HARRISBURG, Oct. 29 – State Rep. Stephen Kinsey, chairman of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus, issued the following statement opposing S.B. 421, which passed the House today. “All Americans have a fundamental right to vote, so any election reform we pass should make it easier for people to cast their votes. Unfortunately, we have a long legacy of doing the opposite in this country. As legislators, we should avoid any effort to make voting harder for disadvantaged communities. “By taking away the convenience of straight ticket voting, the process would be longer and wait times would extend for Pennsylvanians who already must fit voting into their busy schedules. It is going to heavily impact whether our most vulnerable citizens are able to participate at the polls,” Kinsey said. Kinsey was joined by other members of the PLBC who also voiced concerns about S.B 421. Rep. Donna Bullock, D-Phila., agreed that this bill is an act of voter suppression that will undoubtedly disproportionately affect people of color, especially in urban centers such as Philadelphia. “I am astounded by Republicans’ efforts to limit the freedom of choice that voters had by eliminating straight party voting, to create confusion at the polls by purging thousands of voters from the registry and to offer hollow voting reforms without resources to implement them. I find the audacity of those Republicans to try to Read more
PHILADELPHIA, April 12 – State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, D-Phila., responded to President Donald Trump’s fully implemented transgender military ban which went into effect on Friday, April 12th. “I am deeply disappointed in this transgender military ban,” Kenyatta said. “Anyone who is brave and selfless enough to want to serve this country in uniform should be allowed to serve. The President and our Supreme Court have made a serious mistake in allowing this hateful policy decision to move forward. The simple truth is that the Trump administration wants to encourage discrimination against trans people every chance it has to do so. I want to make it clear; I oppose these efforts to erase and target trans people and will do what I can to fight back.” The policy officially blocks people who have been diagnosed with a condition known as gender dysphoria from serving with limited exceptions. It also specifies that those without the condition can serve, but must do so according to the sex they were assigned at birth. LGBTQ groups and activists have called the ban cruel and irrational. The American Medical Association has said repeatedly that there is no medically valid reason to exclude transgender individuals from military service. For those not grandfathered in under the 2016 policy, the new rules require that soldiers meet the military’s prescribed expectations of their birth sex — including uniforms, haircuts, and physical Read more
HARRISBURG, April 10 – State Rep. Chris Rabb today joined other lawmakers and PennEnvironment to announce a package of bills aimed at addressing single-use plastics, pervasive issues of litter and the various environmental harms caused by a "throwaway" society. Legislation in the “Zero Waste PA” package works to address issues created by a disposable society including single-use plastics such as straws, plastic bags and Styrofoam takeout food containers, electronic waste, funding Pennsylvania’s recycling programs and more. "Cigarette litter is among the most toxic of all commonly littered items, containing a multitude of chemicals that leach into our soil and water and are harmful to all living things," said Rabb, D-Phila. "A well-planned deposit program would create a system where enterprises with proven capacity could upcycle them for safe and innovative use. This simple action would have a profound effect on our environment and leave our planet in better condition for future generations." “Every day, unwitting Pennsylvanians are barraged with products that we’re expected to purchase and use, and then throw away. Only, there is no ‘away,’” said PennEnvironment Executive Director David Masur. “Instead, it ends up in landfills where it can cause water pollution, in incinerators that cause air pollution, or blowing around in our neighborhoods in the form of litter. Nothing we use Read more
In 1821, Thomas L. Jennings became the first person of color to receive a U.S. patent. It was for 'dry scouring', an early form of dry cleaning. Read more
At a public hearing of the Pa. House Consumer Affairs Committee, Pa. state Rep. Donna Bullock questioned a representative from AARP as to how their members feel about alternative energies not only for rate relief, but also in terms of health effects. Read more
As a crime victim herself, Pa. state Rep. Movita Johnson-Harrell spoke in favor of strengthening Pennsylvania's crime victims protections, notifications, and involving them more directly in the process. Read more
Pa. Legislative Black Caucus Chairman Stephen Kinsey joined the Lt. Governor and colleagues to announce the new secretary of pardons. He explains why Brandon Flood is the perfect person for the job. Read more
Pa. state Rep. Patty Kim joined the Lt. Governor and colleagues to announce the new secretary of pardons. She explains why Brandon Flood is the best choice for the position. Read more
Pa. state Rep. Donna Bullock joined advocates in Harrisburg to continue her fight for equal pay across the commonwealth. She explains why she’s confident women will finally make the same as men for doing the same job. Read more
Pa. state Representative and chairman of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus Stephen Kinsey held a House Democratic Policy Hearing about addressing bullying to find ways to protect children and stop the pain. Read more
Pa. state representative and House Democratic whip Jordan Harris joined hip-hop artist Meek Mill, advocates, and legislators on both sides of the aisle to introduce probation and parole reforms. He explains why this bill is critical for families across the commonwealth. Read more
Pa. state Rep. Ed Gainey joined advocates in Philadelphia to introduce legislation that calls for probation and parole reforms. He explains why this bill is critical to Pennsylvanians. Read more
Pa. state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta joined advocates and a bi-partisan group of legislators to lay out a bill that would bring probation and parole reforms to Pennsylvania's criminal justice system. Read more
Pa. state Rep. Chris Rabb joined a bi-partisan group of legislators and advocates to call for reforms to the state's parole and probation laws. He explains why these changes are needed to help Pennsylvania move forward. Read more
Pa. state Rep. Stephen Kinsey hosted the House Democratic Policy Committee for a public hearing to address how to combat bullying. He discussed why addressing this issue now is critical to children across the commonwealth. Read more
Pa. state Rep. Ed Gainey traveled to Philadelphia to participate in a House Democratic Caucus policy hearing about ways to combat bullying across the commonwealth. He discussed why we must act now to protect our children. Read more
Pa. state Rep. Isabella Fitzgerald joined her colleagues for a public hearing in Philadelphia to discuss the best ways to combat bullying. She explains why we must address the issue now to protect our children. Read more
As chair of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus Subcommittee on Women & Girls of Color, state Rep. Morgan Cephas hosted the House Democratic Policy Committee to Saint Joseph’s University in her district for a discussion on how to reduce the state’s rising rates of maternal deaths and how doulas can best be integrated in maternal care. Read more
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PHILADELPHIA, April 4 – State Rep. Danilo Burgos, D-Phila., announced today he will be hosting a Veterans and Family Members Outreach event on April 11. Burgos said the event focused on veterans will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, April 11 at The Lenfest Center, 3890 N. 10th St., Philadelphia. There are a wide range of federal, state and county benefits available to qualified veterans and their families. Burgos’ staff will be informing veterans on benefits and services available to them, including assistance with applying for VA benefits and healthcare. Referrals to community resources and employment, as well as information on housing, public benefits and counseling also will be discussed. “When our veterans return home, they should not have to fight any longer just to be taken care of,” Burgos said. “We owe them so much for their sacrifices. I look forward to working with them and their families to make sure their needs are met and they can easily access the services they need for a happier and healthier life.” Interested residents may contact Burgos’ office at (215) 223-1890 with any questions or for more information. ### Attention assignment editors : Media coverage is encouraged. Read more
HARRISBURG, April 4 – State Rep. Angel Cruz, D-Phila., today announced legislation that would urge the attorney general to file a lawsuit against pharmaceutical companies, distributors and manufacturers that have contributed to the state's opioid addiction and overdose crisis. “I am urging the attorney general to pursue wrongful-death suits on behalf of the thousands of Pennsylvania families that have lost loved ones to this epidemic,” Cruz said. “Great strides have been taken -- including a statewide disaster declaration and making naloxone available to everyone to help save thousands of lives from overdose death. But Pennsylvania is one of only a handful of states that has yet to pursue legal action over this opioid problem. We need to get to the root of the problem, and that started decades ago with the questionable and possibly illegal marketing and sales of these opioids.” Nearly 5,500 drug-related overdose deaths occurred in Pennsylvania in 2017 alone. Purdue Pharma recently settled its first lawsuit with Oklahoma on March 26, 2019. Cruz noted that Pennsylvania needs to act now to save as many lives as possible. More information about Cruz' legislation and other state-related matters is available by contacting his Harrisburg office at 717-705-1925. ### Read more
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