Legislative Updates

Growth for Pre-K, Child Care & Home Visitation

HARRISBURG, PA (July 8, 2022) – Today, the principal partners of Early Learning Pennsylvania (ELPA), a
statewide coalition of advocates focused on supporting young Pennsylvanians from birth to age five, issued the following statements regarding the final 2022-23 Pennsylvania state budget. ELPA operates four issue-based advocacy campaigns: Pre-K for PA, Start Strong PA, Childhood Begins at Home and Thriving PA.


The Pennsylvania State Alliance of YMCAs continuously works with stakeholder associations and elected officials to improve our community through legislative priorities.  Here is what is happening at the state Capitol. 

 BOOST Legislation Introduced – Advocacy Needed!

House Bill 2429, the Building Opportunity through Out of School Time (BOOST) Program legislation, has been introduced and referred to the House Education Committee. This is the legislation the State Alliance, Boys & Girls Club Alliance and PSAYDN have been working on for over a year which would establish a permanent program within the PA Department of Education to fund after school programs across the Commonwealth.

The coalition is asking the Governor and the General Assembly to approve the amount of $50 million for allocation to community based organizations. Last week, the Alliance was encouraged to hear that Senate Majority Leader Kim Ward (R-Westmoreland) was supportive of including OST funds in the state budget. However, earlier today, Alliance Lobbyist Carrie Hillman reported that the list of preferred appropriations submitted by Senate Republicans to budget negotiators does NOT contain funding for OST programs. This is deeply concerning because with the GOP controlling both chambers, it will be important to secure the support of either the House Republicans or the Senate Republicans to give some degree of confidence that the funds will remain in the final budget language.

This morning, you should have received an ACTION ALERT to send letters to your State Senator and State Representative asking them to co-sponsor and vote YES on HB-2429. If you have not done so, PLEASE take a few brief moments to send these letters. You may edit them to include information specific to your Y for further clarity. Below is the link to take action.

https://paymca.quorum.us/campaign/40904/

There is another specific step you can take to help get this legislation and funding across the finish line:

If you are represented by a REPUBLICAN Senator and/or Representative OR by any of the key legislators listed below, please call their HARRISBURG offices and ask them to SUPPORT House Bill 2429 and SUPPORT funding in the state budget for OST programs. 

Rep. Bryan Cutler – Speaker of the House (YMCA of the Roses)

Rep. Kerry Benninghoff – House Majority Leader (YMCA of Centre County)

Rep. Donna Oberlander – House Majority Whip (Scenic Rivers YMCA)

Rep. Stan Saylor – House Appropriations Chairman (YMCA of the Roses)

Rep. Curt Sonney – House Education Committee Chairman (YMCA of Corry)

Sen. Jake Corman – President Pro Tem (YMCA of Centre County)

Sen. Kim Ward – Senate Majority Leader (Greensburg YMCA and Ligonier Valley YMCA)

Sen. John Gordner – Senate Majority Whip (Greater Susquehanna Valley YMCA, Bloomsburg YMCA and Berwick YMCA)

Sen. Pat Browne – Senate Appropriations Chairman (Greater Valley YMCA)

Sen. Scott Martin – Senate Education Committee Chairman (YMCA of the Roses)

Below are links to contact information.

House Member Contact Information

Senators Contact Information

 

Talking Points: BOOST Program


Four PA Y Projects Included in Appropriations Funding Bills

According to the “Earmark Tracker” provided by the Y-USA Government Relations team EARMARK TRACKER four PA Ys have had their earmark requests included in the requisite appropriations bills. The Y of Bucks and Hunterdon Counties, the Community Y of Eastern Delaware County, the Y of Indiana County and the Greater Valley Y have all had their applications pass the first round of consideration.

Please note that these requests are NOT final. Not all House requests will be included in the final House bill, and the final appropriations package must be approved by both the House and the Senate. However, a request is a great first step toward getting a project funded! 

The GR team will update the FY2023 Earmark Tracker throughout the process, both when the House produces a final bill and when the Senate submits their requests and completes their bill, and as the FY2023 appropriations process continues.

It is conceivable that other Ys may have had their projects approved, but have not had them tracked by Y-USA on the tracker. If your Y has received word from a Member of Congress that your project has been approved, please let me know so I may advise the GR team accordingly.