WILKES-BARRE — The Governor’s Advisory Commission on Women is highlighting the ways that Gov. Josh Shapiro’s “G-S-D” approach to governing has delivered for women all across the Commonwealth.
“I am proud of everything our Commission has accomplished in the last two years,” said Moriah Hathaway, Executive Director, Governor’s Advisory Commission on Women. “It is an honor to work alongside the Commissioners to address the needs of women and girls in Pennsylvania. The Commission is committed to cultivating a workforce that empowers women, creating a safer Commonwealth, improving women’s health and well-being, and supporting women as they age. Our mission will remain the same as we head into the next two years.”
In June 2023, Gov. Shapiro established six Advisory Commissions to help ensure all Pennsylvanians have a voice in state government. The Governor’s Advisory Commissions are led by an Executive Director and made up of a group of Commissioners from all across the Commonwealth who work together to make recommendations to the Governor on policies and legislation that impact their communities.
In the last 18 months, Executive Director Hathaway has worked with 28 commissioners to help raise some of the most important issues impacting women directly to Governor Shapiro and advise Commonwealth agencies on programs and services relevant to women’s needs. As a result, the Shapiro Administration has made significant progress to deliver commonsense solutions to the issues they face and make meaningful investments in communities across Pennsylvania.
Addressing maternal health disparities
• Historic Investments in Maternal Health: In the 2023-24 budget, the Governor worked to secure the first-ever investment in addressing maternal mortality with $2.3 million to expand maternal health programming and for the implementation of prevention strategies to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity.
• Partnering with the Black Maternal Health Caucus: The Commission has partnered with the Black Maternal Health Caucus to host events like the documentary screening of the film Aftershock.
• Protecting a woman’s right to choose: Gov. Shapiro firmly believes women and girls deserve to make their own choices about their own bodies – and that they should have access to the full range of reproductive health care services, which includes menstrual and maternal health.
Highlighting menstrual equity
• Providing menstrual products in K-12 schools: Gov. Shapiro’s 2024-25 budget included $3 million to provide period products in schools to help close a gap in women’s health care.
• Decreasing the stigma: In May 2024, Governor Shapiro proclaimed May 28, to be Menstrual Hygiene Day for the first time in Pennsylvania’s history. He was also the first Governor in Pennsylvania to discuss periods in his Budget Address. The Commission has also stood alongside the Women’s Health Caucus at various press conferences to advocate for menstrual equity statewide.
• Raising awareness: In December 2024, members of the Shapiro Administration met with students at Warwick Middle School to highlight how the Warwick School District supports their students by offering free menstrual products in school restrooms in partnership with local, parent-led nonprofit, Warwick United.
Cutting child care costs
• Expanding the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit: Governor Shapiro expanded the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit for nearly 210,000 Pennsylvania families.
• Creating a new employer child care contribution tax credit: This tax credit incentivizes employers to contribute to their employees’ childcare expenses. Under the credit, employers can claim a credit for up to 30% of their aggregate contributions to employees’ eligible childcare costs. The credit is capped at $500 per employee, and contributions from employers are excluded from the income of the receiving employees.
• Building community: The Commission has hosted listening sessions with parents in the agriculture industry and advocates in Centre County. They participated in a Childcare Town Hall in Cumberland County and visited a childcare center in the Lehigh Valley to hear directly from the provider.
Treasurer Garrity launches new portal to simplify Pennsylvania tax appeals
Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity this week announced the launch of the new online Tax Appeal Portal to streamline Pennsylvania’s tax appeal process.
Taxpayers and tax practitioners filing appeals with the Department of Revenue (DOR) through the Board of Finance & Revenue (BF&R) can now find all applicable forms in one convenient online location.
“Making the tax appeal process easier makes sense on every level,” Treasurer Garrity said. “This new tool makes it simpler and more efficient to file an appeal, and it’s a great example of focusing on how we can make government work better for the taxpayers.”
To use the Tax Appeal Portal, taxpayers and tax practitioners will first create a password-protected account. Password verification is required for enhanced security.
Once an account is created, users can:
• File a petition.
• Upload supporting documents.
• Request a hearing continuance.
• Request a compromise directly with the DOR.
• Request a mediated settlement conference (for appeals filed on or after January 27, 2025).
• Take advantage of other features.
Those using the Tax Appeal Portal will be able to see all petitions they have filed through the Portal and verify any documents that were previously uploaded.
BF&R is an independent administrative tax tribunal, administered by the State Treasurer, responsible for the second and final level of administrative appeal (with minor exceptions) before appealing to court. Its Board consists of three members – two are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Pennsylvania Senate; the third is the State Treasurer or her designee and serves as Chair.
For more information about BF&R’s new Tax Appeal Portal, visit — patreasury.gov/bfr.
Sen. McCormick announces Pennsylvania Energy and Innovation Summit
U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick this week announced that he will host the Inaugural Pennsylvania Energy and Innovation Summit in Pittsburgh, PA in the first half of this year.
The Summit will bring together the top leaders in energy and AI, alongside the biggest global investors, to deliver on President Trump’s promise to unleash American energy, dominate in AI, and bring production back home to America.
“American energy dominance is good for the economy, good for the environment, and good for national security,” Sen. McCormick said. “President Trump has promised to set America on the path to energy dominance once again, and that path runs through Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Energy and Innovation Summit will align the leading energy companies, the most innovative AI platforms, and global investors behind President Trump’s energy agenda. Together, we can unleash a new age of energy production and power the AI and technological revolution.”
In response to Sen. McCormick’s questions, Secretary of Energy nominee Chris Wright and Secretary of the Interior nominee Doug Burgum endorsed the Summit during their respective nomination hearings last week.
Pennsylvania has three key assets of the technology revolution — huge energy resources, a skilled workforce, and proximity to major population centers. It is the second largest energy producing state with the 4th largest natural gas reserves in the entire world and a leading nuclear sector.
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