November 26, 2002

Members of the Select Committee: 

Honorable George Kenny, Chairman

Honorable Lawrence Curry, Minority Chairman

Honorable Patrick Browne                            Honorable Peter J. Daley, 11

Honorable Mary Ann Daily                            Honorable Harold James

Honorable Tim Hennessey                             Honorable Kathy Manderino

Honorable Ronald E. Miller                           Honorable Phyllis Mundy

Honorable Elinor Z. Taylor                            Honorable Joseph Preston, Jr.

Honorable Mike Turzai                                         

REPORT OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON

HOUSE RESOLUTION 473 OF 2002

INTRODUCTION

House Resolution 473 was adopted unanimously by the Pennsylvania House of Representatives on June 25, 2002 to study and investigate the integration of human rights standards into Pennsylvania’s laws and policies.  A Select Committee to carry out this study and investigation was appointed on October 1, 2002.

To implement the mandate of the resolution, the Select Committee held a public hearing on the multifaceted issues surrounding poverty and economic human rights.  The hearing was held on November 14, 2002 at the Ryan Legislative Office Building, Harrisburg, PA.

                                                DISCUSSION

All Pennsylvanians are constitutionally guaranteed certain rights as individuals and citizens of the Commonwealth.  In 1941, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt set forth the Four Freedoms, the third of these being freedom from want.  President Roosevelt’s Four Freedoms propelled the creation of the United Nations “Universal Declaration of Human Rights”.  In this document, the United Nations recognizes additional human rights including access to health care, adequate food, clothing and housing, quality education and sustainable employment.  Collectively, these are known as economic human rights.

HR473 signifies recognition by the Pennsylvania General Assembly that action must be taken to assure the well-being of the Commonwealth’s citizens.  This includes supporting the inherent dignity of each individual regardless of his or her station in life.

The adoption of House Resolution 473 provided two things:1) validation of economic human rights as an issue that must be reviewed by the Pennsylvania General Assembly, and 2) opportunity for an open dialogue about Pennsylvania’s ongoing challenges in helping Pennsylvanians access their economic human rights as well as potential solutions for addressing those problems.

The HR 473 Select Committee understands that the perception of “poverty” must be examined, challenged, and ultimately, changed.  There must be a commitment to long-term effective solutions created with the input of many people, including: people living in poverty, those persons providing services to people living in poverty, people affected by poverty (all PA citizens), think tanks, governmental and non-governmental entities.  HR 473 begins an educational process of review and creative problem solving related to poverty.

FINDINGS

The Select Committee finds that poverty is a complex issue with no single simple solution.  The economic human rights of many Pennsylvanians are adversely affected through no fault of their own.  Often, resources and services are in place, but there exists gaps in connecting individuals to existing resources.  In other situations, services and resources are provided for in law, but have not been created in the community.  This reality cannot continue if the social and economic vitality of Pennsylvania is to be maintained and enhanced.  It is the select Committee’s finding that this process continues in the next session of the General Assembly.

                                                RECOMMENDATIONS

The Select Committee acknowledges the efforts of the individuals and organizations that came forward to testify about the issues faced daily by those living in poverty in Pennsylvania.

The Select Committee makes the following recommendation:

Reintroduce a resolution in the 2003/2004 legislative session to continue the investigation of issues brought to light as a result of the hearing conducted under HR 473.  This may include:

            1) Hold a series of hearings on topics identified as critical to resolving the issues facing the poor:

a)      Health Care

b)      Adequate Housing

c)      Adequate Food and Nutrition

d)      Quality Education

e)       Accessible Transportation

f)         Sustainable Employment and Self Sufficiency

g)       Quality Child Care

h)       Child Support

i)         Accessible and Appropriate Services for Individuals with Disabilities

 2)      Address each issue as it is identified through hearings.

 3)      Direct the implementation of studies as appropriate issues identified through hearings.

Listing of Witnesses at Hearing

November 14, 2002

Room 205 Ryan Office Building

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Witnesses:

• Rebecca Myers, LSW, National Association of Social Workers, Pennsylvania Chapter (NASW-PA)
• Joy Butts, Kensington Welfare Rights Union/Poor Peoples” Economic Human Rights Campaign
• Catherine Albisa, Esquire, Chair, Legal Strategy Committee, Poor Peoples’ Economic Human Rights Campaign & Program Coordinator for the Center for Economic and Social Rights. Testimony presented by Mary Bricker Jenkins, PhD, Chair, NASW-PA Social Policy Committee and Professor, Temple University, School of Social Administration
• Ruby Pyles, California, Pennsylvania
• Lisa Horowitz, California, Pennsylvania
• Jennifer Seidle, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
• Bernie Boscoe, Lehigh Valley
• Mona Counts, PhD, CRNP, FNAP, FAANP,  Elouise Ross Eberly Professor, School of Nursing, The Pennsylvania State University; and Clinical Director, Primary Health Policy Fellow for 2002
• David Bradley, PhD, Policy Analyst, Keystone Research Center
• Joanne Hessmiller, PhD, Assistant Professor, Maywood University, School of Social Work and board member, Lehigh Valley Council for Children and Adolescents