September is Recovery Month, a celebration of the power and hope of recovery. Millions of Americans battle addiction each year. Yet many don’t realize, addiction is a family disease. It affects everyone close to it, not just the individual with the substance use disorder. Sustained recovery from a substance use disorder requires everyone who has been impacted- family, friends, loved ones- to be part of the healing process and ongoing management of recovery.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a public health campaign during October every year to increase awareness and to raise funds for researching the cause, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and cure of the disease. Breast cancer is one of the most common kinds of cancer in women; unfortunately, almost 1 in 8 women in the US will get breast cancer, but most women can survive if it is found and treated early.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a time for advocates, survivors and supporters to raise awareness and education about the prevalence of domestic violence in the United States and how everyone can help address the issue. It’s likely everyone knows someone who has been impacted by domestic violence, making it important for everyone to know how to help those in need and reduce stigma about the issue.

April 22nd is Earth Day, a global celebration of our planet. Our planet is the foundation of life as we know it- we should all do our part to care for the earth and the tremendous natural resources it provides. Let’s all take steps to make this planet a better place and invest in a healthy future. Whether that’s investing money, time, or encouraging others to get involved, there’s many ways to take action and ensure a sustainable future for the environment and all living things that rely on it.

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The #MeToo Movement has shown us that sexual harassment in the workplace is far more expansive and complex than many of us realized. We are working with the Governor and the House to craft a comprehensive package that studies sexual harassment, prevents it in the future, and protects its victims in the meantime.

National Fair Housing Month celebrates the passage of the Fair Housing Act, a national law that prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental and financing of housing based on race, color, national origin, religion, and gender. The Act was passed in in 1968 and amended in 1988 to include protections for people with disabilities and families with children.

March is Women’s History Month and we will be celebrating women from all walks of life throughout the month. We will be highlighting famous female Pennsylvanians who made important contributions to our state and our history, women from PA who are responsible for significant “firsts” for our commonwealth and women who are currently making big impacts in our communities.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Mental health is an issue that can touch anyone’s life. Whether you yourself have struggled with mental health, or know a friend, family member or loved one who has needed support, it’s clear that mental health services are an integral part of overall health and wellness. 

Declared by Congress in 1999, May was selected National Military Appreciation Month as a month-long observance honoring the sacrifices of the United States Armed Forces. Pennsylvania has a long and proud military history. Today, we are home to nearly one million veterans and we have a 19,000-member Pennsylvania National Guard.

The veterans of the United States are a representation of the best of our country. To show our thanks for all that they give, we celebrate National Veterans and Military Families Month every year during the month of November. During this time, we recognize veterans, military families, and those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service.

Redistricting is the process by which the boundaries of elective districts are periodically redrawn to maintain equal representation on the basis of population. Article 1, Section 2, of the United States Constitution requires that a Census be taken every 10 years for the purpose of apportioning the United States House of Representatives. 

The integrity of our entire system of government depends on the integrity of our elections. The process for electing our public officials has to be fair, accessible and dependable. No matter where you live or what party you’re registered with, you should have unbridled access to the ballot box.

Portraits of PA is a rotating photo gallery produced by the PA Senate Democrats. We aim to connect with Pennsylvanians on a deeper level to explore issues that impact their daily lives. These are your neighbors, your family, your friends, your community. By bringing these issues to life, and sharing these stories, we hope to create real, meaningful and lasting change.

PA Senate Democrats, PA Treasurer Joe Torsella, and tax & financial specialists traveled the state to help you find money that you’re entitled to. Experts were on hand to help with tax information, heating assistance, college savings, unclaimed property and much more! We are so happy to have been able to help so many people around the state!

When we heard that healthcare for Pennsylvanians was under threat, we quickly organized a statewide ACA mobile enrollment tour and traveled the state to spread awareness and increase enrollment. We were able to meet with, educate and enroll hundreds of folks. It was an amazing opportunity to meet with people in many different walks of life to hear their stories, learn what healthcare means to them, and ultimately, make sure they were covered for 2018.

On June 19, 1865, Gordon Granger, a Union general, arrived in Galveston, Texas, to inform enslaved African Americans of their freedom and that the Civil War had ended. General Granger’s announcement put into effect the Emancipation Proclamation, which had been issued more than two and a half years earlier, on Jan. 1, 1863, by President Abraham Lincoln. The holiday is also called “Juneteenth Independence Day,” “Freedom Day” or “Emancipation Day.”