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| Dear Neighbors, |
| “Fund the Damn Transit” 🚍 |
| On Tuesday, I joined union workers, advocates, and fellow lawmakers in the state Capitol rotunda to demand that the PA Senate fully fund SEPTA and public transit across PA. As my good friend Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta said, "Just fund the damn transit!" |
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| Image: Screenshot from video of SEPTA rally This isn't just about buses and trains. It's about the union workers running the system, from drivers to operators, and how devastating these cuts would be to them and their families. It's about health care professionals, older adults, students, and working families who rely on transit every day to get to work, school, and doctors' appointments. Gut SEPTA, and you gut the economy and wellbeing of our commonwealth. Some politicians are floating bad ideas — cuts, fare hikes, even privatization. But let's be real: We don't function in Pennsylvania without a strong public transit system. I won't stop fighting until SEPTA and transit systems across the commonwealth get the investments they need to survive and thrive. |
| Shredder Day is here!!! |
| The day has arrived at last. Join us this Saturday, May 17 from 9 a.m. to Noon at the Roxborough YMCA (7201 Ridge Ave.) for Shredder Day! Click the image below to watch our short video announcement—and we hope to see you Saturday! |
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| Image: Screenshot from Shredder Day ad Have old tax documents, medical records, or other personal papers piling up at home? Instead of tossing them — and making yourself vulnerable to identity theft— shred them securely and for free at our community Shredder Day! We’re teaming up with the Roxborough YMCA to help neighbors safely dispose of sensitive documents. You don’t need to remove staples or paper clips—just bring your paperwork and we’ll take care of the rest. Days like this are one small way we’re working to keep our community safer and more secure. Have questions? Give our office a call at (215) 482-8726. See you there! |
| Making the American Dream a Reality |
| My father, Zia Khan, emigrated to this country in the early 1960s, inspired by JFK and his goal to pursue the American Dream. He came here with a vision to improve Philadelphia’s transit system and to raise a family. He led the building of several projects like the SEPTA Regional Rail line from Center City to the Airport, roads and bridges, and the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility. He also led the renovation of several projects, like Philadelphia’s City Hall and the Municipal Services Building. He retired as the Director of Engineering and Construction for the City of Philadelphia. Like many immigrant families, his journey is a reminder of the path to achieving the American Dream through hard work, sacrifice, and belief in a better future. I still believe in this dream, and every day I fight to help more Pennsylvanians make this dream a reality. Last week, the Pennsylvania House passed my bipartisan resolution to officially recognize May 2025 as Asian American Pacific Islander and Native Hawaiian (AAPNHI) Heritage Month in Pennsylvania— a small but meaningful step in honoring the beneficial impact of immigration and celebrating AAPNHI communities across our commonwealth. Watch more of my comments on the resolution in the video below! |
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| Image: Photo of my dad, Zia Khan at the 1964 World’s Fair shortly after moving to the US |
| Protecting Young Adults from Predatory Sports Betting |
| By the end of the decade, Pennsylvania’s sports betting industry will have brought in well over $1 billion in tax revenue to our commonwealth. But with aggressive (and some may argue predatory) marketing by sports betting companies and the dramatic rise in problematic gambling, there’s a growing concern– are we ignoring a public health crisis in the making?
Gambling addiction is rising, up 30% since 2018, especially among young men. Nearly 1 in 5 bettors spend a quarter of their paycheck on bets, and more than half report adverse mental health effects. As one expert put it, with tablets, phones, and computers, “You’re never not in a casino.” And some sports betting companies relentlessly encourage people to bet more and more money.
Earlier this week, my bipartisan resolution (H.R. 60) to study ways to address problem gaming in PA passed and was adopted! It directs the Joint State Government Commission (JSGC) to launch a statewide study on the public health impacts of sports betting, including:
This is a first step toward real oversight, smarter consumer protections, and preventing a crisis before it grows. Pennsylvania is again leading the nation—and doing it with Democrats and Republicans working together. Click on the image below to hear my comments on the floor about our bipartisan resolution. |
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| Image: Photo of me, speaking on the House floor on HR60 |
| Working for You in the PA House |
| This week, my House Democratic colleagues and I passed several important bills that will directly benefit our community, reduce costs, and put money back in your pockets: Voting Rights Protection Act (H.B. 1396): We’re making it easier for you to vote by expanding early voting, increasing ballot drop box access, allowing voters to correct minor errors on mail-in ballots, and allowing pre-canvassing of mail-in ballots ahead of Election Day. Patient Protection Bills: We’re protecting your health and wallet with bills that require health insurance to cover medically necessary breast exams (H.B. 433) and ensure hospitals provide information about financial assistance to avoid medical debt (H.B. 79). Homeowner Relief: We’re helping new and established homeowners with the First-Time Homebuyer Savings Account Program (H.B. 818) and allowing mortgage borrowers to lower their monthly payments by buying down interest rates (H.B. 1103). Keystone Saves (H.B. 1263): We’re creating a voluntary retirement savings program for workers who currently don’t have access to workplace retirement savings options. Veteran Pension Increase (H.B. 1144): We’re supporting our veterans by raising pensions for those with service-connected disabilities, including blindness, paralysis, or limb loss. Protecting Workers (H.B. 721): We’re fighting for workers by ending the misclassification of construction workers as independent contractors, ensuring they get fair wages, benefits, and protections. Each of these bills is about cutting costs and making life more affordable, because we believe in putting money back in your wallet. We’ve passed key public safety and justice bills in the PA House—but they’re now sitting in the PA Senate. Please, call your state senators and urge them to move these critical bills forward:
Let’s keep our community safe and make sure these bills become law. |
| Have a great end of the week! |
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| UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS |
| Election Day is Tuesday! |
| The Primary Election is this Tuesday, May 20 and your vote can make a big difference — especially in local races that impact our schools, health care, housing, and safety. |
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| Image: Photo of me with Tony Brooks from ADAPT, American flag in background ✅ When & Where to Vote
📬 Have a Mail Ballot?It’s too late to mail it, but you can still drop it off in person: 📍Kendrick Rec Center 🆘 Need Help Voting?If you have any issues:
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| 📚 Monday is Library Office Hours at Chestnut Hill Library! |
| Need help with state services? PennDOT paperwork, rent rebates, or any other issue, our team will be on hand to assist—no appointment needed! We Monday night our staff will be at Chestnut Hill Library (8711 Germantown Ave.) on May 19, 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. Come by if you are free! |
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| Image: Flyer with information for each of the upcoming office hour events |
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| COMMUNITY UPDATES Follow us on Social Media FB/Twitter/TikTok: @RepTarik Insta/Bluesky: @RepTarikKhan |
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| Pennsylvania State Capitol |
| District Office 4001 Main St., Suite 101 |
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