Category: CONSUMER NEWS

PATCO Announces New Owl Schedule

In early May, PATCO announced plans for a new Owl Service schedule in an effort to improve security on the PATCO transit line. After community feedback, the implementation was postponed and a special owl task force was assembled to recommend ways to improve the safety and security of riders and employees during the owl hours. The goals of the task force were to increase police presence, keep as many stations open as possible and maintain 24-hour service. Over several months, the task force analyzed 25-months of data pertaining to owl service and provided recommendations which PATCO will implement on Saturday, December 7.

“It’s important to PATCO to listen to the communities we serve, and then act on what we have learned,” said John D. Rink, PATCO General Manager. “Safety and security are still our top priority at PATCO and our new owl service plan incorporates the feedback and concerns of our riders. Based on a suggestion from our Citizen’s Advisory Committee, the task force took a deeper dive in reviewing entries and exits for each station for both weekday and weekend Owl service hours over the past two years.”

The following service adjustments will take effect beginning 12 a.m. on Saturday, December 7, 2019:

Owl Service

Weekdays: 12 a.m. Midnight to 4 a.m.

Weekends: 2 a.m. Midnight to 5 a.m.

All stations remain open 24/7/365 with the exception of 9/10th & Locust St. Station which is currently closed daily between 12:07 a.m. and 4:15 a.m.

Trains will operate every 60 minutes instead of every 45 minutes.

A police officer will be onboard owl trains from 12 a.m. to 4 a.m. on weekdays and from 2 a.m. to 5 a.m. on weekends.

Only one train will be in the system making a continuous loop during the owl hours.

Owl riders are encouraged to board the train, even if it’s traveling in the opposite direction, rather than waiting in a station for the same train to return. Riding the train offers a comfortable, climate-controlled environment with PATCO personnel.

PATCO will operate 4-car trains and doors will not open on the first and last cars to encourage riders to sit closer together rather than spread out.

In addition to the service adjustments, PATCO will implement additional safety and security measures for all riders:

Launch a transit safety and security mobile app called “Look Up. Speak Up.” which will allow riders to discreetly and confidentially report security or safety issues on PATCO directly to DRPA/PATCO Police. The app is available now for download in the Google Play and Apple App stores.

Launch a safety awareness campaign aimed to remind and encourage riders to stay alert and be aware of their surroundings.

“Our number one goal is to ensure the safety of our riders and employees,” said DRPA/PATCO Police Chief John L. Stief. “The owl task force provided solutions for increased police coverage and aligning riders in greater numbers together on trains and stations.”

Click here

to view the new schedule effective Saturday, December 7.

PATCO AWARDED $12.6 MILLION “BUILD” TRANSPORTATION GRANT

Project identified by U.S. Department of Transportation to have significant regional impact.

The Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA) announced today that it will receive a $12,580,000.00 grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) for its

PATCO Franklin Square Station Reopening Project

. The project will revitalize and reopen an existing rail station consistent with modern Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements.

The USDOT awarded the grant under the Better Utilizing Investment to Leverage Development (BUILD) program. Previously known as the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) program, BUILD grants provide opportunities for USDOT to invest in roads and other projects that have a significant local or regional impact.

“This BUILD grant will help the Delaware River Port Authority to re-open Franklin Square Station, giving Philadelphians more transit options,” said U.S. Senator Bob Casey. “The funding will contribute to necessary upgrades for the station and will serve new residential and commercial growth in the area. I was proud to advocate on behalf of DRPA for this important project for the Philadelphia metropolitan area.”

“PATCO is excited to be a recipient of a 2019 BUILD grant,” said John D. Rink, PATCO General Manager. “It is a testament of the importance that the Franklin Square Station Project has to the community and the continued economic development in our region.”

In September 2018, PATCO announced plans to reopen its shuttered Franklin Square Station located beneath Franklin Square Park. Construction on rehabilitating the existing station is expected to begin in late 2020 with an opening date in Summer 2023. The work covered under the project will allow the station to become fully functional and in-line with the existing PATCO stations. The project will address improvements to the station’s civil, structural, mechanical, and electrical systems and will provide access in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. In order to reach the concourse area, a new head house building will be constructed where the previous head house was located at the corner of 7th & Race Streets. The total budget for the project is $30 million.

“The BUILD grant comes at an exciting time for the DRPA and its transportation infrastructure investments,” said Michael P. Venuto, DRPA Chief Engineer. “DRPA’s Capital Budget is approximately $200 million in 2020 with a total spending of $810 million over the next five years. The grant enables the DRPA and PATCO to further advance its mission of world-class stewards of transportation assets.”

“On behalf of the DRPA and PATCO, I would like to thank the Department of Transportation and Senator Casey for recognizing the importance of the Franklin Square Project,” said John T. Hanson, DRPA CEO and PATCO President. “BUILD grants provide infrastructure funding to better connect communities, and connecting people is at the heart of what we do every day at DRPA and PATCO.”

For more information about the 2019 BUILD Transportation Grant program, please visit

www.transportation.gov/BUILDgrants

. For more information about the Franklin Square Reopening Project, please visit

RidePATCO.org/projects

.

Two Pedestrians Injured Crossing Cross Key Road

WINSLOW TOWNSHIP (Nov. 25, 2019)–In the Sicklerville section of Winslow Township, two adult pedestrians were crossing Cross Keys Road at the

intersection of Wilby Road and were struck by a vehicle traveling Northbound

on Cross Keys Road.

The two pedestrians were transported to Cooper Hospital via helicopters for serious injuries.

The driver of the vehicle and occupants were not injured.

Names are being withheld until families are notified.

Case is being investigated by the Winslow Township Highway Safety Unit.

If anyone witnessed the crash, please contact Ptlm. Harry Pizzico 609-567-0700 extension 1198.

It’s Not Merely Flesh and Bones

Gloucestercitynews.net (Nov. 25, 2019)–All human beings are just a diaspora of the nine months confinement, which was regularly fed with love. That very love takes you further on in life, which some of us leave behind, to find momentary joy. Love is the only factor that keeps the world from collapsing all at once, but that love continues being redefined with every new relationship one builds in this wonderful journey called life. Love, these days, has been reduced to just a term and the true essence of this beautiful feeling seems lost on us. Also, the crimes that are being committed in the name of love are countless. The pleasure of groping a fellow being cannot be justified on any grounds. While some do it in the name of love, the others do it out of sheer lust.

The gratification of each person’s sexual urges is necessary; there is no denial of that fact. But that has to happen with consent. The point where a consensual feeling of the need to gratify that urge kindles within, is only when that step should be taken, which is nurtured with the right amount of genuine love for your partner. Where do things go wrong, then? It is when lust takes the place of love, where even the definition of lust takes a rampant turn. The word assault means any action that violates or harms the other person’s feelings when it is done without consent. No woman is sensual. They are only beautiful, with the hearts that they own that beats within them, which can never be scarred by the physical injuries that anyone inflicts on them. In today’s scenario, an assault has become a very familiar term, not just through the blogs you read and podcasts you hear but also through the repugnant encounters one has.

What is sexual assault?

Sexual assault is:

A non-consensual grabbing, fumbling or touching of a private part of another person’s body.

Coercing a person to get involved in sexual acts, which could be oral sex or non-consensual penetration.

A person sexually exploiting you, when under the influence of drugs; could be in parties, pubs or any such occasions (drug-facilitated assault).

Abusing and involving kids in certain sexual acts where these kids are incapacitated or are not in a position to comprehend the devilry of the act.

The world now is in the clutches of a demon that is infusing it with the most dreadful qualities which are taking the world on a regressive roll to the pit of human annihilation.

What do you see when you open the newspapers and media platforms nowadays? Is it love, or is it hatred? It is pure evil in disguise, that lures you into oblivion.

Popular myths about sexual assaults

Sexual assault could also be when a spouse tries to sexually impose specific actions on the partner, which, as some may not know, also requires consent. Being a legal partner does not give a person the right to force their urge for their partner.

People come across such situations at the workplace, in public transport, in relationships, and the list goes on.

Toddlers wearing diapers get sexually assaulted these days. Where do you think the world is going? Multiple cases are reported every day of child sexual abuse, and how does this all culminate? Children, at an age where they aren’t able to fathom the difference between a fumbling touch and a lovely stroke, are made to do obscene acts, which can later even lead to the loss of a valuable life.

One of the biggest myths of the topic of sexual assault is that it is believed to be endured only by women, but that’s not true. Men equally face such assaults, be it from the opposite gender or also ones from the same.

Get back up from the bottom

Dealing with the mental trauma that follows such acts takes a lot of courage and constant support from peers, colleagues, and families. This keeps in happening families too; father molesting his daughter, brothers abusing sisters, and many more such cases still lay unsolved without receiving the deserved justice. People finding difficulty in dealing with such situations can contact

Nehora Law Firm

.

Conclusion:

Such situations could be a completely baffling experience for people, not knowing what step to be taken next to resolve it legally. Always go to the most reliable people around you and when it is that same person who assaulted you, a piece of advice alone cannot help, but each individual needs to develop the strength and courage to fight it by seeking the help of the law of your country.

With a lot of helpline numbers, organizations and websites to guide you through the bewilderment and trauma that you are facing, keep the confidence intact as you are not alone in this. The whole world would stand with you to augment the will power that you already possess, which cannot be destroyed by any filthy hands.

5 Effective Strategies for Managing Your Monthly Expenses

Gloucestercitynews.net (Nov. 25, 2019)–Do you struggle to maintain a budget every month?

Are you always hoping to save extra cash but end up spending it all?

If you\’re not careful, it can be easy to lose track of monthly expenses. The little things add up and suddenly you\’re over budget.

This article will teach you the best ways to keep a cushion in the bank each month.

1. Balance Your Wants and Needs

Before you can start saving money, you need to get real about the things you want vs the things you need.

Try adopting the

50/30/20 rule

where you spend 50% of your income on things you need, 30% on things you want, and 20% on savings.

Figure out how much you make in a month and cut it in half. That half should automatically be applied to things like rent, bills, groceries, and gas. Then take the remaining amount and spend 30% on things you want and put 20% in savings.

2. Eat at Home

It\’s easy to spend extra cash if you\’re always dining out.

Not only is the food more expensive, but you have to factor in a tip. Try making your meals at home for one month and see how much extra money you have.

This tip should also help you with your waistline, as you\’ll be the one in control of the ingredients.

3. Start a Calendar

Bills are due every month but not always on the same day.

Start a calendar so you can keep track of when different bills are due. This will keep anything from sneaking up on you and causing you to pay late fees.

It will also remind you when you have a particularly expensive week coming up that you need to monitor your spending closely.

4. Use a Budgeting Website

Human beings are fallible and it\’s easy to forget to write down a number or a bill payment.

Use a website for your budgeting that will send you automated reminders and keep track of what you\’re spending.

A website like

www.paystubs.ne

t is run by professional accountants who will generate pay stubs for you.

5. Discover Your Weaknesses

Everybody has different weaknesses when it comes to spending money.

Some will blow too much on new shoes, while others will spend hundreds to attend numerous sporting events.

It\’s important you identify your money spending weaknesses so you can curb them. You don\’t need to deprive yourself completely, but rather cut back and use your favorite treats as rewards for saving.

Follow These Tips to Monitor Your Monthly Expenses

Being careful with your monthly expenses will pay off.

If you become aware of how much you\’re spending and save more, in just a few months you could have enough to buy something you never thought you could have.

Did you enjoy this article and want to learn more helpful lifestyle tips and tricks? Then bookmark this page and come back often for updated content!

Investors Foundation Grant Helps Bring Joy of Reading to At-Risk Students Through BookMates

ROBBINSVILLE, N.J.

– BookMates, a program offered by the Jewish Community Relations Council of Southern New Jersey, has received a $5,000 grant from the Investors Foundation. The grant will be paid out over two years and be used to bring the joy of reading to children in low- to moderate-income communities.

Photo Caption: Investors Bank’s Christopher P. Warren, senior vice president, business lending, (center) and Barry Epps, assistant vice president and Voorhees branch manager (right), recently presented a $5,000 grant payable over two years, to Rhonda Shevrin, BookMates Director, at a kick-off session for the 2019-2020 school year at the office of the Jewish Community Relations Council in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.

BookMates applied for the grant from the Investors Foundation, which supports non-profit organizations that enrich the diverse communities served by Investors Bank.

Investors Bank’s Christopher P. Warren, senior vice president business lending, along with Barry Epps, assistant vice president and Voorhees branch manager, presented the check at one of the BookMates kick-off meetings for the 2019-2020 school year at the office of the Jewish Community Relations Council in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.

“We are so pleased to support the BookMates program,” explained Warren. “More than 25 years ago, my wife and I participated in a very similar program and it made us realize the importance of giving back to the community. Investors Bank also is committed to giving back to the community. Literacy and education are particular passions for the bank. Investors is grateful for the opportunity to help children gain a love for reading that hopefully will carry through the rest of their lives.”

“I am so grateful that Investors Bank has chosen to support our mission of reading to at-risk students,” said BookMates Director

Rhonda Shevrin.

“I am looking forward to a long relationship.”

BookMates provides weekly one-to-one reading sessions with an adult volunteer in more than 40 schools receiving Title 1 funding in Burlington, Camden, and Gloucester Counties. Through the efforts of the trained volunteers, the children are further exposed to a wide range of literature, an expanded vocabulary, and an additional focus on reading comprehension.

According to Shevrin, more than 300 BookMates volunteers, many of who are retirees, read to more than 600 children in Kindergarten through second-grade. The children are not the only beneficiaries. Many of the volunteers return year-after-year to participate in the program because they see it as an enjoyable and satisfying opportunity to make a difference in a child’s life.

“We are delighted to support BookMates,” said Epps. “Investors Bank is committed to bringing ‘community’ back to banking. We believe that we only can be successful if we are involved and giving back to the communities we serve.”

About the Investors Foundation

Investors Bank created the Investors Foundation in 2005 to support the communities Investors Bank serves. The Investors Foundation supports initiatives in the arts, youth development, health and human services, education and affordable housing. The Investors Foundation works to improve the lives of its customers and neighbors.

About Investors Bank

Investors Bank, headquartered in Short Hills, New Jersey, is a full-service community bank that has been serving customers since 1926. With over $27 billion in assets and a network of more than 145 retail branches, Investors Bank delivers personalized services and products tailored to the needs of its customers. Investors Bank’s banking services include complete deposit, loan and cash management products for consumers and businesses.

Investors Bank: Member FDIC and Equal Housing Lender.

About BookMates

BookMates is a social justice program of the Jewish Community Relations Council and the Catholic-Jewish Commission. It was founded in 1999, and is s

ponsored by Townsend Press in memory of Henry H. Nadell and Marjorie Nadell Schneider.

The mission of BookMates is to provide a nurturing one-to-one literacy experience for at-risk children that encourages them to develop a love of reading and provides them with a foundation to succeed in life. The program currently has 300 readers mentoring students in 40 schools in Burlington, Camden, and Gloucester Counties. For more information, contact

BookMates@jfedsnj.org

,

or visit the website at

www.bookmatessnj.org

.

EPA Proposes Plan Related to Combined Sewer Overflow Impacts on the Newtown Creek Superfund Site

NEW YORK

– The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing a proposed plan that evaluates impacts of the current and expected future volume of combined sewer overflow (CSO) discharges to the Newtown Creek Superfund Site Study Area in New York City. EPA added Newtown Creek to its Superfund National Priorities List of the country’s highest priority

hazardous waste sites in September 2010, and investigations of the entire site are ongoing.

“This proposed plan is an important step forward in advancing the cleanup of the Newtown Creek Superfund Site,”

said EPA Regional Administrator Pete Lopez.

“In this plan, EPA acknowledges that the work that the City is already obliged to do to improve the water quality of Newtown Creek, including major water infrastructure improvements through compliance with the state imposed long term CSO control plan, will be consistent with meeting the needs of the Superfund program and help EPA fulfill its mission of protecting human health and the environment.”

The Newtown Creek Superfund Site Study Area is comprised of the waters and sediments of Newtown Creek in Brooklyn and Queens. Outside of the Superfund process, the City of New York is under order by the State of New York to implement a CSO Long-Term Control Plan (LTCP) for Newtown Creek. The LTCP, which was approved by the state in June 2018, includes a number of components to reduce future CSO discharges to the creek, including construction of a storage tunnel.  The LTCP is ultimately anticipated to reduce the volume of CSO discharges to Newtown Creek by approximately 61%, and to achieve waterbody-specific water quality standards under the Clean Water Act. EPA evaluated the LTCP in the context of the Superfund site to determine if the volume reductions anticipated under the LTCP are sufficient to meet the needs of the future cleanup of the Superfund site.  EPA has determined that the water pollution volume controls prescribed by the LTCP that the city and state will implement, in accordance with requirements of the Clean Water Act, are sufficient to meet the needs of an eventual Superfund cleanup for the Study Area of the Newtown Creek Superfund Site. The EPA anticipates requiring monitoring of the four largest CSOs to confirm the assumptions made in this proposed plan.

The EPA is conducting in-depth investigations of the extent of the contamination at the entire Newtown Creek Superfund Site in order to determine how best to clean it up over the long-term. This proposed plan is for one aspect of the site.

The EPA will determine in the future whether additional control actions, either in the creek or at CSO points-of-discharge, are needed to address the cleanup of the full site. These additional control actions could include the placement of sediment traps and/or oil sorbent pads at the end of CSO discharge pipes and in-creek maintenance dredging to address potential accumulation of contaminated solids near the CSO discharges.

During the public comment period, EPA will hold two public meetings in New York City to inform the public of EPA’s proposed plan for reducing the volume of CSO discharges to the creek, and to receive public comments on the proposed plan and other options that were considered. The public meetings will be held on December 9 at 6:30 p.m. at Sunnyside Community Services, 43-31 39th Street in Queens and on December 11 at 6:30 p.m. at P.S. 110, 124 Monitor Street in Brooklyn.

Written comments on the proposed plan, postmarked no later than close of business December 23, 2019, may be emailed to

schmidt.mark@epa.gov

or mailed to Mark Schmidt, U.S. EPA, 290 Broadway, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10007.

To view the EPA’s proposed plan for the site, please visit:

www.epa.gov/superfund/newtown-creek

Newtown Creek is part of the core area of the New York-New Jersey Harbor Estuary, which has been designated by EPA as an “estuary of national significance.” In the mid-1800s, the area adjacent to the 3.8-mile Newtown Creek was one of the busiest hubs of industrial activity in New York City. Numerous industrial facilities were located along its banks, including more than 50 oil refineries, as well as petrochemical plants, fertilizer and glue factories, sawmills, and lumber and coal yards. The creek was crowded with commercial vessels, including large boats bringing in raw materials and fuel and taking out oil, chemicals and metals. In addition to the industrial pollution that resulted from all of this activity, the city began dumping raw sewage directly into the water in 1856. During World War II, the creek was one of the busiest ports in the nation. Some factories and facilities still operate along its banks, and various adjacent contaminated sites have contributed to its contamination. Today, as a result of its industrial history, including countless spills, Newtown Creek is badly polluted.

Follow EPA Region 2 on Twitter at

and visit our Facebook page,

http://facebook.com/eparegion2

.

Camden County Association of Chiefs of Police has partnered with Policeapp

Would you like to be a police officer? The Camden County Association of Chiefs of Police has partnered with Policeapp to provide regionalized testing for possible available police positions in Camden County over the next 12 months. All participating agencies will have access to the results of the test to improve their application pool for Class I, Class II, Class III, and full time positions (non-civil service for full time positions).  If you know anyone who is interested, please share the below link with them to sign up for

the test.

Unfortunately, the Gloucester Township police Department is a Civil Service Department and will not participate in this program but please continue to follow us as we will advertise for the next Civil Service Test!

The test date will be Saturday, November 30, 2019 at Eastern High School (cafeteria) in the morning hours.

The deadline to register is 11/25, so please share if you have not already done so!

https://www.policeapp.com/Police-Associations/Camden-County-Association-of-Chiefs-of-Police/

http://www.policeapp.com

>

Address/Location

Gloucester Township Police Department

1261 Chews Landing Rd

Gloucester Township, NJ 08021

Contact

Emergency: 9-1-1

Non-emergencies: 856-228-4500

MD Anderson at Cooper Leading the Way in Pancreatic Cancer in SJ

CAMDEN CITY, NJ (Nov. 21, 2019)–Pancreatic cancer is the 4th leading cause of

cancer death in the United States and the second most common gastrointestinal cancer in the U.S.

There are two types of pancreas cancer:

pancreatic adenocarcinoma

, which makes up more than 95% of all pancreatic cancers, and the rarer

pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor

. The symptoms and treatments for neuroendocrine tumors are different than those of pancreatic adenocarcinomas. For this article we will focus on pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

photo Jamin C Morrison, MD

“There are several reasons mortality rates related to pancreatic cancer are so high,” says

Jamin Morrison, MD

, medical oncologist at MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper.

“Pancreatic cancer is an aggressive cancer and it generally spreads silently, without symptoms,” says Morrison. “About 80% of pancreatic cancers are diagnosed after the cancer has spread to other organs, which makes them hard to treat.”

“The pancreas is set deep inside the body, behind several other organs, making it difficult to feel or see without special equipment,” he explains.

“Also, there are no screening tests for pancreatic cancer for those at average risk,” Dr. Morrison continues. “Screening is generally limited to people at high risk, such as those with certain inherited

Your pancreas is about 6 inches long and lies horizontally behind the lower part of your stomach back toward the spine. The pancreas is an essential organ in the digestive process. It produces enzymes that aid in digestion and it makes insulin and other hormones that help the body manage sugar.

gene mutations.”

Advanced Treatment Options

Treatment for pancreatic cancer may include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, interventional radiology procedures, or a combination of these options. “Coordinated, multidisciplinary care like we have at MD Anderson at Cooper is crucial to good outcomes,” says Dr. Morrison.

“Today we are able to offer some exciting new chemotherapy regimens that are more effective in treating pancreatic cancer than ever before,” says Dr. Morrison. “There have been great advances in our understanding of how pancreatic cancers behave, and the more we know about the cancer the more effective treatment can be.

“We often treat patients with an aggressive chemotherapy regimen before surgery to shrink the tumor and make the surgery more effective,” he explains.  “And we have a new clinical trial underway where we are delivering chemotherapy directly into the tumor.”

photo Francis R Spitz, MD, FACS

When pancreatic cancer is confined to the pancreas, and sometimes when it has spread only to nearby lymph nodes, the tumor can be removed with surgery. “Complete removal of the tumor with surgery is often the best chance at curing pancreatic cancer,” says

Frank Spitz, MD, FACS

, Director of the Pancreatic Cancer Program and Deputy Director of MD Anderson at Cooper.

“Research shows that patients who have their surgery at high volume centers like MD Anderson at Cooper have fewer complications and lower mortality,” says Dr. Spitz. “Our team performs the most pancreatic cancer surgeries in South Jersey. The experience of our surgeons and team makes a difference.”

The most common technique used to remove a pancreatic tumor is known as the

Whipple procedure

. This complex operation is performed when the cancer is located in the pancreatic head. The surgery involves removal of parts of the pancreas, intestine, nearby lymph nodes, gallbladder, bile duct, and sometimes parts of the stomach. Often, we can offer minimally invasive surgery for tumors located in the body and tail of the pancreas – which means smaller incisions, shorter hospital stays, less pain, and a faster return to normal activities.

Advanced radiation therapy technologies are also being used to treat pancreatic cancer at MD Anderson at Cooper.

David J Mulvihill, MD

“Patients with pancreatic cancer can receive radiation treatments before or after surgery; either to shrink the tumor pre-operatively or destroy any remaining cancer cells after surgery. Radiation therapy can also be used to destroy the tumor if surgery is not an option or to ease symptoms,” says

David Mulvihill, MD

, radiation oncologist at MD Anderson at Cooper.

In spring 2020, MD Anderson at Cooper will be one of the first centers in the U.S. to offer a ground-breaking new radiation treatment to patients with pancreatic and other cancers – the MR Linac.

“We’re very excited about this technology,” says Mulvihill. “It allows for greater precision during treatment, especially with tumors that move during breathing and/or the body’s natural internal movements.”

“Pancreatic cancer continues to be a challenge for cancer experts, but the team at MD Anderson at Cooper is committed to improving the odds for patients and is leading the way in pancreatic cancer care in South Jersey,” says Dr. Spitz.

For more information about the

Pancreatic Cancer Program at MD Anderson at Cooper

or if you’d like to make an appointment with one of our specialists call 855.MDA.COOPER (855.632.2667).

Pennsylvania Senate Votes to Ban Abortions in Down Syndrome Cases

By Steve Bittenbender |

The Center Square

HARRISBURG, PA–The Pennsylvania Senate on Wednesday voted, 27-22, to advance legislation that would ban abortions in cases where a fetus has been diagnosed with Down syndrome in spite of a promised veto from Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf.

Caused by the presence of an extra chromosome, Down syndrome causes intellectual disabilities and delayed physical development. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, roughly 6,000 babies are born with some type of the condition each year.

“It just seems to me that the genesis of the bill is just about a fundamental right to be born,” said state Sen. Judy Ward, R-Hollidaysburg, when the legislation, House Bill 321, was considered Monday by the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. “And that’s what I see as just a fundamental right.”

Pennsylvania state Sen. Judy Ward speaks Sept. 11, 2019, during a hearing of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee. Image courtesy of the Pennsylvania Senate

While Republicans wholeheartedly supported the measure, Democrats, such as state Sen. Judy Schwank, D-Reading, opposed the bill as an attempt to restrict women’s rights.

“I don’t think legislators, government period, has a role to play in the relationship between a mother and a doctor and her family or whoever else she wishes to consult with,” Schwank told state Rep. Kate Klunk, R-Hanover, the bill’s sponsor, during Monday’s hearing. “I just find this really troubling.”

Klunk added that her bill does grant exceptions for pregnancies created through acts of rape or incest and for instances when the pregnancy puts a mother’s health at risk.

The bill faces opposition from reproductive rights groups, such as Planned Parenthood. Another group, the Women’s Law Project, said in a tweet that the bill targets families dealing with complicated pregnancies and deprives people of their constitutional rights.

“The bill’s supporters pretend it is designed to protect people with disabilities, but in reality it merely seeks to force doctors to police patients’ reasons for exercising their constitutional right to abortion if such a decision is considered in the wake of a prenatal diagnosis,” the Women’s Law Project said Monday in a statement on its website. “It is simply more political interference into the exam room.”

Anti-abortion advocates hailed the bill, saying women are often urged to terminate such pregnancies.

“[The legislation] sends a compassionate message to Pennsylvania communities that no human being should be targeted for death by abortion because of a disability,” Michael Geer, president of the Pennsylvania Family Institute, said in a statement.

Wolf spokesman J.J. Abbott reiterated the governor\’s veto promise shortly after the vote Wednesday evening, noting that Wolf \”has said repeatedly, he will veto any bill, including House Bill 321, that seeks to limit health care choices for women and politicize difficult moments for vulnerable families.\”

posted here with permission

|

The Center Square