Dear Neighbor,

On Thursday, Governor Josh Shapiro visited East Falls to unveil Pennsylvania’s first-ever Housing Action Plan, outlining a roadmap to make housing more affordable.

Image: Photograph of me and Gov. Shapiro during housing event.

In this newsletter, I’m sharing how Gov. Shapiro and I are working for you on the issues that matter most: investing in schools, raising wages, improving public transit, protecting your voter data and our elections, and supporting our parks and communities.

I’m also including practical resources to help you and your family stay safe and connected this winter.

As always, my office is here to help:
📞 215-482-8726 | 📧 RepKhan@pahouse.net | 📍 4001 Main St., Unit 101, Manayunk

In this issue:

🏡 Lowering Hosing Costs

💰Budget Priorities

📚Education

💼Wages

🚊Transit

🗳️ Protecting Pennsylvania’s Voter Data

🌳 Pastorius Park Improvements

❄️ Winter Weather & Safety Resources

🏠 Gov. Shapiro's Historic Plan to Lower Housing Costs

We all know rent and housing costs are too high. Too many families are just one rent increase or unexpected expense away from losing their home. Young people can’t afford to buy where they grew up, and older adults looking to downsize have limited options. When housing supply is tight, prices rise. It’s that simple.

Click here or on the image above to see our exchange, and the plan to make duplex and other housing options possible again across PA.

Last week in East Falls at The Tower at Henry, Gov. Shapiro unveiled Pennsylvania’s first-ever Housing Action Plan—a 10-year roadmap to make housing more affordable.

The plan:

• Build more homes

• Repair older homes

• Cut red tape

• Support renters and first-time buyers

• Create a Deputy Secretary for Housing

• Invest $1 billion in infrastructure to help communities build faster

Bottom line: Gov Shapiro’s plan increases supply, lower costs, and helps working families stay in the communities they love.

Click here or on the link below to see a brief video about why we need this plan.

Image: Photo of me and Governor Shapiro during housing event.

💰 Our Priorities in the Governor's Budget

Earlier this month, Gov. Shapiro unveiled his proposed $53.2 billion state budget for the year ahead. This proposal kicks off months of negotiations in Harrisburg, including public appropriations hearings—beginning next week—where we’ll work to finalize the budget.

As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, I’ll be at the center of these conversations, asking tough questions and pushing for investments that make a real difference in people’s lives. My top three priorities in this budget are education, fair wages, and public transit.

Image: Photograph of Gov. Shapiro from budget address event.

📚 Education: Making Court-Ordered Fairness Real

This budget continues Pennsylvania’s work following a state court ruling that our school funding system is unconstitutional. For decades, too many schools—especially in working-class communities—have been asked to do more with less.

The governor’s proposal includes:

$565 million to close the school funding “adequacy gap”
$50 million increase for basic education (bringing the total to about $8.3 billion)
$50 million increase for special education (bringing the total to about $1.58 billion)

Since my election and the Democrats’ House majority win, we’ve increased funding for Philadelphia public schools by roughly half a billion dollars. This budget keeps that momentum going. For families, that means smaller class sizes, stronger student support, and schools that aren’t constantly one budget crisis away from cutting programs.

Image: Photograph of me and state Rep. Anthony Bellmon advocating for public school funding.

💼 Minimum Wage: Paychecks That Match Reality

I’m proud to have introduced a $15 minimum wage bill in Pennsylvania with state Rep. Roni Green. This legislation would raise the minimum wage to $15 immediately and tie future increases to the cost of living, ensuring it rises each year.

Click on the image above or here to watch Rep. Green and I talk about our work to raise the wage in Pa.

Sadly, the minimum wage is still $7.25 an hour, the same as it was in 2009. That amounts to about $15,000 a year for someone working full-time. Anyone trying to pay rent, buy groceries, or cover childcare knows that simply isn’t enough.

Image: Graphic showing regional minimum wage standards by state.

Click here to sign our petition to give over 750,000 Pennsylvanians a pay raise to $15 an hour.

🚉 Public Transit: Keeping Life Moving

Public transit isn’t optional, it’s how people get to work, school, medical appointments, and home. Last year, transit systems across Pennsylvania faced major service cuts and fare hikes, and riders felt the impact immediately.

Image: Photograph of me and House colleagues during a SEPTA rally.

This budget proposes a long-term solution by dedicating 1.75% of state sales tax revenue to public transit, providing over $300 million in reliable funding for systems across Pennsylvania every year.

Stable transit funding means fewer disruptions, more reliable service, and peace of mind for riders who depend on systems like SEPTA.

🗳️ Standing Up for Pennsylvania's Elections

President Trump recently suggested “nationalizing” elections — putting Washington in charge of how we vote.

As I told WGAL, we’re concerned about federal “fishing expeditions” into voter data.

That’s why I’m introducing legislation to protect voter information, require a court order for any federal access, and ensure control of our election systems stays right here in Pennsylvania.

Click the image above to see how I’m working on to better safeguard our elections — and our voter data.

As a nurse, I’ve spent my career looking out for everyday people—and that’s exactly what this is about. Pennsylvanians, from teachers to retired grandparents, deserve to know their votes will count, free from fear or political games.

Also in this video, Roxborough’s own Pennsylvania Secretary of State, Al Schmidt—a former Republican elected official—makes it clear: our elections are secure, audited, and run by Pennsylvanians, just as the Constitution intended.

🌳 $170k for Pastorius Park Improvements

Excited to share that we helped secure a $170,042 state grant for Pastorius Park! This funding will support beautification, sustainability, and watershed improvements, making the park a safer and more welcoming space for everyone in our community.

Pastorius Park is more than just green space—it’s where neighbors gather, kids play, and families enjoy nature. This grant helps ensure the park continues to thrive and remain accessible for everyone.

Image: Graphic announcing the Pastorius Park grant.

Freedom, Freedom

During Black History Month, I spoke on the House floor about Pittsburgh’s Freedom House Ambulance Service, the nation’s first program to train and deploy civilian paramedics delivering advanced care in the field. It was a national model, pioneering innovations like the first EKG, electroshock defibrillation, airway intubation, and successful use of Narcan. More than 200 lives were saved in its first year alone. Freedom House was created at a time when Black communities lacked timely emergency care, and it went on to transform EMS nationwide.

Click on the image above to watch the video.

I’m grateful that so many people connected with this history, our video sharing the story has now been viewed more than 2 million times across social media. It’s proof that Pennsylvanians want the full story of where progress comes from and who made it possible. Unlike the federal government’s removal of the enslavement exhibit at the President’s House, people don’t want our history whitewashed, erased, or taken down.

Weather-Related Support Guide

With winter storms and snow emergencies this season, Philadelphia and Pennsylvania offer a variety of resources to help you stay safe, warm, and connected.

📍 Snow & Emergency Alerts
Sign up for real-time alerts through ReadyPhiladelphia for closures, snowfall updates, and emergency info.

📍 Warming Centers & Code Blue
Safe, heated shelters are available during cold spells.

Outreach teams connect people experiencing homelessness with shelter and support. To report someone outside in a Code Blue, call (215) 232-1984.

FIND A WARMING CENTER

📍 Utility & Safety Support
Power/gas emergencies: PGW & PECO 24/7 hotlines

Tree emergencies: 911 for immediate danger; 311 for non-urgent issues

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program

Open through April 10, 2026. Provides cash grants for heating bills, plus crisis grants if heat is shut off or fuel is unavailable.

You can apply online through COMPASS, by mail, or in person at your county assistance office. Our office is here to help—call (215) 482-8726 or email reptarik@pahouse.net to schedule an appointment.

Image: Graphic with LIHEAP information.

A Life of Service

Today we remember Jesse Jackson, a giant in the fight for civil rights and human dignity.

He marched alongside and was mentored by Dr. King. He ran for president when many said it couldn’t be done. He pushed America to be bigger and better, especially for those who too often get left out.

I had the honor of meeting Reverend Jackson last year when he visited the Capitol. Even then, you could feel the history and compassion he carried with him.

You didn’t have to agree with him on everything to respect the fight. His life reminds us that progress takes courage—and people willing to stand up and keep going.

Rest in power.

Image: Photograph of me and Reverend Jesse Jackson.

Standing Together in Roxborough

Last month, after racist and antisemitic graffiti was discovered at Roxborough High School, our community came together. Neighbors showed up the next morning to help clean up and replace the messages with positive ones, supporting students and faculty as they navigated the next steps.

Image: Photograph of me, RHS faculty, and 5th District police after cleaning graffiti.

Last week, I was honored to join neighbors, students, and local leaders at a town hall hosted by the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission to speak openly about what happened and our next steps. That means supporting the students affected, ensuring real consequences for hate, and continuing education and prevention efforts so this doesn’t happen again.

Hear more from the event by clicking here or on the image below.

Image: Screenshot of 6ABC video covering the event.

Upcoming Street Repairs

PennDOT’s fixing potholes this week on Ridge, Germantown, I-76, Roosevelt, and Wissahickon.

You may see maintenance crews out there, so please slow down and remember to give them space.

Image: PENNDOT road repairs graphic.