Press Releases
State Senators Welcome Opening of Whole Home Repairs Program for Chester County Homeowners
West Chester, Pa. − September 28, 2023 − Chester County homeowners looking to make critical household repairs to improve safety, increase energy efficiency, and enhance accessibility can now apply for funding through the Whole Home Repairs Program. “No...
Senator Schwank Issues Statement on FEMA Major Disaster Declaration Denial
Reading — September 28, 2023 — Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks) has issued the following statement in response to the Federal Emergency Management Agency's denial of Pennsylvania's request for a Major Disaster Declaration relating to the storm and flooding on July 9, 2023....
News Digest:: September 27, 2023
Legislature PA Environment Digest Blog: Environmental Health Project: How DEP Issues Permits For Shale Gas Facilities Without Considering Cumulative Impacts - How New Facilities Will Add To Existing Pollution Loads And Impact The Area (paenvironmentdaily.blogspot.com)...
Senator Muth Hosts Over 200 Local Veterans at Annual Veterans’ Expo
ROYERSFORD − September 25, 2023 − State Sen. Katie Muth (D-Chester/Montgomery/Berks) hosted over 200 local veterans at her annual Veterans’ Expo this weekend in Montgomery County. Senator Muth’s Veterans’ Expo, held at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in...
Senator Santarsiero Hosts PennDOT Road Tour Highlighting Roads in Need of Repair
BUCKS COUNTY − September 21, 2023 − State Senator Steve Santarsiero (D-10) hosted PennDOT officials on a road tour around the 10th Senate District, announcing planned roadway repair projects, highlighting needed improvements, and applauding work that has recently...
Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa Praises the Passage of HB27
Harrisburg, PA – September 20, 2023 – Today, the Pennsylvania Senate advanced HB 27, a bill to distribute crucial school mental health funding and community violence prevention funding. Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) personally advocated an amendment...
Pennsylvanians Fight for the Right to Read
Harrisburg, PA – September 19, 2023 – Lawmakers, Parents, Students, Teachers, Librarians, and Advocates today gathered in Harrisburg to discuss the concerning rise in censorship and book bans across the Commonwealth. Senator Amanda M. Cappelletti...
Bipartisan Legislation to Protect Children Online Passes Committee
HARRISBURG, PA – September 19, 2023 – The Senate Communications and Technology Committee unanimously approved bipartisan legislation that would take a major step to protect minors and empower parents, according to the bill’s sponsors, Sens. Vincent Hughes...
Senator Hughes Applauds Automatic Voter Registration Through PennDOT
Philadelphia, PA – September 19, 2023 – Today, Senator Vincent Hughes applauded Governor Shapiro’s announcement that PennDOT will change their voter registration system from an “opt-in” system to an “opt-out” system. Senator Hughes has introduced automatic voter...
Sen. Lindsey Williams Releases Statement on Opening of Basic Education Funding Commission Hearings
Pittsburgh, Pa. − September 12, 2023 − Senator Lindsey M. Williams (D-Allegheny), Minority Chair of the Senate Education Committee, issued the following statement after the first hearing of the Basic Education Funding Commission (BEFC) in Allentown: “Today, the Basic...
Delaware County Seniors Come out for Sen. Kearney & Rep. Boyd’s Senior Expo in Drexel Hill
DELAWARE COUNTY, PA – September 8, 2023 – The annual Senior Expo hosted by Senator Tim Kearney (D-Delaware) and Rep. Heather Boyd (D-Delaware), in partnership with Senior Community Services brought out over 500 senior citizens from all over Delaware County on...
Senators Collett & Saval Introduce AAPI-Inclusive Curriculum Bill To Fight Anti-Asian Hate
Harrisburg, Pa. - September 7, 2023 — To expand education and confront the rise in bias crimes against people of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) descent, State Senators Maria Collett (D-12 Montgomery) and Nikil Saval (D-1...
Senators Kearney and Kane Commemorate International Overdose Awareness Day with Community Vigil
DELAWARE COUNTY, PA – September 5, 2023 – Senator Tim Kearney (D–Delaware) and Senator John Kane (D-Delaware/Chester) hosted their annual community overdose vigil on August 31, marking International Overdose Awareness Day. This year, the senators were joined by...
Senator Street Bill to Advance PA Primary Date Heads to Senate Floor
HARRISBURG, PA – September 1, 2023 – Senator Sharif Street (D-Philadelphia) was proud to see his legislation to move up the date of Pennsylvania’s 2024 primary election by five weeks, approved by the Senate State Government Committee this week. Currently,...
Senate Dems Discuss Skill Games at Radnor Hearing
RADNOR, August 24, 2023 – State Senator Katie Muth (D-Chester/Montgomery/Berks), chair of the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Policy Committee, and Senator Amanda Cappelletti (D-Montgomery/Delaware) co-hosted a public hearing yesterday in Radnor to discuss skill games...
Sen. Fontana Statement on Legionnaires’ Disease Case in Lancaster County
Allegheny County – August 23, 2023 – Today, State Senator Wayne Fontana issued the following statement after Legionella bacteria found at Lancaster County Prison led to a positive case of Legionnaires’ disease. This follows a positive case of Legionnaires’ disease at...
Schwank Encourages Berks County Organizations to Apply for Nonprofit Security Grant Funding
Reading — August 21, 2023 — Today, the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency announced that the Nonprofit Security Grant Fund Program application window is now open. $5 million in funding is available from PCCD for nonprofits primarily serving individuals,...
DCED Secretary Tours State-Backed Projects, Discusses Economic Development Opportunities for Reading with Local Officials
Reading − August 10, 2023 − Today, Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks) welcomed Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development Sec. Rick Siger to Reading to meet with community leaders and tour projects supported by state grant funding. Siger’s visit began at...
Collett, Ward Lead Hearing on Critical Roles of Children’s Advocacy Centers
HARRISBURG – August 9, 2023 − The Senate Aging and Youth Committee, chaired by state Sen. Judy Ward (R-30) and Sen. Maria Collett (D-12) held a hearing on Tuesday to gather information about the critical roles played by children’s advocacy centers across Pennsylvania....
Celebrating Community at Senator Amanda M. Cappelletti’s Annual Kids’ Fair in the Seventeenth
Norristown, PA – August 8, 2023 – Senator Amanda M. Cappelletti (D-17 Montgomery/Delaware) hosted over 690 community members and 50 vendors at her third annual Kids’ Fair in the Seventeenth at Elmwood Park Zoo on Wednesday, August 2nd. “It’s an honor to host this...
Senator Hughes Celebrates Property Tax and Rent Rebate Expansion for 173K Newly Eligible Seniors
Harrisburg, PA – August 3, 2023 − Today, HB 1100, a bill that will amend the Property Tax and Rent Rebate (PT/RR) Program, completed the final step in passing the Senate and will now be sent to Governor Shapiro to sign into law. The legislation will expand...
State Senator Jay Costa Issues Statement in Response to Robert Bowers’ Death Penalty Verdict
Pittsburgh − August 2, 2023 − Today, a jury sentenced Robert Bowers to death for his 63 charges related to the Tree of Life massacre. State Senator Jay Costa, whose district includes Squirrel Hill, offers the following statement in response: "Legally, today closes the...
Schwank Introduces Renter’s Protection Package
Reading – August 2, 2023 – Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks) has introduced a package of renter’s protection bills in the Pennsylvania Senate. SB 859 would establish criteria for the voluntary acceptance of reusable tenant screening reports. Landlords use tenant...
Senator John I. Kane Celebrates Launch of Governor Shapiro’s Commonwealth Workforce Transformation Program
Delaware County − August 1, 2023 − Senator John I. Kane, minority chair of the Labor & Industry Committee, announced his support for Governor Shapiro’s signing of an Executive Order which focuses on expanding workforce development, spurring economic growth,...
Senator Lindsey Williams Issues Statement Calling for General Assembly to Fulfill Constitutional Obligation to Fully and Fairly Fund Public Education
Pittsburgh, Pa. − July 28, 2023 − Senator Lindsey M. Williams, Minority Chair of the Senate Education Committee, issued the following statement today calling on legislators to complete the FY2023-24 budget and continue the work of the Basic Education Funding...
Collett, Schlossberg Rally Mental Health Professionals and Advocates for Restoration of $100 Million in Adult Mental Health Funding
HARRISBURG − July 27, 2023 – Sen. Maria Collett and State Rep. Mike Schlossberg today joined mental health professionals, advocates and fellow legislators at a Capitol news conference to address restoring the $100 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding for mental...
Collaboration Between State and City Lawmakers Leads to Over $1M Investment in West Philadelphia Recreation Center
Philadelphia, PA – July 26, 2023 – Senator Vincent Hughes, Representative Morgan Cephas, and Councilman Curtis Jones Jr. came together to present over $1 million dollars in grants from the state and city of Philadelphia to the Friends of Granahan for improvements to...
Brewster Calls on Legislature to Adequately Fund Education
Harrisburg – July 25, 2023 – State Sen. Jim Brewster today called on lawmakers to return to Harrisburg to address a now-final court ruling that Pennsylvania’s education funding system is unconstitutional, unfair and inequitable. “Since the deadline to file an appeal...
Senator Hughes Shares Statement on Republican Lawmakers Accepting Ruling on Unconstitutional Public School Funding by Commonwealth Court
Harrisburg, PA – July 24, 2023 − “Time is up! No more delays; no more stalling. We must do right by our students and begin immediately to address the court order to adequately and equitably fund our public schools,” said State Senator Vincent Hughes, following the...
Senator Hughes and PA Senate Democrats Remind Pennsylvanians We Are ONE Step Away from Commonsense Gun Laws
Philadelphia, PA – July 21, 2023 – Senator Hughes was joined by Senators Jimmy Dillon, Art Haywood, Tim Kearney, the Pennsylvania and Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, and community leaders to call attention to two commonsense gun bills that are one step away...
Senator Art Haywood Joins Phila. Ceasefire for Joint Press Conference on Northwest Peace Plan
Philadelphia, PA − July 19, 2023 − Senator Art Haywood (D-4) announces the activities, programs, and current partners involved in one of the first city-wide efforts to increase public safety by means of the Safe Summer 2023 campaign in partnership with Philadelphia...
Senators Cappelletti and Schwank to Introduce Abortion Protections Package in Pennsylvania
Harrisburg, PA – July 18, 2023 – Today, Senator Amanda M. Cappelletti (D-Mongomery/Delaware) and Senator Judith Schwank (D-Berks) circulated a co-sponsorship memo detailing their intent to introduce a legislative package called the Abortion Protections Package....