PENNSYLVANIA — Six months into the 2023-24 legislative session, Pennsylvania House Democrats have passed over 100 bipartisan bills in the 2023-24 legislative session, focused on important issues for Pennsylvanians. These bills range from guaranteeing the right to organize, improving workplace protections, and raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour, to investing in public schools, mental health services, and community safety. House Democrats are committed to creating better jobs, better schools, and better communities for all Pennsylvanians.
“I’m proud that House Democrats are continuing to advance a people-first agenda,” Speaker of the House Joanna McClinton, D-Phila./Delaware, said. “In just the past few weeks our caucus has advanced measures that would make more seniors eligible for the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program, plus increase their rebates. We passed an expanded Child and Dependent Care Enhancement Tax Credit — because when families can afford childcare, more Pennsylvanians can work. We passed tax credits for people in some of the commonwealth’s most in-demand and understaffed professions like nurses, teachers and police. We’re helping all Pennsylvanians save for retirement using our Keystone Saves Program. And we advanced a long-overdue boost in the state minimum wage, which lags every surrounding state and has kept too many Pennsylvanians in poverty.”
“After a dozen years of inaction on issues that Pennsylvanians truly care about, we have put forth a diverse, aggressive and bipartisan agenda that will ensure Pennsylvania is a better place to live, learn and work,” said House Majority Leader Matt Bradford, D-Montgomery. “Our strength is our diversity, and that’s why we’re focusing on a wide variety of issues. We’re just getting started and we look forward to continuing to advance good measures.”
“Over the last few weeks, we’ve seen legislation move with bipartisan support that’s unfortunately been bottled up for years under Republican leadership,” said House Appropriations Chairman Jordan Harris, D-Phila. “This is what a people-first agenda looks like. House Democrats are moving legislation that will improve the lives of all Pennsylvanians young and old, and we look forward to continuing to do what’s best to improve communities around the state.”
“House Democrats have kept promises and passed legislation to lift all boats. For those who have doubted our strength, we are sending a clear message that united, Democrats are fighting for every working person in this state,” said Majority Whip Dan Miller, D-Allegheny. “While we understand that we are in a divided legislature and stand willing to work and reasonably compromise, we are proud of what we have done, excited for the future, and we want to tell working families that we’ve just begun.”
A vast majority of the 109 bills passed in the Pennsylvania House with bipartisan support aim to lead to a stronger state across the board, covering better jobs, schools, and communities. Key measures range from wage hikes and lower childcare costs to critical investments in public services, mental health, and more.
“House Democrats are delivering for Pennsylvanians, and we’re just getting started,” McClinton said.
More information on the majority’s efforts is at pahouse.com/deliveringforpa.
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