Press Releases
Senator Lindsey M. Williams Co-Hosts Hearing on COVID Impact on Local Districts, Parents, Students, and Educators
Pittsburgh, PA − March 3, 2021 − Today, Senator Lindsey M. Williams co-chaired a Joint Committee Hearing of the Senate Education Committee and Senate Health and Human Services Committee focused on the impacts that COVID-19 has had on education over the past year. The...
State Legislators, Advocates, Family Members Urge Governor Wolf to Use Reprieve to Save the Lives of Incarcerated People
CHESTER, PA − March 2, 2021 − In a demonstration of unified support for reprieve, nearly a dozen state legislators gathered outside of State Correctional Institution–Chester (SCI-Chester) to urge Governor Tom Wolf to use his executive power to release incarcerated...
Senators Lindsey M. Williams and Kristin Phillips-Hill to Introduce Legislation to Encourage Reporting of Taxpayer Fraud
Harrisburg, PA − March 2, 2021 − Today, on the 158th anniversary of President Lincoln signing the Federal False Claims Act into law, Senator Lindsey M. Williams (D-Allegheny) and Senator Kristin Phillips-Hill (R-York) announced that they plan to introduce the...
Senator Santarsiero Calls on Governor Wolf to Prioritize Vaccines for Teachers
BUCKS COUNTY − March 2, 2021 − State Senator Steve Santarsiero (D-10) today called for the Pennsylvania Department of Health to expand Phase 1A eligibility to include teachers and school staff. In a letter to Governor Wolf, Sen. Santarsiero urged him to...
Senators Santarsiero, Brooks Reintroduce Bi-Partisan Legislation to Expand Health Coverage for Children Until Age 26
BUCKS COUNTY — March 1, 2021 — State Senators Steve Santarsiero (D-10) and Michele Brooks (R-50) will be reintroducing legislation that will allow children to stay on their parent’s health insurance until age 26. Under current Pennsylvania law, a child can stay...
City & State Leaders Join Philadelphians in Demanding Safety From Gun Violence
PHILADELPHIA − February 26, 2021 – District Attorney Larry Krasner on Friday joined Mayor Jim Kenney, Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw, Senator Sharif Street, and other state and local leaders to demand action to reduce and prevent gun...
PA Senate & House Dems Host Hearing on ‘A People’s Budget: The Environment’
Harrisburg – February 25, 2021 - At the request of Sen. Amanda M. Cappelletti (D- Delaware/Montgomery), Sen. Nikil Saval (D- Philadelphia), Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler (D- Philadelphia), Rep. Rick Krajewski (D- Philadelphia), Rep. Sara Innamorato (D- Allegheny), and Rep....
Senator Muth Commends Action by taken by the DRBC to Protect Drinking Water
Chester, PA − February 25, 2021 − State Senator Katie Muth (D - Chester, Montgomery, Berks) was relieved that the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) voted to permanently prohibit unconventional oil and gas extraction in the 13,539 square-mile area of the Delaware...
Statement: Senator Santarsiero Applauds DRBC Vote to Ban Fracking
BUCKS COUNTY − February 25, 2021 − The following statement is attributable to Senator Steve Santarsiero (D-10) in response to the Delaware River Basin Commission Special Meeting on February 25, 2021: “I applaud the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) on its...
Senator Muth urges Governor Wolf to Safeguard the Drinking Water for over 13 Million
Harrisburg, PA − February 24, 2021 − In a formal letter sent today, State Senator Katie Muth (Chester, Montgomery, Berks) strongly urged Governor Tom Wolf to vote in favor of a proposal before the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) to permanently ban...
Schwank Hosting Second Lady Fetterman, Secretary Redding in Roundtable Discussion on Food Insecurity in Berks County
Reading, February 24, 2021 State Senator Judy Schwank (D-11th district) is hosting a virtual Roundtable Discussion on Food Insecurity in Berks County on Wednesday, March 3, at 7 p.m. on Zoom. The panel of guests includes: Second Lady of Pennsylvania Gisele Fetterman,...
Pennsylvania Senators Introduce Historic, Bipartisan Adult Use Marijuana Legalization Bill
Senators Dan Laughlin and Sharif Street champion Adult Use Legalization Bill emphasizing safety, social and economic equity HARRISBURG, PA − February 24, 2021 − Today, State Senator Dan Laughlin (R-Erie) and State Senator Sharif Street (D-Philadelphia) introduced...
Senators Lindsey Williams, Collett, Muth, and Cappelletti to Introduce COVID-19 Vaccine Registry Legislation
Harrisburg, PA − February 20, 2021 − Today, Senators Lindsey Williams (D-Allegheny), Maria Collett (D-Bucks, Montgomery), Katie Muth (D-Berks, Chester, Montgomery) and Amanda M. Cappelletti (D-Delaware, Montgomery) announced that they plan to introduce...
Senator Collett Makes Big Push for Centralized Vaccine Registry
Harrisburg, Pa. - February 19, 2021 — Senator Collett (D-12 Montgomery/Bucks, Caucus Secretary), along with Sens. Lindsey Williams, Katie Muth and Amanda Cappelletti, introduced a bill memo for circulation earlier this week calling for a statewide “COVID-19 Vaccine...
House, Senate Democrats call for repairs to hazardous, toxic schools across the commonwealth
HARRISBURG – February 19, 2021 – State Sen. Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) and Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler (D-Philadelphia) were joined by several Democratic House and Senate members from a cross Pennsylvania on Friday to call for repairs to hazardous and toxic...
Sen. Fontana Re-elected Vice Chair of PHEAA Board
Harrisburg – February 18, 2021 - State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (D-Allegheny) today was unanimously re-elected to serve as the vice chairman of the board of directors for the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA). Created in 1963 by the state...
Senator Tartaglione Appointed to New Pennsylvania Election Law Advisory Board
Philadelphia, PA – February 17, 2021 − State Senator Christine Tartaglione has been appointed by Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa as a member of the Pennsylvania Election Law Advisory Board, a 23-member bipartisan panel created by the legislature in 2020 to review...
Senator Kearney and 600 State, Local Officials Call on Congress to Pass President Biden’s American Rescue Plan
HARRISBURG − February 12, 2021 – Senator Tim Kearney (D – Delaware/Chester), the minority chairman of the Local Government Committee, joined more than 600 state and local officials across the country to demand that Congress pass the Biden Administration’s American...
Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa Wishes Senator Blake Well in New Position
Pittsburgh, PA − February 15, 2021 − Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa released the following statement regarding Senator John Blake’s (D-Lackawanna) resignation. Senator John Blake will be missed in our caucus. Since he was elected ten years ago, he has been...
Senator Kane Calls for Answers in Chester County Vaccine Distribution
Chester, PA – February 11, 2021 – Senator John Kane (D, Delaware/Chester) called for answers from the Pennsylvania Department of Health regarding last week’s distribution of vaccines in Chester County. Last week, Chester County received 3,200 vaccine doses, all of...
PA Senate Dems Joined PA House Dems & the PA Women’s Health Caucus for Hearing on Maternal Health and Vaccine Safety Amidst COVID-19
Harrisburg – February 11, 2021 - Yesterday, at the request of PA Women’s Health Caucus chairs Sen. Judy Schwank (D- Berks), Sen. Amanda Cappelletti (D- Delaware/Montgomery), Rep. Mary Jo Daley (D- Montgomery), and Rep. Morgan Cephas (D- Philadelphia), the Pennsylvania...
Senator Street’s Statement on Prioritizing Teachers for Vaccines
Philadelphia, PA − February 10, 2021 — Senator Sharif Street (D–Philadelphia), issued the following statement in response to Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney’s announcement of a partnership with Children's Hospital of Philadelphia that will make vaccines available for...
Senator Haywood Responds to Vaccine Task Force Appointment
HARRISBURG – February 9, 2021 – Today, Governor Tom Wolf announced the creation of a COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force to help streamline communications between the General Assembly and the state. The Wolf administration appointed State Senator Art Haywood...
State Legislators Issue Joint Letter to Governor Wolf Urging Use of Reprieve
HARRISBURG − February 8, 2021 — In response to soaring rates of COVID-19 infection and death among incarcerated people and throughout the Pennsylvania prison system, nearly three dozen State Senators and State Representatives have issued a joint letter to Pennsylvania...
Senator Collett Visits Vaccine Distribution at Bucks County Adult Day Health Center
Bucks County, Pa. - February 8, 2021 — On Friday, February 5, Senator Maria Collett (D-12 Montgomery/Bucks, Democratic Chair of the Senate Aging & Youth Committee) visited “My Dayhouse,” an Ashram Adult Day Health Center in Chalfont to observe the rollout of...
Sen. Brewster Applauds Passage of State-wide COVID-19 Relief Package
HARRISBURG, February 5, 2021 State Sen. Jim Brewster released the following statement on today’s passage of Senate Bill 109, a sweeping COVID relief package that, along with federal action, contains measures the former banker-turned-state Senator proposed more than...
Senator Haywood to Meet with PASSHE University Presidents
Philadelphia – February 5, 2021 – State Senator Art Haywood (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) will meet with Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) presidents starting next week to address incidents of racial discrimination and harassment on PA college...
Sen. Hughes Touts Passage of Critical COVID-19 Relief Legislation that Includes Key Rental Assistance, Small Business Grant Provisions
PHILADELPHIA — February 5, 2021 — State Senator Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) touted the Pennsylvania General Assembly’s action to drive out COVID-19 relief for vulnerable residents Friday after Senate Bill 109 was sent to Gov. Tom Wolf for signature. The...
Senator Amanda M. Cappelletti Responds to Governor Wolf’s Budget Address
Norristown, PA. – February 5, 2021 – Senator Amanda M. Cappelletti (D-17 Montgomery/Delaware) viewed Governor Tom Wolf’s budget address earlier this week. The Governor’s 2021-2022 budget proposal includes a strong emphasis on breaking down the barriers that plague...
Wheatley, Hughes recognize National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day in Pennsylvania
HARRISBURG, February 5, 2021 – State Rep. Jake Wheatley, D-Allegheny, and state Sen. Vincent Hughes, D-Philadelphia/Montgomery, are recognizing Sunday, Feb. 7 as National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day in Pennsylvania. National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day began...
Senator Haywood Responds to Governor Wolf’s Budget
Philadelphia – February 4, 2021 – State Senator Art Haywood (D-Montgomery/Philadelphia) released the following statement on Governor Wolf’s 2021-22 budget: “Our Commonwealth is facing difficult times. The COVID-19 pandemic has crushed families and businesses in...
PennDOT to Launch Workforce Development Pilot Program Providing Improved Access, Creating Jobs for Employers
Harrisburg, PA — February 3, 2021 − The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) today announced the start of a Workforce Development Pilot program in partnership with rabbittransit, Chester County Transportation Management Association (TMACC),...