Friend,

When we elected President Biden, we faced a pivotal moment to build back the health and safety of our country.

Our votes for science and responsible governance led to the American Rescue Plan, a historic investment providing direct relief to American families in the wake of the pandemic. Pennsylvania is set to receive $7 billion, and you can decide how it's used.

We’re calling on Harrisburg to use this funding to combat the other epidemic raging across the Commonwealth: community violence. Tell your Representatives to invest $100 million in federal funding in community violence reduction efforts.

Our communities are experiencing a surge in violence. Harrisburg logged more homicides in 2020 than any other time in more than 30 years.¹ In the Northwest, Erie continues to see a rise in shootings including aggravated assaults and murders well into 2021.² And Pittsburgh has seen a 90% increase in shootings compared to this time last year.³

This violence is costing us. Emotional trauma is impacting victims and survivors of all ages and backgrounds. And the City of Philadelphia lost an estimated $500 million in 2018 to violence-related expenses.

As part of this year’s budget, we’re calling on legislators to invest $100 million of federal funding in the School Safety & Security Grant program. This program creates a safer community by providing resources to schools, municipalities, and community organizations to reduce community violence. 

We have the solutions, and we have the funding. We just need legislators to put them together. Tell Harrisburg it’s time to invest in ending community violence.

Sincerely,
Adam
 

¹Hall, Mark. "Harrisburg police to implement community outreach efforts to combat violence."
²Hahn, Tim. "Erie Gun Violence Crimes Spike in 2020."
³Guggenheimer, Paul. "Peduto, Frankel want local communities to be able to enact gun laws."