Congressman Dwight Evans represents Pennsylvania’s 3rd Congressional District, which includes Northwest and West Philadelphia and parts of North, South and Center City Philadelphia. He was first elected in a special election in November 2016. Before that, he served as a state representative for 36 years, and earned a reputation as a pragmatic leader who knows how to put public policy above politics and make ideas matter. He made history in 1990 when he became the first African-American chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, a position he held for two decades.
I always say, “Food Policy is Foreign Policy.” When we expand and increase access to our food supply we build stronger neighborhoods. The desire to ensure everyone in our cities and towns has access to fresh, healthy fruits and vegetables is not an easy task but when we are able to do this effectively the positive impact it has on our schools, our economy and our neighborhoods is immeasurable.
We have come a long way in our fight for equal rights, protections and justice for all under the law but our fight still continues.
In 2017 I traveled with my hero and civil rights icon, Representative John Lewis and many of my colleagues in Congress to Selma, Alabama.
During my time in Selma I was reminded of President Barack Obama’s words when he spoke at the 50th anniversary of "Bloody Sunday". President Obama said, "Selma shows us that America is not the project of any one person. Because the single most powerful word in our democracy is the word 'We.' We the people. We shall overcome. Yes we can."
From our African American community to our Jewish community to our LGBTQ community to our Immigrant community we are continually reminded of the similarities we all share and understand now more than ever in today’s day and age an attack against one of us is an attack against all of us.
When we work together, we build a stronger tomorrow for each and every person in our communities.
Investing in the education of our students is an investment in the future of our workforce. We have an obligation to make sure that each and every one of our students has the tools and resources they need to be successful both in and outside of the classroom. In order to ensure student success our school buildings need to keep pace with the changing times.
Throughout my life, I have dedicated my time to improving opportunities and expanding access to resources. A key way to build a brighter future for our neighborhoods is to make sure all of our kids have the opportunity to go to a quality school that has a community of teachers and peers that are invested in their success.
As a strong advocate for making investments that continue to enhance our public school system the first bill I introduced in the 115th Congress is, the Rehabilitation of Historic Schools Act of 2017, H.R. 922. My bill would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow public school buildings to qualify for the rehabilitation credit which in turn would give our public schools the necessary resources and funds to make improvements to school buildings across the country.
I am proud to share that the School Infrastructure Modernization Act has been introduced by United States Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner. This bill is the Senate companion legislation to H.R. 922, my School Rehabilitation Bill.
Scientific research proves climate change is real and its consequences are serious and evident. Sea level rise, droughts and rising temperatures across the nation show the serious impact of climate change. Climate change is directly related to our national security, economic prosperity and food supply. It is time to take our energy policy down a new path that reduces carbon pollution and promotes a sustainable, greener tomorrow for future generations.
I will continue to fight to ensure that all Philadelphia and Montgomery County residents have clean air, access to safe drinking water and can utilize and enjoy our nation’s precious public lands.
During my time in the Pennsylvania State Legislature, I championed Pennsylvania’s Fresh Food Financing Initiative which links public and private funds to expand and build grocery stores in food deserts across our state. Through the initiative we brought nearly 100 grocery stores to areas in Philadelphia and underserved areas across the commonwealth that previously had very limited access to fresh fruits and vegetables.
In the House of Representatives I am a member of the House Agriculture Committee, where I serve on the Subcommittee on Nutrition and the Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture. To learn more about my work on the House Agriculture Committee please visit this link.
Each and every American should have access to reliable, affordable health care.
I arrived in Congress in November 2016 and since then have gone on a hospital and medical center tour throughout Pennsylvania’s Second Congressional District. From Temple University Hospital to Einstein to Lankenau I have listened to doctors, nurses and patients to learn what they think about our nation’s healthcare system.
In March 2017, the House majority party officially released the American Health Care Act (AHCA), their plan to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.
I strongly oppose the American Health Care Act, as I simply cannot support a piece of legislation that takes care away from the most vulnerable Americans—the poor, our seniors, people with pre-existing conditions and our working class families.
As passed by the House and now pending in the Senate, the AHCA bill would allow insurers to reinstitute lifetime limit coverage and lift the cap on out of pocket expenses, harming consumers. In addition, the legislation weakens important patient protections by allowing states to waive the essential health benefits, such as visits to the doctor, emergency room care, materials and newborn care, and lab tests.
Americans deserve health care that provides quality coverage at a reasonable cost. I will continue to remain a strong advocate for a health care law that gives everyone in our community the access and resources needed to keep themselves and their families healthy and safe.
I am a strong supporter of comprehensive immigration reform. I believe in an immigration reform system that keeps families united and develops a path to citizenship.
The city of Philadelphia has a long history of supporting our bright and vibrant immigrant community and I am proud to say Philly stands with other cities nationwide as a Sanctuary City.
As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, "We may have all come on different ships, but we're in the same boat now." We have an obligation to build a stronger tomorrow for all members of our communities.
The incredibly aggressive efforts by the Trump Administration to detain and deport law-abiding immigrants when those resources could be allocated to violent offenders represents a misplaced diversion of resources.
I am committed to securing our borders but am exasperated by the talk of building a wall. This idea is offensive and un-American.
A thriving economy builds stable neighborhoods. I am a firm believer in giving our cities the necessary access to capital and investment in order to facilitate prosperous centers of commerce. Investment is one of the anchors that drives individuals to a neighborhoods.
Small Businesses are the engines that drive our economy. As a member of the Small Business Committee, and specifically in my role as Ranking Member on the Subcommittee on Economic, Growth, and Capital Access I know firsthand the critical role small business owners play in our economy. As a Co-Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Economic Development and Wealth Creation Task Force, I am proud of the work we are doing in terms of investing in education and job training to help our neighborhoods flourish and succeed.
This Congress I introduced H.R. 1702, the Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) Improvement Act of 2017. The Small Business Development Centers Improvement Act of 2017 is a bipartisan bill that amends the Small Business Act to improve the SBDC program nationwide. The bill specifically amends the Small Business Act to provide a variety of services including: grants, financial assistance, loans, export assistance, subcontracting opportunities on federal contracts to specific business owners, and other critical services to our small businesses.
Our neighborhoods compete for people. One of my main priorities in Congress is putting America’s Middle Neighborhoods back on top. Middle Neighborhoods are communities on the edge of growth and decline. Middle neighborhoods are areas that are doing just well enough. We are not focusing as much resources or attention on these neighborhoods because we have yet to see an increased need to invest in these areas. However, if we aren’t careful these neighborhoods will teeter towards decline overnight.
Middle Neighborhoods have four main characteristics: neighborhoods where homeowners can purchase real estate for an affordable rate, neighborhoods where crime rates are low, neighborhoods where school performance is sufficient, and neighborhoods where employment rates are adequate. Essentially, homebuyers in middle neighborhoods are willing to test the odds with the hopes that their neighborhood will improve rather than decline.
In Philadelphia, over 40 percent of the population lives in middle neighborhoods. When talking about middle neighborhoods in Pennsylvania’s Second Congressional District we are referring to: Mt. Airy, Germantown, West Oak Lane, Roxborough, and Wynnefield.
I know firsthand what is at stake for America’s Middle Neighborhoods. I grew up in North Philly and today I live in West Oak Lane just blocks away from Germantown High School, my alma mater. As your Representative in Congress I will continue to support policies that make our neighborhoods stronger, block by block.
Our small business owners are the engines that drive investment in our neighborhoods, and spur economic development, block by block.
One of the first bills I introduced in Congress is H.R. 1702, the Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) Improvement Act of 2017. The Small Business Development Centers Improvement Act of 2017 is a bipartisan bill that amends the Small Business Act to improve the SBDC program nationwide. My bill specifically amends the Small Business Act to provide a variety of services including: grants, financial assistance, loans, export assistance, subcontracting opportunities on federal contracts to specific business owners, and other critical services to our small businesses.
In the House of Representatives I am a member of the House Small Business Committee, where is serve as the Ranking Member on the Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Tax and Capital Access and the Subcommittee on Contracting and the Workforce. To learn more about my work on the House Small Business Committee please visit this link.
The brave men and women who have served courageously in all branches of our armed forces have put their country and honor above their own safety and security and for that we owe them more gratitude than we can express. To our veterans and active military—we thank you today and always.
When our veterans return home we have an obligation to ensure that they have access to the critical health, education and financial resources needed to make the necessary decisions that are in the best interest of both themselves and their families.
The sacred pledge holds true: just as we are to leave no one behind on the battlefield, we must leave no veteran behind when they return home.
From ensuring equal work for equal pay to protecting a women’s right to choose to ending gender based discrimination in the workplace; I am committed to supporting a policy agenda that promotes and protects equality and opportunity for women.
I am disappointed to see the right to choose under attack and will continue to speak up and speak out to make sure women have the opportunity to make decisions that are in the best interest of themselves and their families.
According to the 2011-2015 American Community Survey 5 Year Estimates in my home state of Pennsylvania, the median average earning for women is $40, 214 compared to $50,976 which is the median average earning for men. Closing the wage gap is about making sure all of our families have the same opportunities and access to the resources they need.
“Impeachment is a solemn and historic task. With the outrageous, ongoing conduct of President Trump, impeachment is necessary for upholding our oath of office and the Constitution. Benjamin Franklin said after the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia that we have ‘a republic, if you can keep it.’ House Democrats intend to keep it.