Infrastructure bill can make good on Biden-Harris’ pledges for racial equity

(Aug 25, 2021)

Infrastructure is about equity, and as our federal representatives spend the next several weeks in Washington working on President Joe Biden’s Build Back Better agenda, equity must be at the forefront of the discussion on the infrastructure agreement and the budget blueprint, commonly referred to as reconciliation. Writing not only as an elected official but as a citizen who wants to see the economic and social vitality of my community strengthened, I strongly urge Pennsylvania’s entire congressional delegation to support the infrastructure bill and reconciliation for the good of all working people — regardless of what they look like or where they live — across our state. Read more

 

New statewide nonprofit offers support to Black entrepreneurs

(Jun 28, 2021)

When the economy began to shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic, Black businesses were hit disproportionately hard. Between February and April 2020, they declined 41 percent, in comparison to 17 percent for White-owned businesses, according to a study from the National Bureau of Economic Research.David Dix, CEO of a Harrisburg-based government relations firm called Luminous Strategies, and Marcia Perry Dix, CEO of Harrisburg public relations firm Perry Media Group, decided to create the Pennsylvania Chamber of Black-Owned Business. Read more

 

General Assembly approves $39.8B budget

(Jun 28, 2021)

The General Assembly has sent Gov. Tom Wolf a $39.8 billion budget that boosts spending for education and transportation but doesn’t spend much of the $7 billion provided to the state through the federal American Rescue Plan.The plan boosts K-12 education funding by $300 million — including $100 million designated for the state’s 100 poorest school districts. The budget also increases the amount of available tax credits for donations to scholarship funds for private school students by $40 million. Read more

 

House Democrats: state budget full of missed opportunities

(Jun 25, 2021)

Make no mistake, there was more good to be done in this budget. While some will call this historic education funding, we don’t need historic, we need transformative funding. Rather than hide this surplus in the Rainy Day Fund, we should’ve used it to help our school districts where it’s already been pouring for far too long. Read more

 

How Policing In Pennsylvania Has Changed In Year Since George Floyd’s Murder

(May 26, 2021)

George Floyd was killed by former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin one year ago today. It has been a year of hurt, anger, protests and the beginning of change.His murder is also highlighting very important conversations about being Black in America. Read more

 

Edinboro professors, alumna want more time, details on PASSHE integration plan

(May 24, 2021)

Members of the Edinboro University community told the House Democratic Policy Committee Thursday that consolidating six state schools, including Edinboro, into two would result in a loss of identity, place local communities at risk, and fail to address the core problems facing higher education. Read more

 

Face the State | Rep. Seth Grove and Rep. Jordan Harris

(May 24, 2021)

On this week's Face the State, Ryan Eldredge welcomes Representative Seth Grove (R-York) and Representative Jordan Harris (D-Philadelphia) to talk about the impact of new Pennsylvania constitutional amendments, and possible election reform following state primaries. Read more

 

PA Rescue Plan, $1.7 billion investment in workers’ focus of House Democratic leaders’ rally in State College Wednesday

(May 11, 2021)

STATE COLLEGE, May 11 – The workers who have been hit hardest by the pandemic need support. The PA House Democratic leadership team is hosting a rally Wednesday to make the case for workers’ rights to a fair wage, hazard pay and paid family and sick leave and how the PA Rescue plan would do just that. The rally will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, May 12 at The Borough Building, 243 S. Allen St., State College . The media is encouraged to attend. The PA Rescue Plan includes more than $1.5 billion for job training, hazard pay, wage boosts for direct-care workers and job creation efforts to kickstart the economy in communities across the state. The PRP aims to ensure federal American Rescue Plan funding is invested for immediate impact and long-term success. Additional information about the plan is available at www.pahouse.com/parescueplan . Read more

 

House Democrats touring the state to talk with the people about the Pennsylvania Rescue Plan

(May 05, 2021)

HARRISBURG, May 5 – After weeks of gathering public support for the Pennsylvania Rescue Plan to invest federal dollars to do the most good for working families, the House Democratic Leadership team released the following statement on the next steps to discuss the plan and how it would help us recover, restore and reimagine a better future coming back from COVID-19. “Next week more than $7 billion is coming to the Keystone State as part of the American Rescue Plan, and we have to make sure that money is invested properly, not hidden away in a government vault for a rainy day – because it’s hard to imagine a storm that could hit harder than COVID-19. People need help now. “As USA TODAY network coverage noted, House Democrats have a plan that helps schools, workers, businesses, families, renters, landlords and more while Republicans have no plan to distribute the funds. We urge the majority party to get on board and do the right thing for people everywhere. “We’ve received an overwhelming response to the PA Rescue Plan so far, and next week we’ll be taking the plan to the people with a statewide tour – starting Monday in Philadelphia and Reading talking about investing in infrastructure and rebuilding our downtowns, continuing Tuesday in Pittsburgh and Erie discussing housing, Wednesday in Harrisburg and State College talking worker pay, and finishing up on Thursday in Scranton and Allentown to discuss helping Read more

 

Chokehold ban proposed in Pennsylvania along with other police reform following George Floyd's death

(Apr 22, 2021)

The guilty verdict against Derek Chauvin following the murder of George Floyd is once again spurring calls for police reform across the nation including in Pennsylvania. On Wednesday, a group of democratic PA Representatives introduced legislation that seeks to outlaw the use of the standard chokehold during arrests, including the same chokehold used on George Floyd. Read more

 

Harris announces $710,578 grant for Schuylkill River Trail

(Apr 21, 2021)

Following previous grant amounts totaling over $2.2 million, state Rep. Jordan Harris, D-Phila., House Democratic Whip, announced another grant for completion of the Schuylkill River Trail from the Commonwealth Financing Authority aimed at completing the Christian to Crescent segment of the trail. Read more

 

House Democratic Leadership continues to push Pennsylvania Rescue Plan to reimagine Pennsylvania’s recovery

(Apr 20, 2021)

Pennsylvanians looking for relief from the hardships of the past year can look to the House Democrats’ Pennsylvania Rescue Plan for solutions that do the most good for the most people. The House Democratic Leadership team released the following statement on how the plan would strengthen communities, help working people and support businesses and families: “We have a unique opportunity to drastically improve the lives of millions of Pennsylvanians with smart investments in people, businesses, health care and our workforce. The Pennsylvania Rescue Plan does just that by directing federal funds to help businesses get back on solid ground, invest in our frontline workers who were essential to getting us through the pandemic, repair our crumbling public schools so students can learn and teachers can teach in a non-toxic environment and strengthen our workforce through training tomorrow’s in-demand employees. Read more

 

Pennsylvania House Representative Virtually Visits Dickinson Class

(Apr 19, 2021)

For Pennsylvania state House Rep. Jordan Harris, a Philadelphia native, politics is personal. “I represent the hood that I grew up in, so this is different for me,” Harris said in an interview with students in Professor Amy Worden’s “Journalism in the 21st Century” class. “My constituents are my cousins, my mom, my uncles, the folks that watched me grow up. I have a different responsibility to them,” he added. Read more

 

Philly clinic gives out more than 1,000 vaccine doses, bridging ‘digital divide’ with low-tech sign-up process, neighborhood locations

(Apr 12, 2021)

For weeks, Tyrique Glasgow heard the stories of vaccine frustration from fellow members of the Black community in South Philadelphia:The clinics that were too far away for someone without a car. The sign-up websites that wouldn’t load fast enough for someone with limited internet access. The appointment slots that were snapped up by people outside the city. Read more

 

Exclusive: Philly state lawmaker to introduce bill pushing to extend nightlife hours to 4 a.m.

(Apr 09, 2021)

A bill calling for extending the operating hours of Pennsylvania bars, restaurants and other nightlife establishments from 2 a.m. to 4 a.m. will be introduced next week in the State House of Representatives, a proposal aimed at ushering along the hard-hit hospitality sector. The bill will be introduced by Rep. Jordan Harris (D-District 186) and would aim to create “extended use permits” for liquor licensees, he told the Business Journal on Thursday afternoon. The measure would also give local municipalities the ability to decide for themselves whether they want to allow the extended hours, and designate specific zones where that can happen if they do opt into extending operating hours. Read more

 

State Rep. Jordan Harris To Introduce Bill That Extends Last Call From 2 A.M. To 4 A.M.

(Apr 09, 2021)

Bars and restaurants in Pennsylvania have really taken quite a hit during the pandemic.One state lawmaker thinks he has a good solution to help them recover faster. As money editor Jon Delano reports, it’s all about how long they serve alcoholic drinks.Under state law, most bars and restaurants in Pennsylvania close their tap or cork the bottle at 2 a.m. But Pennsylvania Rep. Jordan Harris says it’s time to extend that to 4 a.m. Read more

 

House Democratic Leaders call on Republicans to honor promise to survivors of childhood sexual abuse

(Mar 19, 2021)

With time running out to provide a chance at justice for survivors of childhood sexual abuse through an emergency constitutional amendment, the House Democratic leadership team released the following statement calling on Republican leadership to commit to bringing the measure up for a vote on Monday:“In early February, Republican leadership made a public promise on the House floor to get an emergency constitutional amendment to the Senate and provide a chance at justice to the survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Due to their wavering and inaction this week, we’re now dangerously close to running out of time to get this in front of Pennsylvanians in the May Primary Election. Read more

 

Harris, Johnson praise increased access to COVID-19 vaccine

(Mar 17, 2021)

State Rep. Jordan Harris, D-Phila., the House Democratic whip, joined 2nd District Philadelphia City Councilmember Kenyatta Johnson in releasing the following statement praising the increased availability of COVID-19 vaccines in the city due to the opening of a mass vaccine clinic at Grand Yesha Ballroom, located at 2308 Snyder Ave. in South Philadelphia: Read more

 

Winter 2021 Newsletter

(Feb 17, 2021)

Stay up to date with Rep. Harris' Winter 2021 newsletter. Read more

 

Voters to get final say on limiting governor disaster powers

(Jan 28, 2021)

Pennsylvania voters will likely soon get the final say about whether to limit the governor’s powers during a disaster emergency after a divided state House of Representatives endorsed a proposed constitutional amendment Wednesday. Read more

 

Infrastructure bill can make good on Biden-Harris’ pledges for racial equity
Aug 25, 2021

New statewide nonprofit offers support to Black entrepreneurs
Jun 28, 2021

General Assembly approves $39.8B budget
Jun 28, 2021

House Democrats: state budget full of missed opportunities
Jun 25, 2021

How Policing In Pennsylvania Has Changed In Year Since George Floyd’s Murder
May 26, 2021

Edinboro professors, alumna want more time, details on PASSHE integration plan
May 24, 2021

Face the State | Rep. Seth Grove and Rep. Jordan Harris
May 24, 2021

PA Rescue Plan, $1.7 billion investment in workers’ focus of House Democratic leaders’ rally in State College Wednesday
May 11, 2021

House Democrats touring the state to talk with the people about the Pennsylvania Rescue Plan
May 05, 2021

Chokehold ban proposed in Pennsylvania along with other police reform following George Floyd's death
Apr 22, 2021

Harris announces $710,578 grant for Schuylkill River Trail
Apr 21, 2021

House Democratic Leadership continues to push Pennsylvania Rescue Plan to reimagine Pennsylvania’s recovery
Apr 20, 2021

Pennsylvania House Representative Virtually Visits Dickinson Class
Apr 19, 2021

Philly clinic gives out more than 1,000 vaccine doses, bridging ‘digital divide’ with low-tech sign-up process, neighborhood locations
Apr 12, 2021

Exclusive: Philly state lawmaker to introduce bill pushing to extend nightlife hours to 4 a.m.
Apr 09, 2021

State Rep. Jordan Harris To Introduce Bill That Extends Last Call From 2 A.M. To 4 A.M.
Apr 09, 2021

House Democratic Leaders call on Republicans to honor promise to survivors of childhood sexual abuse
Mar 19, 2021

Harris, Johnson praise increased access to COVID-19 vaccine
Mar 17, 2021

Winter 2021 Newsletter
Feb 17, 2021

Voters to get final say on limiting governor disaster powers
Jan 28, 2021