Philadelphia House Delegation

Philadelphia House Delegation praises approval of increase in public transit funding

Today, members of the Philadelphia House Delegation were an integral part of the state House of Representatives’ approval of a proposed increase in recurring funds for public transportation in Pennsylvania. Read more

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Bullock applauds more than $2M in state grants to improve safety in Philadelphia schools

(Feb 27, 2020) Philadelphia County Delegation

HARRISBURG, Feb. 27 – In her ongoing effort to ensure safety in schools, state Rep. Donna Bullock, a member of the School Safety and Security Committee, today applauded over $2 million in state grants to support strengthening safety and security provisions in classrooms across Philadelphia. Bullock, D-Phila., said the funding was made available through the Committee, a subsidiary of Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency. “In the second year of this grant program, the statewide funding demand again far outstripped the available resources. Each school district received a minimum grant amount, and competitive grants were awarded to public school entities and community violence reduction partners,” Bullock said. “I want to thank all the members of the SSSC and the staff at the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency for their diligent work throughout this grant process, as well as our Appropriations Committee staff for their support.” The grant money is a part of the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency’s School Safety and Security Committee approval of $53.7 million in school safety and security grants to 524 school entities throughout the commonwealth. Read more

Rep. Kinsey to welcome Gov. Wolf to Northwest Philadelphia Friday

(Feb 27, 2020) Philadelphia County Delegation

Rep. Kinsey to welcome Gov. Wolf to Northwest Philadelphia Friday PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 27 – State Rep. Stephen Kinsey, D-Phila., will host Gov. Tom Wolf on a tour of the 201 st Legislative District to discuss funding measures for gun violence prevention. The event will take place from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28 with Parkway Northwest High School, 6200 Crittenden St., 19138 , as the starting location. Wolf’s visit is part of Kinsey’s recently unveiled initiative, Step Up, Stand Up, to combat gun violence across Northwest Philadelphia. Wolf gave his budget address earlier this month, in which he proposed allocating $6 million across the commonwealth and $4 million in Philadelphia for anti-gun violence efforts. Kinsey, chair of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus, and PLBC members, led efforts to lobby for the funding. The media is invited to attend. Read more

More than 1,300 participate in Cephas’ telephone town hall to address gun violence, other critical issues facing Philadelphia

(Feb 21, 2020) Philadelphia County Delegation

PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 21 – Amid recent shootings in Philadelphia, more than 1,300 people took part in state Rep. Morgan Cephas’ telephone town hall meeting on Tuesday to discuss the issue of gun violence as well as other critical issues facing their neighborhoods. “We can’t let ourselves become numb and simply accept deadly shootings like the one that just happened last month on 54 th Street,” said Cephas. “However, finding a viable solution will take a multi-pronged approach that must involve input from the community. This telephone town hall is just another way I’m working to make sure our middle neighborhoods are part of the conversation.” As part of her effort to end this public health crisis, Cephas talked about the importance of passing commonsense gun safety legislation, like universal backgrounds checks, as well as investing in small businesses to create local jobs while ensuring workforce training is available to help fill those open positions. Cephas also fielded questions about mental health and affordable housing, while pinpointing concerns that participants wanted to see addressed in the 2020-21 state budget. “As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, I’ve been in Harrisburg this week to begin a series of hearings to ensure we create a state budget plan that works for all Pennsylvanians,” Cephas explained. “From reducing crime and enacting anti-gun violence Read more

Kenyatta co-hosts bipartisan public hearing on combatting mental health issues among youth

(Feb 13, 2020) Philadelphia County Delegation

WASHINGTON CROSSING, Feb. 13 – Today, longtime mental health advocate state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, D-Phila., co-hosted a public hearing with Rep. Wendi Thomas, R- Bucks, at the Washington Crossing United Methodist Church to discuss solutions for youth struggling with mental health. “I am thrilled to have been a part of this discussion that transcends partisanship because as public servants, we are all obligated to ensure our residents are physically, emotionally and mentally well,” Kenyatta said. “Mental health has always been a pressing and a coincidingly stigmatized issue in our society; I have been a longtime advocate for breaking those stigmas and promoting comprehensive solutions to ensure the well-being of our children.” Thomas concurred with her Democratic House colleague’s praises of the bipartisan cohesion and pointed out that mental health also doesn’t discriminate. “Mental health is an issue that does not discriminate. It affects all ages, races, genders and classes. Chances are that each of us knows an individual who has struggled with mental health issues, and we all hope that those close to us would be able to get the necessary assistance in times of desperation. Unfortunately, as many as 60% of students do not receive the treatment they need due to stigma and lack of access to services,” said Thomas, adding, “It is so encouraging to see, not only so many legislators attend our Read more

Kinsey to host public safety listening tour Tuesday

(Feb 13, 2020) Philadelphia County Delegation

PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 13 – Seeking public input on curbing gun violence in communities across Northwest Philadelphia, state Rep. Stephen Kinsey, D-Phila, will host a public safety listening tour on Tuesday, Feb. 18. The listening tour will take place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at The First Presbyterian Church in Germantown, 35 West Chelten Ave., 19144. The public and media are invited to attend. Kinsey’s public safety listening tour is part of the first installment of his newly launched anti-gun violence campaign -- Step Up, Stand Up -- an initiative to tackle the root causes of gun violence through community cohesion between residents, city, state and federal elected officials, cooperation with law enforcement, and bolstering economic opportunity across Northwest Philadelphia. Read more

McClinton, Kinsey to introduce legislation to increase opportunities for pardons in Pennsylvania

(Feb 06, 2020) Philadelphia County Delegation

HARRISBURG, Jan. 30 – State Rep. Joanna McClinton, D-Phila./Delaware, today announced that she and Rep. Stephen Kinsey, D-Phila., will soon introduce legislation to increase pardon opportunities for individuals currently serving a sentence of life in prison. House Bill 2262 would do away with the requirement for a unanimous vote by the state Board of Pardons, and instead, replace it with a required simple majority vote. This vote is needed in order to recommend a pardon or commutation of a sentence to the governor for final approval. “Criminal justice reform is front and center on the minds of legislators in Harrisburg and people all across the commonwealth,” McClinton said. “One way we can truly seek reform is to offer hope to persons who have served decades in prison and no longer pose a threat to their communities. By lowering the threshold to a three-fifths vote of the pardons board to recommend pardon or commutation to the governor, Pennsylvania can show that it is truly leading by example when it comes to reforming our criminal justice system.” “In 1995, the Pennsylvania Constitution was amended to require a unanimous vote by the pardons board. I believe we’ve come a long way in understanding that we must do more in order to provide true opportunities for rehabilitated offenders to be pardoned or have their sentences commuted,” Kinsey said. “Ultimately, the final decision will still lay with Read more

Kinsey applauds Wolf’s budget provisions

(Feb 05, 2020) Philadelphia County Delegation

PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 5 – State Rep. Stephen Kinsey, D-Phila., applauded the 2020-21 state budget proposal outlined Tuesday by Gov. Tom Wolf. “Governor Wolf’s proposal is ambitious and is exactly what’s needed to lay the foundation that poises Pennsylvania to be a better, more equitable commonwealth,” said Kinsey, who serves as subcommittee chairman on education in the House Appropriations Committee. “My top committee duty will be to work relentlessly to ensure that these proposals become concrete and implemented.” Wolf’s budget proposal includes heavy investment in public schools and early childhood education, as well as new workforce initiatives to prepare more workers for in-demand jobs. Wolf proposed a new scholarship program to help students in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education avoid crushing student debt. “Student loan debt bounds college students to a life of misery and potential financial ruin,” Kinsey said. “I’m thrilled for these provisions that would not just provide financial relief for graduates, but also address every academic stage in the lives of young Pennsylvanians to prepare them for bright futures.” Reiterating his strong commitment to keeping Pennsylvanians safe, Wolf proposed additional measures to protect vulnerable populations and renewed his call for legislators to pass measures to reduce gun violence, including a “red flag” law and Read more

Philadelphia Delegation lauds Wolf’s 2020-21 state budget proposal

(Feb 04, 2020) Philadelphia County Delegation

HARRISBURG, Feb. 4 – The House Democratic Philadelphia Delegation today lauded Gov. Tom Wolf’s 2020-21 budget proposal for including many of the priorities they identified as important to improving the quality of life for Philadelphians and for people across Pennsylvania, according to Delegation Chairman Rep. Jason Dawkins, D-Phila. Wolf outlined his proposal before a joint session of the General Assembly this morning. Led by Dawkins, members of the Philadelphia Delegation met with the governor earlier in the year to stress their budget priorities, including state funding to rid Philadelphia schools of toxins and fix crumbling infrastructure; funding to reduce waiting lists and provide more support for seniors, people living in poverty and those with disabilities; raising the minimum wage to a living wage; creating good jobs with an education plan to provide the skills to fill them; and addressing poverty and gun violence as a public health crisis. “The Philadelphia Delegation is grateful for Governor Wolf’s vision for the state in this, his sixth budget plan,” Dawkins said. “His proposals are people-focused and seek to provide more opportunities for everyone, not just the privileged few. We will be a loud voice in making sure they are included this year.” Dawkins said the governor’s budget proposal includes $1.1 billion to ensure students, teachers and staff can learn and work in classrooms that aren’t Read more