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

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

 

Email, June 25: H.B. 1841 passed the House!

(Jun 25, 2020)

Email from June 25, 2020. Read more

 

Rabb commends unanimous affirmative vote for police accountability, safety legislation H.B. 1841

(Jun 24, 2020)

HARRISBURG, June 24 – State Rep. Chris Rabb today expressed tremendous gratitude to his House colleagues for their unanimous support of H.B. 1841 which would improve police accountability and safety. “This is personal to me,” Rabb said, before quoting a passage his great-great-great-grandfather, Rev. Amos Noë Freeman, co-authored with four other men, including Frederick Douglass, for the Colored National Convention in July 1853. ‘ We ask that in our native land, we shall not be treated as strangers, and worse than strangers. ‘We ask that, being friends of America, we should not be treated as enemies of America. ‘We ask that, speaking the same language and being of the same religion, worshipping the same God, owing our redemption to the same Savior, and learning our duties from the same Bible, we shall not be treated as barbarians.’ Rabb, whose legislation to require law enforcement to keep detailed personnel records to improve transparency and accountability was added as an amendment to H.B. 1841, said he had just recently learned of that passage co-authored by his great-great-great-grandfather. Reading his ancestor’s dreams, and seeing his children grow in the world today – where Black people are still working so hard to be treated as friends and not strangers, including by law enforcement officers who are sworn to serve all members of the community –has Read more

 

PA State House passes two police reform bills

(Jun 24, 2020)

The State House unanimously passed two bills that aim to curb police brutality.The first bill, presented by Representative Chris Rabb, would set up a data base for all police officers so those with checkered pasts are weeded out.The other would improve training and screening of police officers. Read more

 

Email, June 19: News from Harrisburg and at home

(Jun 19, 2020)

June 19 email. Read more

 

Rabb prepares to help local businesses apply for COVID-19 relief grant money

(Jun 18, 2020)

PHILADELPHIA, June 18 – State Rep. Chris Rabb on Thursday announced his office is preparing to help local businesses that qualify for COVID-19 relief grant funds to apply for those funds. “The effort to save lives during the COVID-19 pandemic has required that people stay home and social distance,” Rabb said. “While that effort has been vital, we all know that the impact on our local businesses has been profound. I am grateful for the opportunity this grant funding will provide local businesses, and I’m excited to help local businesses that wish to access some of this grant funding as they look toward recovery.” The state grants available to local businesses will range from $5,000 to $50,000 and can be used to cover any operational costs associated with COVID-19. The recently enacted state budget includes $2.6 billion in federal stimulus funds through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act. Within that allocation, the Department of Community and Economic Development has been allocated $225 million for this COVID-19 relief program through a distribution to Community Development Financial Institutions . Local businesses in Rabb’s district, the 200 th Legislative District, which include the Zip codes 19118, 19119, 19138, 19144 and 19150, may reach out to Rabb and his staff for assistance now so they are prepared once the grant program opens for applications. Read more

 

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

Email, June 25: H.B. 1841 passed the House!
Jun 25, 2020

Rabb commends unanimous affirmative vote for police accountability, safety legislation H.B. 1841
Jun 24, 2020

PA State House passes two police reform bills
Jun 24, 2020

Email, June 19: News from Harrisburg and at home
Jun 19, 2020

Rabb prepares to help local businesses apply for COVID-19 relief grant money
Jun 18, 2020