State Rep. Amen Brown, D-Phila., today released a statement applauding the Philadelphia Police Department’s recent success and swift action against the use of off-road vehicles citywide. Read more
STATE PROGRAMS NOW OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection : Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant (Funding Source: General Fund) Who May Apply : School districts, municipal authorities, municipalities, nonprofits, private businesses. Use : Purchase or retrofit vehicles to operate on alternative fuels, purchase and install refueling equipment, and research or develop new technologies. Funds: Infrastructure and innovative technology project g rants up to $600,000. Vehicle grants up to $100,000 per vehicle, depending upon class of vehicle. Application Deadline : August 27; a second application round will close December 17 More Information : Click on https://www.dep.pa.gov/Citizens/GrantsLoansRebates/Alternative-Fuels-Incentive-Grant/Pages/default.aspx . UPCOMING APPLICATION DEADLINES: DEP Driving PA Forward Level 2 EV Charging Rebate Program: Until Funds Expended ( Funding Source: State Mitigation Trust - Volkswagen Emissions Settlement) Business, charitable organizations, incorporated nonprofits, local government entities, school districts, and other entities. - 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. DHS Children’s Read more
Gun violence community survey, Emergency Rental Assistance Program, community resources and bulletin. Read more
Gun violence community survey, district and legislative updates, events and resources. Read more
PHILADELPHIA, July 15 – State Rep. Amen Brown announced the launch of his office’s Gun Violence Community Survey, an action in line with Brown’s commitment to tackling gun violence. “Gun violence is an epidemic, and our approach to treating it is through systemic measures aimed at de-escalation, community building, good and transparent police work, and partnership-based cooperation,” Brown said. “At the 190th District Office, we want to know how you feel about gun violence, how to deal with it, and how to hold perpetrators accountable.” As chair of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus’ Subcommittee on Gun Violence and Public Safety, Brown is helping lead the effort to tackle the epidemic of gun violence across Pennsylvania, and in his West Philadelphia home district. Residents of the 190 th Legislative District are invited to complete the survey online , available at RepAmen.com under the “Programs” tab in the top navigation bar. For any questions or assistance, please contact RepAmen@pahouse.net . Read more
City pools, property tax / rent rebate, state and federal funding programs, community calendar, and more. Read more
State Funding Inquiry Form Read more
2020-2021 PA Grant & Resource Directory Read more
News and legislative updates, state and federal grant programs, other funding opportunities, community bulletin and more. Read more
When introducing my recent legislation that involved instituting mandatory minimums for repeat offenders of violent crimes, I knew that it might raise some eyebrows. But I made a commitment to those who elected me to represent them – a commitment to be an advocate and make sure the needs and concerns of my constituents were strongly represented. Communities in my district and others across the state are being ravaged by gun violence. Families are experiencing the loss of loved ones to senseless acts, our seniors in the community are afraid to leave their homes, and children are being robbed of their futures by being murdered. Simply put, this is not okay. My action was aimed at offering a way to help combat the epidemic of gun violence. I know that this epidemic is not a one-solution-fits-all issue, and it will take a multifaceted approach to remedy it. That is why I have been working to get funds allocated to programs that address the systemic issues that plague so many communities. My question is: what about the right now? What are we doing to instill accountability and change the trajectory of the deadly violence? It is clear many feel that my proposal is not the preferred policy solution, and that is okay. There are many other proposals to consider, but we will not be able to address the issue at hand, though, unless we come together across the aisle. Communities in our state are getting decimated, and gun violence is a leading cause of this decimation. We Read more
Property tax / rent rebate deadline extended, $3M in grant funding for the 190th, state & federal resources, and the community bulletin. Read more
HARRISBURG, June 8 – State Rep. Amen Brown, D-Phila., has announced the introduction of new legislation in the state House to help ensure fairness in housing, remove unnecessary barriers, and allow for more Pennsylvanians to have a chance at secure and stable housing. “The ability to obtain housing should be accessible by everyone, regardless of their background,” Brown said. “We must do our part to end discriminatory housing practices in our state.” When applying for a rental home, some Pennsylvanians are experiencing housing discrimination due to past criminal history. One component to reducing recidivism is ensuring housing security. By simply checking a box saying that one has a criminal history, individuals are often immediately denied that opportunity to secure housing. Brown plans to introduce legislation to impact where criminal justice and housing rights intersect. The legislation would put an end to such discriminatory practice and “ban the box” that asks whether a person has been convicted of a crime on rental applications, acknowledging that the people being impacted the most are Black and brown people. This approach would provide individuals and their families a fair chance at putting a roof over their heads. “We must ensure a more equitable housing market for all Pennsylvanians,” Brown said. For more questions about this legislation, residents may contact Brown’s office at Read more
HARRISBURG, June 8 – State Rep. Amen Brown, D-Phila., has announced the introduction of legislation to permanently end medical copays for incarcerated Pennsylvanians. Paid an average hourly rate of 42 cents per hour, incarcerated Pennsylvanians regularly face difficult financial decisions during incarceration. The choice they are often forced to face is whether they should spend $5 on a copay to receive basic health care services or on other necessities, such as food, phone/email costs or undergarments. “If we do the math, an incarcerated individual will have to work about 12 hours to earn enough to pay just one medical copay,” Brown said. “Having to make such a decision places an unfair financial burden on those incarcerated.” Not only does the $5 copay pose a financial burden to those incarcerated, but it also presents a public health dilemma by discouraging sick individuals from getting needed care. While inmates still receive medical care if they cannot pay the copay, their account balance goes into the negative, often requiring additional payments from family members to pay off the balance. “This is not how health equity is achieved,” Brown noted. “We can and must do better.” To alleviate the pressure put on our incarcerated individuals to pay copays, Brown will be introducing legislation to permanently end the $5 copay requirement for medical services. Brown’s legislation follows his successful Read more
Unclaimed property search, streamlining state government, gun violence awareness month, youth summer career fest, funding opportunities for the 190th, and community resource bulletin. Read more
HARRISBURG, May 28 – State Rep. Amen Brown, D-Phila., today issued the following statement on the Department of Corrections Secretary John Wetzel’s action to waive all medical co-pays for inmates due to public health concerns and to ensure wider access to care. “I applaud the most recent action to suspend medical co-pays for inmates. I want to thank Secretary Wetzel and the Department of Corrections staff on their willingness to work on common-sense solutions for those incarcerated and their families,” Brown said. During budget hearings, Brown posed his concern regarding the department’s required $5 co-pay for incarcerated individuals receiving medical care. The exchange led to a series of meetings between Brown and Wetzel, including a tour of SCI Chester and a focus group with those incarcerated. As a result of this collaboration, Brown formally requested that DOC and Wetzel consider waiving co-pays. Upon consultations with his team, Wetzel decided to waive all co-pays during the COVID-19 pandemic, citing public health concerns and access issues. “These co-pays can often be a barrier to accessing healthcare,” Brown noted. “Even without the severe effects of the pandemic, this issue demands action. And the suspension of co-pays demonstrates action in practice, moving us in a better direction. I call on my colleagues in the General Assembly to support my upcoming legislative effort to permanently eliminate all co-pays Read more
State Rep. Amen Brown announced new funding awarded through the Farm to School Program to Methodist Services in the 190 th Legislative District. Methodist Services was awarded grant funding in the amount of $15,000 for their School Gardens project. “Congratulations to Methodist Services and other recipients across the Commonwealth on receiving this funding,” Brown said. “We must continue to invest in sustainable food systems, focusing on local food and accessible training.” The Pennsylvania Farm to School Grant Program provides schools with funding to improve access to healthy, local foods and increase agriculture education opportunities. The program aims to bridge the gap between children and the food system by connecting them to the fresh, healthy food available from Pennsylvania agricultural producers in their community and the surrounding areas. Through changing food purchasing and education practices at schools and early childhood education sites, children will become more aware and engaged with their local food system as well as empowered to leverage their own consumer influence to support Pennsylvania agriculture. More information on the program can be found at agriculture.pa.gov . Read more
State Rep. Amen Brown, D-Phila., has announced new funding for the 190 th Legislative District which has been awarded through the Urban Agriculture Infrastructure Grant Program. Local Grown Salads North Philadelphia Opportunity Zone Fund LLC has been awarded grant funding for grow lights, grow units, software and lab equipment in the amount of $40,000. “We are looking for urban agricultural solutions to ensure our ecosystems transition to sustainable methods,” Brown said. “To accomplish this, we must prioritize innovative approaches and maximize opportunities for collaboration, and this funding will help do both.” The Urban Agriculture Infrastructure Grant Program (UAI) provides funding in the form of reimbursement grants to eligible applicants seeking to improve urban agriculture infrastructure in Pennsylvania. The grants awarded aim to build out the infrastructure of urban agriculture by investing in the system, filling gaps, encouraging entities to work together, finding ways to bring operations to a greater scale, overcoming food deserts, and opening opportunities for people to become social entrepreneurs. More information on the program can be found at agriculture.pa.gov . Read more
Pa. state Rep. Amen Brown wants you to know about the plan that he and his colleagues in the House have to help communities across the Commonwealth #RecoverRestoreReimagine in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. He says businesses along corridors like Lancaster Ave, 60th St, Girard Ave, and 52nd St, had it tough before the pandemic hit and the investments available through the #PARescuePlan are just what’s needed to revive those local economies. Read more
Gun safety action, COVID vaccine information, and community survey. Read more
This week I announced a historic agreement between Pennsylvania’s largest gun show promoter Eagle Arms Productions, the Attorney General’s office, and other community partners to take concrete steps to make Pennsylvania, and our communities in Philadelphia, safer. This voluntary agreement was a moral decision made by the gun show promoter and not a legislative action. While it respects the legal and guaranteed right to bear arms and purchase a 80% frame kit – or “ghost gun” – the agreement to ban them at Eagle Arms gun shows will make it harder for criminals to do so. Some people are taking advantage of a loophole in the law that does not require background checks when purchasing frame kits at gun shows, completing the gun to make it functional and then selling it (for double the price of purchase) to people who are not able to legally obtain a firearm for various reasons. The 18th District Philadelphia Police Captain shared with our office that there have been 35 Violation of Uniform Firearms Act (VUFA) arrests made in 2021 so far, with 20% of those arrests involving “ghost guns,” or completed 80% frame kits. This is a 51% increase from the previous year to date numbers. Please note, this is just one of the 21 Police Districts in Philadelphia. Especially in Philadelphia and larger cities around PA, a criminal’s open access to illegal guns is a real issue. My neighbors, friends, family, Read more
Join the event live on Facebook, YouTube, and my website RepAmen.com and take our constituent survey online. Read more
Please use the form below to sign up for email updates. By completing this form you are acknowledging your request to receive periodic email updates.
By completing this form, you are verifying your request to opt in for email updates...
Thank you. Your email signup has been sent. You should start getting emails within 24 hours.
Please use the form below to email Rep. Amen Brown.
Thank you. Your feedback has been sent.
4027 Market StreetPhiladelphia, PA 19104-3002
P*: (215) 879-6615
F*: (215) 879-6616
Hours of Operation - Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Room 200 IOBPO Box 202190Harrisburg, PA 17120-2190
P*: (717) 783-3822
F*: (717) 772-2384