Harrisburg, Pennsylvania – July 12, 2024 − On Thursday, the Pennsylvania General Assembly passed SB1001the budget bill for fiscal year 2024-2025, which was then signed by Governor Shapiro and implemented.
Senator Maria Collett (D-12 Montgomery, Secretary of the Senate Democratic Caucus) voted for this year’s general appropriations bill and wants to share her comments. You can watch her comments on the dance floor regarding SB 1001 Here.
ECONOMY
- “As too many Pennsylvanians struggle to stay afloat, I fought hard for a budget that puts working families first. This budget represents a significant step forward with strategic investments in workforce development, including: 2 million dollars for me Nursing Staff InitiativeInternship and residency programs to address the critical nursing shortage. Funds programs to keep parents working with a new tax credit for employers to pay for child care. And recognizes that our Main Street businesses power our economy by providing critical grant funds to revitalize communities and create new jobs in every corner of our Commonwealth – all without raising taxes.”
MENSTRATIONAL EQUALITY
- “Many low-income Pennsylvanians, including college students, struggle to afford the menstrual products they need, often forcing them to miss work or classes. This year’s budget addresses menstrual equity issues,Investing $3 million in menstrual products in Pennsylvania schools – a key element of the SB 906 bill, my Menstrual Equality Act, “What I have been advocating for since I took office.”
SUPPORTING VULNERABLE PENNSYLVANIANS
- “Year after year, the Commonwealth has failed to provide adequate support for the intellectual disability and autism community. While we have much more to do to improve the situation, I am pleased that over This year’s budget includes $260 million for the ID/A community so more Pennsylvanians can get the services they need.”
PUBLIC EDUCATION
- “Every student in Pennsylvania deserves a high-quality education that prepares them for success. This budget brings us closer to that reality, historic levels of public school funding and renewed investment in mental health support, special education, school safety and violence prevention, and student teacher stipends. But I was disappointed to see tens of millions of taxpayer dollars going to private school tuition while there are still too many public schools without adequate equipment, facilities, or staff.”
UNTAPPED POSSIBILITIES
- “As the Democratic chair of the Senate Aging and Youth Committee and a nurse with experience in long-term care, I was extremely disappointed with this budget failed to fully finance Aging Our Way, PAa comprehensive, 10-year action plan to ensure that Pennsylvanians have the opportunity to live and age with dignity. With one of the largest aging populations in the country, we cannot afford to continue to put this on hold. And with the ability to allocate more than $700 million to our rainy day fund, it is clear that we have the resources available to make these investments. We just need to match those resources with the willingness to support our friends and family across the Commonwealth.”
- “In times when people are already struggling, Senate Republicans Defund Mass Transitincluding SEPTA, which further led to the lack of a transportation funding agreement that could facilitate the battered roads and bridges in every part of our state. I could not support a tax code that did not invest in the transit systems on which our neighbors depend for their livelihoods.”
- “I hope that when we return in the fall, we will visit this place again. Aging Our Way, PA plan, invest more in services for aging Pennsylvanians and have serious discussions about the need to finance transit and transportincluding much-needed money for decaying infrastructure.”
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