We passed some significant bills in the House this week! I’m proud to say that one of them was my House Bill 1851, which would expand the role midwives can serve during delivery.

We know all too well that not every birth has a happy ending. Right now, state laws prevent midwives from signing fetal death certificates, instead passing midwife-attended stillbirths or deaths during delivery on to the county coroner. If H.B. 1851 becomes law, families who have these tragic experiences while under the care of a midwife will be able to move on in their grief without waiting for the coroner to finalize paperwork.

This bill is part of the PA Black Maternal Health Caucus’s MOMNIBUS package supporting the wellbeing of birthing mothers – while we can’t use legislation to prevent every loss, we can make processes like this easier on families. I am proud to say it passed by unanimous, bipartisan vote, and I look forward to seeing it considered by the state Senate.

I hope you and your family have a wonderful weekend.

In service,

In addition to passing my H.B. 1851, the House this week passed significant legislation putting people first. Here’s a quick recap:

• H.B. 2189 to raise the statewide minimum wage to $15/per hour by 2029 and provide for cost-of-living increases in future years.
• H.B. 200 to establish paid leave under the Family Care Act. This bill would help eligible workers take up to 12 weeks off for major life events like having a child, medical treatment and recovery, and caring for family.
• H.B. 1800 to protect Marriage Equality. This bill would update Pennsylvania’s legal definition of marriage from a civil contract between a man and a woman to a civil contract between two people.
• H.B. 1834, which would direct the Public Utility Commission to establish regulations for commercial data centers in PA – so that they won’t degrade our electric services or raise costs for you.

All of these bills have been sent to the state Senate for consideration.

On Monday, we celebrated the Crown Act becoming law in Pennsylvania with a variety of events and a signing ceremony with Governor Josh Shapiro. I am still so proud of my friends Rep. La’Tasha D. Mayes and Speaker Joanna McClinton for making this a reality. I will never get tired of celebrating this achievement, for them and for every Black resident of our great Commonwealth!

As a member of the Governor’s Advisory Commission on Women, I am grateful for the time he and First Lady Lori Shapiro spent with us this week to discuss women’s needs and priorities for state policy. We’re dedicated to ensuring women’s voices are reflected and that you’re supported at every stage of life.

According to the US Dept. of Labor, in 2023, women in Pennsylvania were paid an average of 80.9% of what men were paid. The pay gap leads to less income for women to support families, higher rates of women in poverty, and less money saved for retirement than their male colleagues.

This week we rallied in support of equal pay for all and for policies in PA that would help end the wage gap.

This week, I was able to celebrate a House milestone with my colleagues. There is currently a historic high of 65 female members in the PA House of Representatives!

In 1922, the first eight women were elected in the House, and now, 104 years later, we’re at the highest to date with the first female Speaker of the House- what an incredible achievement!

I was pleasantly surprised to see the administration and government relations team from my alma mater St. Joseph’s University at the State Capitol this week.

President Cheryl McConnell, Sr. Vice President, External Affairs and Governmental Relations, Joseph Kender and Assistant VP for Government and Community Relations Wadell Ridley.

I am always happy to see familiar faces in Harrisburg.  #thehawkwillneverdie

We need volunteers to help hand out food to the community at Michelle Park tomorrow! No sign up is needed. Just show up at the start of the event, 12:00 p.m., and let us know you’re on hand to assist.

Thank you!

Our Upper Darby High School USBands Pennsylvania State Champions visited the State Capitol this week! This fantastic group won the championship in the 5A Competing Class for the FIFTH consecutive year this year.

It was incredible hosting these students and I cannot wait to cheer them on again next year! Thank you for spending the day with me.

I was also thrilled to host the students of Vision Academy Charter School this week! Thank you for coming out to the Capitol and for being curious, engaged students.

I loved talking education and community member well-being with representatives the Delaware County Intermediate Unit. We discussed the importance of funding for their programs, including expansive mental health services and continued funding for the services that are essential for the children and families in our school districts across Delaware County.

UDAEF is looking for thoughtful, passionate leaders to help guide what comes next for their foundation. Serving on the board would allow you to impact the future of arts and education in our community, support programs that change lives, and be part of a collaborative, mission-driven leadership team. To learn more, check out their website here.

TOMORROW! March 28 at 12:00 p.m.

Free Food Giveaway hosted by 5th District Councilman Myron McNeely

Michelle Park

Springton & Sanford Rd., Upper Darby

Sunday, May 3 from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.

DCHD Score for Wellness

WSFS Sports Complex

2485 Seaport Drive, Chester, PA 19013

Pennsylvania State Capitol

25-A East Wing
Harrisburg, PA 17120
(717) 783-4907

District Office

1500 Garrett Rd.
Upper Darby, PA 19082
(610) 259-7016

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