Dear Neighbor,

Because of the federal government shutdown, SNAP payments for November were put on hold — putting nearly two million Pennsylvanians, including over 700,000 children and older adults, at risk of going hungry.

Image: Me speaking late last week at the Share Food Program in Hunting Park about our bill to support food hungry families.

The Trump administration has blocked $5 billion in emergency funding that would help keep countless Pennsylvanians from going hungry. Washington Republicans’ refusal to fund healthcare and food assistance puts the health and safety of our community at risk.

But there’s good news: over the weekend, a federal judge ruled in favor of Governor Shapiro and 24 other states, ordering the USDA to release emergency funds for November SNAP payments. The decision could prevent a major food aid crisis and make sure families get the help they need. We’ll share more updates as they come in.

Image: Newspaper graphic of Inquirer article on the lawsuit

As a nurse and legislator, I see every day how food insecurity affects people’s health. While we push for action in Washington, my office is helping neighbors connect to local food resources (see below). In Harrisburg, I’m teaming up with our Senators Art Haywood and Hughes to introduce a bill that would send $50 million to food banks and $10 million to Meals on Wheels to strengthen local hunger relief efforts.

Locally, don’t forget that there’s an election tomorrow. Voters will decide on the next Philadelphia district attorney, whether to retain key state court justices, and several other important judicial races across Pennsylvania.

And on November 10, my office will join Senator Haywood for a town hall at Chestnut Hill Hospital from 6–7:30 P.M. I hope to see you there — and please share the flyer with anyone who might want to come!

Sincerely,

Tarik

Read more below about:

🥫 SNAP & Food Aid

💉 Health & Vaccines

🥨 YIP 25th Anniversary

🖥️ AI Accountability

📚 Imagination Library

🩺 Cancer Screenings

🏛️ Legislative Updates

📅 Town Hall – Nov 10

SNAP Funding Crisis

Because of the ongoing federal government shutdown, SNAP payments for November have been paused, putting nearly two million Pennsylvanians at risk of going hungry.

After Governor Shapiro and 24 other states took the federal government to court, a judge ruled that the USDA has to release emergency funds so families don’t go hungry. It was the right call — but we’re still waiting to see when those funds will actually reach people.

I said it in an interview with PhillyVoice, and I’ll say it again: this situation is a disaster. Taking food away from families during a shutdown isn’t just bad policy — it’s cruel.

Read the full article here or by clicking on the image below.

Image: Newspaper graphic of Philly Voice article on foodbank funding.

If you or someone you know needs help, or if you’d like to donate or volunteer, here are local partners making a difference right now:

Share Food Program

Supports hundreds of partners and thousands of families every month
Accepts food, paper goods, diapers, and essentials
Large/pallet donations: retaildonor@sharefoodprogram.org | (267) 990-2163
Perishables/food drives: Philly Food Rescue at (267) 218-4800 or (215) 223-2220 ext. 131
Community fridge: 2901 W. Hunting Park Ave. — drop off food or hygiene items anytime

North Light Community Center

Accepts food cupboard donations Mon–Fri during business hours
Call (215) 483-4800 to schedule drop-off
Food is distributed at 10:30 A.M. on Mondays and Fridays

The Table Food Pantry | Roxborough & Wissahickon Church

Call (215) 598-2016
Food is distributed Thursdays from 10 A.M. – 12 P.M.

Image: Photo of me and my staff volunteering at Philabundance.

Food Aid: Connecting Families to Local Help

While the federal government is working to comply with the judge’s order, our office is helping families connect with local food support — and pushing for real, long-term solutions in Harrisburg.

This week, I joined colleagues to introduce the PA Food Bank and Hunger Relief Program — a plan to use part of the state’s Rainy Day Fund to strengthen the food safety net. The proposal invests $50 million in Pennsylvania’s food banks and $10 million in Meals on Wheels programs across the Commonwealth.

We announced the bill at a press conference in Philadelphia, where we called out the dysfunction in Washington that’s putting millions of Pennsylvanians at risk of losing their SNAP benefits in November.

You can watch my comments from the event by clicking here or on the photo below.

Image: Screenshot from video of press conference.

💉 Keeping Our Kids Safe

With continued uncertainty in Washington, it’s more important than ever that we act at the state level to protect public health. As a nurse, I know that preventive medicine is the best medicine, which is why together with Reps Arvind Venkat & Bridget Kosierowski, we just passed a bill through the Pa House to make sure every Pennsylvanian can still get vaccinated safely and easily.

Our bill, HB 1828 passed the House floor and now moves to the Senate for consideration. Sadly almost every Republican voted no. Public health should be about people, not politics.

You can watch my comments and the full House debate by clicking here or on the image below!

Image: Screenshot from video of floor comments by me and colleagues.

Celebrating 25 Years of Young Involved Philadelphia 🎉🥨

Last week, I was proud to celebrate 25 years of Young Involved Philadelphia with a resolution recognizing December 1 as Young Involved Philadelphia (YIP) Day in Pennsylvania.

YIP has helped thousands of young Philadelphians get civically engaged — finding purpose, serving their neighbors, and building a life right here in our city. I once served on the YIP board myself, and I’ve seen firsthand how this group trains young leaders to serve on boards and make a difference in their communities.

Image: Leading a 2004 tour of the North Delaware Waterfront with YIP.

It’s groups like YIP that remind us: young people are not just the future— they’re also the now.

🖥️ AI Accountability Bill: Protecting Pennsylvanians

AI is already changing healthcare in Pennsylvania, often in ways patients can’t see. It’s used for care, research, and billing, but without guardrails it can spread bias and make risky decisions without human oversight.

That’s why I’ve helped introduce a bill to make sure AI is used the right way — with transparency, human review, and fairness. This is about protecting patients and making sure technology works for people, not the other way around.

📖 Read more about the bill and our plan here: PA House News Release

📚 Imagination Library Expansion: Free Books for Kids

Exciting news for young families!

Our bill — inspired by Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library — just passed the Children & Youth Committee. It would mail a free book to every child in Pennsylvania, no matter their family’s income. Early reading builds stronger futures and helps power our Commonwealth’s long-term prosperity. I’m proud to join Rep. Liz Hanbidge in helping every child start life with a love of reading. 💕

Click here or on the image below to watch a brief video about our bill to mail one book a month to every young child!

Image: Screenshot from the video of my comments.

🩺 Expanding Access to Colorectal Cancer Screenings

Although colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer deaths, it’s also one of the most treatable cancers when caught early. Right now, Pennsylvania insurance covers screenings starting at age 50 — based on old rules from 2008. New research says we should start at 45.

So, I teamed up with Rep. Pat Gallagher and introduced a bill to:

Lower the screening age to 45
Update the rules to the latest medical guidelines
Cover more types of tests

The bill passed the House with bipartisan support — a win for folks getting checked earlier, staying healthier, and saving money down the road.