Press Releases
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...
Tartaglione And Other Senate Democrats File Amicus Brief in US Vs. Safehouse
Philadelphia, PA- April 13, 2023 – Today Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Whip Christine Tartaglione announced she, along with Pennsylvania Senators Sharif Street, Anthony Williams, and Jimmy Dillon filed an amicus brief in the US vs. Safehouse case, in hopes...
Sen. Fontana Statement on VisitPittsburgh Audit
Allegheny County – April 13, 2023 – Today, State Senator Wayne Fontana issued the following statement on the release of the Allegheny County Controller’s performance audit of VisitPittsburgh: I requested a performance audit of VisitPittsburgh in September of 2022,...
Brewster Again Confirmed as Vice Chair of Legislative Budget and Finance Committee
Harrisburg, PA- April 13, 2023 – State Senator Jim Brewster was unanimously confirmed to again serve as vice chairman of the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee (LBFC) during this week's meeting. “It is an honor to once again serve in this significant...
Sen. Hughes Partners with PhillyGoes2College for Free Resource Fair for Aspiring College Students
PHILADELPHIA, PA – APRIL 12, 2023: State Senator Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) teamed up with PhillyGoes2College Tuesday evening to host their free Money for College/Finance Your Future event. Held at the School of the Future, the event offered tax...
Brewster Lauds Pittsburgh Schools Action Against Social Media
State Sen. Jim Brewster today applauded Pittsburgh Public Schools for joining a growing number of districts that are suing social media giants for ignoring and exacerbating a growing mental health crisis among students. “The reckless race for profit and digital...
Senator Saval Joins Community Organizations and Advocates in Call for Permanent Funding for Whole-Home Repairs
READING, ALLENTOWN, PITTSBURGH, and LANCASTER, PA—State Senator Nikil Saval (D–Philadelphia), Pennsylvania Stands Up, One Pennsylvania, Make the Road Pennsylvania, POWER Interfaith, Sunrise Pennsylvania, state and local representatives, and residents and community...
Sen. Muth Joins PennEnvironment to Release Interactive Map Highlighting Renewable Energy Projects Across PA
PHILADELPHIA – April 11, 2023 – PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center unveiled Clean Energy Commonwealth on Tuesday This new interactive map highlights one renewable energy or energy efficiency project in each county of the Keystone State, showing the vibrancy...