State Rep. Bob Freeman, D-Northampton, was sworn in today at the state Capitol to begin his 18th two-year term representing the 136th Legislative District in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. The swearing in marks the 204th session of the General Assembly. Read more
HARRISBURG, Jan. 4 – A group of 10 House Democrats announced the introduction of changes to the Operating Rules of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives to reduce the impact of partisan politics, make sure ideas with broad public support get a fair hearing, and restore the people’s faith in government after the damage done by extremists in Washington, D.C., and Harrisburg. The People Before Politics plan was crafted with this central idea: lawmakers work for the people, not the other way around. It focuses on openness, transparency and citizen control of the legislative process. The People Before Politics plan includes the following proposals: Amendment 1 – The Voice of the People, sponsored by Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, D-Phila. This amendment would make sure each House member has an opportunity to speak at a designated time during the first full session day of the week on any topic, similar to how the U.S. House of Representatives allows members to speak. This change would end the requirement of “unanimous consent” so often abused by extremists to silence members and prevent legislative topics bottled up in committee from being heard by the people. Amendment 2 – Let the People See, sponsored by Rep. Jennifer O’Mara, D-Delaware . This amendment would restore the rule requiring a full 24 hours before final passage of any bill, including all bills amended in the House chamber or in committee, or sent over from the state Read more
EASTON, DEC. 23 - State Rep. Robert Freeman, D-Northampton, today announced two Pennsylvania Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program grants totaling $2.25 million to the city of Easton. The projects include: $1.2 million to Peron Development for a street parking garage at 185 S. 3 rd St. A 245-space parking garage is planned to be developed. $1 million for Lafayette College, Bushkill Campus for the redevelopment of the historic Rinek Cordage Company. The proposed project includes a new 15-acre mixed use redevelopment of several buildings. “The funding is crucial to the future redevelopment of the Easton area,” Freeman said. By constructing a parking garage and redeveloping a local historic warehouse we are bolstering Easton’s economy and improving our area.” Freeman acknowledged Gov. Tom Wolf’s commitment to community development and thanked him for the authorization of the funding. The Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program, from which this grant was awarded, is a commonwealth grant program overseen by the Office of the Budget to assist with regional cultural, economic, civic, and historical projects that improve a community’s economic growth by creating jobs. Read more
EASTON, Dec. 10- State Rep. Robert Freeman, D-Northampton, today announced state funding totaling $606,057 has been awarded to several local organizations to improve programs that support criminal justice and victims-of-abuse programs. The funding was approved by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency during the commission’s quarterly meeting Wednesday. "It's important to the residents of Northampton County that these critical investments are made," Freeman said. "These organizations provide critical services and resources to both our criminal justice system and to victims of abuse. Today's announcement shows that the financial support needed will be in place to ensure services are available and readily accessible." The grants awarded Wednesday in Northampton County include: Northampton County, $148,226 to fund adult probation services. Northampton County Executives, Victims Rights Project, $457,831 for support of the Northampton County STOP Violence Against Women Program. PCCD provides planning, coordination and technical assistance to the state’s criminal justice system and serves as a clearinghouse for state and federal grants to support criminal and juvenile justice efforts. Read more
State Rep. Robert Freeman announced today that $717,691 in funding has been allocated to the borough of Wilson to upgrade traffic signals at 23rd and Butler streets, including push buttons for pedestrians, new traffic signals, pedestrian signs and ADA ramps. Read more
Rep. Robert Freeman's 2021 Capitol Scenes calendar is available to download. Read more
As of this writing, there are approximately 750,000 Pennsylvania votes that need to be counted. That is more than 750,000 Pennsylvanians who lawfully casted their vote and deserve to be heard. Counting every citizen’s legal, timely vote is imperative. As workers securely make progress on tallying the results, we must be patient. This process may take several days, but the integrity and sanctity of the vote in our state must be maintained. Last Fall, in a bipartisan showing, the Pennsylvania General Assembly agreed to allow for mail-in ballots. Since then, House Democrats have made many efforts to help clarify any confusion about the process and give local election boards the tools needed to securely and expeditiously process votes cast by mail. Unfortunately, our Republican colleagues chose political gamesmanship over a genuine effort to ensure a smooth election. Their inaction failed to allow for the early processing of ballots received – as 32 other states permit-- and, in turn, why there is a delay in knowing the outcome of this election. The ambiguity in the law did not address their local official’s concerns; nor does it protect every Pennsylvanian’s constitutional right to vote and our obligation to make sure those votes are counted. Now, more than ever, we must ensure that we uphold the freedoms guaranteed in our state and nation’s constitution. In these unprecedented times, the voters must have the final say, not the candidates or Read more
Freeman announces $50K conservation grant for Easton pedestrian bridge study EASTON, Oct. 15 -- State Rep. Robert Freeman, D-Northampton, is announced today that the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has awarded a $50K conservation grant for an Easton pedestrian bridge study. Freeman said the city will prepare a study for the development of a pedestrian bridge over the Lehigh River in Easton. “The proposed Easton pedestrian bridge will provide an important and easily accessible link between Easton’s bustling downtown and scenic Scotts and Riverside parks with the trail head of the Delaware Canal State Park on the other side of the river,” Freeman said. “With this connection, it will facilitate the movement of people safely across the river removed from the vehicular traffic across the Third Street Bridge and make both the Delaware Canal State Park and downtown Easton easier for tourists and residents to access and explore.” The DCNR Recreation and Conservation grant program is funded with a variety of state and federal funding sources, including the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund (Key 93) which includes Key-Community and Key-Land Trust; the Environmental Stewardship Fund; the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund; Pennsylvania Trails fund (federal source); Pennsylvania Heritage Area Program; and the ATV Restricted Management Account Read more
Click to read Your Report by Rep. Robert Freeman Read more
Legislation sponsored by state Rep. Robert Freeman, D-Northampton, that would aid distressed municipalities in the Act 47 program struggling to achieve recovery objectives passed the House chamber today and now moves to the Senate for consideration. Read more
State Rep. Robert Freeman announced today that $223,399 has been awarded to his district through the COVID-19 Cultural and Museum Preservation Grant Program for cultural organizations and museums to offset lost revenue caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more
HARRISBURG, Sept. 9 – Two grants totaling $135,000 were awarded to two historical sites in downtown Easton, state Rep. Robert Freeman, D-Northampton, announced today. The first grant ($100,000) will help the Third Street Alliance for Women and Children make critical masonry repairs at its historic Simon Mansion and adjoining Bixler-Ward House locations. The second grant ($35,000) will help the Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society replace the roof at the 1753 Bachmann Publick House. Both grants come from the Keystone Historic Preservation Program. “These grants will provide needed funding for two significant historic structures in our community,” Freeman said. “Not only will it help preserve historic buildings, it will also ensure the organizations serving out of those locations will be able to continue providing their important programs and services for future generations.” Keystone Historic Preservation grants support projects that identify, preserve, promote and protect historic resources in Pennsylvania. Funding also supports municipal planning that focuses on historic resources or may be used to meet building or community specific planning goals, and construction activities at resources listed in or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. Additional information about the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission – the Read more
HARRISBURG, Aug. 17 – State grants totaling $297,158 have been awarded for three local water system upgrades, state Rep. Robert Freeman, D-Northampton, announced today. The three grants are from the PA Small Water and Sewer program and were all approved by the Commonwealth Financing Authority. They are: $146,871 to Glendon Borough to make stormwater improvements along Berger Road. $96,737 to Hellertown Borough to purchase an emergency generator for the Division Street Well so the pump can still function in a power outage. $53,550 to Wilson Borough to upgrade sewer manholes throughout the borough. “Investing in our water and sewer systems ensures clean water is available to everyone in our communities,” Freeman said. “This funding when added to the available funds from the three boroughs will fully fund all of these critical projects. This will make life easier for residents and help protect our local infrastructure.” More information about PA Small Water and Sewer grants is available here . Read more
State Rep. Robert Freeman, D-Northampton, today announced a total of $398,000 in funding for housing programs has been awarded to three community development initiatives in his district via the Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement fund. Read more
EASTON, Aug. 7-- State Rep. Robert Freeman announced today that $114,870 in federal funding has been allocated to two area schools in the Easton area to assist with implementing public health and safety plans. Read more
State Rep. Robert Freeman, D-Northampton, today announced that three local colleges and universities were awarded $694,780 to aid in creating safe and healthy learning environments amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more
HARRISBURG, July 14 – State Rep. Robert Freeman, D-Northampton, today announced $300,000 in state funding has been awarded to Wilson Borough from the Commonwealth Finance Authority. The funds will be used to replace the Lehigh Drive Bridge, which is deteriorating rapidly, with a concrete box culvert. “I’m always pleased when we can secure critical funding for needed projects in our local communities,” Freeman said. “This funding will provide a critical improvement to the Lehigh Drive Bridge and give motorists and pedestrians a sense of safety when they cross it.” Freeman added the grant comes through the state's Multimodal Transportation Fund , which encourages economic development and ensures safe and reliable transportation is available to Pennsylvania residents. It is part of a package of $30.2 million in grants awarded to fund 27 projects in 23 counties statewide. More information about the grant and program is available here . Read more
HARRISBURG, July 14 – The Easton Area Joint Sewer Authority today was awarded a $1.74 million state grant, announced Rep. Robert Freeman. Read more
HARRISBURG, July 9 – Responding to concerns from residents about the proliferation of fireworks being discharged beyond the Independence Day holiday, state Rep. Robert Freeman introduced legislation this week that would give municipalities more authority to regulate the use of fireworks and would increase penalties for violating those regulations. Read more
Renters and homeowners who were financially impacted by the economic slowdown related to the coronavirus pandemic will be able to access applications for rent and mortgage relief beginning Monday, June 29. At that time, applications will be accessible from a red banner on the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency’s website at www.PHFA.org . Homeowners who became unemployed after March 1 or who suffered at least a 30 percent reduction in annual income due to reduced work hours and wages related to COVID-19 may be eligible for financial assistance to help with missed mortgage payments. To qualify for the Pandemic Mortgage Assistance Program, the applicant must be an owner-occupant of their residence, the dwelling must consist of one or two separate units, the mortgage must be at least 30 days delinquent, and the applicant-homeowner’s annual household income must not exceed the Area Median Income for their county of residence adjusted for the number of people in their home. For renters to be eligible for financial assistance under the CARES Rent Relief Program, they will need to document at least a 30 percent reduction in annual income since March 1 related to COVID-19, or they must have become unemployed after March 1. If unemployed, they must have filed for Unemployment Compensation. Their household income cannot exceed the Area Median Income for their county of residence adjusted for the number of people in their home. For more information Read more
Please use the form below to sign up for email updates. By completing this form you are acknowledging your request to receive periodic email updates.
By completing this form, you are verifying your request to opt in for email updates.
Thank you. Your email signup has been sent. You should start getting emails within 24 hours.
Please use the form below to email Rep. Robert L. Freeman.
Thank you. Your feedback has been sent.
215 Northampton St.Easton, PA 18042
P*: (610) 253-5543
Hours of Operation - 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Monday through Friday
Hellertown Borough Hall685 Main St.Hellertown, PA 18055
Hours of Operation - 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
first Thursday of the month
207 K. Leroy Irvis Office Bldg.PO Box 202136 Harrisburg, PA 17120-2136
P*: (717) 783-3815