On Wednesday morning, more than 50 Democratic members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives sent a letter to their chamber’s leadership calling for a $101.5 million investment in violence prevention initiatives in the 2025–26 state budget. Their united call advocates for expanded funding to continue and strengthen programs that have already driven a 38% decline in gun homicides statewide over the past two years.
This decline was driven by nearly $200 million previously invested in the Violence Intervention Program (VIP) to support data-driven, community-centered efforts that prevent violence before it happens through outreach, care, and intervention.
In their letter, the lawmakers urged the General Assembly to allocate $80 million to the VIP program and $21.5 million to Governor Josh Shapiro’s BOOST (Building Opportunity through Out of School Time) initiative. Together, the $101.5 million investment would sustain and scale efforts that reduce harm, build trust, and strengthen communities across the Commonwealth.
Adam Garber, Executive Director of CeaseFirePA, praised the lawmakers’ action:
“We are seeing what works—community-rooted solutions that treat violence like the public health crisis it is. This call from over 50 lawmakers is a powerful reminder that preventing gun violence is not just possible, it’s happening in every community across this state. But to save more lives, Pennsylvania must meet the moment with continued and increased investment.”
Attendees at the event emphasized that with the right support, Pennsylvania can continue leading the nation in effective, people-centered public safety strategies.
