Press Releases
Senator Vincent Hughes Announces New, $10K Student Teacher Stipend Legislation with Bipartisan Support
Philadelphia, PA – May 26, 2023- Senator Vincent Hughes held a press conference at Drexel’s School of Education with teacher advocates and education experts to introduce new, bipartisan legislation that would offer up to $15,000 in stipends to student teachers. Senate...
Senate Dems Discuss Domestic Violence Awareness, Funding at Capitol Hearing
HARRISBURG, May 26, 2023 – State Senator Katie Muth (D-Chester/Montgomery/Berks), chair of the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Policy Committee, and Senator Judy Schwank (D-Berks) co-hosted a public hearing earlier this week in Harrisburg to discuss the effectiveness...
Frankel, Schwank laud Biden’s creation of national plan to fight antisemitism
HARRISBURG, May 25 – Pennsylvania Jewish Legislative Caucus Co-chairs Rep. Dan Frankel and Sen. Judy Schwank praised the White House announcement Thursday that the Biden-Harris Administration has established the first-ever U.S. national strategy to fight antisemitism....
Delaware County Senate Delegation Calls for For-Profit Healthcare Reform to Discourage Predatory Private Equity Practices
Delaware County – May 24, 2023 – The Delaware County Senate Delegation has recently reintroduced a package of bills to prevent financial looting of Pennsylvania hospital systems by private equity and for-profit companies. Last year, the Delaware County Senate and...
Vogel, Schwank Urge the PA Milk Marketing Board to Extend the Over-Order Premium Ahead of Its June 7 Meeting
HARRISBURG – May 24, 2023 – Sens. Elder Vogel, Jr. (R-47) and Judy Schwank (D-11) provided the following statements urging the Pennsylvania Milk Marketing Board (MMB) to extend the Over-Order Premium during their June 7 public meeting. “Last month, we opened the doors...
News Digest:: May 24, 2023
Legislature Stipend proposed for student teachers in Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com Pennsylvania Democrats pass two gun reform bills in state House - YouTube State lawmaker says more pro-cannabis legislation needed, as Kenner gets final dispensary...
Senator Vincent Hughes Brings Modern Career Day to Over 1K Students in Philadelphia
Philadelphia, PA – May 23, 2023 – Today, Senator Hughes brought his “See Me−Imagine You” Career Day to 13 schools across Philadelphia. The program was simultaneously held for students in each school and featured professionals from a range of careers and backgrounds,...
Local School Boards Show Support for Sen. Williams’ University School Meal Legislation
Pittsburgh, PA − May 22, 2023 − Senator Lindsey M. Williams applauded the Fox Chapel Area School Board for passing Resolution 2023-2 in support of her Universal School Meals legislation at their most recent School Board Meeting on May 8, 2023. This resolution, a copy...
Street, Laughlin Introduce Bipartisan Approach to Marijuana Legalization in PA
HARRISBURG – May 19, 2023 − Sens. Sharif Street (D-3) and Dan Laughlin (R-49) announced they will introduce bipartisan legislation to legalize adult use of marijuana in Pennsylvania. “We have a unique and singular opportunity to correct decades of mass incarceration,...
Senate Dems Discuss Improving Railroad Safety at Pittsburgh Hearing
PITTSBURGH − May 19, 2023 – State Senator Katie Muth (D-Chester/Montgomery/Berks), Chair of the Senate Democratic Policy Committee, today joined Senator Lindsey Williams (D-Allegheny) and Senator Wayne Fontana (D-Allegheny) to host a public hearing in Pittsburgh...
State Lawmakers Announce Animal Protection Legislation
West Chester, PA − May 18, 2023 − Legislation inspired by the rescue of nearly 4,000 beagles from a breeding facility in Virginia was announced by state lawmakers, animal advocates, and rescue organizations at a special press conference at the Brandywine Valley SPCA this week. State Senator Carolyn Comitta was joined by state Senator Katie Muth, state Senator John Kane, state Rep. Melissa Shusterman, and state Rep. Chris Pielli in announcing the Dog and Cat Protection Act (also known as the Pennsylvania Beagle Bills).
Sen. Muth to Host Free Community Naloxone Training Next Week in Phoenixville
State Senator Katie Muth (D-Chester/Montgomery/Berks) and the Chester County Department of Drug and Alcohol Services will host a free Community Naloxone Training next week in Phoenixville to help residents learn how to safely use Naloxone to respond to an opioid...
Senator Hughes’ Legislation Leads to $1.3M in First Chance Trust Fund for At-Risk Youth
Harrisburg, PA – May 11, 2023 – Senator Vincent Hughes, State Senate Democratic Appropriations Chair, celebrated the announcement of an available $1.3 million for at-risk youth in Pennsylvania through the First Chance Trust Fund. Legislation to establish the...
Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee Favorably Recommends Russell Redding to Serve as PA Department of Agriculture Secretary
HARRISBURG – May 9, 2023 − Today, Sens. Elder Vogel, Jr. (R-47), majority chair; and Judy Schwank (D-11), minority chair; and members of the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee gave a unanimous, favorable recommendation for Russell Redding to serve as the...
Senator Amanda M. Cappelletti Applauds Campaign Finance Reform Measure Moving Forward
Harrisburg, PA − May 9, 2023 – Senator Amanda M. Cappelletti (D-17), Democratic Chair of the Pennsylvania Senate State Government Committee, put out the following statement after Senate Bill 383 passed out of the Committee today in Harrisburg. The bill, which will ban...
Senators Hughes & Phillips-Hill to Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Protect Mental Health of Minors on Social Media
HARRISBURG, PA – May 5, 2023: Today, State Senator Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) and State Senator Kristin Phillips-Hill (R-York) introduced bipartisan legislation that takes important steps to protect minors and their mental health on social...
Legislators Call for Reforms to Hospital Closure Process
Harrisburg, PA − May 4, 2023 – In response to recent hospital closures in areas across Pennsylvania, state Senator Carolyn Comitta, state Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski, and state Rep. Jennifer O’Mara are working to reform the process to better position impacted communities...
Senators Jay Costa, Michele Brooks Join PHFA to Celebrate 50 Years of Success, Call for Increased Mixed-Used Development Tax Credit Program Funding
Harrisburg, PA – May 3, 2023 − Today, Senator Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) joined legislative leaders and Executive Director Robin Wiessmann to celebrate the creation of the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) 50 years ago by the General Assembly. Today’s...
Schwank, Frankel Encourage Colleagues to Wear Blue Ribbons May 3 to Support Family, Survivors of Pittsburgh Synagogue Attack
HARRISBURG, May 2, 2023 – With trial of the perpetrator in the 2018 Pittsburgh synagogue attack underway, state Rep. Dan Frankel and state Sen. Judith Schwank are encouraging their colleagues in the General Assembly to wear blue ribbons on Wednesday to show their support for family members and survivors of the attack.
Senator Tartaglione’s Safe Injection Site Ban Passes Full Senate Vote
May 1st, 2023, Harrisburg Pa – Today, The Pennsylvania Senate passed Senate Bill 165, Senator Tartaglione’s Safe Injection Site Ban by a vote of 41-9. Senate Bill 165 will now be sent to the House for their concurrence. “Across this Commonwealth, Pennsylvanians are...
Senators Collett & Saval Advocate for AAPI Inclusive Curriculum
Harrisburg, Pa. - May 1, 2023 — In an effort to expand education and fight the recent rise in bias crimes against people of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) descent in the Commonwealth, State Senators Maria Collett (D-12 Montgomery) and Nikil Saval (D-1...
Senator Santarsiero Applauds House Passage of Eating Disorder Legislation, Calls on Senate to Take Up Bill
BUCKS COUNTY – Senator Steve Santarsiero (D-10) today applauded the passage of House Bill 148 by the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. The bill, sponsored by Representative Jason Ortitay (R-46) would require schools to annually provide educational...
PA Arts and Culture Caucus Celebrates Arts Advocacy Day, Features Local Artists, Calls for Continued Investments in the Arts
HARRISBURG, PA − April 26, 2023 − Today, Members of the Pennsylvania Legislative Arts and Culture Caucus gathered in the Capitol Rotunda to celebrate “Arts Advocacy Day” along with Citizens for the Arts in Pennsylvania, a nonprofit advocacy group. The four co-chairs...
Senator Boscola Introduces Open Primary Legislation
Harrisburg, PA – April 26, 2023 – Senators Lisa M. Boscola (D-Northampton) and Dan Laughlin (R-Erie) today introduced a bipartisan proposal to repeal closed primary elections in Pennsylvania, allowing registered voters who selected ‘none’ or ‘no affiliation’ on their...
Lawmakers and Advocates Hold Rally for DACA Teacher Certifications, In-State Tuition for Undocumented Students
Harrisburg — April 26, 2023 — Today, state lawmakers and advocacy groups rallied to support SB 393, SB 394, and both House companion bills at the Capitol Plaza Fountain. The bills would allow Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients to be certified as...
Schwank, Vogel, Agriculture Representatives Discuss the Future of the PA Over Order Premium
HARRISBURG – April 26, 2023 – The Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, led by Chairman Sen. Elder Vogel, Jr. (R-47) and Minority Chairwoman Sen. Judy Schwank (D-11), held a public hearing today to open an in-depth discussion about the state’s Over Order...
Dillon, Freeman Seek to Trip the Property Tax ‘Circuit Breaker’ in PA
Harrisburg, April 26, 2023 – State Sen. Jimmy Dillon (D-Philadelphia) and State Rep. Bob Freeman (D-Northampton) yesterday announced their proposal for amending the Pennsylvania Constitution to implement a property tax “circuit breaker”. “This proposal would offer...
Senator Tartaglione’s Safe Injection Site Ban Passes Out of Senate Judiciary Committee
April 25, 2023, Harrisburg Pa – Today, The Senate Judiciary Committee voted to move Senate Bill 165, Senator Tartaglione’s Safe Injection Site Ban out of committee and to the full Senate by a bipartisan vote of 11-3. “Day in and day out I hear from my constituents...
Senator Nikil Saval Speaks Against Proposed Criminalization of Overdose Prevention Centers
Harrisburg, PA − April 25, 2023 −Today, in response to a vote in the Pennsylvania Senate’s Judiciary Committee to advance legislation that criminalizes overdose prevention centers, Pennsylvania State Senator Nikil Saval (D–Philadelphia) released the following...
Senator Nikil Saval Joins Lancaster Community in Call for Permanent Funding for Whole-Home Repairs
Lancaster, PA- April 21, 2023—Today State Senator Nikil Saval (D–Philadelphia) and State Representative Ismail Smith-Wade-El (D–Lancaster) joined Lancaster Stands Up, POWER Interfaith, CASA, and residents and community leaders in a united call...
Senator Vincent Hughes Celebrates $100M Investment in Affordable Housing
Philadelphia, PA – April 21, 2023 – Yesterday, state Senator Vincent Hughes held a press conference at the New Courtland Apartments on Henry Avenue to highlight $100 million dollars in grant funding that is available through the Housing Options Program. The...
Senator Nikil Saval Joins Pittsburgh Community in Call for Permanent Funding for Whole-Home Repairs
PITTSBURGH, PA (April 19)—Today State Senator Nikil Saval (D–Philadelphia), State Representative Sara Innamorato (D–Allegheny), and State Representative Aerion Abney (D–Allegheny), joined One Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania United, 1Hood Power, Action Housing, Keystone...