**For Immediate Release**

July 7, 2023 

Contact: Emilia.Rowland@mail.house.gov 330.212.2065

(Braddock, PA) – Today, Congresswoman Summer Lee (PA-12) released the following statement after the Pennsylvania State House passed the CROWN Act with a bipartisan vote. Lee introduced the bill to prohibit hair discrimination while serving as a State House Rep after a constituent of hers was discriminated against as a student at Central Catholic High School. 

“I introduced the CROWN Act in the State House with my Sister Rep turned Speaker McClinton after a student in my district was told ‘change your hair or go home.’

“I could not me more excited that the PA House has passed our bill to end hair discrimination and make respect for our beautiful Black hair law in our commonwealth. 

“I want to give a HUGE thank you to Rep La’Tasha Mayes for her tireless advocacy to get this over the finish line and ensure we end hair discrimination once and for all in Pennsylvania.

“Next stop, the United States Congress!”

Black women’s hair is 2.5x more likely to be perceived as unprofessional and over 20% of Black women have been sent home from work because of their hair. 25% of Black women believe they have been denied a job interview because of their hair and, that number rises to 1/3 of Black women aged 25-34.