Featured News

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

Rep. Chris Rabb on WHYY's Radio Times discussing reforms to the Heart and Lung Act.

(Oct 20, 2022)

Rep. Chris Rabb on WHYY's Radio Times discussing reforms to the Heart and Lung Act. Read more

 

Rabb highlights legislation to reform police sick time in response to report

(Oct 19, 2022)

PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 19 – State Reps. Chris Rabb and Brian Sims, both D-Phila., introduced legislation in February that would inject more transparency into the Heart and Lung Act benefits system. As news organizations report on the city controller’s audit of the Philadelphia Police Department, Rabb said he has legislation ready that would address one major flaw outlined in the audit. Some of the controller’s recommendations include improving the accuracy and consistency of the data collected and tracked related to Heart and Lung benefits and having the police department work with the Office of Risk Management to design a better process for identifying instances where investigation and action is required against officers who abuse the system. “Too often, as investigative reports have found, there are so-called injured officers holding down second jobs, playing on travel softball teams and engaging in strenuous physical activity, all while supposedly being too injured to perform police work,” Rabb said. “Each time a law enforcement officer unfairly benefits from and abuses the system, they are taking money from not only taxpayers, but also their fellow police officers, as well as sowing distrust with the public.” This legislation would make it more difficult for officers to abuse the system by requiring that the physicians who evaluate injured officers are chosen independently. As things stand, the Fraternal Order of Read more

 

RepRabb Hosts Annual Grown Folks Fall Festival

(Oct 13, 2022)

Building a stronger community by bringing people together is what Pa. state Rep. Rabb’s Grown Folks Fall Festival is all about. This year the “grown folks” enjoyed music, dancing, food, and much more, all while gaining valuable information about state services and programs available to those who need them. Read more

 

Rabb announces legislation to rein in book bans in Pa.

(Oct 11, 2022)

HARRISBURG, Oct. 10 – State Rep. Chris Rabb, D-Phila., announced today that he has authored legislation that would establish uniform procedures for school boards to follow before being able to restrict students’ access to books. “Book bans are an attempt to censor educators and restrict the information and educational materials that students can have access to in school,” Rabb said. “In addition, these effectively unilateral decisions made by school boards are extremely harmful to LGBTQ+ youth and students of color given that the subjects discussed in these so-called ‘inappropriate’ and ‘explicit’ books often discuss many serious and real issues impacting these communities.” Efforts taken to ban books are often unpopular among both teachers and students, Rabb said. However, elected school boards continue to run roughshod despite protests by education professionals and students themselves. His legislation would require the Pennsylvania Department of Education and school boards to participate in, at minimum, two public hearings moderated by professionals with ample knowledge of the books in question prior to any vote to ban them. Pennsylvania has the unfortunate designation of being the state with the second-largest number of books that are currently banned from its school libraries and curriculum. Rabb participated in a Freedom to Read news conference at the state Capitol during Banned Books Week Read more

 

Rabb highlights Native-centered legislation for Indigenous Peoples’ Day

(Oct 10, 2022)

Rep. Rabb is highlighting his spate of Native-centered legislation on Indigenous Peoples’ Day to bring awareness to the continuing and widespread disregard for indigenous peoples, their history, culture, and the misappropriation thereof, and how Pennsylvania can substantively right these wrongs. Read more

 

Rabb attends SEPTA renaming of station & unveiling of historic panels

(Oct 06, 2022)

Philadelphia, Oct. 6 – State Rep. Chris Rabb, D-Phila., joined SEPTA today for the unveiling of historic panels at the transit authority’s Chestnut Hill West Regional Rail Station and the renaming of the station in honor of Richard Allen. “It’s wonderful to see this station renamed after someone of Richard Allen’s caliber. He was an abolitionist, educator, writer and founder of the African Methodist Episcopal Church,” Rabb said. “These historic panels tell our stories and share our history, the city’s history, in the public space and allow all who ride SEPTA to learn and grow with each trip.” Rabb, along with community stakeholders, worked tirelessly throughout the year to have the Allens Lane and Allens Lane Bridge, which were named for former mayor of Philadelphia William Allen, an enslaver and British loyalist, renamed after Richard Allen, an 18 th century minister and civil rights leader. The SEPTA regional rail station now holds a new name due to the community’s and Rabb’s efforts. View the photo gallery here . Read more

 

Democratic lawmakers introduce bills focused on protecting reproductive rights

(Oct 06, 2022)

Bills would protect both healthcare providers and patients. Read more

 

Rabb participates in environmental justice public hearing

(Oct 05, 2022)

HARRISBURG, Oct. 5 – State Rep. Chris Rabb, D-Phila., participated today in an environmental justice policy hearing held jointly by the PA House Democratic Policy Committee and the Legislative Black Caucus, which highlighted the importance of environmental policy on equity and health in Pennsylvania’s underserved communities. “I reflect on the efforts of my grandmother who was fighting the environmental justice fight before this term was coined. She was able to keep an incinerator from her all-Black, working-class community while at the same time the city was building a pool in a white neighborhood, a public pool that was not truly accessible to the public, just white folk in the public. From the time she helped close that incinerator and keep it from moving into that community, we’re still talking about this issue over 50 years later,” Rabb said. “Unless we talk about the systemic issues at the root of this, we are not going to move forward. “We are in this together, it’s so basic, but it’s so important. I want to encourage all of us who live in, work in and represent folk in urban communities to reach out to our rural brothers and sisters who are in the struggle with us. You are not just part of an environmental justice community, you are a part of a community of struggle, and that struggle starts with recognizing the structural inequalities that hurt everyone.” Rabb has Read more

 

Rabb highlights legislative remedy on International Wrongful Conviction Day

(Oct 02, 2022)

“October 2 marks the 9th annual International Wrongful Conviction Day,” Rabb said. “It is a day to remember the stolen liberty of countless people who have suffered at the hands of an unjust criminal justice system, and to reaffirm our commitment to compensating victims.” Read more

 

Rabb announces pollinator task force legislation

(Sep 30, 2022)

HARRISBURG, Sept. 29 – State Rep. Chris Rabb, D-Phila., announced today that he is drafting legislation to establish a pollinator task force, which would study policies and practices that serve to best protect pollinators and develop recommendations based on that information. The task force would be a collaboration between the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, various other state departments and agencies, agriculture industry representatives, registered apiaries, academic institutions, conservation organizations and data collection groups. “Unfortunately, pollinator populations continue to experience a decline. In recent years, beekeepers have reported bee population losses of over 50% in Pennsylvania and beyond,” Rabb said. “In addition, 51 species of butterflies, 111 species of moths and three species of bumble bees are now considered to be at risk .” Pennsylvania is home to hundreds of species of pollinators, such as beetles, butterflies, flies, moths and bees. Those pollinators contribute to the state’s diverse cropping systems, which produce a variety of fruits and vegetables. Rabb, a member of the House Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee, said the crops add around $260 million to the state’s economy annually. The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services has issued warnings that without a concerted and collaborative international effort, many pollinators Read more

 

State Grant Programs Open For Application

(Sep 29, 2022)

Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency: Regional Policing Assistance Program Who May Apply: Applicants for the Regional Policing Assistance Program may be any municipality – a city, borough, township, home-rule municipality, or county. Applicants may also be a public or quasi-public body, or its representative, duly authorized to act on behalf of one or more municipalities. All applications must be accompanied by fully executed Articles of Agreement or an Intergovernmental Agreement that establishes a Regional Police Department. Use: Funding will support efforts in establishing or expanding regional police departments that would improve the following: uniformity and consistency of enforcement across municipalities; recruitment; distribution and deployment of police personnel; training and personnel efficiency; career enhancement opportunities; enhanced professionalism; and reduction of costs. Funds: A total of approximately $1,000,000 in federal funds is being announced to support this initiative. Applicants may apply for up to $150,000 for the formation of a new regional police department or up to $50,000 for the expansion of an existing regional police department by adding a chartered municipality(ies). Application Deadline: September 6, 2023 More information: PCCD Website Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency: Legal Read more

 

Rabb comments on reproductive rights legislation

(Sep 19, 2022)

HARRISBURG, Sep. 19 – State Rep. Chris Rabb, D-Phila., released the following statement on today’s news conference where his Democratic colleagues rolled out a package of reproductive rights legislation. “Today’s press conference that my colleagues held introduced several crucial bills to protect the reproductive freedoms and bodily autonomy of birthing people across the commonwealth. “Our Republican colleagues, who claim to be so “pro-life”, are not concerned with the birthing people who will be affected by forced births if reproductive freedoms are taken from Pennsylvanians. We are already hearing gruesome stories of people who are not allowed to get abortions in states where it’s already been made illegal. “I stand with my colleagues in this fight to preserve these freedoms for all birthing people of the commonwealth and will continue fighting in Harrisburg to ensure the Republicans’ attempts to strip them do not come to fruition. Read more

 

2022 Summer Newsletter

(Sep 16, 2022)

Rep. Rabb's 2022 Summer Newsletter Read more

 

Violence Intervention and Prevention, Transportation, and Local Law Enforcement Funding Opportunities

(Sep 13, 2022)

STATE PROGRAMS NOW OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS: Commonwealth Financing Authority: Gaming Economic Development Tourism Fund (GEDTF) (Funding Source: Pennsylvania Gaming Economic Development and Tourism Fund) Who May Apply : Allegheny County Municipalities, Authorities (Redevelopment, Municipal or Industrial), Councils of Government, Non-Profit Organizations, Trusts and For Profit Organizations. Use : To support community and economic development projects in Allegheny County. Funds : Awards between $150,000 and $500,000. Application Deadline : September 23, 2022 More Information : Click on https://www.alleghenycounty.us/economic-development/authorities/gedtf-fund.aspx . Pennsylvania Department of Transportation: Traffic Signal Technologies Grant Program (Funding Source: Motor License Fund) Who May Apply : Municipalities. Use : To install and maintain traffic signal technologies. Funds : Varies by award. This is a reimbursement grant with no matching funds required. Application Deadline : September 30, 2022 More Information : Click on https://www.dot.state.pa.us/public/Bureaus/BOMO/Portal/TST_INFO.pdf . Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency: Violence Intervention and Prevention (VIP) Grant Program (Funding Source: American Rescue Plan Act Funds) Who May Apply Read more

 

GRANT MEMO: Youth Agriculture, Urban Agriculture, and Watershed Cooperative Funding Opportunities

(Aug 30, 2022)

STATE PROGRAMS NOW OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS: Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture: ?Urban Agriculture Infrastructure Grant Program (Funding Source: General Fund) Who May Apply : An individual, partnership, association, firm, corporation, cooperatives or any other legal entity. Use : To support projects that grow agricultural infrastructure in urban food deserts to improve access to fresh, local food and provide opportunities for hands-on learning, community-building, and for people to become social entrepreneurs. Community gardens are eligible projects. Funds : $2,500 micro grants or up to $50,000 for collaboration grants. Application Deadline : September 16, 2022 More Information : Click on https://www.agriculture.pa.gov/Funding/Farmbill/Pages/Urban-Ag-Grant.aspx . Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture: ?Very Small Meat and Poultry Processor Reimbursement Grant Program (Funding Source: Federal Funding) Who May Apply : An individual, partnership, association, firm, corporation or any other legal entity. Use : To support the development and expansion of current or future very small meat and poultry processing operations. Funds : Grants are limited to no more than $100,000 per applicant. Application Deadline : September 26, 2022 More Information : Click on https://www.agriculture.pa.gov/Funding/Farmbill/Pages/Very-Small-Meat-Processor-Grant.aspx . Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture: ?Agriculture and Youth Grant Program Read more

 

RepRabb listens to youth leaders on gun violence

(Aug 09, 2022)

Pa. state Rep. Chris Rabb hosted three different youth-centered organizations at the state capitol who organized a trip to Harrisburg to learn about the state legislature and share their views on the public health crisis that is gun violence. Rabb says groups like Philly BOLT, Frontline Dads and PA Youth Vote are educating, engaging and empowering youth to lead on gun violence prevention, but they need the help of state legislators to put forth substantive legislation to address this crisis and allocate more funding for restorative justice and community-centered violence prevention programs. Read more

 

RepRabb, Frontline Dads Work to #EndGunViolence

(Jul 26, 2022)

Pa. state Rep Chris Rabb joined Frontline Dads’ Peacemakers Summer Program to talk with young people about possible solutions to the public health crisis of gun violence. He says that giving kids the tools to succeed is a good place to start, but more efforts must be made to stop the flow of firearms into the city. Read more

 

State programs now open for applications

(Jul 25, 2022)

STATE PROGRAMS NOW OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS: Pennsylvania Office of the Budget: Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) (Funding Source: General Obligation Debt) Who May Apply : Entities that have a project itemized in a Capital Budget Itemization Act from the past 10 years. List of eligible projects can be found here: Itemized Project Eligible for Funding . Use : The acquisition and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic, recreational, and historical improvement projects that have a regional or multi-jurisdictional impact and generate substantial increases or maintain current levels of employment, tax revenues, or other measures of economic activity. RACP projects are state-funded projects that cannot obtain primary funding under other state programs. Funds : Projects must have a $1 million minimum project cost and a 50% match (state funds cannot be used as match). Application Deadline : August 19, 2022 More Information : Click on https://www.budget.pa.gov/Programs/RACP/Pages/Main%20Page.aspx . UPCOMING APPLICATION DEADLINES: DDAP Pregnancy Support Services Grant: July 29, 2022 (Funding Source: Federal Funding) Any entity that is able to serve pregnant or postpartum women in recovery from SUD. - To provide support services to pregnant women and postpartum women in recovery from Substance Use Disorder Read more

 

Democratic lawmakers introducing bill to prevent out-of-state abortion investigations

(Jul 11, 2022)

HARRISBURG, June 14 – As states begin to impose abortion restrictions in the wake of Roe v. Wade being overturned, Reps. Carol Hill-Evans, D-York, Chris Rabb, D-Phila., and Emily Kinkead, D-Allegheny, are working to ensure Pennsylvania remains a safe haven for people seeking abortions. “It is bad enough that people have to travel hundreds of miles to receive medical care, but the thought that they may be harassed and charged with felonies, it’s outrageous,” Hill-Evans said. “It is not the duty of people on the state payroll to investigate personal health matters; Pennsylvania officials have no business harassing pregnant people on the taxpayer’s dime.” “The Dobbs decision is an assault on bodily autonomy and the half-century during which abortion was constitutionally protected,” said Rabb. “Now that this ruling defers to the states on how to proceed, our legislature should act to prohibit cooperation of state and local government officials with out-of-state investigators regarding the healthcare choices of women and birthing people across our commonwealth.” The legislation they are proposing would prohibit all law enforcement officers, state government departments and their employees, and local government entities and their employees from cooperating with out-of-state investigations into abortions legally obtained in Pennsylvania. The Read more

 

Rabb responds to hiring, resignation of police officer who shot, killed Tamir Rice

(Jul 07, 2022)

HARRISBURG, July 7 – Timothy Loehmann, the officer who killed Tamir Rice, was hired yesterday by the Tioga Township Police Department to be their lone officer. State Rep. Chris Rabb, D-Phila., said that while Loehmann has now resigned, hiring him in the first place was wholly unacceptable. Rabb authored legislation to establish a police misconduct database, which was incorporated into Act 57 and signed into law by Gov. Tom Wolf in 2020. “The statewide database was created to weed out dangerous officers and to keep our communities safer,” Rabb said. “While I’m glad Loehmann resigned due to mounting public pressure, had my legislation passed intact back in 2020, the public would have been automatically informed about his employment application before he was hired.” Rabb has collaborated with municipalities and other stakeholders since the enactment of Act 57 of 2020 to close dangerous transparency loopholes that have made this law-enforcement database far less effective than originally conceived in his 2018 legislation . Read more

 

Rep. Chris Rabb on WHYY's Radio Times discussing reforms to the Heart and Lung Act.
Oct 20, 2022

Rabb highlights legislation to reform police sick time in response to report
Oct 19, 2022

RepRabb Hosts Annual Grown Folks Fall Festival
Oct 13, 2022

Rabb announces legislation to rein in book bans in Pa.
Oct 11, 2022

Rabb highlights Native-centered legislation for Indigenous Peoples’ Day
Oct 10, 2022

Rabb attends SEPTA renaming of station & unveiling of historic panels
Oct 06, 2022

Democratic lawmakers introduce bills focused on protecting reproductive rights
Oct 06, 2022

Rabb participates in environmental justice public hearing
Oct 05, 2022

Rabb highlights legislative remedy on International Wrongful Conviction Day
Oct 02, 2022

Rabb announces pollinator task force legislation
Sep 30, 2022

State Grant Programs Open For Application
Sep 29, 2022

Rabb comments on reproductive rights legislation
Sep 19, 2022

2022 Summer Newsletter
Sep 16, 2022

Violence Intervention and Prevention, Transportation, and Local Law Enforcement Funding Opportunities
Sep 13, 2022

GRANT MEMO: Youth Agriculture, Urban Agriculture, and Watershed Cooperative Funding Opportunities
Aug 30, 2022

RepRabb listens to youth leaders on gun violence
Aug 09, 2022

RepRabb, Frontline Dads Work to #EndGunViolence
Jul 26, 2022

State programs now open for applications
Jul 25, 2022

Democratic lawmakers introducing bill to prevent out-of-state abortion investigations
Jul 11, 2022

Rabb responds to hiring, resignation of police officer who shot, killed Tamir Rice
Jul 07, 2022