Fiedler, Pisciottano Right to Organize legislation passes House

(May 03, 2023)

HARRISBURG, May 3 – Today, H.B. 950 , introduced by state Reps. Elizabeth Fiedler, D-Phila., and Nick Pisciottano, D-Allegheny, which would enshrine Pennsylvania workers’ right to organize in the state constitution passed the Pennsylvania House and now heads to the PA Senate for consideration. Currently, the Pennsylvania Constitution does not guarantee workers the right to organize and collectively bargain. This legislation proposes to amend Article I of the Pennsylvania Constitution to enshrine these rights for all workers in Pennsylvania. Additionally, the bill would prohibit any other laws that interfere with or diminish collective bargaining rights. Fiedler said that the passage of H.B. 950 by the House is a step in the right direction for Pennsylvania workers and expressed gratitude to her House colleagues who voted for the bill. “Workers fuel our economy. They are the mothers, fathers, aunts and uncles of our commonwealth. Workers deserve to be treated with respect and that’s exactly the goal of this legislation,” Fiedler said. “I am grateful to all my colleagues in the House who voted for the bill, and I now call on the Senate to show their support for Pennsylvania’s workers and move this amendment forward.” Pisciottano said it’s important everything possible be done to protect and support workers’ right to organize. Read more

 

Pa. House passes bills strengthening worker protections

(May 03, 2023)

HARRISBURG, May 3 – The Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed five pieces of legislation this week that will strengthen worker protections and make the state a safer place to work. “It is time we put working families first. These bills we passed — with bipartisan support, I might add — are a step in that direction,” said House Labor and Industry Committee Majority Chairman Jason Dawkins, D-Phila. “For far too long, the Labor and Industry Committee was concerned with corporate interests and putting employers over employees. And for as long as I am chair of this committee, legislation that benefits workers and invests in good jobs and working families will be a priority.” The Pennsylvania House Labor and Industry Committee reported all five bills out of committee before they were approved by the full House. The legislation is as follows below: H.B. 299 ; which would create the Public Employees Occupational Safety and Health Act to establish workplace safety standards for public sector employees that are consistent with federal OSHA requirements. H.B. 413 ; which would increase specifications for classifying employees as independent contractors in the construction industry. H.B. 760 ; which would allow workers' compensation claimants to receive benefits via direct deposit. H.B. 930 ; which would ensure that Read more

 

Pa. House panel approves bills to expand worker protections

(Apr 25, 2023)

At the meeting’s start, Mr. Dawkins said the committee will give priority to bills that safeguard the rights, health and safety of workers. He said enacting a $15-an-hour minimum hourly wage is part of that agenda. Read more

 

Workforce Development, Infrastructure, and Housing Funding Opportunities

(Apr 13, 2023)

STATE PROGRAMS NOW OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS: Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry: DEI in the Building and Construction Trades Grant (Funding Source: General Fund) Who May Apply : Organizations that serve as sponsors or intermediaries of Registered Apprenticeship and/or Pre-Apprenticeship in the building and construction trades. Use : To develop diverse talent pipelines and reach underrepresented populations within the building and construction trades. Funds : $1 million in total program funding. Application Deadline : April 26, 2023 More Information : Click on https://www.dli.pa.gov/Businesses/Workforce-Development/grants/Pages/default.aspx . Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT): Public-Private Partnerships (P3) Program (Funding Source: State, Federal, & Private Funding) Who May Apply : Private companies. Use : To develop innovative ways to deliver transportation projects across a variety of modes including roads, bridges, rail, aviation, and ports. Funds : Varies by award. Application Deadline : April 30, 2023 More Information : Click on https://www.penndot.pa.gov/ProjectAndPrograms/p3forpa/Pages/default.aspx . Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry: Youth Reentry Grant (Funding Source: General Fund) Who May Apply : Read more

 

Dawkins named Labor and Industry Committee chairman

(Mar 10, 2023)

HARRISBURG, March 10 – State Rep. Jason Dawkins, D-Phila., said he is honored and grateful to accept the position of chair of the Pennsylvania House Labor and Industry Committee. With the chairmanship comes responsibility for setting the committee’s schedule and choosing what legislation the committee will consider. “As chairman, I am ready to get busy doing the people’s business,” Dawkins said. “We will fight for workers’ rights and consider legislation that ensures the workers of Pennsylvania get the compensation, benefits and protections they are entitled to and deserve.” The Labor and Industry Committee’s role is to review legislation that tackles issues such as the state’s minimum wage, unemployment benefits and compensation, construction codes and workplace health and safety. The committee oversees the Department of Labor and Industry, State Civil Service Commission, Labor Relations Board, Unemployment Compensation Appeals Board of Review, Industrial Board, Workers’ Compensation Appeal Board and the Office for the Deaf and Hearing Impaired. Democratic members of the Labor and Industry Committee are Reps. Morgan Cephas, D-Phila.; David Delloso, D-Delaware; Kyle Donahue, D-Lackawanna; Roni Green, D-Phila.; Jim Haddock, D-Lackawanna; Sara Innamorato, D-Allegheny; Jeanne McNeill, D-Lehigh; Jennifer O’Mara, D-Delaware; Nick Pisciottano, D-Allegheny; Mark Rozzi, D-Berks; and Regina Read more

 

Dawkins applauds $500K grant for Frankford Community Development Corp.

(Dec 20, 2022)

PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 20 – State Rep. Jason Dawkins, D-Phila., applauded today Gov. Tom Wolf and the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development’s decision to award $500,000 through the Keystone Communities Program to the Frankford Community Development Corporation for site preparation activities at 5113-17, 5119 and 5129-35 Frankford Ave. Grant funds through the Keystone Communities Program are designed to foster relationships between the public and private sectors that work to support local initiatives that grow and support neighborhoods and communities. “The Frankford Community Development Corporation is a great partner to the residents of the district,” Dawkins said. “These mixed-use developments will go a long way toward promoting and improving quality of life in the district. I’m glad to see the state investing in our community in this way.” Read more

 

Dawkins Expresses Concern and Disappointment over Krasner Impeachment

(Nov 18, 2022)

Pa. state Rep. Jason Dawkins points out that DA Larry Krasner was twice elected by the people of Philadelphia to serve as their District Attorney and says these efforts go against the will and votes of the people he represents. Read more

 

Philadelphia Commissioners find over 3,400 flawed mail/absentee ballots

(Nov 07, 2022)

This weekend, the Philadelphia Commissioners announced that they’ve found over 3,400 mail-in and absentee ballots that are either missing the secrecy envelope, missing a signature, missing a date, or have a potentially incorrect date on the return envelope. The commissioners have provided a list of voters who returned ballots that may not be able to be counted for the above reasons. You can view the list at the links below: No signature No date Potentially incorrect date Not enclosed in a secrecy envelope The city commissioners strongly advise that if you see your name on one of these lists, you request a replacement ballot at the County Board of Elections office in City Hall Room 140 on Monday, November 7th from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm; or on Election Day from 7:30 am – 7:30 pm to avoid the potential rejection of their ballot. Voters unable to travel to the Board’s office due to a disability may authorize a designated agent to pick up a replacement ballot and/or return a completed ballot using the Designated Agent Form . For the full press release from the city commissioners, click here . Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 8, and you can find your polling place here . Read more

 

Dawkins announces additional $1.5 million in funding for local project

(Nov 01, 2022)

PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 1 – State Rep. Jason Dawkins, D-Phila., announced today that an additional $1.5 million in Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program grant funds will be going to Frankford Community Development Corporation for Frankford Transportation Center - Transit Oriented Development. This project will be a mixed-use development located at 5129-35 Frankford Ave., 5119 Frankford Ave. and 5113-17 Frankford Ave., and will consist of a supermarket, a municipal health center and mixed income housing. “I am pleased to see the state continue to invest money into our community and to assist the amazing people at the Frankford CDC with their ongoing work on this project,” Dawkins said. “I believe they have an immense positive impact on the area.” SEPTA has also expressed interest in being included in future Transit Oriented Development. The funds will go toward construction. Read more

 

Dawkins condemns GOP for hypocrisy in Philly DA probe

(Oct 27, 2022)

HARRISBURG, Oct. 27 – State Rep. Jason Dawkins, chairman of the House Democratic Philadelphia Delegation, responded to the House Republican Caucus’ announcement that they intend to draft and run legislation to impeach Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner. House Republicans announced their intent for impeachment during a news conference in the Capitol Complex on Wednesday. “This week’s news conference confirms the Republican obsession with District Attorney Larry Krasner,” Dawkins said. “I find it interesting that the Select Committee report, which was just released Monday, didn’t mention or recommend impeachment. But here we are, a few days later, hearing the Republican majority leader announce articles of impeachment without the participation of the Select Committee’s chairman from Chester and Lancaster counties. “We also heard that the Select Committee chairman was ‘blindsided’ by his party’s decision to move with impeachment. What is happening in the Republican caucus? The filing of articles of impeachment against the Philadelphia district attorney are nothing short of a wasteful sham, used to disenfranchise Philadelphia voters and spend taxpayer money that could be better used anywhere else. Appropriately timed less than two weeks before an election, it is political gamesmanship and frivolous, and played out at the expense of Philadelphians, whose will as voters has been Read more

 

Dawkins secures $500,000 for Frankford Affordable Living

(Oct 27, 2022)

PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 27 – State Rep. Jason Dawkins, D-Phila., today announced that his community has been awarded $500,000 in state grant funding for reconstruction of 4363 Frankford Ave. in the city. “This is the kind of improvement we need to continue to breathe life into the community,” Dawkins said. “I will continue to do my part to bring the necessary resources and funds to support Philadelphia and Philadelphians.” The building at 4363 Frankford Ave. is an abandoned three-story brick structure, which will be redeveloped with new doors, windows, wall flooring, HVAC systems, insulation, security and roofing. Read more

 

Dawkins comments on dismissal of charges against former Philly police officer in 2017 killing of David Jones

(Oct 12, 2022)

Such a ruling by the judiciary undermines constituents’ faith in our system of government and results in them holding the perception that their votes are those of second-class citizens and will make no difference. Perceptions of this nature are dangerous as they undermine our democratic system, creating an endless cycle of hopelessness and fear of the authorities. Fear eliminates the belief that justice is blind and elicits a view that lady justice herself is willing to turn a blind eye to the plight of those seeking justice in particular zip codes. Read more

 

Have a Fire Safety Plan!

(Oct 06, 2022)

Fire Prevention Week + Fighting Hunger in Phila. Read more

 

Dawkins discusses GOP hypocrisy in Krasner impeachment probe

(Sep 26, 2022)

PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 26 – Chairman Jason Dawkins of the Philadelphia Delegation of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives issued the following statement after meeting with Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner today in Center City. “Today’s meeting was about something the Republican Majority that has controlled state government for decades never did – get the facts and have an honest conversation,” Dawkins said. “Instead, the GOP has gone back to the same tired playbook - stirring fear in their base about the state’s largest city and biggest economic driver – combined with their newest obsession of overturning a free and fair election when the results don’t go their way. “If the Republican majority is so concerned with crime in Philadelphia, then why do they oppose funding for our children and why do they deny the city’s elected officials the right to write their own gun safety laws like banning assault weapons? “We’ll welcome them when they are ready to work toward real solutions that don’t involve using the victims of gun violence as political pawns.” According to Dawkins, the hyper partisan, so-called House Select Committee on Restoring Law and Order that is “investigating” Krasner is scheduled to meet in Philadelphia later this week. Read more

 

Dawkins applauds grants for Pre-K Counts and Head Start

(Aug 02, 2022)

State Rep. Jason Dawkins, D-Phila., applauded Gov. Tom Wolf today for maintaining his promise to invest in education in the commonwealth by awarding more than $384 million to Pre-K and Head Start Programs in Pennsylvania. The money allotted to these programs will deliver funding to two child learning centers in Dawkins’ legislative district. Amazing Kidz Academy LLC received $800,000 and Heavenly Daycare and Learning Center Inc. was awarded $200,000 to help more children receive quality education. The funding was made available through the PA Department of Education’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning and will open up 2,960 additional Pre-K Counts slots and provide Head Start with funding to cover the costs of operation. Dawkins said the funding for these programs will go a long way to help reduce quality-of-life issues that plague Philadelphia and the entire commonwealth. " Reducing gun violence, poverty and addiction in our communities begins with a good education before children even get into school, so I'm happy to see this funding for our local Pre-K schools and the opening of additional slots for Head Start through the School District of Philadelphia. The importance of early education is clear, and I appreciate Governor Wolf's administration investing in our children and families," Dawkins said. The funding will assist 37,213 children in accessing affordable Read more

 

Dawkins calls on legislature to focus on budget, not personal politics

(Jun 29, 2022)

“We have a state budget due in one day. Let’s focus on that. Let’s focus on getting money to our schools and to our communities. We must end this absurd political theater that’s meant to distract from the real issue – which is that the legislature must do something about gun proliferation and gun violence and not tie the hands of cities like Philadelphia when it comes to enacting sensible gun reforms.” Read more

 

Statement on behalf of PA House Philadelphia Delegation on mass shooting in Texas

(May 25, 2022)

Let us be very clear: the senseless violence we have seen unfold in Texas and Buffalo is the direct result of years of inaction by the government when it comes to commonsense gun reform. While mass shootings are occurring at an extremely alarming rate, some of those in government continue to prevent any gun reform legislation from seeing the light of day. How many families need to be destroyed, how many children’s bodies do we have to step over to see gun reform happen? Representative Rob Kauffman, chair of the House Judiciary Committee, has flat-out stated that if he is in charge, the gun laws in Pennsylvania will never change. Our question for Representative Kauffman is: Why are we as Americans so afraid of having to submit to a background check? Does the right to own a gun trump the right for our children to live happy and safe lives? At what point do we say enough is enough? Read more

 

Dawkins announces $1 million state grant for Frankford Community Development Corporation

(Apr 22, 2022)

PHILADELPHIA, April 22 – State Rep. Jason Dawkins, D-Phila., announced today a Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program grant worth $1 million has been awarded for Frankford Community Development Corp.’s supermarket development. This project will ensure that Frankford residents and transit customers have access to affordable, fresh, healthy food and affordable health care. The FTC TOD project will consist of a mixed-use development anchored by a full-service supermarket. Additionally, Frankford CDC is seeking to include a health center offering an array of health and wellness services. “With all the high levels of food insecurity across Philadelphia, combined with the pandemic, it is more important than ever that our residents have access to affordable, healthy food and affordable health care,” Dawkins said. “I am happy to see this grant money being awarded to the Frankford Community Development Corporation, as I believe it will be a big help to many Frankford residents.” Read more

 

House Philadelphia Delegation congratulates city for infrastructure awards

(Apr 20, 2022)

HARRISBURG, April 20 – The Pennsylvania House of Representative’s Philadelphia Delegation congratulated the City of Philadelphia on its receiving state funds to go ahead with several street and school projects and upgrades for ADA improvements and cyclists around the city. Gov. Tom Wolf and state Transportation Secretary Yassmin Gramian today announced the approval of funding for 64 projects to improve transportation alternatives and enhance mobility and public accessibility across the state, five of which are destinated for Philadelphia. The Office of Transportation, Infrastructure and Sustainability and Streets Department will receive: $1 million for a streetscape, side path/trail and intersection safety upgrade project that completes a major gap in the Philadelphia and Circuit trail network. Upon completion, trail users will connect to the Pennypack Trail and the East Coast Greenway, safely allowing passage from Northeast Philadelphia neighborhoods to the national East Coast Greenway (both completed portions and soon-to-be constructed portions). $1 million to replace painted pedestrian areas on Chestnut Street, with concrete pedestrian islands to elevate pedestrian safety along the corridor and expand the project area west to 63rd Street. $1 million for Logan Square sidewalk modernization at the Swann Memorial Fountain, including updating eight outdated ADA ramps and replacing approximately 18,000 square feet of Read more

 

Cephas, Tartaglione announce $25.6M in funding for maternal, child health

(Apr 14, 2022)

PHILADELPHIA, April 14 – State Rep. Morgan Cephas and state Sen. Christine Tartaglione, along with fellow lawmakers and the Wolf administration, today announced $25.6 million in American Rescue Plan funding to be allocated for a new maternal and child health initiative in Pennsylvania. The funding announcement also coincides with Black Maternal Health Week, April 11-17 . “With the promise in this funding, we are putting money into solving maternal mortality and working to address the social determinants of health that contribute to the crisis we are experiencing across Pennsylvania," Cephas said. “The administration’s opting Pennsylvania into extended Medicaid was a major move to start solving part of the crisis now, as well. That program began April 1, and the initiatives we’re announcing today are going to reach millions of more birthing parents and children through doula services, targeted services, healthy eating pilot programs and lead remediation.” “Our democratic counterparts in the US House and Senate sent Pennsylvania billions of dollars in the American Rescue Plan to reinvest to strengthen our commonwealth,” Tartaglione said. “We cannot let the historic opportunity afforded to us pass without making life-changing and crucially needed investments in historically disinvested communities. The allocation of this grant money will help Temple Woman’s and Infant’s Hospital finally open Read more

 

Fiedler, Pisciottano Right to Organize legislation passes House
May 03, 2023

Pa. House passes bills strengthening worker protections
May 03, 2023

Pa. House panel approves bills to expand worker protections
Apr 25, 2023

Workforce Development, Infrastructure, and Housing Funding Opportunities
Apr 13, 2023

Dawkins named Labor and Industry Committee chairman
Mar 10, 2023

Dawkins applauds $500K grant for Frankford Community Development Corp.
Dec 20, 2022

Dawkins Expresses Concern and Disappointment over Krasner Impeachment
Nov 18, 2022

Philadelphia Commissioners find over 3,400 flawed mail/absentee ballots
Nov 07, 2022

Dawkins announces additional $1.5 million in funding for local project
Nov 01, 2022

Dawkins condemns GOP for hypocrisy in Philly DA probe
Oct 27, 2022

Dawkins secures $500,000 for Frankford Affordable Living
Oct 27, 2022

Dawkins comments on dismissal of charges against former Philly police officer in 2017 killing of David Jones
Oct 12, 2022

Have a Fire Safety Plan!
Oct 06, 2022

Dawkins discusses GOP hypocrisy in Krasner impeachment probe
Sep 26, 2022

Dawkins applauds grants for Pre-K Counts and Head Start
Aug 02, 2022

Dawkins calls on legislature to focus on budget, not personal politics
Jun 29, 2022

Statement on behalf of PA House Philadelphia Delegation on mass shooting in Texas
May 25, 2022

Dawkins announces $1 million state grant for Frankford Community Development Corporation
Apr 22, 2022

House Philadelphia Delegation congratulates city for infrastructure awards
Apr 20, 2022

Cephas, Tartaglione announce $25.6M in funding for maternal, child health
Apr 14, 2022