State Rep. Emily Kinkead looks back on 2021, and ahead to 2022.

Photo: Office of Rep. Kinkead

Happy Holidays!

It’s incredible to realize that yet another year is coming to a close. As many of our neighbors and friends still struggle to get back on their feet and the pandemic, which we hoped to see solidly in our rearview mirror, continues, it is easy to feel despair.

However, looking back on this year, I continue to be encouraged and heartened by the people of our community, who continue to support one another and work together for the common good. I want to thank all of those who have selflessly served others throughout this time. Our collective actions have saved lives and, thanks to the vaccines that have become available, we are finally starting to return to a sense of normalcy. (And, I’ll take this moment to encourage all of you, five years old and up, to get your vaccines and boosters!)

As I look back on my first year in office, I want to thank everyone in District 20 for allowing me the opportunity to be your voice in Harrisburg. It is a responsibility I am honored to have, and one that I take seriously. In Harrisburg, I have backed bipartisan efforts to support our essential workers, assist individuals and businesses struggling as the result of the pandemic, expand access to medical marijuana, and more. I have also stood up against legislation that I felt would adversely impact our community, including that which would destroy our community bail funds; and voted against bills that would set dangerous precedents, such as abortion bans and permitless concealed carry of firearms, or erode the rule of law, like the repeated attacks on our voting rights.

I have also joined my colleagues in championing legislation to address the serious problems affecting our commonwealth, including raising our state’s minimum wage, making health care affordable, enacting common sense criminal justice reforms, and even working to establish an insurance program for those impacted by landslide issues across our commonwealth. I continue to fight to ensure that the remaining $7.3 billion in federal American Rescue Plan funds is spent the way it was intended – to help you and every Pennsylvanian get back on track. Partisanship may continue to slow or even stop progress, but I have and will continue to advocate for our state to make the smart investments we need to forge ahead: investments in our schools, communities, workplaces, and most importantly, in the people of our commonwealth.

My favorite part of this job has been the ability to connect with constituents and take immediate action to address their needs. The opportunity to travel the district and learn even more intimately about all the things – the people, businesses, and organizations – that make our community such a wonderful place to live is an incredible joy.

Despite the limitations of social distancing, this year, my staff and I responded to nearly 2,000 constituent requests and served more than 800 event attendees. We have worked hard to prepare ourselves to provide the best service to the district through hosting community forums on important issues like gun violence, getting trained in harm-reduction techniques, and meeting with municipal officials across the district.  My staff and I dove into the work of serving District 20 by getting our hands dirty planting trees in local parks, working with PennDOT to address issues with local roads, spending rainy days helping to connect our seniors with state agencies and programs, and hosting several ever-popular shredding events. Look for more of these and other events in the new year!

It has been my absolute pleasure and honor to serve you this past year, and I am looking forward to 2022 with a renewed sense of purpose, dedication, and hope. I wish you all a happy holiday season and a prosperous new year!

As always, please reach out to me if you have questions or need assistance with any state program or service by calling my office at 412-321-5523 or emailing me at RepKinkead@pahouse.net.

My team and I are here to help you!