April Recap: What You Might Have Missed Last Month

Mary Gay Scanlon
4 min readMay 3, 2022

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It was great to spend quality time at home in PA-05 connecting with constituents during the April district period. I was especially grateful to talk with neighbors from across the district during my town hall. My team and I were so appreciative of your thoughtful input and questions about ways to get involved, stay informed, and help make life better for our neighbors and fellow Americans.

April was also a busy time on the Hill — working on legislation to replenish the Restaurant Revitalization Fund for hard-hit businesses, expedite military aid to Ukraine, and reform outdated federal marijuana laws that conflict with Pennsylvania’s current laws.

Legislative Activity

Introduced the CAA Enhancement Act to combat discrimination in Congress, expand legal protections for our staff, and ensure taxpayers don’t foot the bill for holding lawmakers accountable

Voted for a targeted relief package that will replenish the Restaurant Revitalization Fund with $42 billion and create a new $13 billion grant program for hard-hit businesses

Voted for Lend-Lease legislation expediting military aid to Ukraine

Voted to pass the MORE Act

Committee on House Administration: A Growing Threat: The Impact of Disinformation Targeted at Communities of Color

Committee on House Administration: Examining Stock Trading Reforms For Congress

House Judiciary Committee: Oversight of Federal Efforts to Combat Human Trafficking

House Judiciary Committee: Oversight of the Department of Homeland Security

Named as a member of the conference committee for the America COMPETES Act by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi

What Else You Might Have Missed

Welcomed House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer to the Philadelphia Navy Yard for a tour and discussion of ongoing federal investments

Celebrated $1.5 million in federal funding for the historic Lansdowne Theater

Cheered on our Villanova Wildcats during March Madness

Got my second COVID booster

Celebrated National Library Week with a visit to Ridley Township Public Library

Discussed price gauging and how to combat it with A Starting Point

Spent time at FDR Park discussing how updates included in the FDR Park Plan will improve the resilience of this unique public space and expand opportunities for recreation

Highlighted how Community Project Funding included in the recently-passed federal government spending package will be used to make the dangerous rail crossing at 6th and Main Streets safer

Welcomed VP Kamala Harris and Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh to the district

Cheered on the U.S Women’s National Team in Chester

Hosted an in-person town hall to provide an update on what I’ve been working on in D.C. and to take questions from constituents

Met with members of PA-05’s African community about issues including immigration, small business support, and crime reduction

Visited local restaurants to hear about how they’ve navigated the past two years and to discuss how Congress can help with targeted relief

Met with Widener University students, faculty, and staff to discuss food insecurity on college campuses and the resources available to combat it

Joined officials from PIDC, the West Philadelphia Skills Initiative, and Philly Shipyard, Inc. to celebrate the latest graduates of the Navy Yard Skills Initiative and announce over half a million dollars in new federal funding to support the workforce program

Visited Penn Medicine’s new facility in Radnor and learned about their expanded imaging services that are incredibly important for PA-05 residents

Delivered $186 Million to lower costs and increase energy efficiency for Pennsylvania households

Applauded completion of additional bipartisan, bicameral action to hold Russia accountable for its unprovoked, premeditated war against Ukraine

Applauded new actions from the Biden Administration aimed at reducing gun crime

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Mary Gay Scanlon
Mary Gay Scanlon

Written by Mary Gay Scanlon

Mary Gay Scanlon currently serves a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for Pennsylvania’s 5th Congressional District.