by sdcsapps | March 16, 2023 | News Releases
Philadelphia, PA – Today, Senator Christine Tartaglione announced that more than $3.8 million in grants would be coming to projects and programs across the 2nd District. The funds being awarded are from the Commonwealth’s Local Share Account and Multimodal Transportation Fund.
The Local Share Account and Multimodal Transportation Fund grants were approved by the Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA) which was established to administer Pennsylvania’s economic stimulus packages and grant programs.
“It’s always great to see our Commonwealth invest in projects that will directly impact and improve our communities and neighborhoods,” said Senator Tartaglione. “The resources being announced today will help clean up our streets and make our community safer for its residents.”
Projects awarded grant dollars include:
Local Share Account:
- Philadelphia City – Cohocksink Recreation Center – $1,000,000
- PIDC Financing Corporation on behalf of Frankford Community Development Corporation – Frankford Transportation Center Transit Oriented Development – $1,000,000
- PIDC Financing Corporation on behalf of New Kensington Community Development Corporation – Kensington Anchor Acquisition and Renovation: 2917-21 Kensington Avenue – $976,900
Multimodal Transportation Fund:
- Kensington Castor Partners, LLC – Maken East sidewalk replacement – $241,235
- Charles Jacquin Et Cie, Inc. – Trenton Avenue Streetscape Improvement – $615,165
More information on the CFA and the grants awarded can be found on their website.
by Jessica Marpe | March 9, 2023 | News Releases
Harrisburg, PA – March 8th, 2023 – Today, Senator Christine Tartaglione announced $2,993,346 in grants from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD).
The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency allocates and awards grants to organizations that demonstrate commitment to the Commission’s strategic priorities and mission. The grants announced today include funds from the Federal JAG State Share Funds, Federal American Rescue Plan Act Funds – Local Law Enforcement Support Grant Program, and the Federal/ State Opioid Response Funds.
“As we have seen far too often, we spend too much time dealing with the consequences of crime without addressing the root causes and its prevention,” said Senator Tartaglione. “The funds the PCCD are releasing to Philadelphia-based organizations like Temple University will provide critical resources and support to organizations across our city working to find solutions to the systemic issues behind crime and create a safer and more peaceful Philadelphia for everyone.”
The PCCD funding was awarded as followed:
Federal JAG State Share Funds
- Temple University – $235,380 for addressing racial and ethnic disparities.
Federal American Rescue Plan Act Funds – Local Law Enforcement Support Grant Program
- Temple University – $1,767,049 for upgrading training and surveillance systems.
Federal/ State Opioid Response Funds
- Courage Medicine Health Center – $500,000 for opioid and substance use disorder treatment programs.
- Philadelphia Legal Assistance – $490,920 for Medical Legal Community Partnership for opioid and substance use disorder treatment programs.
More information on the PCCD can be found on the Commission’s website.
###
by Jessica Marpe | March 6, 2023 | News Releases
HARRISBURG, PA – March 6, 2023 – On Friday, March 3rd Senators Street, Schwank, Tartaglione and Hughes, reintroduced Sacred Spaces legislation, amending Section 3307 of Title 18 (Institutional Vandalism) to enhance the existing statute to give District Attorneys expanded options for combating vandalism of sacred spaces such as faith institutions, cemeteries, or memorials.
Senator Sharif Street shared that “at minimum, it is our responsibility as a government to ensure Pennsylvanians are free to express themselves, including their religious beliefs, without fear or risk of retribution. The continued defacement of places of worship is meant to intimidate whole communities and an inadequate response to these acts of hate inevitably results in more violent acts of intolerance.”
In recent years there has been an increase in the deliberate vandalism of churches, synagogues, mosques, and other places of worship by those who wish to express hate. On February 25, 2023, a “National Day of Hate” garnered significant attention and warnings from law enforcement about rising antisemitism and possible attacks on religious institutions across the United States.
Senator Judy Schwank stated that “Faith-based hatred and vandalism is deeply disturbing and has no place in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, we’ve witnessed vandalism at religious and sacred spaces increase over the past few years. The protecting sacred spaces legislation we are introducing will send a clear message to those that wish to spread hate and intimidate other that they will be held accountable for their actions.”
In Philadelphia Jewish cemeteries have been targeted by vandals and on February 24th, 2023, the Philadelphia Masjidullah Mosque was defaced. On February 8th, 2023, in Reading, the Jesus is Alive World Center was severely damaged accruing more than $70,000 in repair costs. Religious intolerance, whether through rhetoric or acts of hate, have increasing consequences.
“In a state that was founded on the principle of religious liberty, it is abhorrent to see continued attacks and intimidation on and to our Commonwealth’s places of worship,” said Senator Tartaglione, “expanding the tools prosecutors across Pennsylvania can use to protect sacred spaces is a crucial step in combatting the hate we have seen grow out of the dark and dangerous fringes of society.”
Senator Vincent Hughes echoed that sentiment, stating “I’m proud to partner with my colleagues on this legislation, because acts of vandalism and hate against our sacred spaces have no place in Pennsylvania.”
###
by Jessica Marpe | February 2, 2023 | News Releases
PHILADELPHIA – Feb. 2, 2023 – Today, Sen. Art Haywood (D-Montgomery/Philadelphia) joined Sens. Jimmy Dillon (D-Philadelphia) and Christine Tartaglione (D-Philadelphia) for a check presentation and press conference at the Fox Chase Cancer Center in the Northeast Philadelphia. The senators presented a $1.1 million grant to Temple Health to fund mobile health services at four sites in Philadelphia.
With the support of the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus, Sen. Haywood secured $10 million for statewide mobile and community clinics, including over $1 million for Temple Health, as part of the COVID-19 Public Health Equity Initiative (PHEI), made possible by State Fiscal Recovery Funds from the American Rescue Plan.
In December 2022, Sen. Haywood announced this strategic investment, which helps medically underserved communities impacted by the pandemic to access to public health services. This PHEI funding benefits 45 awardees for services across the state, including $5 million for mobile health clinics to provide jobs, $3 million for health equity to improve accessibility, and $2 million for trauma-informed care to heal communities of color.
“Health equity is health access,” said Haywood. “Funding and expanding mobile health clinics and community health centers will help communities to obtain access to health care across the Commonwealth.”
The five grants for Temple Health include:
- Begin the Turn Mobile Suboxone Unit – Suboxone prescriptions – $250,000
- Begin the Turn Mobile Suboxone Unit – Trauma-informed counseling – $100,000
- Fox Chase Cancer Center Mobile Screening Van – Mammography and preventative care – $250,000
- Healthy Together Mobile Unit of the Temple Center for Population Health – Community engagement, screenings, vaccination, and education – $250,000
- Miriam Medical/Zion Baptist Church/Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine (MZT) Collaborative Mobile Clinic – COVID-19 testing, COVID-19 vaccination, and chronic disease monitoring – $250,000
Sens. Haywood, Dillon, and Tartaglione displayed the check in front of the four mobile units facing the Fox Chase Cancer Center. Leadership from the health system, including Michael A. Young, MHA, FACHE, president and CEO of Temple Health, Amy J. Goldberg, MD, FACS, dean of the Lewis Katz School of Medicine, and Robert Uzzo, MD, MBA, FACS, president and CEO, Fox Chase Cancer Center, gladly accepted the funding. President Young welcomed guests to the event and thanked Senate delegation, including Sen. Sharif Street (D-Philadelphia), for their partnership.
“Temple Health would like to thank Senators Dillon, Haywood, Street and Tartaglione for their dependable partnership over the past few years – including this support of our mobile screening units,” said Young. “Temple is the Commonwealth’s largest safety net provider servicing Pennsylvania’s most challenged communities and the ongoing support of Senators Dillon, Haywood, Street and Tartaglione has been critical to us achieving a stronger financial foundation that enables us to invest in our clinical programs, our facilities, technologies, employees – and most importantly, our patients.”
Sen. Haywood delivered opening remarks and outlined the process to launch this initiative. As Democratic Chair of the Pennsylvania Senate Health and Human Services Committee and a former member of Governor Tom Wolf’s COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force, Haywood is a longtime advocate for health access. In 2021, he pushed for equity in the vaccine distribution in 66 counties across the state. He also increased access for Black and Brown Pennsylvanians, people with disabilities, non-English speakers, and residents in congregate care, jails, and long-term facilities.
Through his research on the task force, Sen. Haywood learned there was no formal registry for mobile and community clinics to show where services should be expanded. He successfully developed the first mobile clinic registry in the state.
In September 2022, Sen. Haywood co-hosted a virtual public hearing with Sen. Katie Muth (D-Berks/Chester/Montgomery) to discuss strategies to enhance statewide mobile health clinics and community health centers in Pennsylvania. During the hearing, he described the importance of securing mobile health funding. “The health system is broken,” said Haywood. “These grants make some repairs.”
Sen. Dillon proudly cohosted today’s event in his district. “Funding for mobile and community clinics can lower healthcare costs, improve access, and, hopefully, save lives,” said Dillon. “I am proud to stand with Senator Haywood and Temple Health to celebrate the good work the Mobile Screening Units will be able to do with this grant.”
The Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine Center for Urban Bioethics (CUB) received three of the grants, including the Begin the Turn Mobile Suboxone Unit and the MZT Collaborative Mobile Clinic. The school’s dean, Dr. Goldberg, expressed her gratitude to the senators.
“The Lewis Katz School of Medicine is incredibly thankful to Senators Dillon, Haywood, Street, and Tartaglione for their continued support of our programs, but more importantly, their dedication to improving the health of the community we serve, that provides the foundation for which we can continue to our work to address and eradicate the health disparities that plague our community,” said Goldberg.
Fox Chase Cancer Center’s president and CEO, Dr. Uzzo, was pleased to open the doors of the research facility and hospital for the event.
“Long before it became ‘best practice,’ Fox Chase Cancer Center recognized the need for cancer screening in the community and we have been providing this critical service for more than 38 years,” said Uzzo. “We are grateful to our partners in the Commonwealth whose support is helping us to advance our efforts with a next-generation Mobile Screening Unit and the ability to reach more people with screenings for more types of cancers, including breast, cervical, skin, and head & neck cancers; screening for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, a key risk factor for liver cancer; bilingual cancer education; and collection of biospecimens to help us learn more about cancer health disparities.”
Sen. Tartaglione expressed the significance of the mobile health grants. “Quality healthcare without boundaries and barriers is one of the surest ways to increase the quality of living for Pennsylvanians,” said Tartaglione. “It means nothing to build hospitals without ensuring everyone that needs access has access to the care provided.” Tartaglione continued: “These funds will allow the work of ensuring access to continue expanding into neighborhoods that are traditionally underserved and underinvested.”
A representative from Sen. Street’s office, Lateefah Shakir, stood at the event in support of the health equity funding. “In the beginning of the pandemic, it was critical to marshal resources to meet the medical needs of underserved communities,” said Street. “I’m thankful for the leadership and partnership of Senator Haywood to secure $10 million for health equity, mobile clinics, and trauma-informed care.”
Following the press conference, the group participated in a roundtable to discuss healthcare priorities of the Commonwealth in their collective efforts to increase access to equitable, high quality health care, including screenings and treatments for patients in southeastern Pennsylvania.
The Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus will announce additional recipients of public health equity funding this year. Video of event will be available at senatorhaywood.com/video.
###
by Christin Brown | January 11, 2023 | feature, News Releases
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania – January 11, 2023 – Today, Senator Christine M. Tartaglione, Democratic Whip, announced the Pennsylvania School Safety and Security Committee of the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency awarded $29,170,225 in grants to 31 separate programs tasked with preventing and intervening in violence across the 2nd District and the City of Philadelphia.
The grants are funded via two separate grants:
- The Coordinated Community Violence Intervention (CCVI) – The purpose of this program is to increase local coordination and collaboration to more effectively prevent, intervene and respond to gun and group violence.
- Violence Intervention and Prevention (VIP). The purpose of this program is to provide grants and technical assistance to address community violence throughout the Commonwealth.
“Philadelphia, just like cities across this commonwealth and nation are facing an unprecedented epidemic of violence,” said Senator Tartaglione. “The resources being announced today will allow programs from across our city and commonwealth to continue addressing the root causes of violence and in turn prevent the crime that plagues our streets.”
Programs receiving the grants announced today that will provide services in the 2nd District and city-wide include:
Philadelphia City Treasurer, Philadelphia Cure Violence Coalition – $1,892,369 to develop a coalition of Cure Violence-based programs. The Cure Violence Model is an evidence-based prevention program that takes a public health approach to reduce community violence. The Philadelphia Department of Public Health has spent the last year laying the groundwork for a coalition with members from all programs in Philadelphia using the Cure Violence model of violence prevention. These programs/partners include Cure Violence Philadelphia, Philadelphia CeaseFire, Community Crisis Intervention Program (a city program under the Office of Criminal Justice and Public Safety), and Penn Community Violence Prevention Program.
AMANDLA, Inc. – $147,595 to support violence prevention activities through expanding its Safe-Hub EduSoccer Program. The EduSoccer program reaches 500 young people from Philadelphia’s Kensington and Harrowgate neighborhoods, providing a safe space for young people while supporting anti-violence and anti-crime behaviors through targeting an array of socio-emotional program outcomes.
Artwell Collaborative, Inc. – $275,000 to implement its transformative and therapeutic multidisciplinary arts programming in schools, community centers, faith-based organizations, and behavioral health organizations. These funds will be used for: therapeutic arts programming in 10 Philadelphia schools (We the Poets and The Art of Growing Leaders); therapeutic arts programming in partnership with three community partners; trauma-informed response training for our team of Teaching Artists; inclusivity training for ArtWell’s leadership team; expanding the knowledge base and expertise of the organization’s leadership team by adding a part-time clinician.
Beyond Literacy – $1,311,266 to support the continuation and expansion of its Keystone Energy Employment Pipeline (KEEP) program, a community-focused strategy that transitions Philadelphia’s young, emerging adults ages 18 to 25 at risk of incarceration and gun violence into long-term financial stability through high-impact education, GED attainment, and pre-apprenticeship training for in-demand green energy sector jobs.
Boys & Girls Club of Philadelphia, Inc. – $1,970,477 to expand teen programming at six Club locations by hiring dedicated teen staff, keeping Clubs open until 10 pm on Fridays, and opening the Clubs from 5 pm to 10 pm on Saturdays. All teens participating in programming will be engaged in formal or informal mentoring and evidence-based violence prevention activities.
Build Our Lives Together Inc. – $50,000 to create an intensive 8-month program for grassroots leaders – people who are the most proximate to the problems to learn critical skills, expand their network, and get access to funding so they can accelerate their impact, for a radical reduction in gun violence.
Center for Families and Relationships – $999,000 to expand it’s existing Together Through Trauma Program into Philadelphia recreation centers in the most vulnerable districts impacted by gun violence.
Central Division Victim Services – $371,663 to continue providing services to crime victims in the 6th, 9th, and 22nd Philadelphia Police Districts along with gun violence prevention in the 22nd and 25th Philadelphia Police Districts.
Coalition of African Communities (AFRICOM) – $125,000 to provide an immigrant community engagement gun violence prevention initiative that will bring together faith-based leaders, individuals, families, groups, and business owners to build knowledge, establish strong networks, identify, and prevent risks and connect the community to support services.
Education-Plus, Inc. – $299,125 to provide universal mental health screening at five schools to provide evidence-based programs in concert with school-based health clinic staff in order to reduce/prevent violence in schools and communities.
Federation of Neighborhood Centers, Inc. – $1,250,000 to support nine diverse, unique, and collaborative projects addressing violence and related issues in Philadelphia. From street and community outreach, food distribution, non-traditional youth programming, career assistance to the previously incarcerated, and connecting community members with available resources, this funding will provide needed support for these groups to expand their work. Funding will support nine projects/organizations (Homies Helping Homies; The Apologues; City of Dreams Coalition; Double Trellis Food Initiative; Elevation Voice; Kensington Voice; Oronde McClain Foundation; Ones Up; Philadelphia Boom).
Girls Inc. of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey – $699,335 to expand the Bold Futures program, an intensive violence prevention mentoring program for high-risk girls who reside in Philadelphia with both individual and community risk factors between the ages of 9 to 14.
HIAS & Council Migration Services Inc. DBA HIAS PA – $2,124,484 to provide immigration legal services, some case management, and specialized victim services to low-income immigrant youth and their families who are eligible for legal status but have not yet obtained status and are therefore vulnerable to exploitation and abuse. Funds will support two attorneys, a Department of Justice Accredited Representative, a paralegal, and legal supervision to provide immigration legal services to at-risk youth referred to HIAS Pennsylvania by Philadelphia’s Department of Human Services, the Philadelphia School District, and through self-referral.
Oxford Circle Christian Community Development Association – $445,113 to support the establishment of a Success Center in the Samuel S. Fels High School of Philadelphia, PA. The Success Center will provide social-emotional learning (SEL) education to the students; non-academic, referral (case-management) support to students and their parents/ caregivers; an Oasis where students can safely retreat from and process stress or trauma they may be experiencing at school or at home; parent/ caregiver workshops; and field trips to enrich the lives of students and to give them new experiences and a new perspective on life.
Philadelphia City Treasurer, The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office “Data CoLab”- $1,772,966 to implement the “Data CoLab”, a data-informed community-based participatory initiative hosted by the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Transparency Analytics Lab (DATA Lab). This initiative fosters partnerships among the DAO and community-based organizations (CBOs) by hosting a series of participatory research workshops in the communities experiencing high levels of gun violence to provide data tools and engage in participatory research and interventions.
Philadelphia Mural Arts Advocates – $1,500,000 to expand its Restorative Justice Program into a cohesive pathway for justice-impacted people in Philadelphia neighborhoods with the highest rates of community violence.
Philadelphia Youth Network, Inc. – $2,000,000 to expand educational and employment pathway exploration for 12-24-year-olds through its portfolio of structured learning and skill-building opportunities. PYN is seeking to expand its provider network to create more opportunities for historically marginalized youth in Philadelphia to build stronger, safer communities through promoting summer employment opportunities.
Playworks Education Energized – $572,547 to advance the Community Coach Leadership Program (CCLP), a proactive, medium-to-long-term violence-prevention intervention strategy focused on serving kids most susceptible and impacted by violence. CCLP will engage School District of Philadelphia (SDP) high school students as program participants in leader-mentor positions with SDP elementary schools in violence-impacted neighborhoods.
Power of Paint Art Academy & Management – $86,981 to support a violence prevention and intervention program where trained staff will use art and therapeutic approaches, via outreach and referral services, to improve the quality of life for individuals who are victims and/or perpetrators of violence.
Rock to the Future, Inc. – $330,000 to support free music and mentoring programs in high-crime neighborhoods in North, West, and Northwest Philadelphia for teens that are at risk to be involved in violence, victims of violence, who have experienced trauma, and those from reentry and diversion programs.
Sharing Excess – $55,880 for the identification, outreach, and engagement of individuals who are most likely to be involved in violence and provide tailored, holistic supports to meet a wide range of education, employment, mental and behavioral health, and other basic needs.
Students Run Philly Style – $1,368,926 to scale current violence interruption and prevention efforts through recreation in and around the neighborhood of West Kensington. The goal is to have programs and activities for all ages, and family events throughout the year.
The Lincoln Center for Family and Youth – $2,500,000 to support the implementation of a hospital- and community-based violence intervention program where trained Violence Intervention Clinicians and Specialists will provide assertive outreach and crisis response to individuals and families exposed to violence in the community, conduct clinical crisis assessments, provide trauma-informed therapy and case management services, and refer individuals and families to social safety net providers in the community for long-term support.
The Urban League of Philadelphia – $950,000 to continue and expand their proven Violence Prevention Programs that support and target at-risk Black and Brown youth and young men and men who are justice-involved.
Unique Dreams, Inc. – $85,000 to fund several programs that offer an array of opportunities within the community. Those programs include a crisis line, skill building in carpentry, plumbing and electrical trades, resume workshops, interview training, empowerment groups, assistance with transportation needs, an afterschool and summer program for youth ages 8-18 focused on guided group discussions and conflict resolution, and youth skill-building workshops on topics such as music, cooking, basketball, boxing, and weightlifting.
University of Pennsylvania (Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety) – $1,517,546 to expand the scope and reach of the Prolonged Exposure (PE) Therapy Initiative, a program that supports the implementation of Prolonged Exposure (PE) Therapy for PTSD in community mental health centers in Philadelphia, by creating the Philadelphia Prolonged Exposure to Address Community Violence (PEACE) Project, which will be a coalition of 60 providers who are trained to respond to the mental health needs of individuals who experience community violence.
University of Pennsylvania (Penn Injury Science Center) – $2,332,070 to expand and enhance the School District of Philadelphia’s (SDP) Safe Path to School program. The program will expand to 6-8 schools and have enhanced features such as training (e.g. trauma-informed care, cure violence models of violence prevention), access to referral programs, and regular meetings with local violence intervention programs.
Uplift Center for Grieving Children – $399,994 to provide additional resources for training and data collection for quality grief counseling services to youth in the city of Philadelphia. Components of this project include clinical training and supervision to cultivate staff aptitude and maintain up-to-date and high-quality mental health supports, the expansion of the Resilient Parenting for Bereaved Families (RPBF) program, providing caregivers with regulation skills and parenting tools over 10-week sessions to support their families, and training coordination to expand its capacity to train frontline professionals in racial/trauma-informed professional development offerings.
Uplift Solutions Inc. – $607,840 to grow and enhance their Workforce Solutions program, which serves justice-involved individuals through increased outreach efforts, increased trauma-informed behavioral health services, and increased capacity to serve more participants. Program components include life-skills training, case management, wraparound services, job readiness training, employer technical training, employment placement, and follow-up support 3 years post-graduation.
More information on the grants can be found here.
by Christin Brown | January 10, 2023 | feature, News Releases
Harrisburg, PA – January 10, 2023 – Democratic Whip, Senator Christine M. Tartaglione released the following statement regarding the consolidation of the statute of limitations constitutional amendment into a package with Voter ID and Regulatory Review constitutional amendments.
“Victims of sexual abuse don’t deserve to have their fate toyed with by politicians in Harrisburg,” said Senator Tartaglione. “The language of this constitutional amendment has passed this chamber three times now, but suddenly the majority party has decided playing politics with the rights of abuse victims is more important than providing a window to allow accountability. I cannot condemn these games strongly enough. This constitutional amendment should be run alone.
by Christin Brown | January 3, 2023 | feature, News Releases
Harrisburg, PA – January 3, 2023 − Today, Pennsylvania Senator Christine M. Tartaglione was sworn into her eighth term serving as the Pennsylvania Senator from the 2nd District which includes portions of Philadelphia. Senator Tartaglione was also officially named Democratic Whip for the 2023-2024 legislative session.
Senator Tartaglione was one of 25 members sworn into the Pennsylvania Senate.
“Entering this legislative session, I am officially the longest-serving female in Pennsylvania Senate History,” said Senator Tartaglione. “It has been the honor of a lifetime serving the people of the 2nd district, and I am eagerly awaiting the coming legislative session and serving as Whip for the Senate Democratic Caucus. I am optimistic the legislature will spend the next legislative session working to pass crucial legislation that will put Pennsylvanians first.”
Serving in her 28th year, Senator Tartaglione is now the longest-serving female senator in Pennsylvania’s history, surpassing Senator Jeanette F. Reibman, who served from 1967 to 1994, the year Senator Tartaglione first won her seat in the Pennsylvania Senate.
Constituents can connect with Senator Tartaglione via her email: Tartaglione@pasenate.com, her Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or website.
###
by Christin Brown | November 15, 2022 | feature, News Releases
Harrisburg, PA – November 15, 2022 − Today, Senator Christine Tartaglione was elected by her Senate Democratic colleagues to become the first female to serve as Democratic Whip in Pennsylvania Senate history. Senator Tartaglione is also the first person with a disability to serve as the Whip of any caucus in the state’s 235-year history.
When the Senate returns in the ’23-’24 legislative session Senator Tartaglione will bring more than 28 years of experience and relationships to the Whip position.
“For nearly three decades, I have had the honor to serve the people of the 2nd district of Pennsylvania,” said Senator Tartaglione. “I have seen my fair share of bad bills pass and great bills squandered away into the abyss of parliamentary procedure. Being able to pull upon seven terms worth of experience and bi-partisan relationships will help our caucus move forward our progressive priorities.”
Other Senate Democrats elected to leadership roles include:
- Leader – Jay Costa, Jr.
- Appropriations Committee Chair – Vincent Hughes
- Chair – Wayne D. Fontana
- Secretary – Maria Collett
###
by Christin Brown | October 27, 2022 | News Releases
Philadelphia, October 27, 2022 – Today, Senators Tina Tartaglione and Jimmy Dillon announced $2,500,000 for two projects in Northeast Philadelphia. The grants were awarded from the additional Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) to further support community and economic development throughout Pennsylvania.
“Philadelphia has long been known as a premier education and medical city,” said Sen. Tartaglione. “The funding of this grant will help support two great Philadelphia institutions and will enable both to continue to be leaders in their fields.”
RACP projects are authorized in the Redevelopment Assistance section of a Capital Budget Itemization Act, have a regional or multi-jurisdictional impact, and generate substantial increases or maintain current levels of employment, tax revenue, or other measures of economic activity.
“I’m always glad to team-up with my friend and colleague Senator Tartaglione,” said Sen. Dillon. “I’m proud we’re investing in cutting edge cancer research at Fox Chase and innovative vocational training at Father Judge. Working together, I know this is only the beginning of what we can accomplish for Northeast Philly.”
The two projects receiving fundings are:
- Research Facility Modernization, Fox Chase Cancer Center, $1,500,000 – the project will transform the FCCC Laboratory Facility into a cancer model production and analysis hub. It will also renovate the central Laboratory Facility building by overhauling the air handling controls and replacing the lighting systems.
- The Friends of Father Judge High School, Inc., $1,000,000 – Funds would be specifically allocated toward the construction of the Career Pathways Academy Building. Construction to include a state-of-the art 20,000 square foot two story structure built for the purpose of delivering high level vocational education and workforce development. The CTE Academy will have a large common area for multiple trade disciplines to be taught simultaneously while three classrooms and additional breakout spaces will be created on the first floor to allow for students to migrate from hands-on activities into classroom environments to further study their craft. The second floor will have additional workshop spaces, offices for instructors, and an observation deck for administrators to view the multiple disciplines being taught from a safe distance.
###
by Christin Brown | October 18, 2022 | feature, News Releases
Harrisburg, PA − October 18th, 2022 – Sen. Christine Tartaglione today hosted Disability Awareness Day in the Pennsylvania Capitol to highlight October as National Disability Employment Awareness Month in Pennsylvania.
Tartaglione, the longest-serving disabled member of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, hosted the event to allow advocacy organizations, along with public and private providers, to share information about assistive services and technology. All members of the legislature and the public were invited to attend.
“People living with physical and cognitive challenges face an uphill battle every day simply accessing everyday essentials let alone meaningful employment,” said Tartaglione. “Events like Disability Awareness Day allow my colleagues to come and truly appreciate the challenges facing disabled Pennsylvanians every day.”
Tartaglione has been using a wheelchair since a boating accident in 2003. She has long been a leading advocate in Pennsylvania for people with disabilities and was instrumental in creating the state’s Office for People with Disabilities, which serves as a go-to source for information about the many state and county agencies that offer services for people who need assistance in their daily lives.
Organizations that shared information included the Center for Independent Living of Central PA, Susquehanna Service Dogs, PA Department of Aging, PA Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services and PA Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation Services, AgrAbility PA, UniqueSource Products and Services, United Cerebral Palsy of Central PA, TechOwl, PA Link, United Spinal Association, Institute on Disabilities at Temple University, PA Assistive Technology Foundation, and Moss Rehab/Einstein now a part of Jefferson Health.
###
by Christin Brown | October 13, 2022 | News Releases
Philadelphia Pa. − October 13, 2022 − Today nearly 100 seniors, their direct caregivers, and vendors attended the first of three Senior Expos hosted by Senator Christine Tartaglione (D-Philadelphia).
The expo, organized and hosted by Sen. Tartaglione, at the St. Anne’s Rectory PAL Center in Philadelphia hosted representatives from various government agencies as well as public and private providers were on hand to discuss programs and services for older Philadelphians, as well as organizations providing health screenings. A free lunch was provided to attendees as well.
“One of my favorite aspects of being an elected official is helping to connect seniors with the services they need,” Sen. Tartaglione said. “These events are always a huge hit with my constituents, and every time I interact with constituents around the 2nd district, they always tell me how much they love the senior fairs and are already looking forward to the next one.”
Sen. Tartaglione will be hosting two more senior expos in the 2nd District:
- Friday, October 21st, 10 am-1 pm at the Lawncrest Recreation Center, 6000 Rising Sun Avenue, Philadelphia
- Thursday, October 27th, 10 am-1 pm at the Mayfair Community Center, 2990 Saint Vincent St, Philadelphia
The Senior Expos are free to attend and open to all seniors and their caregivers in the 2nd district.
For more information contact Sen. Tartaglione’s district office at (215) 533-0440.
###
by Christin Brown | July 8, 2022 | feature, News Releases
Harrisburg, PA – July 8, 2022 – On Friday, the Pennsylvania General Assembly passed the $44 billion Fiscal Year 2022-2023 (FY 22-23) Budget and related code bills, which are awaiting Governor Wolf’s signature.
“This budget is both a great step forward in its historic investment in education funding, with a record $1.1 billion increase in education funding and $190 million heading to the School District of Philadelphia. It was also a missed opportunity to make meaningful and substantive change in Pennsylvanians’ lives – we failed to raise Pennsylvania’s minimum wage or close the Delaware loophole, and we redirected gaming revenue away from helping Pennsylvanians afford their property taxes and toward Pennsylvania’s General Fund,” said Senator Christine Tartaglione.
House Bill 1342, the Pennsylvania Tax Code for FY 22-23, which Sen. Tartaglione voted ‘NO’ on, will slowly lower the Corporate Net Income Tax (CNI) from 9.99% to 4.99% in 2031. It failed to address the needs of employees earning an inadequate minimum wage or close the Delaware loophole which would prevent corporations from moving profits to subsidiaries in neighboring Delaware and not paying their fair share in taxes.
“150 days ago, Governor Wolf delivered his final Budget Address to the General Assembly. During his Address, he spoke about the need to address the CNI but doing so while raising the minimum wage and closing the Delaware loophole. But today, the majority party lowered the CNI while leaving behind the lowest earners in Pennsylvania.” said Sen Tartaglione.
Other programs and initiatives receiving funding include investments of $125 million for the Whole Home Repair program, $100 million for Adult Mental Health Support, $90 million for Childcare Assistance, and $75 million for Violence Intervention and Prevention Programs.
A more detailed breakdown of Pennsylvania’s FY 22-23 budget can be found here.
###
by Christin Brown | June 27, 2022 | feature, News Releases
HARRISBURG, June 27, 2022 − Seven members of the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus circulated a memo on Friday afternoon to take steps to codify into state law the personal right to make decisions about health and reproduction, including access to safe and legal abortions.
The co-sponsorship memo was circulated by state Senators Katie Muth (D- Montgomery/Chester/Berks), Amanda Cappelletti (D-Montgomery/Delaware), Lindsey Williams (D-Allegheny), Maria Collett (D-Bucks/Montgomery), Judy Schwank (D-Berks), Christine Tartaglione (D-Philadelphia), and Carolyn Comitta (D-Chester).
“The Supreme Court decision handed down on Friday was not made in the interest of the people and shows that the highest court in our nation has a majority that is being run by harmful right wing special interests,” Muth said. “If we cannot trust the Court to protect the rights of Pennsylvanians, then it is up to us in the state legislature to defend our rights to make decisions about our own bodies. We cannot and we will never back down in the fight to protect our rights, our bodies, and our right to choice.”
The legislation comes on the heels of the devastating ruling handed down by a partisan Supreme Court on Friday that overturned the 1973 Roe v Wade ruling and eliminates the constitutional right to an abortion after almost 50 years.
“Codifying Roe will go a long way to protect the right to determine our own bodily autonomy here in the Commonwealth. Currently, the right to make decisions about our own bodies is under threat because extremists refuse to accept the reality that abortion is a necessary and vital health care procedure,” Cappelletti said. “We must do all that we can to protect and even expand access, and this legislation is the first step to doing so.”
In 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Roe v. Wade that abortion rights being left to the individual states was a violation of the right to privacy and equal protection under the law. This ruling had provided American women the reproductive freedoms and personal health choices they deserve as equal citizens.
“Last week’s Supreme Court ruling took away the federal right for millions of Americans to seek life-saving reproductive healthcare. Abortion is only legal in Pennsylvania right now because the anti-choice bills run by Republicans in the legislature have been vetoed by the governor. The time is now to codify Roe into state law to ensure that reproductive healthcare remains safe and accessible for future generations,” Williams added. “Deciding if, when, and with whom to start or grow a family is a human right. I trust people to make the best decisions about their lives, families and their healthcare. This legislation is about our right to privacy and our right to bodily autonomy and I am proud to support it.”
In the dissenting opinion filed on Friday, Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer wrote that “withdrawing a woman’s right to choose whether to continue a pregnancy does not mean that no choice is being made. It means that a majority of today’s Court has wrenched this choice from women and given it to the States. To allow a State to exert control over one of “the most intimate and personal choices” a woman may make is not only to affect the course of her life, monumental as those effects might be.”
“After nearly 50 years of legal precedent, we are seeing nothing less than a rollback of our fundamental rights to bodily autonomy. This ruling could be devastating to Pennsylvanians, but it does not have to be,” Collett added. “Our legislature must codify Roe v. Wade and ensure safe, legal, and accessible reproductive care for everyone, regardless of their income level or other social barriers.”
According to April 2022 polling done by Franklin & Marshall College, which has regularly polled on the issue since 2009, only 16 percent of Pennsylvanians believe that abortion should be illegal in all circumstances.
“Without Roe, state legislatures across the country will be lining up to restrict, ban or protect abortion access. Given that only 30% of Pennsylvanians agree with the overturning of Roe, I believe this legislation will do what our constituents expect us to do – protect access to abortion,” Schwank said. “We can’t allow the people of this commonwealth’s personal health care decisions to be made by a vocal minority.”
The Senators all agree that it is up to the legislature to step up and take action to protect women’s freedom of choice.
“While abortion currently remains safe and legal in Pennsylvania, we must take steps to keep it that way. In overturning Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court showed just how fragile protections for women’s health, women’s rights, and women’s choice are,” Comitta said. “Codifying these protections into law is a matter of representing the majority of Pennsylvania voters who believe abortion should be legal, standing up for all women, and saying no to an extremist agenda of government-mandated pregnancy.”
The Senators indicated that language is currently being drafted to codify the protections of the 1973 Roe v Wade ruling into Pennsylvania law and that it will be introduced soon.
“We just witnessed an unprecedented repeal of the rights of women in America by activist justices acting against the interest of the majority of Americans. Pennsylvania’s legislature needs to act now to ensure we protect the rights of women here in Pennsylvania,” Tartaglione said. “This legislation will ensure women retain the right to safe abortions and protects women from having the government interfere in the private decision-making process between her and her healthcare team.”
Click here to read the co-sponsorship memo that was circulated on Friday.
###
by Christin Brown | June 24, 2022 | feature, News Releases
Harrisburg − June 24, 2022 − Co-chairs of the Pennsylvania Women’s Health Caucus (WHC) and members of the Pennsylvania State Senate Democratic Caucus criticized today’s ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. The ruling by the court not only upheld a Mississippi law banning abortion after 15 weeks but also goes further and overturns both Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, opening the door for states to outright ban or severely restrict abortion.
The ruling eliminates the constitutional right to an abortion recognized by the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision. Since a draft of the opinion written by Justice Samuel Alito was leaked and its authenticity subsequently confirmed by the court, advocacy groups, elected officials, and stakeholders have been issuing dire warnings about what such a radical decision would mean and the detrimental impact it would have on the health of millions of Americans.
After today’s decision, the 13 states that passed trigger laws now have bans or severe restrictions already enshrined into law, leaving millions of Americans without access to abortion immediately. Arkansas, Idaho and Oklahoma law now criminalizes abortion with penalties ranging from 5 to ten years in prison.
“The Supreme Court’s decision is absolutely gutting and a severe blow to women across the country,” said WHC co-chair Sen. Judy Schwank (D-11th). “We have a maternal mortality crisis in the commonwealth and the U.S. that will only be furthered by this reckless and ideologically driven decision. Our goal now needs to be preserving the access Pennsylvanians currently have to reproductive health care that will no doubt be subject to renewed attacks in the state legislature.”
“The overturning of Roe v. Wade is a devastating decision that will impact millions of women and child-bearing individuals across the country,” said WHC co-chair Sen. Amanda Cappelletti. “Women and child-bearing individuals are not second-class citizens. Bodily autonomy is a human right and abortion is still legal in Pennsylvania. I will do everything in my power to ensure it stays that way here in our commonwealth.”
“Despite today’s decision, here in Pennsylvania, we have to ensure that we maintain the right to legal and safe abortion access and that we continue fighting for women and families across the state for this option,” said WHC co-chair Rep. Morgan Cephas (D-192nd). “Limiting access to abortion healthcare will only exacerbate the maternal health care deserts that we’ve seen across our state and worsen the burden of the decisions that women and families need to make during this challenging time in their lives.”
“This decision is not only an extreme disappointment, but it is completely out of step with what the majority of Americans support, including here in Pennsylvania,” said State Senate Democratic Leader Sen. Jay Costa (D-43rd). “When reproductive rights are threatened, women’s health care on all levels is at risk. Instead of restricting health care for women, Senate Democrats are committed to making the healthcare system work even better for women and their specific health needs. Instead of stripping women of their rights and opening the door for others to lose fundamental rights as well, Senate Democrats will use our positions to identify real health challenges and solutions for women in this Commonwealth. Proactive, unbiased, convenient, and supportive healthcare should easily be a reality for women, and we will continue to make it a priority.”
“It’s a very scary day for our country,” said Sen. Katie Muth (D-44th). “This decision shows that the highest court in the land now includes radical politics into their decision-making process. This is what happens when the bench is stacked by a President who was unfit to serve the public. Now, we must take our anger and turn it into action, and hold every elected official accountable because we will never back down in the fight to protect our rights, our bodies, and our right to choice.”
“While this decision was expected, it is no less devastating,” said Sen. Maria Collett (D-12th). “Without Roe, what happens in the Pennsylvania legislature is more important than ever, and members of the Republican majority have already moved unpopular bills that turn back the clock and effectively ban all abortion. We need to be expanding access to healthcare across our commonwealth, not eliminating it, and I will continue to fight to ensure women can control their own medical decisions.”
“Fundamentally, the SCOTUS’ decision to overturn Roe v. Wade is an attack on every person’s constitutional right to make decisions about their bodies and reproductive health,” said Sen. Tim Kearney (D-26th). “Research shows that limiting access to abortions will cause more harm, inequities, and possibly deaths—especially for the poor and communities vulnerable to health disparities or lack of adequate healthcare. Now Pennsylvania must take the necessary steps to protect abortion rights. The onus will fall on our Commonwealth, and voters this coming election to select candidates whose policy positions align with their own. We must do what we can to ensure that Pennsylvanians continue to have access to safe and legal abortions.”
“To say I am disappointed in this decision would be a tremendous understatement,” said Sen. Carolyn Comitta (D-19th). “This ruling from the Supreme Court is a blatant attack on the personal freedoms, reproductive rights, and access to healthcare of women across the nation. Abortion is healthcare. Decisions women make about their own bodies should only be between them and their doctors. Today’s ruling will stand as an organizing call to redouble our efforts to protect reproductive rights and access to vital women’s healthcare in Pennsylvania and across the U.S.”
“I am appalled and disappointed in the Supreme Court for overturning decades of precedent and nearly overnight rolling back generations of work that had been hard-fought and won,” said Sen. Christine Tartaglione (D-2nd). “Make no mistake, the Supreme Court today did not end abortions in the United States, they ended safe abortions in the United States. We must now continue the fight that so many have been fighting for years and elect pro-choice, pro-women candidates this fall. We must now act to ensure and enshrine in Pennsylvania law the right to access abortion care for all women.”
Collectively, the WHC co-chairs are now expressing the importance of organizing around abortion rights and moving to preserve the access to abortion that is currently available in Pennsylvania.
As of now, abortion remains safe and legal in Pennsylvania, however, Pennsylvania House and Senate Republicans have signaled they will move aggressively to ban or restrict abortion in the commonwealth.
They’re currently floating the possibility of moving a vaguely worded constitutional amendment stating that there is no constitutional right to an abortion in Pennsylvania through both chambers to circumvent a veto. The constitutional amendment could be placed on the ballot as early as the 2023 primary election.
###
by Christin Brown | June 15, 2022 | feature, News Releases
Harrisburg, PA – June 15, 2022 – Today, Senate Bill 617, legislation sponsored by Senator Christine Tartaglione, which would extend federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) protections to siblings, grandparents, and grandchildren in certain and specific cases passed the Senate by a vote of 47-3. The passage comes one day after the bill passed the Senate Appropriations Committee unanimously.
“This is an important step forward for the workers of Pennsylvania.” Said Tartaglione. “Ensuring workers can take care of their family and loved ones without having to sacrifice their professional life and career provides workers with the needed assurance that, if need be, they can provide care and support to the people around them without being forced out of the workforce.”
This legislation provides up to six weeks of protected, unpaid leave to an employee so that they may care for a sibling, grandparent, or grandchild with a certified terminal illness if such sibling, grandparent, or grandchild has no living spouse, no child over 17 years of age or no parent under 65 years of age.
This legislation was championed by Anne Marie Pearson since her sister Joanne became terminally ill in 2008. Anne was forced to choose between caring for her sister or keeping her job since she was not covered by the current FMLA rules, and no other family member was able to care for Joanne.
“I want to thank my colleagues for their support of the workers like Anne and their families like Joanne that are in all corners of Pennsylvania. Ensuring workers don’t need to choose between their jobs and their families is good for all Pennsylvanians.” Said Tartaglione.
Senate Bill 617 now heads to the Pennsylvania House for its consideration.
###
by Christin Brown | June 9, 2022 | News Releases
Harrisburg, PA – June 8, 2022 – Today, Senator Christine Tartaglione announced more than $9.2 million will be coming to Philadelphia from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) to enhance the quality, coordination, and planning of criminal and juvenile justice system, victim service, and community safety programs.
“I am delighted to see the continued investment in all aspects of the criminal justice system here in Philadelphia as well as across the commonwealth,” said Sen Tartaglione. “The funds will be heading to organizations that are at the forefront of addressing our community’s biggest needs including – mental health resources, child advocacy centers, treatment programs for people experiencing addiction, and more.”
Grants that received funding were submitted to the PCCD and reviewed by the Children’s Advocacy Center Advisory Committee (CACAC), the County Adult Probation and Parole Advisory Committee (CAPPAC), or the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Committee (JJDPC).
Programs that serve the residents of Philadelphia that received funding today include:
CACAC – Endowment Act Funds
- $100,000 – Philadelphia Children’s Alliance
- $100,000 – Joseph J. Peters Institute
- $271,423 – WOAR-Philadelphia Center Against Sexual Violence
- $100,000 – Philadelphia Children’s Alliance
- $4,130,000 – Philadelphia City Treasurer
CAPPAC – 2022-2023 Intermediate Punishment Treatment Funds
- $4,018,618 – Philadelphia County
JJDPC – State Substance Abuse Education and Demand Reduction Fund
- $150,000 – Anti-Drug & Alcohol Crusaders, Inc.
- $150,000 – Caring People Alliance
JJDPC – State Violence and Delinquency Prevention Funds
- $150,000 – Oxford Circle Christian Community Development Association
More information on PCCD and its grant opportunities can be found on its website.
###
by Christin Brown | May 25, 2022 | News Releases
HARRISBURG – May 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 May 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.
Loading...
by Christin Brown | May 19, 2022 | feature, News Releases
Harrisburg, Pa. − May 19, 2022 − State Senators Maria Collett (D-12 Montgomery/Bucks) and Tina Tartaglione (D-2 Philadelphia) will soon introduce legislation to make commonsense improvements to our outdated Unemployment Compensation (UC) laws and allow claims to be processed faster.
“Since the onset of COVID-19, my office has helped thousands of constituents navigate an overwhelmed unemployment system,” said Senator Collett. “The pandemic exposed many problems with Pennsylvania’s UC system, some which will require time, money and bipartisan agreement to correct and others – like abolishing the waiting week – that can be quickly resolved by simply cutting through the red tape. I’ve heard directly from my constituents how eliminating the waiting week could help their families. Pennsylvanians contribute to the unemployment system every time they clock in for their shift – they deserve a UC system which works for them right away because bills don’t disappear as quickly as work can.”
As Pennsylvania’s unemployment rates continue to decline and stress on the UC system eases, now is the time to conduct reviews and make changes to ensure residents can access the benefits they are entitled to.
“It’s no secret that Pennsylvanians need help. Our Commonwealth’s Unemployment System helps struggling families to put food on the table and keep a roof over their heads,” said Senator Tartaglione. “This commonsense legislation will remove the roadblocks and red-tape that keep our neighbors from accessing help in a timely manner.”
Collett & Tartaglione’s bill will address some of the most common roadblocks in the UC claims process by:
- Permanently eliminating the “waiting week” that makes claimants ineligible for benefits during the first week of unemployment.
- Eliminating credit weeks from the process of verifying income, which too regularly causes delays in benefits and confusion amongst employers and claimants.
- Eliminating severance pay requirements to minimize the occurrence of claims being sent to UC examiners for review, which further delays claims processing.
- Streamlining the Shared Work Program to help claimants access benefits in a timelier manner.
- Improving the stability of the UC Trust Fund by aligning the solvency definition and trigger percentage with federal policy.
This is companion legislation to HB 549, introduced by Representatives Gerald J. Mullery and Liz Hanbidge.
###
by Christin Brown | April 22, 2022 | feature, News Releases
Philadelphia, Pa., – April 22, 2022 – Senator Christine Tartaglione (D-2) announced today that $11.75 million in Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) grants are being awarded to projects across Philadelphia.
“The projects awarded grants today will benefit the residents of Philadelphia and the surrounding communities from all walks of life,” said Sen. Tartaglione. “From expanding educational access and medical care to addiction recovery services, these grants will help better countless lives and continue to grow our local economy, and I am honored to have advocated for each and every one of them.”
The RACP grant process is highly competitive, and only a small number of applications are funded. Programs receiving funding include:
- Albert Einstein Healthcare Network – $1,000,000 to renovate space to include apartments for overnight stays. Space will be outfitted to provide intensive outpatient care for former military personnel, first responders, and retired professional athletes who have sustained traumatic brain injuries.
- Impact Services- $2,500,000 to develop the A & Indiana Campus including renovation of an existing 150,000 SF Mill Building into mixed-use spaces including affordable housing and a multi-tenant community serving building. The property will be renovated subject to Historic requirements and fit out for the identified tenants. The renovations will include all new systems, floors, historic windows, roofing, elevators, stairs, and finishes. The project will also include completion of site work and parking for access to the building.
- New Kensington Community Development Corporation – $1,500,000 to acquire 8 properties in a 0.75-mile stretch of Kensington Avenue and transform them into avenue “anchors”. Plans include the renovation of 3000 Kensington and 3134-36 Kensington, which each have existing buildings; 2964 and 2968 Kensington Avenue to allow these vacant lots to be used for outdoor programming; and 2713-2719 Kensington Avenue so it can serve as a gateway to the Avenue, a plaza for artists and entrepreneurs, and an access point to the future Richmond Industrial Trail.
- Drexel University – $1,000,000 to create and consolidate spaces for Drexel’s College of Nursing and Health Professions and the teaching functions of the College of Medicine to the University City campus and fund improvements to St. Christophers Hospital.
- Nueva Esperanza, Inc.—$3,000,000 to build a new elementary school to provide a high-quality educational experience for up to 800 students from kindergarten to fifth grade.
- Temple University Hospital, Inc.—$1,000,000 to renovate vacant space on the TUHEC campus to expand services available for treating addiction in multiple levels of care.
The Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) is a Commonwealth grant program administered by the Office of the Budget for the acquisition and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic, recreational, and historical improvement projects.
###
by Christin Brown | April 21, 2022 | feature, News Releases
PHILADELPHIA, PA − April 21, 2022 – Senator Tartaglione today announced $3 million in grant money directed to the 2nd Senatorial District for the development of multi-modal transportation along North 5th St. in the Huntington Park Neighborhood in Philadelphia.
The $3 million grant was awarded through the Multimodal Transportation Fund to help develop North 5th St.’s vehicle, bicycle, and pedestrian transportation infrastructure and create a safer pedestrian corridor.
“The Governor’s investment will expand safe transportation options for pedestrians, drivers, and bicyclists that use these streets every day,” said Sen. Tartaglione “As our city continues to grow, the competition for space between bicyclists and pedestrians, and cars can is only going to grow. The Multimodal Transportation Fund is helping protect the people using our streets that aren’t doing so in vehicles”
Nueva Esperanza, Inc., who was awarded the $3 million grant, plans to use the funds to transform street, bicycle, and pedestrian transportation infrastructure on North 5th Street in Philadelphia’s Hunting Park neighborhood, to advance ongoing economic development by creating a safer, pedestrian-friendly corridor.
This grant is a part of the Multimodal Transportation Fund, which was created in Act 89 of 2013.
PennDOT evaluated the applications and made selections based on such criteria as safety benefits, regional economic conditions, the technical and financial feasibility, job creation, energy efficiency, and operational sustainability.
Additionally, PennDOT anticipates accepting Multimodal Transportation Fund applications in fall 2022 for Fiscal Year 2023-24 funding. For more information about the program, visit www.penndot.pa.gov and click on Multimodal Program under the “Projects & Programs” button.
###
by Christin Brown | April 20, 2022 | News Releases
HARRISBURG – April 20, 2022 – Philadelphia today was awarded $125 million for a water infrastructure project through the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority, or Pennvest, according to state Sen. Christine Tartaglione and state Rep. Mike Driscoll.
The loan was awarded to help with the construction of two new 5 million gallon, below-grade clearwell basins with green roof tops, which will support the Torresdale and Lardner’s Point pump stations and improve the city’s overall water capacity and reliability.
“When we discuss investments in infrastructure, we aren’t just talking about roads and bridges,” Tartaglione said. “We are also talking about the funding of drinking water, wastewater and storm water projects across the Commonwealth. Pennvest’s investment today in Philadelphia will increase access to clean and reliable drinking water and is a crucially needed investment that will benefit millions around the Southeastern Pennsylvania region.”
“Water is our most precious commodity,” Driscoll said. “Without a reliable source, especially in times like now as we are trying to recover from a global pandemic, our city cannot move forward on a path to recovery and progress. Thankfully, the state provides assistance to these large-scale projects that, while very costly, are very necessary.”
The funding for these projects originates from a combination of state funds approved by voters, Growing Greener, Marcellus Legacy funds, federal grants to Pennvest from the Environmental Protection Agency, and recycled loan repayments from previous Pennvest funding awards. Funds for these projects are disbursed after expenses for work are paid and receipts are submitted to Pennvest for review.
###
by Christin Brown | April 14, 2022 | feature, News Releases
Philadelphia – April 14th, 2022 – Today, State Senator Christine Tartaglione (D-2) announced three Northeast Philadelphia organizations were awarded $75,000 in Nonprofit Security Grant Program funding from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD).
“An investment in the safety and security of our communities is an investment in our collective future,” said Sen. Tartaglione. “I am thankful to the governor for prioritizing these organizations and ensuring the safety of those that live, worship, and congregate in our city and across our state.”
The three organizations in Northeast Philadelphia awarded funding are:
- Northeast Philadelphia Development Corporation, $25,000
- Northeast Philadelphia Chinese Association of CultureTrust Greater Philadelphia, $25,000
- Philadelphia Chinese Chamber of Commerce, $25,000
The grants awarded are a part of a larger funding announcement that will send more than $650,000 to 21 organizations across the City of Philadelphia and $5.23 million to 120 churches, synagogues, mosques, temples, and other nonprofit organizations across the state.
Organizations can receive funding for safety and security planning, safety and security equipment and technology, training, building upgrades, vulnerability and threat assessments, and other security enhancements.
More information regarding the Nonprofit Security Grant Fund Program and how to apply can be found on PCCD’s website.
###
by Christin Brown | March 18, 2022 | feature, News Releases
Philadelphia − March 18, 2022 – Today Senator Christine Tartaglione (D-2) was joined by Senator Sharif Street (D-3) and Representative Stephen Kinsey (D-201) to present officials from Einstein Health Network with a $1 million mock check to expand the Emergency Department at Einstein Medical Center Philadelphia.
The $1 million grant was awarded via the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP). RACP grants are awarded to assist in the acquisition or construction of regional economic, cultural, civic, recreational, and historical improvement projects.
“Einstein Medical Center has been a great partner of Philadelphia and our entire region as a whole,” said Sen. Tartaglione. “The grant, which comes from a highly competitive pool of applicants, is going to allow Einstein to continue to be a leader in the medical care of our communities.”
The project will expand the Emergency Department and create a new Observation Unit and Trauma Family Room at the Einstein Philadelphia, which is now a part of Jefferson Health.
“We are tremendously grateful for this support for the construction of our new Einstein Philadelphia Observation Unit and our new Trauma Family Room,” said Dr. Elizabeth Datner, MD, FACEP Chair, Department of Emergency Medicine, Einstein Healthcare Network. “These resources will allow us to continue providing state of the art clinical care for our patients during times when short hospital stays are necessary, and to offer a designated area for concerned family members and loved ones to be together and to consult with care teams during extremely difficult times. Both of these projects will bolster our unfaltering commitment to Einstein’s mission of serving the needs of our community.”
More information about RACP grants awarded and how to apply can be found here.
###
by Christin Brown | March 15, 2022 | News Releases
PHILADELPHIA, March 15, 2022 – State Senator Katie Muth (D- Berks/Chester/Montgomery), Chair of the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Policy Committee, joined Senators Sharif Street, Nikil Saval, Amanda Cappelletti, Tina Tartaglione and Art Haywood to host a public hearing on housing scarcity and contemporary houselessness yesterday at Temple University.
“We need to tackle the issue of economic injustice – from raising wages to actual living wages and ensuring rent and housing prices are fair, transparent, and flexible according to each individual’s financial situation,” Muth said. “All levels of government need to implement policies that ensure public dollars are actually helping the public, not the wealthy, private real estate and private equity firms making billions off of taxpayer funded subsidies and evicting people who can’t afford to pay skyrocketing rent and housing rates. I hope our hearing and the impassioned testimony provided by actual Pennsylvanians living these challenges forces this conversation into the ongoing budget debate and into all 67 counties and local government priorities.”
The policy hearing featured three panels of participants who presented testimony and discussed personal stories about housing scarcity, houselessness, and the government’s responsibility to provide safe, affordable, and accessible housing in Pennsylvania.
“The recent tragic fire in Philadelphia’s Fairmount community that claimed the lives of 12, including 9 children, began with a failure of government. A family was forced to make the untenable choice of cramming eighteen individuals into a single unit because of a lack of resources. Housing is security and dignity. Years of divestment from every level of government have been an abdication of government’s duty to protect the communities they serve,” Street said. “The fundamental question for society and government is ‘how do we create accessible, safe and affordable housing for all?’ I look forward to joining my colleagues in creating policy to address the critical issue of housing scarcity.”
Testifiers at the hearing included Gail Loney, a North Central Philadelphia resident; Alisha Robinson, a Frankford resident; Kelvin Jeremiah, president and CEO, Philadelphia Housing Authority; Aaron Zappia, Senior Government Relations Manager, Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania; Andrew Frishkoff, Executive Director, Philadelphia Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC); and Stephanie Sena, Anti-Poverty Fellow & Housing Advocate, Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law.
“The housing crisis is not unsolvable—we need to act to ameliorate it at every chance we get,” Saval added. “That means raising wages, building equity into our systems, and preserving affordable housing by giving people what they need to repair and maintain and stay in their homes.”
All submitted testimony from the policy hearing and the full video is available at SenatorMuth.com/Policy.
# # #
Testimony
Panel 1: Lived Experience
- Gail Loney, North Central Philadelphia Resident
- Alisha Robinson, Frankford Resident
Panel 2: The Philadelphia Housing Authority
Panel 3: Policy Solutions
Additional Testimony
by Christin Brown | February 8, 2022 | News Releases
Harrisburg, Pa. − February 8, 2022 − Senator Christine Tartaglione today praised the historic funding plan that places an emphasis on further funding education and refunding programs that have seen budget cuts in past years.
“This budget proposal from Governor Wolf is a step in the right direction and helps fix generational disinvestment in education and programs that help our Commonwealth’s most vulnerable citizens,” Said Tartaglione. “For one of the first times since coming to the Senate, we have the chance to enact real change with the ability to add billions of additional dollars to our education system.”
“Just like Governor Wolf said, our Commonwealth’s minimum wage is embarrassingly low and our corporate net income tax rate too high. That’s why I have introduced legislation that would address both of those issues. I am passionately fighting to ensure we make the Commonwealth a better place to live, work, and do business, and I hope both of my pieces of legislation will be included in the conversations moving forward.”
More information on the Governor’s 2022-23 budget proposal can be found here.
###
Reload document 
Open in new tab 
