Featured News

State Rep. Chris Rabb to introduce resolution that would designate Pennsylvania as a Hidden Heroes state

Rabb: We must work to ensure people have the means to keep their homes during the extraordinary public health and economic crisis

(Sep 24, 2020)

HARRISBURG, Sept. 29 – State Rep. Chris Rabb, in a House Commerce Committee hearing on Sep. 22, emphasized the urgency of the housing crisis in Pennsylvania, highlighting the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency’s history of working to ensure people have a home and the means to sustain it. Rabb called his colleagues’ and PHFA Executive Director and CEO Robin Weissman’s attention to the necessity of ensuring that state residents do not lose their homes due to late bills. Rabb further asserted that some applicants have not been allowed to obtain loan modifications because of junior (utility) liens. Rabb noted that PHFA has historically fought for mortgage modifications for homeowners, which help prevent them from losing their homes due to late water, gas, or credit card bills. “Working people struggling to make ends meet during an unprecedented economic crisis caused by the coronavirus must not be forced out of their homes,” Rabb said. He emphasized that Pennsylvanians may lose their homes soon because of outstanding credit card or utility bills and called for “federal requirements for housing-related loans to be made accessible to people at risk of losing their homes. Our foremost priority is to ensure people can keep their homes, despite the unparalleled financial hardship.” Rabb also put a spotlight on the efforts PHFA is making to help homeowners, including providing counseling on and access to Read more

 

Recognizing Agent Orange Awareness Month

(Sep 10, 2020)

Black troops who served on the front lines were put in harm’s way of this chemical agent. Read more

 

Rabb: We must remove roadblocks and allow undocumented people to get driver’s licenses, learner’s permits

(Sep 08, 2020)

State Rep. Chris Rabb called for support for legislation that would remove roadblocks preventing undocumented people from getting driver’s licenses and learner’s permits, making it impossible for them to legally drive. Read more

 

Rabb: College students should be able to terminate apartment leases without penalty if their school cancels on-campus instruction because of COVID-19

(Sep 08, 2020)

HARRISBURG, Sept. 8 – State Rep. Chris Rabb has introduced legislation to provide relief to college students trapped in a lease agreement if their college cancels on-campus instruction because of COVID-19. Read more

 

Let’s empower consumers by creating labeling standards, regulations for CBD

(Sep 02, 2020)

Cannabidiol, or CBD, is everywhere these days. We see it for sale in pharmacies, corner stores, grocery stores and online. Since the legalization of hemp at the federal and state levels, there has been some confusion regarding CBD, which is hemp’s most popular extract. With CBD’s popularity exploding due to its medicinal uses – treating conditions like epilepsy, chronic pain and anxiety – I believe that regulation of CBD is necessary. Although CBD has no psychoactive properties, there is currently no legal standard for what constitutes CBD, nor are there any labeling standards to inform consumers of exactly what they are purchasing. People should be able to make informed decisions about the items they’re purchasing. To address the issue, I will be introducing legislation that would legally define “hemp extract” to include CBD and direct the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture to create labeling standards and other regulations to help inform and protect consumers who purchase or are considering purchasing products containing CBD. This legislation would help to end the confusion and mistrust surrounding CBD and the products in which it is used. Read more

 

Police Reform Working Group issues statement on House Republican Policy hearing on law enforcement; calls for further legislative action

(Aug 27, 2020)

The Police Reform Working Group, a collection of local and state elected officials and advocates, issued the following statement in response to a Pennsylvania House Republican Policy Committee hearing on law enforcement interactions with the community:“We appreciate the House Republican Policy Committee shining a light on how law enforcement interacts with communities around the state. This is a necessary discussion that is long overdue and it’s encouraging to hear presenters today acknowledge that police reform is necessary. Read more

 

State Rep Chris Rabb Wants to Give $65,000 a Year to People Who Are Wrongfully Convicted

(Aug 25, 2020)

The Northwest Philly legislator is introducing a bill that would pay ex-prisoners an annual stipend for each year they wrongly served in prison. Currently they receive nothing. Read more

 

Aug. 22, Email: News from Harrisburg and at home in Philly

(Aug 22, 2020)

Aug. 22 email. Read more

 

Aug. 17, Email: News from Harrisburg and at home in Philly

(Aug 17, 2020)

Aug. 17 email. Read more

 

Aug. 7, Email: News from Harrisburg and at home in Philly

(Aug 07, 2020)

Aug. 7 email. Read more

 

Rabb introduces bill to compensate exonerees

(Aug 05, 2020)

HARRISBURG, Aug. 5 – State Rep. Chris Rabb, D-Phila., has introduced House Bill 2745, which provides for an annual payment from the Commonwealth to an exoneree for every year that exoneree was wrongfully incarcerated. Read more

 

July 31, Email: News from Harrisburg and at home in Philly

(Jul 31, 2020)

July 31 email. Read more

 

July 24, Email: Taking news of my police database nationwide

(Jul 24, 2020)

July 24 email. Read more

 

Legislation banning peace officers from engaging in sexual activity with people in their custody signed into law

(Jul 23, 2020)

HARRISBURG, July 23 – State Rep. Chris Rabb, D-Phila., celebrated Thursday after a measure he authored banning police officers from engaging in sexual activity with people in their custody was signed into law, but said more must be done to further protect people in police custody. “It is unconscionable that we needed a law to prevent police officers from sexually assaulting people in their custody,” Rabb said. “But as we are seeing more clearly today than ever before, substantial reforms are needed to protect people who come into contact with police officers, and we cannot take that fact for granted.” Rabb said the legislation signed into law on Thursday banning police officers from engaging in sexual activity with people in their custody was fast-tracked in the state Senate through the tireless advocacy of his colleague, state Sen. Katie Muth. He also praised state Sen. Larry Farnese, who introduced a version of Rabb’s original bill , which was added as an amendment to the legislation that was enacted on Thursday. But further action to pass H.B. 2709 – which would protect people who are being sexually trafficked and end up in police custody from deceitful acts by some law enforcement – is needed, Rabb said. Rabb recently introduced the legislation with state Rep. Joanna McClinton, D-Phila. Rabb has credited engaged and passionate community members, especially young people, for the progress that has been made Read more

 

Email, July 15: Progress toward safer policing has been made!

(Jul 15, 2020)

July 15 email. Read more

 

Police Reform Working Group issues statement on Vice President Pence’s visit with the Fraternal Order of Police

(Jul 09, 2020)

In response to Vice President Mike Pence visiting with the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 5, the Police Reform Working Group, made up of state and county elected officials and advocates, released the following statement:“As members of the Police Reform Working Group, we believe that the path to achieving community safety and racial justice in Pennsylvania must be two-fold. First, we must improve our current system of policing through accountability, oversight, and tangible policy changes that will diminish instances of police brutality against all citizens, but especially against the Black community. Second, we must work with communities to transform and re-envision policing itself through bold systemic changes that center around those most impacted by police violence and structural racism. Read more

 

July 9, Email: News from Harrisburg and here in Philly

(Jul 09, 2020)

July 9 email. Read more

 

Rabb lauds passage of his measure to stop sexual assaults in police custody

(Jul 07, 2020)

HARRISBURG, July 7 – State Rep. Chris Rabb, D-Phila., today said he is honored that legislation he introduced 18 months ago to stop sexual assaults in police custody is on its way to becoming law. Rabb said his measure (H.B. 1807) to close a dangerous loophole that has allowed police who sexually assault a person in custody to use sexual consent as a defense was amended into legislation (H.B. 256) relating to corrections institutions. “This is another victory for Pennsylvanians who took to the streets across our commonwealth demanding real police accountability,” Rabb said. “While we have a long way to go in order to change the system and right the wrongs of the past and present, we must commit ourselves to destroying its toolbox, tool by treacherous tool.” Rabb’s H.B. 1807 was among nearly 20 Democratic bills that were presented to House Republican leadership on June 8 when a handful of Black legislators commandeered the Speaker’s rostrum demanding immediate legislative action on police violence and police accountability. After bipartisan negotiation, House Republican leadership agreed to support four Democratic bills, which have now been passed unanimously in both chambers of the General Assembly, including Rabb’s legislation (amended into H.B. 1841) to create a game-changing statewide law enforcement misconduct database. “Police officers are supposed to use their authoritative power to protect the public, Read more

 

Email, July 1: Updates from Harrisburg and at home here in Philly

(Jul 01, 2020)

Email from July 1, 2020. Read more

 

Pa. is making a rare show of unity on police reform. It’s unclear how far it’ll go.

(Jun 26, 2020)

State Rep. Chris Rabb (D-Phila.), who wrote much of the bill that would create a statewide database for police personnel files, said despite FOP opposition, he’s feeling confident that real changes are possible.“It’s a cumulative effect of oppression, and everybody hits a boiling point at some point,” he said. “As long as there are continued, organized mass protests, and there are consequences for inaction and indifference. We’re going to have a series of measures to substantively address these issues.” Read more

 

Rabb: We must work to ensure people have the means to keep their homes during the extraordinary public health and economic crisis
Sep 24, 2020

Recognizing Agent Orange Awareness Month
Sep 10, 2020

Rabb: We must remove roadblocks and allow undocumented people to get driver’s licenses, learner’s permits
Sep 08, 2020

Rabb: College students should be able to terminate apartment leases without penalty if their school cancels on-campus instruction because of COVID-19
Sep 08, 2020

Let’s empower consumers by creating labeling standards, regulations for CBD
Sep 02, 2020

Police Reform Working Group issues statement on House Republican Policy hearing on law enforcement; calls for further legislative action
Aug 27, 2020

State Rep Chris Rabb Wants to Give $65,000 a Year to People Who Are Wrongfully Convicted
Aug 25, 2020

Aug. 22, Email: News from Harrisburg and at home in Philly
Aug 22, 2020

Aug. 17, Email: News from Harrisburg and at home in Philly
Aug 17, 2020

Aug. 7, Email: News from Harrisburg and at home in Philly
Aug 07, 2020

Rabb introduces bill to compensate exonerees
Aug 05, 2020

July 31, Email: News from Harrisburg and at home in Philly
Jul 31, 2020

July 24, Email: Taking news of my police database nationwide
Jul 24, 2020

Legislation banning peace officers from engaging in sexual activity with people in their custody signed into law
Jul 23, 2020

Email, July 15: Progress toward safer policing has been made!
Jul 15, 2020

Police Reform Working Group issues statement on Vice President Pence’s visit with the Fraternal Order of Police
Jul 09, 2020

July 9, Email: News from Harrisburg and here in Philly
Jul 09, 2020

Rabb lauds passage of his measure to stop sexual assaults in police custody
Jul 07, 2020

Email, July 1: Updates from Harrisburg and at home here in Philly
Jul 01, 2020

Pa. is making a rare show of unity on police reform. It’s unclear how far it’ll go.
Jun 26, 2020