What Josh Shapiro Said / Win Ice-Skating Family Tix!

Rep. Tarik Khan February 7, 2025

PA Representative Tarik Khan banner image

Dear Neighbors,

Higher wages. Better public schools. More reliable public transit. Protecting and expanding healthcare access. These were some of the priorities Governor Josh Shapiro revealed in his budget address on Tuesday.

Click on the image below to watch my summary of key takeaways from Governor Shapiro’s budget focused on uplifting our community.

The Governor’s priorities closely matched the issues that I’ve been fighting hard for. They include items like increasing the minimum wage to $15 (a bill I’m working on with Rep. Green); and requiring hospitals to post their fees so the public can know the cost of healthcare services — a bipartisan price transparency bill I’m also leading on.

Image: Photo of my colleagues and me during a press conference last year on raising the minimum wage.

He also called for continued efforts to modernize our healthcare laws—like the bill Rep. Nancy Guenst and I introduced to address healthcare provider shortages by granting nurse practitioners full practice authority— a policy already adopted by most US states. Shapiro also highlighted the crisis caused by private equity firms gutting hospitals for profit, creating healthcare deserts—an issue Rep. Lisa Borowski and I got are leading on after tragedies like what happened to Hahnemann.

Shapiro’s plan builds on our recent progress by increasing public school funding (an over half-billion-dollar increase over last year’s historic budget investment), addressing mass transit shortfalls affecting SEPTA (giving them a steady stream of state funding), expanding pre-K and childcare programs, and supporting Pennsylvanians with disabilities—a long-overlooked community.

With so much chaos on the national stage, the governor’s address was a refreshing reminder of calm, measured governance that puts the needs of Pennsylvanians over political posturing and partisanship.

Image: Me and the Governor.

Gov. Shapiro’s priorities also align with what our community has been asking for– better schools, transit, and wages. And as a newly assigned member to the PA House Appropriations Committee, I will fight to help ensure these issues – and many more– are reflected in the final budget!

PROTECTING HEALTHCARE WORKERS: HB 2283 ADVANCES TO THE SENATE

Pennsylvania just took a big step to protect healthcare workers with the House passage of my bill, HB 2283! Every day, operating room staff are exposed to toxic surgical smoke filled with harmful chemicals, bacteria, and viruses—posing serious health risks. A single day of exposure can equal smoking a pack and a half of cigarettes.

This bipartisan, worker-driven bill would require surgical smoke evacuation systems in hospitals and surgical centers—improving air quality, reducing risks, and enhancing patient safety. Eighteen states have already taken this step, and now Pennsylvania is catching up.

Click on the image below to see a brief video about our bill that makes hospitals safer for patients and hospital workers.

Image: Screenshot from a video about HB 2283 with an example of surgical smoke during an operation.

VICTORY FOR SAFER STREETS: HB 291 PASSSES!

Every day, cyclists in Pennsylvania risk their lives due to outdated laws blocking safer infrastructure. With HB 291’s passage, we’re finally making parking-protected bike lanes legal statewide—a critical step toward preventing crashes and saving lives.

This bill follows years of tragedy, including the heartbreaking deaths of Dr. Barbara Ann Friedes, Samuel Ozer, Christopher Cabrera, and former Masterman teacher Kevin St. Clare—losses that better infrastructure may have prevented. Too many safety projects have been stalled by outdated regulations, but when this bill passes the Senate and is signed into law, local governments will be able to implement proven solutions to protect cyclists, pedestrians, and drivers alike.

Click on the image below to watch a brief video of how we’re making our streets safer for bicyclists.

Image: A fellow nurse & me standing by bikes. Go Eagles!

NEVER FORGET

On Wednesday, I spent some time advocating for Holocaust survivors and helping to ensure we never forget one of the most barbaric acts in our history. Rep. Ben Waxman is leading an effort to ensure that Holocaust survivors in PA are no longer subject to state income tax on any reparations paid from the German government. The number of Holocaust survivors in PA is around 1,500 people, and several survivors receive reparations from Germany due to the state-sponsored terror inflicted by its Nazi government. Reps. Abigail Salisbury, Jared Solomon and I stood behind Rep. Waxman in support as he testified before the state Houses Finance Committee to discuss his bill to exempt reparations from state income taxes. Waxman’s bill is expected to receive a vote in committee later in the early spring and has strong support.

Later that morning, Rep. Jared Solomon’s resolution honoring January 27, 2025, as Holocaust Memorial Day was called up in the House chamber for a vote. I was honored to speak in the chamber on ensuring the lessons of one of the darkest periods in our history are never forgotten. Solomon’s bipartisan resolution was adopted unanimously by the PA House.

Watch my brief message on why PA must recognize Holocaust Memorial Day by clicking HERE.

At a time of rising intolerance and hatred, it is more critical than ever to memorialize horrific tragedies like the Holocaust and honor diverse communities—so history’s worst moments are never repeated.

MANAGING THE CHAOS FROM WASHINGTON

Like many of you, I’m very concerned about what we are seeing coming out of Washington D.C. and what it could mean for us here in Philadelphia. Last week’s freeze on all federal grants and loans, for example, interrupted Medicaid and Head Start payments and caused significant disruptions to our social safety net. Like you, I care about people being able to afford to put food on their table, pay their bills, get assistance when they need it, and be protected from threats to their health care, security, and our schools.

That’s why I’m doing what I can on the state level: fighting for every kid in every school, fighting to protect and expand our community’s access to health care, fighting to help create more good jobs, and working to cut your costs so neighbors can afford to take care of their families. I have bills to protect access to healthcare, and my caucus is monitoring what is coming out of Washington to ensure we are responding appropriately. And know that I will work with lawmakers at the state, local and federal levels to protect our community as threats emerge.

This isn’t something we can fix yelling at anonymous accounts on social media. This is where people in Philadelphia come together. And I firmly believe that our brightest days as a commonwealth as a nation are ahead of us!

If my office can help, please call us, email us, or stop and visit. We may not have all of the answers. But we are here for you. And we are listening.

GO BIRDS!

Philly, it’s that time again—our Eagles are heading to the Super Bowl this weekend! We know what it means to fight hard and never back down, and that’s exactly what Philadelphia does on and off the field. Let’s maintain the good mojo (keep doing what you’re doing on game day) and bring the spirit our Birds need to win on Sunday!

Let’s bring home another championship. Fly Eagles Fly!

Image: Me and Rep Bellmon with an Inflatable Swoop Mascot.

ENTER TO WIN WISSAHICKON SKAING CLUB TICKETS!

Image: Young fans cheering the “A Team” last week vs. St Nicks of NY at WSC.

If you’re interested in going ice skating, email us at reptarik@pahouse.net by Monday and let us know to enter you into a random drawing for a family four pack to the Wissahickon Skating Club (WSC)!

Please include your name and phone number in order to have a chance to win! Public Skating sessions are Friday 8:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m. and Saturday 12:45 p.m.-2:15 p.m.

WSC is a community nonprofit located on the grounds of Springside Chestnut Hill Academy at 550 W. Willow Grove Ave., 19118.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Andorra Library Office Hours - February 10th, 4 - 7 p.m.

Representatives from my office will be at the Andorra Library on February 10th from 4–7 p.m. to provide constituent services and assist with state-related issues. Whether you need help with PennDOT, Property Tax/Rent Rebates, or other concerns, they’ll be there to help!

With Gratitude,

COMMUNITY UPDATES

Follow us on Social Media

FB/Twitter/TikTok: @RepTarik

Insta/Bluesky: @RepTarikKhan

Feb. 5th - Disgusting move by Amazon to break the backs of workers.

Read more here from the DelCo Times on this issue by clicking on the linked graphic below.

Image: Newspaper graphic about Amazon’s efforts to undo results of unionization victory.

Feb. 3rd - Grateful for the opportunity to celebrate Lunar New Year last night with fellow elected officials and The Pennsylvania United Chinese Coalition.

In times of certainty and uncertainty, I will continue to back our Asian American community!

Image: Photo of me and colleagues from the House, Senate, and City Council on stage at the event.

Feb. 1st - We are praying for all the families affected by yesterday’s plane crash in NE Philly. Please find a list of resources from the city below.

Image: Graphic made by City of Philadelphia for residents affected by the January 31st aircraft crash.

Jan. 31st - My bipartisan bill to protect patients & operating room workers from surgical smoke came out of the PA House Health Committee! This is an important bill that will help ensure hospitals are healthy & healing environments!

Image: Graphic of HB 27 protecting healthcare workers and patients from surgical smoke in operating rooms.