Pushing for Philly’s Fair Share of Vaccine Doses; Working to Reduce Gun Violence and Help Victims and Survivors
I know many Philadelphians are trying to receive a Covid-19 vaccine as soon as possible. This week, I and my congressional colleagues who also represent parts of the city sent a letter to the new director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We are urging the CDC to account for the city's daytime population and modify the way vaccine doses are allocated.
Often by necessity, up to half of Philadelphia's doses have gone to non-residents including many hospital employees, for example. We want to make sure that enough vaccine doses are available for residents of Philadelphia and other large cities. You can read the full letter here. I also invite you to follow my updates on Facebook and Twitter to keep up with new information about Covid-19 and vaccinations in Philadelphia.
I also wanted to make sure you know the city has established a vaccine sign-up form – click here for that.
Working to Reduce Gun Violence and Help Victims and Survivors
During this pandemic, gun violence has increased in many communities, including Philadelphia. Our city suffered 50 homicides last month alone. I believe Congress must pass reforms like universal background checks for gun purchases and closing the Charleston loophole. The House passed both of these reforms in 2019, but the Senate did not. While these bills would not stop 100 percent of shootings, I believe they would definitely save some lives. I'm also continuing to work for solutions like restoring the assault weapons ban and making it easier for victims and survivors to hold gun-making companies accountable in court.
I believe we must also help the victims and survivors of this violence. Too often, they don't know where to turn, or what kinds of help are available. That's why Senator Bob Casey and I will soon reintroduce our Resources for Victims of Gun Violence Act in the House and Senate. I spoke on the House floor recently to call attention to these issues – click here to watch the video. The Philadelphia Inquirer also wrote recently about how our bill could help victims and survivors.
Congressional Youth Cabinet
I am putting together my first Congressional Youth Cabinet. The cabinet will be a non-partisan initiative made up of high school students who live in Pennsylvania's 3rd Congressional District. The cabinet's purpose is to provide a unique opportunity to learn more about government, policy, and public service. My office is looking for students who will be excited to learn more about public service and actively participate in the cabinet and its activities.
- To apply, click here.
- To nominate someone or submit a letter of recommendation for an applicant, click here.
Staying informed: To keep up with information and services between these updates, I invite you to follow me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram – including updates on my Facebook and Instagram Stories. If you received this newsletter as a forward, click here to start receiving it straight to your own inbox.
Sincerely,
Dwight Evans
Member of Congress