Press Releases
Senator Haywood Hosts Gun Violence Press Conference
PHILADELPHIA – May 14, 2021 – Today, State Senator Art Haywood (D-Montgomery/Philadelphia) hosted a gun violence press conference, in partnership with the Black Clergy of Philadelphia, to call for the General Assembly to pass legislation to reduce statewide gun...
PA Senate Democrats Hold Policy Hearing on Systemic Housing Insecurity
Harrisburg – May 14, 2021 - At the request of state Senators Tim Kearney (D- Chester/Delaware) and Nikil Saval (D-Philadelphia), the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Policy Committee held a virtual public hearing on housing and the unhoused in Pennsylvania. “Everyone...
Pa Senate Democrats Introduce $6 Billion “New Deal for PA” plan
HARRISBURG – May 12, 2021 − The Pennsylvania Senate Democrats today proposed an aggressive $6 billion plan that provides the opportunity and tools that the citizens of PA can use to recover from the pandemic, according to Sen. Wayne Fontana “Our plan includes creating...
Senator Lindsey M. Williams and Senate Dems Introduce $6.15 Billion “New Deal For PA” Spending Plan for American Rescue Plan Funds
Pittsburgh, Pa. − May 12, 2021 − Today, Senator Lindsey M. Williams joined members of the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus to introduce their $6.15 billion “New Deal for Pennsylvania” investment plan for the state’s share of the federal American Rescue...
PSERS Trustee Obtains Transparency Counsel After Being Denied Access to Important Financial Records
HARRISBURG − May 12, 2021 − After weeks of unanswered questions and hollow explanations by PSERS staff and counsel, Senator Katie J. Muth, the Senate Democratic Policy Committee Chair, hired a national transparency law expert in her continuing quest to do her job as a...
Senator Collett & PA Senate Democrats Introduce “New Deal For PA” for $6.15 Billion American Rescue Plan Funds Spending
Harrisburg, Pa. - May 12, 2021 — Senator Maria Collett (D-12 Montgomery/Bucks) joined her colleagues in the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus today to unveil the “New Deal for PA,” a targeted $6.15 billion investment of the federal funds allocated to the...
PA Senate Democrats Introduce Spending Plan for $7 Billion in Federal American Rescue Plan Funds – The New Deal For PA
Harrisburg, Pa. – May 12, 2021 – Today, Pennsylvania Senate Democrats unveiled the “New Deal for PA” – a $6.15 billion investment of federal funds coming to the Commonwealth pursuant to the American Rescue Plan. The New Deal for PA focuses on Jobs, Opportunity,...
Senator Art Haywood, PA Horticultural Society
PHILADELPHIA – May 7, 2021 – On Thursday, State Senator Art Haywood (D-Montgomery/Philadelphia) and State Representative Ben Sanchez (D-Montgomery) presented the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society with a $1 million check to renovate Meadowbrook Farm in Montgomery...
PA Senate Democrats Hold Policy Hearing on Legionella Prevention
Harrisburg – May 5, 2021 - At the request of Pennsylvania State Senators Wayne D. Fontana (D- Allegheny) and John Kane (D- Chester/Delaware), the Senate Democratic Policy Committee held a virtual policy hearing on Legionella prevention in Pennsylvania and the concern...
PA Women’s Health Caucus Responds to Today’s Dangerous Anti-Abortion Hearing in the House Health Committee
Harrisburg, PA − May 4, 2021 − The co-chairs of the Pennsylvania Women’s Health Caucus (WHC), Senator Judy Schwank (D-Berks), Senator Amanda M. Cappelletti (D-Montgomery, Delaware), Representative Morgan Cephas (D-Philadelphia) and Representative Mary Jo Daley...
Senators Santarsiero, Collett Announce Legislation to Give Attorney General Concurrent Jurisdiction in Environmental Crimes
BUCKS COUNTY – April 30, 2021 – State Senators Steve Santarsiero (D-10) and Maria Collett (D-12) today announced legislation to allow the state Attorney General to more directly investigate and pursue polluters, and others who damage our land, waterways and...
PA Senate Democrats Joined by PA Sec. of Ag & Second Lady Gisele Fetterman for Policy Hearing on Food Insecurity in Pennsylvania
Harrisburg – April 30, 2021 - At the request of Pennsylvania State Senators Judy Schwank (D- Berks), Tina Tartaglione (D- Philadelphia), and Sharif Street (D- Philadelphia), the Senate Democratic Policy Committee held a virtual policy hearing to discuss the issue of...
Fontana Home-Ownership Initiative Cleared for Full-Senate Vote
HARRISBURG - April 28, 2021 – An initiative originally introduced by state Sens. Wayne Fontana and Bob Mensch to boost first-time home ownership has cleared a key committee and is headed again to the full Senate for a vote. The plan will allow individuals and their...
Sabatina: Job Training Bill (SB 486) for Military Members & their Spouses Passes Senate Committee
Harrisburg, April 27, 2021 – The Senate Labor & Industry Committee unanimously approved a veterans job training bill (SB 486) 11-0. Sen. John Sabatina (D-Philadelphia) proudly announced that the bill is now headed to the full Senate for consideration. “We owe...
Sen. Tartaglione Brings COVID Vaccine Clinic to Frankford
Philadelphia, PA – April 23, 2021 – State Senator Christine Tartaglione (D-Philadelphia) welcomed hundreds of constituents to The Baptist Worship Center in Northeast Philadelphia’s Frankford neighborhood today for a free pop-up COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic. The senator...
Governor Wolf & AG Shapiro Joined Sen. Anthony Williams, City & State Officials for Meeting to Address Gun Violence in Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA – April 23, 2021 – Sen. Anthony H. Williams (D- Philadelphia/Delaware) organized a roundtable discussion to address the epidemic of gun violence in Philadelphia today. The Senator was joined by Governor Tom Wolf and Attorney General Josh Shapiro for...
PA Senate Dems Hold Policy Roundtable to Discuss Bright Future of Labor & Clean Energy
Harrisburg – April 22, 2021 - At the request of Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D- Allegheny), the Senate Democratic Policy Committee held a virtual round table discussion on the future of clean energy development and clean energy jobs in...
Senators Santarsiero, Haywood, Comitta Announce Legislation to Expand Pennsylvanian’s Alternative Energy Portfolio Ahead of Earth Day
BUCKS COUNTY – April 21, 2021 – State Senators Steve Santarsiero (D-10), Art Haywood (D-4) and Carolyn Comitta (D-19) announced today during a virtual press conference that they will be introducing SB 300, a bill to expand the state’s Alternative Energy Portfolio...
Senator Haywood Responds to Chauvin Verdict
HARRISBURG – April 21, 2021 – State Senator Art Haywood (D-Montgomery/Philadelphia) released the following statement in response to the guilty verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial: “Today, I am relieved that a jury convicted former Minneapolis Police officer Derek...
State Senate Approves Sen. Boscola’s Snow/Ice Removal Bill
Harrisburg, PA − April 21, 2021 − The state Senate today approved Sen. Lisa Boscola’s and Sen. Dan Laughlin’s legislation that would require drivers to remove ice or snow from their vehicles within 24 hours following heavy snow or ice storms. Named "Christine's...
Local Progressive Elected Officials Respond to Chauvin Verdict
PHILADELPHIA − April 20, 2021 − A coalition of local progressive elected officials issued the following statement on the unanimous guilty verdicts in the Derek Chauvin case, and called for systemic change through a new vision of public safety that ends the continual...
Sen. Sharif Street Releases Statement on Guilty Verdict of Derek Chauvin
Philadelphia – April 20, 2021 – Sen. Sharif Street (D- Philadelphia) released the following statement on the guilty verdict of Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd: "Today justice was served, with a verdict of “Guilty” on all three counts in the trial of...
Sen. Anthony H. Williams Releases Statement on Guilty Verdict of Derek Chauvin
Philadelphia – April 20, 2021 – Sen. Anthony H. Williams (D- Philadelphia/Delaware) released the following statement on the guilty verdict of Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd: “In the guilty verdict of Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd we see...
Senate Votes to Strengthen First Amendment Rights for Teachers
HARRISBURG – April 19, 2021 – The Senate of Pennsylvania unanimously approved a measure to align Pennsylvania with every other state in the nation in preserving and protecting First Amendment rights for educators, according to the measure’s sponsors, Senators Kristin...
Senator Santarsiero Urges Vote on Statutory Fix for Adult Victims of Childhood Sexual Abuse
HARRISBURG – April 19, 2021 – The following statement is attributable to Senator Steve Santarsiero (D-10), Democratic Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee: “Throughout the debate around a two year window for childhood sexual assault survivors to sue their...
Senate Democrats Plead for Justice for Sexual Abuse Survivors
Harrisburg, Pa. − April 19, 2021 − Following the bipartisan passage of House Bill 951, the statutory creation of a two-year window for sexual abuse survivors to sue their abusers, the Pennsylvania Senate Democrats urged the majority to bring the bill up for a vote in...
Senator Haywood Responds to PASSHE Board Meeting
PHILADELPHIA – April 17, 2021 – State Senator Art Haywood (D-Montgomery/Philadelphia) released the following statement on the April 15 Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) Board of Governors meeting: “From January to April 2021, African...
Senator Santarsiero Announces Bucks and Montgomery Counties Join Lawsuit to Protect Delaware River; Filing of Motion to Dismiss the Case
BUCKS COUNTY – April 15, 2021 – State Senator Steve Santarsiero (D-10) held a virtual press conference today, along with Bucks County Commissioners Diane Ellis-Marseglia and Bob Harvie, Bucks County Solicitor Joe Khan, and Steve Miano, counsel representing the...
Comitta Introduces Marriage Equality Legislation
WEST CHESTER − April 13, 2021 – State Senator Carolyn Comitta is introducing legislation to update Pennsylvania law to reflect marriage equality and the right of same-sex couples to marry. Though the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges on...
Senator Santarsiero to Introduce Legislation to Allow Counties 21 Days to Pre-Canvass Mail-In Ballots
BUCKS COUNTY – April 12, 2021 – State Senator Steve Santarsiero (D-10) announced today that he will be introducing legislation to guarantee a more timely count of ballots on Election Day by allowing counties additional time to pre-canvass mail-in ballots. The...
Senator Collett Introduces Legislation To Prohibit LGBTQ+ Panic Defense In Pennsylvania
Harrisburg, PA — April 12, 2021 — Senator Maria Collett (D-12 Montgomery/Bucks) has introduced a bill memo for co-sponsorship to prohibit the use of any LGBTQ+ panic defense (previously known as the “gay panic” and “trans panic” defense) in Pennsylvania. The “LGBTQ+...
Pennsylvania Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program Accepting Applications
WEST CHESTER − April 12, 2021 – Chester County senior citizens and those with disabilities can apply now through June 30 for the Pennsylvania Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program. The rebate program benefits eligible Pennsylvanians age 65 and older, widows and...