HARRISBURG, April 13 -- State Rep. Chris Rabb, D-Phila, is advocating for formal acknowledgement of the extraordinary work of caregivers of Pennsylvania’s veterans through the Hidden Heroes campaign. “Many times, a veteran’s caregiver is a spouse, parent and other loved ones whose lives are transformed, their goals set aside, and they rearrange their lives to help the ones who sacrificed the most for us,” Rabb said. “We need to recognize that these women and men are heroes and sacrifice more than we currently understand.” The Hidden Heroes campaign is an initiative through the Elizabeth Dole Foundation that seeks to raise awareness of the struggles of these special caregivers. It also seeks to establish a national registry where veterans and their caregivers can access resources available to them. Read more
You can watch the swearing-in live at https://pahouse.com/Live . Read more
State Rep. Chris Rabb announced today that two organizations in his district received a total $1.5 million in Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program grants. Read more
Legislators ask for release of families, children in face of COVID pandemic, unsanitary conditions Read more
HARRISBURG, Dec. 1 – State Rep. Chris Rabb will join Fair Districts PA’s Reform the Rules Virtual Town Hall event from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 2, to discuss amending the rules of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in ways that enhance equity. Read more
Read my fall 2020 newsletter. Read more
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 23 – State Rep. Chris Rabb will host “Roundtable with Rep. Rabb: A 2020 college student debrief” on Thursday, Dec. 3. Interested college students are invited to participate. Read more
HARRISBURG, Nov. 20 – In a show of pure partisanship, House Republicans brought forth a gutted bill on the final day of the 2019-20 legislative session in an effort to reward special interests with COVID-19 related immunity, which will cause more harm to Pennsylvanians in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, state Rep. Chris Rabb said. Read more
At a press conference today, state Rep. Chris Rabb, D-Phila., introduced legislation for Pennsylvania to join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact and invited his colleagues of all political parties to sign onto the bill as co-sponsors. Read more
HARRISBURG, Nov. 18 – While some rallied at the state Capitol today to push back on mitigation efforts and open more seating in restaurants as COVID-19 cases rise rapidly across the state and nation, state Rep. Chris Rabb, D-Phila., said bipartisan legislation he introduced offers a better solution to help these local businesses stay afloat while protecting people’s health. Rabb and state Rep. Bob Brooks, R-Westmoreland/Allegheny, introduced legislation (H.B. 2949) in September that would provide grants of up to $50,000 and tax credits of up to $100,000 to restauranteurs who sell PA Preferred groceries to customers in underserved neighborhoods. Funding for the Food Security Initiative would come from federal CARES Act money the state has in its possession and can use for this purpose. “ Food deserts have been a problem for a long time,” Rabb said. “The entrance of COVID-19 into our underserved urban and rural neighborhoods is making the situation even worse. The bipartisan legislation we are proposing would get fresh food to folks who aren’t able to easily access fresh, healthy food within their local area while helping our restauranteurs stay afloat during this incredibly difficult time for our collective health and our economic security. “This legislation is the type of innovative solution lawmakers should be considering for enterprising, socially conscious restaurateurs who sell PA Preferred Read more
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 12 – State Rep. Chris Rabb, D-Phila., has been named a 2020 Most Influential Leader honoree by Philadelphia Tribune Magazine. “What an incredible honor it is to be called an influential leader in this climate, in this time in our history where real change is so desperately needed,” Rabb said. “I am grateful every day that I have the opportunity and responsibility of representing the people of Philadelphia’s 200 th Legislative District. Being recognized for my work means the world to me.” Each year, the Philadelphia Tribune honors Philadelphia’s most influential African Americans for their outstanding commitment to community. Among the honorees are people recognized for being leaders, influencers and movers and shakers. Read more
In the aftermath of the police-involved killing of Walter Wallace Jr. , a 27-year-old Philadelphia man amid a mental health crisis, state Rep. Chris Rabb has introduced legislation that would revive and transform the Pennsylvania State Guard, a state defense force deactivated in 1953 with the mission to bolster community safety and public health in collaboration with community stakeholders. “It’s time for a system reset," Rabb said. "Policing as we know it cannot address the expansive needs of vulnerable communities across our city and state. Read more
HARRISBURG, Oct. 27 – State Rep. Chris Rabb on Monday was named the Legislator of the Year by the National Association of Social Workers, Pennsylvania Chapter. “I am so heartened to be recognized by the National Association of Social Workers, Pennsylvania,” Rabb said. “This recognition affirms what I have known since I took office and started hearing from the people who sought help from my office: The work I do as a legislator has tremendous potential to change lives and the services that my staff in Philadelphia provides has an amazing influence over the quality of life of the people we help.” Rabb was nominated for the National Association of Social Workers, Pennsylvania Chapter Legislator of the Year by Laurie Friedman, NASW-PA Brandywine division chair. In her nomination letter about Rabb, Friedman said that Rabb’s district, the 200 th Legislative District, serves approximately 65,000 residents and, she wrote, “the majority of constituents who reach out to his office are struggling socioeconomically.” She nominated Rabb because of his “support of legislation that aligns with social work values, support in educating social work students and commitment to serving his community.” When Rabb accepted the award during a virtual conference on Monday, he thanked his staff members, including Foluké Bennett, Danielle Duckett, Carla Johnson and Liz Blanc, as well as the Read more
HARRISBURG, Oct. 1 – State Rep. Chris Rabb, D-Phila., has introduced legislation to provide grants of up to $50,000 and tax credits of up to $100,000 to restauranteurs who sell PA Preferred groceries to customers in underserved neighborhoods. “ Food deserts have been a problem for a long time,” Rabb said. “Food deserts exist in both urban and rural neighborhoods, and people in those neighborhoods aren’t able to easily access healthy food within their local area, beyond canned goods and pre-packaged foods. In order to improve the health and well-being of our communities, we need to ensure everyone has easy access to healthy foods.” The Food Trust reports that more than 2 million people, including over 500,000 children, live in food deserts across Pennsylvania. This program has two parts – grants and tax credits for enterprising, socially conscious restaurateurs who sell PA Preferred groceries to customers in under-served neighborhoods. The grants of up to $50,000 or tax credits of up to $100,000 would assist qualifying restaurants in fortifying their business operations while offering Pennsylvania-sourced groceries food such as meat, fruit, vegetables, dairy and eggs. Rabb said the program would also create local jobs in economically distressed communities. ### Read more
Rep. Chris Rabb (D., Philadelphia) recently introduced a bill that would require money obtained through civil forfeiture be put into a fund to help compensate people exonerated of crimes and their families. Currently, Pennsylvania does not provide any compensation to people who were wrongfully convicted or incarcerated. Read more
HARRISBURG, Sept. 30 – State Rep. Chris Rabb, D-Phila., has introduced legislation to empower consumers by creating labeling standards and regulations for Cannabidiol, or CBD. “CBD is everywhere these days,” Rabb said. “We see it for sale in pharmacies, corner stores, grocery stores and online. With CBD’s popularity exploding due to its medicinal uses – treating conditions like epilepsy, chronic pain and anxiety – I believe that its regulation is necessary.” Although CBD has no psychoactive properties, there is currently no legal standard for what constitutes CBD nor are there any labeling standards to inform consumers of exactly what they are purchasing. Since the legalization of hemp at the federal and state levels, there has been some confusion regarding CBD, which is hemp’s most popular extract. “People should be able to make informed decisions about the items they’re purchasing,” Rabb said. “ To address the issue, I have introduced legislation that would legally define hemp extract to include CBD and direct the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture to create labeling standards and other regulations to help inform and protect consumers who purchase or are considering purchasing products containing CBD.” Rabb said he believes the legislation would help to end the confusion and mistrust surrounding CBD and the Read more
HARRISBURG, Sept. 30– State Rep. Chris Rabb, D-Phila., has introduced legislation to reform sentencing procedures by making pre-trial sentence investigation reports mandatory. “ Under current law, there is no requirement to provide a pre-sentence investigation report to a judge who is issuing a sentence,” Rabb said. “That leaves the door open for judges, who are making critical decisions that will affect a person’s entire life, to make an uninformed and often biased determination. That’s just plain unjust.” While current law “allows” the use of pre-sentencing reports, it’s not required. That inevitably results in the use of pre-trial sentence investigation reports to be used and considered inequitably. “A judge who is issuing a sentence should know a defendant’s potential for rehabilitation and community integration to allow them to tailor sentences accordingly,” Rabb said. “It’s time to take a stand on this issue to allow for the fair and equitable distribution of justice.” ### Read more
State Rep. Chris Rabb, a Democrat from Northwest Philadelphia, called it the “most expansive minimum wage bill in the country.” Read more
HARRISBURG, Sept. 24 – State Rep. Chris Rabb on Tuesday during a Policy Committee meeting urged support for legislation that would remove roadblocks preventing undocumented people from getting driver’s licenses and learner’s permits, making it impossible for them to legally drive. Rabb’s testimony highlighted the crucial nature of the bill. "Undocumented people contribute to our communities in ways we often forget," Rabb said. "Many undocumented people work tirelessly at undesirable and difficult jobs; they contribute income and sales tax; and they make our communities more diverse. In Pennsylvania, they do all this without the ability to get a driver's license. But that needs to change." "We should remove hurdles to prosperity and success for all people who are contributing members of our communities, commonwealth and country," continued Rabb, D-Phila. "Allowing undocumented people to apply for a driver's license in Pennsylvania using documentation that proves the person's name and date of birth, like their federal taxpayer ID number, would allow them to get a driver's license or a learner's permit, and give them the opportunity to contribute more fully to their community and to support themselves and their family." Rabb, along with state Reps. Danilo Burgos, Joseph Hohenstein and Sara Innamorato, introduced H.B. 2835, which would allow people without a Read more
HARRISBURG, Sept. 29 – State Rep. Chris Rabb, in a House Commerce Committee hearing on Sep. 22, emphasized the urgency of the housing crisis in Pennsylvania, highlighting the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency’s history of working to ensure people have a home and the means to sustain it. Rabb called his colleagues’ and PHFA Executive Director and CEO Robin Weissman’s attention to the necessity of ensuring that state residents do not lose their homes due to late bills. Rabb further asserted that some applicants have not been allowed to obtain loan modifications because of junior (utility) liens. Rabb noted that PHFA has historically fought for mortgage modifications for homeowners, which help prevent them from losing their homes due to late water, gas, or credit card bills. “Working people struggling to make ends meet during an unprecedented economic crisis caused by the coronavirus must not be forced out of their homes,” Rabb said. He emphasized that Pennsylvanians may lose their homes soon because of outstanding credit card or utility bills and called for “federal requirements for housing-related loans to be made accessible to people at risk of losing their homes. Our foremost priority is to ensure people can keep their homes, despite the unparalleled financial hardship.” Rabb also put a spotlight on the efforts PHFA is making to help homeowners, including providing counseling on and access to Read more
Black troops who served on the front lines were put in harm’s way of this chemical agent. Read more
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