Dear Neighbor,

Despite hot weather, rain, sleet, snow, or cold, AFSCME DISTRICT COUNCIL 33 always gets the job done. They often work thankless roles, including cleaning our streets, taking our trash and recycling, answering our 911 calls, and taking care of our world-class airport. Sadly, many of these city workers are not paid close to a living wage, and some depend on public assistance.

Just as they always show up for us, I’m proud to stand with AFSCME DC 33 as they fight for a fair contract.

Click here or on the image below to watch a video article from 6abc with more information.

Image: Photo of AFSCME 33 members, my colleagues in the House, and me during a press conference

And speaking of our workers, the last time the minimum wage was increased in Pennsylvania, the Hangover was still in theaters, Michael Jackson was planning a comeback tour, and the iPod Shuffle was still a thing. Unbelievably, it’s been 16 years since the legislature raised worker wages. Meanwhile, workers have fallen further behind as groceries, rent, and more costs keep rising.

My Democratic colleagues in the PA House and I acted last week to stand up for PA workers.

My good friend and colleague Rep. Roni Green has been leading this fight to raise the wage, and I am proud to be a co-prime sponsor on the minimum wage bills. Rep. Jason Dawkins and our PA House leadership team have been negotiating the minimum wage bill with the PA Senate. Last week, I spoke in the House chamber to gather support for a minimum wage bill that would give Philadelphians a $15 minimum wage that would rise annually with inflation.

Click here or on the photo below to watch my remarks in the House chamber about the need to raise the minimum wage.

Image: Photo taken during my comments on minimum wage

We passed the bill with one vote, and now it heads to the PA Senate for consideration. I fought for this bill because it will help lift people out of poverty. And when neighbors earn more, they spend more in our community. Raising the wage isn’t just morally correct — it’s smart economics. I’m proud to stand with working families for a Pennsylvania that values dignity and fairness.

Join Senator Art Haywood, Senator Vincent Hughes, and me on Wednesday, June 18th, from 5:30 to 7:30 PM at the Roxborough Memorial Hospital’s Wolcoff Auditorium for a critical discussion on the state and federal budgets and their impact on Pennsylvanians and our community.

Congressman Dwight Evans’ office staff will also provide insights and answer questions from the federal perspective. This is a great chance to hear directly from your state and federal representatives, share your concerns, and discuss how federal decisions affect local programs and services. Everyone is welcome!

For questions, feel free to contact our office at (215) 482-8726.

Image: Graphic for 6/18 Community Forum

Hahnemann's closure should have never happened. However, when a private equity-backed corporation decided to acquire the institution, they stripped valuable assets from the hospital, like its real estate, and left our community high and dry when they declared bankruptcy 18 months later.

Image: Standing outside of Hahnemann in 2019 with now Councilmember Nic O’Rourke, PA State Rep. Chris Rabb and Mitch Chanin

We saw a similar story with Prospect Medical Holdings when they shut down Crozer-Chester Hospital after stripping that hospital of its assets.

I’m proud to have helped Rep. Lisa Borowski as a co-prime sponsor of HB 1460. This gives the Pennsylvania Attorney General stronger tools to review hospital and nursing home mergers — especially when private equity is involved.

Watch my remarks on our bill by clicking here or the photo below

Image: Clip from press conference highlighting HB 1460

HB 1460 ensures our healthcare system puts people before profits and protects families from losing access to care overnight.

Our bill now goes over to the Senate for consideration. Like our bill to raise the minimum wage, this legislation protecting our community hospitals from the abuses of private equity is another priority of Governor Shapiro. Stay tuned for updates here as that moves forward!

This week, I voted for several bills about doing what the government should do—making life a little easier, safer, and fairer for working people and families.

Here's a quick rundown:

Cracking Down on Worker Misclassification

Far too often, companies misclassify their workers as “independent contractors” when they’re really employees. That means workers lose out on basic protections — like overtime pay, workers’ comp, and unemployment benefits. This happens a lot in construction, where contractors cut corners and cheat the system.

I supported a bill led by Rep. Dave Delloso to stop this abuse, protect honest small businesses that play by the rules, and make sure hard-working folks aren’t getting ripped off.

Image: Graphic explaining the benefits of Rep. Delloso’s bill 

Protecting New Moms

One in ten pregnant moms in the U.S. have high blood pressure—which can be incredibly dangerous if it goes untreated. Rep. Mandy Steele’s bill would require insurance companies to cover blood pressure cuffs for at-home use during pregnancy.

Blood pressure monitors are a simple, low-cost tool that can save lives. As a nurse, I know firsthand how much of a difference a blood pressure cuff can make for moms and babies!

Standing with Aspiring Teachers

Right now, most student teachers don’t get paid anything—despite working full-time in classrooms to get certified. That’s not helpful, especially when we are struggling to recruit new teachers. 

This week, I voted to advance a bill from Rep. Pete Schweyer to create a stipend program that helps future teachers cover the basics—like transportation, work clothes, and food—while they complete their student teaching. It’s a smart way to strengthen our schools and support the next generation of educators.

Cyber charter schools have operated without real accountability for too long—costing taxpayers millions and leaving students behind. Last week, I also voted for a major reform bill to finally bring oversight, transparency, and fairness to cyber charters.

This legislation will save local school districts hundreds of millions, put guardrails on runaway spending, and hold low-performing cyber charters to real standards.

Watch my video here to learn more about why this bill matters for our schools and our communities:

Image: Graphic explaining the benefits of Rep. Delloso’s bill 

With AI getting more advanced by the day, it’s getting harder to tell what’s real and what’s fake—especially in politics. That’s why I introduced a bill to ban deep fake campaign ads in the final stretch before an election. These AI-generated ads can make it sound like a candidate said something they never did, and that kind of deception has no place in our democracy.

This week, our bill was reported out of committee with bipartisan support. It’s a simple step to protect voters from AI-fuelled misinformation—and to make sure Pennsylvanians can trust what they’re seeing and hearing before they head to the polls.

Click on the link or the image below from Pittsburgh’s NPR affiliate to read more

Did you know Pennsylvania is holding over $4 billion in unclaimed property — money or assets that belong to everyday Pennsylvanians? About 1 in 10 residents have unclaimed funds on file, with the average claim worth around $1,600! Just to nail the point home, two of my District Office staffers looked into their own accounts and found money owed!

It’s easy to check if any of this belongs to you. Just visit the Pennsylvania Treasury’s unclaimed property website and start a search by entering your name or address. If you find a claim, the site will guide you through the steps to recover your money. Keep in mind, you may need to provide some documents, but help is available.

If you want assistance with the search or filing a claim, please reach out to our office — we’re here to help you get what’s rightfully yours. Don’t ignore official letters from the Treasury; they’re legitimate and could mean money owed to you.

Check it out today at patreasury.gov

Image: Graphic from PA Treasury with link to program

Now through Tuesday, September 2 at 5:00 AM, the Chestnut Hill East Regional Rail line will be completely suspended for bridge repairs.

During this time, SEPTA will add service to the Chestnut Hill West line, including:

• Weekday peak hours: Trains every 30 minutes
• Weekday off-peak hours: Hourly service
• Weekends: Hourly service with 9 inbound and 10 outbound trains

The Chestnut Hill East and West stations are a 10-minute walk apart, and Route 23 remains a frequent bus option with direct access to Center City.

📍 Plan your trip at plan.septa.org.

Image: SEPTA graphic for Chestnut Hill East repair closure

Need help with state services? PennDOT paperwork, rent rebates, or any other issue, our team will be on hand to assist—no appointment needed!

Monday night our staff will be at the Andorra Library (705 E. Cathedral Road) TONIGHT June 16th, 4 pm - 7 pm. Come by if you are free!

Image: Flyer with information for each of the upcoming office hours

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Pennsylvania State Capitol
121-A East Wing
Harrisburg, PA 17120
(717) 783-4945

District Office

4001 Main St., Suite 101
Philadelphia, PA 19127
(215) 482-8726