Los senadores demócratas demuestran su unidad y piden una rápida aprobación bipartidista de la legislación sobre la "ventanilla única" a la justicia

HARRISBURG, PA – Febrero 27, 2023 –  Today, Senate Democrats held a press conference calling for the swift and bipartisan passage of HB1 and HB2, which would open a Window to Justice for survivors of child sexual abuse.

“The time to pass a Window to Justice for these survivors is now,” said Democratic Leader Jay Costa. “We are calling on our colleagues in the Senate Republican Caucus to do the right thing here and deliver justice for these victims quickly and in a bipartisan fashion.”

“The victims of childhood sexual abuse have been failed by so many people in so many ways,” said Senator Sharif Street. “Let’s not fail them again by failing to act. It is offensive to use them as a bargaining chip, this should not be politicized.”  

HB1 and HB2 were passed with overwhelming bipartisan support. HB1, which would create a constitutional amendment, passed 161-40, with Democrats voting unanimously for its passage. HB2, which would amend the statute itself, passed 134-67, again with unanimous Democratic support.

“We have a moral obligation and a professional duty to get this done,” Senator Santarsiero said. “This is not a new issue, and we have a unique opportunity here in the Senate to finally get these survivors justice. Let’s do the right thing and let’s do it now.”

“Today we have the opportunity to deliver HB 1 and HB 2 to the Governor’s desk and finally give adult survivors of child sex abuse a window to justice,” said Senator Maria Collett. “The longer we delay, the more survivors suffer and the harder their cases become to ultimately prove. We must not allow perpetrators of abuse or the institutions that shielded them to evade accountability any longer.”

The Senate passed SB1 on Enero 11, 2023, which would have put a constitutional amendment creating a Window to Justice on the ballot. However, Senate Republicans added an amendment to require voters to show ID every time they vote, and another allowing resolutions to override executive regulations. Democrats nearly unanimously voted against the bill as amended, outraged that the GOP prioritized political agendas over justice for countless victims of child sex abuse.

“We have an opportunity before us to come together in a bipartisan way and provide healing and justice to victims of child sexual abuse – but the Senate Majority Party continues to allow personal political priorities to stand in the way of the needs of survivors,” said Senator Katie Muth. “Every single survivor is worthy of being heard, protected, and having their rightful pathway to justice and healing. It is time that the Senate supports these victims and passes standalone legislation that opens a statute of limitations window for victims of child sexual abuse.”

Because HB1 and HB2 were passed during Special Session by the House, the Senate would need to gavel into special session. Before leaving office, Governor Wolf called a special session. The senate will be in regular session for five days prior to breaking for budget hearings, during which the Senate Democratic Caucus is urging the Republican Caucus to open a special session and pass HB1 and HB2 swiftly.

“Now that the House has taken lead in bringing justice for survivors of childhood sexual assault, it’s time the Senate does the same,” said Senator Kearney. “We need to stop the partisan tactics around the statutory window. The victims deserve better, and we can provide better, we can provide justice now. I join my Democratic Colleagues in urging this legislature to open the special session and vote on these pieces of legislation. It’s the right thing to do.”

Video footage of the press conference is available for viewing at PASenate.com/video. Downloadable footage is available upon request.

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Senate Democrats Call on Republicans to Immediately Prioritize Gun Violence Prevention Legislation and Appropriations

HARRISBURG – Mayo 25, 2022 – Today, Pennsylvania Senate Democrats wrote the following letter to Republican leaders in response to rampant gun violence and mass shootings that have become too common in the United States. Just this year, 215 mass shootings have taken place in the country, with the devastating shooting that occurred at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas on Mayo 24, 2022, being the 215th

In the letter, the caucus calls on the Republican majority to act on “reasonable and responsible legislation and appropriations” that does not infringe on Second Amendment rights but will help keep guns away from bad actors and support gun violence prevention. Senate Democrats list seven bills that have been introduced to mitigate gun violence but have sat in committee with no discussion or votes. They also highlight how American Rescue Plan dollars and Pennsylvania’s current budget surplus can be used to help communities prevent horrific violence.

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Senate Judiciary Committee Advances Four Bills Out of Committee

HARRISBURG − Octubre 19, 2021 − The Senate Judiciary Committee, chaired by Senator Lisa Baker (R-20) and co-chaired by Senator Steve Santarsiero (D-10), held a meeting today advancing three bills focused on probation reform and a fourth related to criminal justice and police protection.

The three bills related to probation were voted unanimously out of committee and are as follows:

Senate Bill 904, introduced by Senator Baker amends Title 42 to allow for the scheduling of “remote” probation meetings.

Senate Bill 905, introduced by Senator Baker amends the Pennsylvania Crime and Delinquency Law (Act 274 of 1978) by directing the County Adult Probation and Parole Advisory Committee to establish criteria for when an offender’s schedule should be considered in the scheduling probation meetings.

Senate Bill 913, introduced by Senator Baker and Senators Camera Bartolotta (R-46) and Senator Anthony Williams (D-8) amends Title 42 to provide for comprehensive probation reforms.

“The probation reform bills passed today out of the Senate Judiciary Committee are critically needed to achieve the end goal of our criminal justice system, to deal justly and to get to a place where people can put their lives back together,” said Sen. Santarsiero. “Resolving issues of technical violations to probation, including allowing for scheduling remote meetings and making reasonable accommodations for the schedules of those on probation, are reasonable steps toward achieving this goal.”

The final bill passed out of committee, Senate Bill 814, introduced by Senator Yudichak (I-14) amends Title 18 to create two new offenses of “Evading arrest or detention on foot” and “Harming a police animal while evading arrest or detention.”  The bill honors a Scranton police officer, John Wilding, who died in 2020 from injuries sustained while pursuing three armed robbery suspects on foot.  Several Democratic Members raised concerns regarding technical aspects of the legislation including the gradation of the offenses but voted to move the bill forward with the understanding there would be an opportunity for additional dialogue and amendments. The bill was passed by a vote of 12-2 with Senators Amanda Cappelletti (D-17) and Maria Collett (D-12) voting in the negative.

On Senate Bill 814, Sen. Santarsiero noted, “This bill honors the memory of Officer Wilding and seeks to prevent the tragedy that befell him from happening again.  I look forward to working with my colleagues to modify some of the language in the bill.”

All four bills now advance to the full Senate for consideration.

 

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El fiscal general Shapiro y los demócratas del Senado discuten medidas contra la negligencia del fracking

Harrisburg, PA - 25 de mayo de 2021 - Hoy, el Fiscal General de Pensilvania Josh Shapiro y los miembros del Caucus Demócrata del Senado liderados en este esfuerzo por el Senador Estatal Steve Santarsiero celebraron una conferencia de prensa virtual para discutir un paquete de proyectos de ley destinados a aumentar la transparencia, la supervisión y la gestión general segura de las operaciones de perforación de gas en la industria del fracking.

El paquete legislativo responde a las recomendaciones formuladas en el 43º informe del Gran Jurado de Investigación del Estado de Pensilvania sobre la industria del petróleo y el gas no convencionales. El informe fue el resultado de una investigación de dos años que incluyó el testimonio personal de 70 hogares de toda la Commonwealth y docenas de empleados estatales actuales y anteriores. Las conclusiones detallaban las inquietantes repercusiones sanitarias de las operaciones de fracturación hidráulica en Pensilvania sobre los niños, los propietarios de viviendas y el ganado que viven en las proximidades de los lugares de perforación. Varias familias cercanas a pozos u otras instalaciones industriales describieron erupciones inexplicables, hemorragias nasales repentinas y problemas respiratorios.

"El año pasado, los Grandes Jurados pidieron a Pensilvania que introdujera cambios concretos para reducir los riesgos para la salud y la seguridad de una industria de fracturación hidráulica que no ha sido controlada por los reguladores y que afecta a familias de toda Pensilvania. Es de sentido común garantizar que la fracturación hidráulica no se realice al lado de una escuela o demasiado cerca de la casa de alguien. Es de sentido común que las empresas sean transparentes acerca de los productos químicos que están utilizando cerca de los suministros de agua de los hogares", dijo el Fiscal General Josh Shapiro. "Quiero agradecer a los senadores Santarsiero, Collett, Muth, Sabatina y Comitta por su trabajo en estas reformas - mi oficina está comprometida a asegurar que los residentes de Pensilvania estén protegidos contra los intereses poderosos."

El paquete de proyectos de ley patrocinado por los demócratas del Senado pretende introducir reformas recomendadas específicamente en el informe del Gran Jurado. Entre las ocho recomendaciones figuran:

  1. Ampliación de las zonas de prohibición de perforación en Pensilvania de los 500 pies exigidos a 2.500 pies;
  2. Exigir a las empresas de fracturación hidráulica que hagan públicos todos los productos químicos utilizados en la perforación y la fracturación hidráulica antes de que se utilicen in situ;
  3. Exigir la regulación de las líneas de recolección, utilizadas para transportar gas no convencional cientos de kilómetros;
  4. Sumar todas las fuentes de contaminación atmosférica de una zona determinada para evaluar con precisión la calidad del aire;
  5. Exigir un transporte más seguro de los residuos contaminados generados en los emplazamientos de fracturación hidráulica;
  6. Respuesta sanitaria global a los efectos de vivir cerca de perforaciones no convencionales;
  7. Limitar la capacidad de los empleados del Departamento de Protección Medioambiental de Pensilvania para ser contratados en el sector privado inmediatamente después de dejar el Departamento;
  8. Permitir a la Fiscalía General de Pensilvania la jurisdicción penal original sobre las empresas de petróleo y gas no convencionales.

Los senadores Santarsiero, Collett, Muth, Sabatina y Comitta patrocinarán y copatrocinarán proyectos de ley que respondan directamente a las recomendaciones y a la urgente necesidad de actuar.

En virtud de este paquete de proyectos de ley, los ciudadanos y otras personas podrían denunciar posibles delitos ambientales directamente a la Fiscalía General para su investigación sin tener que pasar primero por otros organismos", dijo el senador Santarsiero, y añadió: "Esto aceleraría el proceso de investigaciones y condenas por delitos ambientales y dejaría claro a los contaminadores potenciales que dañar nuestra tierra y nuestra agua tendrá consecuencias reales". Los ciudadanos de Pensilvania tienen el derecho constitucional al aire limpio, al agua pura y a la protección de los recursos naturales de la Commonwealth. Como antiguo Fiscal General Adjunto para la Protección del Medio Ambiente en Pensilvania, tengo experiencia de primera mano en lo engorroso, lento y contraproducente que puede ser el proceso actual. Es hora de que garanticemos la existencia de recursos precisos para proteger el derecho constitucional de todos los ciudadanos de Pensilvania a un aire limpio y un agua pura."

"El SB653 es una cuestión de seguridad pública y de los trabajadores", declaró el senador Sabatina. "Cuando los primeros en responder se presentan en la escena de un accidente, necesitan identificar rápidamente la sustancia en un derrame. Tenemos que mantener seguros a los camioneros, a los primeros intervinientes y a los conductores de Pensilvania."

"Este paquete de proyectos de ley debería haberse promulgado antes de que el DEP aprobara un solo permiso", declaró el senador Muth. "Durante más de diez años, los ciudadanos de Pensilvania han sido dejados en la oscuridad acerca de los impactos acumulativos sobre la salud de la industria de extracción y, a menudo no tienen idea de qué tipo de productos químicos nocivos se están utilizando justo en su patio trasero o se filtran en sus suministros de agua. Las recomendaciones incluidas en el primer informe del 43º Informe del Gran Jurado de Investigación Estatal son medidas sensatas y proactivas que aumentarán la transparencia sobre el proceso de fracturación hidráulica. Es hora de que el gobierno estatal proteja a las personas y nuestros recursos naturales en lugar de proteger a los contaminadores corporativos que sólo se preocupan por los beneficios, incluso si eso significa perjudicar a las personas y al planeta."

Según datos de la Administración de Información Energética de Estados Unidos, Pensilvania es el segundo mayor productor de gas natural, después de Texas. La industria ha experimentado un auge en Pensilvania con muy poca responsabilidad legal o reglamentaria. La legislación propuesta abordará la negligencia, la falta de transparencia y las lagunas en la supervisión que han permitido a los perforadores operar en gran medida por su cuenta, dando a menudo prioridad al beneficio sobre los niños, las familias y los animales que sufren por la exposición a sustancias químicas peligrosas, agua contaminada y contaminación atmosférica.

"En mi distrito, donde los niveles de contaminación por PFAS han estado entre los más altos de la nación, la calidad del agua no es algo que demos por sentado", dijo el senador Collett. "Esta legislación urgente permitirá al Fiscal General tomar medidas contra los contaminadores y nos permitirá dejar de usar dólares del estado - sus dólares - para remediar peligros como estos en toda la Commonwealth."

"Los efectos sobre la salud de la actividad de la industria se ven "magnificados por la proximidad", un hecho que se destaca en el informe del Gran Jurado del Fiscal General Josh Shapiro", dijo la senadora Santarsiero. "Debemos proteger a nuestras comunidades y mantener a las familias seguras en sus hogares aumentando la distancia a la que las operaciones de perforación de gas no convencional deben estar de los edificios y los suministros de agua".

"El informe del Fiscal General demostró que las operaciones de perforación de gas natural pueden tener graves repercusiones en nuestra salud, seguridad y bienestar, y esas repercusiones se ven amplificadas por la proximidad. Las operaciones de perforación no deben estar en medio de nuestros barrios o cerca de escuelas, hospitales o nuestros recursos hídricos", dijo el senador Comitta. "Es hora de promulgar retrocesos más seguros para proteger mejor a las familias, los niños y las comunidades de Pensilvania del potencial de los impactos significativos y negativos para la salud asociados con el fracking".

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Los senadores Santarsiero y Collett anuncian una ley para otorgar al Fiscal General jurisdicción concurrente en delitos medioambientales

CONDADO DE BUCKS - 30 de abril de 2021 - Los senadores estatales Steve Santarsiero (D-10) y Maria Collett (D-12) anunciaron hoy la legislación para permitir que el Fiscal General del Estado investigue y persiga más directamente a los contaminadores, y otros que dañan nuestra tierra, las vías fluviales y el agua potable.

"Con este paquete de proyectos de ley, los ciudadanos y otras personas podrían denunciar posibles delitos contra el medio ambiente directamente a la Fiscalía General para su investigación sin tener que pasar primero por otros organismos", dijo el senador Santarsiero, y añadió: "Esto aceleraría el proceso de investigación y condena por delitos contra el medio ambiente y dejaría claro a los posibles contaminadores que dañar nuestra tierra y nuestra agua tendrá consecuencias reales."

En la actualidad, la Fiscalía General debe esperar a que la remita el fiscal del distrito local, el Departamento de Protección del Medio Ambiente u otro organismo con jurisdicción, antes de poder tomar medidas para perseguir un asunto relacionado con delitos ambientales.

Los tres proyectos de ley del paquete otorgarían a la Fiscalía General jurisdicción concurrente en asuntos penales medioambientales en virtud de la Ley estatal de Gestión de Residuos Sólidos, la Ley de Corrientes Limpias y la Ley de Agua Potable Segura.

"Esta legislación es urgente porque daría al Fiscal General el poder de tomar medidas contra los contaminadores que crearon la crisis de contaminación por PFAS en mi distrito y en toda la Commonwealth", dijo el senador Collett, que ha presentado de nuevo legislación para establecer un nivel máximo provisional de contaminantes para los productos químicos PFAS y clasificarlos como peligrosos en virtud de la Ley de Limpieza de Sitios Peligrosos (HSCA). "Como legisladores, uno de nuestros trabajos es asegurarnos de que nuestro gobierno tiene las herramientas que necesita para mantener nuestras comunidades seguras y perseguir a quienes las ponen en peligro". 

"Los ciudadanos de Pensilvania tienen el derecho constitucional al aire limpio, al agua pura y a la protección de los recursos naturales de la Commonwealth", declaró la senadora Santarsiero. "Como ex Fiscal General Adjunto para la Protección del Medio Ambiente en Pensilvania, tengo experiencia de primera mano en lo engorroso, lento y contraproducente que puede ser el proceso actual. Es hora de que garanticemos la existencia de recursos precisos para proteger el derecho constitucional de todos los ciudadanos de Pensilvania a un aire limpio y un agua pura."

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Los senadores del sudeste de Pensilvania piden equidad en la distribución de vacunas y se oponen a la propuesta de un único centro de vacunación

Chester, PA - 19 de marzo de 2021 - Ayer, un grupo bipartidista de senadores que representan a los condados de Bucks, Chester, Delaware y Montgomery envió una carta al gobernador Wolf, a la secretaria de Salud en funciones, Alison Beam, y a los miembros del Grupo de Trabajo Conjunto de la Vacuna COVID-19, apoyando las peticiones de los funcionarios del condado de que el estado distribuya las dosis de la vacuna contra el coronavirus a las clínicas gestionadas por los condados en lugar de enviarlas a un único centro de vacunación masiva para toda la región.

Senadores Kane (D, Delaware / Chester), Comitta (D, Chester), Cappelletti (D, Delaware / Montgomery), Collett (D, Bucks / Montgomery), Kearney (D, Delaware / Chester), Muth (D, Berks/Chester/Montgomery), Santarsiero (D, Bucks), Tomlinson (R, Bucks), y Williams (D, Delaware/Filadelfia) firmaron la carta en apoyo de los funcionarios del condado. En su carta, los senadores destacaron tanto la continua preocupación por la equidad en la distribución que plantea el establecimiento de un único emplazamiento para 2,5 millones de residentes como la superfluidad de crear un nuevo emplazamiento masivo sobre la infraestructura existente en el condado. 

"Llevamos semanas teniendo problemas con la distribución equitativa de vacunas en el sureste de Pensilvania. Nuestra asignación de vacunas ha sido severamente limitada, y los residentes ya se ven obligados a viajar para sus citas, lo que significa que el acceso para los trabajadores, las personas sin transporte fiable, y los cuidadores de niños es a menudo casi inexistente", dijo el senador Kane. "La creación de un único centro de vacunación masiva para todo el sureste, un único centro de vacunación masiva para 2,5 millones de personas, sólo servirá para exacerbar estas disparidades. Estoy apoyando a los funcionarios de salud de nuestros condados y pidiendo que las dosis de vacunas adicionales se distribuyan entre los cuatro condados para su asignación a través de su infraestructura existente. Estoy cansado de que las comunidades vulnerables sean enviadas al final de la fila cuando los tiempos son más difíciles, y no dejaré de luchar por mis electores."

La propuesta de una única clínica de vacunación masiva es sólo el último de una serie de obstáculos a los que se han enfrentado los residentes de los condados del collar al intentar concertar citas para vacunarse. Hace tres semanas, el Philadelphia Inquirer informó de que los cuatro condados del collar habían recibido muchas menos dosis de vacunas por población que otros condados. Desde entonces, los legisladores se han enfrentado a continuos obstáculos en la defensa de un aumento de las dosis, incluidas las respuestas del Departamento de Salud que es irrelevante donde los electores están recibiendo sus vacunas, siempre y cuando se vacunen.  

Sin embargo, los residentes de los condados limítrofes siguen teniendo dificultades para concertar citas y encontrar información precisa. "Mis electores están más que frustrados por la confusión y la falta de coordinación sobre cómo obtener una vacuna", dijo el senador Muth. "No puedo entender el propósito del contrato de 11,6 millones de dólares con una empresa de consultoría para la distribución de vacunas y, sin embargo, aquí estamos, muchas preguntas sin respuesta, datos incompletos e información inconsistente día a día. Proporcionar un único centro de vacunación para toda la región del sudeste perjudicará de forma desproporcionada a las personas mayores que no conducen, a las familias monoparentales que luchan por compaginar el cuidado de los niños con varios trabajos de primera línea y a tantas personas que simplemente no pueden viajar una hora o más hasta un único centro de vacunación. Podemos y debemos hacerlo mejor. Insto a la administración a que escuche a nuestros líderes locales electos del condado sobre esta cuestión y garantice la verdadera distribución equitativa mostrando todos los datos y cifras."

La carta sigue a una declaración conjunta emitida el miércoles, en la que los funcionarios de los cuatro condados del collar pedían al Departamento de Salud que reconsiderara sus planes de una única clínica de vacunación masiva y que, en su lugar, distribuyera las dosis entre los cuatro condados.

El senador Kearney destacó el obstáculo añadido que supone crear una clínica de vacunación masiva cuando los condados ya están preparados para distribuir dosis adicionales. "No necesitamos reinventar la rueda creando un único centro de vacunación masiva que sirva de alguna manera a 2,5 millones de residentes de todo el sureste de Pensilvania. Nuestros condados tienen la infraestructura en su lugar para conseguir vacunas en armas - todo lo que necesitan es el suministro. Si nuestros condados consiguen las dosis, nuestros condados pueden conseguirlo", dijo el senador Kearney.

La copia íntegra de la carta de los senadores puede consultarse aquí

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Carta de delegación de la SEPA 18 de marzo de 2021

 

 

Senadores demócratas intervienen en la demanda contra la DRBC por fracking

BUCKS COUNTY - 12 de marzo de 2021 - El senador estatal Steve Santarsiero (D-10) se unió a sus colegas demócratas hoy en New Hope para anunciar su acción para proteger el agua potable para millones de Pennsylvanians de los peligros ambientales de la fracturación hidráulica. Su acción es en respuesta a una demanda presentada por senadores republicanos contra la Comisión de la Cuenca del Río Delaware para permitir la perforación de gas natural en la cuenca del río Delaware en Pensilvania.

En defensa del derecho constitucional de millones de ciudadanos de Pensilvania al agua potable, la moción de intervención se presentó a primera hora del día en el Tribunal de Distrito de los Estados Unidos para el Distrito Este de Pensilvania en el caso Yaw contra la Comisión de la Cuenca del Río Delaware. Los miembros del grupo republicano habían presentado una demanda contra la DRBC en enero de 2021, y a finales de febrero la Delaware River Keeper Network intervino con éxito en el caso.

"El agua y el aire limpios son un derecho constitucional de todos los ciudadanos de Pensilvania, y es deber de la Asamblea General garantizar que esos derechos no se vulneren", dijo la senadora Santarsiero. "Los habitantes del condado de Bucks -y del resto de la cuenca del río Delaware- tienen el derecho constitucional a disponer de agua potable limpia y segura. No vamos a permitir que la industria del petróleo y el gas contamine esa agua". Trabajando dentro de su autoridad, la DRBC ha sido una firme defensora de la protección de los activos de la cuenca del río Delaware desde su creación. Gracias a la DRBC y a la labor de los defensores del medio ambiente, a lo largo de los años se ha avanzado increíblemente en la limpieza de nuestras vías fluviales y en la creación de una fuente fiable de agua potable para millones de personas. Hemos llegado demasiado lejos para ceder ese progreso a los efectos perjudiciales del fracking sobre nuestro medio ambiente y nuestra tierra."

"El DRBC se creó hace 60 años para gestionar el sistema fluvial y proteger nuestros recursos hídricos, incluida la protección de la cuenca de los efectos nocivos de la fracturación hidráulica", dijo la senadora Carolyn Comitta (D-19), presidenta de la minoría del Comité de Recursos Ambientales y Energía del Senado. "La DRBC ejerció su autoridad, y los cuatro estados de la cuenca votaron a favor de prohibir el fracking. Los legisladores individuales de Pensilvania no pueden elegir cuando se trata de las decisiones del pacto. Apoyamos la DRBC en su decisión de prohibir el fracking - que defiende la Enmienda de Derechos Ambientales de Pensilvania y protege nuestro derecho al agua limpia."

Hace más de una década, la DRBC votó por unanimidad a favor de una moratoria sobre el fracking a la espera de la adopción de nuevas normas. Desde entonces, la Comisión ha recibido casi 80.000 comentarios públicos que se han tenido en cuenta en los proyectos de normas actualizadas.

"Hay cada vez más pruebas en toda nuestra Commonwealth de que la fracturación hidráulica no puede llevarse a cabo de forma segura y, en muchos casos, contamina permanente y completamente nuestros recursos compartidos de agua potable", dijo la senadora Katie Muth. "Aplaudo a la Comisión de la Cuenca del Río Delaware por impedir que esta peligrosa y nociva actividad industrial convierta en insegura e inutilizable el agua potable de 8,3 millones de ciudadanos de Pensilvania. Por otra parte, me horroriza que mis colegas senadores del Partido Mayoritario estén dispuestos a sacrificar la salud de sus electores en nombre del beneficio de la industria. Sin agua, nuestros hogares pierden valor, nuestra salud pública se deteriora gravemente debido a los residuos tóxicos y radiactivos de la fracturación hidráulica, y nuestro medio ambiente queda contaminado para las generaciones venideras. Defiendo la salud pública y la calidad medioambiental de todos los ciudadanos de Pensilvania y me opongo firmemente a cualquier intento de dañar nuestros recursos de agua potable en nombre de la codicia empresarial."

"El agua potable es un derecho constitucional en Pensilvania y un imperativo para nuestra salud y supervivencia como especie", declaró la senadora Amanda Cappelletti (D-17). "La cuenca del río Delaware suministra agua potable a 13,3 millones de personas. Nos unimos a la DCRB para mantener la seguridad de esa agua. Los legisladores que amenazan esa misión deberían avergonzarse de su intento apenas velado de hacerse con el poder. Los ciudadanos de la Commonwealth de Pensilvania y los ciudadanos de Nueva York, Nueva Jersey y Delaware tienen el derecho inviolable a mantener limpia esta agua, su agua potable". 

Cinco millones de habitantes de 17 condados de Pensilvania residen en la cuenca, que incluye los condados de Bucks, Delaware, Montgomery, Chester y Filadelfia. La cuenca del río Delaware abarca 6.471 millas cuadradas en la Commonwealth, a través de 522 municipios.

"Decidí firmar como coadyuvante en este caso porque sé que mis electores y todos los ciudadanos de Pensilvania se toman en serio su derecho constitucional a un aire y un agua limpios", dijo la senadora Judy Schwank (D-11). "Es mi deber solemne y jurado proteger ese derecho. Este puede ser nuestro último intento de proteger las aguas de la cuenca del río Delaware de los peligros medioambientales creados por el fracking. Estas aguas son un recurso hídrico potable, agrícola e industrial para más de 13 millones de residentes de Pensilvania, Delaware, Nueva York y Nueva Jersey."

La senadora Maria Collett (D-12) añadió: "Mis electores y yo sabemos de primera mano lo que es tener que luchar por el "agua pura" que garantiza la Enmienda de Derechos Medioambientales de la Constitución de Pensilvania y el terror que se siente cuando se rompe ese vínculo. El argumento esgrimido por mis colegas republicanos de que, como fideicomisarios de los recursos nacionales de Pensilvania en virtud de esta Enmienda, deben proteger el valor pecuniario de dichos recursos por encima de la salud y la supervivencia de las personas y los ecosistemas que dependen de ellos no sólo es inconstitucional, sino inhumano."

El senador Vince Hughes (D-7) declaró: "La protección de la calidad de las aguas subterráneas y superficiales y del futuro de la cuenca del río Delaware cuenta con un amplio apoyo de la población de Pensilvania y de los otros tres estados afectados por la Comisión de la Cuenca del Río Delaware. En pocas palabras, la Comisión actúa para proteger esos intereses y el derecho al agua pura. Nos unimos a esta demanda para proteger esos derechos y evitar que los impactos adversos afecten a nuestra región."

En una reunión de la DRBC celebrada en febrero de 2021, los 4 estados miembros votaron unánimemente a favor de prohibir el fracking en la cuenca del río Delaware. Durante la reunión extraordinaria, Estados Unidos se abstuvo en la votación, pero manifestó su apoyo al resultado.

"Mis colegas y yo estamos interviniendo para luchar por los 13 millones de personas que obtienen su agua de la cuenca del río Delaware y proteger el derecho constitucional de todos los residentes de Pensilvania a un aire limpio y agua limpia", dijo el senador John Kane (D-9). "El DRBC votó unánimemente para prohibir el fracking después de escuchar decenas de miles de comentarios durante varios años - eso es lo que nuestras comunidades quieren, y así es como mantener a los residentes de Pensilvania a salvo. Estoy orgulloso de estar junto a mis colegas para intervenir en apoyo de la DRBC."

El senador Sharif Street (D-3) declaró: "La decisión de la Comisión de la Cuenca del Río Delaware no sólo está dentro de sus competencias como custodios de las aguas de la cuenca del río Delaware, sino que también es constitucionalmente correcta. Estoy orgulloso de estar con mis colegas para proteger nuestro medio ambiente y la gente de Pennsylvania. "

"Me enorgullece estar al lado de mis colegas del Grupo Demócrata del Senado en apoyo de la decisión de la Comisión de la Cuenca del Río Delaware de prohibir permanentemente el fracking. Se trata de una decisión muy luchada y ganada durante años. Es una victoria para los defensores, los organizadores, los millones de personas que viven en la cuenca del río y para el propio río. Todo mi distrito no sólo está dentro de la cuenca, sino que discurre a lo largo del río Delaware. Estoy agradecido a la DRBC por proteger las vidas y los medios de subsistencia de mis electores, y estoy agradecido a mis colegas senadores demócratas por poner sus estacas en el suelo con las mías". Senador Nikil Saval (D-Filadelfia)

Los grupos ecologistas llevan mucho tiempo defendiendo la protección de la cuenca del río Delaware y el derecho constitucional de todos los ciudadanos de Pensilvania a un aire y un agua limpios. En declaraciones escritas compartieron su abrumador apoyo a la intervención de los senadores demócratas en la demanda.

En una declaración leída durante la rueda de prensa, Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania dijo: "Nos gustaría dar las gracias al senador Santarsiero y a sus colegas del Senado de Pensilvania por presentar una moción para intervenir en Yaw contra DRBC. Miles de residentes e innumerables funcionarios electos y expertos se han pronunciado a favor de prohibir el fracking en la cuenca del río Delaware."

Maya van Rossum, líder de la red Delaware Riverkeeper, declaró: "El río Delaware es insustituiblemente importante para toda nuestra región. Permitir que se sacrifique a la industria del fracking, que se utilice para avanzar en la crisis climática, y que se utilice para ayudar a avanzar a una industria que está devastando la salud, la seguridad, las vidas, los valores de la propiedad, la calidad de vida y las economías locales de comunidades enteras es indefendible. Es aún peor que el caucus legislativo republicano, los senadores Yaw y Baker pretendan hacer un mal uso de la enmienda constitucional de derechos medioambientales de Pensilvania y negar el apoyo de Pensilvania a la Comisión de la Cuenca del Río Delaware es un abuso de poder y de confianza. Me gustaría dar las gracias al senador Steve Santarsiero y los legisladores del Caucus Demócrata por tratar de unirse a la demanda en curso para que puedan levantarse y defender nuestro río, nuestro medio ambiente y los derechos ambientales de la gente de Pennsylvania."

"PennEnvironment aplaude a los senadores estatales que se han reunido hoy de toda la cuenca del río Delaware para ponerse de pie y defender este gran río", dijo el Director Ejecutivo de PennEnvironment David Masur en una declaración escrita. El fracking no debería permitirse en ningún sitio, y mucho menos cerca de una vía fluvial natural emblemática como el río Delaware, que proporciona agua potable a millones de estadounidenses". Dado que los habitantes de Pensilvania expresaron su apoyo abrumador a la protección del río Delaware contra el fracking durante los procesos de consulta pública, es lamentable que los funcionarios electos que son los demandantes en el caso "Yaw contra DRBC" estén utilizando los tribunales para deshacer la voluntad de los residentes locales.

Los miembros del Caucus Demócrata que han firmado la demanda son los senadores Steve Santarsiero (D- Bucks), Carolyn Comitta (D- Chester), Amanda Cappelletti (D- Montgomery, Delaware), Maria Collett (D- Montgomery, Bucks), Wayne Fontana (D- Allegheny), Art Haywood (D- Montgomery, Philadelphia), Vince Hughes (D- Philadelphia), John Kane (D- Chester, Delaware), Tim Kearney (D- Delaware), Katie Muth (D- Berks, Chester, Montgomery), John Sabatina (D- Philadelphia), Nikil Saval (D- Philadelphia), Judy Schwank (D- Berks), Sharif Street (D- Philadelphia), Tina Tartaglione (D-Philadelphia) , y Anthony Williams (D-Philadelphia).

 

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PA Senate Dems Again Call for Legislative Window of Justice for Adult Survivors of Sexual Abuse & More Protections for the Future

Harrisburg, Pa. – Marzo 12, 2021 − Pennsylvania Senate Democrats held a press conference today to again call for immediate action to create a two-year window for adult survivors of sexual abuse currently barred from seeking justice due to statutory time limitations. Members also discussed the possibility of an emergency constitutional amendment and creating more protections from abuse for all Pennsylvanians through legislative action. 

“Survivors have waited far too long for their rightful pathway to justice and healing,” said Senator Katie Muth (D-Chester).  “In good conscience, we cannot wait another day, let alone force survivors to endure another two years of suffering, due to an administrative oversite or court challenges.  I urge all my colleagues in the General Assembly to show the courage and fortitude to do what is right and act urgently to advance these common-sense legislative priorities without delay.”

Senate Democrats said that a legislative two-year window of justice for survivors would be the most expeditious way to ensure immediate justice for survivors of abuse as the previously approved constitutional amendment was unintentionally voided by the Pennsylvania Department of State. The constitutional amendment creating the window was not properly advertised and is now void. 

To amend Pennsylvania’s constitution in the traditional way, a bill must pass in identical form in two consecutive legislative sessions. After each passage, the bill must be advertised. After the second passage of the bill, it goes to voters for their approval. 

“Unfortunately, we cannot change the past for victims of sexual abuse, but we can change the future,” said Senator Wayne Fontana (D-Allegheny). “And we can do that now.  I, once again, call for the General Assembly to pass legislation to open the 2-year window for civil action and eliminate the criminal and civil statute of limitations for sex abuse.  It is time to give victims the justice they deserve.”

Senate Democrats stated they do not believe that survivors should have to wait any longer for justice. They were promised a chance at a two-year window to seek closure, and they deserve to have that promise fulfilled. The path to justice should be expeditiously and relentlessly pursued, whether through an immediate legislative solution, or through a bipartisan, emergency constitutional amendment process that would waive the two-session requirement of a standard constitutional amendment. 

“Survivors of abuse have been denied justice for far too long,” said Senator Maria Collett (D-Montgomery/Bucks). “Through no fault of their own, victims have had to grapple with setback after setback – but justice delayed is justice denied. We have the authority to create a pathway to justice now through the legislation we’ve introduced today. I call on my colleagues in the General Assembly to pass these bills allowing survivors to finally seek the justice they deserve.”

Statutory windows to justice have been upheld constitutionally in several other states, and the Senate Democratic Caucus members said they believe that it is an acceptable and necessary step toward justice here in Pennsylvania.

“Refusing to consider this bill because what alleged abusers might do to further escape accountability isn’t just wrong, it’s revictimizing survivors,” said Senator Lindsey Williams (D-Allegheny). “It’s time for the Senate, and the General Assembly, to be leaders in the fight for justice for these survivors.”

Members have also introduced an updated version of Senate Bill 540 from last session which would amend Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) to: 

  1. Eliminate the criminal and civil statute of limitation for sexual abuse, assault and misconduct for all survivors, regardless of age, 
  2. Provide a 2 year civil window to revive previously expired SOL claims with a 6-month delay, and
  3. Prohibit non disclosure agreements that would otherwise prevent an adult survivor to report.

“We led the fight last session to reform Pennsylvania’s statute of limitations, and we will not let up now,” said Senator Tim Kearney (D-Delaware). “The process of a constitutional amendment was unnecessary in the first place. Survivors have waited long enough for justice, and they shouldn’t have to wait another two years because of an administrative mistake. We must pass this bill now, because justice delayed is justice denied.” 

“There are few issues that are more emotionally charged than the decades-long denial of justice to childhood victims of sexual assault,” said Senator Steve Santarsiero (D-Bucks). “Their stories of abuse have been seared into the public consciousness.  We can, and must, act today to ensure there is no further delay in bringing these victims closer to the justice they have been denied for too long.  They must have their day in court.”

All Senators reiterated the importance of passing legislation that brings justice to the adult victims of sexual abuse who could not seek it as children, and that protects future generations of Pennsylvanians from such horrors. Democrats ask for a swift passage of these bills and the Governor’s commitment to signing them into law as soon as they get to his desk.

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Podemos y debemos hacer justicia

Por Steve Santarsiero, senador estatal (D-10, condado de Bucks)

A principios de esta semana se reveló que el Departamento de Estado de Pensilvania no había anunciado la aprobación en 2019 de una propuesta de enmienda a la constitución del estado que permitiría a las víctimas de abusos sexuales a menores, cuyas demandas habían prescrito, un plazo de dos años para presentar demandas contra las personas e instituciones responsables. El hecho de no haberlo hecho significa que cualquier enmienda de este tipo deberá esperar ahora al menos otros dos años antes de poder ser promulgada.

Hay pocos temas que tengan más carga emocional que la denegación de justicia a esas víctimas durante décadas. Sus historias de abusos han quedado grabadas a fuego en la conciencia pública. Deben tener su día en los tribunales. A pesar del error del Departamento, todavía pueden hacerlo, de hecho este mismo año. Sin embargo, antes de abordar este punto, merece la pena considerar las consecuencias políticas de las noticias de esta semana.

La obligación de anunciar la aprobación por el poder legislativo de una propuesta de reforma de la Constitución recae en el Secretario de Estado. Aunque, en la práctica, estas tareas recaen en el personal del Departamento, en el que el Secretario confía razonablemente para hacer su trabajo, parafraseando a Harry Truman, la responsabilidad recae en los responsables. Aceptando esa responsabilidad, la Secretaria Kathy Boockvar presentó su dimisión al Gobernador, y éste la aceptó. En el proceso, sin embargo, la Commonwealth pierde a una auténtica servidora pública. 

La Secretaria Boockvar comenzó su mandato supervisando, frente a la considerable oposición del Partido Republicano de Pensilvania, la transición del estado de sus antiguas máquinas de votación a las que utilizan papeletas verificables, que siempre pueden contarse en caso de disputa. Luego administró la implementación de la nueva ley de votantes ausentes sin culpa de Pensilvania. La aprobación de esa ley en 2019, combinada con la preocupación del público por la pandemia, dio lugar a un número sin precedentes de personas que emitieron su voto por correo en 2020. Ella siguió ambos logros trabajando con funcionarios del condado para garantizar que los votos de todos se contaran en las elecciones de noviembre, a pesar de los persistentes intentos de privar del derecho al voto a los millones de residentes de Pensilvania que eligieron votar por correo. A lo largo de ese proceso, Boockvar fue una defensora imperturbable de nuestra democracia, incluso frente a numerosas amenazas contra su seguridad personal y la de su familia. La suya fue una trayectoria de servicio ejemplar y, de hecho, valiente.

La ironía de todo esto, por supuesto, es que en realidad nunca hubo necesidad de enmendar la constitución del estado para permitir a las víctimas de abusos sexuales a menores acceder a la justicia. La Asamblea General puede aprobar hoy una ley -que el Gobernador ha dicho que firmará, si lo hace- que permita la llamada mirada retrospectiva de dos años. Los juristas y el Fiscal General coinciden en que esto puede y debe hacerse. 

Entonces, ¿por qué estamos tratando de enmendar la constitución y tirando a un servidor público dedicado en el proceso? Porque los líderes republicanos de la Cámara de Representantes y el Senado se niegan a que se someta a votación. Argumentan que, si se aprobara, se cuestionaría su constitucionalidad. Puede ser, pero el hecho de que los responsables de lo ocurrido a niños inocentes puedan impugnar una nueva ley que ofrece reparación a las víctimas, ahora adultas, no significa que la impugnación vaya a prosperar, y no debería permitirse que siga sirviendo de excusa para la inacción de la legislatura. 

Esta semana, los senadores Muth, Kearney, Collett, Lindsey Williams y yo presentamos un proyecto de ley en el Senado estatal. Esperamos que se presente un proyecto de ley similar en la Cámara de Representantes. La legislación debe ser sometida a votación y enviada a la mesa del Gobernador sin demora. Lo contrario supondría una continuación innecesaria del retraso de la justicia para las víctimas. Ya es suficientemente grave que el error del Departamento de Estado nos haga perder al Secretario Boockvar; no agravemos esa pérdida negando de nuevo la justicia a quienes ya han esperado demasiado. 

Statement: 16 Democratic State Senators Denounce Frivolous Election Lawsuits and Continued Attempts to Undermine our Democracy

HARRISBURG – Diciembre 10, 2020 – Today the following members of the Pennsylvania State Senate signed a joint statement – set forth below – denouncing the brazen attempt of the attorneys general of Texas and seventeen other states to disenfranchise millions of Pennsylvanians and voters in three other states by asking the United States Supreme Court to prevent electors in Pennsylvania and those other states that voted for Joe Biden from certifying him the winner when they meet in Harrisburg and the other state capitals on Lunes, Diciembre 14. 

The statement reads as follows:

“The lawsuit by the attorneys general of Texas, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah and West Virginia is based on the outright lie that voter fraud prevented Donald Trump from getting re-elected.  Since Election Day, the Trump legal team has filed scores of such suits trying to overturn the will of the people. Time and again, the judges in those matters – in many cases conservative, Republican judges, some of whom Donald Trump appointed himself – have found that there was no evidence to support those claims and dismissed the suits accordingly.

The bedrock of our democracy is the right to vote and the right of voters to be sure that their votes will be counted.  This lawsuit and others like it are a direct attack on that fundamental principle.  It seeks to perpetuate the lie that the presidential election was somehow stolen.  While partisan politics – and a desire to appease the president’s restive base – may be the motivation for this latest court challenge, allowing it to go forward in silence is dangerous and, we believe, would constitute a dereliction of our duty as elected representatives of the people to uphold the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

The facts are these:  Joe Biden received over 81 million votes, more than any candidate for president in the history of the United States and about 7 million more than Donald Trump.  He received 80,555 more votes than the president in Pennsylvania.  Mr. Biden received the most votes in 25 states and the District of Columbia, and, therefore, on Diciembre 14 when the Electoral College convenes, will be awarded 306 electoral votes, 36 more than the 270 needed to be elected president.  Every vote cast for Joe Biden was cast freely and fairly, whether in person or by mail.  In each state the vote-counting process was transparent and undertaken pursuant to law.  Local and state officials, both Republican and Democratic alike, have attested to those facts, and, as noted, the courts have agreed.  Joe Biden won the election.

Donald Trump has lost his bid for re-election; he seems incapable of accepting that fact.  For the first time in American History, a sitting president who lost re-election has refused to acknowledge his loss, acting instead like a would-be autocrat who cannot accept any outcome that does not have him staying in power.  While that may be a commentary on the character of the man, it cannot be a cause for setting aside the will of the people.

All of us have a responsibility – indeed we would go so far as to say a sacred duty – to ourselves, our fellow Americans and generations to come to prevent the lie that this election was stolen from living on and undermining future elections.  For these reasons we have signed this statement and call upon others to likewise speak out and denounce this lawsuit against our state for what it is: an attack on our democracy.”

Signed,

Senator Steve Santarsiero, 10th District  

Senator Vincent Hughes, 7th District   

Senator Maria Collett, 12th District 

 Senator Judy Schwank, 11th District 

Senator Tim Kearney, 26th District 

Senator Christine Tartaglione, 2nd District  

Sen.-Elect Amanda M. Cappelletti, 17th District     

Sen.-Elect Carolyn Comitta, 19th District  

Senator Jay Costa, 43rd District    

Senator Anthony H. Williams, 8thDistrict

Senator Katie Muth, 44th District 

Senator Art Haywood, 4th District

Senator Sharif Street, 3rdDistrict          

Senator Lindsey Williams, 38th District

Sen.-Elect Nikil Saval, 1st District

Sen.-Elect John Kane, 9th District

Pa Senate Dems Unveil Innovative $4 Billion Pandemic Relief Plan to Help Front-Line Workers, Vulnerable Residents, Small Businesses and More

Pennsylvania − Diciembre 4, 2020 − Aiming to stimulate Pennsylvania’s economy by providing direct aid to workers, families, small businesses and other vulnerable populations, the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus announced a bold, innovative $4 billion pandemic relief plan Viernes morning.

The Pennsylvania Coronavirus Aid, Relief & Economic Security Act of 2021 (PA CARES 21) Plan would fund previously existing aid programs and establish new programs to help struggling Pennsylvanians and struggling areas of the commonwealth’s economy.

“Folks have not seen pandemic-specific relief from the state or federal government since last spring, yet thousands remain unemployed, underemployed and struggle with their housing and utility bills. This cannot go on any longer,” said Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa. “There are immediate needs in communities across this state that must be addressed immediately. We are in the middle of another surge in COVID cases, hospitalizations and deaths. We need help to recover, personally and financially; the state must play an active role in that recovery and that is what our plan today does.”

“Thousands of Pennsylvanians have been hurt by this pandemic and have received some assistance to get through this generational crisis — however it is time to do more in that space to get people the help they need,” Sen. Hughes said. “Rather than use federal dollars to help people in their time of need, we used the money to plug budget holes, telling people we had to keep state operations running to prevent further crisis. Having averted that crisis, it is now our job to step up and help our communities. They cannot wait any longer for help and the legislature must act now.” 

PA CARES 21 authorizes the commonwealth to issue $4 billion in emergency debt to (1) recapitalize programs previously funded with federal CARES funds pursuant to Acts 2A, 24 and 30 of 2020 and (2) establish new programs that provide targeted assistance to struggling Pennsylvanians and struggling sectors of the Pennsylvania economy. 

Where appropriate, this proposal utilizes the programs created under Act 24 of 2020 to drive out the funds.  If proposed funding does not fit into an existing program (e.g., utility assistance), a new program will be created. Additionally, the caucus supports fixing programs created by Act 24 (e.g., PHFA’s rental assistance program) as requested by stakeholders to maximize program effectiveness.

The PA Senate Democrats propose allocating the funds to the following priorities (a detailed spreadsheet of the spending proposal is attached):

  • $800 million in business assistance
  • $1 billion in UC benefits
  • $594 million in local government assistance
  • $135 million in hazard pay
  • $318 million in DHS programs
  • $250 million in basic education
  • $136 million in higher education
  • $100 million to hospitals
  • $100 million to utility assistance
  • $75 million in child care
  • $100 million in housing assistance
  • $50 million in food security
  • $25 million in pre-k education
  • $25 million for PPE and vaccines
  • $15 million for mental health funding
  • $180 million in transportation funding

“There is no overstating the economic toll COVID has taken and continues to take on families and businesses across the Commonwealth,” said Senator Maria Collett (D-Montgomery). “As a former infection control nurse, I promise you that the sacrifices you’ve made have saved lives and prevented long-term health complications associated with this dangerous virus for so many. But I also know these words offer little comfort when you are struggling to pay the mortgage, or juggle your job and the constant changes to your kids’ schooling, or keep your business afloat. Government is supposed to work for you and that is exactly what our PACARES 21 proposal does. It identifies ways to get money into the hands of those who need it most, including those about to lose their COVID unemployment benefits, frontline workers, child care centers, and our main street businesses, especially local restaurants and bars, in the quickest, most efficient way possible. Your families and your businesses can’t afford to wait any longer for relief. So until our communities are safe and our economy is running at full steam again, it is critical that we extend this lifeline and do so now.” 

“As the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths in Pennsylvania continues to climb, it is the General Assembly’s duty and obligation to provide relief to all those affected – unemployed folks, front-line workers, small businesses, and especially hospitals that serve high-Medicaid populations as well as our institutions of higher education,” said Senator Tina Tartaglione (D-Philadelphia). “These are the pillars of society that serve us in our times of greatest need and will lead our recovery.”

“There’s no denying that cases of the coronavirus are growing every day,” said Senator-elect Carolyn Comitta (D-Chester). “We need to do more than just say, ‘help is on the way.’ We need a bold, innovative plan to deliver it to Pennsylvanians. PA CARES 21 gives us more tools, more resources, and the flexibility to prepare for the future.”

“We are entering a stage of the pandemic that is, by virtually every measure, worse than the first stage, laying bare and exacerbating inequalities in all our health systems, devastating essential workers, and disproportionately harming Black and brown people,” said Senator-elect Nikil Saval (D-Philadelphia). “We need to keep people in their homes, fight hunger and food insecurity, and give our children every tool they need to learn. We need this stimulus because our communities desperately need support and relief.”

More information on the proposal and the caucus’ work in pandemic relief is available online at pasenate.com/pacares.

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Senators Santarsiero, Collett Ask Governor to Allow Businesses in Personal Service Industry to Operate During Yellow and Green Phases of Reopening

BUCKS COUNTY – Mayo 28, 2020 – Senators Steve Santarsiero (D-10) and Maria Collett (D-12) were joined by State Representatives Perry Warren (D-31), Tina Davis (D-141), John Galloway (D-140) and Wendy Ullman (D-143) in asking Governor Wolf to issue an executive order permitting personal services businesses, such as barbers and salons, located in counties in the yellow or green phase to reopen with enhanced safety measures. 

The letter references a plan for reopening of the personal service industry used in neighboring Ohio, developed by a personal services workgroup at the request of Ohio’s Governor. The Ohio plan includes a list of requirements and best practices for businesses to implement, such as maintaining six feet of social distancing (except between the client and employee when appropriate), requiring employees to wear facial coverings (with some exceptions), requiring businesses to clean high-touch items after each use, and requiring employees to wear gloves and dispose of gloves in between tasks.

“During a productive call with 45 barbers and hair stylists from across the Commonwealth, they shared the process for reopening their industry that is being implemented in Ohio,” said Sen. Santarsiero.  “Based on the precautions they recommend, paired with the hundreds of hours of training that licensed professionals in the industry receive in sanitation, sterilization and hygiene, I believe it is time to safely reopen this sector of Pennsylvania’s economy.”

“I have heard from many hair, nail, and tanning salon owners in my district, the majority of these salons being women- and minority-owned, who are ready and able to implement these expanded safety guidelines and return to serving our communities,” said Sen. Collett. “It is important that we continue to generate and propose creative solutions and compromises so that businesses in yellow phase counties can begin to resume operations and rebuild while we continue to protect the public health.”

The full text of the letter to Governor Wolf can be found here.

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PA Senate Democrats Urge Action on Legislation for Working Families, Pledge to Oppose Partisan COVID Task Force

Harrisburg, PA − Abril 8, 2020 − The Senate adjourned Martes afternoon after the House Republicans indicated they would not be taking up Senate Bill 841, legislation that would have enabled local municipalities to hold their meetings remotely, permitted e-notary use; lengthened the time period a property tax payer can receive an early payment discount and delay penalties for late payments to Dec. 31st; and allowed businesses to make delayed payments on EITC. Another important amendment offered by Senator Pam Iovino (D-Allegheny) allowed school districts to renegotiate contracts to ensure contracted school workers can get paid and continue to receive benefits.

The amended SB 841 passed the Senate with bipartisan support. While the Senate Democrats and Republicans chose to put partisan difference aside, the House Republicans were pushing to please special interests and big donors. Intending to use this crisis as leverage, Speaker Turzai and his caucus passed legislation to prematurely allow businesses to reopen during this public health crisis and create a partisan task force to interfere with the Governor’s disaster response, both of which unnecessarily risk lives and threaten to expend the emergency.

“While the Governor and Department of Health Secretary offer leadership on public safety in daily briefings and Democratic members of the PA House and Senate draft legislation to protect working people who are either out of work or employed on the front lines of essential businesses, Republicans are putting lives at risk and undermining the Governor and Secretary Levine’s best efforts to end this crisis,” said Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr. “Instead of taking the advice of our Health Secretary, they are trying to slow down our response and hasten the re-opening of non-essential businesses against the guidance of every public health entity in the country.”

The House Republicans were seeking even more egregious measures to provide civil immunity to big businesses, upend school districts ability to pay their teachers, and leave our corrections department employees at serious threat of the Coronavirus. Perhaps worst of all, the language does nothing to protect frontline workers, provide assistance to those that are out of work, or to help small businesses weather this crisis.

In an amendment to Senate Bill 327, House Republicans designed a task force with partisan appointees to usurp the Governor’s ability to rapidly respond to this quickly-evolving crisis. Their bill would require the Secretary of Health to leave PEMA, take hours away from public health crisis planning and defend her work in front of a redundant, political body.

The Senate Democratic Caucus will not support these bills. Alternatively, this caucus will be supporting legislation on the following issues:

  • The American Working Family Relief Action Plan for front-line worker protections (Collett/L. Williams)
  • Protecting workers during public health emergencies (Santarsiero)
  • COVID-19 Food Worker Safety Act (Tartaglione)
  • COVID-19 Grocery Store Worker Safety Act (Tartaglione)
  • Payment of contract services in schools (Iovino)
  • Childcare assistance (Schwank/L. Williams)
  • Emergency expansion of the Family Medical Leave Act to provide paid sick leave (Farnese)
  • Crisis grants for volunteer fire and EMS companies due to COVID-19 (Brewster)
  • Require business interruption insurance to cover COVID-19 related business closures (Hughes)
  • Eviction protection for all disaster emergencies (Farnese)
  • Coronavirus disease and schools: allowing for online instruction (Dinniman)
  • Creating a Common Wealth Fund to collect donations from individuals to provide for essential needs of those in need (AH Williams)
  • Providing a presumption of eligibility for Workers’ Compensation benefits for workers that get sick in the workplace (Tartaglione)
  • Ensuring receipt of a stimulus check from the Federal government is not included in an individual’s income for purposes of qualifying for social safety nets (Schwank)
  • Exempting stimulus checks from the Federal government from State and local taxation (Brewster)
  • Collaborating with financial institutions to mandate mortgage loan forgiveness, assistance to homeowners that were laid off due to state emergencies (Farnese)

“While many working Pennsylvanians are suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic, facing lost hours or even complete unemployment, others who find themselves in more fortunate circumstances have expressed a desire to help their fellow citizens by either donating to a local charity or patronizing local businesses,” said Senator Anthony H. Williams. “By establishing the “Pennsylvania Common Wealth” restricted account, taxpayers could redirect all or a portion of their stimulus check to the state, which in turn would be authorized to direct those funds into programs which help the neediest Pennsylvanians – property tax & rent rebates, temporary assistance for needy families, CHIP or medical assistance.”

“Pennsylvania needs solutions that help protect its working people who have been hit the hardest by the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic,” Senator Vincent Hughes said. “We in the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus have put forth a number of policy proposals that would do just that, meanwhile House Republicans have chosen to ignore these needs and push an agenda that jeopardizes public health and puts additional pressure on working people by delaying immediate relief. Our mission should be helping people in this unprecedented time of need and we will remain vigilant in protecting hardworking folks across the commonwealth.” 

“As public servants, our most important duty is to protect the health, safety and welfare of our citizens. This includes making difficult decisions in challenging times. We all want businesses to reopen, employees back on the job, students back in classrooms and some semblance of normal life to resume, but that cannot happen unless we first continue mitigation efforts and follow the advice of our scientists and experts,” said Senator Wayne D. Fontana. “Anything contrary can set back progress and cause further harm on our economy and most importantly, on human health. The bipartisan legislation the Senate approved provides some necessary guidance and relief to local governments, businesses, school employees and property taxpayers during this unprecedented situation. It is unconscionable that House Republicans blatantly disregarded that duty and have chosen not to act.”

“The spread of coronavirus has not quieted the voice of special interests in Harrisburg and that’s tragic,” said Senator Larry Farnese. “Mitigation through isolation is working and we have to recognize that sacrifice through legislation that actually helps front-line workers instead of just saying nice things on social media.”

“This crisis and the Commonwealth’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic requires leadership, transparency and cooperation – not partisan politics,” said Senator John Blake. “While we’ve worked well with the Senate majority on real solutions that actually help people in this crisis, the House majority looks to undermine the executive authority of the Governor as well as the advice of medical and scientific experts regarding public health.  I applaud the work being done by Governor Wolf and his administration to keep Pennsylvanians safe and to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. I will continue to support important legislation to help our business community, front-line workers and medical professionals; and to protect our citizens, schools and local governments across this state. We need to remain vigilant in following the recommendations of the PA Department of Health and the federal CDC.”

“Issues that the Commonwealth was already facing have been exacerbated by this pandemic, and child care services and early learning programs are near the top of the list. Childcare centers are teetering on the brink of insolvency, which is why part of our legislative package addresses early childhood learning and safe, quality childcare. We will not be able to restart Pennsylvania’s economy without this key component,” Senator Judy Schwank said. “Additionally, it’s vital that the income requirements of state programs like PACENET and Property Tax and Rent Rebate are adjusted so that Pennsylvanians receiving federal aid are not penalized later.”

“The key to an effective response to the pandemic is to ensure that our citizens are protected, health risks are addressed, and our economy restarts quickly,” Senator Jim Brewster said. “That’s why I introduced a six-point stimulus plan that will help small business, protect workers and create jobs once we are clear the threat posed by the pandemic. In addition, we need to make sure to address the immediate and long-term needs of first responders and all workers and businesses who are providing essential services during this time of extraordinary stress.”

“There is no segment of our Commonwealth that hasn’t been upended by this crisis. Everything is a priority. But in order to save livelihoods, we must first save lives,” said Senator Maria Collett. “As a nurse, I know firsthand the challenges our health care workers are up against and the urgency of passing legislation like the American Working Family Relief Action Plan for Front-Line Workers. Our doctors, nurses, first responders, senior care aides and others should not have to worry about getting sick or infecting others while performing their essential work.”

“It is irresponsible for the state to reopen businesses at the height of the COVID-19 outbreak. Those who are not essential workers should remain home,” said Senator Art Haywood. We need to do all we can as legislators to support essential employees risking their lives on a daily basis,” said Senator Haywood (D-Montgomery/Philadelphia). “I will continue to support the work Governor Wolf and Secretary Levine have done to inform the public to remain safe and stay home.”

“The citizens of Pennsylvania are counting on their elected representatives to save lives by responding swiftly, pragmatically, and in a bipartisan manner to slow the spread of this highly contagious virus,” said Senator Pam Iovino. “To fulfill our duty to the public, we must follow the consensus guidance of public health professionals, focus on protecting front-line essential workers, and put in place protections that allow furloughed or unemployed workers and small businesses to weather the economic disruption.”

“As the Democratic chair of the Local Government Committee, I worked with stakeholders for weeks to craft the provisions of SB 841, I am disappointed these commonsense measures, which passed the Senate with bipartisan support, are being held up by House Republicans for little reason,” said Senator Tim Kearney. “The House should immediately pass SB 841 and focus on bringing relief to Pennsylvanians, rather than sabotaging the Governor’s efforts to keep our families safe.”

“Yesterday, the majority party in both chambers failed to use their legislative power, where they can literally pass any bill they want to, and instead decided to pack up and go home without,” said Senator Katie Muth. “Failing to pass meaningful bills when people are fighting for their lives is simply negligent.”

“Now is not the time to play politics,” said Senator Steve Santarsiero. “Saving lives has to be the first priority.  In order to do that, we must all do our part and follow the Governor’s and Department of Health’s plans as they’ve been explained to us countless times. SB 841 is just one of many ways our caucus has worked in a bipartisan effort to provide relief to those who need it most. However, SB 327 is exactly what our healthcare professionals warn us against. Promoting a premature return to normalcy will only undermine our effort to keep the public safe, and further endanger thousands of lives.”

“Government’s most important role is the protection of its people. Since the COVID-19 crisis the Senate has met three times, with little to show for it. Communities across the commonwealth have no interest in the paralysis of government especially in the most desperate of times.  What they do care about is the protection of our essential workforce, the interruption of our small businesses,  job loss, staying in their homes and educating their children. The only thing that matters is the preservation and protection  of every resource needed to keep families safe during this health crisis,” said Senator Sharif Street.   

 “We need to be back in Harrisburg, we need to get back to work.  We must work together to ensure our communities are protected during uncertain times.”

 “As thousands of Pennsylvanians continue to get sick and hundreds die, now is no time to play partisan politics,” Senator Tina Tartaglione said. “As public leaders, we must unite behind the common goal of reducing the threat of this virus and mitigating the harm being done to our constituents. The package of bills we have proposed will directly help all Pennsylvania families, including essential workers, displaced workers, first responders, school children, those who have become sick, and those in need. I urge all legislators from all political parties to support these bills.”

“Stopping the spread of COVID-19 and saving lives is our top priority. We also need to protect and support our constituents, our communities, and our businesses,” said Senator Lindsey Williams. “Our front-line essential workers – our hospital workers, grocery store workers, emergency service personnel and others – cannot afford to wait for PPE. They needed it weeks ago. Our childcare facilities need our help to stay open and provide care to the children of our essential workers while they risk their lives for us. Our small businesses need financial support to stay afloat. Our municipalities need the ability to meet remotely and make decisions that will ensure the safety of all of residents. There are a lot of needs right now and our constituents do not have time for us to waste playing partisan games or naming bridges. The Senate Democrats have offered concrete solutions that will help people. We should all be working together to get them to the Governor’s desk for signature as soon as possible.”

More information on the work of the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus during the COVID-19 crisis can be found at pasenate.com/covid19.

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Senators Santarsiero and Collett Respond to Wage History Ruling

Harrisburg, PA −  Febrero 10, 2020 − On Jueves, a federal appeals court upheld a Philadelphia law prohibiting employers from asking about wage history. The ruling partially reversed a lower court’s 2018 decision that said the city could not ban employers from asking about salary history but could ban them from using it to determine wages.

“The recent Third Circuit decision is great news for those of us fighting to close the wage gap for Pennsylvania’s women,” Sen. Collett said. “Pennsylvania continues to lag behind other states when it comes to equal pay. Banning inquiries into an applicant’s previous salary makes perfect sense; doing otherwise would simply reinforce entrenched inequalities.”

Similar legislation has been signed in recent years by New York City, the Massachusetts legislature and the state of New Jersey, which approved the policy last summer.

Unfortunately, a sizeable wage gap continues to exist between men and women across the Commonwealth.  In fact, women in Pennsylvania earn 79 cents for every dollar paid to men, which results in a wage gap of over $10,000 per year.

Sen. Santarsiero added, “While the recent court decision in Philadelphia is a tremendous victory for the national equal pay movement, there are still many facets of the fight for equal pay in Pennsylvania that need to be addressed. Equal pay for equal work should not be a partisan issue, and yet lawmakers in Harrisburg have avoided commonsense policy changes, such as updating the state’s antiquated Equal Pay Law.” 

To combat unequal pay in the workplace, the senators introduced legislation earlier this session, Senate Bill 721, to update Pennsylvania’s Equal Pay Law as follows: 

  1. Broaden the scope of current law to include more employees and fringe benefits; 
  2. Protect employees from retaliation when inquiring about wage information, ensuring wages are based on bona fide factors; and 
  3. Provide workers the ability to collect unpaid wages when an employer is found to violate the law. 

This legislation mirrors a proposal in the House of Representatives co-sponsored by Representatives Brian Sims (D-182) and Tina Davis (D-141), introduced as House Bill 850. 

For more information on SB 721, click here.

For more information on HB 850, click here.

Sen. Steve Santarsiero represents the 10th Senatorial District, which includes: Bedminster Township, Buckingham Township, Chalfont, Doylestown, Doylestown Township, Dublin, East Rockhill Township, Falls Township, Haycock Township, Hilltown Township, Lower Makefield Township, Morrisville, New Britain, New Britain Township, New Hope, Newtown, Newtown Township, Perkasie, Plumstead Township, Sellersville, Silverdale, Solebury Township, Telford, Tullytown, Upper Makefield Township, West Rockhill Township, and Yardley.

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Un grupo de senadores demócratas solicita una audiencia o la votación en comisión de los proyectos de ley destinados a proteger una asistencia sanitaria estable y de calidad en Pensilvania.

HARRISBURG - 7 de enero de 2020 - Los senadores estatales Vincent Hughes (D-Filadelfia/Montgomery), Pam Iovino (D-Allegheny/Washington), Steve Santarsiero (D-Bucks), Maria Collett (D-Montgomery/Bucks), y Tim Kearney (D-Delaware/Chester) han solicitado que el Comité de Banca y Seguros del Senado estatal tome medidas sobre cuatro proyectos de ley destinados a mantener el compromiso de Pensilvania con un seguro estable y de calidad para sus ciudadanos.

El grupo de senadores demócratas envió el martes una carta al presidente de la Comisión de Banca y Seguros del Senado, Mario Scavello (R-Monroe/Northampton), instándole a que convoque una audiencia pública o una reunión de votación sobre un paquete de proyectos de ley de salud que mantendría las disposiciones clave de la Ley de Protección al Paciente y Cuidado de Salud Asequible (PPACA) en caso de que cambie la ley federal de salud. La solicitud de acción sobre los proyectos de ley se produce a raíz de un reciente fallo de un tribunal federal de apelaciones en Nueva Orleans que consideró inconstitucional la PPACA.

Entre los proyectos de ley presentados para audiencia pública o votación en comisión figuran:

"La Ley de Protección al Paciente y Cuidado de Salud Asequible ha sido fundamental para mejorar la salud y el bienestar de nuestro pueblo, lo que hace que preservar sus disposiciones sea una de las prioridades más importantes de la legislatura estatal en 2020", dijo el senador Hughes. "Debemos trabajar juntos para mantener una atención médica asequible y de calidad para todos los residentes de Pensilvania, especialmente a medida que lanzamos nuestro intercambio de atención médica estatal este año."

La legislatura de Pensilvania aprobó la Ley 42 de 2019 con apoyo bipartidista, estableciendo un mercado de seguros para ayudar a reducir los costos de atención médica de los residentes en un estimado del 5 al 10 por ciento. Los senadores tienen la esperanza de que la legislatura estatal pueda volver a trabajar unida por el pueblo de Pensilvania.

"Las protecciones básicas de la Ley de Asistencia Asequible han beneficiado a millones de residentes de Pensilvania, proporcionando un acceso asequible a una asistencia sanitaria de calidad y creando seguridad y estabilidad financiera", dijo el senador Iovino. "No podemos correr el riesgo de que estas protecciones vitales desaparezcan si la ACA es revocada. Nuestra legislación para proteger la asistencia sanitaria para los residentes de Pensilvania merece plena consideración por parte del Senado."

Como ejemplo de lo importante que ha sido la PPACA, la carta de los senadores señaló que las actuales disposiciones federales han beneficiado a 4,5 millones de ciudadanos de Pensilvania al eliminar los límites anuales y de por vida. También ha permitido a casi 90.000 adultos jóvenes permanecer en el seguro de sus padres desde que se promulgó en 2010.

"La ACA está actualmente amenazada a nivel federal. Los desafíos judiciales pendientes podrían dar lugar a la totalidad o parte de esta ley innovadora de ser derogada", el senador Santarsiero. "Debemos avanzar con estos proyectos de ley en el Senado para proteger el acceso de los residentes de Pensilvania a la asistencia sanitaria y garantizar que no pierdan la cobertura que tienen actualmente."

"Los ciudadanos de Pensilvania han sido muy elocuentes sobre la importancia del acceso a una atención sanitaria asequible", dijo el senador Collett. "Nosotros, como legisladores estatales, debemos estar preparados para actuar frente a la inestabilidad a nivel federal. Celebremos una audiencia y hagamos avanzar el debate". Como enfermera y esposa de un enfermo crónico de cáncer, sé de primera mano que muchas vidas penden de un hilo aquí."

"La atención sanitaria es un derecho humano básico y debemos luchar por el acceso a una atención de calidad y asequible para todos los residentes de Pensilvania", dijo el senador Kearney. "Dada la incertidumbre en los tribunales federales, la legislatura estatal debe dar un paso adelante para asegurar que nuestra gente está cubierta y protegida. Es por eso que me uno a la convocatoria de audiencia pública sobre estos proyectos de ley bipartidistas para asegurar que todos puedan obtener la atención que necesitan."

Puede leer la carta completa aquí.

Senators Santarsiero, Collett Introduce Bill to Provide Attorney General with Concurrent Jurisdiction in Environmental Crimes

HARRISBURG – Mayo 16, 2019 – Senators Steve Santarsiero (D-10) and Maria Collett (D-12) issued a joint memorandum inviting fellow senators to join them in support of a packet of legislation that provides Pennsylvania’s Office of Attorney General (OAG) with concurrent jurisdiction in matters involving environmental crimes.

The legislative packet the senators are introducing will provide the OAG with concurrent jurisdiction in environmental criminal cases under Pennsylvania’s Solid Waste Management Act, Clean Streams Law, and Safe Drinking Water Act.

Currently, the OAG cannot take action in such cases unless it first receives a referral from the local district attorney, the Department of Environmental Protection, or another agency with jurisdiction.

“The legislation Senator Collett and I are co-sponsoring will provide the Commonwealth’s top law enforcement officer with a greater ability to pursue bad actors who violate our constitutional right to clean air, pure water and the preservation of our natural resources,” Sen. Santarsiero said. “As a former Chief Deputy Attorney General for Environmental Protection in Pennsylvania, I have firsthand experience in how cumbersome, time consuming, and counter-productive the current process can be. It’s time to untie the hands of our state prosecutors so that they can bring those who commit such crimes to justice.”    

“This legislation is particularly urgent because it would give the Attorney General the power to take action against the polluters who created the PFAS contamination crisis in my district and across the Commonwealth,” said Sen. Collett, who has introduced legislation to set an interim maximum contaminant level for PFAS chemicals and have them classified as hazardous under the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act (HSCA). “As legislators, one of our jobs is to make sure our government has the tools it needs to keep our communities safe and go after those who endanger them.” 

A link to the memorandum can be found here.                                          

 

 

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Senate Democrats Jointly Introduce Bill to Eliminate Statute of Limitations for Sexual Offenses

HARRISBURG, PA − Abril 10, 2019 − Today, members of the Senate Democratic Caucus introduced legislation to eliminate the statute of limitations for sexual offenses and open a window for civil liability.

The legislation was introduced as Senate Bill 540. 

“I wanted to get to Harrisburg to amplify the voices of those who’ve gone unheard for far too long,” said Senator Tim Kearney. “Trauma does not have an expiration date; We will not limit survivors’ opportunities to seek justice.”

“I support Senate Bill 540 because it follows the unanimous recommendations of the Pennsylvania grand jury that spent two years examining widespread sexual abuse of children by Catholic clergy, and an institutional cover-up spanning decades,” Attorney General Josh Shapiro said. “Since the Grand Jury Report was released last Agosto, 16 other states have opened investigations into clergy abuse and cover-up, the U.S. Justice Department has launched a probe, 1600 people have called our clergy abuse hotline, and 35 states are considering legislative changes like those called for by the grand jury. It’s time for Pennsylvania lawmakers to do their part.”

“Sexual assault is horrific in every instance,” said Senator Maria Collett. “This legislation acknowledges the reality of why victims are often slow to report as well as the egregious lifelong damage this type of trauma inflicts.”

“In the PA House, I worked with Rep. Mark Rozzi in trying to eliminate the statute of limitations in cases of child sex abuse,” said Senator Steve Santarsiero. “Over the past few years support has steadily built for that idea.  This should be the year that we lift the statute for all victims of sexual violence, children and adults.  Justice demands no less.”

“SB 540 is a victim-centered bill that will finally allow all survivors to choose their pathway to healing and justice,” said Senator Katie Muth. “Sexual violence and abuse is a public health crisis and we must stop this rape culture epidemic.”

 “I’m hopeful that this bill will be embraced and ultimately passed with bipartisan support,” said Senator Lindsey Williams.

The bill would amend Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) to:

  • eliminate the criminal and civil statute of limitations (SOL) for sexual abuse, assault and misconduct victims whose abuse happened at any age;
  • provide a 2 year civil window to revive previously expired SOL claims, and; 
  • also provide a 6-month delay to the window in which survivors who wish to voluntarily settle their claim outside the court system are able to do so.

While this bill addresses the concerns of the Grand Jury report on church sex abuse, what will be introduced is not SB 261 of 2017-2018 nor HB 612 of 2017-2018, though those pieces of legislation did inform the context of this bill. 

“There is a war on sexual violence in this country and in so many ways, Pennsylvania has been ground zero,” said state Victim Advocate Jennifer Storm. “I am honored to stand here with our new Senators as we add more voices to this army of support to finally change our broken system, expose those who seek to behind it and offer a path to justice and healing for all Pennsylvania’s victims and survivors.”

The Senators were also joined by a handful of survivor victims who offered remarks on the need for this legislation.

This crisis is indiscriminate of age; there are countless victims who have been subjected to sexual abuse, assault and misconduct in their lifetime. A study done by the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) found that 82% of sexual assault victims are between the ages of 18 and 64. The 2015 National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey Date Brief showed that 55.6% of women surveyed were 18 years old or older when they were first-time victims of completed or attempted rape.

However, this research is based on reported abuse, assault and misconduct. The Bureau of Justice Statistics found that only 36% of rapes, 34% of attempted rapes, and 26% of sexual assaults were reported between 1992 and 2000. This data describes a marginalized population and does not reflect the real scope of the crisis due to under-reporting.

Senators signed on to sponsor the bill are: Senator Timothy P. Kearney and Senator Maria Collett, Senator Katie J. Muth, Senator Steven J. Santarsiero, Senator Lindsey Williams, Senator John P. Blake, Senator James R. Brewster, Senator Jay Costa, Senator Andrew E. Dinniman, Senator Lawrence M. Farnese, Jr., Senator Wayne D. Fontana, Senator Vincent J. Hughes, Senator Daylin Leach, Senator Judith L. Schwank, Senator Sharif Street, Senator Christine M. Tartaglione, Senator Anthony H. Williams.

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Senate Democrats to Introduce Legislation to Abolish Statute of Limitations For Sexual Offenses

Harrisburg – Abril 8, 2019 –  Members of the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus will introduce legislation to abolish the statute of limitations for a list of sexual offenses, regardless of whether the victim was a child or adult when the crime occurred.

They will be joined by supporters of the bill and survivors of sexual assault.

WHEN: Miércoles, Abril 10 at 9:30 am

WHERE: Main Capitol Rotunda

WHO: Senator Tim Kearney
Senator Maria Collett     
Senator Katie Muth
Senator Steve Santarsiero
Senator Lindsey Williams
Attorney General Josh Shapiro
Victims’ Advocate Jennifer Storm

Senators Santarsiero and Collett Introduce Bill to Modernize Pennsylvania’s Equal Pay Law

HARRISBURG – Abril 1, 2019 – On the eve of Equal Pay Day, Senators Steve Santarsiero (D-10) and Maria Collett (D-12) issued a joint memorandum inviting fellow senators to join them in support of legislation that will ensure workers are compensated fairly for their work.

Currently, women in Pennsylvania earn 79 cents for every dollar paid to men, amounting to a gap of over $10,000 a year. The gender wage gap is the result of multiple factors, including occupational segregation, bias against working mothers, and direct pay discrimination.

To combat unequal pay in the workplace, the senators will be introducing legislation to update Pennsylvania’s antiquated Equal Pay Law as follows:

  1. Broaden the scope of current law to include more employees and fringe benefits;
  2. Protect employees from retaliation when inquiring about wage information, ensuring wages are based on bona fide factors; and
  3. Provide workers the ability to collect unpaid wages when an employer is found to violate the law.

“Women contribute essential and valued work in every sector of our economy,” Sen. Santarsiero said. “It’s past time for us to guarantee women are paid fairly and fully for their work.”

Sen. Collett added, “Pennsylvania continues to lag behind other states when it comes to closing the wage gap, making Pennsylvania’s women – especially women of color – even worse off than the national average. The time for change is overdue. Closing the gender pay gap is good for our families, good for our economy, and good for Pennsylvania.”

Barbara Price, of the Bucks County Women’s Advocacy Coalition and the American Association of University Women, said on the issue of wage discrepancy, “Solving the gender pay gap is a matter of economics for women and families. With a record number of women in the workforce and nearly half of women functioning as primary or co-breadwinners, equal pay for women is critical to families’ economic security. Updating Pennsylvania’s Pay Equity Law to cover all employees will lift families and the Pennsylvania economy.”

“Pennsylvania’s Equal Pay Act needs to be updated to lift the economic barriers to women in the work place so they are paid family sustaining wages,” said Tam St. Claire, also of the Bucks County Women’s Advocacy Coalition. “If employed women in Pennsylvania were paid the same as comparable men, their poverty rate would be reduced by more than half, moving us toward equity and economic security for all.  Lifting the barriers to equal pay will also lift the economy.”

This legislation mirrors a proposal in the House of Representatives co-sponsored by Representatives Brian Sims (D-182) and Tina Davis (D-141), introduced as HB 850.

A link to the memorandum can be found here.                                         

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Companion Legislation to Expand #MeToo PA Act Provisions Proposed by Democratic Senators

Collett, Kearney, Muth, Santarsiero, and L. Williams seek additional reforms 

Harrisburg – Marzo 25, 2019 – Sens. Maria Collett (D-Bucks/Montgomery), Tim Kearney (D-Chester/Delaware), Katie Muth (D-Berks/Chester/Montgomery), Steve Santarsiero (D-Bucks), and Lindsey Williams (D-Allegheny) are sponsoring legislation to expand reforms included in the #MeToo PA General Assembly Act.

First introduced in the state House of Representatives by Rep. Leanne Krueger (D-Delaware) last session, the expanded #MeToo PA General Assembly Act seeks to add reforms to the process and procedures of addressing sexual harassment claims in the Pennsylvania legislature.

“The groundbreaking reform legislation introduced by Rep. Krueger established the framework for what my colleagues and I are building on with our Senate bill,” said Collett. “We need to implement and improve the procedures in which sexual assault and sexual harassment claims are addressed in our government. This legislation allows us to do that.”

Collett and Muth joined Krueger at a news conference today to support the #MeToo movement and unveil their bill.

“As a survivor and supporter of those who have come forward through the #MeToo movement, I believe it is imperative that legislation be put into action to correct serious issues within the process of addressing harassment claims in the General Assembly,” Muth said. “I look forward to working with my colleagues on implementing these reforms.”

The companion legislation being introduced in the Senate would:

  • Establish procedures for keeping investigatory, prosecutorial, and adjudicatory functions separate, as required under state law;
  • establish procedures for communicating temporary regulations that are necessary to promptly implement the new procedures; and
  • combine current settlement provisions with new provisions relating to the source of payment, personal liability of elected officials, and payment of awards.

“This is about creating a safe workplace where employees don’t have to look over their shoulders with worry,” said Kearney. “It’s about creating a system that doesn’t silence survivors, protect offenders, or waste taxpayer money. Going forward, we will ensure that wrongdoers face real repercussions while victims are heard. We will create a Capitol that sets the tone for the entire state.”

Krueger’s original legislation included the banning of non-disclosure agreements that mask the names of General Assembly members who are accused of harassment; requiring credibly accused members of the state legislature to repay any settlements that were paid with taxpayer dollars; and, requiring paid administrative leave, remote work assignments, and reimbursement for licensed counseling offered to employees during the adjudication of proceedings.

“Members of the General Assembly have the responsibility to conduct themselves in a manner that is beyond reproach,” Williams said. “This legislation ensures that members who break that faith are held accountable for their behavior, not the taxpayers.”

The Democratic senators said that their companion legislation would protect the staff and employees of the General Assembly.  Implementing these measures is long overdue, they said.

”We must protect victims of sexual harassment and assault,” Santarsiero said. “People need to feel that they can come forward safely without facing further harm. The safeguards that this legislation will provide are long past due.”

Since its start in 2017, the #MeToo movement has been instrumental in raising awareness of the epidemic of sexual harassment and sexual assault. The movement has also brought to the light the lack of formal processes for victims to report sexual harassment and assault and receive the necessary protections to effectively address these issues.

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Media Contact: Eryn Spangler, PA Senate Democrats Communications
Phone:
717-787-5166
Email:
Eryn.Spangler@pasenate.com

 

Senator-Elect Collett and Santarsiero Vow to Protect and Strengthen Healthcare Rights for Residents

BUCKS COUNTY – Diciembre 20, 2018  – Senators-elect Steve Santarsiero (D-10, Bucks) and Maria Collett (D-12, Bucks and Montgomery) issued a joint press release to local residents in response to the Texas court ruling on the Affordable Care Act (ACA). 

To address the Texas ruling, Senators-elect Santarsiero and Collett joined the Senate Democratic Caucus in co-sponsoring SB 50 and 51. SB 50 will protect Bucks and Montgomery County residents who have pre-existing conditions and SB 51 will protect the ten essential health benefits (EHB) covered by the ACA, making those benefits mandatory under state law. 

“Without SB 50 and SB 51, we are all at risk of losing coverage or essential benefits in light of this ruling. As a health care provider, I have seen the devastation caused when coverage is denied,” said Senator-elect Maria Collett. “No family should have to choose between meals and medical care. Senator-elect Santarsiero and I are committed to protecting our constituents and all Pennsylvanians so that no family suffers.” 

“The constant attempts at robbing residents their right to affordable and accessible healthcare must end,” Senator-elect Steve Santarsiero said. “Senator-elect Collett and I will work to protect and strengthen healthcare for all local residents. We’re not going to wait for the federal government to act on an issue that effects the lives of hundreds of thousands of local residents. While the ACA isn’t perfect, we want to ensure coverage for pre-existing conditions is protected and to make out-of-pocket costs and premiums more affordable. With SB 50 and 51, we come closer to securing greater healthcare rights for all.” 

For more on the bills that Senators-elect Santarsiero and Collett co-sponsored with the Senate Democratic Caucus, you can find the co-sponsorship memos here: 

* SB 50-Preexisting condition coverage: https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=S&SPick=20190&cosponId=27061   

* SB 51-Essential benefit coverage: https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=S&SPick=20190&cosponId=27062 

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