SEN. KITCHEN SWORN IN TO FOURTH SENATE TERM

            HARRISBURG, January 6 – State Sen. Shirley Kitchen today was sworn into her fourth term in the state Senate.

“While today is a day of celebration, it also marks the beginning of new challenges and efforts to serve Philadelphia’s citizens,” Kitchen said. “We must do more to give the working poor a greater opportunity to achieve the American dream.

“I will continue to fight to provide adequate health insurance coverage for all working people, create jobs, encourage the “greening” of neighborhoods, help to ensure non-violent ex-offenders are given a second chance and make our neighborhoods safer.”

Kitchen is the longest serving African American woman in the state Senate. She serves as the Democratic Chair for the Senate Urban Affairs and Housing committee. She is also a member of the Senate committees on Public Health and Welfare, Veteran Affairs and Emergency Preparedness and Agriculture and Rural Affairs. Kitchen has chaired Philadelphia’s Senate Delegation since 2005.

            Kitchen is well known for her work on behalf of the poor and low-income working families. She has worked and served with groups that battle for daycare funding, ensure housing for low-income families, create community job opportunities, and fight against redlining and predatory lending. The Philadelphia lawmaker has also championed issues such as raising the state’s minimum wage, equal pay for women and increased funding for libraries. She continues to hold seminars and expos that inform her constituents about important state services that are available to them.

            Kitchen said the worsening national economy will make this year a very difficult one, but said it is imperative that state government continue to reach out to its most poor and vulnerable citizens.