Local Elected Officials Urge U.S. Senate to Move Forward with Adeel Mangi’s Historic Judicial Nomination, Condemn Islamophobic Attacks

(Mar 20, 2024)

HARRISBURG, March 20 – A group of Pennsylvania state and local elected officials today issued a statement urging the U.S. Senate to move forward with considering President Joe Biden’s nominee Adeel Mangi to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, which is based in Philadelphia and covers the tri-state area. If confirmed, Mangi would become the first Muslim American to serve on a federal appeals court and just the third Muslim American federal judge. State Reps. Tarik Khan (D-Phila.), Arvind Venkat (D-Allegheny), Patty Kim (D-Dauphin, Cumberland), and Jason Dawkins (D-Phila.); state Sens. Nikil Saval (D-Phila.) and Sharif Street (D-Philadelphia); Montgomery County Commissioner Neil Makhija and Philadelphia City Councilmember Nina Ahmad said the following: “As Asian-American and Muslim-American elected officials representing diverse communities in Pennsylvania, we stand with and strongly support President Biden’s nomination of Adeel Mangi to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Mr. Mangi is an excellent candidate and highly qualified individual whose nomination is now at risk due to a right-wing smear campaign tainted with Islamophobic rhetoric and outright lies. “We are extremely disturbed that the nomination of a highly qualified judicial nominee would be in doubt because of the fact he is Muslim. Hate has no place in Read more

 

Bill to provide Unemployment Compensation Law, provide financial relief passed by state PA House

(Nov 15, 2023)

HARRISBURG, Nov. 15 – A key bill that would amend Pennsylvania’s Unemployment Compensation Law to provide financial relief to workers who are unemployed due to a work stoppage was passed by the state House of Representatives today, said state Rep. Jason Dawkins, majority chair of the House Labor and Industry Committee. House Bill 1481 , sponsored by state Reps. Mandy Steele and Dan Miller, both D-Allegheny, would allow workers who are unemployed due to a work stoppage to be eligible for unemployment compensation benefits. “Making the decision to strike is not easy by any means,” said Dawkins, D-Phila. “It’s a decision that often results in loss of pay, which is money our workers need to provide food and housing for their families. So, this legislation is of utmost importance to our workers and would protect their right to bargain for better pay and working conditions without the loss of income.” House Bill 1481 now heads to the state Senate for consideration. Read more

 

PA House Democrats approve legislation to increase nonprofit security grant program to $10 million

(Nov 02, 2023)

"As targeted hate crimes increase, it is our duty to ensure that all communities, regardless of their faith, feel secure in their places of worship,” said Dawkins. “House Bill 1772 is a testament to our commitment in safeguarding the sanctuaries where people gather to practice their beliefs. By increasing the Non-profit Security Grant Fund, we send a powerful message: everyone deserves to worship without fear, and their safety is of paramount importance." Read more

 

Two key labor bills pass state House, head to state Senate for consideration

(Oct 18, 2023)

HARRISBURG, Oct. 18 – On Wednesday, the state House of Representatives passed two critical labor bills -- H.B. 1449 and H.B. 1465 . Both bills now head to the state Senate for consideration. House Bill 1449, sponsored by state Rep. Josh Siegel, D-Lehigh, would establish a statewide responsible contractor law, setting clear requirements that firms bidding on publicly funded infrastructure projects must meet and requiring firms to have a state or federal registered apprenticeship program and pay prevailing rate. “Investing in our infrastructure is a top priority,” said state Rep. Jason Dawkins, D-Phila., majority chair of the PA House Labor and Industry Committee. “However, investing in the right people to lead these major infrastructure projects is just as important. This legislation would ensure that the commonwealth has a skilled craft labor workforce for years to come.” House Bill 1465, sponsored by state Rep. Dave Delloso, D-Delaware, would apply the Prevailing Wage Act to investor-owned utilities, such as water, sewer and gas. The legislation would apply the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry’s prevailing wage rates and minimum safety standards to all contracted construction work completed on underground utility systems that are regulated by the Public Utility Commission, including water, sewer and gas. “Our neighbors rely on utilities – they need these services. It is critical that we have a Read more

 

Philadelphia House and Senate Delegations join Unite Here Local 634 in fight for a dignifying contract

(Sep 21, 2023)

PHILADELPHIA, Sep. 21 – In light of recent demands presented by city school workers to the Philadelphia School District, members of the Philadelphia House and Senate Delegations today expressed their steadfast support for members of Unite Here Local 634. The delegation members, who participated in a rally held earlier today by the school workers, stated that they are fighting along with the union for a dignifying contract that could guarantee livable wages for workers before their current collective bargaining agreement expires on Sept. 30. “Workers are clamoring for the elementary right to get a fair salary to pay for rent and buy food for their families,” said delegation chairwoman Morgan Cephas. “They are requesting respect. These are employees pleading for provisions that are plain-to-see needs and commonsense demands. Their voices can longer be ignored. The countdown starts for fair pay and transparent terms in a new bargaining agreement,” added Cephas. State Sen. Nikil Saval, chair of the PA Senate’s Philadelphia Delegation, explained that the food service and student climate staff throughout schools provide vital care for Philadelphia children from the moment they walk through the doors. “These workers are the lowest paid in the school district; they are paid so little that the district is currently in violation of the city wage ordinance,” Read more

 

Dawkins Fights for UPS Workers’ Rights

(Jul 20, 2023)

As majority chair of the House Labor and Industry Committee, PA state Rep. Jason Dawkins is proud to stand in solidarity with Teamsters representatives and UPS workers as they demand a fair contract. Read more

 

PA House passes legislation allowing recycled materials in stuffed toys

(Jun 27, 2023)

HARRISBURG, June 27 – A bill sponsored by state Rep. Jason Dawkins, D-Phila., that would allow recycled materials to be used in stuffed toys passed the Pennsylvania House of Representatives by a vote of 163-40. This legislation ( H.B. 1333 ) would bring Pennsylvania in line with all other global stuffed toy requirements, enabling manufacturers and retailers to make and sell stuffed toys with recycled materials in the commonwealth. “This is really just commonsense legislation,” said Dawkins, chair of the House Labor and Industry Committee. “Not only is the use of recycled materials commonplace because it is safe and the materials undergo the same extensive testing as new materials, but it also allows toy manufacturers to reach their sustainability goals and is better for the environment.” House Bill 1333 is a companion bill to S.B. 756 , introduced by Pennsylvania Sens. Devlin Robinson, John Kane and Art Haywood. The bill now goes to the Pennsylvania Senate for consideration. Read more

 

Pennsylvania House passes bill to raise minimum wage to $15 by 2026

(Jun 22, 2023)

"It's about time," Dawkins said. "No more games and no more waiting; the people of Pennsylvania deserve a minimum wage that is fair and competitive with our neighboring states. There's still a lot of work to do, but I'm pleased with the direction we're headed. Raising the minimum wage will raise the wage of more than a million people in the commonwealth, improve people's financial security and grow the state's economy." Read more

 

PA House Labor & Industry Committee approves infrastructure legislation

(Jun 22, 2023)

HARRISBURG, June 22 – During a voting meeting Thursday, the Pennsylvania House Labor and Industry Committee reported two pieces of legislation, H.B. 1449 and H.B. 1465 , out of committee and to the House floor. House Bill 1449, sponsored by state Rep. Josh Siegel, D-Lehigh, would establish a statewide responsible contractor law, setting clear requirements that firms bidding on publicly funded infrastructure projects must meet and requiring firms to have a state or federal registered apprenticeship program and pay the prevailing wage rate. “One needs to look no further than the recent collapse of I-95 and its expedient repair by our skilled tradesmen and women to know we need to seriously invest in our infrastructure and in the continued training of skilled laborers in the commonwealth,” said state Rep. Jason Dawkins, D-Phila., majority chair of the House Labor and Industry Committee. “This legislation would ensure that Pennsylvania has a skilled craft labor workforce that will bolster our infrastructure and build our state’s future.” House Bill 1465, sponsored by state Rep. Dave Delloso, D-Delaware, would apply the Prevailing Wage Act to investor-owned utilities, such as water, sewer, gas and electric providers. The legislation would apply the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry’s prevailing wage rates and minimum safety standards to all contracted construction work completed on underground utility systems that Read more

 

Dawkins: Stand on the Side of Workers

(Jun 20, 2023)

Chairman of the Pa. House Labor and Industry Committee Rep. Jason Dawkins addresses Republican arguments made against his bill that would raise the minimum wage for Pa. workers. Read more

 

PA House passes minimum wage increase legislation

(Jun 20, 2023)

HARRISBURG, June 20 – A bill ( H.B. 1500 ) sponsored by state Rep. Jason Dawkins, D-Phila., that would increase the minimum wage in Pennsylvania to $15 per hour by 2026 and set the tipped wage to 60% of the minimum wage passed the Pennsylvania House of Representatives today. This legislation would increase the minimum wage in Pennsylvania to $11 per hour by Jan. 1, 2024; $13 per hour by Jan. 1, 2025; and $15 per hour by Jan. 1, 2026. The minimum wage would be indexed to inflation beginning in 2027. “It’s about time. No more games and no more waiting; the people of Pennsylvania deserve a minimum wage that is fair and competitive with our neighboring states. There’s still a lot of work to do, but I’m pleased with the direction we’re headed,” Dawkins said. “Raising the minimum wage will raise the wage of more than a million people in the commonwealth, improve people’s financial security and grow the state’s economy.” House Bill 1500 is a companion bill to S.B. 743 , introduced by state Sen. Dan Laughlin, chair of the Senate Republican Policy Committee. The bill will go to the Pennsylvania Senate for consideration. Read more

 

‘Some people have three jobs’: All eyes on Harrisburg for a minimum wage hike

(Jun 20, 2023)

“The people of the commonwealth deserve fair compensation for their work, and this is a step in that direction,” Dawkins said. “But make no mistake, this is a compromise. If it was entirely up to Democrats, we would do it for real and it would have all the bells and whistles that folks deserve because that’s what we believe in — people.” Read more

 

Dawkins Moving the Needle on Minimum Wage

(Jun 13, 2023)

Pa. House Labor and Industry Committee Majority Chairman Jason Dawkins says workers earning minimum wage have waited long enough for a raise. Dawkins and his Democratic colleagues voted to advance legislation that would increase the minimum wage to $15/hr. over the next three years. Read more

 

Pennsylvania House Labor & Industry Committee votes on minimum wage increase and child labor protection legislation

(Jun 13, 2023)

HARRISBURG, June 13 – During a voting meeting Tuesday, the Pennsylvania House Labor and Industry Committee reported three pieces of legislation, H.B.1333 , H.B.1354 and H.B.1500 , out of committee and to the House floor. H.B.1500 would increase the minimum wage in Pennsylvania from $7.25 to $11 per hour effective Jan. 1, 2024; $13 per hour effective Jan. 1, 2025; $15 per hour effective Jan. 1, 2026 and indexed to inflation after. There would be annual cost-of-living increases beginning in 2027. The bill also sets the minimum wage for tipped workers at 60% of the hourly minimum wage. This is companion legislation to S.B.743 , introduced by Sen. Dan Laughlin, chair of the Senate Republican Policy Committee. “The minimum wage in Pennsylvania has been stuck at $7.25 since 2009, which is far too long. It’s not livable or viable and leaves us far behind our neighboring states,” state Rep. Jason Dawkins, D-Phila., majority chairman of the House Labor and Industry Committee said. “The people of the commonwealth deserve fair compensation for their work, and this is a step in that direction. But make no mistake, this is a compromise. If it was entirely up to Democrats, we would begin with a higher minimum for working people, because that’s what we believe in — people.” H.B.1354, sponsored by Rep. Regina Young, would increase the penalties for Child Labor Act Violations from $500 to $1,000 for Read more

 

Pennsylvania House Labor & Industry votes on paid leave legislation

(Jun 06, 2023)

HARRISBURG, June 6 – During a voting meeting Tuesday, the Pennsylvania House Labor and Industry Committee reported two pieces of legislation, HB181 and SB226 , out of committee and to the House floor. The House bill would establish the Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program and the Family and Medical Leave Insurance Fund in Pennsylvania. The bill also would establish the Family and Medical Leave Insurance Advisory Board to provide a public education campaign and assist the Department of Labor and Industry with the implementation of the act. “Paid leave means a stronger Pennsylvania. Forcing people to make the impossible choice between work and family is not only harmful to Pennsylvanians, but it also hurts our state economy,” said Rep. Jason Dawkins, chair of the House Labor and Industry Committee. “Passing this legislation and establishing a paid family and medical leave program is beneficial to families and the economy because people with peace of mind are better able to focus on the task at hand, both at home and at work.” The Senate bill would amend the Fire and Panic Act to allow Department of Human Services licensed family child-care homes until Sept. 6 or the expiration of their current license to comply with the Fire and Panic Act. Read more

 

Pennsylvania House Labor & Industry votes on worker focused legislation

(May 23, 2023)

HARRISBURG, May 23 – During a voting meeting Tuesday, the Pennsylvania House Labor and Industry Committee reported two pieces of legislation, HB967 and HR60 , out of committee and to the House floor. The bill would increase protections for hotel employees by requiring hotel employers provide devices which serve as “panic buttons” for employees working alone servicing guestrooms. “The hotel and hospitality industry experiences some of the highest rates of workplace sexual assault and harassment. Due to the isolated nature of the work, certain guests feel empowered to take advantage of the unequal power imbalance and act in crude and criminal ways,” Rep. Jason Dawkins, D-Phila., majority chair of the Pennsylvania House Labor and Industry Committee, said. “And we have duty to those hospitality workers to take this issue head on and legislate the protections they need and deserve. Hospitality workers should be able to feel secure and protected in their working environment.” The resolution would designate June 5 through June 9, 2023, as “Union Organizing Week” to honor the workers who fought for their right to organize and bargain collectively at the workplace. “We are fighting for the working people of Pennsylvania in this committee,” Dawkins said. “And we will continue to celebrate working people while I’m majority Read more

 

Critics call for greater accountability in aftermath of allegations that Franklin Towne fixed its lottery

(May 09, 2023)

“As taxpayers, we should not be funding schools that engage in such practices,” Dawkins said in a statement. “If found guilty, they should face severe penalties. We must hold our schools accountable for providing equal opportunities for all students.” Read more

 

Dawkins releases statement on Franklin Towne Charter school lottery fixing

(May 08, 2023)

PHILADELPHIA, May 8 – State Rep. Jason Dawkins, D-Phila., said he is deeply concerned following reports that Franklin Towne Charter High School in Bridesburg had manipulated its lottery to deny acceptance to students based on ZIP code or history of academic or behavioral issues. “This is unacceptable. This discriminatory act is a violation of Pennsylvania law and denies children their right to a fair education,” Dawkins said. “As taxpayers, we should not be funding schools that engage in such practices.” The school is currently being investigated after a top administrator at the school alleged that the lottery was fixed. “If found guilty, they should face severe penalties. We must hold our schools accountable for providing equal opportunities for all students” he said. “It’s unacceptable that Franklin Towne Charter High School may have discriminated against students based on their ZIP codes during their admission lottery.” The Philadelphia Inquirer obtained data showing that 17 ZIP codes with 110 combined applicants had none selected, while 205 students were chosen from ZIP codes that had 702 total applicants. Dawkins said this raises serious concerns about the fairness and integrity of the lottery process. “Furthermore, reports of the school board's alleged favoritism towards former CEO Joe Venditti and the mistreatment of Read more

 

On a needle’s edge

(May 08, 2023)

Safe injections sites — otherwise known as supervised injection facilities or overdose prevention sites — are a hot-button issue that produce strong opinions and reactions. That is just the nature of trying to tackle a complex and complicated issue that doesn’t have an easy answer. What’s not an answer is outright banning them, as lawmakers in the Pennsylvania Senate are proposing to do with SB165 . We should debate the efficacy, the positives and the negatives. An outright no helps no one. Let’s first talk about what safe injections sites do. The sites allow people struggling with addiction to use their drugs under the supervision of medical professionals. The drugs are not provided, nor are they purchased on location. Medical professionals that assist use it as an opportunity to expose users to recovery options they may not have had or known about. Supervised injections have been practiced in Europe, Australia and Canada for some time now. New York opened two sites in Manhattan in 2021. Here in Philadelphia, as we work to combat the ongoing opioid epidemic, the idea has picked up steam. Proponents of safe injection sites highlight the benefits, which include reducing the number of overdose deaths, providing access to healthcare and support services to people with substance use disorders — who are often some of society’s most vulnerable populations — and reducing the spread of diseases like Read more

 

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

 

Local Elected Officials Urge U.S. Senate to Move Forward with Adeel Mangi’s Historic Judicial Nomination, Condemn Islamophobic Attacks
Mar 20, 2024

Bill to provide Unemployment Compensation Law, provide financial relief passed by state PA House
Nov 15, 2023

PA House Democrats approve legislation to increase nonprofit security grant program to $10 million
Nov 02, 2023

Two key labor bills pass state House, head to state Senate for consideration
Oct 18, 2023

Philadelphia House and Senate Delegations join Unite Here Local 634 in fight for a dignifying contract
Sep 21, 2023

Dawkins Fights for UPS Workers’ Rights
Jul 20, 2023

PA House passes legislation allowing recycled materials in stuffed toys
Jun 27, 2023

Pennsylvania House passes bill to raise minimum wage to $15 by 2026
Jun 22, 2023

PA House Labor & Industry Committee approves infrastructure legislation
Jun 22, 2023

Dawkins: Stand on the Side of Workers
Jun 20, 2023

PA House passes minimum wage increase legislation
Jun 20, 2023

‘Some people have three jobs’: All eyes on Harrisburg for a minimum wage hike
Jun 20, 2023

Dawkins Moving the Needle on Minimum Wage
Jun 13, 2023

Pennsylvania House Labor & Industry Committee votes on minimum wage increase and child labor protection legislation
Jun 13, 2023

Pennsylvania House Labor & Industry votes on paid leave legislation
Jun 06, 2023

Pennsylvania House Labor & Industry votes on worker focused legislation
May 23, 2023

Critics call for greater accountability in aftermath of allegations that Franklin Towne fixed its lottery
May 09, 2023

Dawkins releases statement on Franklin Towne Charter school lottery fixing
May 08, 2023

On a needle’s edge
May 08, 2023

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