PathWays PA Policy Blog

Federal Policy Update “NO TAXPAYER FUNDING FOR ABORTION ACT” PASSES THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES  On Wednesday, May 4, the House of Representatives voted by a vote of 251-175 to pass the "No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act" (H.R. 3).   If the bill is adopted into law, it would put up new roadblocks to make it more difficult for a woman to obtain an abortion. It would: Permanently restrict abortion coverage in the federal Medicaid health program, extending the effects on women of the Hyde Amendment Ban abortion coverage in the new health care exchanges and put new taxes on employers and individuals who pay for abortion coverage through health plans   The bill now moves on to the Senate. If you would like to speak out against H.R. 3: Click here to let your Senators know you oppose H.R. 3. This information provided by The Women's Medical Fund .   State Policy Update RALLY FOR A RESPONSIBLE BUDGET RECAP More than 3,000 people gathered on ...

Special Event ANNUAL TAX SEASON KICK OFF AND EITC AWARENESS DAY A consortium of agencies, educational, and financial institutions dedicated to promoting financial literacy in Delaware County, including PathWays PA, are hosting an event to kick off their work this tax season. WHEN: Friday January 28 at 1:30 WHERE: Chester Housing Authority Booker T. Washington Community Center, 611 Central Ave, Chester PA This tax season volunteers will file federal and state income tax returns helping low wage workers access the Earned Income Tax Credit of up to $5,666, making it one of the largest anti-poverty tools in the United States. Please RSVP by Tuesday, January 25th at www.delcoadkickoff.eventbrite.com or calling Georgia Julius at 610-543-5022. Federal Policy Update CONTACT YOUR SENATORS TODAY TO SUPPORT HEALTH CARE REFORM Last week the House of Representatives voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act despite the many benefits people are and will see as a result of the bill. ...

Federal Policy Update SPECIAL NOTE  Our thoughts and condolences go out to all who were injured and to the families of those that were killed in Tucson at an event held by Representative Gabrielle Giffords. It was an unspeakable tragedy. We look forward to the recovery of Representative Giffords and all those injured on Saturday. Due to this tragedy, scheduled votes at the federal level have been postponed. We will keep you updated on any federal events or action alerts on our Policy Blog . State Policy Update GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS BACK IN SESSION Pennsylvania’s legislators returned to Harrisburg on Tuesday, January 4 for swearing-in day and to kick off day one of the 2011-2012 legislative session. In the Senate, 25 members elected this fall, including three new Democrats, were sworn in. Senator Joe Scarnati (R – Jefferson) was voted in for a third term as president pro tempore. In the House, 21 Republican and eight Democratic freshmen took office while Republican...

PathWays PA is pleased to bring you this special budget alert following announced changes to the state budget on Tuesday, August 31. For up to date information on the budget and other policy news in Pennsylvania, please visit our blog . Changes to State Budget In early August, Congress passed a bill sending $16 billion to the states in Medicaid and education funding. Out of that $16 billion, Pennsylvania is slated to receive $600 million in FMAP funds (Medicaid federal match funding) and nearly $400 million in school funding. Despite this influx of money, the state budget passed in July 2010 remained in deficit, resulting in a need for funding cuts. Yesterday, the Rendell Administration announced the line item changes that will be made to bring the budget back into balance. These funds will be placed into "budgetary reserve," which means that the funds cannot be spent. Tax on Marcellus Shale Even with the changes above, the budget is still not completely balan...

( From our friends at Wider Opportunities for Women ) What is economic security really? Are generations working together or at odds? Are we on the same page with American families? Do they have any idea what we are talking about? Today, there are organizations and coalitions across the country with similar goals but many differing definitions of economic need. To address this, Wider Opportunities for Women (WOW) will host five regional meetings as part of their Building Bridges to Economic Security Campaign to discuss findings of national public opinion research on economic security to help guide advocacy, education and outreach efforts to promote economic security throughout one’s lifetime. To encourage participation, WOW is calling on organizations to become our Economic Security Champions . Champions are organizations willing to embrace the framework of promoting economic security over a lifetime. Champions will be designated as key regional meeting partners and receive a mon...

USDA announced it will be distributing $5 million in grants under the Hunger Free Communities Act, which will fund activities that include "food distribution, community outreach, resource development and other methods to make food more accessible to those most in need. One million will fund Planning and Assessment Grants to evaluate food insecurity in communities and develop strategies to become hunger-free. The remaining $4 million will support Implementation Grants for communities that already have a plan to end hunger and need resources for program implementation." Congress authorized such grants in the 2008 Farm Bill and appropriated the money in the 2010 Appropriations bill. The cost of the activities funded by the grant will be covered 80 percent by the federal government and 20 percent by the applicant. The grants will be available to public and not-for-profit organizations and require collaboration with one or more community partners. This must include a Food Polic...

( From our friends at the USDA Food and Nutrition Service ) USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) plans to award up to $6 million to emergency feeding organizations, such as food banks, food pantries, and soup kitchens, participating in the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). At least $3 million is expected to be awarded for projects that improve the emergency feeding infrastructure in rural communities. Projects that benefit or serve Native American communities will receive priority consideration . Among other activities, grantees can use funds to improve the tracking, collection, storage, distribution and transport of time-sensitive and perishable foods; develop or maintain computerized systems for tracking foods; improving the provision of recovered foods to food banks; and repairing and expanding facilities, equipment or appliances to support hunger relief. Funds can also be used to identify new donors and emergency food providers or to provide outreach to persons...