On this Day of Remembrance, reach out to a trans person in your life to let them that you see and respect them. If you don’t know a trans person, take some time to find out more about their community, so that ‘they/them’ can truly become ‘us.’ Read more
Pa. state Rep. Joe Hohenstein is calling on his fellow Philadelphians to be good neighbors and consider the consequences of late night fireworks displays. He says the explosions are causing anxiety for many neighbors, including veterans suffering from PTSD, seniors, children and even pets. Read more
PHILADELPHIA, May 28 – Today, state Rep. Joe Hohenstein, D-Phila., released the following statement after Republican leadership had been notified one of their own members tested positive for COVID-19 and failed to alert the Democratic party, Capitol staff, and Capitol police about a positive Covid-19 test. “We all need to take care of each other to get through this pandemic. It is disappointing that common decency was pushed aside, and lives were put at risk,” Hohenstein said. “Republicans have been fighting to reopen the economy, claiming that businesses will stick to CDC guidelines to keep customers safe. How can we believe that when even elected legislators are ignoring the rules? “I work closely with some of the Republicans who have been self-isolating from their families over the past week. If I’d known about the potential exposure, I would not have spent the holiday weekend with my daughter close at my side. I also fear that my participation in Memorial Day ceremonies may have risked our veterans, after they have sacrificed so much for us. My trust is shattered. “One of the core testimonies of our Quaker heritage is to act with integrity. We should be whole and undivided during this time, but we are falling prey to more partisan thinking. I pray that God has mercy on all of us if this secrecy results in an outbreak at the Capitol.” Read more
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected all of us, and though our immediate future remains unclear, one thing is for certain — we are all in this together. It saddens me to witness the politicization of this crisis. What should be a joint struggle for the greater good has become a contentious debate pitting lives against livelihoods. For some, the public health impact is the priority. For others, the social and economic impacts take precedence. But regardless of how we each feel, we must all recognize that we all have a stake in how we move forward. T hose of us in government have a duty to serve the public as best as we can, and to ensure that the cure – social distancing and stay-at-home orders – does not cause more harm than the disease itself. Our best policies moving forward must include input from our workers who are operating on the frontlines of this crisis: nurses, EMTs, doctors, police, firefighters, delivery and postal workers, grocery store clerks, pharmacists, transit workers, in-home and nursing home caregivers, and maintenance and sanitation workers, among others. But of all the legislation that has been up for vote in Harrisburg, almost none of it has directly addressed worker safety – and by extension public safety. The voices of frontline workers have been ignored. Instead, since Pennsylvania’s state of emergency began, our docket has been dominated by special interests whose sole focus is Read more
Pa. state Rep. Joe Hohenstein continued his efforts to combat COVID-19 and protect Pennsylvanians by voting against legislation that would unnecessarily put lives at risk. Read more
“My support for this resolution is my way of recognizing the generosity of those who helped me. Along with Representative Hanbidge, I will continue to work for greater access to hearing aids so that people with hearing loss can have access to the opportunities with which I have been blessed.” Read more
PHILADELPHIA, April 6 – Today, state Rep. Joe Hohenstein, D-Phila., released the following statement in response to H.B.s 2400, 2376 and 1874, which House Republicans introduced to reopen select industries closed by Gov. Tom Wolf’s COVID-19 mitigations efforts: “I am more than simply opposed to House Bill 2400 and the others like it – I believe they make a fundamental statement that the GOP thinks company profits are more important than human life. That’s why I felt compelled to travel to Harrisburg during the stay-at-home order and give a statement during today’s House State Government Committee meeting. This flippant attitude toward worker safety shouldn’t be treated as normal. “Eventually we will have to loosen restrictions on commercial and economic activity, but right now it’s important to protect vulnerable populations from exposure by reducing points of contact between people wherever possible. There’s no possible way for workers to safely return to retail stores and construction sites without risking their safety. That’s not a risk that I’m willing to take.” Read more
With the federal response still clouded by politics, state Sen. Larry Farnese and Rep. Joe Hohenstein will introduce state legislation to provide emergency paid sick leave for Pennsylvania workers affected by the COVID-19 outbreak and response. “While drastic action was necessary to stem the spread of this dangerous virus, equally aggressive action must be taken to help those who are suffering the economic consequences of our mitigation policies,” Farnese said. “We must recognize their sacrifice to public health.” The bills are designed to enhance and further the provisions of the U.S. House-passed Families First Coronavirus Response Act. “It’s time to recognize paid sick and family leave not only as sound and humane economic policy, but also as fundamental public health policy,” Hohenstein said. “While we have known this for years, this pandemic should drive home for long-time opponents the need to motivate workers to stay home when sick.” The lawmakers have begun circulating co-sponsorship memos for companion legislation in each chamber that will provide: Emergency paid sick leave for all employees not covered by the federal bill. Extended paid sick leave for an additional 4 days to cover the full two-week quarantine period as the federal bill only covers 10 days. Extended leave for those laid off or whose workplaces Read more
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