PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 27 – State Rep. Jason Dawkins, D-Phila., today announced that his community has been awarded $500,000 in state grant funding for reconstruction of 4363 Frankford Ave. in the city. “This is the kind of improvement we need to continue to breathe life into the community,” Dawkins said. “I will continue to do my part to bring the necessary resources and funds to support Philadelphia and Philadelphians.” The building at 4363 Frankford Ave. is an abandoned three-story brick structure, which will be redeveloped with new doors, windows, wall flooring, HVAC systems, insulation, security and roofing. Read more
Such a ruling by the judiciary undermines constituents’ faith in our system of government and results in them holding the perception that their votes are those of second-class citizens and will make no difference. Perceptions of this nature are dangerous as they undermine our democratic system, creating an endless cycle of hopelessness and fear of the authorities. Fear eliminates the belief that justice is blind and elicits a view that lady justice herself is willing to turn a blind eye to the plight of those seeking justice in particular zip codes. Read more
Fire Prevention Week + Fighting Hunger in Phila. Read more
PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 26 – Chairman Jason Dawkins of the Philadelphia Delegation of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives issued the following statement after meeting with Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner today in Center City. “Today’s meeting was about something the Republican Majority that has controlled state government for decades never did – get the facts and have an honest conversation,” Dawkins said. “Instead, the GOP has gone back to the same tired playbook - stirring fear in their base about the state’s largest city and biggest economic driver – combined with their newest obsession of overturning a free and fair election when the results don’t go their way. “If the Republican majority is so concerned with crime in Philadelphia, then why do they oppose funding for our children and why do they deny the city’s elected officials the right to write their own gun safety laws like banning assault weapons? “We’ll welcome them when they are ready to work toward real solutions that don’t involve using the victims of gun violence as political pawns.” According to Dawkins, the hyper partisan, so-called House Select Committee on Restoring Law and Order that is “investigating” Krasner is scheduled to meet in Philadelphia later this week. Read more
State Rep. Jason Dawkins, D-Phila., applauded Gov. Tom Wolf today for maintaining his promise to invest in education in the commonwealth by awarding more than $384 million to Pre-K and Head Start Programs in Pennsylvania. The money allotted to these programs will deliver funding to two child learning centers in Dawkins’ legislative district. Amazing Kidz Academy LLC received $800,000 and Heavenly Daycare and Learning Center Inc. was awarded $200,000 to help more children receive quality education. The funding was made available through the PA Department of Education’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning and will open up 2,960 additional Pre-K Counts slots and provide Head Start with funding to cover the costs of operation. Dawkins said the funding for these programs will go a long way to help reduce quality-of-life issues that plague Philadelphia and the entire commonwealth. " Reducing gun violence, poverty and addiction in our communities begins with a good education before children even get into school, so I'm happy to see this funding for our local Pre-K schools and the opening of additional slots for Head Start through the School District of Philadelphia. The importance of early education is clear, and I appreciate Governor Wolf's administration investing in our children and families," Dawkins said. The funding will assist 37,213 children in accessing affordable Read more
“We have a state budget due in one day. Let’s focus on that. Let’s focus on getting money to our schools and to our communities. We must end this absurd political theater that’s meant to distract from the real issue – which is that the legislature must do something about gun proliferation and gun violence and not tie the hands of cities like Philadelphia when it comes to enacting sensible gun reforms.” Read more
Let us be very clear: the senseless violence we have seen unfold in Texas and Buffalo is the direct result of years of inaction by the government when it comes to commonsense gun reform. While mass shootings are occurring at an extremely alarming rate, some of those in government continue to prevent any gun reform legislation from seeing the light of day. How many families need to be destroyed, how many children’s bodies do we have to step over to see gun reform happen? Representative Rob Kauffman, chair of the House Judiciary Committee, has flat-out stated that if he is in charge, the gun laws in Pennsylvania will never change. Our question for Representative Kauffman is: Why are we as Americans so afraid of having to submit to a background check? Does the right to own a gun trump the right for our children to live happy and safe lives? At what point do we say enough is enough? Read more
PHILADELPHIA, April 22 – State Rep. Jason Dawkins, D-Phila., announced today a Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program grant worth $1 million has been awarded for Frankford Community Development Corp.’s supermarket development. This project will ensure that Frankford residents and transit customers have access to affordable, fresh, healthy food and affordable health care. The FTC TOD project will consist of a mixed-use development anchored by a full-service supermarket. Additionally, Frankford CDC is seeking to include a health center offering an array of health and wellness services. “With all the high levels of food insecurity across Philadelphia, combined with the pandemic, it is more important than ever that our residents have access to affordable, healthy food and affordable health care,” Dawkins said. “I am happy to see this grant money being awarded to the Frankford Community Development Corporation, as I believe it will be a big help to many Frankford residents.” Read more
HARRISBURG, April 20 – The Pennsylvania House of Representative’s Philadelphia Delegation congratulated the City of Philadelphia on its receiving state funds to go ahead with several street and school projects and upgrades for ADA improvements and cyclists around the city. Gov. Tom Wolf and state Transportation Secretary Yassmin Gramian today announced the approval of funding for 64 projects to improve transportation alternatives and enhance mobility and public accessibility across the state, five of which are destinated for Philadelphia. The Office of Transportation, Infrastructure and Sustainability and Streets Department will receive: $1 million for a streetscape, side path/trail and intersection safety upgrade project that completes a major gap in the Philadelphia and Circuit trail network. Upon completion, trail users will connect to the Pennypack Trail and the East Coast Greenway, safely allowing passage from Northeast Philadelphia neighborhoods to the national East Coast Greenway (both completed portions and soon-to-be constructed portions). $1 million to replace painted pedestrian areas on Chestnut Street, with concrete pedestrian islands to elevate pedestrian safety along the corridor and expand the project area west to 63rd Street. $1 million for Logan Square sidewalk modernization at the Swann Memorial Fountain, including updating eight outdated ADA ramps and replacing approximately 18,000 square feet of Read more
PHILADELPHIA, April 14 – State Rep. Morgan Cephas and state Sen. Christine Tartaglione, along with fellow lawmakers and the Wolf administration, today announced $25.6 million in American Rescue Plan funding to be allocated for a new maternal and child health initiative in Pennsylvania. The funding announcement also coincides with Black Maternal Health Week, April 11-17 . “With the promise in this funding, we are putting money into solving maternal mortality and working to address the social determinants of health that contribute to the crisis we are experiencing across Pennsylvania," Cephas said. “The administration’s opting Pennsylvania into extended Medicaid was a major move to start solving part of the crisis now, as well. That program began April 1, and the initiatives we’re announcing today are going to reach millions of more birthing parents and children through doula services, targeted services, healthy eating pilot programs and lead remediation.” “Our democratic counterparts in the US House and Senate sent Pennsylvania billions of dollars in the American Rescue Plan to reinvest to strengthen our commonwealth,” Tartaglione said. “We cannot let the historic opportunity afforded to us pass without making life-changing and crucially needed investments in historically disinvested communities. The allocation of this grant money will help Temple Woman’s and Infant’s Hospital finally open Read more
“Our hearts go out to the families of those who tragically lost their lives and to those who were injured in today’s house fire in the Fairmount section of Philadelphia. Such a horrific loss of life shakes us to our core, especially when we hear seven children are included in this terrible number. We pray the number of lives lost does not rise. No year should ever start out like this, with such a tragic loss of innocent life. Poverty should never be a death sentence. There are many questions that we will have for the Philadelphia Housing Authority about how this tragedy came to pass, but right now our focus must be on sharing our prayers, grief and condolences as one community in mourning.” Read more
HARRISBURG, Nov. 16 – The Democratic members of the Philadelphia House Delegation and Chairman Jason Dawkins released a statement addressing the passage of S.B. 565. The bill would rescind the requirement for gun owners to have a permit to carry a firearm, openly or concealed, across the state including in Philadelphia, and would lower the minimum age which someone can carry from 21 to 18. “This year, the city of Philadelphia has suffered at the hands of gun violence, suffering 1,563 nonfatal and 391 fatal shootings as of Nov. 14. Mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, cousins, and friends are all saying goodbye to loved ones who fall at the hands of offenders with guns. It is a nightmare that gets worse with each passing day. Instead of providing good guidance on the state level, the majority party is busy introducing bills that repeal good safety measures to keep Pennsylvanians, and especially Philadelphians, safe. “This is not a fight we will let go lightly. We will continue to work with local officials, and certainly our fight continues at the state level, to make sure that commonsense gun laws and practices are in place. It is irresponsible for the party in charge, our Republican counterparts, to allow this dangerous legislation to be approved. It should never have hit the House floor in the first place.” Read more
As winter approaches and we prepare to spend even more time indoors, utility bills are only going to get more expensive. Additionally, we know that the COVID-19 pandemic and economic downturn have made it difficult for many to keep up with home energy bills. No Pennsylvanian should ever have to worry that their heat will be shut off during the coldest and darkest months of the year. The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is a federally funded program administered by the Department of Human Services (DHS) that provides assistance for home heating bills so Pennsylvanians can stay warm and safe during the winter months. Assistance is available for both renters and homeowners. LIHEAP helps some of the commonwealth’s most vulnerable citizens — children, older Pennsylvanians, people with disabilities, and low-income families — make ends meet. Anyone who may need help, or anyone who has loved ones or neighbors who could benefit from this program, is encouraged to apply for LIHEAP today. APPLY FOR LIHEAP LIHEAP FACTS How do I apply for LIHEAP? Depending on preference, different options are available to apply for LIHEAP: Apply online: Pennsylvanians can apply at www.compass.state.pa.us . Paper applications: Call the LIHEAP Helpline at 1-866-857-7095 to request a paper application. Paper applications can also be downloaded from the DHS LIHEAP web page . County Assistance Office (CAO) services are available if clients Read more
HARRISBURG, Sept. 28 – Chairman of the Philadelphia Delegation state Rep. Jason Dawkins released a statement in response to Gov. Tom Wolf’s remarks regarding state Rep. Kevin Boyle. “Gov. Wolf today called for our colleague, state Rep. Kevin Boyle of Philadelphia, to step down amid his arrest for harassment and violation of a protection from abuse order. These are serious issues and will be dealt with by Kevin and his family. “While not an excuse, it’s important to know that Kevin is dealing with mental health issues and is presently seeking treatment. The governor graciously indicated that Kevin deserves to have treatment for mental health issues but said ‘I think while he goes through that treatment, he should not serve in the legislature.’ “The governor’s statements lack sympathy, genuine concern, and an overall understanding of what people with mental health issues, and their families, go through. Philadelphia has more than 17% of adults diagnosed with a mental health condition, with the next highest counties coming in at 15% and below. Philadelphians also average more days of poor mental health than the state or national average. “The governor also missed the opportunity to talk about what we need to do to stem the ever-growing tide of those suffering from mental health conditions. We could certainly be putting more support, financial and otherwise, behind local and statewide programs to help those Read more
HARRISBURG, Sept. 8 – State Rep. Jason Dawkins, D-Phila., announced more than $6 million in crime prevention grants, largely gun violence prevention grants, across Philadelphia have been awarded through the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency. The statewide grant program is dedicated to breaking cycles of violence and substance abuse in communities across the commonwealth. “This grant program will help organizations and applicants working hard to help stop gun violence and crime in our communities, and who are always looking for resources and funding to help in the fight,” said Dawkins, who is chairman of the House Philadelphia Delegation. “These groups put forth every effort into making a difference in their communities and at a time when gun violence is plaguing the city. Without them, I don’t know where the city would be. We need to support their work at every possible turn to help finally eradicate the rise in all forms of violence we are witnessing every day.” In Dawkins’ 179 th Legislative District, the Anti-Violence Partnership of Philadelphia was awarded a $150,000 grant through PCCD’s Violence and Delinquency Prevention Program. The funding will be used to address gun and other violence, school safety and transportation safety as well as good paying jobs, job training, family resources and high school graduation rates. More information about the Pennsylvania Read more
HARRISBURG, Aug. 25 – State Rep. and Philadelphia Delegation Chairman Jason Dawkins today made the following statement on behalf of the delegation addressing the Republican denial of an extension on Gov. Tom Wolf’s opioid emergency declaration. “It is shameful that the majority party has decided to allow for the lapse of this very important designation. Opioid addiction is Pennsylvania’s other epidemic and was at one point moving in the right direction, with overdose deaths falling since 2018. But with COVID-19, opioid use is up again, but this time the Republican majority has decided to let the governor's opioid disaster declaration expire, setting up Pennsylvania for yet another healthcare war to wage in addition to COVID. It is shameful, particularly when we know things were working. The Republicans punishing Governor Wolf and trying to cut him out of this process does nothing for the many people who battle this every day. As our city has seen the harsh reality of this as much as any municipality in the commonwealth, it is with much regret that we are witnessing the dismantling of such an important declaration.” The declaration was first signed in January 2018 to help the commonwealth fight the deadly opioid and heroin epidemic and was renewed 15 times, most recently on Aug. 4. Since 2017, when naloxone was made available to first responders, more than 16,000 overdose reversals have been reported, close to 80 trainings conducted and Read more
PHILA., Aug. 8 – Philadelphia Delegation Chairman Jason Dawkins is hosting the House Democratic Policy Committee for a tour and roundtable discussion of the former Cancer Centers of America facility, Temple Health's Juniata Park Campus. The tour will begin at 2 p.m. Monday, Aug. 9 at 1331 E. Wyoming Ave., Philadelphia. The hearing is open to the media and inquiries may be submitted to policy@pahouse.net . Chairman Dawkins will be joined by Policy Committee Chairman Ryan Bizzarro and members of the House Democratic Policy Committee for a tour of their recently-purchased facility and discuss how the acquisition will impact patient care, healthcare access, and jobs in the region. Visit www.pahouse.com/policy for more information about this and other committee events. ### Read more
HARRISBURG, May 26 – State Rep. and Philadelphia Delegation Chairman Jason Dawkins today made the following statement on behalf of the delegation, addressing the abhorrent article published online this week. “In a recent post on the Philadelphia Weekly website, the Philly Weekly staff felt it was time to drive up clicks to their site by making a complete mockery of homicide rates in the city of Philadelphia by turning it into a guessing game ahead of the November general election. They asked their readers to guess how many murders there will be in Philadelphia on Nov. 2, General Election day, and are offering the winner a prize. A prize? This is abhorrent, childish and unconscionable. The tragic increase in shooting deaths throughout Philadelphia is serious and heartbreaking. Pointing out the real tragedy of homicides in Philadelphia and highlighting the disproportionate impact it has on poor communities and on communities of color would be a better way to bring attention to the problem and to discuss solutions. But it doesn’t look like solutions to this crisis are of concern to Philadelphia Weekly.” Members of the Philadelphia Delegation, Pennsylvania House of Representatives Chairman, Jason Dawkins Vice Chairman, Malcolm Kenyatta Secretary, Elizabeth Fiedler Kevin Boyle Amen Brown Donna Bullock Danilo Burgos Morgan B Cephas Angel Cruz Read more
PHILADELPHIA, May 10 – House Democratic Leader Joanna McClinton today hosted a public hearing highlighting her caucus’s proposal to invest federal funding to help Pennsylvania recover, restore and reimagine, starting with investments in green collar jobs. The House Democratic Policy Committee hearing, held at the Community College of Philadelphia, focused on investments in clean energy and how the proposed $50 million investment would get Pennsylvanians back to work in jobs that pay livable wages. The committee heard testimony from: Dr. Donald Guy Generals, president, Community College of Philadelphia; Michael Neill, apprentice training director, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers 98; Brian Myers, assistant apprentice training director, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers 98; and Anna Shipp, executive director, Green Stormwater Infrastructure Partners, Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia. “Green collar jobs are high-tech, high-wage and the fastest-growing career sector in any industry,” said McClinton, D-Phila./Delaware. “By investing in the clean energy industry and supporting job training to get workers on the job, the PA Rescue Plan is creating a greener future in more ways than one.” State Rep. Ryan Bizzarro, chairman of the Policy Committee added, “The last year doesn’t have to cripple our future. We can use federal dollars to help make Pennsylvania a leader in creating Read more
HARRISBURG, April 15 – State Rep. and Philadelphia Delegation Chairman Jason Dawkins today made the following statement on behalf of the delegation at the conclusion of the 14th Republican-led State Government Committee hearing on voting in Pennsylvania. “We have watched the Republican leadership in the state House run 14 State Government Committee hearings on voting. The impetus of these hearings was clear at the outset and crystal clear at the end. The Republican majority in Harrisburg intends to push legislation that will suppress voters’ rights by making it harder to vote and intends to continue to force the big lie that the 2020 election was fraudulent while it was not. “The Republican members on the committee showed nothing but contempt for Philadelphia’s hardworking election workers and contempt for Philadelphia’s voters by continuously repeating false and unsubstantiated claims made by the Trump campaign and carried out across the country by those who do his bidding. “Philadelphia’s management of the 2020 election was validated by the courts, and the 2020 election was confirmed by multiple nonpartisan examinations as free, fair and accurate. “Philadelphians deserve to have their voices heard through their vote, and we, the members of the House Philadelphia delegation, will vehemently oppose any legislation perpetuating this direct hit on our democracy and the fair and valid election we all just Read more
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