Jessica Benham

Southwestern Pa.'s top union leader to step down from Allegheny/Fayette labor council As president of the Allegheny/Fayette Central Labor Council, Darrin Kelly has stood against presidents and alongside them. But when the council chooses its own leadership in January, he will not be ru...

From my grad union organizing days to public office, I’ve seen Darrin Kelly be a leader & friend to so many. He helped me build relationships with labor, bridged divides, and could always crack a well-timed joke. He’ll leave big shoes to fill!

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This “Big Beautiful Bill” is a sham. It rips health care and food off the tables of Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable, all to serve the wealthy and well-connected. Cutting Medicaid, Medicare, SNAP, and public insurance isn’t good policy. And we will fight back.

Ted went to his first protest today! We both believe in due process for all and that immigrants make our communities stronger and better!

Trans people deserve life saving, affirming healthcare!

I was at Magee yesterday for an ultrasound to check on the placement of my IUD and am grateful to the competent staff there.

I stand with those fighting for their union. They’re fighting for representation for themselves and for better conditions for patients like me.

YouTube video by Pa. House Video Benham: Defending the Rights of Autistic People

As the first openly autistic legislator in the #PAHouse, I will continuously fight for the rights of those of us on the spectrum. Don’t let the hateful rhetoric from D.C. prevent you from achieving your dreams! #AutismAcceptanceMonth youtu.be/t0H_4kRPEZc

I know many of you are angry - I am too - and it’s important that all of us acknowledge and name what is happening in this moment. This is a scary time for our democracy, and we need those with a conscience in our federal government to take swift action.

The mythology of our country is of a land of opportunity and freedom. But as people who had legal right to be here are disappeared and not returned, despite a unanimous Supreme Court decision ordering otherwise, this promise of opportunity and freedom remains unfulfilled.

Police say they are investigating an arson attack at the Pennsylvania governor's residence The fire broke out overnight on the first night of the Jewish holiday of Passover, which Gov. Josh Shapiro and his family had celebrated at the official residence.

Grateful that the Shapiro family is okay and thank you to the first responders for taking prompt action. Whatever the motivation for this act of arson, violence is not acceptable.

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I voted yes on HB411, which provides a cost of living adjustment based on date of retirement to eligible PSERS and SERS pre-Act 9 retirees.

Our teachers, bus drivers, police, firefighters and nurses give their lives every day to serve the people of Pennsylvania – and they should ALWAYS be protected in the workplace. Today, I voted to keep public servants safe at work here in Allegheny County and across Pennsylvania.

I voted yes on HB308, which creates the Public Employees Occupational Safety and Health Act to establish workplace protections for public sector employees that are consistent with federal OSHA requirements.

Today in session, I voted yes on HB156, which ensures carbon monoxide detectors are housed in childcare facilities located in buildings with carbon monoxide sources.

I voted yes on HB183, which ensures workers who suffer from serious and permanent disfigurement of the body are eligible to receive workers’ compensation benefits and increases the number of weeks for benefits eligibility.

I know he’ll fight for every kid to have excellent educational opportunities, because he has already been involved in that work. I’m proud to endorse him for school board because I need a partner on the PPS board who has built the relationships he will need to succeed.

I have known Mahdi Bey for many years and have had the chance to see firsthand the way he listens to and advocates for our community.

I also voted yes on HB755, which requires health insurance coverage of preventative health care services without cost-sharing.

I also voted yes on HB618, which prohibits health insurers from denying or excluding coverage based on preexisting conditions.

I also voted yes on HB535, which prohibits health insurance policies from establishing annual or lifetime dollar limits on ten essential health benefits.

Today, I voted yes on HB494, which allows parents to keep their adult children on their health insurance plan until the age of 26.

No matter what actions our federal government takes, Trans people exist and will continue to exist. I support your rights to self-determination and bodily autonomy as part of the fundamental freedoms we all have in this country.

PRT needs more state funding to maintain and improve service. As more details are being announced this morning about the potential for cuts if state funding does not increase, it’s my commitment to continue to fight for the funding necessary to protect our transit system.

I voted yes on HB274, which allows survivors of domestic violence to collect unemployment benefits if they voluntarily quit their job for their safety or the safety of their family or household member.

I also voted yes on HB157, which establishes the “Rural Health Care Grant Program” to pay for healthcare practitioners’ education debt.

Today, I voted yes on HB60, which allows the transfer of a patient’s prescription between pharmacies as long as the prescribed substance is already transferable under federal law.

People deserve elected officials who will stand up for them, not those that cave instead of fighting. There will be many, many people who suffer because of these funding cuts, and only so much we can do at the state level to make up the difference, though we will try our best.

Some folks - like my congressperson Summer Lee - get it. And tons of Dems on the state level get it, which is why we continue to vote to protect folks’ access to care. But folks have a lot to be angry about right now, that’s for sure.