In light of World Mental Health Day on Oct. 10, I want to touch on one of the greatest public health issues facing our country. Read more
The summer recess recently ended, and the Pennsylvania House of Representatives reconvened for the first time in two months on Monday, September 12. Read more
O’Mara said Pennsylvania law needs to improve how it handles for-profit health systems, especially during shutdowns. Read more
HARRISBURG, Sept. 23 – State Reps. Eddie Day Pashinski, D-Luzerne, and Jennifer O’Mara, D-Delaware, introduced legislation on Friday that would bring more accountability to the process of hospital closures to ensure that Pennsylvanians can receive uninterrupted care and that hospital systems must honor their duty to their patients, staff, and the communities they serve. The legislation is a companion to State Sen. Carolyn Comitta’s S.B. 1324 , introduced earlier this month. “When hospitals and health care facilities close or drastically reduce services with little or no notice, their patients, doctors, nurses, and staff suffer,” Pashinski said. “We’re witnessing this firsthand in Luzerne County with the sudden announcement that First Hospital intends to close by October without any apparent plans in place to provide for continuity of care or help their staff transition. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation would be a significant step toward ensuring health care facilities planning to close provide local communities and government agencies the time, information, and opportunity they need to adequately address these significant impacts and plan for related challenges.” “Pennsylvania law needs to improve how it handles for-profit health systems, especially during shutdowns,” O’Mara said. “We need more time to study to find out the impact that closures have on communities, as well as on what Read more
HARRISBURG, Sept. 20 — State Rep. Jennifer O’Mara, D-Delaware, attended a ceremonial bill signing today that commemorated the passage of her legislation to increase donation amounts to the Veterans Trust Fund. Senate Bill 96, which contains language initially introduced and championed by O’Mara since her first term in 2019, raises contributions to the Veterans Trust Fund when drivers renew their license. The annual contribution amount rose from $3 to $5 and the biannual contribution amount, from $6 to $10. “One hundred percent of donations to the VTF go directly into the fund. The Department of Military and Veterans Affairs charges no administrative costs, salaries or fees to the VTF. Every dollar goes directly to assisting veterans,” O’Mara said. “Minimally increasing the amount that Pennsylvania drivers may donate is an easy, yet highly effective way to bolster donations. I’m proud to see this measure I’ve worked on for the last three years finally make its way to the governor’s desk.” The VTF issues grants to organizations that assist veterans with needs such as shelter and necessities of living. Grants from the VTF may also help veterans with obtaining federal veterans benefits and pensions earned by virtue of their service and sacrifice. This measure was signed into law and became Act 55 of 2021 on June 30, 2021, and has been implemented by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Photos Read more
It’s back to school time! I hope that everyone heading into a new academic year has a happy and successful one. Read more
Last week, I had the opportunity to talk with White House officials about Rep. Todd Stephens’ and my “red flag” bill. Read more
SPRINGFIELD, Aug. 23 — State Reps. Jennifer O’Mara, D-Delaware, and Todd Stephens, R-Montgomery, joined White House officials and state legislative leaders from throughout the country last week to discuss Extreme Risk Protection, or “red flag,” laws. ERPO laws temporarily disarm people in crisis to disrupt spontaneous acts of violence that could quickly turn deadly. During the meeting, state lawmakers shared how they successfully passed ERPO laws, while O’Mara and Stephens discussed plans to advance their H.B. 1903 in the Pennsylvania legislature. "I lost my father to gun suicide and I miss him every day. We knew something was wrong, but we couldn't do anything to help him,” O’Mara said. “Although my story is devastating, it’s sadly not unique. Sharing my experience with White House officials and other state lawmakers from across the country was an opportunity to show how gun violence can touch people’s lives in different ways, but we can work together to prevent tragedies like the one my family went through.” “The mass shootings and alarming suicide rate across the country demonstrate the need for legislation like this to disarm those who pose a danger to themselves or others before they act,” Stephens said. “Our families and law enforcement need a way to temporarily prohibit those in crisis from possessing firearms, and to relinquish any firearms they may currently have, to Read more
Summer 2022 print newsletter featuring news on the state budget, important election deadlines, abortion access in Pennsylvania and more. Read more
Following legal challenges spurred by the majority, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court upheld our mail-in voting law, Act 77, last week. Read more
My husband, Brad, and I are so thrilled to introduce to the world our fierce little baby girl. Meet Katherine Rose Bitting, born on July 24, 2022, at 10:35 p.m. Read more
Last week was a busy one in Harrisburg. On Friday, July 8, the General Assembly passed a budget, and it was signed into law by the governor later that evening. Read more
HARRISBURG, July 15 – State Reps. Jennifer O’Mara and Melissa Shusterman today announced Apprentice Training for the Electrical Industry was awarded $394,383 for a program introducing young women to the electrical trade. “More women are entering the electrical trade than ever before,” O’Mara said. “It can be a great career path, and I am pleased we were able to help secure this important funding. Having more women learn this important trade will help break down old, incorrect stereotypes.” The program, “Rosie’s Girls,” is designed to familiarize young women with safety, tools, theoretical basics of electrical and telecommunications installation, and jobsite conditions, as well as an introduction to other career paths in the building and construction trades. This is a partnership with ATEI and the public-school districts in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties. “This program is a great way to give the young women in Southeastern Pennsylvania hands-on training in a career field once dominated by men,” Shusterman said. “I applaud the effort by Apprentice Training for the Electrical Industry to recruit women into the trades workforce. I am happy to see the state invest in a program that will help give young women more professional opportunities.” The grants, offered through the Pennsylvania Department of Labor Read more
HARRISBURG, July 8 – State Rep. Jennifer O’Mara, D-Delaware, said she supports this year’s state spending plan, particularly noting increased education funding with mental health and safety grants, funding for the Delaware County Health Department and environmental preservation initiatives. “This budget bill makes historic investments in education, sensibly uses federal American Rescue Plan dollars and directly benefits the people of Delco, so I voted in favor of it,” O’Mara said. Funding has also been earmarked for mental health and school safety initiatives. Each school district gets $100,000, plus $15 per student, in the forms of both a physical safety grant and a mental health grant, totaling $200,000 in student health and safety funding per district. Under this spending plan, Delaware County will receive 15.4% more education funding than last year; simultaneously, property tax rent rebates under the state’s PTRR Program will be increased. Recipients will receive an additional one-time check that is equal to 70% of what they receive in this year’s rebate. “We were able to increase Property Tax/Rent Rebates thanks to money Pennsylvania had received from the American Rescue Plan. While I would have liked to help more seniors living on fixed incomes get money back, I’m glad we were able to give them something extra,” O’Mara said. Read more
HARRISBURG, July 8 – State Reps. Malcolm Kenyatta, D-Phila., and Jennifer O’Mara, D-Delaware, are applauding the inclusion of the hunger free campus initiative they have championed in Harrisburg in this year’s state budget. Kenyatta and O’Mara were the lead co-sponsors of the program. O’Mara said the following: “One in nine people in our state are struggling with hunger. Furthermore, between one-third and one-half of college students are food-insecure. Representative Kenyatta and I recognized this problem over a year ago and introduced the Hunger Free Campus Act to ensure that every student can easily access nutritious food. We are immensely proud to see $1 million dollars finally reserved in this year’s budget to address this crisis that touches every corner of the commonwealth. As a first-generation college student who worked three jobs and took out extra student loans to be able to afford tuition, textbooks, and food, I know how necessary this initiative is to Pennsylvania’s students.” Kenyatta agreed with O’Mara. “One in nine people in our state are struggling with hunger. Furthermore, between one-third and one-half of college students are food-insecure. Representative O’Mara and I recognized this problem over a year ago and introduced the Hunger Free Campus Act to ensure that every student can easily access nutritious food.” He continued. “We engaged stakeholders, Read more
June is budget season for the legislature, and the deadline is June 30th. But as I write this email, on the morning of July 1st, we still have not finalized this year’s spending plan. Read more
Sunday, June 19, is Juneteenth. This holiday, formally known as Juneteenth Independence Day, commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. Read more
SPRINGFIELD, June 8 – State Rep. Jennifer O’Mara, accompanied by fellow Democratic and Republican Delaware County PA House members, will come together this Saturday to commemorate Delco Day. Lawmakers will present an official House citation to Delaware County recognizing June 10 as Delco Day, symbolizing a play on the calendar date and the county’s area code. The citation will be presented at this year’s host for Delco Day festivities, Marty Magee’s Irish Pub, 1110 Lincoln Ave., Prospect Park. Live music and activities will take place from 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday, June 11 into Sunday, June 12. “June 10, or 6/10, is an annual celebration of all things Delco. Our county is one of resilience, grit, and charm but, most importantly, unity. This is why Democratic and Republican state reps came to recognize this special day, to truly capture the essence of our community,” O’Mara said. Delco Day supports the HEADstrong Foundation, which works to provide housing for cancer patients. More information is available by calling O’Mara’s office at 610-544-9878. Additional details on Delco Day are also available online at https://delcolive.com/ . Read more
Today, June 3rd, is National Gun Violence Awareness Day aka Wear Orange Day. Read more
Wrap up your annual spring cleaning at a free shred and e-waste event that I’m hosting in partnership with state Sen. Amanda Cappelletti this weekend! Read more
Please use the form below to sign up for email updates. By completing this form you are acknowledging your request to receive periodic email updates.
By completing this form, you are verifying your request to opt in for email updates.
Thank you. Your email signup has been sent. You should start getting emails within 24 hours.
Please use the form below to email Rep. Jennifer M. O'Mara.
Thank you. Your feedback has been sent.
905 West Sproul RoadSuite 203Springfield, PA 19064
P*: (610) 544-9878
F*: (484) 200-8270
Hours of Operation - Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on weekends by appointment only.
217 Irvis OfficeP.O. Box 202165Harrisburg, PA 17120-2165
P*: (717) 783-4090
F*: (717) 772-2284