Featured News

State Rep. Chris Rabb to introduce resolution that would designate Pennsylvania as a Hidden Heroes state

Rabb highlights Native-centered legislation for Indigenous Peoples’ Day

(Oct 10, 2022)

Rep. Rabb is highlighting his spate of Native-centered legislation on Indigenous Peoples’ Day to bring awareness to the continuing and widespread disregard for indigenous peoples, their history, culture, and the misappropriation thereof, and how Pennsylvania can substantively right these wrongs. Read more

 

Rabb attends SEPTA renaming of station & unveiling of historic panels

(Oct 06, 2022)

Philadelphia, Oct. 6 – State Rep. Chris Rabb, D-Phila., joined SEPTA today for the unveiling of historic panels at the transit authority’s Chestnut Hill West Regional Rail Station and the renaming of the station in honor of Richard Allen. “It’s wonderful to see this station renamed after someone of Richard Allen’s caliber. He was an abolitionist, educator, writer and founder of the African Methodist Episcopal Church,” Rabb said. “These historic panels tell our stories and share our history, the city’s history, in the public space and allow all who ride SEPTA to learn and grow with each trip.” Rabb, along with community stakeholders, worked tirelessly throughout the year to have the Allens Lane and Allens Lane Bridge, which were named for former mayor of Philadelphia William Allen, an enslaver and British loyalist, renamed after Richard Allen, an 18 th century minister and civil rights leader. The SEPTA regional rail station now holds a new name due to the community’s and Rabb’s efforts. View the photo gallery here . Read more

 

Democratic lawmakers introduce bills focused on protecting reproductive rights

(Oct 06, 2022)

Bills would protect both healthcare providers and patients. Read more

 

Rabb participates in environmental justice public hearing

(Oct 05, 2022)

HARRISBURG, Oct. 5 – State Rep. Chris Rabb, D-Phila., participated today in an environmental justice policy hearing held jointly by the PA House Democratic Policy Committee and the Legislative Black Caucus, which highlighted the importance of environmental policy on equity and health in Pennsylvania’s underserved communities. “I reflect on the efforts of my grandmother who was fighting the environmental justice fight before this term was coined. She was able to keep an incinerator from her all-Black, working-class community while at the same time the city was building a pool in a white neighborhood, a public pool that was not truly accessible to the public, just white folk in the public. From the time she helped close that incinerator and keep it from moving into that community, we’re still talking about this issue over 50 years later,” Rabb said. “Unless we talk about the systemic issues at the root of this, we are not going to move forward. “We are in this together, it’s so basic, but it’s so important. I want to encourage all of us who live in, work in and represent folk in urban communities to reach out to our rural brothers and sisters who are in the struggle with us. You are not just part of an environmental justice community, you are a part of a community of struggle, and that struggle starts with recognizing the structural inequalities that hurt everyone.” Rabb has Read more

 

State government should refocus its efforts on environmental justice

(Oct 05, 2022)

“We had a number of testifiers from various backgrounds who were talking about the impacts of environmental justice, whether they are from energy communities where there are coal fields or urban communities,” state Rep Chris Rabb said. “Folks who have been doing this work for decades or just recently, but the common theme was we need action, and we need collaboration, and we need help and resources from our state government. Rhetoric is not enough.” Read more

 

Rabb highlights legislative remedy on International Wrongful Conviction Day

(Oct 02, 2022)

“October 2 marks the 9th annual International Wrongful Conviction Day,” Rabb said. “It is a day to remember the stolen liberty of countless people who have suffered at the hands of an unjust criminal justice system, and to reaffirm our commitment to compensating victims.” Read more

 

Rabb announces pollinator task force legislation

(Sep 30, 2022)

HARRISBURG, Sept. 29 – State Rep. Chris Rabb, D-Phila., announced today that he is drafting legislation to establish a pollinator task force, which would study policies and practices that serve to best protect pollinators and develop recommendations based on that information. The task force would be a collaboration between the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, various other state departments and agencies, agriculture industry representatives, registered apiaries, academic institutions, conservation organizations and data collection groups. “Unfortunately, pollinator populations continue to experience a decline. In recent years, beekeepers have reported bee population losses of over 50% in Pennsylvania and beyond,” Rabb said. “In addition, 51 species of butterflies, 111 species of moths and three species of bumble bees are now considered to be at risk .” Pennsylvania is home to hundreds of species of pollinators, such as beetles, butterflies, flies, moths and bees. Those pollinators contribute to the state’s diverse cropping systems, which produce a variety of fruits and vegetables. Rabb, a member of the House Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee, said the crops add around $260 million to the state’s economy annually. The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services has issued warnings that without a concerted and collaborative international effort, many pollinators Read more

 

State Grant Programs Open For Application

(Sep 29, 2022)

Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency: Regional Policing Assistance Program Who May Apply: Applicants for the Regional Policing Assistance Program may be any municipality – a city, borough, township, home-rule municipality, or county. Applicants may also be a public or quasi-public body, or its representative, duly authorized to act on behalf of one or more municipalities. All applications must be accompanied by fully executed Articles of Agreement or an Intergovernmental Agreement that establishes a Regional Police Department. Use: Funding will support efforts in establishing or expanding regional police departments that would improve the following: uniformity and consistency of enforcement across municipalities; recruitment; distribution and deployment of police personnel; training and personnel efficiency; career enhancement opportunities; enhanced professionalism; and reduction of costs. Funds: A total of approximately $1,000,000 in federal funds is being announced to support this initiative. Applicants may apply for up to $150,000 for the formation of a new regional police department or up to $50,000 for the expansion of an existing regional police department by adding a chartered municipality(ies). Application Deadline: September 6, 2023 More information: PCCD Website Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency: Legal Read more

 

Rabb comments on reproductive rights legislation

(Sep 19, 2022)

HARRISBURG, Sep. 19 – State Rep. Chris Rabb, D-Phila., released the following statement on today’s news conference where his Democratic colleagues rolled out a package of reproductive rights legislation. “Today’s press conference that my colleagues held introduced several crucial bills to protect the reproductive freedoms and bodily autonomy of birthing people across the commonwealth. “Our Republican colleagues, who claim to be so “pro-life”, are not concerned with the birthing people who will be affected by forced births if reproductive freedoms are taken from Pennsylvanians. We are already hearing gruesome stories of people who are not allowed to get abortions in states where it’s already been made illegal. “I stand with my colleagues in this fight to preserve these freedoms for all birthing people of the commonwealth and will continue fighting in Harrisburg to ensure the Republicans’ attempts to strip them do not come to fruition. Read more

 

2022 Summer Newsletter

(Sep 16, 2022)

Rep. Rabb's 2022 Summer Newsletter Read more

 

Violence Intervention and Prevention, Transportation, and Local Law Enforcement Funding Opportunities

(Sep 13, 2022)

STATE PROGRAMS NOW OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS: Commonwealth Financing Authority: Gaming Economic Development Tourism Fund (GEDTF) (Funding Source: Pennsylvania Gaming Economic Development and Tourism Fund) Who May Apply : Allegheny County Municipalities, Authorities (Redevelopment, Municipal or Industrial), Councils of Government, Non-Profit Organizations, Trusts and For Profit Organizations. Use : To support community and economic development projects in Allegheny County. Funds : Awards between $150,000 and $500,000. Application Deadline : September 23, 2022 More Information : Click on https://www.alleghenycounty.us/economic-development/authorities/gedtf-fund.aspx . Pennsylvania Department of Transportation: Traffic Signal Technologies Grant Program (Funding Source: Motor License Fund) Who May Apply : Municipalities. Use : To install and maintain traffic signal technologies. Funds : Varies by award. This is a reimbursement grant with no matching funds required. Application Deadline : September 30, 2022 More Information : Click on https://www.dot.state.pa.us/public/Bureaus/BOMO/Portal/TST_INFO.pdf . Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency: Violence Intervention and Prevention (VIP) Grant Program (Funding Source: American Rescue Plan Act Funds) Who May Apply Read more

 

GRANT MEMO: Youth Agriculture, Urban Agriculture, and Watershed Cooperative Funding Opportunities

(Aug 30, 2022)

STATE PROGRAMS NOW OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS: Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture: ?Urban Agriculture Infrastructure Grant Program (Funding Source: General Fund) Who May Apply : An individual, partnership, association, firm, corporation, cooperatives or any other legal entity. Use : To support projects that grow agricultural infrastructure in urban food deserts to improve access to fresh, local food and provide opportunities for hands-on learning, community-building, and for people to become social entrepreneurs. Community gardens are eligible projects. Funds : $2,500 micro grants or up to $50,000 for collaboration grants. Application Deadline : September 16, 2022 More Information : Click on https://www.agriculture.pa.gov/Funding/Farmbill/Pages/Urban-Ag-Grant.aspx . Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture: ?Very Small Meat and Poultry Processor Reimbursement Grant Program (Funding Source: Federal Funding) Who May Apply : An individual, partnership, association, firm, corporation or any other legal entity. Use : To support the development and expansion of current or future very small meat and poultry processing operations. Funds : Grants are limited to no more than $100,000 per applicant. Application Deadline : September 26, 2022 More Information : Click on https://www.agriculture.pa.gov/Funding/Farmbill/Pages/Very-Small-Meat-Processor-Grant.aspx . Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture: ?Agriculture and Youth Grant Program Read more

 

RepRabb listens to youth leaders on gun violence

(Aug 09, 2022)

Pa. state Rep. Chris Rabb hosted three different youth-centered organizations at the state capitol who organized a trip to Harrisburg to learn about the state legislature and share their views on the public health crisis that is gun violence. Rabb says groups like Philly BOLT, Frontline Dads and PA Youth Vote are educating, engaging and empowering youth to lead on gun violence prevention, but they need the help of state legislators to put forth substantive legislation to address this crisis and allocate more funding for restorative justice and community-centered violence prevention programs. Read more

 

RepRabb, Frontline Dads Work to #EndGunViolence

(Jul 26, 2022)

Pa. state Rep Chris Rabb joined Frontline Dads’ Peacemakers Summer Program to talk with young people about possible solutions to the public health crisis of gun violence. He says that giving kids the tools to succeed is a good place to start, but more efforts must be made to stop the flow of firearms into the city. Read more

 

State programs now open for applications

(Jul 25, 2022)

STATE PROGRAMS NOW OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS: Pennsylvania Office of the Budget: Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) (Funding Source: General Obligation Debt) Who May Apply : Entities that have a project itemized in a Capital Budget Itemization Act from the past 10 years. List of eligible projects can be found here: Itemized Project Eligible for Funding . Use : The acquisition and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic, recreational, and historical improvement projects that have a regional or multi-jurisdictional impact and generate substantial increases or maintain current levels of employment, tax revenues, or other measures of economic activity. RACP projects are state-funded projects that cannot obtain primary funding under other state programs. Funds : Projects must have a $1 million minimum project cost and a 50% match (state funds cannot be used as match). Application Deadline : August 19, 2022 More Information : Click on https://www.budget.pa.gov/Programs/RACP/Pages/Main%20Page.aspx . UPCOMING APPLICATION DEADLINES: DDAP Pregnancy Support Services Grant: July 29, 2022 (Funding Source: Federal Funding) Any entity that is able to serve pregnant or postpartum women in recovery from SUD. - To provide support services to pregnant women and postpartum women in recovery from Substance Use Disorder Read more

 

Democratic lawmakers introducing bill to prevent out-of-state abortion investigations

(Jul 11, 2022)

HARRISBURG, June 14 – As states begin to impose abortion restrictions in the wake of Roe v. Wade being overturned, Reps. Carol Hill-Evans, D-York, Chris Rabb, D-Phila., and Emily Kinkead, D-Allegheny, are working to ensure Pennsylvania remains a safe haven for people seeking abortions. “It is bad enough that people have to travel hundreds of miles to receive medical care, but the thought that they may be harassed and charged with felonies, it’s outrageous,” Hill-Evans said. “It is not the duty of people on the state payroll to investigate personal health matters; Pennsylvania officials have no business harassing pregnant people on the taxpayer’s dime.” “The Dobbs decision is an assault on bodily autonomy and the half-century during which abortion was constitutionally protected,” said Rabb. “Now that this ruling defers to the states on how to proceed, our legislature should act to prohibit cooperation of state and local government officials with out-of-state investigators regarding the healthcare choices of women and birthing people across our commonwealth.” The legislation they are proposing would prohibit all law enforcement officers, state government departments and their employees, and local government entities and their employees from cooperating with out-of-state investigations into abortions legally obtained in Pennsylvania. The Read more

 

Rabb responds to hiring, resignation of police officer who shot, killed Tamir Rice

(Jul 07, 2022)

HARRISBURG, July 7 – Timothy Loehmann, the officer who killed Tamir Rice, was hired yesterday by the Tioga Township Police Department to be their lone officer. State Rep. Chris Rabb, D-Phila., said that while Loehmann has now resigned, hiring him in the first place was wholly unacceptable. Rabb authored legislation to establish a police misconduct database, which was incorporated into Act 57 and signed into law by Gov. Tom Wolf in 2020. “The statewide database was created to weed out dangerous officers and to keep our communities safer,” Rabb said. “While I’m glad Loehmann resigned due to mounting public pressure, had my legislation passed intact back in 2020, the public would have been automatically informed about his employment application before he was hired.” Rabb has collaborated with municipalities and other stakeholders since the enactment of Act 57 of 2020 to close dangerous transparency loopholes that have made this law-enforcement database far less effective than originally conceived in his 2018 legislation . Read more

 

Rabb: Criminalizing the Flight or Fight Response

(Jun 30, 2022)

Pa. state Rep. Chris Rabb says the legislature should not give law enforcement more tools to abuse their power and make unlawful arrests. He rises in the Pa. House Chamber in strong opposition to a measure that would do nothing to make the people he represents safe, but instead would criminalize the natural flight or fight response. He says this response is an automatic and physiological reaction to something that may be perceived as a threat or frightening. He says the bill would make those suffering from PTSD, anxiety, or fear of animals subject to being criminalized for perceiving a threat. Read more

 

Rabb highlights need for Shale Gas Operations Transparency Act

(Jun 30, 2022)

We must act - while the Court ruling limits the EPA’s ability to regulate climate change, we can pass legislation on the state level to require that those corporations who enter rural communities to drill for shale gas are held account by comprehensive transparency measures my bill would institute if enacted into law. Local residents harmed by fracking and the people of Pennsylvania have a right to know the implications of the operations of these frackers on the built and natural environment of our state. Read more

 

Rabb: Additional Ways to Abuse Power

(Jun 30, 2022)

Pa. state Rep. Chris Rabb is worried about the vague words and descriptions used in legislation that could give law enforcement a large amount of ways to abuse their powers. When it comes to resisting arrest, he wants to make sure specific words are used so that law enforcement officers are not able to abuse power as they have been shown to do, especially in the City of Philadelphia. He is worried that the public trust will continue to be eroded by giving officials additional means to arrest individuals who question their motives. Read more

 

Rabb highlights Native-centered legislation for Indigenous Peoples’ Day
Oct 10, 2022

Rabb attends SEPTA renaming of station & unveiling of historic panels
Oct 06, 2022

Democratic lawmakers introduce bills focused on protecting reproductive rights
Oct 06, 2022

Rabb participates in environmental justice public hearing
Oct 05, 2022

State government should refocus its efforts on environmental justice
Oct 05, 2022

Rabb highlights legislative remedy on International Wrongful Conviction Day
Oct 02, 2022

Rabb announces pollinator task force legislation
Sep 30, 2022

State Grant Programs Open For Application
Sep 29, 2022

Rabb comments on reproductive rights legislation
Sep 19, 2022

2022 Summer Newsletter
Sep 16, 2022

Violence Intervention and Prevention, Transportation, and Local Law Enforcement Funding Opportunities
Sep 13, 2022

GRANT MEMO: Youth Agriculture, Urban Agriculture, and Watershed Cooperative Funding Opportunities
Aug 30, 2022

RepRabb listens to youth leaders on gun violence
Aug 09, 2022

RepRabb, Frontline Dads Work to #EndGunViolence
Jul 26, 2022

State programs now open for applications
Jul 25, 2022

Democratic lawmakers introducing bill to prevent out-of-state abortion investigations
Jul 11, 2022

Rabb responds to hiring, resignation of police officer who shot, killed Tamir Rice
Jul 07, 2022

Rabb: Criminalizing the Flight or Fight Response
Jun 30, 2022

Rabb highlights need for Shale Gas Operations Transparency Act
Jun 30, 2022

Rabb: Additional Ways to Abuse Power
Jun 30, 2022