Press Releases
Sen. Haywood Calls for Harrisburg Leaders to Raise the Minimum Wage
Harrisburg, PA – June 13, 2022 – Today, State Senator Art Haywood (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) hosted a press conference with colleagues and advocates to demand Harrisburg politicians raise the minimum wage. Pennsylvania’s minimum wage has remained stagnant for 13...
Senate Democrats Call for Vote on PA Red Flag Law, GOP Votes No
Harrisburg, PA – June 13, 2022 – Today, Pennsylvania Senate Democrats made a motion for the Senate to vote on a Discharge Resolution that would move Senate Bill 134 out of committee and to the floor of the Senate for a full vote during session. State Senate...
Fontana: Governor Signs Bill Dealing with Sale of SCI Pittsburgh Property
HARRISBURG, June 13, 2022 – Governor Tom Wolf has signed legislation that would set up a competitive process to accept proposals for the sale of the 20.2 acre former SCI Pittsburgh property, Senator Wayne Fontana announced today. The property along the Ohio River has...
Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa Statement on Proposed Federal Gun Reform Deal
HARRISBURG – June 12, 2022 – Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa issued the following statement on today’s announcement on an agreement by the US Senate on a proposed deal to address gun violence: “I am pleased that the United States Senate has...
Senator Santarsiero to Introduce Legislation Banning Military-Style Assault Weapons in Pennsylvania
BUCKS COUNTY — June 10, 2022 − In the wake of several mass shootings in recent weeks, State Senator Steve Santarsiero (D-10) will be introducing a bill banning military-style assault weapons in Pennsylvania. “Military-style weapons have no place in civilian society,”...
Senate Democrats Statement on Gun Violence Discharge Resolutions
Harrisburg, PA – June 7, 2022 – Today, Pennsylvania Senate Democrats filed six discharge resolutions in an effort to move anti-gun violence and reform legislation to the floor of the State Senate for a vote. While Senate Republicans have moved bills that would make...
Senator Jimmy Dillon Sworn in to Serve the 5th Senatorial District
HARRISBURG, June 7, 2022 – Following his special election victory in May, Senator Jimmy Dillon was sworn into office today to represent areas of Northeast Philadelphia in the 5th District in the Pennsylvania State Senate. The position was formerly held by Judge...
Students Discuss School Climate and Education Issues with Senate Dems Policy Committee
WEST NORRITON, June 3, 2022 – State Senator Katie Muth (D- Berks/Chester/Montgomery), chair of the Senate Democratic Policy Committee, today joined Senator Tim Kearney (D-Chester/Delaware), Senator Amanda Cappelletti (D-Montgomery/Delaware), and Senator Maria Collett...
Senate Dems Discuss Shale Gas Policies and Public Health Impacts
MONROEVILLE, June 3, 2022 – State Senator Katie Muth (D- Berks/Chester/Montgomery), chair of the Senate Democratic Policy Committee, joined Senator Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland) to co-host a public hearing on state policies and the public health impacts of...
Senators Kearney and Cappelletti, Rep. Curry Partner with The Foundation for Delaware County to Shed Light on Period Poverty
SPRINGFIELD, PA – May 31, 2022 – Senators Tim Kearney (D-Delaware/Chester), Amanda Cappelletti (D-Montgomery/Delaware), and state Rep. Gina H Curry (D-Delaware), in partnership with The Foundation for Delaware County on Thursday, hosted a community discussion...
Senate Democrats Call on Republicans to Immediately Prioritize Gun Violence Prevention Legislation and Appropriations
HARRISBURG – May 25, 2022 – Today, Pennsylvania Senate Democrats wrote the following letter to Republican leaders in response to rampant gun violence and mass shootings that have become too common in the United States. Just this year, 215 mass shootings have...
Senator Haywood Responds to Mass Shootings in Texas and New York
Harrisburg, Pa. – May 25, 2022 – Today, State Senator Art Haywood (D-Montgomery/Philadelphia) released the following statement in response to the massacres at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas and Tops Friendly Market in Buffalo, N.Y. this month:...
Senator Santarsiero Pushes to Recognize May as Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month
BUCKS COUNTY – May 25, 2022 – State Senator Steve Santarsiero (D-10) is seeking to raise awareness about the dangers of skin cancer and over-exposure to the sun. Along with State Senator Pat Browne (R-16), Sen. Santarsiero introduced a resolution to recognize...
Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa Statement on Deadly School Shooting at Robb Elementary School
HARRISBURG – May 25, 2022 – Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa issued the following statement on the tragic mass shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas: “As we find our nation amid another senseless tragedy at the hands of gun violence, our...
Session Proceedings May 24, 2022
New Study Shows More Than Three-Quarters of PA Voters Support Bipartisan Whole-Home Repairs Act
Philadelphia, PA − May 24, 2022 − Today, Senator Nikil Saval (D–Philadelphia County) held a rally attended by more than 200 housing and energy advocates, community leaders, Pennsylvania residents, and Democrat and Republican legislators from the General Assembly...
Sen. Muth Introduces Bill to Increase Minimum Pay for PA National Guard
ROYERSFORD, May 20, 2022 − State Sen. Katie Muth (D-Chester/Montgomery/Berks) today introduced legislation that would increase the minimum daily pay for state active duty Pennsylvania National Guard personnel. Senate Bill 1242 would increase the minimum daily...
Senators Collett & Tartaglione Introduce Bill to Improve Pa’s Unemployment Compensation Claims Processing
Harrisburg, Pa. − May 19, 2022 − State Senators Maria Collett (D-12 Montgomery/Bucks) and Tina Tartaglione (D-2 Philadelphia) will soon introduce legislation to make commonsense improvements to our outdated Unemployment Compensation (UC) laws and allow claims to be...
Sen. Haywood, Sen. Hughes, and Rep. McClinton Announce $13.8 Million in Health Equity Funding
PHILADELPHIA – May 16, 2022 – Today, Senator Art Haywood (D-Montgomery/Philadelphia), Senator Vincent Hughes (D-Montgomery/Philadelphia), and House Democratic Leader Joanna McClinton (D-Philadelphia/Delaware) hosted a check presentation and press conference at...
Brewster Calls for $1 Billion EMS Investment
McKeesport– May 16, 2022 – With National EMS Week commencing on the heels of the announcement of a historic state revenue surplus, state Sen. Jim Brewster today urged the General Assembly to invest $1 billion to bolster emergency medical services organizations...
Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa Statement on Passing of Former Senator Jim Ferlo
PITTSBURGH – May 15, 2022 – Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa issued the following statement on the passing of former State Senator Jim Ferlo: “It is with a heavy heart that I announce the passing of our former colleague Senator Jim Ferlo. Jim...
Sen. Anthony Williams Addresses Colleague’s Request to Stop Using Ballot Drop Boxes
Philadelphia − May 13, 2022 – Today, Senator Anthony H. Williams (D- Philadelphia/Delaware) wrote the following letter to his Senate colleagues in response to a request from the co-chair of the state Intergovernmental Operations Committee to the...
Hughes, Fiedler, Rally with Educators for Full School Funding
PHILADELPHIA − May 12, 2022 − With Pennsylvania sitting on more than $8 billion in excess revenue, and a dismal national ranking for school equity, state Sen. Vincent Hughes and Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler held a pre-budget school funding rally in South Philadelphia today...
Senators Push Bi-Partisan Juvenile Justice Reforms
HARRISBURG – May 12, 2022 – Legislation to strengthen Pennsylvania’s juvenile justice system is set for action according to Senator Lisa Baker (R-20), Senator Steve Santarsiero (D-10) and Senator Jay Costa (D-43), who have been working to implement reforms needed to...
Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa Statement on Women’s Health Protection Act Vote
HARRISBURG – May 11, 2022 – Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa issued the following statement on today’s vote by the United States Senate on the Women’s Health Protection Act: “Not only is today’s vote by the US Senate disappointing but it is completely...
Senator Haywood Responds to Gun Violence Meeting with Mayor Kenney
PHILADELPHIA – May 11, 2022 – Today, State Senator Art Haywood (D-Montgomery/Philadelphia) released the following statement in response to a virtual meeting with Mayor Jim Kenney (D- Philadelphia): “On 18 April, I led a sit-in with advocates outside of Mayor...
Senator Kearney Champions Gov. Wolf’s Level Up Funding Proposal, Sponsors Legislation for $300M Investment to Address Educational Inequities
HARRISBURG, PA − May 11, 2022 – Senator Tim Kearney (D – Delaware/Chester) is pleased to announce that his legislation to address educational inequities throughout the Commonwealth has been formally introduced into the Pennsylvania Senate. The Level Up School...
Sen. Anthony Williams Shares Letter Regarding Ward Leader Ballot Harvesting and Secure Election Systems
PHILADELPHIA, PA − May 10, 2022 – Today, Senator Anthony H. Williams (D- Philadelphia/Delaware) wrote the following letter to his Senate colleagues regarding recent news about ballot harvesting in the 39th Ward of Philadelphia. In the letter, Sen. Williams...
Senators Costa and Hughes Issue Statements on Debate Over Whether to Spend or Sit on Billions in Surplus Budget: “We Can Do Both!”
May 5, 2022 – Senator Jay Costa, State Senate Democratic Leader, and Senator Vincent Hughes, Democratic Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued the following statements in response to Governor Wolf’s announcement on historic state revenues in April and...
Sen. Fontana Shares Statement on Leaked Supreme Court Draft on Abortion
Allegheny County – May 4, 2022 – Today, Pennsylvania State Senator Wayne Fontana shared the following statement in response to news about the leaked Supreme Court draft opinion that would throw out Roe v. Wade. “The leaked U.S. Supreme Court draft opinion...
Pennsylvania Women’s Health Caucus: Statement on Leaked Roe v. Wade Draft Opinion
Harrisburg, PA − May 3, 2022 − 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...
Schwank Issues Good Citizenship Award to Reading Virtual Academy Student Ja’Mir Rivera
Reading – May 2, 2022 – Today, Sen. Judy Schwank (D-11th) attended a ceremony at the Reading Opportunity Center to award Ja’Mir Rivera, a freshman attending Reading Virtual Academy within the Reading School District, with the Good Citizenship Award.