About
Congressman Dwight Evans represents Pennsylvania's 3rd Congressional District, which includes Northwest and West Philadelphia and parts of North, South and Center City Philadelphia. He was first elected in a special election in November 2016. Before his election to Congress, he served as a state representative and made history as the first African-American chairman of the Pennsylvania House Appropriations Committee. In Harrisburg, he was instrumental in the creation of two programs that became models for national initiatives – the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and the Pennsylvania Fresh Food Financing Initiative that brings healthy food access to underserved urban and rural communities.
Throughout his public service career, Congressman Evans has worked tirelessly to expand and broaden access to economic and educational opportunities for all Philadelphians. He serves on the influential Ways and Means Committee, which oversees Social Security, Medicare, taxes, and trade. His priorities there include using the tax code to increase affordable housing, repair school buildings, and strengthen the social safety net.
During his tenure in Congress, his legislative accomplishments include the Small Business Innovation Protection Act, a law to provide small business owners and entrepreneurs with the resources they need to be successful in the 21st century economy, the bipartisan PEER Mentors Act, which promotes peer mentorship across the child welfare system, and legislation to improve the diversity of our nation’s military service academies being signed into law. The Congressman’s bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the Delaware River Basin Restoration program and his STEP Improvement Act, a job-creating small-business bill, has also passed the House in previous Congresses.
Congressman Evans proudly voted for the landmark American Rescue Plan, legislation that provided a temporary expansion of the Child Tax Credit, lifting millions of kids out of poverty. While Republicans allowed this change to expire, Congressman Evans has continued fighting to restore this poverty-busting policy.
During his time in Congress, Congressman Evans also voted for the first major federal gun reform law in nearly 30 years, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, as well as the Inflation Reduction Act, which is cutting the cost of prescription medications like insulin for millions of Americans and includes the nation’s largest investment ever in fighting climate change. He also co-led the Reconnecting Communities initiative, which later became a part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
As a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, Congressional Progressive Caucus, Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, and Black Maternal Health Caucus, Congressman Evans continues to place Philadelphians at the forefront of national policy discussions.
Congressman Evans is a graduate of Germantown High School, the Community College of Philadelphia, and LaSalle University. As a lifelong resident of Philadelphia, he is proudly working to rebuild Philadelphia, and America, block by block!
Members of the House are responsible for introducing and voting on federal legislation, representing the interests of their constituents, and providing oversight of the executive branch. Key powers include drafting bills, serving on committees, approving the federal budget, and voting on matters of national policy, including declarations of war and presidential impeachments.