I want to once again express my gratitude to our honorees – Glynis Johns, Justan Parker Fields and Dr. Ala Stanford – for their leadership and their contributions to our Commonwealth, and to Lynne Hayes-Freeland of KDKA for hosting this year’s celebration.

LGBTQ+ adults face a lifetime of discrimination, resulting in higher poverty and increased health risks in old age. I applaud the PA Department of Aging's move to recognize LGBTQ+ older adults as a population of “greatest social need” under the Older Americans Act.

The next step is to permanently close the center so that no future family or child is forced to go through what these families have endured.

@USTradeRep released the President’s trade agenda, which includes my & @SenCortezMasto 's proposal to advance women’s economic empowerment in trade. It will review trade programs to evaluate whether they lead to the economic empowerment of women and underrepresented communities

Additionally, this change will include a “commitment to restore U.S. global leadership on critical matters like combatting forced labor and exploitative labor conditions, corruption, and discrimination against women and minorities around the world.”

I commend the Administration for putting forward a trade agenda that supports workers so we can build back better. I look forward to working with USTR to advance the rights of workers and women as part of our national trade strategy.

I will be voting to defeat poison pill amendments that are only designed to create false political ads and delay critically needed relief. Passing this legislation will get money in Americans’ pockets, vaccines in their arms and their kids back to school.

We need to get this done right now, without delay.