PA Senate Dems Host Policy Hearing on the Healthcare Workforce Crisis in PA

Harrisburg – July 21, 2021 – At the request of Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D- Allegheny), Sen. Wayne Fontana (D- Allegheny), Sen. Jim Brewster (D- Allegheny/Westmoreland), Sen.  Lindsey Williams (D- Allegheny), & House Representative Austin Davis (D- Allegheny), the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Policy Committee held a hybrid in person and virtual public hearing to discuss the healthcare workforce crisis in Pennsylvania. The pandemic exposed the many problems with staffing in our healthcare systems that must be addressed.

“I am extremely grateful that the Senate Democratic Policy Committee, in partnership with the incredible health care workers of SEIU, are continuing the conversation about the immediate need to address the staffing crisis in Pennsylvania healthcare settings,” Sen. Costa said. “My family was incredibly thankful for the care that my mother received when she was in a nursing home setting, and that standard of care should be afforded to every Pennsylvanian. Safe staffing levels, union protections, and livable wages are essential to addressing this workforce crisis.”

Sen. Fontana continued, “The pandemic put the gaping holes in our current healthcare system on full display. The staff in our hospital systems, our nursing homes, and our home care aides worked tirelessly before this pandemic – and were lifelines during the pandemic. We must address the pay inequities that healthcare workers face and assure that these essential workers have the workplace protections that they deserve.”

As the pandemic put a strain on health care systems across the country, staff became increasingly scarce as quarantines and infection rates rose at an alarming pace. In November 2020, approximately nine months into the pandemic, staffing shortages existed in hospitals within at least 25 states. Many employees had to choose between working and caring for their children during pandemic-induced school closures. Additionally, the fear of contracting COVID-19 or passing it to family members, the surging influx of patients and the extended work hours plagued healthcare staff across-the-board. A survey conducted by Mental Health America from June to September demonstrated 93% of healthcare workers were stressed, 85% were experiencing anxiety, 77% were frustrated, 76% were burned out and 75% felt overwhelmed.

During the hearing, nurses and health care workers discussed historic challenges they faced during the pandemic and ongoing challenges that have existed in their profession long before COVID-19 became a public health crisis. Panelists and legislatures also pointed out the correlation between improved patient outcomes and good working conditions and pay. They highlighted the need for more data to prove the benefits of good working conditions that unions like SEIU fight for.

“There is no excuse for allowing healthcare professionals – who are giving lifesaving care – to work in substandard conditions where they are not making a living wage. Good jobs create strong communities, and these workers deserve the union security, workplace protections, and comparable wages for the professionals that they are and the work that they do,” Sen. Brewster said.

“Good union jobs are shown time and again to improve the lives of individuals and improve the communities where union families live. Fighting for union security, safe staffing levels, and livable wages that our healthcare workers deserve will not only create better outcomes for patients where these workers serve – it creates stronger and more prosperous communities as a whole,” Sen. Lindsey Williams said.

“Across the country, health disparities between white and Black people have been narrowing — but the opposite is true in Allegheny County. We know why: the over-concentration of the Black community in local service occupations and in particular, healthcare. Like the manufacturing industries that preceded it, healthcare relies on understaffing and cost-cutting at the frontlines to support high executive pay, expansion and profits. This model intensifies disparities and creates worker *and* community burnout and instability. These problems cannot be solved using current managerial strategies. Healthcare systems are the perfect example of why healthcare workers need a voice on the job. Our charitable healthcare dollars are funding an unsustainable business model, and it’s time for a change,” said Silas Russell, Vice President at SEIU Healthcare PA.

“I am incredibly grateful to hold this hearing today and to continue the conversation about the need for workplace protections and union security for our healthcare professionals.  They truly were essential the past year and several months as we fought through the pandemic, but their work has been and will continue to be the keystone to ensuring high-quality patient care.  The pay, benefits, protections, and respect through safe staffing levels or our healthcare workers should absolutely reflect the lifesaving work that they do,” Sen. Katie Muth (D- Berks/Chester/Montgomery), chair of the Senate Democratic Policy Committee, said.

Below are all who participated in today’s hearing:

  • Erin Williams, Respiratory Therapist, Allegheny General Hospital
  • Christoria Hughes, Dietary, UPMC Presbyterian
  • Kim Hitrik, Registered Nurse, West Penn Hospital
  • Katrina Rechtenwald, Registered Nurse, Allegheny General Hospital
  • Silas Russell, Vice President and Political Director, SEIU Healthcare PA
  • Theresa Brown, PhD, RN, Nurse and author of the New York TimesBestseller The Shift: One Nurse, Twelve Hours, Four Patients’ Lives
  • Gabriel Winant, Author, The Next Shift: the Fall of Industry and the Rise of Healthcare in the Rust Belt
  • Jeff Shook, Assistant Professor of Social Work and Law at University of Pittsburgh

Senators who attended this hearing in person and virtually included Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D- Allegheny), Sen. Katie Muth (D- Berks/Chester/Montgomery), Sen. Wayne Fontana (D- Allegheny), Sen. Jim Brewster (D- Allegheny/Westmoreland), Sen. Lindsey Williams (D- Allegheny), Sen. John Kane (D- Chester/Delaware), Sen. Tim Kearney (D- Chester/Delaware), Sen. Shariff Street (D- Philadelphia), and Sen. Maria Collett (D- Bucks/Montgomery). House Members in attendance included Rep. Austin Davis (D- Allegheny), Rep. Dan Miller (D- Allegheny), and Rep. Emily Kinkead (D- Allegheny).

The full recording of this roundtable, as well as the written testimony from participants, can be found at senatormuth.com/policy. A full recording of this hearing can also be found on the PA Senate Democratic Facebook page.

 

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$628,880 in State Grants Awarded to Allegheny County for Traffic Upgrades

Allegheny County – July 7, 2021 – Today, Pennsylvania State Senators from Allegheny County including Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Sen. Wayne Fontana and Sen. Lindsey Williams announced $628,880 in state grants have been awarded to the area for traffic signal and equipment improvements. The funding comes from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s (PennDOT’s) “Green Light-Go” program to support the modernization of traffic equipment throughout the state.  

“New, higher tech traffic signaling improves safety for travelers whether they’re in a car, bike or on foot. The grants coming to Allegheny County in this round of Green Light Go will help the City of Pittsburgh and Edgewood make critical upgrades, and I was happy to support their application and award,” said Senator Costa

Three grants will support projects in the county:  

    • $230,144 for traffic signal modernization upgrades at Race Street and Pennwood Avenue in Edgewood
    • $132,000 for an East End Signal Retiming project in Pittsburgh
    • $266,736 for a Fiber Network Expansion project in Pittsburgh that will improve communications and connections back to traffic management

“I applaud PennDOT’s investment in the City of Pittsburgh’s critical infrastructure. Traffic signal modernization means safer roads and reduced congestion,” Senator Fontana said.

“I’m happy to see critical infrastructure projects being funded across Pittsburgh that will allow improved traffic management. Better traffic flow will lead to less wear and tear on our roads and to safer travel conditions for all road users, including drivers, bike riders, and pedestrians,” said Senator Lindsey Williams.

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E-Scooter Pilot Program to Start in Pittsburgh

Harrisburg – June 30, 2021 − Senator Wayne Langerholc, Jr. (R-35), chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, and Senator Jay Costa (D-43), minority leader of the Senate, announced a two-year pilot program for electric low-speed scooters (e-scooter) to commence in the City of Pittsburgh with the passage of Act 24 of 2021.

“Micromobility is transforming how we move people and goods in communities across the United States. With Act 24, the Commonwealth is embracing the innovation of e-scooters in a controlled setting in the City of Pittsburgh,” said Senator Langerholc. “E-scooters are a novel invention for a short trip or a last-mile destination. In every case, riders are encouraged to operate e-scooters in a safe manner by following the rules established by the City of Pittsburgh.” 

“Pittsburgh is a world class city, and with so much to see and do – its residents and visitors need access to all modes of transportation,” said Senator Costa. “This pilot program for e-scooters is exciting and I’m confident that folks will enjoy them safely and responsibly to enjoy all Pittsburgh has to offer.”

Act 24 authorizes rental e-scooters on a bike lane, a roadway (with a posted speed limit of 35 miles per hour or less) or a bike path in the City of Pittsburgh. An individual must be at least 16 years old, and e-scooter operators shall be granted all of the rights and duties as a bicyclist.

E-scooters will be managed under “Move PGH,” which is a city-led initiative to create an integrated platform allowing residents and visitors access to e-scooters, e-mopeds, carshare, carpool, bikeshare and transit services from the Port Authority of Allegheny County. This legislation does not permit the use of personally-owned e-scooters on public infrastructure in the City of Pittsburgh.

Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa Votes for PA Budget, Highlights Timeliness and Major Education Investments

Harrisburg, Pa. – June 25, 2021 – Pennsylvania State Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa today voted in support of the state budget for Fiscal Year 2021-22.

The final budget package included bipartisan and bicameral compromises, but Senator Costa highlighted several important investments it made this year.

“This isn’t the budget I would have designed and in many ways, I feel that it does not take full advantage of the unprecedented resources we have from a budget surplus and the federal American Rescue Plan – but this is a process of compromise, and there is a lot here that I support,” said Senator Costa. “We are seeing major levels of new and equitable funding in education, and that’s been something my caucus and I have fought for over many years. Further, we are still in recovery from a pandemic that ravaged our state for more than a year and it was important to me that we fund critical state programs with an on-time budget.”

Increased education line items this year include:

  • $300 million in basic education
    • $200 million to be funded through the Fair Funding Formula
    • $100 million for Level Up, a new program to provide funding for schools that have been historically inadequately funded 
  • $20 million for Ready to Learn block grants
  • $25 million for Pre K Counts
  • $5 million for Headstart
  • $50 million for special education
  • $11 million for early intervention
  • $200 million for PASSHE, over 4 years, including funding for the Diversity, Education & Inclusion program proposed by the PA Senate Democrats

Earlier this year, Pennsylvania was allocated $7 billion in funds from the American Rescue Plan and until this budget they remained unspent, despite a bold proposal from the Senate Democratic Caucus, a New Deal for PA. Of those dollars, $4 billion will go to balancing this year’s budget and more than $2 billion remains for future spending. 

“The American Rescue Plan was designed to help people get back on their feet, not just balance spreadsheets,” said Senator Costa. “It is my hope, and a major goal of this caucus, to spend the remaining funds directly on the programs and initiatives that will help folks recover from the personal, public health, and economic devastation of 2020.”

The final budget also moves $2 billion in revenue surplus into the state’s Rainy Day Fund. 

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For more information on the New Deal for PA, please visit pasenate.com/newdeal