Senate Democratic Policy Committee

Senator Katie Muth, Chair

Past Policy Hearings

Check below to view past policy hearing including video and testimony! Questions, comments or suggestions about the hearings, fill out the form below!

A Post-Roe Pennsylvania: Crisis Pregnancy Centers

September 6, 2022

 

Roundtable Focuses on Deceptive Practices of So-Called “Crisis Pregnancy Centers”

HARRISBURG, September 7, 2022 – State Senator Katie Muth (D- Berks/Chester/Montgomery), chair of the Senate Democratic Policy Committee, joined state Senator Judy Schwank (D-Berks) and state Reps. Bridget Kosierowski (D-Lackawanna) and Melissa Shusterman (D-Chester/Montgomery) to host a roundtable discussion on the deceptive practices of so-called Crisis Pregnancy Centers (CPCs) in Pennsylvania.

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Agenda →

Testimony

Secondary Impacts of Gun Violence

August 24, 2022

 

Senate Democrats Discuss Secondary Impacts of Gun Violence at Policy Hearing

EAST NORRITON, August 24, 2022 – State Senator Katie Muth (D- Berks/Chester/Montgomery), chair of the Senate Democratic Policy Committee, hosted a public hearing in Montgomery County on the secondary impacts and consequences of gun violence in Pennsylvania along with co-hosts Senator Amanda Cappelletti (D-Montgomery/Delaware), Senator John Kane (D-Chester/Delaware) and Senator Sharif Street (D-Philadelphia).

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2:16:06

Post-Roe Pennsylvania

July 26, 2022

 

Women’s Health Caucus Holds Third Post-Roe PA Policy Hearing in Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh — August 11, 2022 — This morning, the Pennsylvania Women’s Health Caucus, in conjunction with the House and Senate Democratic Policy Committees, held its third hearing on post-Roe Pennsylvania at Chatham University. 

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2:01:23

Post-Roe Pennsylvania

July 26, 2022

 

Women’s Health Caucus Hosts Second Policy Hearing on Post-Roe Pennsylvania

Philadelphia July 26, 2022 — Today, the Women’s Health Caucus conducted its second joint hearing with the House and Senate Democratic Policy Committees on Pennsylvania abortion access post-Roe. The hearing was held at the William Way Community Center and featured testimony from Dr. Aasta Mehta from the Philadelphia Department of Health and Signe Espinoza, the Executive Director of Planned Parenthood Pennsylvania Advocates, Céshia Elmore, a Community Organizer for New Voices for Reproductive Justice, and Dr. Sarah Gutman from the University of Penn Medicine. 

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1:58:36

Post-Roe Pennsylvania

July 19, 2022

 

Women’s Health Caucus Holds Third Post-Roe PA Policy Hearing in Pittsburgh

Despite SCOTUS ruling, PA still offers access to safe, legal abortions

HARRISBURG, JULY 19, 2022 – The House and Senate Policy Committees convened a hearing Tuesday morning to explore what the future of healthcare looks like in Pennsylvania after the Supreme Court of the United States overturned Roe v. Wade.

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Student Voices in Education

June 3, 2022

 

Students Discuss School Climate and Education Issues with Senate Dems Policy Committee

WEST NORRITON, June 3, 2022 – State Senator Katie Muth (D- Berks/Chester/Montgomery), chair of the Senate Democratic Policy Committee, today joined Senator Tim Kearney (D-Chester/Delaware), Senator Amanda Cappelletti (D-Montgomery/Delaware), and Senator Maria Collett to host a public hearing on student perspectives in education at Norristown Area School District.

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2:10:40

Pennsylvania’s Shale Gas Boom: How Policy Decisions Failed to Protect Public Health and What We Can Do to Correct It

June 2, 2022

 

 

Senate Dems Discuss Shale Gas Policies and Public Health Impacts

MONROEVILLE, June 3, 2022 – State Senator Katie Muth (D- Berks/Chester/Montgomery), chair of the Senate Democratic Policy Committee, joined Senator Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland) to co-host a public hearing on state policies and the public health impacts of the development of the shale gas industry in Pennsylvania yesterday in Allegheny County. Continue Reading →

2:44:34

Innovations for Economic Recovery: Childcare and College Students

April 28, 2022

 

 

Senate Dems Discuss Challenges of Childcare Facing College Students at Policy Hearing

BLUE BELL, April 28, 2022 – State Senator Katie Muth (D- Berks/Chester/Montgomery), chair of the Senate Democratic Policy Committee today joined Senator Maria Collett, Senator Amanda Cappelletti, Senator Carolyn Comitta and Senator Judy Schwank to host a public hearing on the challenges faced by college students and staff in regard to childcare. “Our hearing today highlighted the frustrating reality that affordable, accessible, and quality childcare is an unmet need for families across the Commonwealth,” Muth said. “We need to support the parents and the single mothers who are trying to fight their way out of poverty and economic struggle, trying to make ends meet, further their education, and trying to make a better life for their children. It is time for Harrisburg and Washington to step up and invest in childcare services.” Continue Reading →

2:06:50

Expanding School Based Health Centers in Pennsylvania

April 26, 2022

 

Senate Democrats Hear Support for School-Based Health Centers

HARRISBURG, April 27, 2022 – State Senator Katie Muth (D- Berks/Chester/Montgomery), chair of the Senate Democratic Policy Committee, joined Senator Art Haywood (D-Montgomery/Philadelphia) to host a virtual hearing yesterday to discuss expanding School Based Health Centers in Pennsylvania.

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1:46:49

Helping the Helpers: Supporting EMS in PA

April 20, 2022

 

Senate, House Democrats Host Roundtable Discussion on EMS Issues 

PITTSBURGH April 21, 2022 – State Senator Katie Muth (D- Berks/Chester/Montgomery), chair of the Senate Democratic Policy Committee joined Senator Lindsey Williams (D-Allegheny), state Rep. Ryan Bizzarro (D-Erie) and state Rep. Nick Pisciottano (D-Allegheny) to host a roundtable discussion yesterday on various issues facing Pennsylvania’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS) agencies.  

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2:17:14

#ItsOnUs: Combatting Sexual Assault on Campus

April 7, 2022

Agenda →

Testimony

Panel 1: The Issue at Hand 

Panel 2: Policy Solutions 

Housing Scarcity & Contemporary Houselessness

March 14, 2022

 

Senate Democrats Discuss Housing Scarcity and Houselessness at Policy Hearing 

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.”

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Safe Schools

February 16, 2022

Agenda

Testimony

Panel 1

Panel 2

  • Dr. Sherri Smith, Deputy Secretary of Elementary & Secondary Education, Pennsylvania Department of Education
  • Dr. Scott Kuren, Director, Pennsylvania Department of Education Office of Safe Schools
  • Dr. Dana Milakovic, Mental Health and AOD Specialist, Pennsylvania Department of Education Office of Safe Schools

Panel 3

  • Mike Vereb, Director of Government Affairs, Office of the Attorney General
  • Brittney Kline, Director, Safe2Say Something Program, Office of the Attorney Genera

Panel 4

Addressing Pennsylvania’s School Staffing Shortages

February 1, 2022

 

Senate Democrats Discuss School Staffing Shortages at Virtual Policy Hearing

HARRISBURG, February 1, 2022 – State Senator Katie Muth (D- Berks/Chester/Montgomery), Chair of the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Policy Committee, today joined Senator Lindsey Williams (D-Allegheny) to host a virtual public hearing on the staffing shortage crisis facing Pennsylvania’s public education system.

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Renewable Energy Projects: Anthracite Ridge Wind Farm Project

January 28, 2022

 

Senate Democrats Discuss Proposed Wind Farm Project at Virtual Policy Hearing

HARRISBURG, January 28, 2022 – State Senator Katie Muth (D- Berks/Chester/Montgomery), Chair of the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Policy Committee, today joined Senator John Kane (D-Delaware/Chester) to host a virtual public hearing on the proposed $300 million Anthracite Ridge wind farm project in Schuylkill County.

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Agenda

Testimony

Panel 1: Developer & Landowner Rights

Panel 2: Military Experts

Panel 3: Environmental & Labor Impacts

Additional Written Testimony

Additional Materials

Challenges with Substance Use Disorder Recovery

January 20, 2022

 

Senate Democrats Discuss Recovery and Treatment Issues at Virtual Policy Hearing

HARRISBURG, January 20, 2022 – State Senator Katie Muth (D- Berks/Chester/Montgomery), Chair of the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Policy Committee, today joined Senator John Kane (D-Delaware/Chester) and Senator Christine Tartaglione (D-Philadelphia) to host a virtual public hearing on the recovery challenges associated with substance use disorder.

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2:15:03

Agenda

Testimony

Panel 1: Recovery Funding

Panel 2: Oversight of Recovery Houses

Panel 3: Chronic Relapsing 

Additional Written Testimony