Press Releases
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...
PA Senator Street Statement on 4/20 – “End of Cannabis Prohibition in Pennsylvania Near”
PHILADELPHIA – April 20, 20223 –Senator Street issued the following statement on 420 Day. The end of cannabis prohibition in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania is near. In 2021 bipartisan legislation (Senate Bill 473) was introduced by Senator Dan Laughlin(R) and...
Tartaglione Hosts Legislative Roundtable Discussion with ONDCP Director, Acting Secretary of DDAP
Philadelphia, PA – April 19, 2023 –Today, Senator Christine M. Tartaglione, Senate Democratic Whip, hosted the Biden Administration’s Drug Czar along with state policymakers to talk about the addiction and opioid crisis. Dr. Rahul Gupta, Director of the White House...
Senator Nikil Saval Joins Lehigh Valley Community in Call for Permanent Funding for Whole-Home Repairs
ALLENTOWN, PA (April 19)—Yesterday State Senator Nikil Saval (D–Philadelphia) joined Lehigh Valley Stands Up, Make the Road Pennsylvania, POWER Interfaith, Community Action Lehigh Valley, Sunrise Movement, and Berks County elected officials, community leaders, and...
Senator Haywood Encourages Commonwealth University to Admit 150 District Students Following College Expo
Philadelphia, PA – 18 April 2023 – Today, Senator Art Haywood hosted a College Expo in partnership with Commonwealth University. During the Expo, high school students from Senator Haywood’s 4th Senatorial District gathered to learn about the college application...
Senator Nikil Saval Joins Berks Community in Call for Permanent Funding for Whole-Home Repairs
READING, PA (April 18)—Yesterday, State Senator Nikil Saval (D–Philadelphia) joined Berks Stands Up, Make the Road Pennsylvania, Sunrise Movement, and Berks County elected officials, community leaders, and residents in a united call for permanent funding for...
Bucks and Philadelphia County Lawmakers Call on DEP to Investigate Chemical Spill in Bristol Township
BUCKS COUNTY, PA – April 17, 2023– In response to the March 24th chemical spill that occurred in Bristol Township at the Altuglas LLC Chemical Plant, Senator Steve Santarsiero (D-10) and Representative Tina Davis (D-141) called on the Pennsylvania Department of...
Policy Hearing Focuses on Supportive Education for Neurodivergent Students
PITTSBURGH, April 17, 2023 – State Senator Katie Muth (D-Chester/Montgomery/Berks), Chair of the Senate Democratic Policy Committee joined Sen. Lindsey Williams (D-Allegheny) and Rep. Jessica Benham (D-Allegheny) to co-host a joint public hearing on supportive...
Sen. Fontana Statement on VisitPittsburgh Audit Response
Allegheny County – April 14, 2023 – Today, State Senator Wayne Fontana issued the following statement on VisitPittsburgh’s response to the Allegheny County Controller’s performance audit: The administration of VisitPittsburgh is more focused on deflecting and...
Dillon Joins Senate Colleagues in Amicus Brief in US vs. Safehouse
Philadelphia, PA- April 14, 2023 – State Senator Jimmy Dillon (D, Philadelphia) joined Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Whip Christine Tartaglione, Senator Sharif Street, and Senator Anthony Williams in filing an amicus brief in the US vs. Safehouse case. The US...