E-MAIL from March 13: Latest updates on COVID-19

(Mar 13, 2020)

Updates about PennDOT, local charities, businesses and schools. Read more

 

Sanchez district office closing as Montgomery County ramps up coronavirus mitigation efforts

(Mar 12, 2020)

“In order to best serve our constituents and to focus on the health and safety of our residents and my office staff, we are absolutely participating in the mitigation phase that Governor Wolf and Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine announced earlier today for our county,” Sanchez said. “We remain eager to assist our community in the best ways possible, and we will continue to work in its best interest during this unprecedented time.” Read more

 

Sanchez, Kenyatta discuss legislation about reporting lost or stolen firearms

(Mar 10, 2020)

PHILADELPHIA, March 10 – State Reps. Ben Sanchez, D-Montgomery, and Malcolm Kenyatta, D-Phila., on Monday co-hosted a news conference at St. Paul’s Baptist Church in Kenyatta’s 181 st Legislative District to urge the General Assembly to vote on legislation about reporting lost or stolen firearms. “ We’re standing in the epicenter of the gun violence epidemic. It’s right here in North Philly – my community – where countless lives have been taken by guns, particularly guns that have been lost or stolen only to resurface in the hands of dangerous people,” Kenyatta said. “Today, we’re demanding our state legislature to stop ignoring this critical piece of legislation and to stop putting special interests and petty partisanship over what truly matters – lives.” Sanchez reintroduced H.B. 1288 in April – it was first introduced as H.B. 1515 by former state Rep. Madeleine Dean, D-Montgomery, during the 2013-14 legislative session – to require any owner or other person lawfully in possession of a firearm who suffers the loss or theft of a weapon to report it to law enforcement within 72 hours of the discovery. A failure to do so would result in a summary offense. Bearing the same language, the bill was reintroduced as H.B. 832 during the 2014-15 legislative session and again in the 2016-17 session. To date, the bill has been introduced five times. Read more

 

Sanchez stands up to pass gun safety laws

(Mar 10, 2020)

Pa. state Rep. Ben Sanchez joined state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta to address gun violence across the commonwealth. He explained that his legislation would help protect Pennsylvanians and keep firearms in the hands of responsible owners. Read more

 

School safety grants awarded around Montgomery County

(Feb 26, 2020)

HARRISBURG, Feb. 26 – Montgomery County state representatives today announced school safety and security grants awarded to school districts throughout the county. The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency’s School Safety and Security Committee awarded a total of $53.7 million in school safety grants. Montgomery County awards are as follows: Abington School District: $455,550 Agora Cyber Charter School: $143,226 Cheltenham Township School District: $45,000 Colonial School District: $45,000 Hatboro-Horsham School District: $45,000 Jenkintown School District: $30,000 Lower Merion School District: $45,000 Lower Moreland Township School District: $40,000 Methacton School District: $221,370 Norristown Area School District: $467,756 North Montco Technical Career Center: $150,000 North Penn School District: $45,000 Perkiomen Valley School District: $45,000 Pottsgrove School District: $40,000 Pottstown School District: $490,000 Souderton Area School District: $460,437 Springfield Township School District: $40,000 Spring-Ford Area School District: $45,000 Upper Dublin School District: $45,000 Upper Merion Area School District: $45,000 Upper Moreland School District: $40,000 Upper Perkiomen School District: $40,000 Western Montgomery Career & Technology Center: $72,994 Wissahickon School District: $45,000 Below are reactions from Democratic state Read more

 

Sanchez discusses WIC, medical marijuana during state budget hearings

(Feb 25, 2020)

From strengthening a critical assistance program to getting updates about medical marijuana dispensaries, Pa. state Rep. Ben Sanchez brought questions from his community to ask the Department of Health during this week’s state budget hearings. Read more

 

Sanchez makes water quality a priority during budget hearing

(Feb 19, 2020)

During this week’s state budget hearings, Pa. state Rep. Ben Sanchez continued his work to protect water quality. Read more

 

Wolf highlights Sanchez gun safety bill in budget address

(Feb 05, 2020)

HARRISBURG, Feb. 4 – Gov. Tom Wolf highlighted state Rep. Ben Sanchez’s bill requiring gun owners to report lost or stolen firearms in his budget address today as part of his plan to reduce gun violence in the Commonwealth. Sanchez’s H.B. 1288 would require any owner or other person lawfully in possession of a firearm who suffers the loss or theft of a weapon to report it to law enforcement within 72 hours of the discovery. If a person fails to do so, he or she could be charged with a summary offense. “I’m pleased that Governor Wolf singled out my commonsense gun safety bill, which would require stronger reporting requirements for lost and stolen firearms and help keep guns off the streets,” said Sanchez, D-Montgomery. “The bill would deter gun trafficking by making firearm owners more accountable for their weapons and make our communities safer for all of us.” If H.B. 1288 becomes law, Pennsylvania would join a growing list of other states such as Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island and the District of Columbia that require the reporting of lost or stolen firearms. Sanchez’s bill previously was introduced by former state Rep. Madeline Dean, and has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee. Read more