Latest news with #JudithSchwank
CBS News
3 days ago
- Health
- CBS News
Legislation to be introduced aimed at banning single-use plastic bags in Pennsylvania
New legislation is going to be introduced in Pennsylvania that is aimed at banning single-use plastic bags throughout the state. Single-use plastic bags have already been banned in Pittsburgh and in Philadelphia, but there's now talk of this happening on a statewide scale. Pennsylvania Senator Judith Schwank (D-Berks County) has plans to introduce legislation aiming to stop retailers across the state from using plastic bags. Under the legislation that's expected to be proposed, retailers would be banned from providing plastic bags at checkout locations and instead would be asked to offer paper bags for a small fee. Retailers could also promote people using reusable bags. Schwank says the concern over single-use plastic bags comes from student advocates in her district who say they're worried about the impact the bags have on the environment and on public health. Some retailers, like Aldi, Whole Foods, and Trader Joe's have already phased out the use of plastic bags. The National Conference on State Legislation says eight states, including Delaware, New York, and New Jersey have banned plastic bags. There would be some exemptions under the proposed legislation, including for produce, for frozen foods, and for prescription medications. It's unclear when the legislation is expected to be formally introduced.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Could Pennsylvania be next to ban plastic bags in stores?
PENNSYLVANIA (WTAJ) — Health and sustainability are what's behind the newest push to crack down on single-use plastics in Pennsylvania. According to a Senate memo, proposed legislation will soon be introduced to ban the use of plastic bags by retailers across the Commonwealth. Senator Judith Schwank shared that students in her district came to her advocating for a change. Plastic pollution not only hurts the environment but is also a threat to public health and community resources. 'Inhumane,' Could Pennsylvania be next to regulate the use of sticky traps? 'Single-use plastic bags are one of the most common sources of litter within our Commonwealth. Plastic bags degrade slowly—often over hundreds of years—and frequently break down into harmful microplastics. These microplastics have been detected in drinking water, wildlife, and even human blood and brain tissue, raising serious health concerns,' Schwank said. The bill itself would ban retailers from providing plastic bags at checkouts and instead ask them to offer paper bags for a small fee or push for customers to bring their own reusable bags. The bill would create exemptions for things like produce, frozen foods and prescription medications. 'The time has come to enact statewide policy addressing the consequences and harmful impacts of single-use plastics,' Schwank wrote. The push to get rid of plastic bags at the checkout is not one that's new. ALDI has already phased out plastic, and there have been pushes from Walmart in other states to drop the plastic and move to something more sustainable. According to the National Conference on State Legislation, eight states have already banned plastic bags and enacted fees for shoppers who need recycled bags at checkout. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Senator's bill could change Pennsylvania state song
PENNSYLVANIA (WTAJ) — A Senator announced a bill that could designate a new state song for Pennsylvania. The bill, introduced by Senator Judith Schwank (D – Berks), would change the current Pennsylvania song from 'Pennsylvania' by Eddie Khoury and Ronnie Bonner to 'My Pennsylvania Home' by Dave Kline. Schwank noted that Kline is a born and raised Pennsylvanian composer who has served as an international music ambassador for Pennsylvania for more than three decades. ''My Pennsylvania Home' celebrates our deep folk roots and captures the beauty of nature within our Commonwealth,' Schwank wrote. 'Dave's song serves as a reminder to the wandering Pennsylvanian that no matter how far they roam, they'll 'always remember the snowflakes and the spring days in the heartland of our Pennsylvania home'.' 'Pennsylvania' by Khoury and Bonner has been the song of the Commonwealth since November 1990. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘Unacceptable' Pa. bill could protect LGBTQ members during adoption process
PENNSYLVANIA (WTAJ) — Multiple senators have announced plans to introduce a bill that would protect LGBTQ+ people from discrimination during the adoption process. The bill, authored by Sen. Carolyn Comitta, Judith Schwank, Patty Kim and Maria Collett, would prohibit a service provider from denying any person the opportunity to become an adoptive or foster parent or delaying or denying the placement of a child based on the real or perceived disability, race, creed, religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, national origin, ancestry or any communicable disease, including HIV. There are 13,000 – 15,000 children in the foster care system in Pennsylvania, with 3,000 waiting to be adopted. However, historically LGBTQ individuals have been excluded as foster and adoption parents, which the bill calls 'unacceptable.' Thirty-four states already have laws protecting LGBTQ parents from discrimination in the foster care system. Pennsylvania, on the other hand, is one of the only sixteen states that have no protections, the senators noted in the bill. 'For the sake of the children waiting to be adopted and our friends and neighbors in the LGBTQ community, nondiscrimination laws are needed to protect the rights of families and allow more children the chance to find a permanent home,' the senators wrote. In 2002, Pennsylvania law began allowing both married and unmarried couples to adopt, regardless of whether the couple is same-sex or not. Nationally, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled in favor of gay marriage in Obergefell vs. Hodges (5-4) in 2015, however, the ruling was never codified. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
