Good Morning Neighbors! ☀️

You deserve a strong state budget 💵 that works for you and your family. Like historic public education & public transit (SEPTA 🚍) investments and making Pennsylvania better for businesses.

Click on the image below to read about our work in new piece in the Local!

Putting Patients Over Profits

Our state budget also takes steps to increase access to affordable health care 🧑🏼‍⚕️. Protecting health care at this moment is critical. Last week, we saw the for-profit Prospect Medical Holdings announce they were closing Crozer Health — potentially leaving an entire county without a major health system. My bill, introduced with state Rep. Lisa Borowski, will help protect our community hospitals from abuse by for-profit corporations.

Click on the photo below of me with Temple nurses to watch a short video about the looming closure at Crozer.

Meanwhile major cuts to our healthcare loom in Washington...

Protecting Medicaid

The White House and Congress are looking to cut $880 Billion from Medicaid, meaning that 20 million Americans and 829,000 Pennsylvanians may lose their health care.

1 out of every 8 of our nearby neighbors rely on Medicaid 🏥🩺. That’s older adults, kids, and other neighbors who depend on this program to keep them healthy.

I know as a nurse that when people don’t have health insurance, they let treatable illnesses go until they are serious problems. When people can’t afford to pay for their care there is pain and suffering.

We know what cuts mean to our community -- our local hospitals will eat the costs of uncompensated care, and many will be forced to make devastating cuts to services and close. Our most vulnerable -- our seniors, our children, people with disabilities will lose their health care. Cuts mean illness and death.

Click the image above to hear PA Health Insurance Marketplace Director Devon Trolley and I break down the impact of what these Washington cuts would look like.

Better Healthcare in PA

Secretary of the PA Department of Human Services Val Arkoosh and I spoke last week to increase our community’s access to health care. That includes proposals to support assisted living, use Medicaid funds for housing costs and fill practice authority for our nurse practitioners. Please click on the photo below to hear our conversation.

Image: Photo of me during an Appropriations Committee hearing

Make Sure Washington Hears You

Whether you are one of the 8,600 people in our Northwest Philadelphia district that rely on Medicaid, or the 5,000 who uses SNAP benefits, or are someone who believes in access to public education, Social Security, veterans benefits and constitutionally protected things like the post office or clean air and water, now is the time to make your voice heard.

Big decisions are being made in Washington that impact our community -- from public school and health care funding to federal grants.

If you have concerns about federal programs or policies, our office has put together a flyer with key contact information (see below).

Image: Flyer with information about federal government contacts

Please know that as your state representative, and as a member of the PA House Appropriations Committee, I will do everything I possibly can to push back against attacks by greedy corporations and Washington on our health care -- and public education, our safety, our environment, and whatever else is on their chopping block.

I’m going to be straight with you -- people should not have to suffer so the wealthy can get tax cuts they don’t need. We will fight back to protect people’s access to health care and other essential services.

Advocating for the Health of the Incarcerated

As a nurse, I’m always looking for ways to improve the health and wellness of our community. Inmates at our state correctional institutions should be treated fairly and humanely, including having access to fresh and nutritious foods and medical care.

I spoke with PA Corrections Secretary Laurel Harry last week to advocate for the health and wellness of incarcerated Pennsylvanians.

Hear our conversation by clicking the image below.

Image: Photo of me during an Appropriations Committee hearing

In other news…

Streetlights Too Bright?

Email the city at ledstreetlighting@phila.gov to report and request your streetlights are turned down.

A Career in Law Enforcement

If you are interested in a career in law enforcement, the next recruiting window begins in a few weeks. There is a sign on bonus, paid-leave, tuition reimbursement, and salary after the fourth year on the force is over $90,000! Apply at joinphillypd.com

Please take a screenshot and share!

Image: Flyer from the Philly PD on recruitment

Is Your Teen Looking for a Summer Job?

North Light is also now an approved site for issuing work permits to teens aged 14–17!

Also, our office helped to secure a $90,000 federal grant that will allow over 50 kids to get summer internships through North Light!!

For more details, visit North Light Community Center's Teen Services.

Image: Flyer with information about North Light’s CIT program

Appropriation Hearings All Wrapped Up

After three weeks and 23 hearings, our Appropriations Committee’s state budget meetings have ended. This week is packed with meetings locally, and then I’m back in Harrisburg next week ☘️ to advocate for our community.