My Appointment to Influential Appropriations Committee & Free Ice Skating Ticket Drawing!

Rep. Tarik Khan January 10, 2025

PA Representative Tarik Khan banner image

Dear Neighbor,

Two years ago, when I was sworn in for my first term, my mom was in the hospital battling cancer. I drove back to her hospital room that night, gave her my ceremonial gavel, and shared with her photos of that memorable day.

Image: Me and fellow rookie legislators taken on January 3, 2023, in the PA House chamber.

I never imagined how much we would have accomplished in that first term. Seven of my bills were signed into law, including legislation improving access to healthcare for children, police, firefighters and EMTs, and older adults, increasing access to affordable housing, protecting our right to free speech, and funding to improve safety in our community. I brought over $14 million of our tax dollars back to our community and also created a state task force dedicated to helping our veterans gain access to their benefits.

This week, I’m so grateful that my mom was able to be there with me and the rest of our family as I was sworn into my second term!

Image: My dad Zia, me, brother Joe, and mom Pat in the PA House chamber on Tuesday

Our Democratic majority will be committed to building on our accomplishments in our first term in the majority, including successfully increasing funding for Philadelphia public schools by over $300 million, and substantially improving property tax and rent relief for older adults and people with disabilities. The policies we will be fighting for include what matters most to our community like raising wages for families, working to lower costs, protecting and expanding access to public education, ensuring affordable healthcare, funding SEPTA, and increasing access to affordable housing and helping neighbors stay housed. On Tuesday, we also voted to re-elect the first woman and first Black woman Speaker of the House Representative Joanna McClinton!

Image: With Speaker McClinton, mom and dad on Tuesday in Harrisburg’s Forum Auditorium

This week, I also got incredible news for our community. I have been appointed to the Appropriations Committee! Appropriations is the most influential committee in the PA House of Representatives. This committee plays a critical role in shaping the state’s future because it helps control our state's purse strings– including voting on funding for schools, public transit, community projects, and programs like the popular Whole Home Repairs initiative.

Image: At Roxborough High during my first term. The Appropriations Committee will give me a platform to fight for funds for our community, like our public schools and public transit

My appointment to Appropriations also gives me the opportunity to fight for the investments our community needs, ensuring our Philly public schools are well-funded and that our working families have the support they deserve! And just like I brought home over $14 million of our tax dollars back to our community, I hope this appointment will help me bring millions of dollars more back to our neighborhoods in my second term!

Getting Down to Work in Harrisburg

Image: Testifying in the State Government Committee last session about my bipartisan bill prohibiting the misuse of AI in campaign advertisements

In addition to being appointed to the Appropriations Committee, I’m honored to have been appointed to serve on four other committees: the Health, Human Services, Agriculture & Rural Affairs, and Aging & Older Adult Services! I was honored to serve on these four committees in the last session.

Additionally, I’m proud to have been named Chairperson of the Subcommittee on Emerging Policies for Working People as part of the Majority Caucus’ Policy Committee. This subcommittee focuses on amplifying the voices of working families, holding public hearings across the state, and driving forward meaningful policy changes.

To stay up-to-date on the bills and issues I’m focusing on, visit my state legislation page. Together, we can ensure our community thrives!

Delivering nearly 4,000 lbs. of food to our neighbors

I’m thrilled to share that our Holiday Food Distribution event was a tremendous success! Thanks to the incredible support of our partners — Peace Islands, Giving Excess, and New Courtland — and the hard work of my phenomenal team, we were able to distribute almost 2 TONS of food to our neighbors in need (including nearly seven dozen holiday turkeys), in addition to toys and backpacks!

Image: Me with children outside of New Courtland on Henry Ave

Seeing our community come together during the holiday season was truly heartwarming. I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who participated, volunteered, or helped spread the word. Events like this remind me of the power of community and the importance of looking out for each another!

If you or someone you know could still use help with resources like SNAP, Medical Assistance programs, SEPTA Key cards, or LIHEAP applications (paying for heating costs), please don’t hesitate to reach out. My team is here to assist!

In my first term, my office helped over 7,000 neighbors access critical resources, like recovering unclaimed property from the state, assisting families facing eviction and finding food assistance. If there’s anything at all we can do for you or your family, please call us at (215) 482-8726.

Enter to Win a Wissahickon Skating Club Family Four Pack!

If you’re interested in ice skating, reply to this email and we will enter you into a random drawing for a family four pack to the Wissahickon Skating Club (WSC)!

Please include your name and phone number in order to have a chance to win! Public Skating sessions are Friday 8:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m. and Saturday 12:45 p.m.-2:15 p.m.

WSC is a community nonprofit located on the grounds of Springside Chestnut Hill Academy at 550 W. Willow Grove Ave., 19118.

PennDOT Norristown Job Fair on Saturday

Are you or someone you know looking for work? On Saturday, Jan. 11th, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., PennDOT is hosting a job fair at the Montgomery County Maintenance Facility at 2005 Swede Road, Norristown, PA 19401.

In the event of snow, this event will be moved to Saturday, Jan. 18th.

Please check the website for positions available listed within each county. If for any reason a person cannot complete an application on the website before the scheduled hiring event, staff with laptops will be available at all locations to help interested people navigate the electronic application system!

For more information, please call (610) 275-2368.

COMMUNITY UPDATES

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Jan. 8th: Thank you to everyone who made it possible for me to start my second term as a Pennsylvania State Representative!

Will be focused on raising wages for families, protecting and expanding access to public education, public transit and affordable healthcare!

Image: Me being sworn into office for the 2025-2026 session

Jan. 2nd: Thanks to our neighbors working to improve La Noce park in Wissahickon! Wissahickon Interested Citizens Association (WICA)

Will be working with Councilmember Jones and Senator Hughes to make this happen!!

Image: Screenshot from a video talking about the initial steps to upgrade La Noce Park!

Jan. 2nd: Thanks to SEPTA’s Chief Engineer Kate O’Connor and SEPTA’s Interim General Manager Scott Sauer for the tour of our new Wissahickon Transit Center on Ridge Ave. This will make it easier for people to get to work and travel and will help bring business into our community!

Image: Photo of me with the team in charge of the new WTC!

Jan. 1st: Roxborough showed up today at the Mummers! Saw a bunch of neighbors in the crowd today and had to get a photo with our former Captain Samantha Brown!

Image: With Captain Brown on Market St.

Dec. 29th: Mourning the loss of a great man, former President Jimmy Carter.

Image: Photo of President Jimmy Carter waiving as he walks down the steps of Air Force One

Dec. 29th: Thank you to my staff, twin Rep. Roni Green, friends, Peace Islands Institute, Sharing Excess and NewCourtland for a successful holiday turkey and toy distribution!

Nearly seven dozen families in our community were served and nearly a ton of food distributed!! Happy Holidays everyone!!

Images: Montage of photos with me with staff, volunteers, community members, toys and food

Dec. 17th: Thank you to all the volunteers who came out this weekend for Manayunk Meals & More! And a big thanks for Winnie’s Manayunk and North Light for all the work they do to help those in our community who need an assist!

Image: Me and volunteers at North Light Community Center and Winnie’s Manayunk’s Manayunk Meals & More event

Dec. 9th: Had an enjoyable weekend with our neighbors! Chestnut Hill Holiday Parade (featuring our Roxborough Ridge Runners & Venetian Club Mummers), Pearl Harbor Memorial at Gorgas Park led by Bruce Hoffman, and singing in the Holly Jolly Christmas show with the Roxborough Male Chorus.

Images: With Mike and Don in their convertible, with Rusty in his mummers outfit, with Bruce and the vets outside the War memorial at Gorgas, and with the men’s chorus at Leverington Church.

Dec. 9th: Proud to march on the picket line in solidarity with our phenomenal nurses and techs from Chestnut Hill Hospital fighting for fair wages and working conditions.

Images: Listening to nurse Marty on the picket line. Photo credit — Tommy Tucker, Chestnut Hill local.