In this issue:

📊 Fighting Insider Corruption
🥊 Holding PECO Accountable
📚 Standing Up for Public Schools
🏥 Supporting Community Health Centers
🏫 Protecting Students & Schools
♿ Fixing Gaps in Disability Services
🗳️ Protecting Fair Elections
📜 Harrisburg Update
🧑‍⚕️ Rox Stars
🗳️ May Primary Reminder
🗓️ Upcoming Events

Fighting Insider Corruption

Right now, new online platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket are letting people bet on things like elections and the economy.

But here’s the problem: If you’ve got inside information, you can game the system and cash in while everyone else loses.

That’s not fair. And it’s not how any market should work.

Watch the story on Fox here or by clicking the image above:

I’m working with a bipartisan group of colleagues to put basic guardrails in place:

No insider trading
No cheating or manipulation
Real consequences for bad actors
And accountability for the platforms running these markets

Image: Screenshot of social media video.

If these companies want to operate here, they should play by the same rules as everyone else.

No rigged system for insiders. Everyone deserves a fair shot.

📚 Fighting for Our Public Schools

I’m incredibly proud of the students, families, faculty, and staff who stood up and fought to save Lankenau, AMY Northwest, and other schools facing closure under the district’s misguided plan.

Lankenau has a 100% graduation rate, exceptional staff and faculty, outstanding students, an unparalleled culture, and unique environmental learning experiences.

These students’ advocacy didn’t just make noise; it inspired our entire city—including me and my fellow elected officials. It even led us to engage in civil disobedience to protest the school board’s vote.

Image: With Lankenau Students on Thursday at the Philadelphia School District.

This is what community looks like: people coming together, speaking out, and demanding better for our kids.

I’m disappointed in the Philadelphia School District and the school board for approving this deeply flawed plan. But this fight isn’t over.

We will keep pushing to protect these schools and to ensure every student has access to the high-quality public education they deserve.

⚡Holding PECO Accountable

We rely on electricity for everything—our phones, our homes, our daily lives. We expect it to work every time we flip the switch.

That reliability exists because of the workers of IBEW Local 614. They’re out there every day climbing poles, repairing lines above and below ground, and keeping our system running.

Click here or on the image above and scroll to 11:30 to hear my comments.

Those workers have been raising concerns for years about aging infrastructure, including worn equipment that may not be getting repaired as quickly as it should. That’s not just a matter of convenience—it’s a matter of safety.

On Thursday, I joined workers and fellow lawmakers in calling for a Public Utility Commission investigation into the safety of our electrical distribution system, which PECO is responsible for maintaining.

As a nurse, I take safety seriously. When something doesn’t look right, you don’t ignore it—you take a closer look and fix it before someone gets hurt.

That’s why I support a thorough review to ensure the system is safe and reliable for everyone.

Click here or on the image below to read the story from WHYY.

At the end of the day, we all depend on this system, and the workers who maintain it deserve to go home safely.

🥙 Local Students Step Up to Fight Hunger

On April 22, I spent the morning with an inspiring group of 7th-grade students from Norwood-Fontbonne Academy, alongside student mentors from Chestnut Hill College. Their advocacy led us to draft a resolution in the Pennsylvania House recognizing World Hunger Day.

Image: Working with Liam, a seventh-grade student, as he typed our resolution.

These students didn’t just talk about food insecurity, they took action. Together, they helped write the resolution, bringing their ideas and voices directly into the process. And the very next day, April 23, we introduced it in Harrisburg. Read the cosponsor memo and bill by clicking here.

The resolution heads to the PA House Agriculture Committee on Tuesday and to the full House on Wednesday, with many of the students traveling to Harrisburg to watch.

Click on the image above to read the story from the Chestnut Hill Local.

Their advocacy shows the power of raising awareness and taking action. I am proud of their work!

🏥Supporting Community Health Centers

Health care should not depend on your zip code or your bank account. Community health centers keep our neighbors safe and expand access to care.

I recently spoke about why continued investment in these centers is crucial.

Watch more here:

Image: Video thumbnail.

🏫Protecting Students & Schools

Kids should focus on learning at school, not worry about ICE.

Our bill, HB 2148, sets clear, common-sense guidelines to protect students and school communities:
✔️ No entry without a judicial warrant
✔️ Student information stays protected
✔️ School staff have a clear plan to follow

Schools should be safe, stable places where kids can learn and grow. Nothing more, nothing less.

Watch the video here:

Image: Screenshot of social media video from press conference.

♿Fixing Gaps in Disability Services

Pennsylvania uses two different systems to help people with disabilities live independently in their communities. When those systems don’t align, people can fall through the cracks.

That’s why I’m working with Rep. Melissa Cerrato on a bipartisan resolution to identify those gaps and develop real solutions.

This is about ensuring services actually work for the people who rely on them—not creating more barriers. Our bill passed the Human Services Committee unanimously and now heads to the full House floor for a vote.

Watch more here:

Image: Screenshot of me making remarks during the committee hearing.

🗳️Protecting Fair Elections

Last week’s U.S. Supreme Court decision weakened key protections under the Voting Rights Act and raises serious concerns about fair representation.

This decision could make it harder for communities—especially Black and Latino communities—to have their voices fully heard.

In the meantime, I’m working on state-level solutions to ensure we protect voting rights here in Pennsylvania.

Delivering for You at the Capitol

Last week in Harrisburg, we passed bills that make a real difference:

Protecting our kids with better social media literacy (HB 2176), stronger anti-bullying rules (HB 830), more school counselors (HB 2218), safer youth sports, and a more level playing field for student athletes (HB 41).

Standing up for equal rights by banning discrimination in housing, jobs, and public spaces (HB 2103).

Making everyday life easier with digital IDs (HB 1970) and registration cards (HB 2210).

Holding data centers accountable for their water use (HB 2246).

And supporting renters with stronger protections (HB 72) and greater transparency in leases (HB 344).

More to come this week, including my bill to nearly double funding for family farmers here in PA so they can innovate and compete with big corporate farms.

🧑🏽‍⚕️Become a Rox Star

It may sound corny, but “Roxborough Stars of Tomorrow” was the phrase we created and used down the street at Roxborough Memorial Hospital School of Nursing to keep our spirits up.

In senior year, all but one of us made it across the finish line. It was one of the best times of my life.

Image: Me as a Roxborough Hospital School of Nursing Student.

If you’ve been thinking about becoming a nurse or know someone who is, there’s a great opportunity right here in our community. Roxborough Memorial School of Nursing is now accepting applications for Fall 2026!

Questions? Contact Admissions Coordinator Miki Hayse at 215-487-4296 or mhayse@primehealthcare.com.

🗳️May Primary Election Reminder

The May primary is TWO WEEKS AWAY!

If you’re planning to vote by mail, now is the time to request your ballot. Once it arrives, complete it and return it using the secure drop box at Kendrick Rec (5800 Ridge Ave).

The deadline for receiving Mail in Ballots is next Tuesday May 12th!

Request your ballot here:

UPCOMING EVENTS:

May 12 – Property Tax / Rent Rebate Clinic
12:30 – 3 PM | Journey’s Way, 403 Rector Street

Join us to apply for a program that can put real money back in your pocket if you qualify. This includes property tax and rent rebates. Don’t miss this opportunity to save. Call our office for more details or to schedule an appointment. Appointments are required—call us at 215-482-8726.

May 30 – Shredder Day at NewCourtland
9 AM – 12 PM | NewCourtland, 3232 Henry Avenue

Shredder Day is Saturday, May 30, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.! Join us for three hours to safely dispose of personal documents, protect yourself from identity theft, and enjoy some peace of mind. Bring your old papers and watch our team handle them securely.

All my best,

Tarik