Budget update, July Record Clearing Clinics & more inside

Rep. Darisha Parker July 16, 2025 | 10:10 AM

PA Representative Darisha Parker banner image

Dear Megan,

I hope you enjoyed your holiday; unfortunately, it wasn’t a good one for America. The Big Bad Bill was signed into law. As aptly stated by Jordan Harris, the PA House Majority chair of the Appropriations Committee:

“This bill is a direct attack on the health and well-being of Pennsylvanians. It strips health care from working families, risks food insecurity, threatens to close hospitals and clinics, and shifts crushing costs onto our communities -- all to hand out tax breaks to billionaires. I know the state budget can’t absorb the damage this bill would cause. Lives will be at risk, and we cannot afford to sit silently while people’s health is treated like a bargaining chip.”

The passage of the Big Bad Bill complicates our work on the state budget. We are now two weeks late in passing it, making sure it includes increases to education funding, funding our public transit agencies like SEPTA which have a huge impact on our state’s economy, and other important priorities.

Now, there is also a massive defecit from federal government funding that the state cannot afford to absorb. We go back to Harrisburg next week and I hope I can update you with positive news of a great budget that works for us all.

Sincerely,

Thanks to Charisma Pressley (Philly Aquatics) for presenting me with a Kente cloth bag. I’m humbled and honored to receive this amazing gift.

We both were meeting at Steele School with families affected by the tragic explosion in our community.

Please continue to keep the familes in your prayers and thoughts as we continue to investigate the cause of the explosion.

I chatted with many workers of AFSCME District Council 33 and stood in solidarity with them in our neighborhood. The strike lasted a week and there’s currently a tentative agreement. The strike maybe over however we have to wait until it’s ratified by its members.

Glad to be out in support of the 49^th Ward! We had a great time with food and neighbors at Holy Trinity Bethlehem Presbyterian Church.

I hope you can attend an important informational session with leaders from the School District of Philadelphia about their facilities planning process and their timeline. You’ll have the opportunity to provide your input on public education buildings and facilities in our community.

The next meeting closest to you is on Thursday, July 24, Edward T. Steel School, 4301 Wayne Ave. – from 3:30 p.m. – 7 p.m.

If you can’t make that meeting, there are similar sessions across the city for the next three weeks, including Tuesdays at the School District headquarters on North Broad St., in addition to two virtual meetings that you are also welcome to attend.

Click here for more information.

This summer flew by! It’s almost time for Back-to-School! Check out Philly’s Back-to-School Bus Tour! There will be free backpacks, enrollment support, helpful back-to-school tips and lots of fun games!

The Office of Reentry Partnerships and Uplift Solutions are sponsoring Record Clearing Clinics in the month of July:

July 18^th (11 a.m. – 1 p.m.) - 2221 W. Venango Street
July 25^th - (11 a.m. – 2 p.m.) - 2221 W. Venango Street
July 28^th - (11 a.m. – 1 p.m.)- 1425 Arch Street, 1^st Floor

If you are interested in learning about Record Clearing, register here: bit.ly/3BpZuqQ.

Young people can get free legal help with the Youth Justice Project

Through the Youth Justice Project, young people ages 16-25 can get connected to lawyers for free counsel. This can include support with record expungement, child custody, public benefits like SNAP, debt and loans, and housing issues. Call 484-267-5740 or email YJPHotline@clsphila.org to learn more about intake and eligibility.

Are you prepared for any emergency?

Request a free smoke detector
Use this form from the PA Emergency Management Agency to request a free smoke detector from the fire department.

Make sure Emergency Alerts are turned “on”

As we see more frequent and intense weather events, the PA Emergency Management Agency is reminding residents to check that their phones are prepared for emergency alerts. Wireless Emergency Alerts, aka WEAs, are the loud alerts that come to your phone in an emergency. These alerts could accidentally be turned off on your personal device, so make sure they are turned on!

Apply today for state government grants for Agricultural, Environmental, Public Safety, Redevelopment, Transportation & more!

Contact my office if you need assistance or a letter of support!

If you used SNAP benefits to purchase food that was lost in a power outage, flood or fire, you can ask for replacement SNAP benefits to get new food. The replacement affidavit form saying how much food you lost can be completed at www.dhs.pa.gov/SNAP or at the local CAO.