Dwight Evans

Pennsylvania Democratic Congressional Delegation Statement on U.S. v. McIver

Position: The delegation criticizes a court ruling in U.S. v. McIver, arguing that criminal proceedings against members of Congress for conducting oversight of the Executive Branch threaten congressional independence and checks and balances, and expresses support for Rep. LaMonica McIver.

PHILADELPHIA (Aug. 28, 2026) — Congressman Brendan F. Boyle (PA-02), Dean of Pennsylvania’s Democratic Congressional Delegation, along with Representatives Dwight Evans (PA-03), Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06), Summer Lee (PA-12), and Chris Deluzio (PA-17) released the following statement: “This ruling sets a dangerous precedent. Members of Congress must be able to conduct legitimate oversight of the Executive Branch without fear of criminal retaliation. Weaponizing the Justice Department against lawmakers for doing their jobs threatens the checks and balances at the heart of our democracy. This case is bigger than any one particular Member. No president should be able to use federal law enforcement to intimidate political opponents or silence congressional oversight. We stand with Congresswoman LaMonica McIver as she continues this fight, and we will not be intimidated from carrying out our constitutional responsibilities.” Issues:Civil RightsCongress

Evans Introduces Bill to Build More Accessible, Affordable Housing

Position: Introduces the VITAL Act to strengthen the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit by increasing state allocations and providing an enhanced credit for affordable developments with accessible units for people with disabilities in walkable communities. The bill is intended to expand the supply of accessible affordable housing for older adults and people with disabilities.

PHILADELPHIA (Aug. 10, 2026) – U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans (D-PA-3) introduced the Visitable Inclusive Tax Credits for Accessible Living (VITAL) Act to strengthen the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) to expand the supply of affordable, accessible housing for older adults and people with disabilities. Evans’ lead House co-sponsor is Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-1), and U.S. Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), ranking member of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, introduced companion legislation in the Senate. Evans said, “About 26 percent of people in the United States have a disability, yet less than 6 percent of the national housing supply is designed to be accessible at even a basic level. This bill would change that by expanding low-income housing tax credits to make affordable housing more accessible for seniors and people with disabilities. The need for accessible housing will only continue to grow as America’s senior population grows! I want to thank Congressman Fitzpatrick and Senators Klobuchar and Gillibrand for partnering on this much-needed bill.” “As we work to increase housing supply and make homes more affordable, we must also build with the needs of our seniors and Americans with disabilities in mind. The VITAL Act uses the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit to promote accessible, adaptable homes in communities connected to transportation and essential services. This legislation reflects the kind of housing policy I will always champion — one that strengthens independence, expands opportunity, and helps every person live with dignity,” Fitzpatrick said. “For far too many Americans living with disabilities and older adults with mobility issues, safe housing is out of reach due to a lack of affordable and accessible options,” Klobuchar said. “This legislation would increase the number of new homes that are located in walkable or wheelchair-friendly communities to increase access to housing for all.” “As our aging population continues to grow, it is critical that we invest in affordable housing units with accessible features,” Gillibrand said. “The VITAL Act would help ensure that affordable housing meets the mobility and accessibility needs of New York seniors and people with disabilities, allowing them to age comfortably in the communities of their choice. As the top Democrat on the Senate Aging Committee, I am proud to lead this bill, and I encourage my colleagues to support it.” The LIHTC is a federal program providing tax credits to developers who build new housing for low-income renters. The VITAL Act would increase state LIHTC allocations, provide an enhanced tax credit for qualifying affordable housing developments that include accessible units for people with disabilities in walkable communities, and incentivize state housing finance agencies to prioritize the development of more accessible housing. The VITAL Act is endorsed by The Kelsey, LeadingAge, Pathways to Housing PA, TriageCancer, National Low Income Housing Coalition, Liberty Housing Development Corporation, National Council on Independent Living, National Disability Rights Network, Autistic Self Advocacy Network, The Arc of the United States, Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund, Justice in Aging, National Housing Law Project, National Council on Aging, National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities, Association of Assistive Technology Act Programs, Muscular Dystrophy Association, National NeighborWorks Association, Paralyzed Veterans of America, TASH, ANCOR, Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, The Amputee Coalition, Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition, YIMBY Action, Disability Empowerment Center of Lancaster PA, American Foundation of the Blind, America Walks, National Homelessness Law Center, Caring Across Generations, National Association of the Deaf, Community Solutions, Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), American Council of the Blind, HDC MidAtlantic, New Disabled South, and Autism Speaks. ### Issues:CongressHousingTaxes & Tax Credits

Evans, Dean Press for Answers, Transparency on Data Centers

Position: The release calls on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to provide transparency and information on its oversight of grid reliability, consumer costs, and transmission planning as data center power demand grows, and criticizes the cancellation of 223 clean-energy projects as a factor affecting supply and transmission planning.

PHILADELPHIA (May 28, 2026) – U.S. Reps. Dwight Evans (D-PA-3) and Madeleine Dean (D-PA-4) are pressing federal electricity regulators for answers and transparency about data centers. Today, Evans and Dean sent a letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission seeking information on how the agency is overseeing the increased power demand from data centers, especially with respect to reliability of the electrical grid and costs that may be passed on to home consumers. They also requested information on how the Trump-Vance administration’s decision to cancel 223 clean-energy projects could impact transmission planning and delivering electricity to consumers due to changes in energy supply. “We encourage FERC to continue providing transparency in its decisions on transmission and infrastructure policies as the demand to connect to the grid grows,” the lawmakers said. “As members who are increasingly concerned with affordability and grid reliability, we look forward to receiving your prompt responses.” Evans and Dean requested responses by June 30. The full text of the letter follows: Dear Chairman Swett and Commissioners Rosner, LaCerte, See, and Chang: We write this letter expressing interest in the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) plans to address domestic grid reliability, affordability, and future planning opportunities. This comes during a time when lawmakers are being asked to address real constraints in American energy markets and grid reliability. We encourage FERC to continue providing transparency in its decisions on transmission and infrastructure policies as the demand to connect to the grid grows. There is an increasing presence of data centers, and questions of how, when, and where they will connect to the grid. Our concerns about the future of data centers and their energy demand impacting interstate transmission capacity not only include realistic assessments of load interconnection projects that will be added to the grid but also fluctuating load cycles destabilizing the grid. This is in addition to concerns about the environmental impact, including air quality and water consumption, community input, long-term planning, and the inclusion of distributed energy resources (DERs) in any future buildout. The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) published [1] a Level 3 Essential Action Alert highlighting reliability concerns arising from new computational loads – such as data centers, artificial intelligence compute clusters, and cryptocurrency facilities – interacting with the bulk power system (BPS). The alert highlights 7 advisory actions that transmission planners, owners, coordinators, and operators should consider, and encourages their adoption to support reliability standards and address emerging challenges. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s lawmakers and policy leaders have also acted in recent weeks. Governor Josh Shapiro sent a letter [2] to utility companies describing the criteria his administration will consider justifiable in future rate-making cases. This was in addition to the governor stating that utilities should seek the most cost-effective forms of capital, provide plain and clear language in investment proposals with cost/benefit analyses and transparent data, and offer clear, justifiable equity returns. Separately, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives unanimously passed H.B. 2223 [3], which would require a utility to evaluate and consider integrating advanced transmission technologies (ATTs) before building costly new infrastructure. Considering these actions, we have included questions that we would like a response to no later than June 30, 2026: Given that transmission costs can be passed through to customers, are there oversight or implementation issues that FERC has encountered with orders that encourage prior consideration and integration of ATTs and grid-enhancing technologies (GETs) to maximize cost-savings opportunities? Are there any existing FERC regulations that are biased against ATTs or GETs? Has FERC considered how developments in generation technologies, such as DERs and virtual power plants, could improve transmission utilization on the consumer side through improved real-time data sharing or reduce transmission congestion? Has FERC assessed the implications of NERC’s alert and the need to establish reliability standards to protect from new, large load connections on the BPS? To what extent is FERC considering using its authority to establish processes that would encourage transmission owners and operators to conduct reliability studies and gap assessments, enhance communication coordination to improve operational awareness, integrate technology to model BPS system failure impact depending on the stage/cycle of the computational load, and produce risk mitigation assessments with real-time response monitoring? The Department of Energy terminated 321 financial awards for 223 energy projects [4]. If transmission planning accounts for new supply plans over a 20-year cycle, and there are uncertainties and risks on the supply side with power plant development, has FERC considered the extent to which transmission planning directives from Order No. 1920 and 1920-A may be challenging? Additionally, there has been a change in commissioners since Order No. 1920 and 1920-A were approved. Given this change in leadership, how do you anticipate that these orders will address affordability concerns? Thank you for your attention to this matter. As members who are increasingly concerned with affordability and grid reliability, we look forward to receiving your prompt responses. [1] North American Electric Reliability Corporation. (2026, May 4). NERC issues level 3 alert, reliability guideline focused on large load challenges. https://www.nerc.com/newsroom/nerc-issues-level-3-alert-reliability-guideline-focused-on-large-load-challenges. [2] Shapiro, J. (2026, April 29). Letter to utility leaders. Latitude Media. https://www.latitudemedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2026.4.29-JDS-Utility-CEOs-letter-v2.pdf. [3] House Bill 2223, 2025-2026 Session (2026). https://www.palegis.us/legislation/bills/text/PDF/2025/0/HB2223/PN3321. [4] Department of Energy. (2025, October 1). Energy Department announces termination of 223 projects, saving over $7.5 billion.https://www.energy.gov/articles/energy-department-announces-termination-223-projects-saving-over-75-billion ### Issues:Climate Change & the EnvironmentEnergy

Evans Reintroduces $360 Million Anti-Crime, Pro-Victim Bill

Position: Supports the reintroduced VICTIM Act, a bipartisan bill establishing a $360 million Department of Justice grant program to help state, local, and tribal law enforcement improve clearance rates for homicides and firearm-related violent crimes, and to provide victims and families with mental health, shelter, wage, and relocation assistance.

PHILADELPHIA (May 13, 2026) – Congressman Dwight Evans (D-PA-3) has reintroduced a $360 million anti-crime and victim aid bill with bipartisan support in both the House and Senate. Evans’ bill, the Violent Incident Clearance and Technological Investigative Methods (VICTIM) Act, would establish a grant program at the Department of Justice (DOJ) to help state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to solve more crimes and improve clearance rates for homicides and firearm-related violent crimes. The bill would authorize $60 million per year in grants for each of the next six federal fiscal years, beginning with the one that starts Oct. 1, 2026. “This bipartisan bill would help our state and local police solve more fatal and non-fatal shooting cases. This would be a huge win for public safety in Philadelphia and across the country – district attorneys can't bring cases that don't reach them, so this would help make our neighborhoods safer," Evans said. "As someone who has pushed for help for victims of gun violence, I'm also very pleased that this bill would provide victims and family members with mental health resources and assistance with shelter, wage, and relocation costs." “The VICTIM Act will provide law enforcement with the funding, training, and technology needed to solve more homicide and non-fatal shooting cases. By helping agencies investigate these serious crimes more effectively, this legislation will deliver justice for victims’ families, support the officers working these cases, and strengthen public safety across Nebraska,” said Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE), the lead House Republican co-sponsor. In the Senate, the bill’s lead sponsors are Sens. John Kennedy (R-LA) and Cory Booker (D-NJ). “When our heroes in blue do not have the resources to solve violent crimes, families and communities pay the price. In Louisiana and across America, too many police departments are being asked to fight today’s violent criminals with yesterday’s tools. The VICTIM Act would give law enforcement the key financial and technical support they need to put violent criminals behind bars and deliver justice for victims,” Kennedy said. Booker said, “Solving violent crime is the most powerful deterrent we have, and it starts with giving law enforcement what they actually need: detectives, forensic technology, and investigative training. When murders go unsolved, it denies victims and their communities justice, signals that authorities don't care about public safety, and leaves perpetrators without consequences. With nearly half of homicide cases remaining unsolved, we cannot afford to keep shortchanging law enforcement. I am proud to reintroduce this bipartisan legislation, which dedicates critical resources to improve clearance rates so that law enforcement can solve these cases and every family gets the accountability they deserve.” The VICTIM Act would help law enforcement: Train detectives and police personnel to investigate, solve, and respond to homicides and non-fatal shootings. Hire additional detectives and investigative personnel. Invest in technology needed to solve crimes. Train police personnel to address the needs of victims and family members of homicides and firearm-related violent crimes. Provide victims and family members with mental health resources and temporary assistance. The bill would also require recipients of VICTIM Act grants to report how they use the funds to the DOJ, which would collect and provide that information to Congress. The full text of the VICTIM Act is available here. Evans represents the 3rd Congressional District, which includes Northwest and West Philadelphia and parts of North, South, Southwest and Center City Philadelphia. Evans’ website is evans.house.gov and his social media handle is @RepDwightEvans on Youtube, Bluesky, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads. Issues:Public Safety & Gun Violence

Evans Reintroduces School-Repair Bill

Position: Congressman Evans supports legislation that would expand the federal historic rehabilitation tax credit to include public-school buildings, enabling federal and private investment in repairs to aging school infrastructure, particularly in high-poverty schools serving minority students.

PHILADELPHIA (April 27, 2026) – Congressman Dwight Evans (D-PA-3) is reintroducing legislation that would use the federal tax code to help finance repairs to older public schools. “The top priority for our nation's students and their teachers should be education. They should not be worrying about becoming ill from lead, mold, or asbestos, or concerned that lessons will be postponed due to malfunctioning heating and air conditioning systems,” Evans said. Evans serves on the House Ways and Means Committee, which oversees tax laws. His Rehabilitation of Historic Schools Act would allow for the federal historic rehabilitation tax credit to include public-school buildings. “Allowing rehabilitation expenditures for public school buildings to qualify for the rehabilitation credit would increase federal investments -- and leverage private funding for -- public-school infrastructure. Poor school facility conditions are concentrated in high-poverty schools that serve minority students. Our children deserve an equal shot at the future, regardless of their zip code. This bill is based on a successful state-level program from Virginia that passed with bipartisan support and can be duplicated nationwide,” Evans said. The bill is co-sponsored by Reps. Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA-5), Danny Davis (D-IL), Gwen Moore (D-WI), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL). The 2025 State of Our Schools report from the 21st Century School Fund shows continued increases in the nation’s annual funding gap for elementary and secondary public-school buildings and grounds, projected to persist in the range of $85 billion each year. State-by-state estimates are available here. The bill’s text is the same as in the 118th Congress. Evans represents the 3rd Congressional District, which includes Northwest and West Philadelphia and parts of North, South, Southwest and Center City Philadelphia. Evans’ website is evans.house.gov and his social media handle is @RepDwightEvans on Youtube, Bluesky, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads. ### Issues:Transportation & InfrastructureEducation

Evans: House & Senate Must Vote Immediately on Trump’s ‘Illegal, Ill-Conceived’ Attack on Iran

Position: Congressman Evans opposes President Trump's military action against Iran and calls for immediate House and Senate votes on a War Powers resolution to halt the attack, arguing it escalates conflict and endangers American lives.

PHILADELPHIA (Feb. 28, 2026) – Congressman Dwight Evans (D-PA-3) today issued this statement: “After claiming last June he ‘completely and totally obliterated’ Iran's nuclear program, President Trump launched yet another illegal, ill-conceived attack on Iran. “These escalations only put American lives, at home and abroad, at greater risk and drag our country towards another endless war. “The House and Senate must each vote on a War Powers resolution immediately to stop Trump's reckless warmongering.” Evans represents the 3rd Congressional District, which includes Northwest and West Philadelphia and parts of North, South, Southwest and Center City Philadelphia. Evans’ website is evans.house.gov and his social media handle is @RepDwightEvans on Youtube, Bluesky, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads. ### Issues:Congress

Evans: $9.6 million returned to or saved for constituents in 2025

PHILADELPHIA (Feb. 5, 2026) – Congressman Dwight Evans (D-PA-3) recently released his State of the District report covering 2025, now available on his website, evans.house.gov. This report covers his 2025 accomplishments in constituent savings and his work in Congress for Pennsylvania’s 3rd Congressional District. Some highlights of the 12-page report include: $9.6 million returned to or saved for constituents in cases involving federal agencies such as the IRS, Social Security Administration and Department of Veterans Affairs. The 2025 figure brings Evans’ office’s total to more than $55.1 million returned to or saved for constituents during his time in Congress. His constituent advocacy, this past year, fighting to protect SNAP food assistance, for Head Start funding, against the GOP health care crisis, and more. Key legislation he introduced in 2025, including ‘poverty-busting’ legislation to expand the Earned Income Tax Credit - a bill that would benefit an estimated 14 million Americans, many of them workers who are currently taxed into or further into poverty. “Time and time again, in my view, this Republican-controlled White House and Congress have shown they are not acting in the interests of working people,” Evans said. “Entering my final year in office, my priorities are unwavering. I will continue using a wide variety of tools to push back against Donald Trump and congressional Republicans’ backwards, extremist, and often unlawful agenda, fighting to protect our most vulnerable communities in Philadelphia and beyond against this agenda’s disastrous impacts.” Evans represents the 3rd Congressional District, which includes Northwest and West Philadelphia and parts of North, South, Southwest and Center City Philadelphia. He serves on the influential House Ways and Means Committee, including its Subcommittee on Health. The committee oversees taxes, trade, Social Security and Medicare. Evans’ website is evans.house.gov and his social media handle is @RepDwightEvans on Youtube, Bluesky, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads. ### Issues:Congress

Congressman Evans' Statement on Voting 'NO' on Senate Funding Package

Position: Congressman Evans opposes the Senate funding package because it does not include sufficient accountability measures and legal protections against Department of Homeland Security abuses, particularly regarding ICE and CBP enforcement actions.

WASHINGTON (Feb. 3, 2026) - Congressman Dwight Evans (D-PA-3) issued this statement today: “In the wake of two Americans being brutally killed by ICE and CBP agents in Minnesota, and numerous other abuses in communities across our country, the Department of Homeland Security must undergo real accountability, change, and reforms. I don’t believe that would happen under the current bill. “This Senate deal would fund the rest of the federal government for the fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30, while limiting funding for DHS to just two weeks as negotiations take place. However, that is not enough for me. “After over a year of empty promises, I believe we cannot trust promises of reform from the Trump-Vance administration. I first need to see much-needed guardrails and protections being put into law - and therefore will be voting no on this funding package when it comes to the House floor.” Issues:Civil RightsCongressImmigrationPublic Safety & Gun Violence

Pennsylvania U.S. House Democrats to Pennsylvania’s U.S. Senators: Oppose DHS Funding Bill Without Critical Reforms

Position: Seven Pennsylvania House Democrats urge the state's senators to oppose a DHS funding bill that lacks meaningful reforms to ICE and related agency activities, arguing that funding without adequate reform risks undermining public safety, due process, and civil liberties.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Jan. 27, 2026) – Today, Congressman Dwight Evans (PA-03) and his six fellow U.S. House Democrats from Pennsylvania jointly sent a delegation letter to Pennsylvania’s senators urging them both to oppose a funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that does not include critical reforms. The letter was also signed by Representatives Brendan Boyle (PA-02), Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06), Summer Lee (PA-12) and Chris Deluzio (PA-17). Last week, the entire Pennsylvania Democratic delegation in the U.S. House of Representatives voted against an appropriations bill that included funding for DHS. The final vote was 220-207, passing the House chamber with only seven Democratic votes – and none of those seven were from Pennsylvania. The letter sent to Pennsylvania Senators John Fetterman (D-PA) and Dave McCormick (R-PA) by today comes as the Senate is set to vote on the spending bill that currently includes DHS funding this week. In the letter, the seven Pennsylvania House members write, “We urge you to oppose any legislation that provides funding to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) without first securing meaningful, enforceable reforms to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and related DHS agency activity. The DHS Fiscal Year 2026 Appropriations bill in front of the Senate for consideration this week does not include such reforms, and we urge you to oppose it. We voted against this bill last week and ask that you do the same.” The members continue: “Funding without adequate reform risks endorsing current approaches that undermine public safety and due process, erode American liberties, and weaken public trust.” Congressman Evans provided this additional comment: “Senate Republicans can and should separate DHS funding from their budget package — Americans need accountability, not another Republican government shutdown.” The full text of the letter is available here. The Philadelphia Inquirer piece about the PA Democratic Delegation letter is here. Issues:CongressImmigrationPublic Safety & Gun Violence

Evans, Boyle, Scanlon Send Letter Demanding Answers on Removal of Slavery Exhibits from Independence National Historical Park

Position: The representatives oppose the removal of slavery-related exhibits from Independence National Historical Park, arguing that these exhibits are essential to understanding the nation's founding and that their removal constitutes historical censorship that undermines public education.

PHILADELPHIA, PA (Jan. 23, 2026) — Today, Representatives Dwight Evans (PA-03), Brendan F. Boyle (PA-02), and Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05) sent a letter to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and National Park Service Acting Director Jessica Bowron opposing the removal of slavery-related exhibits at Independence National Historical Park. In their letter, Philadelphia’s US House delegation demanded answers from Administration officials on the censorship of these exhibits. The full letter, including the Representatives’ questions, can be found here and below. Dear Secretary Burgum and Acting Director Bowron, We write to express our opposition to the removal of slavery-related exhibits in Philadelphia’s historic district, specifically at the President’s House Site within Independence National Historical Park (INHP). These exhibits are an essential part of how the National Park Service presents the history of our nation’s founding, and the decision to remove them represents a disturbing departure from that mission. Millions of visitors travel to INHP each year to learn about the origins of American democracy. The park’s fifty-five acres encompass landmarks such as Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell, and the interpretive panels at the President’s House Site play a critical role in explaining how slavery coexisted with the birth of the Republic. Presenting that history in full deepens public understanding of the long struggle to align our actions with our ideals. Trying to remove that history just because it makes some people uncomfortable is deeply troubling. When a government starts hiding parts of its past, it begins to look more like a regime that rewrites history rather than one that learns from it. With the National Park Service facing budget pressures and the nation preparing for its 250th anniversary, federal officials should be strengthening historic sites and expanding educational programming, not diverting staff time and public resources to dismantling established exhibits. We believe the removal of these panels violates existing agreements between the National Park Service and the City of Philadelphia governing the preservation and interpretation of the President’s House Site. As Members of Congress representing Philadelphia, we therefore demand clear and complete answers to the following questions: Why were the exhibits at the President’s House Site taken down or dismantled? Who authorized or directed this decision, and at what level within the administration? What role, if any, did senior administration officials play in initiating or approving this action? Where are the removed panels and related materials currently being stored, and what plans exist for their reinstallation? What documents, memoranda, emails, or other internal communications relate to these actions? Philadelphia residents and visitors from across the country deserve an honest and complete account of our history. We request a written response no later than January 30, 2026. Sincerely, Brendan F. Boyle, Member of Congress Dwight Evans, Member of Congress Mary Gay Scanlon, Member of Congress ### Issues:Civil RightsCongress