Three Ways to Take Action and Support HB 1276

Tell PA State House to Support HB 1276, Providing Tuition Waivers to Youth in Foster Care

We're thrilled to announce that Pennsylvania's House of Representatives has just introduced a critically important bill, Fostering Independence Through Education Act, HB 1276. This bill provides a tuition waiver for youth with experience in the foster care system, as well as additional resources and supports to ensure they will be successful in college.

With your help, we can get this crucial piece of legislation passed this year. Here are three ways you can take action and help get HB 1276 passed:

1. Make calls supporting HB 1276

Please call as many members of PA’s House Education Committee as you can TODAY and ask them to encourage Chairman Curtis Sonney to bring HB 1276 to vote in the committee.

When you call, say:

“Hi, my name is _______.

I am calling to ask you to support HB 1276, the Fostering Independence Through Education Act. Please encourage Chairman Curtis Sonney to bring this bill for a vote in the Education Committee, and please vote for the bill.

I believe youth in foster care should have an opportunity for higher education success and that HB 1276 will make a positive difference in their lives. Please support this bill by calling for a vote in the committee.

Thank you.”

PA House Education Committee Members

• Curtis Sonney (Chairman) - (717) 783-9087
• Barbara Gleim - (717) 772-2280
• Rosemary Brown - (717) 260-6171
• Jason Ortitay - (717) 787-1281
• Mike Tobash - (717) 260-6148
• Jesse Topper - (717) 787-7076
• Valerie Gaydos - (717) 787-6651
• Mark Gillen - (717) 787-8550
• David Hickernell - (717) 783-2076
• Mike Jones - (717) 783-8389
• Joshua Kail - (717) 260-6144
• Jerry Knowles - (717) 787-9029
• Michael Puskaric - (717) 260-6122
• Meghan Schroeder - (717) 705-7170
• Craig Staats - (717) 783-3154
• James Roebuck, Jr. - (717) 783-1000
• MaryLouise Isaacson - (717) 783-8098
• Patty Kim - (717) 783-9342
• Stephen McCarter - (717) 783-1079
• Dan Miller - (717) 783-1850
• Gerald Mullery - (717) 783-4893
• Ed Gainey - (717) 783-1017
• Carol Hill-Evans - (717) 787-7514
• Maureen Madden - (717) 787-5811
• Jared Solomon - (717) 787-4117

2. Email Committee Members

You can also email the Committee Chairman Curtis Sonney and ask him to bring HB 1276 to a vote. Click here to get started on your email.

Be sure to copy and paste this message:

Dear Rep. Sonney,

I am emailing to ask you to support HB 1276, the Fostering Independence Through Education Act. Please bring this bill for a vote in the Education Committee, and please vote for the bill.

I believe youth in foster care should have an opportunity for higher education success and that HB 1276 will make a positive difference in their lives. Please support this bill by calling for a vote in the committee. Thank you!

3. Rally on Social Media

Tell PA Representatives on the Committee to support this bill and urge the Committee Chairman, Curtis Sonney, to bring HB 1276 to vote.

Use these samples to create your own posts and tweets:

Facebook: I believe youth in foster care should have an opportunity for higher education success and that HB 1276 will make a positive difference in their lives. Please support HB 1276 and urge that it go to a vote in the House Education Committee.

Twitter: Youth in foster care deserve to go to and succeed in college. Please support HB 1276 and urge that it go to a vote in the House Education Committee. #HB1276 #educationmatters #fosteringhighered 

Click the names below to contact Committee members on social media.