Mike Schlossberg for State Representative
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About Mike
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Improving Schools and Slowing Property Taxes
Protecting the Vulnerable
Protecting Our Democracy
A Bipartisan Leader
Standing Up For All Americans
132nd Legislative District
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ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Education

  • Funding Our Schools: Working with Senator Browne, Representative Schweyer, and the Governor's administration, Allentown and Parkland have seen a massive infusion of state funding during my time in office. Since 2013, the Parkland School District has received over $4.2 million (46% increase), while the Allentown School District has received an additional $70 million (70% increase) in funding while. That money has allowed for a restoration of art, music, and gym in Allentown. It also helped expand full-day kindergarten in both Allentown and Parkland.

  • Level Up: I'm the author of Level Up, a program designed to increase funding to our poorest school districts. This meant $100 million for the 100 poorest school districts in Pennsylvania, including $6.3 million to Allentown.

  • Charter Reform: In 2016, I proposed a bill that would require that charter schools stop publicly advertising their institutions as having "free tuition." It's not free; it's our tax dollars. This legislation passed the House of Representatives and has been incorporated into other charter revision schools.

  • Improving our school buildings: Our higher education institutions are the bedrock of the Lehigh Valley community and set the stage for our future success. That's why I was proud to work with Senator Browne and Representative Schweyer to acquire $1 million for Building 21 in Allentown and another $3 million in state funding to help Cedar Crest College rebuild its athletic fields.

  • Protecting Student Safety: Unfortunately, we’ve seen too many accidents – some fatal – involving cars who fail to stop with a school bus. Working with Senator Browne and activist Amber Clark, I helped write a law which would allow for cameras to automatically record unsafe drivers, helping make sure that our kids could get to and from school safely.

Mental Health

  • More mental health funding: Mike led the charge to increase funding for mental health in this year's budget. Thanks to his efforts, $100 million more will go to mental health efforts in 2022-2023.

  • Fighting mental health stigma: In August 2014, I wrote about my fifteen year struggle with depression and anxiety. I did so because I was tired of hearing about the stigma that surrounds people with mental health challenges. I have spoken regularly about the issue, including on the House floor. I will continue to speak on this because one out of every five Americans actively suffers from some sort of mental health challenge. The more people like me can speak, the more we can, hopefully, encourage others to seek treatment.

  • Removing Barriers to Mental Health Care: I recently worked with Speaker Bryan Cutler and Human Services Chairman Frank Farry to pass legislation that would remove insurance barriers to health care. Such a bill would make it easier for people to get the care that they need. The legislation recently passed the House of Representatives and is now awaiting action in the State Senate.

  • Suicide & Opioid Review Team: I recently had legislation pass the House that would create Suicide & Opioid Death Review teams. This process would make it easier for local counties to create such teams that could better determine the causes of suicide or opioid overdose. From there, public policy could be changed to better stop these tragedies.

  • Suicide Prevention Task Force: As a result of my leadership on this issue, Governor Wolf appointed me as the co-chair of his Suicide Prevention Task Force. We traveled the state, listening to stories of survivors in order to learn what the state needs to do to prevent these tragedies in the future. We will shortly publicize a comprehensive suicide prevention plan which will be geared towards reducing the record-high number of suicides we're facing in this state.

  • Protecting First Responders: I have proudly passed legislation that would create training programs, funding, and additional assistance for first responders to help them manage the serious trauma they see on the job. Unfortunately, these brave women and men are more likely to suffer from mental illness and die by suicide. We must give them the help they need.

  • Anti-Suicide Legislation: We lose nearly 2,000 people to suicide in Pennsylvania every year. One is too many; 2,000 is unconscionable. That’s why I’ve passed and am working on a variety of anti-suicide pieces of legislation, including:
    • Requiring all colleges have an anti-suicide and mental health outreach plan in place.

    • Mandate that the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation consider adding fences to any bridge or road that is a suicide “hotspot.”

    • Creating a mentorship program for emergency responders who are at risk for suicide.

  • Co-Founding the Mental Health Caucus: As a result of my column, I co-founded the Mental Health Caucus. This Caucus seeks to advocate for mental health issues, including funding and anti-stigma efforts.

  • Helping mothers and children with depression: As part of these efforts, I have cosponsored that would make it easier for mothers whose children were in the Commonwealth's Early Intervention program to get treatment. A pilot program is currently ongoing for this exact program.

  • Mental Health Education: Working with Representative Dan Miller (D-Allegheny), I've proposed legislation that would require mental health to be studied in school, alongside physical health. This way, students are educated about mental illnesses and better able to cope with them in the future.

Bringing Home Dollars and Jobs

One of the most important parts of my job is to bring home dollars, projects, and job opportunities for local efforts. This is why I proudly voted for transportation improvements and local budgets; even if they weren't perfect, they employed people and made a difference in the quality of life of the Lehigh Valley.

I've proudly worked with Democrats and Republicans to get things done in Harrisburg and Washington, D.C. Projects I've worked on include:

  • $21 million to the Waterfront Redevelopment

  • $10.5 million in Allentown grants, including for Coca Cola Park, the Da Vinci Science Center, and more.

  • $1.7 million for criminal justice and victims support programs.

  • $25,000 in security upgrades for Congregation Sons of Israel.

  • $141,000 for a new ambulance for Allentown EMS.

  • $830,000 for traffic improvements in Allentown.

  • $166,000 for the D&L Trail.

  • $2 million for affordable housing improvements throughout the City.

  • $1.35 million to the Allentown School District for 21st Century Learning Programs.

  • $750,000 to various Allentown community projects.

  • $500,000 for a new fire truck and hazmat truck.

  • $500,000 in finding to the Lehigh Valley Regional Intelligence and Investigation Center.

  • $500,000 Multimodal Transportation grant for lighting for American Parkway.

  • $350,000 for improvements to Jordan Park Skate Park.

  • $500,000 in funding for improvements to the Allentown Metal Works.

  • $266,673 for railroad improvements at RJ Corman's Allentown yard.

  • School Safety Grants for Allentown & Parkland School District

Transportation

  • As a former member of the Transportation Committee, I worked closely with legislative leaders and ultimately supported the recently enacted $2.4 billion transportation package. In the next five years, the 132nd District will see thousands of jobs and $200 million in infrastructure investments. At the same time, Allentown, South Whitehall, and Upper Macungie will receive millions in liquid fuels money, thus creating property tax relief and better roads.

  • The recently enacted transportation package will create 50,000 - 60,000 jobs and retain thousands more. Every dollar invested in this area will generate $4 in economic returns while simultaneously protecting public safety and ensuring that Pennsylvania's economy is prepared for the 21st century. Locally, the bill will allow for:

    • Repairs and resurfacing of Route 22.

    • Repair and replacement of the 8th Street Bridge.

    • Repaving on Tilghman, Hamilton, Chew, Mauch Chunk and Walbert.

    • Full replacement of the Gordon Street Bridge over the Jordan.

    • Purchase of hybrid buses by LANTA.

    • Major expansions of urban trails in Allentown, South Whitehall, and Upper Macungie.

Expanding health care and making Pennsylvania healthier

  • Fighting for stricter vaccine laws: Pennsylvania has one of the worst vaccination rates in the entire country. I've worked with Republicans to eliminate the philosophical exemption for vaccinations, making sure that all kids who are medically able to go to school vaccinated. Portions of that change are now being enacted into new regulation proposed by Governor Wolf.

  • Doctor shortage: Pennsylvania, like the rest of the nation, faces a critical doctor shortage over the next few decades. I worked with the Republican Leader, Brian Cutler (R-Lancaster), to enact a resolution that would study the problem. The resulting report is in the process of being enacted. This will make sure that any Pennsylvanian who needs a doctor will be able to see one.

Protecting the most vulnerable

  • Removing Barriers to Mental Health Care: I recently worked with Speaker Bryan Cutler and Human Services Chairman Frank Farry to pass legislation that would remove insurance barriers to health care. Such a bill would make it easier for people to get the care that they need. The legislation recently passed the House of Representatives and is now awaiting action in the State Senate.

  • Suicide & Opioid Review Team: I recently had legislation pass the House that would create Suicide & Opioid Death Review teams. This process would make it easier for local counties to create such teams that could better determine the causes of suicide or opioid overdose. From there, public policy could be changed to better stop these tragedies.

  • Protecting rape victims: Before the Rape Victims Protection Act had passed, rape victims were in a terrible situation. Under previous Pennsylvania law, a rape victim who had a child as a result of the rape could only do one of two things: Sue the rapist for child support or have the rapist's child custody rights revoked. She could not do both. This was an unacceptable loophole, and the legislation that I wrote closed it. My portion of this law allowed a woman to seek child support while terminating parental rights. I am proud to say that the bill was signed into law by Governor Wolf earlier this year. Furthermore, I've introduced legislation that would further streamline the adoption process and a bill that would ensure rape victims are made aware of their rights following an attack.

  • Protecting domestic violence victims: I am the author of House Bill 12, which was signed into law by Governor Wolf in April 2016. That bill does two things:

    • Allow a spouse whose spouse had been convicted of a crime against them to get a divorce in 90 days instead of the standard two years.

    • Remove the ability of a judge to mandate counseling when one party had a Protection from Abuse order against the other.

  • Protecting children in-home daycares: Certain types of Pennsylvania daycares had an unacceptable loophole: Other residents of a home daycare did not have to undergo the same type of background checks as people who worked in a daycare, creating a situation whereby criminals could have easy access to children. I proposed a bill that would close that loophole, and I am pleased to say that the Governor's office took that bill and turned it into a regulation, ensuring that children will be protected regardless of where they go to daycare.

  • Securing children in cars: Working with Senator Browne, I wrote a law that requires children who are two and under to be in a rear-facing childseat; previously, no such requirements existed. Multiple studies show that riding this way makes kids safer, and I'm proud to say, once again, that Governor Wolf signed this bill into law earlier this year.

 

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Home | About Mike | Accomplishments | Platform
Improving Schools and Slowing Property Taxes
Protecting the Vulnerable | Protecting Our Democracy
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132nd Legislative District
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