“The Child and Dependent Tax Credit enhancement is not only about fiscal policy and numbers – it’s lifechanging support for families, empowering them to succeed in fulfilling careers without the financial burdens,” said state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, D-Phila. “It stands as a testament to Democrats’ commitment to empowering families, ensuring that every child's potential is nurtured, and every family's journey is marked by opportunity and shared success." Read more
HARRISBURG, Feb. 28 – The Philadelphia House Delegation today expressed their satisfaction for the election of Majority Leader Joanna McClinton as the new speaker of the House, a role previously held this session by state Rep. Mark Rozzi. “We are overwhelmed with joy; McClinton has started a new chapter in history. What a way to wrap up the festivities in honor of Black History Month! McClinton is an unwavering force who works with passion and integrity for the people of Pennsylvania,” said the delegation’s chair, state Rep. Morgan Cephas. “We know we will reach new heights under her brilliant leadership. We are confident that she will help us address the most critical issues affecting our people. The Philadelphia House Delegation is honored to see that one of us is now holding the gavel in the House. We are ready to fight along with her on behalf of all underserved communities of the state,” Cephas continued. “As a woman I also want to emphasize that McClinton continues being an inspiration to all women of the nation struggling to break barriers and stereotypes. This is a resounding reminder that it is possible to win, regardless the color of your skin or background, it is possible to succeed against all odds.” Rep. Danilo Burgos, vice-chair of the Delegation, trusts that McClinton’s work will help advance a transformational agenda in key sectors. Read more
Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta calls for a ban to copay accumulators, so that Pennsylvanians don't have to worry about loved ones passing away due to being unable to afford care or medication they desperately need. Read more
The Pennsylvania General assembly and the United States Congress must act and pass legislation to take big insurance companies to task and protect patients and consumers. Read more
Criminal laws and enhanced penalties are not the answer to the HIV epidemic. We must continue to repeal or modernize all HIV laws and invest in proper and dignified care and services for people living with HIV. Read more
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 15 -- State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, D-Phila., on Tuesday lead a rally under the Bell Tower on Temple University’s campus in support of the Temple University Graduate Students’ Association and the university’s hardworking graduate students. TUGSA members are currently on strike to receive a living wage, and the rally was to support their fight in the face of Temple's "union-busting” tactics, which include revoking student aid for the striking members. Kenyatta was joined by Philadelphia House Delegation Vice-Chair Rep. Danilo Burgos and other members of the PA House Democratic Caucus, as well as the American Federation of Teachers of PA, United Food & Commercial Workers, Coalition of Labor Union Women, and Service Employees International Union. Kenyatta is a Temple alum and has consistently worked as a state representative to provide fair and living wages to working people. He said the unfair wages and union busting happening to TUGSA hits close to home for him. “I love Temple University, the folks gathered here today love Temple University. What we don’t love is union busting, and working people not being able to pay their bills,” Kenyatta said. “This is a shameful day for Temple University. Temple can do better and must do better by providing TUGSA workers dignified and worthy wages.” Video from the rally can be found on Read more
We will do everything we can to ensure LGBTQ+ Pennsylvanians have a voice in the halls of Harrisburg and a seat at the table directing our commonwealth’s future. Read more
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 9 – The Philadelphia House Delegation applauded the ruling in PA Commonwealth Court that Pennsylvania’s school funding system is unconstitutional. The ruling is a result of the 2014 case William Penn School District v. PA Department of Education, which was filed on behalf of parents, school districts, and statewide organizations arguing that the commonwealth’s funding of K-12 public education is inadequate and violates the Pennsylvania Constitution. The petitioners argued that because the bulk of public education funding comes from local property taxes, school districts in areas with low incomes and property values have been underfunded compared to school districts in areas with high incomes and property values. Leaders of the Philadelphia House Delegation -- Chairwoman Morgan Cephas, Vice Chairman Danilo Burgos and Secretary Malcolm Kenyatta -- issued the following statements about the historic ruling. “Philadelphia schools have been the victims of underfunding for decades and it shows in the conditions they’re in today,” Cephas said. “This ruling is historic and should set us on the right track to get schools in Philadelphia and across the commonwealth the funding they need.” “For far too long, PA schools in low-income areas have been massively underfunded, and it has hurt the children attending these schools and the community as a whole,” Read more
STATE PROGRAMS NOW OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS: Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs: Regional Recovery Hubs Grant Program (Funding Source: General Fund) Who May Apply : Nonprofit organization or governmental entity. Use : To support a Recovery-Oriented-System of Care (ROSC) by establishing a Recovery Hub and Spoke model. Funds : Nine grants up to $500,000 each will be awarded.. Application Deadline : February 24, 2023 More Information : https://www.ddap.pa.gov/Documents/Funding%20documents/GIFA%2023-01%20Regional%20Recovery%20Hubs_2023.01.11_FINAL.pdf . Pennsylvania Commission on Crime & Delinquency: Substance Abuse Education and Demand Reduction Category 1 Funds (Funding Source: SAEDR Fund) Who May Apply : Nonprofit organizations may partner with governmental entities, including school districts, provided the nonprofit organization is the applicant. Use : To provide research-based or evidence-based approaches to prevention, intervention, treatment, training, and education services to reduce substance use or to provide resources to assist families in accessing the services needed to reduce substance use behavior, as well as strategies aimed at combating opioid/heroin overdoses. Funds : Grants up to $150,000 over a two-year project period. Application Deadline : February 24, 2023 More Read more
HARRISBURG, Jan. 31 – State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, D-Phila., offered praise for Gov. Josh Shapiro’s latest executive order to improve Commonwealth licensing, permitting and certification processes. The order begins a comprehensive review of how long it takes agencies to process applications and how workers and businesses apply online. It will help to establish a date-certain for each license, permit or certificate by which applicants will hear back, and if applicants don't receive a response by that date, the agency responsible will refund their application fee. “The process to receive professional license, permit or certification is one that can be long and strenuous for workers,” Kenyatta said. “This executive order should be very beneficial to working Pennsylvanians and should make this process more efficient and transparent. I applaud Governor Shapiro for signing this executive order as it is another way to improve economic opportunity for all Pennsylvanians.” Kenyatta pointed out that this executive order mirrors in many ways a bipartisan bill he introduced in prior sessions called “The Fighting Chance Act .” He pointed out that at the time, Republicans never let this bill hit the House chamber for a vote. Read more
HARRISBURG, Jan. 26 – House LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus co-chairs, state Reps. Malcolm Kenyatta, D-Phila., and Jessica Benham, D-Allegheny, are denouncing state Sen. Doug Mastriano’s, R-Adams/Franklin, proposed bill to ban drag shows in Pennsylvania public places. This bill would place drag shows under the “adult-oriented business” classification. “The LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus recognizes that this legislation – which has no chance of becoming law – is a sad stunt by Mastriano and shows Republicans’ lack of addressing important issues facing our families. “When all a politician or party can offer you is a list of who to hate, what to ban, and what marginalized group to blame — it’s because they have no serious ideas to help solve your actual problems. This fact-free legislation has zero chance of becoming law or making communities safer, but has a very serious chance of increasing violence against performers, venues and guests.” Kenyatta said. Benham stated that this bill could lead to further attacks on LGBTQ+ individuals. “Drag shows are a celebration of identity,” Benham said. “This bill has no basis in any actual threat to the safety of young people and provides the foundation for attacks against the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals to exist in public.” Many Republican legislators across the country have introduced similar legislation to ban or put restrictions on Read more
HARRISBURG, Jan. 13 -- State Rep. Jared Solomon, D-Phila., is partnering with Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, also D-Phila., to introduce a constitutional amendment that would require elected officials to resign upon conviction of a felony. “As public servants, we must be held to the highest of standards,” Solomon said. “The people we serve deserve elected officials they can rely on and have faith in -- they lose all of that once the individual is convicted of a crime.” Solomon said that the publicity created from these often high profile cases steers attention away from serving the public. “As elected officials, we owe the constituents that we represent service that improves their quality of life,” Kenyatta said. “They put their trust in us and deserve to be represented by honorable, law-abiding officials committed to doing just that.” Under current case law, an elected official does not have to resign until they are formally sentenced. Read more
PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 11 – The Philadelphia House Delegation today expressed their endorsement for Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney’s core priorities in his final year as mayor. The delegation also highlighted their concerns and hopes for the city. “The plan introduced today by Mayor Kenney gave us optimism. I’m pleased to see that reducing gun violence and strengthening public safety are an important part of this agenda. I also laud the commitment to diversity, to improving access to quality education and to expanding affordable housing” said the delegation’s chair, state Rep. Morgan Cephas. “These goals might not be entirely achieved by the end of the year, but we are going in the right direction, there’s a strong approach from the administration to address the major issues affecting our city”, Cephas said. The mayor’s goals are explained in a report titled “Equity and Opportunity for All: Moving Philadelphia Forward.” In it, Kenney revealed four critical focus areas of the administration in an effort to guarantee Philadelphia’s immediate and long-term future success. The mayor promised to reinforce his commitment to enhancing public safety, improve quality of life and build thriving neighborhoods. His other goal will be investing in Philadelphia’s youth. Driving inclusive growth and economic opportunity while building a thriving Read more
HARRISBURG, Jan. 11 – The PA LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus issued the following statement on Central Bucks School District’s new policy that limits what teachers can discuss and display in the classroom. “Last night, the Central Bucks School Board voted 6-3 to adopt a wrongheaded policy to ban teachers from displaying any number of items in the classroom in the name of ‘neutrality.’ But we see this policy for exactly what it is -- another attempt to muzzle free expression, effectively ‘disappear’ members of our communities and silence the exchange of ideas that we should all want in our classrooms. The existence of LGBTQ people is not salacious. But let us be clear: turning our classrooms into a political proxy war is wrong. “At best -- and giving a large benefit of a doubt that this policy comes from the best intentions -- this will have a chilling effect on the lives of LGBTQ youth in the district. At worst, this represents an Orwellian erasure of the truth that these students are living, one that will shame and isolate young people at a critical time in their lives. “At a time when policies like these are being pushed across our nation by far-right extremist interests who seek political gain regardless of the costs, we are calling on the district to do the right thing, to re-consider this wrongheaded policy, and to help send a message that our communities will not tolerate these kinds of attacks on individual Read more
HARRISBURG, Jan. 10 – State Reps. Malcolm Kenyatta and Jared Solomon, both D-Phila., will introduce legislation that would move the 2024 presidential primary election date in Pa. up one month. This would set the date for the 2024 Presidential Primary in Pa. to be on March 19, 2024. Currently, Pennsylvania’s primary is scheduled to take place on the fourth Tuesday in April, long after many states have voted for a presidential nominee. “Pennsylvania will be a pivotal battleground state in 2024 and having the primary election well after many other states already have theirs makes our commonwealth one of the last states in the nation to weigh in despite being a crucial swing state,” Kenyatta said. “With an earlier primary, Pennsylvania voters will represent the 'keystone' needed for each candidate to win their party's nomination in 2024 and beyond.” “Pennsylvania has proved time and time again to be a pivotal state when it comes to elections,” Solomon said. “This legislation will provide Pennsylvania the political weight it deserves by giving us a voice earlier in the process.” Kenyatta and Solomon will be introducing this legislation along with state Sen. Sharif Street, D-Phila., who will introduce mirror legislation in the Senate. “Pennsylvania is a critical battleground in determining the leadership and direction of our nation,” Street said. “It is incumbent upon Read more
HARRISBURG, Jan. 6 – State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta D-Phila., reintroduced a bill that designates Jan 6th as “Democracy Observance Day,” as well as a resolution with Rep. Chris Rabb, D-Phila., that would formally condemn the insurrection on the U.S. Capitol that occurred on Jan. 6, 2021. On Jan. 6, 2021, while Congress met to officially tally the Electoral College votes for president, a violent mob of domestic terrorists descended upon the Capitol building and forcibly entered its hallowed halls. As lawmakers and staff barricaded themselves in secure locations, the insurrectionists proceeded to pillage offices, destroy property and assault law enforcement personnel. Still others paraded around the chambers of the House and Senate and smiled for photographs while pilfering public property. “January 6, 2021 was a shameful day in our nation’s history and if we don’t remember and learn from it, we are doomed to repeat it,” Kenyatta said. “Violent insurrectionists armed with weapons and lies told by former President Trump and Republican leaders about the 2020 presidential election led to this attack; he did nothing to stop the violence. Because of this rhetoric, lives were lost, including members of law enforcement.” Kenyatta continued, “We must make sure that any attack on our governing body’s is condemned.” “Our nation is not impervious to fascism, authoritarianism or extremism. But we cannot Read more
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 21 – State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, D-Phila., issued the following statement on a shooting that took place yesterday outside Hope Partnership School in his legislative district. “Thankfully no one was physically hurt inside or outside the school but the emotional toll on the students and staff is real,” Kenyatta said. “I’ve talked to the principal about how the state can assist. This madness has to end. We have the ability to pass legislation that would help prevent these further tragedies from happening. “I visited the area and spoke to law enforcement on the scene. I’ll meet with school staff and hopefully students this week.” Dozens of bullets were fired, including one that went through the window of a 6th grade classroom. No injuries or deaths occurred. This shooting comes on the heels of a deadly milestone for the city yesterday: 500 homicides in 2022. Kenyatta previously put forward a three-point plan to address the gun violence crisis taking place in Philadelphia. This plan includes: Declaring a state of emergency. Passing stalled gun safety legislation. Addressing root causes of violence and investing in the youth. Read more
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 20 – State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, D-Phila., today announced a $210,000 grant awarded to Beech Community Services for the redevelopment of Dox Thrash House into commercial and residential use. “I am happy that Dox Thrash House plans on having redevelopment done to provide job opportunities and housing for the people of the 181 st Legislative District,” Kenyatta said. “It is great that they’ve been awarded this funding, and I look forward to seeing how they use it to help our community.” The funding is part of the Keystone Communities Program , which is designed to encourage partnerships between public and private sectors to support local initiatives that promote growth and stability in neighborhoods, plus seeks to improve the quality of life in neighborhoods throughout Pennsylvania. Read more
Rep. Kenyatta's Newsletter recapping the fall of 2022 and previewing programs during the winter months. Read more
HARRISBURG, Dec. 8 – In celebration of an affirmative vote today by the Independent Regulatory Review Commission that will enable the PA Human Relations Commission to investigate discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, PA House LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus co-chairs state Reps. Malcolm Kenyatta, D-Phila., and Jessica Benham, D-Allegheny, issued the following statement: “LGBTQ+ Pennsylvanians now have a legitimate avenue for recourse when they face discrimination from a landlord, employer or in public accommodations. This, along with today’s passage of the landmark Respect for Marriage Act at the federal level, makes today a truly momentous day for LGBTQ+ individuals in our state and across the nation. “While these hard-won victories warrant celebration, it’s important for us to recognize that the fight for true equality is far from over. Members and allies of this community have given blood, sweat, tears and, in some cases, their own lives to get us this far. We can’t quit now. “Pursuing legislation to make these important protections permanent remains one of our top priorities in the General Assembly, and it will be until they are enshrined in our state law. We look forward to championing the PA Fairness Act among other bills to make Pennsylvania equitable for all.” Read more
HARRISBURG, Dec. 7 – After nearly a decade of stonewalling by Republicans in the state legislature, the PA House LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus co-chairs state Reps. Malcolm Kenyatta, D-Phila., and Jessica Benham, D-Allegheny, today offered their full support for a move by Gov. Tom Wolf and the PA Human Relations Commission ahead of a PHRC vote tomorrow that could solidify nondiscrimination protections in the state: “It’s 2022 and Pennsylvania still has no law on the books to prevent discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals, a situation which is completely unacceptable and, quite frankly, embarrassing. “In the realms of employment, education, and housing, it’s currently legal in our commonwealth to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. While our caucus fought tooth-and-nail for more comprehensive anti-discrimination laws, like the PA Fairness Act , in previous legislative sessions, the Republican majority at the time did everything they could to obstruct and prevent progress. “That is why we are offering our full support to the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission to secure these basic, long overdue protections for LGBTQ+ Pennsylvanians; something that the General Assembly failed to do for decades under a Republican majority. Additionally, we look forward to re-introducing the PA Fairness Act to enshrine these protections into our state law.” The PHRC is scheduled tomorrow to vote on Regulation Read more
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