April 21, 2021
BUCKS COUNTY – April 21, 2021 – State Senator Steve Santarsiero (D-10) and state Representative John Galloway (D-140) announced the award of $125,000 in state funds from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) for projects in Falls Township and Tullytown Borough. The grants are awarded through the Commonwealth Financing Authority as funds authorized by Act 13.
Falls Township will receive $55,029 through the Greenways, Trails and Recreation Program for improvements to the township’s roller hockey rink. The project will make repairs to the existing rink, specifically installing new boards, repainting the surface and repairing existing fencing.
“I enthusiastically supported this project because the improvements to the Falls Township hockey rink will both encourage recreation, and drive economic growth with new revenue from rink rental and hockey league play funding park maintenance and future improvements,” said Sen. Santarsiero.
“I am pleased to see these funds going to improve the hockey rink in Falls Township,” said Rep. Galloway. “This project will be a boost to the community, providing recreation and a much-needed facelift to the rink.”
Tullytown Borough will receive $70,000 through the Watershed Restoration Protection Program for the construction of two rain gardens and a vegetate swale, which will help improve the impaired watershed of Martins Creek.
Sen. Santarsiero supported the project saying, “The rain garden and vegetated swale improvements to the community park in Tullytown is a great example of using native plants to help contain runoff from the creek. I was proud to advocate for this project, to protect and restore the creek which also helps to preserve local habitats.”
“The grant for Tullytown to improve the community park will help both preserve the creek and make the park more enjoyable for residents. Our parks and waterways as an important part of my district, and I am always happy to support projects that help them thrive.”
Act 13 Program Funds come from the Commonwealth Financing Authority for statewide initiatives that include abandoned mine drainage abatement, abandoned well plugging, sewage treatment, greenways, trails and recreation, baseline water quality data, watershed restoration, and flood control. For more information about Act 13 Programs, visit the DCED website.
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April 21, 2021
BUCKS COUNTY – April 21, 2021 – State Senator Steve Santarsiero (D-10) and state Representative Todd Polinchock (R-144) announced the award of $249,971 in state funds to Chalfont Borough from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED), Greenways, Trails and Recreation Program.
Chalfont Borough will use the grant to fund the construction of a multi-use trail along the west bank of the North Branch of the Neshaminy Creek. The trail will be 8 feet wide and will extend .5 miles long, connecting multiple neighborhoods along Lindenfield Parkway. The trail will also provide a sidewalk leading to the SEPTA train station in Chalfont Borough.
“I proudly supported this project, as it will provide opportunities for walking, biking and other recreation, while bringing the community closer together along one of the most scenic waterways in the area,” said Sen. Santarsiero.
“Our community here in Chalfont is well deserving of this grant to support and build a walking and biking trail. I’m thrilled to see the benefits of this trail which will play out for generations,” said Rep. Todd Polinchock.
Act 13 Program Funds come from the Commonwealth Financing Authority for statewide initiatives that include abandoned mine drainage abatement, abandoned well plugging, sewage treatment, greenways, trails and recreation, baseline water quality data, watershed restoration, and flood control. For more information about Act 13 Programs, visit the DCED website.
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April 21, 2021
BUCKS COUNTY – April 21, 2021 – State Senator Steve Santarsiero (D-10) and state Representative Todd Polinchock (R-144) announced the award of $480,000 in Multimodal Transportation Grant funds to New Britain Borough through the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED).
The grant will fund construction for a .25 mile stretch of sidewalk and a pedestrian bridge between Cedar Drive and Shady Retreat Road, which will increase walkability and provide alternative transportation.
“The addition of the sidewalk and pedestrian bridge in New Britain Borough will not only provide recreation but will also help with local economic development for the businesses in the borough,” said Sen. Santarsiero. “Most impressively, when this section is complete, residents can bike or walk from Doylestown Borough all the way to New Britain Township by utilizing various trails, one of the many reasons I supported the award of funding for this project.”
“This grant is so important to continue making our New Britain community a beautiful place to live and support our parks and local small businesses,” said Rep. Polinchock.
Multimodal transportation fund grants encourage economic development and ensure that a safe and reliable system of transportation is available to the residents of the commonwealth. For more information about the Multimodal Transportation Fund Grants, visit the DCED website.
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April 21, 2021
BUCKS COUNTY – April 21, 2021 – State Senator Steve Santarsiero (D-10) and state Representative Perry Warren (D-31) announced today the award of Multimodal Transportation Fund Grants to Lower Makefield Township, Newtown Township and Yardley Borough. Lower Makefield Township will receive $353,000, Newtown Township will receive $227,000 and Yardley Borough will receive $95,000 in funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED).
“These funding awards are an important opportunity to make improvements to our local transportation infrastructure while providing economic benefits to our communities,” said Sen. Santarsiero. “I enthusiastically supported all of these applications, which will hep residents enjoy the outdoors and drive traffic in our thriving boroughs.”
“Bikepath, trail, sidewalk – these CFA grants support local projects that enhance our health, our safety and our quality of life. And, these projects provide recreational opportunities and benefits to residents and businesses in all our communities,” said Rep. Warren.
Lower Makefield Township will use the funds for its Woodside Road bike path project, which will run from Makefield Highlands Golf Course to Taylorsville Road, and connect to a new path on Woodside Road. The bike path ultimately provide bicycle and pedestrian access to Scudder Falls Bridge.
“This bike path will be a welcome addition to Lower Makefield Township, providing increased access and safety for cyclists along Woodside Road,” continued Sen. Santarsiero.
The funds to Newtown Township will be used for the second phase of construction of a multi-use trail along Lower Dolington Road. The first phase of the trail was funded through the same grant program and was awarded in 2019.
Of the Newtown project, Sen. Santarsiero said, “The second phase of the multi-use trail along Lower Dolington Road will improve recreational opportunities for walkers and cyclists to safely enjoy the outdoors, benefit the health of our residents and keeping our residents safe.”
The Yardley Borough project will construct approximately 1,200 linear feet of concrete sidewalk along the northern side of North Main Street. The project will also include related stormwater and pedestrian facility improvements.
“Yardley Borough is home to many restaurants and businesses right along North Main Street. Construction of the sidewalk in this area will help customers access these shops, helping our local economy continue to grow and thrive,” said Sen. Santarsiero.
Rep Warren continued, “Senator Santarsiero and I have advocated for these grants, as they represent the state’s commitment to partner with community leaders on pedestrian and cyclist access and safety and the corresponding recreational and economic benefits to our communities.”
Multimodal transportation fund grants encourage economic development and ensure that a safe and reliable system of transportation is available to the residents of the commonwealth. For more information about the Multimodal Transportation Fund Grants, visit the DCED website.
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April 21, 2021
BUCKS COUNTY – April 21, 2021 – State Senators Steve Santarsiero (D-10), Art Haywood (D-4) and Carolyn Comitta (D-19) announced today during a virtual press conference that they will be introducing SB 300, a bill to expand the state’s Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards (AEPS) Tier I requirement from 8% to 30% by 2030. Highlighting the benefits of job creation and curbing the devastating effects of climate change, the senators shared a vision for a sustainable energy future in Pennsylvania.
“Global climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing our generation. It has already had significant impacts on the environment, from rising sea levels to more extreme weather events, costing businesses, governments and taxpayers billions of dollars,” said Sen. Santarsiero. “It is long overdue that we implement stronger renewable energy goals to create good jobs, cut pollution and ensure a sustainable and prosperous Pennsylvania for future generations. With the AEPS percentage requirements set to plateau in 2021, and dire consequences for inaction to reverse the effects of climate change, it is time we tap into the enormous benefits from increasing our renewable energy goals and re-establish Pennsylvania as a clean energy leader.”
“Renewable energy creates jobs, saves farmers, and can help us to save the planet. We believe strongly that this proposal could be one of the largest economic development and job stimulus bills in decades,” added Sen. Haywood.
A forward-thinking policy when enacted in 2004, the AEPS percentage requirements are set to plateau in 2021, setting the stage for modernizing the standards. In the years since the legislation was enacted, neighboring states have set more aggressive standards that has left Pennsylvania trailing behind. SB 300 seeks to bring Pennsylvania back into the forefront as a clean energy leader by:
- Expands the AEPS Tier I requirement from 8% to 30% by 2030, including 7.5% for in-state grid-scale solar and 2.5% for in-state distributed generation solar;
- Directs the PUC to study the benefits of a renewable energy storage program;
- Provides for several protections that control costs for electricity customers, including long-term contracting, fixed ACP payments, and a 15-year lifetime limit for generating eligible SRECs for solar projects.
Sen. Comitta, Democratic Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee added, “The climate crisis is not stopping. Neither can we. Pennsylvania must recommit itself to realistic and achievable renewable energy requirements. Thirty percent by 2030 is just that – a job-creating, emissions-reducing, cost-saving, economy-building, forward-thinking goal. As we look ahead to the 51st Anniversary of Earth Day, let’s work to restore our planet through competitive renewable energy standards that support the health of our economy, the health of our environment, and the health of all people.”
The trio of lawmakers were joined by Democratic colleagues in support, many calling attention to the economic benefits of renewable energy, specifically job creation for generations to come.
Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa (D-41) said, “Forward-thinking policies like updated AEPS standards can curb the disastrous impacts of climate change while also fostering a stronger clean energy economy in the Commonwealth. This is a job-creating, planet-sustaining piece of legislation I am proud to support.”
“Modernizing Pennsylvania’s emissions standards and prioritizing renewable energy are not only key to securing a sustainable future for our kids, they are key to rebuilding our economy, creating new jobs, and putting Pennsylvanians in many trades and professions back to work,” said Senator Maria Collett (D-12). “It’s time for our Commonwealth to fulfill its potential as a clean energy leader and bring new jobs and new businesses to the state when we need them most.”
Sen. Nikil Saval (D-1) said, “The importance of this expansion cannot be understated. AEPS is one of the few Pennsylvania programs pushing renewable energy forward, and this push will mean that we are lowering emissions, while simultaneously preparing our economy, our built infrastructure, and our workforce for the future. The people of Pennsylvania deserve this investment.”
Several colleagues also voiced support for the local impact clean energy would have on their districts, particularly for farmers and those in low income neighborhoods.
“Incorporating more solar and wind energy into our everyday lives is going to be one of the best ways to secure our future, and that includes the agriculture sector,” said Sen. Judy Schwank (D-11). “For example, farmers in my district are already learning about and using solar energy as a way to cut energy costs and make additional income on the farm. We all must make a personal commitment to preserving our natural resources, not just on Earth Day but every day.”
Sen. Anthony Williams (D-8) echoed the local impact modernizing AEPS would have on his district, saying “Clean energy production is vital to environmental justice, improving air and water quality especially in low-income neighborhoods throughout the Commonwealth. This is an issue that ripples across Pennsylvania, in rural, suburban and urban communities that have been devastated by toxic pollution.”
With Earth Day right around the corner, the message was clear—if we want to curb the devastating effects of climate change and create a more sustainable future, we must act quickly.
“We have heard for years that we must act now to avoid the most dire impacts of climate change and for years the political courage has been absent to accomplish what needed to be done in order to save our planet,” said Senator Katie Muth (D-44). “Now we have reached a point where we are realizing the impacts of our inaction – extreme weather events, growing climate based global instability, and increased disease and viruses. We are now in a moment where discussion needs to turn into action and implement solutions to stop further harm from occurring. Our constituents and scientific experts know that this matter is real and we are far behind schedule.”
“I’m glad to see our caucus invested in pushing Pennsylvania towards a sustainable future,” said Sen. Amanda Cappelletti (D-17). “It is a necessary step in the right direction, which will create countless job opportunities in green energy. This is why I support moving to 100% renewable energy by 2050. We cannot be held back by pessimism and fear, we don’t have time.”
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April 19, 2021
HARRISBURG – April 19, 2021 – The following statement is attributable to Senator Steve Santarsiero (D-10), Democratic Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee:
“Throughout the debate around a two year window for childhood sexual assault survivors to sue their abusers, we have heard moving testimony about the trauma these victims experienced and the solace that would come from being able to seek justice in court. We can, and must, act today to ensure there is no further delay in bringing victims of childhood sexual assault closer to the justice they have been denied for too long. They must have their day in court. The legislation passed by the House last week, HB 951, should be brought up for a vote in the Senate and sent to the Governor’s desk without delay.”
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April 16, 2021
BUCKS COUNTY – April 16, 2021 – State Senator Steve Santarsiero (D-10) announced today that he will be introducing legislation to help young adults become Pennsylvania homeowners. The legislation, known as the Put Down Roots in PA Act, would pay off up to $50,000 in student loans for borrowers who purchase a home in the Commonwealth.
“In 2020, Pennsylvania ranked eighth in the nation in the number of people who moved out of state. At the same time, our population is aging at an increasing rate,” said Sen. Santarsiero. “If these trends continue, they will lead to long-term economic stagnation. To reverse course, we must enact policies that incentivize young people, whether they grew up here or elsewhere, to put down roots in Pennsylvania.”
Modeled on legislation recently enacted in Illinois, the Put Down Roots in PA Act would encourage young people to purchase homes in Pennsylvania, while decreasing the student loan debt of the home purchaser. The program would be funded by new, recurring revenue generated by closing the Delaware Loophole. This change in our corporate tax system will increase equity by requiring all corporations to pay income tax in Pennsylvania, make Pennsylvania more competitive with other states by cutting the current rate 2.5% over three years (from 9.99% to 7.49%), and still generate hundreds of millions of dollars to pay off student debt, increase home ownership and attract young people to our state.
“Illinois faces similar demographic challenges as we do here in Pennsylvania,” continued Sen. Santarsiero. “If we want to help the Commonwealth continue to thrive, we need to find ways to encourage young people to stay or come here to live. This legislation would support growth for our state and local economies in a meaningful and impactful way.”
Specifically, the Act would:
- pay off up to $50,000 in student loans, or a student loan balance of 20% of the home purchase price, whichever amount is lower;
- provide up to $5,000 towards a home down payment or closing costs, in addition to the student loan assistance; and
- cover loans taken out to pay for tuitions at 2- or 4-year colleges and universities, as well as vocational training programs.
“Pennsylvania is losing ground in keeping and attracting young people as they begin their careers,” said Sen. Santarsiero. “At the same time, crushing student loan debt is a major barrier to buying a first home for recent college graduates.”
To qualify for the program, the following restrictions would apply:
- Buyers’ annual household income could not exceed $150,000.
- The program would apply to the purchase of primary residences in Pennsylvania only.
- Buyers must live in the home being purchased for at least 3 years.
- Each month during the first 3 years of the buyers’ home ownership, the state would repay 1/36th of the total student loan amount covered under the program.
The Put Down Roots in PA Act would not require the buyer’s full student loan balance to be paid off through the purchase of the home. However, the program would offer an optional low interest loan program to refinance any remaining debt over a 5-year period (or the remaining term of the existing loan, whichever is shorter), securitized by the residence (as a second priority security interest after the mortgage), but only up to the amount of the initial student loan payoff, or the outstanding debt, whichever is lower.
“Nearly 730,000 students attend undergraduate or graduate programs in Pennsylvania, but far too few of them settle down here,” continued Sen. Santarsiero. “The Put Down Roots in PA Act would help the Commonwealth keep and attract young people while increasing homeownership and dramatically decreasing student debt.”
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April 15, 2021
BUCKS COUNTY – April 15, 2021 – State Senator Steve Santarsiero (D-10) held a virtual press conference today, along with Bucks County Commissioners Diane Ellis-Marseglia and Bob Harvie, Bucks County Solicitor Joe Khan, and Steve Miano, counsel representing the Democratic Senators in Yaw v. DRBC, to announce that Bucks and Montgomery Counties have joined the Senator and his colleagues in their effort to preserve the authority of the Delaware River Basin Commission to ban fracking in the Delaware River Basin.
“The Delaware River Basin is home to five million Pennsylvanians who are guaranteed the right to clean, safe drinking water through the Environmental Rights Amendment to the state Constitution,” said Sen. Santarsiero. “Today, I am pleased to share that Bucks and Montgomery Counties have joined the effort, started by my Democratic colleagues and me, to protect that right, and ensure that the Delaware River Basin Commission can continue to act within its authority to keep our waters safe from fracking.”
“We are not just here for ourselves; we are here to prepare the world for future generations,” said Diane Ellis-Marseglia, Chair of the Bucks County Board of Commissioners. “Natural resources, including the river, need not be destroyed for our grandchildren and their grandchildren by selfish covetous acts in 2021.”
“The Delaware River has been the lifeblood of Bucks County since the arrival of William Penn. It’s impossible to overstate its importance to the history, economy and culture of our county. We need to do all we can to protect it,” said Bucks County Commissioner Bob Harvie.
Sen. Santarsiero also shared that the Senate Democrats today filed their motion to dismiss plaintiffs’ suit, in which they have sought to overturn the Delaware River Basin Commission’s now-permanent ban on fracking in the Delaware Basin.
“The DRBC has continued its steadfast commitment to protecting the Delaware River Basin, as it was charged to do, and by doing so, has helped ensure our right as Pennsylvanians to clean water,” said Sen. Santarsiero. “Our position is strong, and I believe that constitutional right for all Pennsylvanians will be found to supersede the Republicans’ arguments for monetizing our natural resources.”
“The Plaintiff Counties who joined this misguided lawsuit do not speak for all counties within the Delaware River Basin – and they certainly don’t speak for the people of Bucks and Montgomery County,” said Bucks County Solicitor Joe Khan. “We have a fundamentally different view of the constitutional right to clean water, and of our obligation to protect our natural resources. We are proud to stand with our allies in asserting our interest in preserving the prohibition against fracking.”
Montgomery County Commissioners Val Arkoosh and Kenneth Lawrence, who were unable to participate in the press conference, voiced their support in written statements.
“The quality of the Delaware River Basin watershed is critical to the health of 5.6 million Pennsylvanians, the sustainability of countless species, and local jobs,” said Dr. Val Arkoosh, Chair of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners. “This lawsuit stands to put our drinking water and economy at risk and it should be dismissed.”
“Montgomery County is proud to stand with the intervener State Senators in seeking to have this lawsuit dismissed,” said Kenneth E. Lawrence, Vice Chair of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners. “Protecting the Delaware River Basin from fracking is vital to the preservation of more than 13,000 square miles of drinking water that supplies the Delaware River and its tributaries.”
The Democratic Senators’ motion to intervene in the lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and was granted on March 19, 2021. Court filings and previous announcements on this matter can be found here.
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April 9, 2021
BUCKS COUNTY – April 9, 2021 – Eccentric art, architecture and paw prints were the topics of a recent Community Conversation State Senator Steve Santarsiero (D-10) hosted with Kyle McKoy, President & Executive Director of the Mercer Museum & Fonthill Castle. The discussion highlighted the work of Henry Mercer, and the cultural significance of his craft and creativity had on Bucks County.
“The Mercer Museum & Fonthill Castle are real treasures that we are fortunate to have right here in Doylestown,” said Sen. Santarsiero. “A Bucks County native, Mercer left a lasting legacy that has contributed greatly to the culture and history of our community.”
McKoy shared Mercer’s passion for hand-made goods and art, beginning his impressive collection to preserve history at the start of the Industrial Revolution.
“He didn’t want us to forget that the tools that built the nation were being taken over by machines,” said McKoy. “He built [the museum] because he wanted his collection displayed in a completely unique way. He wanted people to look at these ordinary objects in extraordinary ways. There really is a method to the madness.”
The Mercer Museum & Fonthill Castle are open to the public, operating at lowered capacity due to COVID-19. Guests are encouraged to book tickets in advance at www.mercermuseum.org.
The full video of the Community Conversation can be found here.
Initiated in 2020 as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Sen. Santarsiero hosts Community Conversations to highlight the many unique businesses and organizations which keep our communities vibrant. The series includes opportunities for residents to support our local restaurants, shopping districts, cultural venues, breweries and wineries, as well as how to give back to those in need. The full series is available here.
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March 29, 2021
BUCKS COUNTY – March 29, 2021 − State Senator Steve Santarsiero (D-10) held a virtual press conference last week to announce the Democratic Senators’ motion to intervene in Yaw v. Delaware River Basin Commission was granted by the judge on Friday, March 19, 2021.
“My colleagues and I are participating in this lawsuit to preserve the authority of the Delaware River Basin Commission to protect the drinking water of more than 13 million people,” said Sen. Santarsiero. “Exercising its lawful jurisdiction, the DRBC has banned fracking in the Delaware watershed for over 10 years now. In doing so, it has protected that water from the harmful effects of fracking.”
The next step, according to Sen. Santarsiero, will be to file a motion to dismiss the initial lawsuit, which is planned for April.
“The motion will seek to dismiss the case on the grounds that the plaintiffs lack standing and their claims are not supported by the law, ” Santarsiero said. “I believe that our position is strong. As I mentioned a few weeks ago when we first moved to intervene, the plaintiffs are trying to turn the state constitution’s environmental rights amendment on its head, arguing it requires that we monetize our natural resources. That’s not at all what the environmental rights amendment stands for, and not what the people of Pennsylvania agreed to when they ratified it at the ballot box.”
Senator Santarsiero previously held a press conference, along with Senators Kearney and Cappelletti, on Friday, March 12, 2021 in New Hope to announce the filing of a motion to intervene in the lawsuit filed by Republican State Senators, in which they sought to overturn the Delaware River Basin Commission’s ban on fracking. The video of the press conference is available here. The motion to intervene can be found here.
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March 23, 2021
HARRISBURG, PA − March 23, 2021 − New legislation introduced by Senators Katie Muth (D–Montgomery/Chester/Berks), Steve Santarsiero (D–Bucks), and Nikil Saval (D–Philadelphia) will ensure Pennsylvanians are able to stay safely housed for the duration of the COVID-19 crisis and economically secure throughout the recovery period that follows. The Housing Security Act (Senate Bill 466) creates a framework for mortgage deferment and rent forgiveness, benefitting property owners and renters alike.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed so many significant gaps in our social safety net, and one of the most significant has been housing insecurity,” said Senator Muth. “Even before the pandemic, so many in our Commonwealth were forced to make impossible decisions between food, medicine, and paying the rent or the mortgage. This is unacceptable, and we must take action now to ensure that every Pennsylvanian has safe, affordable, and secure housing no matter where they live.”
“Housing is a basic human right that too many Pennsylvanians are at risk of losing due to economic hardship at the hands of the pandemic,” said Senator Santarsiero. “We must take steps to protect the families and individuals at risk of losing their homes to foreclosure or eviction. No one deserves to face homeless due to unforeseen financial adversity, especially during a global health crisis, and the Housing Security Act will alleviate that threat for hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians.”
The Housing Security Act would function on two fronts: first, creating a means to protect homeowners and property owners, and then building a path for the extension of these important protections to renters.
This bill would mandate that mortgage servicers develop deferment programs to suspend property owners’ obligations to pay their mortgages for the duration of the COVID-19 emergency declaration and for the six months that immediately follow it. Rather than forcing a participant to make a huge lump sum payment at the end of the deferment period, the term of the borrower’s mortgage would be extended for the same number of months that they participated in the deferment program. All late fees, processing fees, and services fees would be waived.
Landlords participating in the deferment program would be required to reduce their tenants’ rent during the time that they participate in the program, in an amount proportional to the amount of mortgage payment deferred.
“The magnitude of the housing emergency in our Commonwealth cannot be overstated. As elected officials, we know that evictions and foreclosures damage the health and vitality of families for generations,” said Senator Saval. “As eviction and foreclosure moratoria expire, a tsunami of houselessness, utility shutoffs, and debt is predicted to crash upon the backs of those who are most vulnerable. This future harm is often spoken of as a forgone conclusion, but legislators can take real action, right now, to prevent this from becoming our reality.”
The full text of the Housing Security Act is available on request.
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March 22, 2021
BUCKS COUNTY – March 22, 2021 – State Senator Steve Santarsiero (D-10) today applauded Governor Wolf for the Commonwealth’s commitment to solar energy and called on the General Assembly to take up legislation to modernize the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards Act (AEPS).
“The Governor’s commitment to have 50% of state government powered by solar energy is exactly the type of forward progress we need in the fight against climate change,” said Sen. Santarsiero. “I have long supported setting more aggressive, long-term targets to realize the economic and environmental potential of solar and wind energy in the Commonwealth. We must act now if we are going to prevent the worst of the effects of climate change.”
Sen. Santarsiero introduced legislation in the 2018-2020 session to modernize the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards Act to expand Tier I requirement from 8% to 30% by 2030. Sen. Santarsiero plans to reintroduce the legislation this session, with Senators Carolyn Comitta (D-19) and Art Haywood (D-4).
“It is long overdue that we implement stronger renewable energy goals to create good jobs, cut pollution and ensure a sustainable and prosperous Pennsylvania for future generations,” continued Sen. Santarsiero. “It is time we tap into the enormous benefits from increasing our renewable energy goals and re-establish Pennsylvania as a clean energy leader.”
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March 17, 2021
BUCKS COUNTY – March 17, 2021 – State Senator Steve Santarsiero (D-10) introduced Senate Resolution 44, seeking to recognize March 2021 as Endometriosis Awareness Month.
“Endometriosis is a painful condition that only affects women, and can cause long-term health issues, including infertility,” said Sen. Santarsiero. “I hope that by designating March 2021 as “Endometriosis Awareness Month” we are able to raise awareness of this condition and empower women to take control of their health.”
A common health problem in women, endometriosis occurs when the lining of the uterus grows out and onto other areas of the body where it doesn’t belong. This disorder can have detrimental effects on a woman’s quality of life due to its very painful symptoms, and is most common among women in their 30s and 40s. Endometriosis can cause fertility issues for women of child bearing age and is a leading cause of infertility.
“As we draw attention to endometriosis, I encourage women to seek diagnosis and treatment from their doctor of this, and any other health concerns,” continued Sen. Santarsiero. “Bringing awareness to medical conditions like endometriosis allows us all to become better informed and to support those who have the condition.”
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March 16, 2021
BUCKS COUNTY – March 16, 2021 – State Senator Steve Santarsiero (D-10) announced Solebury Township will receive $16,155 through the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) Federal Body-Worn Camera Policy and Implementation Program Funds. These funds will go toward the purchase of body worn camera systems for the use of Solebury Township Police.
“Keeping our communities safe requires ensuring our local police have adequate resources, including body worn cameras that increase accountability,” said Sen. Santarsiero. “These funds for Solebury Township will help the police purchase equipment to help them do their job, while improving transparency and public safety.”
Currently, Solebury Township Police have in-car cameras and plan to make the switch to body-worn cameras.
“The Board was eager to include body-worn cameras into the township budget for 2021 and this grant will help make that a reality,” said Mark Baum Baicker, Board Chair for Solebury Township Board of Supervisors. “Our township police have been relying on cameras in police vehicles, so the switch to body-worn cameras will be a great asset for the police department and for the safety of our community.”
The mission of the Criminal Justice Advisory Committee (CJAC) is to support a comprehensive strategy to reduce crime that prioritizes evidence-based policy and practice at every stage of the Commonwealth’s justice system. For more information, visit the PCCD website.
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March 12, 2021
BUCKS COUNTY − March 12, 2021 − State Senator Steve Santarsiero (D-10) was joined by Democratic colleagues today in New Hope to announce their action to protect clean drinking water for millions of Pennsylvanians from the environmental hazards of fracking. Their action is in response to a lawsuit filed by Republican senators against the Delaware River Basin Commission to allow natural gas drilling in the Delaware River Basin in Pennsylvania.
Arguing for the constitutional right of millions of Pennsylvanians to clean water, the motion to intervene was filed earlier in the day in United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania in the case of Yaw v. The Delaware River Basin Commission. Republican caucus members had filed suit against the DRBC in January 2021, and in late February the Delaware River Keeper Network successfully intervened in the case.
“Clean water and air is a constitutional right for all Pennsylvanians, and it’s the duty of the General Assembly to ensure those rights are not infringed upon,” said Sen. Santarsiero. “The people of Bucks County – and the rest of the Delaware River Basin – have a constitutional right to clean, safe drinking water. We are not going to allow the oil and gas industry to contaminate that water. Working within its authority, the DRBC has been a steadfast champion for protecting the assets of the Delaware River Basin since its inception. Thanks to the DRBC and the work of environmental advocates, an incredible amount of progress has been made over the years to clean our waterways and create a reliable source of drinking water for millions of people. We have come too far to cede that progress to the damaging effects of fracking on our environment and land.”
“The DRBC was created 60 years ago to manage the river system and protect our water resources, including protecting the watershed from the harmful impacts of fracking,” said Sen. Carolyn Comitta (D-19), Minority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee. “The DRBC exercised its authority, with all four basin states voting to ban fracking. Individual Pennsylvania legislators don’t get to pick and choose when it comes to the compact’s decisions. We support the DRBC in its decision to ban fracking – one that upholds Pennsylvania’s Environmental Rights Amendment and protects our right to clean water.”
More than a decade ago, DRBC unanimously voted in favor of a moratorium on fracking pending the adoption of new regulations. Since then, the Commission has received almost 80,000 public comments which have been considered in updated draft rules.
“There is mounting evidence from throughout our Commonwealth that fracking cannot be conducted safely and, in many cases, permanently and completely contaminates our shared drinking water resources,” said Sen. Katie Muth. “I applaud the Delaware River Basin Commission for preventing this dangerous and harmful industrial activity from rendering the drinking water for 8.3 million Pennsylvanians unsafe and unusable. Moreover, I am appalled that my Senate colleagues from the Majority Party are willing to sacrifice the health of their constituents in the name of industry profit. Without water, our homes are rendered valueless, our public health severely deteriorates due to toxic and radioactive fracking waste, and our environment is polluted for generations to come. I stand in defense of the public health and environmental quality for all Pennsylvanians and strongly oppose any effort to harm our drinking water resources in the name of corporate greed.”
“Clean drinking water is a constitutional right in Pennsylvania, and an imperative to our health and survival as a species,” said Sen. Amanda Cappelletti (D-17). “The Delaware River Basin delivers drinking water to 13.3 million people. We joined the DCRB to maintain the safety of that water. Legislators who are threatening that mission should be ashamed of their thinly veiled attempt at a power grab. The citizens of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvanian and the citizens of New York, New Jersey and Delaware have an inviolable right to keeping this water, their drinking water, clean.”
Five million Pennsylvanians across 17 counties reside in the Basin, which includes Bucks, Delaware, Montgomery, Chester and Philadelphia counties. The Delaware River Basin spans 6,471 square miles in the Commonwealth, across 522 municipalities.
“I chose to sign on as an intervenor in this case because I know my constituents and all Pennsylvanians take seriously their constitutional right to clean air and water,” said Sen. Judy Schwank (D-11). “It is my solemn and sworn duty to protect that right. This may be our last stand in attempting to protect the waters of the Delaware River Basin from the environmental hazards created by fracking. These waters are a drinking, agricultural and industrial water resource for more than 13 million Pennsylvania, Delaware, New York and New Jersey residents.”
Sen. Maria Collett (D-12) added, “My constituents and I know firsthand what it’s like to have to fight for “pure water” as guaranteed by the Environmental Rights Amendment of the Pennsylvania Constitution and the terror felt when that bond has been broken. The argument made by my Republican colleagues that, as trustees of Pennsylvania’s national resources under this Amendment, they must protect the pecuniary value of such resources over the health and survival of the people and ecosystems dependent on them is not just unconstitutional, it’s inhuman.”
Sen. Vince Hughes (D-7) said, “Protecting the quality of ground and surface water and the future of the Delaware River Basin has broad support from the public in Pennsylvania and the other three states impacted by the Delaware River Basin Commission. Simply put, the commission is acting to protect those interests and the right to pure water. We join in this suit to protect those rights and to prevent adverse impacts from affecting our region.”
In a February 2021 DRBC meeting the 4 member states unanimously voted to ban fracking in the Delaware River Basin. During the special meeting, the United States abstained from the vote, but indicated support for the result.
“My colleagues and I are intervening to fight for the 13 million people who get their water from the Delaware River Basin and protect the Constitutional right of all Pennsylvanians to clean air and clean water,” said Sen. John Kane (D-9). “The DRBC voted unanimously to ban fracking after hearing tens of thousands of comments over several years — that’s what our communities want, and that’s how to keep Pennsylvanians safe. I’m proud to stand alongside my colleagues in intervening in support of the DRBC.”
Sen. Sharif Street (D-3) said, “The Delaware River Basin Commission’s decision is not only within their authority as custodians of the waters of the Delaware River Basin but is also constitutionally sound. I’m proud to stand with my colleagues to protect our environment and the people of Pennsylvania. ”
“I’m proud to stand side by side with my colleagues in the Senate’s Democratic Caucus in support of the Delaware River Basin Commission’s decision to permanently ban fracking. This hard-fought, hard-won decision was years in the making. It is a victory for advocates, organizers, the millions of people who live within the river basin, and for the river itself. My entire district is not only within the basin, but runs along the Delaware River. I’m grateful to DRBC for protecting the lives and livelihoods of my constituents, and I’m grateful to my fellow Democratic Senators for setting their stakes in the ground with mine.” Senator Nikil Saval (D–Philadelphia)
Environmental groups have long advocated for protecting the Delaware River Basin and for the constitutional right of all Pennsylvanians to clean air and water. They shared their overwhelming support for the Democratic Senators’ intervention in the lawsuit in written statements.
In a statement read during the press conference, Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania said, “We would like to thank Senator Santarsiero and his colleagues in the Pennsylvania Senate for filing a motion to intervene in Yaw v. DRBC. Thousands of residents and countless elected officials and experts have spoken out in support of banning fracking in the Delaware River Basin.”
Maya van Rossum, leader of the Delaware Riverkeeper Network said, “The Delaware River is irreplaceably important to our entire region. To allow it to be sacrificed to the fracking industry, to be used to advance the climate crisis, and to be used to help advance an industry that is devastating the health, safety, lives, property values, quality of life and local economies of entire communities is indefensible. It is even worse that the republican legislative caucus, Senators Yaw and Baker would be seeking to misuse Pennsylvania’s constitutional environmental rights amendment and to deny Pennsylvania’s support for the Delaware River Basin Commission is an abuse of power and trust. I would like to thank Senator Steve Santarsiero and the legislators of the Democratic Caucus for seeking to join the ongoing lawsuit so they can rise up and defend our river, our environment and the environmental rights of the people of Pennsylvania.”
“PennEnvironment applauds the state senators who’ve come together today from across the Delaware River watershed to stand up and defend this great river,” said PennEnvironment Executive Director David Masur in a written statement. “Fracking shouldn’t be allowed anywhere, much less near an iconic natural waterway like the Delaware River, which provides drinking water for millions of Americans. Given that local Pennsylvanians voiced their overwhelming support for protecting the Delaware River from fracking during the public input processes, it’s unfortunate that the elected officials who are the plaintiffs in the ‘Yaw v. DRBC’ case are using the courts to undo the will of local residents.
The Democratic Caucus members who have signed onto the lawsuit are Senators 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) , and Anthony Williams (D-Philadelphia).
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March 12, 2021
Harrisburg, Pa. – March 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:
- Eliminate the criminal and civil statute of limitation for sexual abuse, assault and misconduct for all survivors, regardless of age,
- Provide a 2 year civil window to revive previously expired SOL claims with a 6-month delay, and
- 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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March 10, 2021
BUCKS COUNTY – March 10, 2021 – State Senator Steve Santarsiero (D-10) announced $98,000 in funding from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) that will help local houses of worship make security improvements through its Non-Profit Security Grant Program.
The breakdown of entities receiving funds and how much they have received is:
- St. Mark A.M.E. Zion in Newtown: $24,995
- Abrams Hebrew Academy in Yardley: $24,975
- Temple Judea of Bucks County in Furlong: $21,847
- St. Andrew’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Perkasie: $13,346
- Jewish Center of Eastern Bucks/Chabad Lubavitch of Yardley: $12,838
“The Non-Profit Security Grant funds will allow these houses of worship to make security enhancements to protect the safety and security of a diverse cross-section of our community,” said Sen. Santarsiero. “Freedom of religion means no one should fear for his or her safety while observing their faith. Unfortunately, that is not always the case, which is why these funds are so important to our community.”
The Non-Profit Security Grant Program administers funds to nonprofit organizations who principally serve individuals, groups or institutions that are included within a bias motivation category for single bias hate crime incidents. For more information, visit the PCCD website.
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March 8, 2021
BUCKS COUNTY — March 8, 2021 — State Senator Steve Santarsiero (D-10) highlighted the historic Pennsbury Manor in Falls Township, hosting a Community Conversation video discussion about the site, the many educational offerings and how it has stayed active through the COVID-19 pandemic. Ahead of Charter Day on March 8th, Sen. Santarsiero sat down with Historic Site Director, Doug Miller, to talk about William Penn’s estate and its legacy in Bucks County and Pennsylvania.
“Pennsbury Manor is a historic gem in Bucks County, that continues to share the legacy of our founder William Penn through estate tours, school programming and events like Charter Day,” said Sen. Santarsiero. “I am fortunate to represent a district with such rich history, dating back to the founding of our Commonwealth, and Pennsbury Manor respects the legacy of the property while making it accessible for the community and visitors.”
Speaking on the influence of William Penn on many of our core tenants of democracy, Miller notes, “What this historic site offers us is a springboard for people to learn about Penn’s life and his legacy. Many people don’t connect our daily lives to Penn’s contributions… but in some way Penn’s legacy touches us each and every day.”
The full video of the Community Conversation with Pennsbury Manor can be found here.
Initiated in 2020 as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Sen. Santarsiero hosts Community Conversations to highlight many of unique businesses and organizations that keep our communities vibrant. The series includes opportunities for residents to support our local restaurants, shopping districts, cultural venues, breweries and wineries, as well as how to give back to those in need. The full series is available here.
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March 2, 2021
BUCKS COUNTY − March 2, 2021 − State Senator Steve Santarsiero (D-10) today called for the Pennsylvania Department of Health to expand Phase 1A eligibility to include teachers and school staff. In a letter to Governor Wolf, Sen. Santarsiero urged him to prioritize vaccinations for teachers, in an effort to safely re-open schools for in-person instruction as quickly as possible.
“Earlier today I sent a letter to the Governor asking that teachers and school staff be prioritized in Phase 1A for the COVID-19 vaccine, and that the state embark on an aggressive campaign to get them vaccinated quickly, so that we can safely reopen schools in the coming weeks. Our teachers have done an amazing job of adapting to virtual and hybrid learning over the past year. The safety of teachers, students and other school staff is a critical component of what must be a priority for our state: a return to classroom learning as soon as possible.”
Sen. Santarsiero cited the approval of the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine, along with the announcement of an agreement for Merck to also produce the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, to show an anticipated increase in both the state’s vaccine supply and an expedited timeline for vaccinations to occur.
Sen. Santarsiero wrote, “The benefits of in person instruction for students, both academically and from a mental health perspective, have been well documented. With increased access to vaccine doses and more readily available PPE, we are now at a point at which we can get students back into schools in a way that protects both them and teachers and staff.”
The full text of the letter to the Governor is available here.
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Letter to Governor Wolf on Teacher Vaccines
March 1, 2021
BUCKS COUNTY — March 1, 2021 — State Senators Steve Santarsiero (D-10) and Michele Brooks (R-50) will be reintroducing legislation that will allow children to stay on their parent’s health insurance until age 26. Under current Pennsylvania law, a child can stay on his or her parent’s insurance until he or she reaches age 19. Senate Bill 53 seeks to increase that age to 26 to bring the Commonwealth in line with federal law.
“Access to quality, affordable health insurance is a critical right for all individuals,” said Sen. Santarsiero. “SB 53 will improve access to healthcare by allowing young adults to stay on their parent’s insurance until age 26. We have seen during the pandemic that medical treatment can be the difference between life and death, and that insurance through an employer is not a guarantee. After years of attacks on the Affordable Care Act, we must act at the state level to ensure no young Pennsylvanian must choose between healthcare and financial hardship.”
“In this difficult economic climate, it is important that young adults in Pennsylvania can remain on their parents’ health insurance until the age of 26, as the current Affordable Care Act provides. There are a variety of reasons why a young adult would need to stay on a parent’s insurance, including continuing their education or working in an entry-level job that does not provide health insurance. Pennsylvania is taking a proactive approach to ensure coverage for young adults if the Affordable Care Act is repealed at the federal level,” Sen. Brooks said.
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Insurance, 89,000 young adults have insurance coverage because they are able to stay on their parent’s insurance.
Senators Santarsiero and Brooks are reintroducing this legislation, having initially introduced this legislation during the previous Senate session. With the start of the new session in January 2021, all bills that were not passed in the previous session must be re-introduced and begin the legislative process anew.
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February 25, 2021
BUCKS COUNTY − February 25, 2021 − The following statement is attributable to Senator Steve Santarsiero (D-10) in response to the Delaware River Basin Commission Special Meeting on February 25, 2021:
“I applaud the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) on its historic vote today to protect our environment and public health by banning high-volume hydraulic fracturing. I will work to ensure this resolution is implemented here in Pennsylvania and is upheld in the courts.”
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February 16, 2021
BUCKS COUNTY − February 16, 2021 − State Senator Steve Santarsiero (D-10) sent the following letter to the Pennsylvania Congressional Delegation on Raising the Minimum Wage.
Letter Supporting Raising the Minimum Wage
February 3, 2021
By Steve Santarsiero, State Senator (D-10, Bucks County)
Earlier this week it was revealed that the Pennsylvania Department of State failed to advertise the 2019 passage of a proposed amendment to the state constitution that would allow the victims of child sex abuse, whose claims had been barred by the statute of limitations, a two-year window in which to file suit against responsible individuals and institutions. The failure to do so means that any such amendment must now wait at least another two years before it can be enacted.
There are few issues that are more emotionally charged than the decades-long denial of justice to those victims. Their stories of abuse have been seared into the public consciousness. They must have their day in court. Despite the Department’s error, they still can, as early as this year in fact. Before addressing that point, however, it is worth considering the political fallout from this week’s news.
The duty to advertise the legislature’s passage of a proposed amendment to the constitution rests with the Secretary of State. Although, as a practical matter, such tasks fall to Department staff, whom the Secretary reasonably relies on to do their jobs, to paraphrase Harry Truman, the buck stops with those in charge. Accepting that responsibility, Secretary Kathy Boockvar offered her resignation to the Governor, and he accepted it. In the process, however, the Commonwealth is losing a true public servant.
Secretary Boockvar began her tenure by overseeing, in the face of considerable opposition by the Pennsylvania Republican Party, the state’s transition from its old voting machines to those that use verifiable, paper ballots, which can always be counted in the case of a dispute. She then administered the implementation of Pennsylvania’s new, no-fault absentee voter law. The passage of that law in 2019, combined with the public’s concerns about the pandemic, resulted in unprecedented numbers of people casting their votes by mail in 2020. She followed both of those accomplishments by working with county officials to ensure that everyone’s votes were counted in the November election, despite persistent attempts to disenfranchise the millions of Pennsylvanians who chose to vote by mail. Throughout that process, Boockvar was an unflappable defender of our democracy, even in the face of numerous threats to her personal safety and that of her family. Hers was a record of exemplary and, indeed, courageous service.
The irony of all this, of course, is that there never really was a need to amend the state constitution to allow the victims of child sex abuse access to justice. The General Assembly can pass a law today – which the Governor has said he will sign, if it does – that allows for the so-called two-year look back. Legal scholars and the Attorney General agree that this can and should be done.
So, why are we trying to amend the constitution and tossing aside a dedicated public servant in the process? Because the Republican leaders of the State House and Senate refuse to allow such a bill to be brought up for a vote. They argue that, if it were to pass, its constitutionality would be challenged. That may be, but just because those who bear responsibility for what happened to innocent children might challenge a new law that gives those now adult victims redress, does not mean that a challenge would succeed, and it should no longer be allowed to serve as the excuse for the legislature’s inaction.
This week, Senators Muth, Kearney, Collett, Lindsey Williams and I offered such a bill in the State Senate. We hope that a companion bill will be offered in the House. The legislation should be brought up for a vote and sent to the Governor’s desk without delay. To do anything less would amount to a needless continuation of the delay of justice for the victims. It is bad enough that the Department of State’s mistake is causing us to lose Secretary Boockvar; let us not compound that loss by yet again denying justice to those who have already waited too long.
January 25, 2021
BUCKS COUNTY— January 25, 2021 — Senate Bill 78, known as Kayden’s Law, was unanimously voted out of the Senate Judiciary Committee this afternoon, one of the first bills to move out of the committee since the start of the new session. The bi-partisan legislation is sponsored by Senators Steve Santarsiero (D-10) and Lisa Baker (R-20), and is named for Kayden Mancuso, a seven-year-old from Lower Makefield Township, who was killed in August 2018 by her biological father during a court-ordered, unsupervised visit granted following a year-long custody dispute.
“In the two years since Kayden’s death, I have been working with Kayden’s family and experts in the field of child abuse and child custody issues, to craft legislation along with Representatives Tina Davis (D-141) and Perry Warren (D-31), the sponsors of the legislation in the House, that would make a fundamental change to Pennsylvania’s child custody law,” said Sen. Santarsiero. “Kayden’s death was a senseless and avoidable tragedy that shook our community, and together, the legislature can prevent others from experiencing this type of grief and loss. We must ensure the safety of our children is the most important concern in contentious custody battles.”
“It is our duty to do everything within our power to protect the most vulnerable individuals within our communities, and I am pleased that this legislation will help to better protect children across our Commonwealth,” Senator Baker said. “Our current state law failed to ensure the health and safety of Kayden, which was a heartbreaking tragedy, but, unfortunately, not unique. This bill requires a court to consider certain critical factors to ensure that the health and safety of children are weighed before custody of a child is awarded to any party or parties.”
Kayden’s Law was voted unanimously out of the Senate Judiciary Committee in September 2020, during the previous Senate session. With the start of the new session in January 2021, all bills that were not passed in the previous session must be re-introduced and begin the legislative process anew.
At the time the bill was passed out of committee in September 2020, Sen. Santarsiero said, “Never again. That should be our vow as lawmakers. Never again should one of our children die or be abused because Pennsylvania law does not do enough to protect them. The tragedy of Kayden Mancuso’s death demonstrates that the current child custody law does not in fact do enough.”
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January 15, 2021
BUCKS COUNTY — January 15, 2021 — State Senator Steve Santarsiero (D-10) announced his appointment as Democratic Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee. In addition to his chairmanship of the Judiciary Committee, Sen. Santarsiero will also serve on the Appropriations, Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure, Environmental Resources & Energy, and Intergovernmental Operations Committees.
“The Judiciary Committee helps shape the legal framework of our state, and I am honored to have been appointed as Democratic Chair of the Committee,” said Sen. Santarsiero. “I look forward to working to enact policies that will improve the safety of our communities, ensure fairness in legal proceedings, and see quality judicial appointments to our courts.”
The Judiciary Committee reviews all legislation relating to aspects of the civil and criminal court systems, law enforcement and corrections, and is responsible for evaluating prison staffing, inmate populations, and housing conditions. The committee also oversees the Attorney General’s Office, Department of Corrections, State Ethics Commission, Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing and the Municipal Police Officers Education and Training Commission, among others.
Sen. Santarsiero has served on the Judiciary Committee since his election to the Senate in 2018. Last year, the committee held a hearing and voted out his legislation, Kayden’s Law, to protect children in especially contentious custody cases.
“I am pleased to be expanding my role on the Judiciary Committee, continuing the important work we began last session and taking on new legislation,” said Sen. Santarsiero. “I want to thank Chairwoman Baker for her leadership of the Committee, and I look forward to serving alongside her in the new session.”
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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