COATESVILLE, Sept. 22 – State Rep. Dan Williams announced today that two local schools—East Fallowfield and Rainbow elementary schools—have been awarded grants to provide students with fresh fruits and vegetables during the school day. “During this COVID-19 emergency, maintaining continued access to fresh, healthy foods for our students is important,” Williams, D-Chester, said. “Schools in my district have gone above and beyond to ensure this lifeline has continued, and I’m pleased that the Department of Education is providing these awards to fuel our children’s growth.” The funding was awarded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP). The program’s goals are to create healthier school environments by providing healthier food choices, expand the variety of fruits and vegetables students experience, increase fruit and vegetable consumption, and positively impact students’ present and future health. FFVP was first implemented in Pennsylvania in 2004 and expanded to all 50 states in 2008. Funding priority is given to the schools with the highest rates of students eligible for free and reduced-price meals. Grantees are required to spend a majority of their grant on the purchase of fresh fruit and vegetables and must develop a plan to establish partnerships to reduce other costs. Schools are also required to provide nutrition Read more
Summer 2020 NL Read more
On Monday, we will celebrate Labor Day, which commemorates the struggles and triumphs of the American labor movement. This year, the observance seems particularly meaningful. Workers on the front lines have been doing an incredible job to protect us from COVID-19 and to make sure we have supplies to get us through this challenging time. Health care providers, grocery store workers, delivery drivers, utility workers, emergency responders and countless others are stepping up to keep us safe and healthy, and I am incredibly grateful for their efforts. But these unprecedented circumstances have been a reminder that while many workers have unions looking out for their safety, far too many in Pennsylvania do not. COVID-19 has exposed the gross inequities within our workplaces and the dangers that too many workers are exposed to. We must work to fix these problems. That’s why I, along with my colleagues Reps. David Delloso, Joe Ciresi, Jennifer O’Mara and Steve Malagari, have introduced H.B. 2289 – the PA Protecting the Right to Organize (or PA PRO) Act. This bill would provide for a transformational strengthening of worker safeguards and enhancement of organizing rights. We need to ensure all Pennsylvania workers have the ability to fight for fair wages and a safe workplace. Weeks of staying home and quarantining have given many people a newfound appreciation for those working for us. It’s important to Read more
HARRISBURG, Aug. 25 – Chester County’s Democratic state Reps. Dan Williams, Danielle Friel-Otten and Kristine Howard announced that Coatesville Area School District, Chester County Intermediate Unit and 21st Century Cyber Charter School each received grant funding to improve educational services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Awardees are schools designated for Additional Targeted Support and Improvement under the federal Every Student Succeeds Act. Grants were awarded as follows: Coatesville Area School District: North Brandywine Middle School: $68,542. Rainbow Elementary School: $60,320. Reeceville Elementary School: $38,494. Coatesville Area Senior High School: $56,148. Chester County Intermediate Unit: $96,353. 21st Century Cyber Charter School: $38,371. “Ensuring that each student has the tools they need to succeed this academic year will be more complex compared to years prior. I’m proud to see these schools receive this much-needed funding so children can safely continue to learn as we work toward mitigating COVID-19 throughout our community and our commonwealth,” Williams said. “Pennsylvania’s schools were hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, and historically underserved students are likely to be the most impacted. I am grateful for this additional funding, which will help ensure a successful, safe and productive Read more
HARRISBURG, July 14 – A police reform bill sponsored by State Rep. Dan Williams, D-Chester, that would bring about the most significant changes to Pennsylvania policing in at least 40 years was signed into law by Gov. Tom Wolf today as Act 59 of 2020. Williams’ H.B. 1910 will update police training in several areas, including recognizing and reporting child abuse; de-escalation and harm reduction techniques; interacting with individuals of diverse racial, ethnic, and economic backgrounds; and appropriate use of force. House Bill 1910 is one of 19 bills that members of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus urged be considered by the House. The bill was recently passed unanimously by the House and the Senate, along with H.B. 1841 , which would require employers to disclose employment information to a law enforcement agency that is conducting a background investigation of an applicant. H.B.1841 was also signed into law by the governor. “A resounding cry for justice for all citizens has risen up throughout our commonwealth and our nation,” Williams said. “The General Assembly has responded to this impassioned demand to protect the vulnerable by passing these two police reform bills unanimously and by the governor by signing them into law. “I’m proud that my bill will enhance the training the police receive so they can better serve the public and expand the reporting system to Read more
COATESVILLE, July 2 – State Rep. Dan Williams, D-Chester, hosted Wednesday night a successful Community Police Partnership Forum shedding light on police/community relations and systemic racism. Dozens of constituents attended while more than 100 tuned in via livestream to interact with Williams, area chiefs of police, Chester County’s sheriff and district attorney. “I want to thank everyone who participated as we attempt to take a step forward together,” Williams said. “We need to open the dialogue around policing to implement effective change. This is only the beginning – 400 years of racism cannot be addressed in only one night. Here in Pennsylvania, we’ve passed legislation, including my own House Bill 1910, to make historic changes that I’m confident will save lives and increase our police force’s efficiency for years to come.” A recording of the discussion is available on Williams’ Facebook page. For more information, those interested can contact Williams’ office at (484) 200-8256. Read more
HARRISBURG, June 24 – A police reform bill sponsored by State Rep. Dan Williams, D-Chester, that would bring about the most significant changes to Pennsylvania policing in at least 40 years unanimously passed the House today. The bill will now head to the state Senate for consideration. Williams’ H.B. 1910 would update police training in several areas, including recognizing and reporting child abuse; de-escalation and harm reduction techniques; interacting with individuals of diverse racial, ethic, and economic backgrounds; and appropriate use of force. House Bill 1910 is one of 19 bills that members of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus urged be considered by the House. The bill was unanimously approved by the House Judiciary Committee on Monday, June 15. “Recently, our society has been questioning how our police force can better serve everyone. I’m proud to see my bill that aims to address some of these concerns, especially when protecting children, move on to the Senate and contribute to this mission,” Williams said. “Protecting and looking out for Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable residents is not a political issue, but one that deserves our attention across the aisle and across the commonwealth.” This is Williams’ first bill to clear a committee and pass the House since he took office in 2019. “As a first-term representative in the minority party, it can be Read more
The COVID-19 crisis will not stop us from electing our leaders. The people trust their government to guarantee their vote counts. Since I took office, I’ve been working with my colleagues on improving our elections. This year, and for the first time, residents can vote by mail with no excuse required. We thought this would be a convenience for busy voters; we never anticipated a pandemic to make this a safety lifeline. Over one million Pennsylvanians applied to vote by mail for the June 2 primary or to permanently remain on the mail-in voting roster. This is a victory in the era of social distancing. However, a new question arose. How long will it take to count these ballots? It’s possible that we may not know our results until several days later. How long must we wait for the results of our vote? With Pennsylvania as a critical swing state, the stakes are high. A ballot counting backlog should not block timely results. My solution is this: clear the backlog before it happens. Current PA law says mailed-in ballots cannot be counted until Election Day. My House Bill 2483 would allow mail-in and absentee ballots received early to be counted starting two weeks before Election Day. Importantly, my bill would also keep all counts confidential until the polls closed on Election Day. This way, county officials could prevent inevitable backlogs while still maintaining the integrity of our vote. Voting by mail is the safe, simple, and secure Read more
On May 1, people around the world celebrate International Workers Day, also known as May Day, which commemorates the working class and the struggles and triumphs of the labor movement. This year, the observance seems particularly meaningful. Workers on the front lines have been doing an incredible job to protect us from COVID-19 and to make sure we have supplies to get us through this challenging time. Health care providers, grocery store workers, delivery drivers, utility workers, emergency responders and countless others are stepping up to keep us safe and healthy, and I am incredibly grateful for their efforts. But these unprecedented circumstances have been a reminder that while many workers have unions looking out for their safety, far too many in Pennsylvania do not. COVID-19 has exposed the gross inequities within our workplaces and the dangers that too many workers are exposed to. We must work to fix these problems. That’s why I, along with my colleagues Reps. David Delloso, Joe Ciresi, Jennifer O’Mara and Steve Malagari, have introduced H.B. 2289 – the PA Protecting the Right to Organize (or PA PRO) Act. This bill would provide for a transformational strengthening of worker safeguards and enhancement of organizing rights. We need to ensure all Pennsylvania workers have the ability to fight for fair wages and a safe workplace. Weeks of staying home and quarantining have given many people a Read more
COATESVILLE, April 23 – State Rep. Dan Williams announced that Coatesville Area School District and Oxford School District have been selected to receive grants from the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s Continuing of Education Equity Grant program. Coatesville Area School District will receive $14,150 and Oxford School District received $9,500. Funds may be used to purchase computer equipment such as laptops, tablets, and internet hot spots, or used toward providing instructional materials such as paper lessons and coursework. Schools with the highest percentages of students lacking access to resources were given priority in receiving the grants. “As COVID-19 has made apparent to everyone, access to technology is a critical need for an equitable education,” Williams said. “I’m very glad for the additional funds to schools within my district as we strive toward a more equitable and prosperous future, and thanks to the Department of Education for providing these awards so quickly in the midst of this crisis.” CEEG grants are designed to help provide access and inclusion for all learners by bridging the gap for students who are currently limited in their ability to participate in continuity of education. Read more
In light of the current COVID-19 pandemic affecting Pennsylvania, we wanted to provide you with the following resources and information to help you and your family in the days ahead. Please note that this webpage will be updated as needed with additional information and resources. State Services and Resources The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has created a COVID-19 guide to assist everyone. It includes information on social distancing, mental health resources, unemployment, food assistance, changes from PennDOT and resources for small business: https://www.pa.gov/guides/responding-to-covid-19/ For individuals : https://www.pa.gov/guides/responding-to-covid-19/#ForIndividuals For families : https://www.pa.gov/guides/responding-to-covid-19/#ForFamilies For businesses : https://dced.pa.gov/resources COVID Support for PA Businesses : The following provides information and and links to federal, state, local and private resources. https://www.pahouse.com/News/?id=113388 **Self-employed, independent contractors, gig economy workers: Apply here for federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) benefits .** https://www.pa.gov/guides/responding-to-covid-19/#ForBusinessesUtilities Information from the PA Dept. of Labor and Industry on the federal CARES Act: https://www.uc.pa.gov/COVID-19/CARES-Act/Pages/default.aspx The following link provides you with Read more
Pa. state Rep. Dan Williams took part in a discussion on ways to get more people, especially young people, engaged in apprenticeships and union jobs that promise living wages. Read more
COATESVILLE, March 11 – State Rep. Dan Williams, D-Chester, is cancelling his COVID-19 coronavirus town hall originally scheduled for March 18. Williams decided to cancel the event due to the virus’ presence in neighboring Delaware and Montgomery counties. “The health and safety of my constituents is my top priority, especially during this disease outbreak when the goal is to keep people as safe as possible,” Williams said. “Information on this virus is rapidly updating and changes almost daily. I urge constituents to look to the Pennsylvania Department of Health for the most accurate and timely updates.” For more information, contact Williams’ by calling 484-200-8256 or emailing RepWilliams@pahouse.net . Read more
COATESVILLE, March 5 – State Rep. Dan Williams, D-Chester, will host a public town hall forum to discuss the COVID-19 coronavirus at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 18 at Downingtown Middle School. The event will update residents on prevention efforts at the state level to keep the virus out of Pennsylvania. Several guest speakers will be present, including the Chester County health director, Caln Township chief of police, a representative from the Pennsylvania Department of Health and an infectious disease specialist. There will be a Q&A portion at the end of the presentations. “Although no cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Pennsylvania, it’s important to stay vigilant and informed when it comes to human health to prevent widespread panic,” Williams said. “This event aims to set the record straight and provide attendees with the most accurate, up-to-date information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Pennsylvania Department of Health.” For more information, those interested can call Williams’ office at (484) 200-8256. Read more
Pa. state Rep. Dan Williams and the House Democratic Policy Committee heard testimony from those working on the frontlines of the opioid epidemic. Read more
Recapping the first year of my first term as your state representative. Read more
Pa. state Rep. Dan Williams supports Gov. Tom Wolf’s budget proposal that increases investments in education. Read more
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3496 E Lincoln HwyThorndale, PA 19372-1006
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Weather closings for my District Office will follow those for Chester County. The status can be found in the header of Chester County’s website at www.chesco.org
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