITTSBURGH, PA) Today, Representative Conor Lamb (PA-17) announced that Ananth Kashyap, a student at Fox Chapel Area High School, is the winner of the Congressional App Challenge for Pennsylvania's 17th District for their development of the Covid Scanner app. Lamb hosted the Congressional App Challenge in order to give middle and high school students in PA-17 an opportunity to practice coding and computer science skills. A panel of independent judges from the Pittsburgh region chose the winning app which will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for the next year. Health and safety are top of mind for all of us during this public health crisis, and the Covid Scanner app is a smart use of technology in these challenging times, said Lamb. Congratulations to Ananth for winning the Congressional App Challenge. Thanks to all of the talented students who participated and the teachers for encouraging students to pursue and explore STEM skills. Ananth is a sophomore at Fox Chapel Are High School. The Covid Scanner app runs on the iOS system, and asks users who believe they have contracted COVID-19 a set of question about symptoms and underlying health conditions to determine if they are experiencing recognized symptoms of the virus before advising testing and listing local testing sites. The app utilizes data and resources from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in its analysis. The Congressional App Challenge is an annual nationwide competition sponsored by the Internet Education Foundation to inspire students to explore STEM, coding and computer science through hands-on practice. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://medium.com/@repmgs/scanlon-helps-pass-bill-to-support-mental-health-treatment-for-incarcerated-individuals-c3a04815be11?source=rss-c2708a5a087------2,Scanlon Helps Pass Bill to Support Mental Health Treatment for Incarcerated Individuals,2020-12-17,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,PA,Mary Scanlon,S001205,medium.com,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Yesterday, Representative Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA) helped to pass The Crisis Stabilization and Community Reentry Act of 2020, a bipartisan bill led by Representative David Trone (D-MD), which would support mental health treatment for incarcerated individuals. This bill, which unanimously passed the House, was introduced with original co-sponsors Representatives John Rutherford (R-FL), Madeleine Dean (D-PA), Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA), and Kelly Armstrong (R-ND), and Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Richard Blumenthal (D-RI). According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, 1 in 7 individuals incarcerated in state and federal prisons and 1 in 4 individuals in jails self-reported experiences of serious psychological distress. The Crisis Stabilization and Community Reentry Act would allow for correctional institutions to partner with mental health providers to provide mental health treatment and crisis stabilization for incarcerated individuals and promote warm handoffs to community-based care upon reentry. Far too often, we criminalize mental health challenges in our country, Rep. Scanlon said. This is a small step in breaking that cycle by ensuring people have the resources they need to successfully re-enter society. I am grateful to my colleague, Rep. Trone, for this leadership on this important issue and look forward to this critical piece of legislation becoming law. We are facing a mental health crisis that has only been made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic, and incarcerated populations are bearing the brunt of it due to the lack of social distancing and safety measures, said Rep. Trone. Every American deserves access to high-quality mental health care, and this bill will help us make this a reality by ensuring that incarcerated individuals can access treatment should they need it. In my time as a district judge, I often handled the cases of reoffenders who were suffering from untreated mental illness or substance abuse, conditions which made it nearly impossible for them to successfully reintegrate into society following incarceration, said Rep. Reschenthaler. The Crisis Stabilization and Community Reentry Act will ensure we provide these men and women with treatment and tools for their long-term recovery upon their release from a correctional facility. Ensuring continuity of mental health care improves the success rate of reentry, which is critical to reducing recidivism, improving public safety, and saving taxpayer dollars. For far too many the criminal justice system is the end point of a mental health crisis, Rep. Dean said. This bill works to break that cycle by providing formerly incarcerated individuals with the medication they need to build a stable footing as they reenter society. Throughout my time in law enforcement, I saw many individuals re-offend time and time again, often with the same offenses involving substance abuse and issues with mental health, said Rep. Rutherford. That's why I was proud to join my colleague Representative Trone to introduce the Crisis Stabilization and Community Reentry Act, which passed the House today. This bipartisan legislation will prevent a lapse in care between prison and society, and instead, create a Continuity of Care' for those at greatest risk of relapse. I look forward to this bill becoming law, as it will save lives, save money, and reduce crime. Ensuring the strong mental health and wellbeing of those incarcerated is an important step in helping them prepare to re-enter our communities, said Rep. Kelly Armstrong. The Crisis Stabilization and Community Reentry Act builds on efforts to lower recidivism and provides real criminal justice reform that better serves our nation and helps connect formerly incarcerated individuals to the resources they need. The bill, introduced by Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Richard Blumenthal (D-RI), passed the Senate on November 16th and now heads to the President's desk for signature. An overview of the legislation can be found here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.casey.senate.gov/news/releases/casey-ernst-introduce-legislation-to-seal-low-level-nonviolent-criminal-records,"Casey, Ernst Introduce Legislation to Seal Low-Level, Nonviolent Criminal Records",2020-12-17,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,PA,Bob Casey,C001070,www.casey.senate.gov,,,legacy,,0,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://lamb.house.gov/media/press-releases/lamb-bill-help-medal-honor-spouses-and-families-headed-president-s-desk,LAMB BILL TO HELP MEDAL OF HONOR SPOUSES AND FAMILIES HEADED TO PRESIDENTS DESK,2020-12-16,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,PA,Conor Lamb,L000588,lamb.house.gov,,,legacy,"(WASHINGTON, DC) Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Senate amendment to the bipartisan Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 (H.R. 7105) to increase access to health care and services for women veterans, provide for training opportunities for unemployed veterans, provide assistance for homeless veterans and increase oversight and accountability within the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The final legislation includes the Veterans Valuing our Widows and Widowers (VOW) Act (H.R.1826), introduced by Representatives Conor Lamb (PA-17) and Brian Mast (FL-18), which would ensure that the widows and widowers of Medal of Honor recipients receive the same support that was given to the veteran. Spouses and families sacrifice so much in support of our men and women in uniform, said Lamb. We owe the families of our Medal of Honor recipients the financial security their spouse has earned. I look forward to the President signing this commonsense, bipartisan bill into law. Currently, veterans who receive the Medal of Honor are entitled to an additional monthly pension. However, when the recipient passes away the pension stops. The VOW Act would ensure the surviving spouses of the Medal of Honor recipients continue receiving the pension that their spouse was awarded, even if the Medal of Honor is awarded posthumously. The Medal of Honor represents the highest recognition for valor in combat that a member of the Armed Forces can earn. It is awarded very rarely and only to those whose service and sacrifice far exceed the call of duty. H.R. 7105 passed the U.S. Senate with unanimous consent last week and now goes to the President for his signature. Click here to learn more about the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/casey-releases-statement-following-meeting-with-deputy-treasury-secretary-nominee,Casey Releases Statement Following Meeting with Deputy Treasury Secretary Nominee,2020-12-15,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,PA,Bob Casey,C001070,www.casey.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. -U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) is releasing a statement following his meeting with U.S. Deputy Treasury Secretary nomineeWally Adeyemo: Yesterday, I had the opportunity to meet virtually with Wally Adeyemo, who has been nominated to serve as Deputy Treasury Secretary in President-elect Biden's Administration. I commended Mr. Adeyemo for his service during President Obama's Administration and his willingness to once again serve our Nation during this challenging time. Mr. Adeyemo expressed his desire to ensure that our Treasury Department focuses on the economic needs of working families. I am confident that he will focus his efforts on promoting policies that raise wages for workers and help American families make ends meet. Mr. Adeyemo has the experience and vision to serve as Deputy Treasury Secretary during this economic crisis. He, working together with Janet Yellen, who has been nominated to be Treasury Secretary, will help America build back better.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/casey-releases-statement-following-meeting-with-surgeon-general-nominee,Casey Releases Statement Following Meeting with Surgeon General Nominee,2020-12-15,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,PA,Bob Casey,C001070,www.casey.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) is releasing a statement following his meeting with U.S. Surgeon General nominee Dr. Vivek Murthy: Today, I had the opportunity to virtually meet with Dr. Vivek Murthy, President-elect Biden's nominee to be our Nation's next Surgeon General. During President Obama's Administration, Dr. Murthy was a Surgeon General who worked to protect and improve the health and well-being of all Americans. As our Nation faces its most dire health crisis in more than 100 years, I am grateful to Dr. Murthy for his willingness to serve in this role once again and lend his considerable skills and experience to the incoming Biden Administration. If confirmed, I am confident that he will play a critical role in helping to lead our Nation through the COVID-19 pandemic and emerge stronger.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/casey-releases-statement-following-meeting-with-treasury-secretary-nominee,Casey Releases Statement Following Meeting with Treasury Secretary Nominee,2020-12-15,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,PA,Bob Casey,C001070,www.casey.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) is releasing a statement following his meeting with U.S. Treasury Secretary nominee Janet Yellen: On Friday, I was pleased to have the opportunity to meet virtually with the Treasury Secretary nominee, Janet Yellen. I thanked Chair Yellen for her lifetime of public service and her willingness to once again work on behalf of our Nation and its families during this difficult time. We discussed Chair Yellen's vision for the Treasury Department in President-elect Biden's Administration and how she will work to ensure our Nation builds back better. Janet Yellen has the experience and vision to ensure the Treasury Department is at the forefront of the fight for working families. If confirmed, I am confident she will once again serve the Nation with distinction.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cartwright.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cartwright-urges-house-and-senate-leaders-to-forge-covid-19-relief,Cartwright Urges House and Senate Leaders to Forge COVID-19 Relief Compromise,2020-12-15,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,PA,Matt Cartwright,C001090,cartwright.house.gov,,,legacy,"Scranton, PA Today, U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright (PA-08) sent a letter to Democratic and Republican leaders in both parties urging them to reach a bipartisan deal that provides urgently needed economic relief for Northeastern Pennsylvanians, as the Pennsylvania state government issued new restrictions intended to mitigate the latest surge of COVID-19 in the Commonwealth. As time runs short for a bipartisan COVID-19 relief deal to come together before the remaining CARES Act programs expire, I wish to express the urgency of putting aside our differences and coming together to provide relief for all Americans who desperately need us to act. We need to find common ground and pass a bipartisan COVID-19 relief bill immediately, Cartwright writes in the letter. Cartwright outlined the concerns of some of the constituents have raised with him since many of the CARES Act relief programs expired. While the vaccine offers hope, he pointed out that the latest coronavirus surge still threatens lives and livelihoods. The emergency authorization and distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine is reason for hope that this public health and economic crisis will soon be behind us. However, we are experiencing by far the worst COVID-19 surge our nation has endured since the outbreak began, and the trendlines are looking worse, He wrote. He added that economic support is critical in light of the new business and travel restrictions implemented by the state government over the weekend. In my home state of Pennsylvania, new lockdowns have been imposed to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus and to ensure those who contract the disease can be treated in a hospital if necessary. While these painful measures are needed, they are untenable without robust economic support to protect families, jobs and businesses, Cartwright wrote. Read the full letter below or HERE. Dear Speaker Pelosi, Leader McCarthy, Leader McConnell, and Leader Schumer: As time runs short for a bipartisan COVID-19 relief deal to come together before the remaining CARES Act programs expire, I wish to express the urgency of putting aside our differences and coming together to provide relief for all Americans who desperately need us to act. We need to find common ground and pass a bipartisan COVID-19 relief bill immediately. I hear daily from many of my constituents whose hearts are breaking with worry. A mother near Matamoras called to ask when her pandemic SNAP benefits would return to help her feed her two school-age children. She does not have the means to pick up meals from the school and monitor her children who are learning remotely. Almost every week, I get another e-mail from a man who lives near East Stroudsburg and has been waiting for months for his Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA). It took quite some time before Pennsylvania's system was operational, and people really could not wait yet so many still are waiting. Many more have told me how the credit cards, the banks, the car dealerships and others are not willing to wait for their money. One woman called because her extra $300 in federal funds added to her unemployment benefits ended. Those dollars moved over from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) relief expired in September. A man in Wilkes-Barre called because he was still waiting for a Small Business Administration (SBA) loan when the funding ran out in July. His voice cracked as he told me how his employees and his family are looking to him for support. For 20 years, he and his partner ran their business without needing a loan or help from anyone. Large event centers and resorts are some of our biggest employers in the Eighth Congressional District. They have the same fears as small business owners. They call me worried about staying in business and keeping their employees safe and on payroll. The PPP loan funds covered payroll and some other expenses earlier this year. That money is long gone. One single mother runs several small businesses and opened a new one despite challenges from COVID-19. She received one SBA loan, which did not go far. She had worried how she was going to keep her businesses afloat until she got a grant through her county's relief funding made possible through the CARES Act. I think about her and how persistence is power. She kept trying, and she made it. But I know that aid will not last long, either. Local government officials call to ask about the limits of what they can do with their remaining CARES Act funds. They have so much to do. The funds helped, but it fell short of their needs. Our municipal governments are in jeopardy as sales tax and income tax revenues fall, and I hear their worries about keeping staff in place to maintain operations as well as respond to the pandemic. The emergency authorization and distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine is reason for hope that this public health and economic crisis will soon be behind us. However, we are experiencing by far the worst COVID-19 surge our nation has endured since the outbreak began, and the trendlines are looking worse. In my home state of Pennsylvania, new lockdowns have been imposed to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus and to ensure those who contract the disease can be treated in a hospital if necessary. While these painful measures are needed, they are untenable without robust economic support to protect families, jobs and businesses. We should come together and pass a bill that provides relief for people in an efficient manner, including: A renewal and strengthening of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to support our struggling business community, along with targeted relief for the hard-hit hospitality and entertainment businesses. The winter will only make things tougher for them, and we need to give them a lifeline to make it to the summer when we hope the vaccine will help us get back to normal. Stimulus checks to get money into people's hands, to help them pay their bills and to get money flowing through our economy. State and local aid to help our governments provide basic services and pay their employees, from our police to our teachers. An extension of enhanced unemployment benefits to get aid to those that need it most. So many people desperately want to work, but are in an industry that is shut down or struggling. We need to support these families. Food assistance to help those in need as we see the lines at our food pantries grow amid the holiday season. Funding for our public health infrastructure and vaccine distribution to keep people healthy and administer the vaccine as efficiently and safely as possible. Thank you for your consideration and I hope and pray we can find common ground for the good of all Americans in the coming week. Sincerely, /s/",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.casey.senate.gov/news/releases/casey-releases-statement-following-meeting-with-deputy-treasury-secretary-nominee,Casey Releases Statement Following Meeting with Deputy Treasury Secretary Nominee,2020-12-15,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,PA,Bob Casey,C001070,www.casey.senate.gov,,,legacy,,0,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.casey.senate.gov/news/releases/casey-releases-statement-following-meeting-with-surgeon-general-nominee,Casey Releases Statement Following Meeting with Surgeon General Nominee,2020-12-15,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,PA,Bob Casey,C001070,www.casey.senate.gov,,,legacy,,0,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.casey.senate.gov/news/releases/casey-releases-statement-following-meeting-with-treasury-secretary-nominee,Casey Releases Statement Following Meeting with Treasury Secretary Nominee,2020-12-15,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,PA,Bob Casey,C001070,www.casey.senate.gov,,,legacy,,0,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/casey-wild-bill-would-ensure-that-emergency-preparedness-protocols-in-schools-include-needs-of-students-with-disabilities,"Casey, Wild Bill Would Ensure that Emergency Preparedness Protocols in Schools Include Needs of Students with Disabilities",2020-12-14,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,PA,Bob Casey,C001070,www.casey.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) is introducing the Promoting Responsible Emergency Protocols (PREP) for all Students Act to keep all students safe when extreme weather strikes or on-campus violence occurs. During the 2017-2018 school year, 16 to 18 percent of children had a disability or developmental delay. As natural disasters such as flooding and wildfires rise in the United States and on-campus violence spikes, safety recommendations for schools and child care settings must evolve to integrate the needs of young children and youth with disabilities. The PREP for all Students Act would ensure that public schools, early child care education centers and institutions of higher education have the tools they need to develop inclusive emergency preparedness protocols. U.S. Representative Susan Wild (D-PA-7) is introducing companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives. No student should feel unsafe or unprotected in a learning environment, said Senator Casey. We must do more to meet the needs of all children and youth, regardless of age, developmental stage and ability. The PREP for all Students Act would ensure that young children and students with disabilities are not left out of emergency preparedness and would support schools and child care centers by providing the resources they need to keep young people safe. All too often, emergency protocols are designed with a one-size-fits-all approach not properly accounting for the unique needs of persons with disabilities, mental health needs, or young children, said Congresswoman Wild. As natural disasters and on-campus violence continue to rise, every level of schooling from child care centers to institutions of higher education need the resources to be able to develop trauma-informed emergency preparedness plans to protect young students and students with disabilities. I'm proud of this legislation that would ensure students with disabilities and mental health challenges are included in their schools' emergency planning and creates a safer environment for each and every student. The PREP for all Students Act would establish a Federal Advisory Council composed of federal agencies, youth with disabilities and mental health considerations, parents, educators and advocates to develop guidelines and recommendations for the implementation of accessible, developmentally appropriate, culturally aware and trauma-informed emergency preparedness protocols in early child care and education centers, public schools and institutions of higher education. The legislation would ensure that Congress is provided a report with the findings of the Federal Advisory Council and that schools are provided with accurate information about the needs of specific populations of children, youth and employees during emergency events. The PREP for All Students Act is supported by the following organizations: National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), Institute for Childhood Preparedness, National Association of State Directors of Special Education (NASDSE), Sandy Hook Promise, National Council on Independent Living (NCIL), National Disability Rights Network (NDRN), Little Lobbyists, National Association of the Deaf (NAD), Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD), Autism Society of America, Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN), Council of Parent and Attorney Advocates (COPAA), Spina Bifida Association and Access Living. Read more about the PREP for all Students Act here. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://boyle.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/boyle-levin-axne-introduce-suite-legislation-protect-sustainable,"Boyle, Levin, Axne Introduce Suite of Legislation to Protect Sustainable Investing",2020-12-14,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,PA,Brendan F. Boyle,B001296,boyle.house.gov,boyle,https://boyle.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Andy Levin (MI-09), Vice Chair of the House Education & Labor Committee and member of the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions, along with Congressman Brendan Boyle (PA-02), member of the House Ways and Means Committee, and Congresswoman Cindy Axne (IA-03), member of the House Financial Services Committee, today introduced two pieces of legislation to protect and increase sustainable investments. The Sustainable Investment Policy Act and the Retirees Sustainable Investment Policies Act together would give workers a bigger say in where they invest their retirement savings by requiring plan investors and fiduciaries to take into account and explain to beneficiaries how they consider environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) factors when making investment decisions. Sustainable investing and profitable investing are not mutually exclusive. According to Morningstar, a leading research source on investment performance, on average, investments based on environmental, social and governance goals outperformed conventional offerings during 2019 and the first quarter of 2020. Yet on June 30, the Department of Labor proposed regulations seemingly designed to discourage and block sustainable retirement investing. The Department received more than 8,000 comments on that proposal, 95 percent of which opposed the proposed regulations. Those comments came not just from green investors and advocates, but also giants of the investment industry like Vanguard, Fidelity and BlackRock. On October 30th, the Department finalized a version of this rule. ""This legislation allows Congress to give teeth to what industries, Wall Street and individual investors have made increasingly clear: taking environmental, social and corporate governance principles into consideration isn't just good public relations, but is the viable, responsible, and profitable approach for America,"" said Rep. Boyle. ""When environmental advocates, corporate leaders and business analysts can all agree that social responsibility cannot coexist without financial responsibility, we need to not just listen to them, but to act to ensure a better future for our economy, our 401(k)s and our environment."" ""This is workers' money. The investment process should be transparent to them and in line with workers' values,"" said Rep. Levin. ""Fortunately, we are seeing that there is a convergence of sustainability values and diversity priorities in governance with durable performance over time. Companies perform better if they are aimed at where the economy is going, which is towards sustainability and inclusion across all aspects of how we build, how we make things, how we live and how we move about. ""When we save for retirement, we want to know that our investment is going to be focused where we want it and will be there when we need it,"" said Rep. Axne. ""It's obvious that companies that invest in their future will do better over the long run, and that's what sustainable investing is all about. We as investors should understand how our advisers are evaluating these risks, and having this information will help ensure people can control what their savings is supporting."" The Sustainable Investment Policies Act amends the Investment Advisers Act, and the Retirees Sustainable Investment Policies Act amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). The bills are supported by the Center for American Progress, which released the white paper entitled, ""Modernizing the Social Contract With Investment Fiduciaries"" in November of 2020, the UNPRI (United Nations Principles for Responsible Investing), and Heartland Capital Strategies (HCS). ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-28T00:42:23Z https://wild.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-wild-sen-casey-bill-would-ensure-emergency-preparedness-protocols-schools,"Rep. Wild, Sen. Casey Bill Would Ensure that Emergency Preparedness Protocols in Schools Include Needs of Students with Disabilities, Mental Health Concerns",2020-12-14,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,PA,Susan Wild,W000826,wild.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Today, U.S. Representative Susan Wild (PA-07) introduced the Promoting Responsible Emergency Protocols (PREP) for all Students Act to keep all students safe when extreme weather strikes or on-campus violence occurs. During the 2017-2018 school year, 16 to 18 percent of children had a disability or developmental delay. As natural disasters such as flooding and wildfires rise in the United States and on-campus violence spikes, safety recommendations for schools and child care settings must evolve to integrate the needs of young children and youth with disabilities. The PREP for all Students Act would ensure that public schools, early child care education centers and institutions of higher education have the tools they need to develop inclusive emergency preparedness protocols. U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) has introduced companion legislation in the U.S. Senate. All too often, emergency protocols are designed with a one-size-fits-all approach not properly accounting for the unique needs of persons with disabilities, mental health needs, or young children, Wild said. As natural disasters and on-campus violence continues to rise, every level of schooling from child care centers to institutions of higher education need the resources to be able to develop trauma-informed emergency preparedness plans to protect young students and students with disabilities. I'm proud of this legislation that would ensure students with disabilities and mental health challenges are included in their schools' emergency planning and creates a safer environment for each and every student. No student should feel unsafe or unprotected in a learning environment, Casey said. We must do more to meet the needs of all children and youth, regardless of age, developmental stage and ability. The PREP for all Students Act would ensure that young children and students with disabilities are not left out of emergency preparedness and would support schools and child care centers by providing the resources they need to keep young people safe. The PREP for all Students Act would establish a Federal Advisory Council composed of federal agencies, youth with disabilities and mental health considerations, parents, educators and advocates to develop guidelines and recommendations for the implementation of accessible, developmentally appropriate, culturally aware and trauma-informed emergency preparedness protocols in early child care and education centers, public schools and institutions of higher education. The legislation would ensure that Congress is provided a report with the findings of the Federal Advisory Council and that schools are provided with accurate information about the needs of specific populations of children, youth and employees during emergency events. The PREP for All Students Act is supported by the following organizations: National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), Institute for Childhood Preparedness, National Association of State Directors of Special Education (NASDSE), Sandy Hook Promise, National Council on Independent Living (NCIL), National Disability Rights Network (NDRN), Little Lobbyists, National Association of the Deaf (NAD), Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD), Autism Society of America, Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN), Council of Parent and Attorney Advocates (COPAA), Spina Bifida Association and Access Living. Read more about the PREP for all Students Act HERE. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.casey.senate.gov/news/releases/casey-wild-bill-would-ensure-that-emergency-preparedness-protocols-in-schools-include-needs-of-students-with-disabilities,"Casey, Wild Bill Would Ensure that Emergency Preparedness Protocols in Schools Include Needs of Students with Disabilities",2020-12-14,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,PA,Bob Casey,C001070,www.casey.senate.gov,,,legacy,,0,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://dean.house.gov/2020/12/rep-dean-appointed-serve-house-democratic-steering-and-policy-committee,Rep. Dean Elected as Regional Whip and Appointed to the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee,2020-12-11,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,PA,Madeleine Dean,D000631,dean.house.gov,dean,https://dean.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Rep. Dean is elected as Regional Whip, and appointed to the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee. The Democratic Steering and Policy Committee is chaired by Speaker Nancy Pelosi, co-chaired by Reps. Cheri Bustos, Eric Swalwell, and Barbara Lee. The committee helps provide guidance on the caucuses, legislative policies and agenda, and provides recommendations for committee appointments. The regional whip will be responsible for assisting the Whip in maintaining a united caucus during crucial votes. Rep. Dean’s region will include Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, and Kentucky. ""I am grateful for this new opportunity and eager to work alongside mentors and colleagues on policy that looks forward, while keeping the caucus unified,"" Rep. Dean said. ""I will look forward to working each day, for the people and generating real, important change."" Rep. Dean is eager to help lift up her caucus while making positive change in our nation. Both of these leadership roles will give her the opportunity to work alongside colleagues to advance legislative priorities while maintaining a united caucus. Rep. Madeleine Dean is a mother, grandmother, attorney, professor, former four-term member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and U.S. Representative for the Fourth District of Pennsylvania.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-28T00:42:23Z https://dean.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-dean-appointed-serve-house-democratic-steering-and-policy-committee,Rep. Dean Elected as Regional Whip and Appointed to the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee,2020-12-11,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,PA,Madeleine Dean,D000631,dean.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Rep. Dean is elected as Regional Whip, and appointed to the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee. The Democratic Steering and Policy Committee is chaired by Speaker Nancy Pelosi, co-chaired by Reps. Cheri Bustos, Eric Swalwell, and Barbara Lee. The committee helps provide guidance on the caucuses, legislative policies and agenda, and provides recommendations for committee appointments. The regional whip will be responsible for assisting the Whip in maintaining a united caucus during crucial votes. Rep. Dean's region will include Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, and Kentucky. ""I am grateful for this new opportunity and eager to work alongside mentors and colleagues on policy that looks forward, while keeping the caucus unified,"" Rep. Dean said. ""I will look forward to working each day, for the people and generating real, important change."" Rep. Dean is eager to help lift up her caucus while making positive change in our nation. Both of these leadership roles will give her the opportunity to work alongside colleagues to advance legislative priorities while maintaining a united caucus. Rep. Madeleine Dean is a mother, grandmother, attorney, professor, former four-term member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and U.S. Representative for the Fourth District of Pennsylvania. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://dean.house.gov/press-releases?ID=D1784827-1928-464F-974B-90784B42AB58,Rep. Dean Elected as Regional Whip and Appointed to the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee,2020-12-11,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,PA,Madeleine Dean,D000631,dean.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – Rep. Dean is elected as Regional Whip, and appointed to the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee. The Democratic Steering and Policy Committee is chaired by Speaker Nancy Pelosi, co-chaired by Reps. Cheri Bustos, Eric Swalwell, and Barbara Lee. The committee helps provide guidance on the caucuses, legislative policies and agenda, and provides recommendations for committee appointments. The regional whip will be responsible for assisting the Whip in maintaining a united caucus during crucial votes. Rep. Dean’s region will include Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, and Kentucky. ""I am grateful for this new opportunity and eager to work alongside mentors and colleagues on policy that looks forward, while keeping the caucus unified,"" Rep. Dean said. ""I will look forward to working each day, for the people and generating real, important change."" Rep. Dean is eager to help lift up her caucus while making positive change in our nation. Both of these leadership roles will give her the opportunity to work alongside colleagues to advance legislative priorities while maintaining a united caucus. Rep. Madeleine Dean is a mother, grandmother, attorney, professor, former four-term member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and U.S. Representative for the Fourth District of Pennsylvania.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-06-28T00:42:23Z https://dean.house.gov/2020/12/reps-dean-and-thompson-introduce-coronavirus-relief-fund-expansion-act,Reps. Dean and Thompson Introduce Coronavirus Relief Fund Expansion Act,2020-12-10,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,PA,Madeleine Dean,D000631,dean.house.gov,dean,https://dean.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC– Today, Reps. Madeleine Dean and Glenn “GT” Thompson (PA-15) and introduced the Coronavirus Relief Fund Expansion Act, to extend the deadline to spend COVID-19 relief funds by one year to December 31, 2021. This will allow non-profit and emergency service organizations the ability to use funds to replace lost, delayed, or decreased revenues as a result of the global pandemic. “Emergency services are hurting from the economic side effects of the pandemic. It’s important that we extend the deadline for the Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) through December 31, 2021 and allow emergency services – like Volunteer Fire Departments – to access these relief funds.” Rep. Dean said. “It’s not only the right thing to do, it’s economically smart and allows our emergency services to continue to serve the people.” Volunteer fire departments rely heavily on fundraising activities to support their mission. Due to COVID-19, most of these organizations were forced to cancel in-person community events, which has resulted in significant losses. “The economic impact of COVID-19 has been hardest on organizations that already operate on razor thin margins,” Rep. Thompson said. ""Congress created a relief fund, which has yet to be exhausted. As a volunteer firefighter, I know that we must act immediately to provide more flexibility and extend these deadlines, otherwise volunteer organizations and non-profits will be left out in the cold.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-28T00:42:23Z https://dean.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-dean-and-thompson-introduce-coronavirus-relief-fund-expansion-act,Reps. Dean and Thompson Introduce Coronavirus Relief Fund Expansion Act,2020-12-10,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,PA,Madeleine Dean,D000631,dean.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Today, Reps. Madeleine Dean and Glenn GT Thompson (PA-15) and introduced the Coronavirus Relief Fund Expansion Act, to extend the deadline to spend COVID-19 relief funds by one year to December 31, 2021. This will allow non-profit and emergency service organizations the ability to use funds to replace lost, delayed, or decreased revenues as a result of the global pandemic. Emergency services are hurting from the economic side effects of the pandemic. It's important that we extend the deadline for the Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) through December 31, 2021 and allow emergency services like Volunteer Fire Departments to access these relief funds. Rep. Dean said. It's not only the right thing to do, it's economically smart and allows our emergency services to continue to serve the people. Volunteer fire departments rely heavily on fundraising activities to support their mission. Due to COVID-19, most of these organizations were forced to cancel in-person community events, which has resulted in significant losses. The economic impact of COVID-19 has been hardest on organizations that already operate on razor thin margins, Rep. Thompson said. ""Congress created a relief fund, which has yet to be exhausted. As a volunteer firefighter, I know that we must act immediately to provide more flexibility and extend these deadlines, otherwise volunteer organizations and non-profits will be left out in the cold. Both representatives hope this bipartisan legislation will be immediately taken up by the Senate and signed by the president.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://houlahan.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1920,"In Annual Defense Bill, Representative Houlahan Authors Language To Amend Insurrection Act, Improve TRICARE, Support Military Families And More",2020-12-10,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,PA,Chrissy Houlahan,H001085,houlahan.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Today, Representative ChrissyHoulahan(D-PA) passed the annual bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which includes many of the priorities she has championed. The bill passed through the House of Representatives by a vote of 335-78. In this sweeping legislation, I was proud to author a number of bipartisan provisions that have garnered support in both the House and Senate,said Houlahan.As the sole Pennsylvanian on the Armed Services Committee, I take seriously my commitment to my community and Commonwealth to advocate on their behalves. This bill provides a pay raiseforour servicemembers, improves military family housing, increases access to childcare, invests in research and development to address emerging threats, reasserts the importance of alliances and partnerships, funds smart investments to counter Chinese and Russian aggression and much more. The Senate and the President now have a responsibility to enact this bill into law our servicemembers and their families deserve nothing less. Rep.Houlahanchampioned the following priorities during House consideration of the bill, which were included in the final, bipartisan compromise: Require that any Federal law enforcement or military personnel deployed in support of Federal authorities during a civil disturbance, like the protests across the country this summer, be clearly and visibly identifiable by agency and name.(Section 1064) Require TRICARE to cover Digital Breast Tomosynthesis (DBT) Mammography. DBT, also known as 3D mammography is rapidly becoming the standard of careforbreast cancer screenings, and is covered by the VA, Medicaid and Medicare. Until now, TRICARE was a very visible outlier amongst insurers and as denying women critical preventative health care.(Section 701) Improve and coordinate research into cleanup and replacement of PFAS chemicals, which have been found in the drinking water near many military bases and airports, and keeping Congress apprised of research in this area.(Section 332) Require the National Space Council to assess the ability of the United States to effectively compete withChina'sspace program and in the emerging commercial space economy and develop a strategyforthe United States to maintain its position as the preeminent global space power. This amendment has also been introduced by Rep.Houlahanas the standalone STAR Act of 2020 (H.R.6388), a bipartisan effort to ensure that the United States is actively leading the world in space technology development with an eye towards protecting our national security.(Section 1614) Create a Defense Department U.S.-Israel working group on operations and technology issues to facilitate greater cooperation between the United States and Israeli companies on defense acquisition and innovation. Rep.Houlahanis the Democratic lead on the United States-Israel Military Capability Act of 2020 (H.R. 7148), the standalone bill on this issue.(Section 1299M) Require a Department of Defense (DOD) assessment ofoverseas cooperative security locations'force protection measures to ensure the safety of U.S. servicemembers, following the January 2020 terrorist attack on U.S.forces in Kenya, which killed three Americans.(Section 2882H) $15M increase in funding to support the CDC-led study of the impact of PFAS on human health. Allow the DOD to reimburse military spousesforexpenses incurredforexam fees, continuing education courses and registration fees in order to work in the spouse's profession at the next duty station. Previously, fees associated with required continuing education courses were not reimbursable.(Section 586) Amend the My Career Advancement Account Scholarship Program, which is a workforce development programformilitary spouses that provides up to $4,000 of financial assistanceforlicenses, certifications or associate degrees to pursue an occupation or career field. Essentially, this amendment will allowforrequired continuing education courses to be reimbursed.(Section 586) Ensure that DOD cannot convert civilian jobs into contractor jobs, cutting into our public service workforce and potentially costing the taxpayer more, without assessing the cost and impact on our servicemembers.(Section 912) Exempt contracts awarded to certain small business concerns (8a, HUBZone, Women-owned, and service-disabled veteran-owned) from Category Management (CM) program and requires a plan to ensure small businesses can competeforthese lucrative government contracts.(Section 871) Implementation of the Women, Peace and Security Act of 2017. (Section 1210E) Houlahan is an AirForce veteran, an engineer, a serial entrepreneur, an educator, and a nonprofit leader. She's in her first term representing Pennsylvania's 6th Congressional District, which encompasses Chester County and southern Berks County. She serves on the House Armed Services Committee, the HouseForeign Affairs Committee, and the House Small Business Committee. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://medium.com/@repmgs/scanlon-garcia-introduce-bill-to-facilitate-voter-registration-in-subsidized-housing-bd30a1e48762?source=rss-c2708a5a087------2,"Scanlon, Garcia Introduce Bill to Facilitate Voter Registration in Subsidized Housing",2020-12-10,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,PA,Mary Scanlon,S001205,medium.com,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC On December 9, 2020, Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05) and Congressman Jess Chuy Garca (IL-04) introduced the Our Homes Our Votes Act, a bill that facilitates voter registration for residents of federally subsidized housing by allowing them to register to vote as they sign their lease. The bill has 18 original cosponsors. The provisions of the Our Homes Our Votes Act mirror the popular National Voter Registration Act of 1993 or Motor Voter Law, which allows eligible voters to register to vote directly at the DMV as they obtain or renew their drivers' license. This bill extends the concept to tenants in subsidized housing administered by a public housing authority who, like customers at the DMV, have already had their identity and residence vetted by public authorities. Low-income voter turnout regularly lags higher-income turnout by 20 percentage points, though low-income voters made gains in the last election. The Our Homes Our Votes Act: Allows eligible and interested tenants in subsidized housing administered by a Public Housing Agency (PHA) to register to vote as they sign their lease document without providing duplicate information;Requires PHA's to transmit these voter registration forms to local election authorities in a timely manner;Designates private landlords of subsidized housing as voter registration agents responsible for distributing voter registration forms and helping tenants fill them out if needed. When we make it easier for eligible voters to register and vote, more people are able to make their voices heard and claim their power in our democracy, Congresswoman Scanlon said. This bill builds upon the foundation established by the National Voter Registration Act by expanding voter registration opportunities. If you can register to vote while updating your driver's license, why can't you when signing a lease at a Public Housing Agency? It's just that simple. The best way to achieve our country's promise of one person one vote' is to make it easier for everyone to vote. That's why I'm introducing the Our Homes Our Votes Act. This bill will facilitate voter registration for residents of federally subsidized housing. Tenants already have their identity and residence verified when they sign their lease, so if they are eligible to vote they should be able to do so easily, said Congressman Garca. People fought and died for the right to vote in our country, but residents of working-class districts like mine still face too many barriers to vote. I believe we should help low-income communities vote with the same numbers as higher-income communities then we will have policies that help everyone. The Our Homes, Our Votes Act is a simple solution to one of the most persistent voter disparities in our democracy, said Diane Yentel, president & CEO of the National Low Income Housing Coalition. Renters care deeply about voting, but they have more barriers to doing so successfully. One of the most common reasons renters vote at lower rates is that they move more frequently than homeowners, and they have to update their voter registration at each new address. This bill will make it clear to all public housing agencies and other housing providers who use federal housing subsidies that voter registration is an important part of the lease-up process. We applaud Representatives Chuy Garca and Mary Gay Scanlon for their leadership on this innovative proposal. Our democracy is strongest when it includes the most voices; the Our Homes, Our Votes Act will boost the participation of low-income renters in a meaningful and impactful way.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://wild.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-wild-seeking-gold-star-family-fellow,Rep. Wild Seeking Gold Star Family Fellow,2020-12-10,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,PA,Susan Wild,W000826,wild.house.gov,,,legacy,"LEHIGH VALLEY, PA U.S. Representative Susan Wild (PA-07) is seeking a Gold Star Family Member for a remote position based out of her Lehigh County district office. The person selected for the fellowship will work with constituents to handle veteran-related casework and act as a facilitator between constituents and federal, state, and local agencies. We make a covenant with our service members that we will care for them and their families when they return and making sure we honor that commitment is one of my highest priorities, Wild said. That's why I'm pleased to be working with the House of Representatives to bring a Gold Star Family fellow onto my team, and am looking forward to insight they can provide to help lift up our entire veteran community in PA-07. The Gold Star Family Fellowship Program was established by the House of Representatives to provide employment opportunities for families of our service members who have paid the ultimate sacrifice to our nation. Gold Star Family Members are eligible for the program if they meet all the following requirements: must be the parent, spouse, sibling, child, or step-child of a service member who either died on active duty or of a service member who received an Honorable Discharge and died due to a service connected disability within four-years of military separation. Interested Gold Star Family Members should go to https://www.usajobs.gov/and search Gold Star Family Fellowship Program for more information on how to apply. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/casey-to-introduce-police-overhaul-that-would-reform-the-way-law-enforcement-interacts-with-people-with-disabilities-,Casey to Introduce Police Overhaul that Would Reform the Way Law Enforcement Interacts with People with Disabilities,2020-12-09,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,PA,Bob Casey,C001070,www.casey.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. As the Nation reckons with the high profile killings of Black Americans at the hands of police officers and growing calls for policy changes to prevent future violence, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) is launching the Law Enforcement Education and Accountability for People with Disabilities (LEAD) Initiative, to help bring about racial justice and address the high incidence rate of police violence involving people with disabilities. The LEAD Initiative is comprised of two bills the Safe Interactions Act and the Human-services Emergency Logistic Program (HELP) Act which would reduce calls to 9-1-1 call systems regarding non-criminal emergencies and provide robust training to law enforcement on interacting with people with disabilities, including those experiencing a mental health crisis. The families of Walter Wallace, Jr., Ricardo Munoz and Osaze Osagie needed mental health crisis support and they didn't get it, said Senator Casey. We must take action to ensure that someone's ethnicity or mental ability does not preclude them from receiving protection and fair treatment. My LEAD initiative aims to protect the promise of liberty and justice for all by reforming our emergency systems so that people and police are connected with the resources they need. United Way and the 211 network are deeply grateful to Senator Casey for introducing the HELP Act, said Suzanne McCormick, U.S. President, United Way Worldwide. 211 is a vital resource supporting over 95 percent of communities in the U.S. and this expansion of coverage means that more people can get the help they need, particularly those with mental health illnesses and other disabilities. United Way looks forward to working with Senator Casey to expand critical services to the American people during these difficult times. The Washington Post database of police shootings estimates that at least 25 percent of shootings involve a person with a mental health disability. A 2016 Ruderman Foundation report estimated that between one-third and half of 2015 shootings involving a law enforcement officer included a person with a disability. The HELP Act would divert non-criminal, non-fire and non-medical emergency calls from 9-1-1 systems to state and regional 2-1-1 systems, while providing resources and funding to improve 2-1-1 referral systems. The bill would create an oversight system for the 2-1-1 networks comprised of community members who represent older adults, people with disabilities, ethnic and racial community members and members of other communities. The HELP Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI). The Safe Interactions Act would provide grants to enable non-profit disability organizations to develop training programs that support safe interactions between law enforcement officers and people with disabilities. The training would be directed to both new and veteran officers and would include people with disabilities in the training as instructors. It would also establish an advisory council, chaired by a person with a disability, to oversee the training program development and implementation. The Safe Interactions Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH). Read more about the HELP Act here. Read more about the Safe Interactions Act here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://dean.house.gov/2020/12/house-overwhelmingly-passes-2021-ndaa-rep-dean-s-pfas-efforts-included,The House Overwhelmingly Passes 2021 NDAA: Rep. Dean’s PFAS Efforts Included,2020-12-09,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,PA,Madeleine Dean,D000631,dean.house.gov,dean,https://dean.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON — Yesterday, the House passed the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act. Included in this defense budget will be necessary pro-labor measures, and PFAS water contamination efforts that were led by Rep. Dean. Rep. Dean led a bipartisan public private partnership incentivizing the research and development of a PFAS Free Firefighting foam, as PFAS has long impacted southeastern Pennsylvania. Additionally, Rep. Dean fought for the inclusion of the following provisions: Authorization of $15 million for a nationwide PFAS health study. Requirement of the National Institute of Standard and Technology to study the safety of firefighting equipment to ensure protection of firefighters from PFAS. Establishment of an interagency coordinating body for PFAS research. “This study is a necessary step to help those affected by these forever chemicals that contaminate our water, as we work to prevent this from reoccurring,” Rep. Dean said. “The $15 million PFAS Health Study is a study that must turn into action so that we are able to adequately address this health issue, which is plaguing our communities.” Unfortunately, Rep. Dean’s $10,000 student loan forgiveness provision was not included, but the budget acknowledges the growing burden of student loans. Rep. Dean looks forward to working with the next Congress and the Biden-Harris administration, to further address this important national issue. The 2021 National Defense Authorization Act will continue historic progress on key labor and employment priorities for federal workers. The provisions for our nation’s civil servants include: Pandemic Leave: Allows many federal employees to carry over additional annual leave into 2021. Paid Parental Leave: Extends paid parental leave to approximately 100,000 federal workers. Elijah Cummings Federal Employee Antidiscrimination Act: Requires federal agencies to establish a model Equal Employment Opportunity Program with requirements that address discrimination in the workplace. Restriction on Civilian Workforce Reductions: Prohibits the Secretary of Defense from reducing the civilian workforce unless the Department assesses the impact of such reduction on workload, military force structure, lethality, readiness, and operational effectiveness. By funding PFAS research studies and expanding labors rights for federal workers, the 2021 NDAA shows careful attention to issues that have impacted these communities and civil servants for decades. Rep. Madeleine Dean is a mother, grandmother, attorney, professor, former four-term member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and U.S. Representative for the Fourth District of Pennsylvania.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-28T00:42:23Z https://dean.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-overwhelmingly-passes-2021-ndaa-rep-dean-s-pfas-efforts-included,The House Overwhelmingly Passes 2021 NDAA: Rep. Deans PFAS Efforts Included,2020-12-09,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,PA,Madeleine Dean,D000631,dean.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Yesterday, the House passed the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act. Included in this defense budget will be necessary pro-labor measures, and PFAS water contamination efforts that were led by Rep. Dean. Rep. Dean led a bipartisan public private partnership incentivizing the research and development of a PFAS Free Firefighting foam, as PFAS has long impacted southeastern Pennsylvania. Additionally, Rep. Dean fought for the inclusion of the following provisions: Authorization of $15 million for a nationwide PFAS health study. Requirement of the National Institute of Standard and Technology to study the safety of firefighting equipment to ensure protection of firefighters from PFAS. Establishment of an interagency coordinating body for PFAS research. This study is a necessary step to help those affected by these forever chemicals that contaminate our water, as we work to prevent this from reoccurring, Rep. Dean said. The $15 million PFAS Health Study is a study that must turn into action so that we are able to adequately address this health issue, which is plaguing our communities. Unfortunately, Rep. Dean's $10,000 student loan forgiveness provision was not included, but the budget acknowledges the growing burden of student loans. Rep. Dean looks forward to working with the next Congress and the Biden-Harris administration, to further address this important national issue. The 2021 National Defense Authorization Act will continue historic progress on key labor and employment priorities for federal workers. The provisions for our nation's civil servants include: Pandemic Leave: Allows many federal employees to carry over additional annual leave into 2021. Paid Parental Leave: Extends paid parental leave to approximately 100,000 federal workers. Elijah Cummings Federal Employee Antidiscrimination Act: Requires federal agencies to establish a model Equal Employment Opportunity Program with requirements that address discrimination in the workplace. Restriction on Civilian Workforce Reductions: Prohibits the Secretary of Defense from reducing the civilian workforce unless the Department assesses the impact of such reduction on workload, military force structure, lethality, readiness, and operational effectiveness. By funding PFAS research studies and expanding labors rights for federal workers, the 2021 NDAA shows careful attention to issues that have impacted these communities and civil servants for decades. Rep. Madeleine Dean is a mother, grandmother, attorney, professor, former four-term member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and U.S. Representative for the Fourth District of Pennsylvania. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://doyle.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressmen-doyle-ferguson-introduce-pasteur-act-promote-new-antimicrobial,Congressmen Doyle & Ferguson introduce PASTEUR Act to promote new antimicrobial drugs,2020-12-09,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,PA,Mike Doyle,D000482,doyle.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. Today, U.S. Representatives Mike Doyle (D-PA) and Drew Ferguson (R-GA) introduced the Pioneering Antimicrobial Subscriptions to End Upsurging Resistance (PASTEUR) Act to encourage the development of critically needed antimicrobials and antibiotics and to ensure their appropriate use and domestic supply. Antimicrobial resistance is an urgent public health threat that requires a comprehensive, bipartisan solution, said Congressman Doyle.Infectious disease experts agree that our next public health crisis could be caused by drug-resistant infections, and we mustn't be caught flat-footed. The PASTEUR Act will help scientists and researchers bring better antimicrobials to the market, and it will help hospitals and doctors ensure these drugs are used properly. The public health, economic, and national security threats of antimicrobial resistance could have serious implications if left unresolved, said Congressman Ferguson. Pandemic preparedness is first and foremost about having the right preventative tools available, and antibiotics are without question one of these key tools. The PASTEUR Act brings together the public and private sectors to research and develop strong and effective antibiotics. This important piece of legislation will safeguard new antibiotic developments and prevent R&D from falling behind. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reportAntibiotic Resistance Threats in the United States, more than 2.8 million antibiotic-resistant infections occur in the United States each year, and at least 35,000 people die as a result. Unfortunately, financial incentives to develop drugs to treat many of these life-threatening infections are lacking. The PASTEUR Act would address these market failures and increase public health preparedness by keeping novel antibiotics on the market and improving appropriate antibiotic use across the health care system. While current contracts between the government and drug makers base payment on volume, the PASTEUR Act would establish a subscription-style model which would offer antibiotic developers an upfront payment in exchange for access to their antibiotics, encouraging innovation and ensuring our health care system is prepared to treat antibiotic-resistant infections. Public health experts agree that the PASTEUR Act is an essential component of our response to combat antimicrobial resistance: Antibiotics are central to our preparedness and the foundation of modern medical care, but growing antibiotic resistance and the fragile antibiotic pipeline leave us extremely vulnerable. The PASTEUR Act will sustain antibiotic research and development and provide essential new resources to support antibiotic stewardship. Cornelius J. Clancy, MD; Associate Chief, Infectious Diseases, University of Pittsburgh Antibiotic resistant infections seriously jeopardize our ability to provide complex medical care, including transplants and other surgeries, cancer chemotherapy, and care for patients seriously ill with COVID-19. IDSA is proud to support the PASTEUR Act to ensure we have the antibiotics we need and to drive the appropriate use of antibiotics to protect their effectiveness. Barbara D. Alexander MD, MHS, FIDSA; President, Infectious Diseases Society of America; Professor of Medicine and Pathology at Duke University School of Medicine Our ability to fight infections underpins modern medicine, but, in the battle between innovation and resistance, resistance is currently winning. COVID-19 has underscored the importance of preparedness and the threat of AMR looms large the PASTEUR Act is an important step forward in that fight against antimicrobial resistance and infectious disease,said Ken Thorpe, Chairman, Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease; Advisory Board, Partnership to Fight Infectious Disease. The PASTEUR Act would: Establish a subscription model to encourage innovative antimicrobial drug development aimed at treating drug-resistant infections. This model will be fully delinked, meaning that participating developers would not receive income, as a part of their subscription payments, based on volume or quantity of sales. Subscription contracts would contain terms and conditions including product availability to individuals on a government health insurance plan, supporting appropriate use, and completion of postmarketing studies. These contracts could be valuated between $750 million and $3 billion. Build on existing frameworks to improve usage of the CDC National Healthcare Safety Network and other programs to collect and report on antibiotic use and resistance data. Include transition measures such as smaller subscription contracts to support novel antimicrobial drug developers that need a financial lifeline. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://wild.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-wild-stevens-call-strengthened-enforceable-workplace-safety-standards,"Reps. Wild, Stevens Call for Strengthened, Enforceable Workplace Safety Standards",2020-12-09,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,PA,Susan Wild,W000826,wild.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Yesterday, U.S. Representatives Susan Wild (PA-07) and Haley Stevens (MI-11) sent a letter to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi calling for strengthened and enforceable workplace safety standards at the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in any negotiated COVID-19 relief agreement. The COVID-19 pandemic has been the deadliest health emergency to threaten American workers in decades, yet OSHA has failed to issue new standards to protect workers during this crisis. Furthermore, the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General found that OSHA has failed to adequately investigate a majority of COVID-19 workplace safety complaints. Our country's success in controlling community spread depends in large part on our success in controlling workplace infections, the lawmakers wrote. As frontline and essential workers continue putting themselves at tremendous risk each day, it is time for Congress to demand more from OSHA, the only federal agency with the authority to enforce safe working conditions. The full text of the letter can be found HERE or below. Dear Speaker Pelosi, We thank you for your ongoing efforts to fight for relief from the worsening COVID-19 pandemic on behalf of the American people. As you continue staying true to our shared principles, we specifically urge you to include strengthened and enforceable workplace safety standards at the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in any negotiated COVID-19 relief agreement. Reports including by the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General have shown that OSHA has failed to investigate or stalled the majority of COVID-19 workplace safety complaints. As such, it is imperative that any negotiated COVID-19 relief package include the COVID-19 Every Worker Protection Act, which was in the House-passed Heroes Act. H.R. 6559 would protect all workers from exposure to COVID-19 in the workplace by requiring OSHA to issue an Emergency Temporary Standard, based on CDC guidance, that requires all workplaces to implement infectious disease control plans to keep workers safe during the COVID-19 pandemic and ensures workers who report infection control problems will not face retaliation. In May, the Education & Labor Subcommittee on Workforce Protections, on which we sit, held a hearing entitled Examining the Federal Government's Actions to Protect Workers from COVID-19. This hearing brought to light OSHA's failure to issue new standards to protect workers or to effectively enforce its current limited standards, despite the fact that the COVID19 pandemic has caused more deaths among workers in a shorter time than any other health emergency since the creation of OSHA 50 years ago. Our country's success in controlling community spread depends in large part on our success in controlling workplace infections. As frontline and essential workers continue putting themselves at tremendous risk each day, it is time for Congress to demand more from OSHA, the only federal agency with the authority to enforce safe working conditions. Thank you for your steadfast leadership and for your attention to this important matter. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.casey.senate.gov/news/releases/casey-to-introduce-police-overhaul-that-would-reform-the-way-law-enforcement-interacts-with-people-with-disabilities-,Casey to Introduce Police Overhaul that Would Reform the Way Law Enforcement Interacts with People with Disabilities,2020-12-09,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,PA,Bob Casey,C001070,www.casey.senate.gov,,,legacy,,0,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://evans.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/evans-welcomes-ruling-favor-einstein-jefferson-merger-says-it-fits-his,"Evans Welcomes Ruling in Favor of Einstein-Jefferson Merger, Says It Fits His ‘No More Hahnemanns!’ Effort",2020-12-08,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,PA,Dwight Evans,E000296,evans.house.gov,evans,https://evans.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON (Dec. 8, 2020) – Congressman Dwight Evans (D-PA-3rd) welcomed a court ruling in favor of the proposed merger of Jefferson Health and Albert Einstein Healthcare Network in Philadelphia and the region. Evans continues to voice his strong support for the merger. ""I'm extremely pleased that the federal judge rejected the Federal Trade Commission and state attorney general's shortsighted attempts to block the merger. I hope that neither of them will appeal the ruling and instead clear the way for these hospitals to provide enhanced stability and access to high-quality care for the residents of North Philadelphia for the foreseeable future. This merger would help the hospitals to stay open, and the pandemic has underlined how vital they are to our communities,"" Evans said. ""This should not continue to be addressed in the courts. Issues of rising costs should be addressed through Congress and the state legislatures, as should solutions to maintain the viability of safety-net hospitals. As a member of the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee, I have been leading an ongoing, bipartisan ‘No More Hahnemanns!' effort to seek these types of solutions. Hahnemann University Hospital's 2019 closing was the 10th hospital closing in Philadelphia in 20 years, and this problem has affected large cities as well as small towns and rural areas of Pennsylvania. ""Einstein and Jefferson are historically linked academic medical centers that would work even better together to improve the lives of their patients and the communities they serve. They should not be forced to spend more time or money litigating a merger that the court agreed would benefit the communities they serve – and the FTC and state attorney general's office should stop spending tax dollars to get in the way of this public-spirited merger. ""The pandemic has shone a bright spotlight on the wide health disparities among the communities served by these Philadelphia-based hospital systems, and I will continue working with them as trusted partners to address those disparities in our diverse city and region."" Evans represents Pennsylvania's 3rd Congressional District, which includes Northwest and West Philadelphia and parts of North, South, Southwest and Center City Philadelphia. He serves on the influential House Ways and Means Committee, which oversees Medicare and much of the U.S. health-care system. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-28T00:42:23Z https://lamb.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-passes-national-defense-authorization-act-conference-report-fiscal-year,HOUSE PASSES NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT CONFERENCE REPORT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2021,2020-12-08,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,PA,Conor Lamb,L000588,lamb.house.gov,,,legacy,"(WASHINGTON, DC) Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the bipartisan William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 6395) Conference Report to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2021 for the U.S. Department of Defense's (DOD) military activities, in order to ensure the security of the country and the men and women who serve to defend it. In July, H.R. 6395 passed the House (295-125) and S. 4049, the companion version passed the U.S. Senate (86-14). In November, Representative Conor Lamb (PA-17), who serves as Vice Chair of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, was appointed to the conference committee that worked to reconcile the two bills, and reached a bipartisan, bicameral agreement. This agreement is scheduled to be voted on in the Senate and head to the President's desk later this week. The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Conference Report authorizes a three percent pay increase for servicemembers while making key investments to military infrastructure and provides crucial support to training and sustainment activities that enhance military operations. The legislation also authorizes funding that will strengthen the country's ability to respond to potential COVID-19 resurgence and other infectious diseases in the future. In addition, it adds three new diseases to the presumptive list for Agent Orange exposure, calling for increased data collection of toxic exposures for veterans building on the passage of the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019 (H.R. 299). This is a good bill. Congress worked on a bipartisan basis to provide our troops with a much-needed pay raise and give Vietnam era veterans additional health care benefits, said Lamb. I look forward to this legislation getting signed into law as soon as possible to help improve the lives of our servicemembers and veterans across the country. Lamb led three amendments and secured a key provision in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Conference Report, including: An amendment adapted from a bill Lamb co-led with Representative Mike Bost (IL-12), The Coastal and Inland Ports and Terminals Commerce Improvements Act (H.R. 7416), which would provide assistance to inland and small coastal ports and terminals; An amendment that directs the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to establish a Center for Artificial Intelligence within the National Center for Environmental Information (NCEI) in order to codify NOAA's artificial intelligence strategy; An amendment to ensure that members of the U.S. Coast Guard can access workforce development through the DOD's Skillbridge initiative that provides access to apprenticeships and on-the-job learning for servicemembers as they transition from the military into civilian life; and A provision for the inclusion of National Science Foundation (NSF) Artificial Intelligence (AI) education in the teaching and learning of topics related to AI systems in K-12 and post-secondary educational programs, including workforce training and career and technical education programs. Additional key provisions included in H.R. 6395 include: Removing all names, symbols, displays, monuments, and paraphernalia that honor or commemorate the Confederate States of America; Setting monetary limits on the use of emergency construction funds to ensure no President can ever rob the military construction accounts for projects like the border wall for which Congress has declined to appropriate funds; Extending paid parental leave to approximately 100,000 federal civilians inadvertently excluded from last year's legislation, including employees at the VA, TSA, FAA, White House, Article I judges, and the courts and the public defender's office for Washington, D.C.; and Requiring each federal agency to establish a model Equal Employment Opportunity Program that is independent of the agency's Human Capital or General Counsel office and establishes requirements related to complaints of discrimination and retaliation in the workplace, under the Including the Elijah Cummings Federal Employee Antidiscrimination Act. Click here to learn more about the National Defense Authorization Act of 2020. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://lamb.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-passes-water-resources-development-act-2020,HOUSE PASSES WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 2020,2020-12-08,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,PA,Conor Lamb,L000588,lamb.house.gov,,,legacy,"(WASHINGTON, DC) Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Water Resources Development Act of 2020 (S. 1811) to authorize the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Civil Works mission areas for the next two years, which include projects on: navigation, flood damage reduction, hurricane and storm damage reduction, shoreline protection and ecosystem restoration. A member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Representative Conor Lamb (PA-17) supported the legislation which passed the House with broad bipartisan support. This legislation is a major investment in jobs and infrastructure in my district and across the country, said Lamb. We are prioritizing investment in projects that will help protect the health and safety of all Americans, including clean drinking water and flood mitigation. Lamb fought for multiple provisions which were included in the final legislation. In April, Lamb co-led a bipartisan letter with Representative Brian Babin (TX-36) signed by 78 Members advocating for an adjustment to the cost-share for inland navigation projects. This policy change lays the groundwork for faster repairs to western Pennsylvania's critical locks and dams, and the final legislation ensures the cost-share is maintained for the next decade. Three inland navigation facilities in the Upper Ohio Navigation Project the Emsworth, Dashields, and the Montgomery Locks and Dams are at risk of catastrophic failure. WRDA 2020 is vital to completing these long-overdue repairs and modernization efforts. In an additional letter to Committee leadership, Lamb advocated for raising the funding authorization threshold for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to address widespread problems specifically in rural and small communities pertaining to inadequate wastewater treatment, contaminated drinking water, and insufficient water supply. The bill also allows for Beaver County to access these funds for the first time. Click here to learn more about the Water Resources Development Act of 2020 and visit Lamb's website to see him speak on the House floor last July in support of the legislation. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cartwright.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cartwright-honors-memory-of-wwii-hero-and-nepa-native-george-c-yurek-sr,"Cartwright Honors Memory of WWII Hero and NEPA Native George C. Yurek, Sr.",2020-12-07,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,PA,Matt Cartwright,C001090,cartwright.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. Today, U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright (PA-08) spoke on the House floor to honor the late Technical Sergeant George C. Yurek, Sr., of West Wyoming, PA, who recently passed away at the age of 98. Cartwright spoke of TSgt. Yurek's bravery in volunteering for the unit that diffused hundreds of landmines on the Island of Corregidor in the Philippines, which paved the way for American forces to recapture the island from Japanese control. Watch Cartwright's floor speech:",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://medium.com/@repmgs/scanlon-fitzpatrick-introduce-bill-to-stop-drivers-license-suspensions-for-non-payment-307f954a6783?source=rss-c2708a5a087------2,"Scanlon, Fitzpatrick Introduce Bill to Stop Drivers License Suspensions for Non-Payment",2020-12-07,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,PA,Mary Scanlon,S001205,medium.com,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DCToday, Representative Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05) introduced the Driving for Opportunity Act of 2020, the House companion to a bill introduced by U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-DE) and Roger Wicker (R-MI), to encourage states to stop debt-based driver's license suspensions. This bill, co-led by Representative Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), was introduced with bipartisan support from Representatives Gwen Moore (WI-04) and Guy Reschenthaler (PA-14). Every year, millions of Americans have their licenses suspended for unpaid court fines and fees, not based on conduct related to driving. This makes it harder to get to work and pay off the fines while also placing an unnecessary burden on our courts, jails, and law enforcement agencies. Punishing people for failing to pay debts in a way that limits their ability to obtain gainful employment only sets up a cruel cycle of failure and results in the criminalization of poverty, said Rep. Scanlon. Particularly during the ongoing global pandemic, we need to work to eliminate barriers to employment and find legislative solutions to break the cycle of poverty. I'm proud to be joined by Rep. Fitzpatrick in introducing this common sense bipartisan legislation. For too long, many Americans have had their driver's licenses suspended for non-public safety reasons and have suffered the economic setback of debt-based driver's license suspensions, said Rep. Fitzpatrick. Incentivizing states to end the suspension of driver's licenses for unpaid fines is a commonsense reform that will improve livelihoods across this country and has widespread support from law enforcement, civil rights, and criminal justice reform organizations. I am proud to join my colleagues to introduce the bipartisan Driving for Opportunity Act. Suspending driver's licenses for unpaid fines and fees makes it harder for Americans to hold down a job and care for their families, and places an undue burden on our police officers, said Senator Coons. Today's introduction of the Driving for Opportunity Act in the House moves us one step closer to ending this counterproductive practice and the harm it causes in communities across the country. The broad, bipartisan coalition backing this bill underscores the strong support for swiftly passing it into law. Besides not being an effective debt collection tool, these too poor to drive suspensions can hinder an individual's ability to keep working or get work and can lead to interactions with the criminal justice system, both of which have far reaching impacts on our communities, said Rep. Moore. In Milwaukee and around the country, these policies disproportionately impact minorities and the most financially vulnerable. The Driving for Opportunity Act would encourage states to end the suspension of driver's licenses for unpaid fees to lift the burden off of drivers and to reinstate such licenses and ensure resources are better allocated towards promoting public safety. In 2018, Pennsylvania passed legislation eliminating driver's license suspensions for non-driving infractions, an effort I was honored to be a part of, said Rep. Reschenthaler. The Driving for Opportunity Act will incentivize other states to follow Pennsylvania's lead and eliminate debt-based driver's license suspensions. By ending this counterproductive practice, we can make it easier for struggling Americans to hold down a job and pay off their debts while also ensuring police departments can target their resources where they are needed most. A copy of the bill can be found here: https://scanlon.house.gov/UploadedFiles/SCANPA_047_xml.pdf",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://wild.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-wild-introduces-bipartisan-bill-bolster-workforce-pipeline-essential-health,Rep. Wild Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Bolster Workforce Pipeline for Essential Health Care Workers,2020-12-07,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,PA,Susan Wild,W000826,wild.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Today, U.S. Representative Susan Wild (D-PA) joined U.S. Rep. Fred Keller (R-PA) in introducing H.R. 8874, the Nurses CARE Act, bipartisan legislation that would help prevent dangerous workforce shortages in long-term care facilities and allow America's essential healthcare workforce to do its important work uninterrupted. In response to COVID-19, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued Section 1135 waivers to provide states with greater flexibility to direct personnel and resources to patients in need. While this regulatory flexibility has been an essential tool in preventing critical health care shortages by employing Temporary Nurse Aides (TNAs) to offer care during the pandemic, it is set to expire when the national emergency declaration is lifted. Throughout this entire pandemic, so many have selflessly joined the front lines in our nursing homes and long-term care facilities to get our most vulnerable through this health care crisisand they deserve their work and on-the-job training to be fully recognized, Wild said. I'm proud to join this bipartisan, commonsense effort to help prevent critical health care shortages or gaps in Pennsylvania and ensure those who answered the call in this emergency have a pathway for full-time employment once this pandemic ends. The Nurses CARE Act works to build on the success of CMS's Section 1135 waivers and provide states with the necessary flexibility to ensure that competent TNAs who provided critical services during the pandemic can retain their certification after the national emergency declaration has expired. Additionally, this legislation would also allow states and facilities to offer on-the-job experience as a partial substitute for certification courses, testing, and other evaluationsthus providing a pathway to full-time employment for TNAs who answered the call during the COVID-19 pandemic and have already received extensive on-the-job training. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed so much about how we deliver health care at nursing homes, skilled nursing facilities, and long-term care centers, Keller said. We need to do everything we can to protect our most vulnerable populations, like our seniors and those with pre-existing conditions. I am proud of this bipartisan legislation that gives American families across our nation the peace of mind that their loved ones in long-term care are receiving the care they need to remain safe and healthy. Since the temporary nurse aide position was formally approved in the Commonwealth, more than 4,000 Pennsylvanians have completed the training program, and many have been hired to assist long-term care providers in their response to COVID-19, said Zach Shamberg, President and CEO of the Pennsylvania Healthcare Association. This legislation not only recognizes the heroic and compassionate work these caregivers have performed since the pandemic began, but also puts them on a path to full-time employment as certified nurse aides. We are grateful to both Congressman Keller and Congresswoman Wild for their bipartisan leadership and united approach in standing up for our long-term care providers and healthcare heroes on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic in Pennsylvania and throughout the country. Full text of this legislation is available HERE. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/caseys-bipartisan-rosie-the-riveter-congressional-gold-medal-act-signed-into-law,Casey’s Bipartisan Rosie the Riveter Congressional Gold Medal Act Signed Into Law,2020-12-04,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,PA,Bob Casey,C001070,www.casey.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. Yesterday, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA)'s bipartisan Rosie the Riveter Congressional Gold Medal Act was signed into law. This legislation honors American women who joined the workforce in support of the war effort during World War II by awarding them a Congressional Gold Medal. These Rosie the Riveters answered the Nation's call to action and learned new skills, many building the vehicles, weaponry and ammunitions that were critical to the war effort. Senator Casey led the effort along with U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) and U.S. Representatives Jackie Speier (D-CA-14) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-1). 76 senators co-sponsored the Senate bill, including every female senator. Millions of women helped support our troops during WWII, whether they worked on assembly lines, addressed the troops' medical needs or tended to ships and farms. These Rosie the Riveters' have set an example of the We Can Do It' spirit for decades, and this recognition of their tremendous service and patriotism is long overdue, said Senator Casey. I am glad to announce that the Rosie the Riveter Congressional Gold Medal Act is now law and I am grateful to my colleagues in the Senate and the House of Representatives for their partnership in moving this legislation forward. The percentage of women in the workforce jumped from 27 percent to nearly 37 percent between 1940 and 1945. By the end of the war, nearly one out of every four married women worked outside the home. These Rosie the Riveters' took positions across various industries, but the aviation industry saw the biggest increase of female workers with more than 310,000 working in the aircraft industry in 1943, representing 65 percent of its workforce.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://boyle.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/boyle-statement-support-marijuana-opportunity-reinvestment-and,BOYLE STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF THE MARIJUANA OPPORTUNITY REINVESTMENT AND EXPUNGEMENT (MORE) ACT OF 2020,2020-12-04,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,PA,Brendan F. Boyle,B001296,boyle.house.gov,boyle,https://boyle.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Congressman Brendan F. Boyle (PA-02) released the following statement after House passage of the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act of 2020. Congressman Boyle is a co-sponsor of the MORE Act, a bipartisan bill that decriminalizes marijuana at the federal level, while enabling states to set their own regulatory policies without threat of federal intervention. ""With a total of 47 states now having reformed their laws pertaining to marijuana use in one way or another, it is now time for Congress to take action at the federal level,"" Boyle said. This legislation will right the scales for people who have been imprisoned at a disproportionate rate for marijuana-related offenses; clear the way for patients to more readily obtain medical cannabis treatments; and ensure that the cannabis market will be an equal-opportunity industry moving forward."" The MORE Act takes long-overdue steps to address the devastating injustices of the criminalization of marijuana and the impact it has had on communities of color. The MORE Act would make three important changes to federal law: provide for the expungement of Federal marijuana convictions and arrests remove marijuana, or cannabis, from the list of federally controlled substances authorize the provision of resources, funded by an excise tax on marijuana, to address the needs of communities that have been seriously impacted by the War on Drugs, including increasing the participation of communities of color in the burgeoning cannabis market",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-28T00:42:23Z https://evans.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/evans-house-passes-landmark-cannabis-bill-more-act,"Evans: House Passes Landmark Cannabis Bill, the MORE Act",2020-12-04,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,PA,Dwight Evans,E000296,evans.house.gov,evans,https://evans.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON (Dec. 4, 2020) – Congressman Dwight Evans (PA-03) welcomed today's House passage of a landmark cannabis bill, the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act. The bill includes Evans' Homegrown Act, which would help small businesses and people of color share in the booming cannabis industry. ""The MORE Act is a jobs bill and a criminal justice reform bill,"" Evans said. ""And with the pandemic-fueled recession, America needs jobs! Legal cannabis sales totaled $9.5 billion in 2017 and are projected to reach $23 billion by 2022. Let's get the federal government out of the way by decriminalizing cannabis at the federal level."" Evans noted that four more states voted last month to outright legalize adult-use cannabis, bringing the total to 15 states, plus Washington, D.C., where legalization is in effect or is pending, as it is in New Jersey. To date, Pennsylvania has only legalized medical marijuana, in 2016. The federal government hasn't decriminalized cannabis or even allowed medical use, even though the laws of 36 states and Washington, D.C. allow medical use. The most recent Pew Research Center poll on the subject, released at the end of 2019, showed 67 percent support for marijuana legalization, up 5 percent from the year before. ""The federal government needs to catch up, and so does Pennsylvania. The MORE Act would represent real reform at the federal level,"" Evans said. ""The federal government criminalized marijuana in 1937 and has passed no significant reforms in the 83 years since. That's ridiculous. The MORE Act's decriminalization is a good place to start on reform."" According to the ACLU, enforcing cannabis prohibition laws costs taxpayers about $3.6 billion a year. The continued enforcement of these laws results in over 600,000 arrests a year. This has a disproportionately impact on people of color, who are almost four times more likely to be arrested for cannabis possession than their white counterparts, despite equal rates of use across populations. Evans said the MORE Act would make several important reforms: Remove marijuana, or cannabis, from the list of federally controlled substances; Authorize the provision of resources, funded by an excise tax on marijuana, to address the needs of communities that have been seriously impacted by the War on Drugs, including increasing the participation of communities of color in the booming cannabis market; and Provide for the expungement of federal marijuana convictions and arrests. The MORE Act would also establish an Opportunity Trust Fund to provide funding for: Services to individuals, including job training, reentry services and substance use disorder services; Loans to assist small businesses that are owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals; and Programs that minimize barriers to marijuana licensing and employment for individuals adversely impacted by the War on Drugs, including in states like Pennsylvania that currently have only legalized medical marijuana. This provision is because of the inclusion of Evans' Homegrown Act. ""The MORE Act would represent a major change once we can get it enacted into law, and I'm pleased the House has taken this important, bipartisan step that shows the bill can pass. The two-thirds of Americans who want these reforms should let their senators know. ""State laws like Pennsylvania's prohibition also need to be changed – hopefully legalization next door in New Jersey will show Harrisburg that the days of ‘reefer madness' need to end. Jobs and people's ability to live free of unnecessary criminal records are at stake."" Evans represents Pennsylvania's 3rd Congressional District, which includes Northwest and West Philadelphia and parts of North, South, Southwest and Center City Philadelphia. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-28T00:42:23Z https://lamb.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-lamb-statement-more-act,LAMB STATEMENT ON MORE ACT,2020-12-04,2020,2020-12,Democrat,Senate,PA,Conor Lamb,L000588,lamb.house.gov,,,legacy,"(WASHINGTON, DC) Representative Conor Lamb (PA-17) statement following the passage of the MORE Act: I support decriminalizing marijuana. It's a big, serious issue that needs to be done the right way. This is a small, non-serious bill that wasn't done the right way and will never be signed into law, regardless of who is President. And everyone knows that. This was an opportunity for people to say they voted to legalize marijuana' without doing any of the work to actually accomplish that. I hope we do take this up in a serious way in the future. For now I'm focused on the fact that an American is dying every minute, people are losing jobs and going broke, and we're in a recession. People say you can do two things at once' well, Congress usually can't even do one thing at once. Which is why we still haven't gotten a COVID relief deal. So maybe for now we should stay focused on the deadly, devastating health and economic crisis that's raging in every single one of our districts.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.casey.senate.gov/news/releases/caseys-bipartisan-rosie-the-riveter-congressional-gold-medal-act-signed-into-law,Caseys Bipartisan Rosie the Riveter Congressional Gold Medal Act Signed Into Law,2020-12-04,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,PA,Bob Casey,C001070,www.casey.senate.gov,,,legacy,,0,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://houlahan.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1910,RELEASE: Representative Houlahan Responds To Trump Administration’s Use Of Federal Troops Without ID By Securing Bipartisan Legislation To Require Clear and Recognizable Identification On Federal Authorities,2020-12-03,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,PA,Chrissy Houlahan,H001085,houlahan.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Today, Representative Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA)announced that the National Defense Authorization Act, the annual defense bill, includes her historic, bipartisan legislation to require greater transparency when Federal authorities are deployed in crisis situations. This bill, which was adopted unanimously to the House bill in June requires any law enforcement official deployed under the Insurrection Act to be clearly identified by name and agency. Recognizing the value in this bipartisan proposal, the final NDAA includes a requirement that any Federal law enforcement or military personnel who provides support to Federal authorities in response to a civil disturbance visibly display their agency and a unique identifier, like their name. Like many Americans, I was disturbed to see unidentified, uniformed personnel on our streets during protests this summer,said Houlahan.This is a huge victory for transparency and public safety, ensuring that civilians, law enforcement and military alike can identify who is who in a crisis situation. I'm proud to have led this effort in the House and thank the leadership of the Armed Services Committees for their work to ensure this important provision was included in the final bill. Representative Houlahan discussed these actions by the President onMSNBCback in June. Full videohere. Houlahan is an Air Force veteran, an engineer, a serial entrepreneur, an educator, and a nonprofit leader. She's in her first term representing Pennsylvania's 6th Congressional District, which encompasses Chester County and southern Berks County. She serves on the House Armed Services Committee, the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and the House Small Business Committee. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://medium.com/@repmgs/weekly-recap-what-you-might-have-missed-c06f036fc79d?source=rss-c2708a5a087------2,Weekly Recap: What You Might Have Missed,2020-11-30,2020,2020-11,Democrat,Senate,PA,Mary Scanlon,S001205,medium.com,,,legacy,"I hope you all had a restful and happy Thanksgiving! Thank you for doing your part during this difficult time to keep your loved ones and community safe. With two promising vaccines now moving towards approval, there is light at the end of the tunnel. But, we have some months to go before they are generally available. With cooler weather and holidays where we would ordinarily gather indoors with loved ones, we cannot let our guard down. Please. Wear a mask, maintain social distancing, wash your hands, and be safe. Here is how I spent the past week fighting for you: Spoke on the House floor about the impact of COVID-19 on communities of color More than 1 in 4 residents of PA05 is Black, and our communities have been devastated by the disparate impact of this virus. Each day that we don't deliver relief for families, businesses, local governments, and our frontline workers, the impact of this pandemic grows that much more disastrous and disproportionately so for communities of color. After 7 months of inaction, the Senate needs to come to the table to pass a relief bill. Listen here: https://twitter.com/repmgs/status/1329126591809646596?s=21 Observed Transgender Day of Remembrance by lifting up the names and stories of Black transgender women who faced violence this year in Philadelphia We've lost at least 36 transgender or gender non-conforming people to fatal violence motivated by anti-transgender bigotry. The intersections of employment, housing, and other forms of discrimination put too many transgender people, particularly transgender women of color, at risk. We cannot address this violence if we do not acknowledge it, so today, and every day, we must recommit ourselves to honor those lost, and the survivors, with action. Listen to my remarks here: https://twitter.com/repmgs/status/1329784005110206467?s=21 Voted to pass the National Apprenticeship Act Historically, apprenticeships made up the backbone of our vocational education programs, and unions and building trades have done amazing work to lead these efforts. I was proud to support the National Apprenticeship Act this week when it passed the House with bipartisan support. We cannot rebuild our economy without connecting the millions of Americans out of work with good paying jobs, and providing a way for young people to develop skills that will set them on viable career paths. This legislation will help employees prepare to meet jobs for the future. Saw Madelyn Kieh's beautiful portrait hung in the Capitol along with the other Pennsylvania winners of the Congressional Art Competition Madelyn Kieh, a senior at Penn Wood High School, won our 2020 Virtual Congressional Art Competition this past spring with her piece This is Me. Her beautiful self portrait will hold a position of honor in the halls of Congress for the next year. Read more about the competition here: https://link.medium.com/Fy0ABMABzbb Introduced Ending Bankruptcy Discrimination Act of 2020 As COVID-19 continues to spread rapidly throughout the country, Americans face a multitude of economic crises, including the prospect of a tidal wave of bankruptcies. Currently, private employers have the right to refuse employment to individuals who have filed for bankruptcy relief. While prospective government employees are protected from this form of discrimination, ambiguity in Section 525 of the U.S. bankruptcy code has left the courts to decide with respect to the private sector, resulting in these employers being allowed to refuse employment based on current or past bankruptcy status. As we navigate the challenges presented by the global health and economic crisis, we cannot allow private employers to discriminate based on bankruptcy status. Read more about my bill here: https://repmgs.medium.com/scanlon-fights-to-protect-bankruptcy-filers-from-employment-discrimination-with-new-bill-1619d08efc5d Met with Gun Violence Prevention Task Force On average, we lose 100 people to gun violence every day. This violence has become the second leading cause of death for children in this country. Our thoughts and prayers are not enough. We must mobilize all levels of government to act. The Congressional Task Force Met this week to begin mapping the policy path forward in the 117yh Congress. The US House has passed multiple gun violence prevention bills this term which the Senate has yet to consider. Last month, I introduced the Stop Online Fraudulent Sales of Firearms Act, a bill to prevent gun sellers from circumventing technology companies' terms of service by making it illegal to fraudulently sell firearms and ammunition online. This bill would make it illegal for gun sellers to circumvent websites' terms of service and continue the underground proliferation of firearms. It's part of a larger effort that needs to be taken to stop the plague of gun violence in our communities. Read more about my bill here: https://link.medium.com/pvl8JTPOzbb Launched the #PA5Heroes initiative As we all grapple with the serious challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, countless members of our community have stepped up to help those in need. From first responders and frontline workers to volunteers at food and clothing drives, to teachers navigating virtual classrooms, we are grateful for those who have gone above and beyond to meet the needs of our community. Do you know a local hero making a difference during this pandemic? Please nominate them here so that we can recognize them! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfxRVWhEeXsDvW382r84GbHV8dIzzJsBMCSNnodh4WwOtUkzA/viewform Met with the Irish Ambassador to discuss progress with respect to the Brexit negotiations in Ireland Delaware County is often called the 26th county of Ireland due to the large number of Irish immigrants and descendants who live in the region. More than one in four people in PA05 claim Irish descent, including myself. As a member of the Friends of Ireland Caucus, I keep current on issues affecting our Irish allies, particularly as the UK negotiates changes to their relationship under Brexit. I look forward to bringing Irish leaders to the district for discussions in the coming months. Spoke with local Girl Scouts working on civics and government badges This week, I had the opportunity to meet virtually with Girl Scout Troop 566 from Drexel Hill and participate in a virtual town hall with Girl Scouts participating in Scout Days at the National Constitution Center. These young leaders of tomorrow had great questions about government service and the process of running for office.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://boyle.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/boyle-introduces-bill-ban-rubber-bullets,Boyle Introduces Bill to Ban Rubber Bullets,2020-11-27,2020,2020-11,Democrat,House,PA,Brendan F. Boyle,B001296,boyle.house.gov,boyle,https://boyle.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"November 27, 2020 WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Brendan Boyle (PA-02) introduced legislation to prevent the use of non-lethal (rubber or plastic) bullets in crowd control situations. Congressman Boyle's legislation would also incentivize individual states to enact similar public safety measures regarding non-lethal bullets. As a 2017 study from the National Institutes of Health shows, these bullets can most definitely be lethal: Out of 1,984 people shot by non-lethal bullets between 1990 and 2017, 53 of them died from their injuries. ""Rubber bullets must be treated like any other lethal ammunition,"" said Congressman Boyle. ""The right to protest, which is guaranteed under the First Amendment of the Constitution, is essential to a free and fair democracy. Both rubber bullets and plastic bullets were invented by British forces for crowd control in the North of Ireland. This is not the example law enforcement should be following in any official policy or procedures involving crowd control. In addition, numerous human rights organizations have demanded a ban on rubber bullets as a result of the numerous deaths they have caused."" This legislation would prevent federal law enforcement officers from using rubber bullets in crowd control situations. It would also create incentives for states to create similar bans and would prohibit law enforcement from firing into crowd-control situations using non-lethal bullets like: • Rubber bullets • Plastic bullets • Bullets with metal core • Bullets made with hardened foam • Beanbag bullets • Sponge bullets Congressman Boyle's legislation would also require law enforcement to document when they use non-lethal bullets. Nothing in this act should be construed as permitting or encouraging law enforcement to use any other type of bullet in crowd control situations ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-28T00:39:51Z https://cartwright.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cartwright-announces-nearly-5-million-for-early-childhood-education-in,Cartwright Announces Nearly $5 Million for Early Childhood Education in Luzerne County,2020-11-27,2020,2020-11,Democrat,Senate,PA,Matt Cartwright,C001090,cartwright.house.gov,,,legacy,"Wilkes-Barre, PA Today, U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright (PA-08) announced that Luzerne County Head Start received $4,897,038 in federal funds from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. These funds will be used for the continuation of high quality, comprehensive, early childhood education for children in Luzerne and Wyoming Counties. This grant is an investment in our children the future of our country. Early childhood learning is vital to strengthening our economy and our country,said Rep. Cartwright,a member of the Appropriations Committee. I applaud Luzerne County Head Start on receiving this award and their dedication to enhancing the quality of life for children and families in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Head Start programs provide children with education services focused on early learning, health and family well-being. These programs promote children's growth and development and give parents an opportunity to become actively engaged in their child's education. Head Start and Early Head Start have served over 36 million children, providing them with the skills they need to succeed in school and in their lives. Head Start services are funded and overseen by The Office of Head Start (OHS), within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), a division of the Department of Health & Human Services.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/casey-statement-on-pa-reaching-10000-covid-19-deaths,"Casey Statement on PA Reaching 10,000 COVID-19 Deaths",2020-11-25,2020,2020-11,Democrat,Senate,PA,Bob Casey,C001070,www.casey.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Scranton, PA Today, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) released the following statement as Pennsylvania surpassed 10,000 COVID-19 deaths: COVID-19 has reached every corner of our Nation and every county in our Commonwealth. Today, I am thinking about the 10,000 Pennsylvanians who have lost their lives to this virus, and all those who loved them. We mourn for those we have lost and pray for those still suffering, as well as for their friends and families who are grieving. Pennsylvanians, especially our frontline health care workers, have been fighting this relentless pandemic for more than eight months. COVID-19 has now claimed the lives of more than 10,000 Pennsylvanians, and over a quarter of a million Americans. We are now seeing the largest wave of cases to date, and I am saddened to know that there will be more deaths in the weeks to come. It is critical that we all follow the guidance from public health authorities to stay home, wear a mask and avoid gatherings with people outside our families, in order to protect each other and do our part to stop the spread of this vicious virus. Furthermore, it is past time for Senate Republicans to work with Democrats, including the incoming Biden Administration, on robust legislation to provide states and the health care system with the resources they need to mitigate the spread of the virus. We must work together for the health and safety of the American people to protect frontline workers, implement a national testing strategy, advise people across all states to wear a mask and safeguard the seniors, people with disabilities and workers in nursing homes and other long-term care settings, who are among those put most at risk amid the pandemic. We must secure resources for state and local officials who are desperately in need of more resources and logistical support to prepare for vaccine distribution. Elected officials owe much more than condolences to the people who entrusted us with public office. The time to act is long overdue, and we cannot waste another day. We must mitigate the spread of this virus and prevent further senseless tragedy. It is far past time for Senate Republicans to get serious about saving lives.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.casey.senate.gov/news/releases/casey-statement-on-pa-reaching-10000-covid-19-deaths,"Casey Statement on PA Reaching 10,000 COVID-19 Deaths",2020-11-25,2020,2020-11,Democrat,House,PA,Bob Casey,C001070,www.casey.senate.gov,,,legacy,,0,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://medium.com/@repmgs/open-enrollment-information-adc512872fb?source=rss-c2708a5a087------2,Securing Health Insurance Coverage During the Open Enrollment Period,2020-11-24,2020,2020-11,Democrat,Senate,PA,Mary Scanlon,S001205,medium.com,,,legacy,"As we continue to grapple with this public health crisis, it has never been more clear that access to healthcare is crucial to ensuring our health and safety. I wanted to reach out to make sure you had all the resources you need to secure health insurance coverage during the open enrollment period. There are several ways to obtain coverage: Between now and December 15, you can visit healthcare.gov to review your options, make changes to your current plan, or sign up for a new plan on the healthcare marketplace. Coverage begins on January 1, 2021. For PA residents, you can also choose to enroll through Pennie, the state health insurance network, between now and January 15. Visit pennie.com to easily compare health insurance options, and then shop for the plan that is best for you. Our office is here to help. Our office can act as a liaison between constituents and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) to assist with issues related to Medicare part A, B, C, and D. We can inquire about Issues related to a beneficiary having problems with Original Medicare (fee-for-service) including, claims payment, coordination of benefits, and also Medicare as a secondary payer. If constituents are Issues related to a beneficiary having problems with a Medicare Advantage plan or Medicare prescription drug plan our office can also inquire about resolving those issues. We are able to assist with enrollment and eligibility, however, that is handled by the Social Security Administration. For individuals who are serviced through the Marketplace Health Insurance, initial contact should first be directed to the Marketplace Call Center at 8003182596 to verify enrollment. If issues persist, our office can send an inquiry to follow up as well. To sign up/ change your Medicare plan https://www.medicare.gov/sign-up-change-plans. If you have any questions about this information, don't hesitate to reach out to our office. Give us a call at 6106262020 or visit us at scanlon.house.gov.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://medium.com/@repmgs/scanlon-fights-to-protect-bankruptcy-filers-from-employment-discrimination-with-new-bill-1619d08efc5d?source=rss-c2708a5a087------2,Scanlon Fights to Protect Bankruptcy Filers From Employment Discrimination with New Bill,2020-11-24,2020,2020-11,Democrat,Senate,PA,Mary Scanlon,S001205,medium.com,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Today, Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05) introduced the Ending Bankruptcy Discrimination Act of 2020 to protect bankruptcy filers from employment discrimination, a bill co-sponsored by House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler (NY-10) and Congressman David Cicilline (RI-01). As COVID-19 continues to spread rapidly throughout the country, Americans face a multitude of economic crises, including the prospect of a tidal wave of bankruptcies. Currently, private employers have the right to refuse employment to individuals who have filed for bankruptcy relief. While prospective government employees are protected from this form of discrimination, ambiguity in Section 525 of the U.S. bankruptcy code has left the courts to decide with respect to the private sector, resulting in these employers being allowed to refuse employment based on current or past bankruptcy status. As we navigate the challenges presented by the global health and economic crisis, we cannot allow private employers to discriminate based on bankruptcy status, Congresswoman Scanlon said. We must do everything we can to ensure our families are not prevented from accessing employment. The Ending Bankruptcy Discrimination Act of 2020 will clarify that private employees are protected from discrimination based on their current and/or past bankruptcy status, extending the same rights afforded to prospective government employees to individuals in the private sector. This critical legislation is endorsed by the National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) and the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys (NACBA). A copy of the bill can be found here: https://scanlon.house.gov/UploadedFiles/Ending_Bankruptcy_Discrimination_Act_of_2020.pdf",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://houlahan.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1898,Houlahan Pushes Forward In Fight Against Opioid Epidemic,2020-11-23,2020,2020-11,Democrat,House,PA,Chrissy Houlahan,H001085,houlahan.house.gov,,,legacy,"Houlahan Pushes Forward In Fight Against Opioid Epidemic WASHINGTON Representative Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA)helped pass two crucial pieces of legislation this week H.R. 7990, the FENTANYL Results Act andH.R. 2466, the State Opioid Response Grant Authorization Act of 2020 which will work towards her goal of ending the opioid epidemic in Pennsylvania and across the country. Unfortunately, the opioid crisis has intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic, with many states reporting increases in overdoses and opioid-related deaths. As our community faces a historic and unprecedented public health and economic crisis, we must remember that we are still in the midst of battling an opioid epidemic that has touched far too many lives and families in our community,said Houlahan.These bipartisan bills mark an important step towards addressing this crisis and meeting the needs of affected Pennsylvanians. I will continue to work in Congress and with our health care experts to support those who are suffering from substance abuse. We must collectively work to end this epidemic. At a time when COVID-19 has caused so many things to be paused, it is critical that we keep sight on ending the opioid epidemic,said Bonnie Triebig, MS, Clinical Director, Berks Counseling Center. Legislation, such as H.R. 7990 and H.R. 2466, is an important step in accomplishing that goal. Those of us on the front lines of the opioid epidemic know that we must continue to fight, even as COVID-19 pulls focus and adds an added layer of barriers to accessing care and maintaining the safety of our clients and staff. We continue to be grateful to US Representative Chrissy Houlahan for her efforts and dedication to this important issue. In May of 2019, Representative Houlahan and Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro met with health care providers and community leaders on the front lines of the opioid epidemic in Reading, PA where she announced her support for H.R. 2466. The opioid, heroin, and fentanyl epidemic claims the lives of twelve Pennsylvanians every day and our communities are struggling to address this important health crisis,said Shapiro.These bills provide important resources in Pennsylvania and across the country to address the opioid epidemic by helping shut down the sources of these drugs and making it possible for individuals struggling with addiction to get the help that they need. I'm thankful for the work of Representative Houlahan and the bipartisan coalition in the House for getting critical legislation passed. About the legislation: The FENTANYL Results Act helps to combat the international trafficking of fentanyl, similar synthetic drugs, and new psychoactive substances, including by increasing collaboration with the international community via shared anti-trafficking initiatives and capacity building measures. The State Opioid Response Grant Authorization Act of 2020 authorizes the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) State Opioid Response Grants program to align with the grant authority provided through the 21st Century Cures Act. The grant program is authorized through FY 2026. Houlahan is an Air Force veteran, an engineer, a serial entrepreneur, an educator, and a nonprofit leader. She's in her first term representing Pennsylvania's 6th Congressional District, which encompasses Chester County and southern Berks County. She serves on the House Armed Services Committee, the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and the House Small Business Committee. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/casey-booker-call-on-trump-administration-to-halt-deportation-of-vulnerable-migrant-children-in-family-detention-,"Casey, Booker Call on Trump Administration to Halt Deportation of Vulnerable Migrant Children in Family Detention",2020-11-21,2020,2020-11,Democrat,Senate,PA,Bob Casey,C001070,www.casey.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) called on the Trump Administration to halt the planned deportation of vulnerable migrant children and their parents held at the Berks Family Residential Center and the South Texas Residential Center. Despite having U.S. sponsors willing to take them in and not having had a fair chance to present their cases for asylum, the Trump Administration has held them in detention and is seeking to deport them into danger. In their letter, Senators Casey and Booker highlighted the voices of the immigrant children and made the case that sending them and their families back to the countries they fled would be tantamount to a death sentence. The Senators wrote, These families fled unspeakable violence in their home countries. For many of these children, deportation is tantamount to a death sentenceWith more pressing issues facing ICE and the need to spend our limited federal resources wisely, there are more cost effective and humane approaches to this situation than family detention. We urge you to release these families to their sponsors and allow them a fair hearing of their case. The full text of the letter can be seen below: November 20, 2020 The Honorable Chad F. Wolf Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Washington, DC 20528 Dear Acting Secretary Wolf: We write to urge you to stay the removals of twenty eight children and their families detained at the Berks County Residential Center (BCRC) in Leesport, Pennsylvania and at the South Texas Family Residential Center (STFRC) in Dilley, Texas, immediately release them from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody, and allow them the opportunity to present their claim for asylum or related relief. These families fled unspeakable violence in their home countries. For many of these children, deportation is tantamount to a death sentence. This group of children includes a 15-year-old girl who fled Honduras after gang members tried to torture, rape, and murder her; a 14-year-old boy who fled Guatemala after surviving physical beatings and human trafficking; a three-year-old boy who was ripped from his mother's arms and held captive by gang members who threatened to murder him in El Salvador; a 16-year-old girl who was stripped naked and cut with a knife by gang members in El Salvador; a seven-year-old boy who received death threats in Guatemala due to his indigenous ethnicity; and a four-year-old girl whose father was murdered in Honduras. After fleeing their homes to seek protection in the United States, many of these families have been subjected to prolonged detention, in some cases for well over a year. Below, we have included excerpts in their own words, but we urge you to read the attached letters from several of the children. Katherin, 14-years-old: I don't have the warmth of family anymore, I feel alone and sad because of everything that has happened in this place. I see so many people who arrive and leave and my mom and I remain here detained. Our lives are also in danger because of so many people who are infected with COVID-19. It hurts me to see that many kids like me are locked up even more because of COVID-19. They spend more time locked up in their rooms. Please, I implore you, I beg you, help us leave this place as soon as possible. I don't want to spend another Christmas locked up here. Marjorie, 9-years-old: In these simple words, [I ask] that you help my mom and me to leave and be able to reunite with my family in Los Angeles California. Please I don't want to spend another Christmas or another birthday in this place without being able to play freely and with the fear of being deported. I ask you to know and understand our suffering, we have been locked up here for so long. Jhoselyn, 11-years-old and his sisters Zoe, 8 and Emily, 6: We have been locked up here for 11 months already, we spent our birthdays here and it's very hard. We don't want to spend Christmas locked up here in this center. We can't play freely or run because the guards yell at us not to. I can't stand it anymore and I cry a lot Please, I don't want them to separate us. My sisters and I can't go back to Ecuador either. Ashlee, 13-years-old: I live with my mom and my 5 year old sister Camila, they are all I have I don't understand why life isn't fair. We need to continue our lives as young people, study and be good people for society. Hopefully you will be able to understand and comprehend, or at least imagine how hard it is to be here for so long and they don't let us leave. May God touch your hearts and have the authority to help us and get us out of here together as one whole family. God bless your lives. What my family and I have lived here I don't wish on your children nor on any child or young person. Juan David, 11-years-old: I am detained with my mom. The 27th of this month, we will complete 15 months of detention. They asked me why I am afraid to return to my country. I'm afraid that the gangsters will hurt me, that they will kill me and my mom. That's why I ask God to soften the hearts of the asylum officers and that I can go live with my aunt and uncle in New York I want to have a normal life, make friends, go to a normal school, be with my family, living a normal life. Here, I always have a headache and anxiety. Neydi, 10-years-old: I don't remember much about my country anymore but when they threatened us a lot my mom brought me to the U.S. so that nothing would happen to me. But now we have been locked up for 14 months in this South Texas jail and I don't want to be here for another Christmas, in this place where we can't play freely. Please help me and my mom to leave this place and be able to spend Christmas with my family in North Carolina. Estuardo, 14-years-old: I have been jailed here for 13 months together with my mom. I hope that whoever this letter reaches is having a good time and in good health, and that you can help us to leave this place as soon as possible because here there have been too many injustices against us. When I came here they told me that the longest I would be here was 20 days but we have now been here for 13 months without a single good answer I am a calm and humble boy and I have hope in God that I will have the opportunity to stay in this country because we have suffered a lot in Guatemala. We can't go back Each of the detained children have similar stories to these. They fled violence to seek refuge only to be placed in detention. In the interest of justice, these families should be released from custody, issued Notices to Appear before an immigration court and be given a full and fair opportunity to put forth their case. With more pressing issues facing ICE and the need to spend our limited federal resources wisely, there are more cost effective and humane approaches to this situation than family detention. We urge you to release these families to their sponsors and allow them a fair hearing of their case. We appreciate your attention in this matter and look forward to a prompt response. Sincerely, Robert P. Casey, Jr Cory Booker United States Senator United States Senator ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.casey.senate.gov/news/releases/casey-booker-call-on-trump-administration-to-halt-deportation-of-vulnerable-migrant-children-in-family-detention-,"Casey, Booker Call on Trump Administration to Halt Deportation of Vulnerable Migrant Children in Family Detention",2020-11-21,2020,2020-11,Democrat,House,PA,Bob Casey,C001070,www.casey.senate.gov,,,legacy,,0,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/casey-and-colleagues-call-on-gsa-administrator-to-end-unprecedented-delay_provide-critical-transition-resources-to-president-elect-biden,Casey & Colleagues Call on GSA Administrator to End Unprecedented Delay & Provide Critical Transition Resources to President-Elect Biden,2020-11-20,2020,2020-11,Democrat,Senate,PA,Bob Casey,C001070,www.casey.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) joined U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and their colleagues in calling on General Services Administration (GSA) Administrator Emily Murphy to end her unprecedented delay, immediately ascertain Vice President Joe Biden as President-elect and Senator Kamala Harris as Vice President-elect and make available the transition resources that are provided by law. This delay creates unacceptable risks to national security and Coronavirus pandemic response efforts as the United States passed more than 250,000 deaths. The United States is in the midst of a pandemic that has now claimed over 250,000 lives, with the number of new cases rising daily. Our country also faces a number of ongoing threats, including physical and cyber attacks from foreign actors, violence from domestic extremists, and natural disasters such as wildfires and hurricanes, wrote the Senators. The GSA Administrator's ascertainment of a President-elect is also critical for agencies' willingness to share information with the transition team, including classified information, as well as for the expeditious processing of security clearances for candidates for high-level national security positions. Your delay in acknowledging Vice President Biden's status as President-elect could undermine efforts by the incoming Administration to meet the needs of the American people in a time of national emergency, continued the Senators. Under the Presidential Transition Act, GSA is charged with providing resources and support to the President-elect and Vice President-elect so they can be ready to govern from Day One. Administrator Murphy must complete the ascertainment process to allow the President-elect's transition team to receive needed information from agency officials at public health and national security agencies, ensure incoming national security officials can receive background checks and access to classified information and provide federal funding and resources to support the transition process. A smooth and efficient transition is one of the hallmarks of American democracy. With the exception of the Presidential election in 2000 and the resulting recount, ascertainment by GSA normally happens within a day after a winner is declared, including in 2008 and 2016. The bipartisan 9/11 Commission found that the shortened transition following the 2000 recount created serious vulnerabilities, including delays related to key national security appointments. Joining Senators Casey and Peters in sending the letter were U.S. Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Tom Carper (D-DE), Jack Reed (D-RI), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Chris Coons (D-DE), Ed Markey (D-MA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Tina Smith (D-MN), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Tom Udall (D-NM), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Patty Murray (D-WA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Mark Warner (D-VA), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Jon Tester (D-MT), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Doug Jones (D-AL). Read the letter to the GSA Administrator here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://lamb.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-bill-create-one-million-aprenticeship-opportunities,HOUSE BILL TO CREATE ONE MILLION APPRENTICESHIP OPPORTUNITIES,2020-11-20,2020,2020-11,Democrat,Senate,PA,Conor Lamb,L000588,lamb.house.gov,,,legacy,"(WASHINGTON, DC) Today, the House passed the National Apprenticeship Act of 2020 (H.R. 8294) on a bipartisan basis to reauthorize national registered apprenticeship programs and expand access to high-quality apprenticeships to create nearly one million new apprenticeship opportunities. The bill included a bipartisan amendment from Representative Conor Lamb (PA-17) and Representative Van Taylor (TX-03) to include veterans in the national apprenticeship system. Apprenticeships connect workers with good jobs in my District, said Lamb. My bipartisan amendment requires that the bill includes veterans to ensure that they can take advantage of apprenticeships. This legislation will immediately help people who lost jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), 94 percent of people who complete registered apprenticeship programs are employed upon completion. However, apprenticeships today only make up a small percentage of the overall workforce. H.R. 8294 creates a critical bridge to apprenticeship opportunities by authorizing the DOL to award grants to state workforce agencies, local workforce development boards, education and training providers, labor unions and other eligible entities to grow registered apprenticeships, youth apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships. Prior to final passage the House adopted an amendment sponsored by Lamb and Taylor to utilize veteran service organizations (VSOs) to help promote and raise awareness about apprenticeship opportunities. Furthermore, the amendment includes the status of veterans as one of the demographic identifiers to better understand veteran participation in apprenticeship programs. Tracking veteran involvement in apprenticeship programs will also better equip program providers to ensure veterans are accessing their education benefits. This legislation is supported by the Union Veterans Council, American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE), Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), Jobs for the Future (JFF), Laborers' International Union of North America (LiUNA), National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), National Skills Coalition (NSC), National Taskforce on Tradeswomen's Issues (TWTF), North America's Building Trades Unions (NABTU), National Urban League, and Third Way. Visit Lamb's website to see him speak on the House floor in support of his amendment, and click here to learn more about the National Apprenticeship Act of 2020. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://wild.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-wild-votes-pass-national-apprenticeship-act,Rep. Wild Votes to Pass National Apprenticeship Act,2020-11-20,2020,2020-11,Democrat,House,PA,Susan Wild,W000826,wild.house.gov,,,legacy,"Watch Rep. Wild's full speech. WASHINGTON Today, U.S. Representative Susan Wild (PA-07) voted to pass H.R. 8294, the National Apprenticeship Act of 2020 through the House of Representatives. As our nation faces the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, the legislation would invest more than $3.5 billion over five years to create nearly 1 million additional apprenticeship opportunities. Registered Apprenticeships which provide apprentices with paid, on-the-job training are the nation's most successful federal workforce training program. COVID-19 has exposed shortcomings in our workforce infrastructure but it shouldn't take a recession or a pandemic to invest in our workers right here in the Greater Lehigh Valley, Wild said. This critical legislation resets our approach and makes necessary investments in our workforce regardless of our economic fortunes or misfortunes, and provides our workers with the opportunity to earn while they learn and obtain portable credentials without incurring significant debt. Expanding access to apprenticeship opportunities will connect workers with stable, good-paying jobs, and accelerate our economic recovery. According to the Department of Labor, 94 percent of people who complete Registered Apprenticeships are employed upon completion, earning an average starting wage of more than $70,000 annually. Investments in apprenticeships not only pay off for workers and employers, they also benefit taxpayers. For every dollar invested in our Registered Apprenticeship system, we see a return of $28 in benefits. The National Apprenticeship Act of 2020 would yield $10.6 billion in net benefits to U.S. taxpayers in the form of increased tax revenue and decreased spending on public-assistance programs and unemployment insurance. Apprenticeships in general are considered to be the newest pathways to a Gold Collar job that must begin within our educational system, said Nancy Dischinat, Executive Director of Workforce Board Lehigh Valley. The Workforce Board Lehigh Valley is looking to develop an Apprenticeship Pathway with our Lehigh Valley high school leadership. In July, Wild introduced the bipartisan Early Educators Apprenticeship Act, to simultaneously help meet the demand for early childhood educators while helping empower Americans to return to the workplace and find new career opportunities. The National Apprenticeship Act echoes this effort and emphasizes the importance of apprenticeship programs for high-need social service occupations. A section-by-section of the bill is available HERE. Full text of the bill is available HERE. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.casey.senate.gov/news/releases/casey-and-colleagues-call-on-gsa-administrator-to-end-unprecedented-delay-provide-critical-transition-resources-to-president-elect-biden,Casey & Colleagues Call on GSA Administrator to End Unprecedented Delay & Provide Critical Transition Resources to President-Elect Biden,2020-11-20,2020,2020-11,Democrat,House,PA,Bob Casey,C001070,www.casey.senate.gov,,,legacy,,0,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://cartwright.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cartwright-re-elected-to-second-term-in-house-democratic-leadership,Cartwright Re-Elected to Second Term in House Democratic Leadership,2020-11-19,2020,2020-11,Democrat,Senate,PA,Matt Cartwright,C001090,cartwright.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright (PA-08) today was re-elected by his Democratic colleagues to serve a second term as a co-chair of the House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee (DPCC). With the elimination of the DPCC chair position, Cartwright's re-election as co-chair elevates him from ninth to eighth-highest ranking member of the House Democratic Caucus. I'm happy to move up a rung in the House Leadership team, and I'm grateful to my colleagues for again placing their confidence in me to help shape and deliver our Caucus's message in the 117th Congress, Cartwright said. The story of Northeastern Pennsylvania is the story of so many places across America. We have a proud working-class industrial heritage, and we've endured our share of economic hardship. This perspective is just one of many that makes up our diverse party. Through DPCC, I will continue working to ensure it is represented as we set an agenda to lift up all Americans. Cartwright was re-elected to DPCC alongside U.S. Reps. Debbie Dingell (MI-12) and Ted Lieu (CA-33). U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse (CO-02) was elected to his first term as a DPCC co-chair. The DPCC is tasked with developing a Caucus-wide message that forcefully communicates where House Democrats stand, that resonates with hardworking Americans, and that presents a sharp contrast to House Republicans' special interest-first agenda.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://medium.com/@repmgs/district-week-recap-what-you-might-have-missed-42aa16fa4302?source=rss-c2708a5a087------2,District Week Recap: What You Might Have Missed,2020-11-19,2020,2020-11,Democrat,Senate,PA,Mary Scanlon,S001205,medium.com,,,legacy,"In the most challenging of times, our electoral system worked as it is supposed to, allowing the will of the American people to be heard safely and securely, as confirmed by state and local election officials and national security leadership. More Americans participated in this year's election than ever before, and made their voices heard loud and clear by electing President-elect Joe Biden with a historic margin of victory. The President's unwillingness to accept the results of this election, with no evidence of wrongdoing, is deeply disappointing, although perhaps not surprising. Regardless of the outcome of elections, we as public servants have a responsibility to defend our democratic processes and to respect the wishes of the American people. To the families who call PA-5 home, thank you for putting your faith in me. It is the honor of a lifetime to fight for you in Congress. We have a lot of work ahead of us as we continue to confront COVID-19 and fight for a more equitable and just world. But I'm ready to continue this work. Here's how I spent this most recent week back in the district fighting for you. Celebrated Veterans Day with Media's Virtual Veteran's Day Parade It was an honor to join the brave men and women of our district for Delaware County's 61st annual Veterans Day paradeand the first ever virtual parade. It was a day of gratitude for all of our nation's veterans that have proudly served our country and kept us safe in conflicts and wars around the world. I'd like to specially thank Mayor Bob McMahon and the parade committee for organizing this year's event. Bob has served Media for almost 40 years and has always acted to make sure those who served our country are cared for. Bob is a husband, father, grandfather, and decorated Vietnam War veteran, and I would again like to recognize him for his commitment to service, his family, and our community. I come from a proud family of veterans. My father was just 17 when he joined the United States Marine Corps during World War Two. My sister served our country as well, as did numerous aunts and uncles. They volunteered to serve our country out of a sense of pride, honor, and responsibility to protect our nation and our allies. I couldn't be prouder to come from a family of servicemembers, and their sacrifices paved the way for me to serve in Congress today. Watch the ceremony here: https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=kM13HuDacGE Col. Karen Lloyd from the Library of Congress joined me to discuss the Veterans History Project. Our nation's veterans deserve more than our gratitude. Their stories, triumphs, challenges, and sacrifices are a part of America's story. We must work to ensure that they, and their families, have the resources they need to thrive. I was proud to join Col. Karen Lloyd, current director of the Veterans History Project at the Library of Congress to discuss her work sharing the stories of our nation's veterans. Listen to our conversation here: https://www.facebook.com/RepMGS/videos/361882498410729/ Met with Mental Health Professionals to Discuss Ways to Include Them in Emergency Response Teams In the wake of the shooting of Walter Wallace, Jr. by police, attention has focused on the lack of mental health resources that might have produced a different outcome. I met with West Philadelphia Consortium, a mental health nonprofit which had provided services to Walter Wallace, Jr. and has sought to forge connections with police, to hear their ideas for reform. Read more here: https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia/walter-wallace-philadelphia-mental-health-20201029.html Visited the former PES refinery site I had the opportunity to return to the PES refinery site to learn about Hilco's plans to clean up the site and transition to a sustainable future. I'm looking forward to seeing how this project progresses. Joined Zerlina Maxwell to discuss counting every vote and President Trump's frivolous lawsuits If there were a legal basis for his claims of electoral misconduct, the Trump campaign. wouldn't keep getting thrown out of court. These claims are baseless and a continuation of the outgoing president's playbook: deflect and distract. Mitch McConnell has tried to excuse the President's refusal to concede an election that he clearly lost, by saying that the President as a candidate has the right to contest the election. What McConnell fails to acknowledge is the yawning gulf between having a right and doing the right thing. The President has a sacred obligation to protect and defend our Constitution and laws, and he demeans himself and the office by filing frivolous lawsuits seeking to undermine the clear electoral result. Listen to my interview here: https://twitter.com/ZerlinaShow/status/1324875901574713345 Met with our Congressional Youth Cabinet Our youth cabinet, a group of high school juniors and seniors from across the district interested in government and policy held our second (virtual) meeting of the year. Naturally, conversation centered around the recent election and we had a lively discussion of possible electoral reforms, including ranked choice voting, electoral college reform, public financing of campaigns, and mail in ballots. We also started a conversation about potential service projects. Joined Schoolhouse Senior Center for Coffee and Conversation on the Porch For the past two years I have joined the seniors at Schoolhouse Senior Center in November for a breakfast discussion of current issues. This year, we continued the tradition on a fine fall day by meeting on the porch so we could observe social distance and covid guidelines. Joined Wawa and USO to deliver a taste of home to our troops For the last ten years, Wawa has partnered with the USO to provide care packages for our troops overseas. I was happy to join themand the Wawa goose!to help deliver a small taste of home and recognize the public service and courage of our service members on deployment. Visited Delaware County's drive thru food collection drive at Ridley High School",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://wild.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-wild-guthrie-introduce-bipartisan-bicameral-resolution-designating,"Reps. Wild, Guthrie Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Resolution Designating November National College Application Month",2020-11-19,2020,2020-11,Democrat,House,PA,Susan Wild,W000826,wild.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Today, U.S. Representatives Susan Wild (D-PA) and Brett Guthrie (R-KY) introduced a resolution designating November as National College Application Month. As COVID-19 continues to complicate high school seniors' and others' assessment of their educational plans with fewer students applying to college and completing the FAFSA when compared to a year ago, this bipartisan effort is intended to bolster the work of college-going advocacy groups across the country working with students to help them identify their college options and move through the process. A companion resolution was also introduced in the Senate by U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-DE) and Tim Scott (R-SC). We have an obligation to keep a high-quality education within reach for each and every student and that starts with ensuring students and families have access to the important information on the college admissions process, know about the opportunities our excellent community colleges and two-year colleges in PA-07 provide, the value of an advanced degree, and costs so they can make decisions that are right for them, Wild said. This academic year comes with so many unprecedented challenges for our high school seniors and those looking to pursue higher education, so it could not be more important to support the work being done virtually or otherwise to help guide our students through the college process. I am proud to co-sponsor this resolution that will help shed light on the higher education application process, Guthrie said. As a member of the House Education and Labor Committee, I continue to encourage all youth to explore ways that they can further their education. I enjoyed working with Congresswoman Wild as well as my colleagues Senator Coons and Senator Scott to designate November as National College Application Month. Even amidst all the challenges of this year, it's important that all of us continue to dream big about the future. If you are a high school senior or someone thinking about returning to school, now is the time to apply and to learn more about your options, Coons said. I'm excited to work with my colleagues to recognize everyone undertaking that project this month and look forward to celebrating your plans come spring. The American College Application Campaign (ACAC), an initiative of ACT's Center for Equity in Learning, National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), and Reach Higher have spoken in support of the resolution. November is a perfect time for students, parents, and educators to focus on moving ahead with college applications, said ACAC Director Lisa Sommer King. While we've had many disruptions in our lives, the congressional resolutions and the support from our allies in this work shows that we're coming together to remind students especially Black, Native American, Latinx, and first-generation students that planning for the future must go on, even during the current challenges. Applying to college should be a fundamentally student-centered process, said Angel B. Prez, CEO, NACAC. Congressional recognition of the significance of the college application process helps raise awareness of the promise of higher education, the disparities in equitable access to college, and the supports needed to ensure that students can make successful transitions. Education is the single most important investment one can make for their future and it gives you the opportunity to meet people with different backgrounds and open your mind to critical thinking, said Stephanie Owens, director of programming, Reach Higher at the Common App. The three organizations stress the need for school districts and community members to talk to students about the importance of education beyond high school, to organize activities whether in person or virtual to support students through the college-going process, to celebrate the important milestones for the Class of 2021 like applying to college or filling out the FAFSA, and to provide a sense of normalcy amid uncertainty. Read the full resolution HERE. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://dean.house.gov/2020/11/house-unanimously-passes-hr-4712-fairness-orphan-drug-exclusivity-act,House Unanimously Passes The Fairness in Orphan Drug Exclusivity Act,2020-11-18,2020,2020-11,Democrat,House,PA,Madeleine Dean,D000631,dean.house.gov,dean,https://dean.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, the House voted unanimously passed H.R. 4712, the Fairness in Orphan Drug Exclusivity Act. The bipartisan bill introduced by Rep. Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Marc Veasey (TX-33), Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (GA-01), and David McKinley (WV-01), closes a loophole that blocks pharmaceutical competition and prevents innovative treatments for opioid use disorder from coming to market. “The Fairness in Orphan Drug Exclusivity Act will create more treatment options for patients and providers, boost competition in the marketplace, and drive down the cost of new medicines,” Rep. Dean said. “Thank you to my bipartisan colleagues for supporting this legislation. I am hopeful it will help save some struggling with opioid use disorders.” Background For decades, The Orphan Drug Act of 1983 has provided incentives for prescription drug manufacturers to develop products to treat rare diseases — including an exclusive seven-year marketing right for therapies that receive an orphan drug indication. For a drug to qualify for orphan designation, certain criteria must be met: The disease or condition for which the drug is intended affects fewer than 200,000 people in the United States; or For diseases or conditions affecting 200,000 or more people, there is no reasonable expectation that costs of research and development (R&D) of the drug can be recovered through sales. Because opioid use disorder affects millions of Americans, the first criterion does not apply to new opioid medications. However, a loophole allows manufacturers to obtain seven-year market exclusivity under the second criterion by “piggybacking” on the orphan drug status of an older drug – even though they expect to easily recoup their R&D costs on the new version. This loophole is now being used to block new therapies from coming to the market that could aid in the opioid epidemic. The Fairness in Orphan Drug Exclusivity Act would close this loophole by making a minor update to the Orphan Drug Act – requiring all drugs that obtain seven years of market exclusivity under the second criterion to show that they have no reasonable expectation of recovering R&D costs through sales in the United States. The Fairness in Orphan Drug Exclusivity Act is supported by AIDS United, Aimed Alliance, Young People in Recovery, No More ODs – The Savannah Harm Reduction Coalition, A Mother’s Addiction Journey. Rep. Madeleine Dean is a mother, grandmother, attorney, professor, former four-term member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and U.S. Representative for the Fourth District of Pennsylvania.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-28T00:39:51Z https://dean.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-unanimously-passes-hr-4712-fairness-orphan-drug-exclusivity-act,House Unanimously Passes The Fairness in Orphan Drug Exclusivity Act,2020-11-18,2020,2020-11,Democrat,House,PA,Madeleine Dean,D000631,dean.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Today, the House voted unanimously passed H.R. 4712, the Fairness in Orphan Drug Exclusivity Act. The bipartisan bill introduced by Rep. Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Marc Veasey (TX-33), Earl L. Buddy Carter (GA-01), and David McKinley (WV-01), closes a loophole that blocks pharmaceutical competition and prevents innovative treatments for opioid use disorder from coming to market. The Fairness in Orphan Drug Exclusivity Act will create more treatment options for patients and providers, boost competition in the marketplace, and drive down the cost of new medicines, Rep. Dean said. Thank you to my bipartisan colleagues for supporting this legislation. I am hopeful it will help save some struggling with opioid use disorders. Background For decades, The Orphan Drug Act of 1983 has provided incentives for prescription drug manufacturers to develop products to treat rare diseases including an exclusive seven-year marketing right for therapies that receive an orphan drug indication. For a drug to qualify for orphan designation, certain criteria must be met: The disease or condition for which the drug is intended affects fewer than 200,000 people in the United States; or For diseases or conditions affecting 200,000 or more people, there is no reasonable expectation that costs of research and development (R&D) of the drug can be recovered through sales. Because opioid use disorder affects millions of Americans, the first criterion does not apply to new opioid medications. However, a loophole allows manufacturers to obtain seven-year market exclusivity under the second criterion by piggybacking on the orphan drug status of an older drug even though they expect to easily recoup their R&D costs on the new version. This loophole is now being used to block new therapies from coming to the market that could aid in the opioid epidemic. The Fairness in Orphan Drug Exclusivity Act would close this loophole by making a minor update to the Orphan Drug Act requiring all drugs that obtain seven years of market exclusivity under the second criterion to show that they have no reasonable expectation of recovering R&D costs through sales in the United States. The Fairness in Orphan Drug Exclusivity Act is supported by AIDS United, Aimed Alliance, Young People in Recovery, No More ODs The Savannah Harm Reduction Coalition, A Mother's Addiction Journey. Rep. Madeleine Dean is a mother, grandmother, attorney, professor, former four-term member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and U.S. Representative for the Fourth District of Pennsylvania. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://doyle.house.gov/media/press-releases/doyle-and-pallone-praise-house-passage-three-bills-protect-and-strengthen,DOYLE AND PALLONE PRAISE HOUSE PASSAGE OF THREE BILLS TO PROTECT AND STRENGTHEN AMERICAN COMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS,2020-11-18,2020,2020-11,Democrat,Senate,PA,Mike Doyle,D000482,doyle.house.gov,,,legacy,"Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chairman Mike Doyle (D-PA) released the following joint statement today after the House of Representatives passed three communications and technology bills: From keeping Americans better informed during emergencies to promoting 5G coordination, competitiveness and security, these three bills will create a better, safer communications network for us all,said Pallone and Doyle.At its core, our telecommunications infrastructure exists to serve the public interest and connect our nation, and we are proud of the bipartisan work that went into advancing that goal with these three bills.We thank all our colleagues for working with us to get such important legislation passed today. The House of Representatives passed the following bills: H.R. 6096, theReliable Emergency Alert Distribution Improvement (READI) Act of 2020,introduced by Reps. Jerry McNerney (D-CA), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) and Pete Olson (R-TX), amends the Warning, Alert, and Response Network Act to classify emergency alerts from the Federal Emergency Management Agency as a type of alert that commercial mobile service providers may not allow subscribers to block from their devices.The bill also directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to adopt regulations to facilitate coordination with State Emergency Communications Committees in developing and modernizing State Emergency Alert System plans.Finally, the READI Act directs the FCC to examine the feasibility of modernizing the Emergency Alert System by expanding alert distribution to the internet and streaming services. The bill passed on the House Floor by voice vote. H.R. 6624, theUtilizing Strategic Allied (USA) Telecommunications Act of 2020,was introduced by Pallone, Ranking Member Greg Walden (R-OR) and Reps. Brett Guthrie (R-KY) and Doris Matsui (D-CA).The bill creates a new grant program through the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to promote technology that enhances supply chain security and market competitiveness in wireless communications networks.The bill passed on the House Floor by voice vote. H.R. 7310, theSpectrum IT Modernization Act of 2020,introduced by Doyle and Communications and Technology Ranking Member Robert Latta (R-OH), as well as Reps. Rick Larsen (D-WA) and Tim Walberg (R-MI), requires NTIA in consultation with the Policy and Plans Steering Group to submit to Congress a report on its plans to modernize agency information technology systems relating to managing the use of federal spectrum.The bill passed on the House Floor by voice vote. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://evans.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/nov-23-deadline-apply-military-academy-nominations,Nov. 23 Is Deadline to Apply for Military Academy Nominations,2020-11-18,2020,2020-11,Democrat,House,PA,Dwight Evans,E000296,evans.house.gov,evans,https://evans.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"PHILADELPHIA (Nov. 18, 2020) – Congressman Dwight Evans (PA-03) is inviting interested high school students to apply for a congressional nomination for one of the four U.S. military academies that require it for admission. The deadline is Nov. 23, 2020. ""I want to make sure we have a diverse, highly qualified pool of applicants for these highly coveted positions. Every congressional district in the country gets to nominate some of its top students for these academies, which have produced future presidents and generals. I believe Philadelphia, the birthplace of America, is home to some of these future leaders!"" Evans said. The four academies that require a congressional nomination are: the U.S. Military Academy (USMA), West Point, N.Y.; the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA), Annapolis, Md.; the U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA), Colorado Springs, Colo.; and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA), Kings Point, N.Y. The fifth service academy, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy (USCGA), New London, Conn., does not require a congressional nomination for appointment. To learn more and get started with the application process, students and their families can visit evans.house.gov, click on Services and then click Military Academy Nominations. For questions, Evans' office can be reached at 215-276-0340. Evans represents Pennsylvania's 3rd Congressional District, which includes Northwest and West Philadelphia and parts of North, South, Southwest and Center City Philadelphia. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-28T00:39:51Z https://lamb.house.gov/media/press-releases/lamb-announces-changes-pa-17-district-office-operations-covid-19-mitigation,LAMB ANNOUNCES CHANGES TO PA-17 DISTRICT OFFICE OPERATIONS FOR COVID-19 MITIGATION,2020-11-18,2020,2020-11,Democrat,Senate,PA,Conor Lamb,L000588,lamb.house.gov,,,legacy,"(PITTSBURGH, PA) In response to the significant increase in coronavirus cases in western Pennsylvania, and in accordance with guidance from the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) and local public health officials to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, Representative Conor Lamb (PA-17) has announced changes to the operations of his Beaver County, Mt. Lebanon and Penn Hills District Offices. Effective Thursday, November 19 until further notice, all PA-17 District Office locations will be closed to the public, with staff operating remotely during normal office hours (Monday Friday from 9:00AM 5:30PM) to assist constituents. The continued increase of COVID-19 cases in our region requires us to take precautions to protect one another, said Lamb. My office will continue to help constituents on a remote basis with no interruption in service. I strongly encourage everyone to take this public health emergency seriously and to follow the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), PA DOH and local public health officials: wear a mask, wash your hands and practice social distancing. To reach a member of Lamb's staff for any reason, please contact: Beaver County (724-206-4860), Mt. Lebanon (412-344-5583) or Penn Hills (412-871-2060). Lamb's office is available to assist PA-17 residents with issues regarding federal agencies, including: Social Security Administration (SSA) Department of VeteransAffairs (VA) Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) U.S. Postal Service (USPS) Department of State (DoS) Visit Lamb's website for additional resources and information on coronavirus. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/bipartisan-casey-moran-bill-to-ensure-va-website-accessibility-passes-house-goes-to-president-for-signature,"Bipartisan Casey, Moran Bill to Ensure VA Website Accessibility Passes House, Goes to President for Signature",2020-11-17,2020,2020-11,Democrat,Senate,PA,Bob Casey,C001070,www.casey.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Bob Casey's (D-PA) bipartisan legislation, introduced with U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS), has passed the U.S. House of Representatives. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Website Accessibility Act (S. 3587) will ensure that individuals with disabilities, including blindness, can access VA webpages in accordance with existing federal law. A companion version of this bill, H.R. 1199, was introduced by U.S. Representative Elaine Luria (D-VA-2), and passed the House on October 15, 2019. With its passage in the House, the legislation will go to President Trump for his signature. Under current law, the Rehabilitation Act requires federal agencies to make their electronic and information technology accessible to individuals with disabilities. Unfortunately, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has not made all of their websites accessible for individuals who are blind or have vision impairments. This creates an extra, unacceptable burden for blind veterans, as well as blind family members of veterans, who may wish to use online or electronic resources through the VA. The VA Website Accessibility Act will address this issue by requiring the VA to examine all of their websites to determine if they are accessible to people with disabilities. It will also require the VA to submit a report to Congress detailing which websites are not accessible to people with disabilities, along with a plan to make them accessible and a description of existing barriers to doing so. The VA would also be required to review the accessibility of kiosks at VA medical facilities. Kiosk accessibility is critical, as many VA medical centers use them for patient check-in and management. Unfortunately, many of these kiosks do not currently use technology that would make them accessible for blind veterans. Ensuring that all individuals can access the VA's electronic resources should not be a controversial idea, said Senator Casey. In fact, it is already required by federal law. This legislation is a small, but important step in ensuring that we meet our Nation's obligations to every veteran, including those who are blind. I was pleased to work with Senator Moran and Representative Luria on moving this forward in the House and the Senate. I look forward to President Trump signing our bill. Blind and disabled veterans often have difficulties accessing VA websites, limiting their ability to learn about the benefits and resources available to them, said Senator Moran. I am grateful the House advanced this legislation to require the VA to study the accessibility of its websites for blind and disabled veterans and implement plans to fix any barriers to access. I appreciate Sen. Casey's work on this legislation and look forward to the president signing it into law. After learning from blinded veterans about the difficulty they experience in navigating VA websites, I introduced H.R. 1199, the VA Website Accessibility Act to evaluate the accessibility of VA websites for veterans with disabilities to ensure they can receive the benefits they earned from their service, said Representative Luria. Thank you to Senator Casey for championing this effort in the Senate and working with me to protect our nation's veterans. The Department of Veterans Affairs Website Accessibility Act passed the Senate on March 26, 2020.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.casey.senate.gov/news/releases/bipartisan-casey-moran-bill-to-ensure-va-website-accessibility-passes-house-goes-to-president-for-signature,"Bipartisan Casey, Moran Bill to Ensure VA Website Accessibility Passes House, Goes to President for Signature",2020-11-17,2020,2020-11,Democrat,House,PA,Bob Casey,C001070,www.casey.senate.gov,,,legacy,,0,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/casey-collins-speier-fitzpatrick-announce-senate-passage-of-bipartisan-rosie-the-riveter-congressional-gold-medal-act,"Casey, Collins, Speier, Fitzpatrick Announce Senate Passage of Bipartisan Rosie the Riveter Congressional Gold Medal Act",2020-11-12,2020,2020-11,Democrat,Senate,PA,Bob Casey,C001070,www.casey.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. On the heels of Veterans Day, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) is announcing Senate passage of his bipartisan legislation to honor American women who joined the workforce in support of the war effort during World War II. The Rosie the Riveter Congressional Gold Medal Act would award a Congressional Gold Medal to these Rosie the Riveters who answered the Nation's call to action and learned new skills, many building the vehicles, weaponry and ammunitions that were critical to the war effort. Senator Casey led the effort along with U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) and U.S. Representatives Jackie Speier (D-CA-14) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-1). 76 senators co-sponsored the Senate bill, including every female senator. These Rosie the Riveters' played an invaluable role in our Nation's efforts during the war. They rose to the challenge and set a powerful example not only for working women, but for all Americans. Millions of women helped support our troops during WWII, whether they worked on assembly lines, addressed the troops' medical needs or tended to ships and farms. Today, their example continues to inspire generations to embody the We Can Do It' spirit. The Rosies' are among our Nation's greatest living heroines, and they deserve this long-overdue recognition for their tremendous service to our country, said Senator Casey. This bipartisan legislation to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the 16 million Rosie the Riveters' will provide a long-overdue recognition of these incredible women who stepped up in a time of great need, said Senator Collins. During World War II, mothers, wives, and daughters answered our nation's call to action by working tirelessly in factories, farms, shipyards, airplane factories, and other institutions in support of our Armed Forces. Their hard work, dedication, and 'We Can Do It' spirit has inspired many future generations of women. During one of the most challenging chapters of American history, our real-life Rosie the Riveters were beacons of hope and patriotism, said Representative Speier, Co-Chair of the Democratic Women's Caucus. Their We Can Do It' spirit inspired a nation grappling with the hardships of war to rise to the challenge, supercharge the war effort, and achieve victory. The iconic image of Rosie the Riveter continues to inspire generations of young women across America to blaze new trails. But for decades, our Rosies many of whom continue to dedicate their lives to service have been denied the recognition awarded to other World War II heroes. I'm thankful to Sen. Casey for his tireless efforts and thrilled that the Senate has joined the House in passing legislation to finally honor Rosie the Riveters for their courage, sacrifice, and immense contributions to our nation. I am incredibly happy to see the Senate pass our bipartisan Rosie the Riveter Congressional Gold Medal Act. During World War II, women across our country, and across Pennsylvania, left their homes to work in support of the war effort. These patriots worked as riveters, buckers, welders, and electricians, said Representative Fitzpatrick. These Rosie the Riveters' embodied the We can do it' spirit forever connected with the famous poster. I am especially proud to represent Levittown's Mae Krier, who helped build B-17 and B-29 Bombers during World War II. Mae's tireless advocacy for her fellow Rosies helped get this legislation through the House and Senate. I would also like to thank Senator Casey for his partnership on this important legislation. I started this effort in the 1980s because people didn't know how important women were to the war, said Mae Krier, a Rosie the Riveter from Levittown, PA who has advocated on behalf of her fellow Rosies for decades. After the war the men would say they would not have won without the women and what we made, but over time, people did not know that. Millions of women dropped everything to assist however we could. It was our job, not your job or my job. It was not about Democrats or Republicans. It was about saving the country. We made the country realize that women are capable. So I set a goal to make sure we were recognized. I was afraid we wouldn't make history, but now our hard work has paid off. I thank Senator Casey, Senator Collins, Representative Fitzpatrick and Representative Speier for their dedication to recognizing all of the Rosies. The percentage of women in the workforce jumped from 27 percent to nearly 37 percent between 1940 and 1945. By the end of the war, nearly one out of every four married women worked outside the home. These Rosie the Riveters' took positions across various industries, but the aviation industry saw the biggest increase of female workers with more than 310,000 working in the aircraft industry in 1943, representing 65 percent of its workforce.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://boyle.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/boyle-perry-dean-introduce-animal-testing-alternatives-legislation,"Boyle, Perry & Dean Introduce Animal Testing Alternatives Legislation",2020-11-12,2020,2020-11,Democrat,House,PA,Brendan F. Boyle,B001296,boyle.house.gov,boyle,https://boyle.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Brendan F. Boyle (PA-02), Congressman Scott Perry (PA-10) and Congresswoman Madeleine Dean (PA-04) introduced the bipartisan Alternatives to Animals for Regulatory Fairness (AARF) Act to modernize the drug approval process. The AARF Act ensures that pharmaceutical companies are allowed to use high-tech and humane alternatives to outdated testing on dogs and other animals to fulfill Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulatory requirements. ""Science has come a long way and there are now better ways to assess the safety of drugs than conducting deadly experiments on puppies. Current law fails to account for newer, modern approaches to drug development that do not involve testing on dogs or other animals,"" said Congressman Boyle. ""I am proud to introduce the Alternatives to Animals for Regulatory Fairness Act to modernize FDA rules to allow the use of more humane, economical, and effective testing alternatives. Especially when animal tests often poorly predict human outcomes, there is no reason we need to require them."" ""We applaud Reps. Brendan Boyle, Scott Perry and Madeleine Dean for introducing the AARF Act to save dogs and other animals from wasteful and cruel government-mandated experiments, allow drug makers to avoid needless animal testing, and get consumers safe drugs more quickly and inexpensively, a call with particular urgency during the COVID-19 pandemic,"" said Justin Goodman, vice president of advocacy and public policy at taxpayer watchdog group White Coat Waste Project. ""While other agencies in the FDA's regulatory ecosystem have aggressively sought to leverage technological advances to eliminate their reliance on animal testing, the FDA lags behind them, the broader science community, and the American public, said Mihael H. Polymeropoulos, M.D., President & CEO, Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc. ""By not changing its outmoded approach of forcing companies to conduct unnecessary tests on dogs, the FDA not only misses the opportunity to improve safety, but also pointlessly impedes the delivery of innovative new drugs to patients who need them."" Currently, the FDA requires companies to subject thousands of dogs and other animals each year to painful and inaccurate drug safety tests, even though government scientists acknowledge that over 90 percent of drugs that pass these animal tests fail in humans because they're ineffective or harmful. More effective and humane alternatives are available, including organs-on-chips technology being developed by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania. A June 2020 national poll of 1,000 Americans conducted by Lincoln Park Strategies found that two-thirds of respondents want the FDA to allow drug companies to use modern alternatives to animal tests. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-28T00:39:51Z