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

Rabb introduces legislation to remove Columbus Day holiday, replace it with Election Day holiday

(Oct 07, 2021)

HARRISBURG, Oct. 7 – State Rep. Chris Rabb, D-Phila., has introduced legislation to remove Columbus Day as a holiday and replace it with a holiday on Election Day. “We ought to be naming holidays after people who deserve honor as determined by our collective values and collective lens,” Rabb said. “Christopher Columbus not only didn’t ‘discover’ America, his accidental landing in the Bahamas in 1492 led to a legacy of enslavement and genocide. “Celebrating a man who is connected to such atrocities might have been something people in power in the past were interested in doing, but now, people like me, people who want to lift the legacies of those from our history who deserve that recognition, want to right the wrongs of the past.” Rabb’s legislation would remove Columbus Day, which is observed on the second Monday in October (Oct. 11 this year), as a state holiday in exchange for adding a state holiday on Election Day, the first Tuesday in November (Nov. 2 this year). “If we want to acknowledge a day truly deserving of our collective respect, I can think of no better day than Election Day, when the masses, the people our government was designed to serve, take part in one of our most valuable democratic practices, and cast their ballots for the people who will represent them,” Rabb said. “The added benefit of making Election Day a holiday is that it makes the sacrosanct act of voting even Read more

 

PA Lawmaker Gets Snippy With Proposed Vasectomy Legislation

(Oct 07, 2021)

One state representative is taking the reproductive rights battle to a new level, suggesting that men take responsibility.State Rep. Chris Rabb (D-Philadelphia) has proposed legislation that would require “inseminators” to undergo a vasectomy within six weeks of the birth of their third child, or their 40th birthday, whichever comes first.The vasectomy bill is satire, Rabb said. But it’s also highlighting a double standard. Read more

 

US: 'Satire bill' proposes curbs on male reproductive rights

(Oct 06, 2021)

Following the outcry over tough abortion laws in Texas and elsewhere, a Democrat politician in the state of Pennsylvania, Chris Rabb, is proposing a "satire bill" to restrict male reproductive rights - the headline being compulsory vasectomies for the over 40s or any man who already has three children. Cue uproar, and the most homophobic and racist abuse he's ever received in his political life. Read more

 

Memo detailing bill to require vasectomies in Pennsylvania written to parody Texas abortion law

(Oct 06, 2021)

A month after a restrictive Texas abortion ban went into effect, a Pennsylvania state representative circulated a sarcastic memo saying he intended to propose a startling bill: all men over 40 or who have more than three kids would be required to get vasectomies. Read more

 

Democratic Pennsylvania State Rep. Proposes Requiring Vasectomies at Age 40

(Oct 05, 2021)

A Pennsylvania House Democrat proposed legislation that would require men to undergo vasectomies at age 40 or after their third child. Read more

 

Rabb announces parody legislation enforcing reproductive responsibility among men to highlight gendered double standards regarding reproductive rights

(Oct 04, 2021)

HARRISBURG, Oct. 4 – State Rep. Chris Rabb, D-Phila., has circulated a public memo promoting a forthcoming bill , inspired in part by Illinois state Rep. Kelly Cassidy’s innovative TExAS Act , which seeks to enforce reproductive responsibility among men through a series of means. Rabb’s bill would require men to get a vasectomy within six weeks of having their third child or their 40 th birthday, whichever comes first; codify into state law a definition of “wrongful conception” to include when a person has demonstrated negligence toward preventing conception during intercourse; would allow Pennsylvanians to take civil action for unwanted pregnancies against men who wrongfully conceive a child with them or who do not comply with the statute; and it would provide a $10,000 reward for reporting to the proper authorities those scofflaws who have not complied with the statute in the allotted timeframe, allowing for Pennsylvanians to take civil action against “inseminators.” “As long as state legislatures continue to restrict the reproductive rights of cis women, trans men and non-binary people, there should be laws to address the responsibility of men who impregnate them,” Rabb said. “My sincere hope in introducing this legislation is that my colleagues in the General Assembly consider the egregiously gendered double standard when it comes to curtailing reproductive health care as it applies to women.” Read more

 

Kenyatta, Rabb introduce bill to limit military equipment going to local law enforcement

(Sep 28, 2021)

HARRISBURG, Sept. 28 – State Reps. Malcolm Kenyatta and Chris Rabb, both D-Phila., on Monday introduced legislation (H.B. 1923) that would limit local law enforcement’s ability to procure military-grade weapons and equipment. Kenyatta said his bill would prohibit local law enforcement’s access to certain military-grade weapons and equipment they have been able to access under the National Defense Authorization Act of 1997. The Department of Defense has been providing military equipment to law enforcement agencies through the 1033 program, which transfers excess military equipment to U.S. police forces. Tear gas and rubber ammo are the types of items law enforcement agencies would be limited in acquiring from federal military surplus, and local police would be required to maintain a database and be approved by local authorities. “Law enforcement can protect and serve the communities in which they operate without military-grade weapons and equipment, which only increases tensions between communities and law enforcement and lead to distrust,” Kenyatta said. Rabb agreed. "Law enforcement agencies do not need military-grade weapons and equipment to achieve their primary responsibility, which is to keep safe the communities they take an oath to serve," Rabb said. "We have enabled our law enforcement agencies to become militarized and create war zones in our communities over the past several decades. “Our Read more

 

Rabb, Polinchock introduce bill to remove DUI penalties for legal medical cannabis use

(Sep 21, 2021)

HARRISBURG, Sept. 21 – State Reps. Chris Rabb, D-Phila., and Todd Polinchock, R-Bucks, have introduced legislation that would ensure the rights of the more than 500,000 medical cannabis patients in Pennsylvania, protecting them from DUI penalties. “I believe that people with a medical need for cannabis, who have acted courageously to seek help for their medical condition and have been granted use of medical cannabis, should be protected from DUI penalties for their legal medical cannabis use,” Rabb said. “I know I’m not the only lawmaker in the General Assembly who has been contacted by constituents concerned that their responsible use of medical cannabis may expose them to targeting by law enforcement when they drive. “A medical cannabis user can take a miniscule amount of medicine for their ailment and weeks later, with traces of cannabis still in their system, be subject to arrest on a DUI charge if pulled over — not because they’ve driven impaired, but because our state laws haven’t caught up with the science,” Rabb continued. “And, if you think you don’t know someone who falls into this category – a person who has been prescribed medical cannabis and who drives and is fearful of the potential DUI charge they could face – you’re wrong. I am a card-carrying medical cannabis patient, and I drive regularly, including in and around Philadelphia and to Harrisburg conducting the Read more

 

Rabb to host Grown Folks Fall Festival Oct. 9, offering state government services, free shredding, food, music and games

(Sep 15, 2021)

PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 15 – State Rep. Chris Rabb, D-Phila., will host his annual Grown Folks Fall Festival on Oct. 9, offering a variety of services for seniors with fun for the whole family. The event will be held from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 9, at St. Raymond’s School Yard, 1350 E. Vernon Road, Philadelphia, PA, 19150 . There will be oldies music, vendors, line dancing, snacks, flu shots and COVID-19 testing and vaccination, with no appointments necessary. Rabb and his staff will be on hand to answer questions and provide information about state government services. Additionally, free shredding will be available from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. , so that people can have their outdated or unwanted personal documents securely discarded. There is a limit of one bag of documents per person. Guests are asked to wear a mask and practice social distancing. Rabb is partnering with the following officials to host the event: Councilpersons Derek Green, Isaiah Thomas, Kendra Brooks, Helen Gym and Cindy Bass; state Reps. Isabella Fitzgerald and Stephen Kinsey, state Sen. Art Haywood; and Congressperson Dwight Evans. For more information, call Rabb’s office at 215-242-7300. Read more

 

A recent win against gerrymandering must be the first of many steps to make elections fairer, more equitable

(Aug 25, 2021)

The Legislative Reapportionment Commission on Tuesday took a huge step to make voting in Pennsylvania fairer and more equitable by ending the practice of prison gerrymandering. The commission’s action changes the current practice where the U.S. Census counts incarcerated individuals as residents of the prison location rather than their previous residential address. This unintentionally inflated the weight of a vote cast in districts that contain prisons at the expense of voters in areas that do not host a prison. This also dilutes the power of the vote for Black and Brown communities whose citizens are disproportionately incarcerated. Pennsylvania has 23 state correctional institutions and one motivational boot camp facility located in 19 different counties. The combined population count for these facilities in April was 37,284 people. More than 9,000 of those people – almost 25% of the total – are from the city of Philadelphia but are not counted as residents of the city. Conversely, 31% of the total population of Forest County – more than 2,200 of the 7,300 people counted by the census there – are actually incarcerated people in state correctional institutions in the county. While this step is incredibly important in the overall mission of ensuring free and fair elections for all eligible voters in Pennsylvania, it doesn’t go far enough in that it does not apply to federal or county prison facilities – only Read more

 

Rabb: Police Misconduct Database was Long Overdue

(Jul 23, 2021)

In the months following the shooting of Antwon Rose by police in East Pittsburgh, Pa. state Rep. Chris Rabb introduced legislation to establish a police misconduct database. The interdepartmental system would make it harder for bad cops to jump from department to department. It took almost three years and a peaceful takeover of the House chambers to make this idea a reality, but on July 14, 2021, the database went live. Rep. Rabb commended his colleagues for passing this legislation, but cautioned that the database is only a start to police reform; more still needs to be done. Read more

 

Rabb: We are Making Strides Toward Police Accountability

(Jul 16, 2021)

Pa. state Chris Rabb joined Governor Tom Wolf, Attorney General Josh Shapiro, House and Senate Colleagues, and representatives of various police organizations to announce the launch of a new database to help keep bad cops from jumping from one department to the next. The new database holds separation records of all PA law enforcement officers seeking employment at a law enforcement agency. This follows last year’s signing of Act 57 of 2020, which Rabb was instrumental in authoring. Read more

 

Guest Opinion: Medical cannabis is medicine, and we must protect patients, like me, who need it to manage their medical conditions

(Jul 15, 2021)

A column by state Rep. Chris Rabb about medical cannabis in Pennsylvania. Read more

 

Rabb lauds passage of Act 37 of 2021, which includes his language making worker cooperatives eligible for micro-enterprise lending program

(Jul 14, 2021)

HARRISBURG, July 14 – State Rep. Chris Rabb, D-Phila., lauded the recent passage of Act 37 of 2021 , which establishes a new micro-enterprise loan program that includes prior language authored by Rabb to include worker cooperatives. “Act 37 of 2021 enacts into law House Bill 827 which seeks to create community development opportunities in our blighted communities through a self-sustaining funding program that operates on fees, fines and private partnerships,” Rabb said. “Ensuring that start-up worker cooperatives are eligible to participate in the program affirms the importance of democratic community economics.” Rabb said Act 37 is based on legislation he was successful in getting amended in the House chamber in his first term in office. That bill was amended unanimously in the House in 2017, but it died in the Senate. This session, H.B. 827 passed unanimously in both the House and Senate and was enacted in Act 37 on June 30, 2021. Read more

 

Law enforcement background investigations and employment information law is now in operation. The public can provide feedback before final regulations are adopted.

(Jul 14, 2021)

Act 57, which required the development of a database to hold separation records of all law enforcement officers in Pennsylvania, is now operational with temporary regulations. You can read about all the Act 57 regulations here and see all its forms here . There are five critical improvements that I believe can be recommended prior to the adoption of the final regulations. Those five critical improvements would prevent the legislature from having to amend or draft additional legislation. They are: That the prohibited offenses not just be those that are final and binding. That sedition be added as a prohibited offense. Requiring that the designee from the police authority completing the documents be required to report both qualitatively and quantitatively all disciplinary actions and the number of actions in each category. Granular detail be provided around the red flags respective to each infraction. The hiring report ought to require complete information (not just true and correct). If you share my concerns that these critical improvements be made, you can send your feedback to the Policy and Legislative Affairs Office by emailing them at this address: RA-SPPSP_PLAO@pa.gov . Read more

 

Rabb Celebrates Bridge Reopening

(Jul 14, 2021)

Pa. state Rep. Chris Rabb joined a handful of dignitaries and his Mount Airy neighbors to commemorate the reopening of the Allens Lane Bridge. The bridge has been closed for more than two years for rehabilitation. The new bridge design was the result of collaboration between PennDOT and the surrounding neighborhood association. Rabb said, “It has been invigorating to watch this partnership between West Mt. Airy residents and the state grow over the past several years and result in this smart, equitable and critical infrastructure project.” Read more

 

Rabb: One Fair Wage for All

(Jul 09, 2021)

Pa. state Rep. Chris Rabb talks about the need for one fair wage, regardless of your job. He thinks that tipped workers deserve stability and a guarantee that they will work 40 hours a week for a living wage as much as any other profession. Rabb leads the fight for one fair wage for all, and has joined with Pa. Democratic leaders calling on a vote to raise the minimum wage and eliminate the tipped wage. Read more

 

Rabb to join Allens Lane bridge reopening dedication

(Jul 08, 2021)

“To ensure that everyone benefits from public infrastructure investment, we must ensure that the communities and people impacted by it have a seat at the negotiating table,” Rabb said. “It has been invigorating to watch this partnership between West Mt. Airy residents and the state grow over the past several years and result in this smart, equitable and critical infrastructure project." Read more

 

A list of grant opportunities available right now

(Jun 30, 2021)

From support for local businesses to job training, there are a number of grant funding opportunities in Pennsylvania. Here's a look at what's available right now: STATE PROGRAMS NOW OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection: Driving PA Forward Level 2 EV Charging Rebate Program (Funding Source: State Mitigation Trust - Volkswagen Emissions Settlement) Who May Apply : Business, charitable organizations, incorporated nonprofits, local government entities, school districts, and other entities. Use : Rebates for Level 2 EV charging equipment for public use at government owned property, public use at non-government owned property, non-public use at work places, non-public use at multi-unit dwellings. Funds : Maximum rebates of $4,000 per plug for full public access and networked charging projects, $3,500 per plug for multi-unit dwelling projects and $3,000 per plug for all other eligible projects, including workplace charging. Application Deadline : First come, first-served. More Information : Click on https://gis.dep.pa.gov/drivingpaforward/ . Pennsylvania Department of Human Services: Children’s Trust Fund (Funding Source: Children’s Trust Fund) Who May Apply : Any organization operating in Pennsylvania that provides direct services and meets the criteria in this Request for Applications (“RFA”) is eligible to apply. Use : To support community-based child abuse and neglect Read more

 

Activists reflect on a historic year, from George Floyd to Juneteenth

(Jun 18, 2021)

“When I think of Juneteenth, I think of a symbol that can be used as a springboard to talk about all issues around racial equity,” Mr. Rabb said. “All of these things can be rooted and connected to white supremacist laws that were created, not just on the federal level but in our own state.” Read more

 

Rabb introduces legislation to remove Columbus Day holiday, replace it with Election Day holiday
Oct 07, 2021

PA Lawmaker Gets Snippy With Proposed Vasectomy Legislation
Oct 07, 2021

US: 'Satire bill' proposes curbs on male reproductive rights
Oct 06, 2021

Memo detailing bill to require vasectomies in Pennsylvania written to parody Texas abortion law
Oct 06, 2021

Democratic Pennsylvania State Rep. Proposes Requiring Vasectomies at Age 40
Oct 05, 2021

Rabb announces parody legislation enforcing reproductive responsibility among men to highlight gendered double standards regarding reproductive rights
Oct 04, 2021

Kenyatta, Rabb introduce bill to limit military equipment going to local law enforcement
Sep 28, 2021

Rabb, Polinchock introduce bill to remove DUI penalties for legal medical cannabis use
Sep 21, 2021

Rabb to host Grown Folks Fall Festival Oct. 9, offering state government services, free shredding, food, music and games
Sep 15, 2021

A recent win against gerrymandering must be the first of many steps to make elections fairer, more equitable
Aug 25, 2021

Rabb: Police Misconduct Database was Long Overdue
Jul 23, 2021

Rabb: We are Making Strides Toward Police Accountability
Jul 16, 2021

Guest Opinion: Medical cannabis is medicine, and we must protect patients, like me, who need it to manage their medical conditions
Jul 15, 2021

Rabb lauds passage of Act 37 of 2021, which includes his language making worker cooperatives eligible for micro-enterprise lending program
Jul 14, 2021

Law enforcement background investigations and employment information law is now in operation. The public can provide feedback before final regulations are adopted.
Jul 14, 2021

Rabb Celebrates Bridge Reopening
Jul 14, 2021

Rabb: One Fair Wage for All
Jul 09, 2021

Rabb to join Allens Lane bridge reopening dedication
Jul 08, 2021

A list of grant opportunities available right now
Jun 30, 2021

Activists reflect on a historic year, from George Floyd to Juneteenth
Jun 18, 2021