Khan Urges Everyone to Let Their Voices be Heard

(Nov 06, 2023)

Pa. state Rep. Tarik Khan reminds everyone that Tuesday, November 7th is Election Day in Pennsylvania. There are plenty of local races impacting you, from local judges to county officials to the Mayor of Philadelphia! Get out and vote at your local polling place! Read more

 

Khan Receives New COVID Vaccine

(Nov 03, 2023)

Pa. state Rep. Tarik Khan received his COVID shot at the Capitol and took the time to explain the importance of being vaccinated. Read more

 

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

(Nov 02, 2023)

“No one should feel afraid to attend a house of worship. We need to ensure our communities are kept safe, including our mosques, synagogues, and LGBTQ+ centers, said Khan. “I’m proud to have helped lead this bill, which demonstrates that we won’t stand by while acts of violence are committed in our most sacred spaces.” Read more

 

Khan Highlights Nonprofit Security Bill

(Nov 02, 2023)

Pa. state Rep. Tarik Khan highlighted his bill, H.B. 1772, which would increase grants to nonprofits and houses of worship to help protect them against hate-fueled violence. Read more

 

Khan Backs Increasing Education Funding

(Nov 02, 2023)

Pa. state Rep. Tarik Khan continues fighting for high quality education for all students in Pennsylvania. As a product of the public school system, he knows just how impactful a child’s education is in shaping the rest of their life. Read more

 

To Bullies Everywhere: Here, we SLAPP Back

(Oct 29, 2023)

As published in the East Falls Forward and The Chestnut Hill Local This spring, I met with a community group to discuss a lawsuit. A business was suing one of the community group’s members. The litigation was not alleging theft, property damage, or a failure to pay, but instead was filed after the exercise of a constitutionally protected right of free speech. Because of this suit, the tiny community nonprofit faced thousands of dollars in court costs and the steep emotional toll of defending a lawsuit. The group was asking for my help. They wanted anti-SLAPP legislation.” SLAPP stands for Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation. SLAPP suits intend to bully, frighten, and silence. Investigative news outlets like 60 Minutes have been “SLAPPed” for exposing corruption. President Trump lobbed a ½ billion dollar SLAPP suit against CNN for running a critical story about his “big lie” election fraud nonsense. My former boss, Jay Leno, was SLAPPed several times for bad jokes. When I was in high school, Oprah was SLAPPed for millions by the meat industry when she said on air that she would stop eating burgers over mad cow concerns. These celebrity defendants had deep pockets and big-time lawyers who could easily fight back. But all too often, suits are waged against individuals, small nonprofits, and community groups. Victims of abuse and other advocates who speak out. And folks who will Read more

 

Legislators, PA Coalition for Trans Youth, TAKE, NEPA Stands Up rally for safe and equal schools

(Oct 17, 2023)

HARRISBURG, Oct. 17 – State Reps. Joe Hohenstein, D-Phila.; Nancy Guenst, D-Montgomery; Paul Takac, D-Centre; Ismail Smith-Wade-El, D-Lancaster; Tarik Khan, D-Phila.; the PA Coalition for Trans Youth; Transgender Advocates Knowledgeable Empowering; NEPA Stands Up and allies held a rally for safe and equal schools on the state Capitol steps in Harrisburg on Tuesday. Speakers highlighted a package of bills that would protect students from gender-based discrimination, bullying and harassment, and provide inclusive accommodations and curriculum. The package includes: Legislation introduced by Guenst that would create a statewide policy for all public schools to prohibit student discrimination and harassment based on actual or perceived sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression through anti-discrimination and harassment prevention and early intervention policies to create a supportive and equal opportunity learning environment. “Our children deserve to step into their learning environments across the commonwealth feeling safe and respected. No child should be made to feel less than their peers due to the real or perceived distinction of belonging to classes that do not currently hold statewide protections,” Guenst said. “This legislation would bridge the gaps currently being filled by individual school districts through policies that cover a wide spectrum; Read more

 

Khan Lauds House Passage of Anti SLAPP Legislation

(Oct 12, 2023)

Pa. state Rep. Tarik Khan voices his support for an anti intimidation bill that unanimously passed the House and is now on its way to the state Senate. The bill would create an efficient process to quickly dismiss SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation) lawsuits based upon protected speech and would also allow defendants to recover costs and fees related to the action. Read more

 

Khan: Substance Abuse Should Be Treated By Health Care Professionals, Not Prisons

(Oct 06, 2023)

Pa. state Rep. Tarik Khan spoke against a bill that would criminalize the possession of xylazine, an animal tranquilizer, except by veterinarians. Khan, a healthcare provider himself, says substance abuse is a disease that should be treated by healthcare professionals, not by prisons. Read more

 

Khan Holds FREE Health and Wellness Expo at Roxborough Hospital School of Nursing

(Sep 25, 2023)

PA. state Rep. Tarik Khan’s first annual Health and Wellness Expo brought together community members and service providers to provide everything from health screenings to yoga lessons, to hand massages! Read more

 

Honoring Our Patients’ Last Wishes

(Sep 25, 2023)

As printed in the Chestnut Hill Local and East Falls Forward I still serve as a family nurse practitioner at Abbotsford Falls Health Center once a week. My Friday morning shifts have greatly informed my legislative advocacy. For example, my clinical work influenced my bills expanding school-based health centers and allowing nurse practitioners to practice to the fullest extent of their license. Another legislative issue I've frequently considered, due to my continued nursing service, is ensuring that patients are the primary decision-makers in their care. For insurance, I've seen patients with hypertension tell me they do not wish to start blood pressure medication. Some with high cholesterol don't want to be prescribed Lipitor or other similar medicines. And some with diabetes don't want to take insulin or check their blood sugar. While I share with patients from my perspective what is most clinically appropriate, part of my role is to be an educator and an advocate. Not a judge. Not the primary decision-maker for patients. As a healthcare provider, I am a part of the patient's care team and duty-bound to ensure we follow a patient's healthcare decisions. And no time is more crucial to ensure a patient's wishes are carried out than when they are at the end of their life. Recently, a constituent at my Manayunk office came to advocate for a PA Senate bill 631 Read more

 

State Rep. Tarik Khan, others introduce bipartisan resolution marking September 2023 as ‘National Recovery Month’

(Sep 07, 2023)

HARRISBURG, Sept. 7 – State Rep. Tarik Khan, D-Phila., and several other state legislators on Wednesday circulated a bipartisan co-sponsorship memo that would designate September 2023 as National Recovery Month in the commonwealth if passed by the state House. “As a nurse, I’ve seen the impact of substance use on persons in our community. Too often, individuals struggle with substance use because of the failures of our healthcare system, including unscrupulous drug companies, inadequate policies and regulations,” Khan said. “I’m proud to have helped lead this bipartisan legislation to recognize that recovery is possible and highlight the importance of supporting recovery efforts in our commonwealth.” Rep. Jamie Flick, R-Lycoming/Union, a prime co-sponsor, echoed Khan’s remarks. “Recovery is possible. Treatment works. There are programs and people in place to help every person struggling with addiction, and resources for families of addiction. I cannot stress enough that every person – regardless of how long they’ve been struggling with addiction – is deserving of recovery,” Flick said. Another co-prime sponsor, Rep. Mike Cabell, R-Luzerne, highlighted the horrors of substance use disorder, adding that this is an area of major concern for legislators on both sides of the aisle. “National Recovery Month holds special meaning for me due Read more

 

Let’s make Michael’s Law a reality in Pennsylvania.

(Aug 31, 2023)

By: State Representative Tarik Khan As published in the East Falls Forward and Chestnut Hill Local I stood in the middle of the room and gazed at the walls. The afternoon light streamed through the blinds, partially illuminating some familiar objects – an Eagles banner, a Bryce Harper bobblehead, a framed photo of a former Democratic President. "This guy reminds me of me," I thought. As my eyes continued to scan the room, I saw an old Philadelphia Daily newspaper hanging on the wall with a triumphant-looking man on the cover. "What was that about?" I inquired. "You never heard about Michael's case?" his father asked. "Michael" was Michael Anderson, a legislative advocate from The Arc of Philadelphia. I first met him Zoom call not long after being sworn in as a state representative from Manayunk/Roxborough to learn how to better advocate for persons with disabilities in the legislature. The organization Michael works for, The Arc, champions the needs of people with developmental disabilities and their families. Michael is a "do-er," with an honest and direct manner and contagious optimism. He also has cerebral palsy (spastic quadriplegia), which means that he has limited use of his arms and legs and relies on his caregivers for all the activities of daily living. When Michael asked me to visit his home, I was eager to take him up on the offer. Read more

 

Philadelphia House Delegation advancing eviction reform

(Aug 30, 2023)

PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 30 – In response to a series of violent incidents involving landlord-tenant officers taking place in the city, members of the Philadelphia House Delegation today said the organization has been working hand in hand with the House Housing and Community Development Committee to help end the practice of private contractors performing eviction services. As part of this collaboration, both organizations held a public hearing Tuesday in the Philadelphia City Council Chambers on proposed reforms regarding landlord and tenant officers and evictions. Rep. Morgan Cephas, chair of the Philadelphia House Delegation, explained that a vital concern is that the eviction services are executed by people without the proper training, and carrying guns. “Moving forward there needs to be accountability and transparency with an agency that is responsible to the citizens of Philadelphia,” Cephas said. “We are determined to take this task away from the unaccountable, private entities. “We respect the need for landlords to run their business and receive their payments in a timely manner. However, the need for compassionate, respectful interaction with tenants was made obvious in the hearing,” she added. Rep. Mike Sturla, chair of the PA House Housing and Community Development Committee, highlighted that when it comes to housing it is important to look at the Read more

 

Khan Rallies with Striking Actors and Actresses

(Aug 23, 2023)

Pa. state Rep. Tarik Khan rallies with SAG-AFTRA workers who are fighting for better working conditions and fair contracts against corporate greed. Read more

 

Property Tax Relief at Last, Storm Updates and Free Breakfast for Kids

(Aug 17, 2023)

Over the past week, I met up several times with neighbors at Gorgas Park and Kelly Park to clean up the damage following the storms. Thanks to all the volunteers and neighbors who donate their time and labor to keep our community safe and beautiful! Read more

 

State Rep. Tarik Khan immerses himself in the community

(Aug 01, 2023)

Next, Representative Khan’s District Office will hold remote office hours at the Falls of Schuylkill Library in East Falls on July 31st from 5 p.m. to 7:30 pm. You may also see him around town knocking doors to inform neighbors about the state services his office can assist with. For more information on upcoming events and legislative efforts, visit his office at 4001 Main Street, Philadelphia, PA 19127, or call (215) 482-8726. Read more

 

Our State Budget Deserves Better

(Jul 27, 2023)

On July 5th, my House colleagues and I traveled back to Harrisburg to vote “yes” to pass the state budget. The budget is an excellent opportunity to make significant investments in our community. As a graduate of K-12 Philadelphia public schools, education is a top priority for me and my Democratic caucus. We advocated and voted to pass historic education funding. $1 billion of the $45.5 billion budget will go to our K-12 schools. $100 million of this funding will be to “level up” our most underfunded schools. We added $125 million to help improve school facility safety. And all students, regardless of income, will receive universal free breakfast because of this budget, so no child in our public schools has to learn on an empty stomach. Well-nourished students perform better in school, and students who perform better in school get better jobs. No child will have the stigma of receiving breakfast at school because of their family’s income—all kids will receive this and will be more likely to eat these nutrient-rich meals. While visiting over 15,000 residences in our community during my campaign to be your state representative, I saw first-hand the need to support neighbors on a fixed income. For the first time in our state’s history, our budget secures state funding for the Whole Home Repair program—$50 million to help neighbors with safety repairs and accessibility modifications for their homes. This budget funds nearly Read more

 

Philadelphia House Delegation calls for bold changes in eviction process

(Jul 25, 2023)

State Rep. Tarik Khan said, "“I am horrified by the recent shootings over the last few months by “landlord-tenant officers” during evictions. Evictions are difficult times in neighbors’ lives and, when necessary, should be conducted humanely. I am proud to be working with Representatives Krajewski, Green, and Chairwoman Cephas to ensure compassion, safety, and transparency during the evictions process.” Read more

 

Four July Events for Our Neighbors!

(Jul 14, 2023)

Dear Neighbors,This summer, my office is heading into the community to provide local support. July is full of events throughout our neighborhoods. In addition to our weekday office hours at 4001 Main Street in Manayunk, kindly see below four ways we are connecting with neighbors this July to bring state services to the community! Read more