State lawmakers from Philadelphia are trying to pass new legislation that would help prevent rowhomes from being damaged by adjacent demolitions and reduce defects in newly built houses. Read more
Dear Senators Casey and Fetterman and Members of Pennsylvania's Congressional Delegation: The undersigned Pennsylvania state legislators who are supporting our Afghan allies in Pennsylvania write to urge you use your congressional oversight authority to ensure that the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) act expeditiously to provide stable legal status and fair and efficient adjudication to vulnerable Afghans in our region. Read more
HARRISBURG, APRIL 26 – The Philadelphia House Delegation today announced that an important set of firearm safety bills was approved by the PA House Judiciary Committee today and is on its way to consideration by the full House. The package of legislation, which cleared its first key committee, is aimed at securing prompt reporting of theft or loss of firearms, keeping guns secure around children, regulating background checks, and repealing provisions relating to the sale or transfer of firearms, among other regulations. Philadelphia House Delegation Chair Morgan Cephas explained that this is a remarkable day for the delegation as another hurdle in efforts to deflate gun violence has been cleared. “This victory is long overdue. We are finally moving gun violence bills out of the Judiciary Committee. We have relentlessly fought for these bills”, Cephas said. “In a republican majority there was no chance for any kind of gun reform, but the time has come, and we couldn’t be more optimistic about this process. State Rep. Darisha Parker indicated that the bill on Safe Storage (H.B. 731) would help to save lives. Parker proposed consolidating statutes for firearms and other dangerous articles, providing for locking device for firearms. "There is no reason that anyone should lose a loved one because of a mishandled firearm," Parker said. "My legislation would Read more
HARRISBURG, April 19 – State Rep. Joe Hohenstein, D-Phila., today announced his plans to host a news conference at the Courtyard Philadelphia South at The Navy Yard, Wisconsin Room, 1001 Intrepid Ave., Philadelphia, PA, 19112 at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, April 20. This news conference is to shed light on the recent shutout of public comment and organizations focused on community and public safety for the Philadelphia LNG Natural Gas Export Task Force meeting at 10 a.m. that day. “The people’s business should be conducted out in the open, with transparency and honest debate. The chair of the Task Force went back on her word to provide space for people from the community to testify and to run the task force openly. Those voices will not be silenced and we will not stand for public debate being managed in the shadows,” Hohenstein said. “We are at our best when we acknowledge our differing opinions and debate them in an open forum. Representative White said she was going to do that and then silenced four witnesses from community and environmental perspectives. We deserve a government that listens to the people. This task force will not provide any useful recommendations as it is currently configured and operated.” The four individuals who were shut out of the Task Force meeting were Zulene Mayfield, chairperson of Chester Residents Concerned for Quality Living (CRCQL) ; Fred Millar, a national policy analyst Read more
PHILADELPHIA, April 12 – The Philadelphia House Delegation today announced that the organization praises the election of JoAnne Epps as acting president of Temple University and that it remains closely monitoring the transformative efforts of the Special Committee of the Board. “We are pleased with the appointment of Epps as acting president. The board of trustees made this election by unanimous vote, and it is certainly a clever decision,” said the delegation’s chair, state Rep. Morgan Cephas. “Epps has a proven track record of excellency, unparalleled leadership and expertise. We are looking forward to our collaboration. “We are celebrating this appointment, and we are taking action in favor of the university. Our goal is to help protect the stability of the institution.” On the same note, state Rep. Joseph C. Hohenstein, delegation secretary, highlighted some of the qualities that makes Epps an exceptional choice. "JoAnne Epps has my full support as the new interim president of Temple University," Hohenstein said. "She's spent over half of her life there teaching and making a true difference in young individuals’ lives right here at Temple. We're grateful that she has chosen to put her retirement on hold while the university finds its feet." Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, delegation treasurer, pointed out that he has known JoAnn Read more
Dear Acting Secretary Walker,Pursuant to the provisions of Act 1997-37, I hereby appoint Representative Joe Hohenstein to thePennsylvania Council for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.Thank you for your attention to this matter. Read more
HB2458 was introduced without consulting the representatives of the Philadelphia Port, or anyone involved in the business of the port. It proposes risky Liquid Natural Gas development in our residential neighborhoods in the Riverwards and South Philadelphia.My neighbors, who have lived for years with the health impacts of unfettered industry, deserve better. We ALL deserve better. Read more
HARRISBURG, April 4 – State Rep. Joe Hohestein, D-Phila., today applauded and celebrated the announcement by the PA Department of Education of its creation of a Disability Inclusive Curriculum Pilot Program to instruct K-12 students on political, economic and social contributions of people with disabilities. Under the program, schools can apply for up to $30,000 in grant funding to implement disability inclusive curriculum. “I’ve been an advocate for disability inclusive curriculum since before getting elected,” Hohenstein said. “We have to be conscious of the contributions every individual is able to make to society. We see far too often these individuals overlooked or passed over. It’s time for schools to start educating our children about these important figures in society, their contributions, and to give those who are differently abled role models and examples of pathways to success. This creates an exciting and inviting learning environment for all of our children.” The Disability Inclusive Curriculum Pilot Program, added to the Pennsylvania Public School Code last summer, is intended to promote topics and subject matter for instruction to all students and will help learners understand that disability is a natural part of the human condition, and emphasize the critical contributions of people with disabilities. The program will impact the overall culture and environment of schools by reducing the stigma of disability Read more
Pa. state Rep. Joe Hohenstein's local office is centrally located on Richmond St. in Bridesburg to be able to serve the many communities of the 177th Legislative District. Hohenstein and his staff are available to help with a variety of state services from PennDOT paperwork to utility assistance and so much more. He is working locally and in Harrisburg to lift up the communities of the River Wards and lower Northeast Philadelphia. Read more
Pa. state Rep. Joe Hohenstein discusses the inequality that members of the Trans Community face in the Commonwealth. He believes that all Pennsylvanians, especially members of the #TransCommunity, should have the ability to change their identities and names without going through a biased process. His child, Mars, speaks on their personal journey. More at www.rephohenstein.com Read more
PHILADELPHIA, March 30 – The Philadelphia House Delegation today announced that the organization is aggressively working on key actions that will boost prevention efforts and regulate reckless gun access in the commonwealth as part of a strategic plan to put a halt on the gun violence crisis that is assaulting the city. Philadelphia House Delegation Chair Morgan Cephas, who was not able to attend today’s news conference, explained earlier that the delegation was implementing a strategic plan to put a halt on the gun violence crisis that is assaulting the city. “Ending gun violence is a top priority for us. We're approaching this with a multi-pronged strategy, working closely with our state and city stakeholders. We cannot wait any longer to take action. Gun violence is preventable,” Cephas said. Rep. Danilo Burgos, vice chair of the delegation, explained that the institution has also formed a strong alliance with gun control advocacy groups in order to amplify efforts to combat gun violence. “Gun violence is not a responsibility that pertains to one person or one organization, this is a task for all of us,” Burgos said. “Public safety is everyone's responsibility. We are grateful to count on the powerful input of organizations like CeaseFire PA and Every Murder is Real, but also families of victims and survivors of gun violence who are incessantly raising awareness about this issue,” Burgos said. On Read more
“I want to know what you are doing to make sure we are safe,” demanded my constituent, Ralph. When I stepped into my office on Richmond Street in Bridesburg on Monday morning, Ralph was already there and he wanted answers to the chemical spill at the Trinseo Altugas facility in Bucks county that threatened our water in Philadelphia, and more specifically, our neighborhoods in Northeast Philly. Ralph wanted to know why we didn’t already have water being shipped in to ensure people’s safety after 8,000+ gallons of contaminants leaked into the Otter Creek and potentially into our water system. He questioned whether he could trust officials who waited until Sunday at noon to alert people to a threat that happened on Friday, a day and a half before. The alert that was sent out via text with minimal explanation or context, sparked panic. Philadelphians fled to local stores, buying up as much water as they could. He demanded accountability. Ralph, and many others just like you from our communities and the neighborhoods around the City were frightened by the news and the way it was delivered. Rightfully so. You all deserve safety. You deserve information you can trust. Most importantly, you deserve accountability, both from the government and from the company that acted recklessly and endangered so many of your lives and well-being. As for the core of the first concern, we know now that the safety of the water system is Read more
On Feb. 15 at 8 a.m., I set out to walk the boundary of the 177 Legislative District, our home. I stepped out my front door onto Wakeling Street, turned left and kept going for the next five days. I was looking to learn more about the inside of the district by walking the outside of it. I was inspired by the Walk Around Philly initiative, which happens twice a year throughout February and September. I joined organizer JJ Tiziou for the two days that my border along the Delaware River overlaps the city’s border. Read more
Pennsylvania State Representative Joe Hohenstein joined the parade too. “I’m proud half Irish,” he said. “The Irish are one of the immigrant groups that really created all of the United States.”He adds that the Irish have made America their own, but they’ve also done it by being consistent and staying with their heritage.The significance of St. Patrick’s Day is “about bringing the community together,” Hohenstein said.“It’s about people recognizing that we are all part of the same world, part of the same country, and we can connect with people. That’s what it is.” Read more
Pa. state Rep. Joe Hohenstein spoke about Governor Shapiro's first proposed budget. Hohenstein agrees with the Governor that some things are simply non-negotiable, including the rights of workers, protections against discrimination for everyone and health care rights for all. Read more
Pa. state Rep. Joe Hohenstein sat down with Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner to discuss how gun violence affects the disabled community and what can be done to improve their lives as they recover from these traumatic incidents. Read more
Pa. state Rep. Joe Hohenstein hosted a town hall meeting focusing on gun violence through the lens of disability. Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner along with community members and disability advocates shared their stories and had meaningful discussions about how to improve the lives of people with disabilities, particularly those re-entering society after incarceration. Read more
Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court Judge Renee Cohn Jubilerer issued a decision affirming the Constitutional right of our children to “a thorough and efficient system of public education to serve the needs of the Commonwealth.” She stated, “the Education Clause requires that every student be provided with a meaningful opportunity to succeed academically, socially, and civically, which requires that all students have access to a comprehensive, effective, and contemporary system of public education.” Those fancy words just mean that every kid deserves a good school. We do this because the whole state benefits when that happens. Judge Jubilerer decided that we have not been providing good schools to all our kids, particularly those in poorer areas – like Philadelphia. The key is that the obligation we have to fund education comes straight from the state Constitution. That means education funding must be at the front of the line, it is one of the most important responsibilities state government has. We in the General Assembly have not been taking that responsibility seriously enough, and we have created a system that gives kids in wealthier places the education the Constitution promises but leaves out poor kids in schools that lack the basics. The decision focused on two things: inputs and results. Inputs are things like basic funding, staffing, courses and curriculum, and facilities. Results are things like standardized test results, high school Read more
2023 Web Calendar Read more
Today’s inauguration marks the beginning of Josh Shapiro’s work as Governor of Pennsylvania and my former colleague, Austin Davis, as the Lieutenant Governor. The political climate in Harrisburg results in an iceberg pace for policy, and change is usually talked about in hushed tones and whispers. Inauguration Day is different. It is a time when hope can be heard out loud, and visions for the future can be openly expressed. I have hopes for this new Governor and his administration in Harrisburg. I have hope for the Pa. House of Representatives, where the balance of power is still shifting. For the first time since I arrived, I feel that some of the broader issues and concerns I was sent here to champion can have their day in the sun. The road forward is still hard, and negotiations across the aisle will be necessary. But there is reason to hope. The need to negotiate, to listen to adversaries and find common ground is one of the reasons for my hope. Governor Shapiro is someone with experience at many levels of government, as a County Commissioner, as State Attorney General, and most importantly as a State Representative. I believe he has the skills and knowledge of the way things move at the Capitol to pass policy. He has the ability to be pragmatic and compromise, yet still be faithful to basic core values that are important to families across Pennsylvania. Good leaders have that ability – to talk about a vision for a better future and to take Read more
The balance of power in Harrisburg is shifting. For 23 of the past 27 years Republicans have controlled the House of Representatives where I serve; and they have controlled the Senate for 28 consecutive years. This past November, Pennsylvania citizens voted for Democrats in 102 of the 203 seats in the House. In total 12 seats were gained, a seismic shift not seen in a generation. While Republicans enjoyed a comfortable majority in the past, they now have 101 seats, one shy of the majority. As the 2023-24 legislative session opened last week, we held a bipartisan vote to elect the Speaker of the House, the member who controls what bills come forward for a vote by the whole chamber. Rep. Mark Rozzi, a lifelong Democrat from Berks County, was elected after being nominated by our Republican colleague, Jim Gregory. Rozzi promised to govern as an independent Speaker, where he would caucus with neither party. In his acceptance speech he vowed to follow the rules and preside as a nonpartisan. For me, the desired result is to have a legislature that is focused on the People’s work and not mired in politics. I was hopeful Speaker Rozzi could pull us toward that nonpartisan place where we can provide Pennsylvania a purposeful government. He tried to do that this week in a Special Session called to address the primary issue he has championed for years, justice for victims of childhood sexual abuse. Speaker Rozzi and Rep. Gregory are both survivors of childhood sexual abuse. In Read more
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