Press Releases
Statement: Senator Steve Santarsiero Responds to Senate Republican Policy Hearing on 2020 Election
BUCKS COUNTY – November 25, 2020– The following statement is attributable to Senator Steve Santarsiero (D-10) in response to the Senate Republican Policy Committee Hearing on November 25, 2020: “Today, Pennsylvania Senate Republicans will hold a hearing into...
PA Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa statement on the Senate Republican Policy Hearing featuring Rudy Giuliani and President Trump
Pittsburgh, PA − November 25, 2020 − PA Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa released the following statement on the Senate Republican Policy Hearing featuring Rudy Giuliani and President Trump: “If Senate Republicans want to entertain conspiracy theories from Rudy...
Senator Muth: Why I voted ‘NO’ on Pennsylvania’s 2020-2021 Supplemental Budget
Harrisburg, PA − November 24, 2020 − State Senator Katie Muth (D - Chester, Montgomery, Berks) voted against the nearly $11 billion supplemental budget shortly before 8 pm on Friday evening. The partial spending plan completed the current year’s $36.5 billion...
Senator Boscola Votes Against State Budget Bill
BETHLEHEM, November 20, 2020 — State Senator Lisa Boscola (D-Lehigh/Northampton) today issued the following statement on her decision to vote against the state budget bill: “I voted against the budget. I do not often do this, but this budget is wrong....
Senator Kearney Votes Against State Budget
HARRISBURG (November 20, 2020) – Senator Tim Kearney (D – Delaware/Chester) joined 17 other members of the Pennsylvania Senate in voting against the 2020-21 state budget. During his remarks on Friday evening, Kearney explained his decision to vote against the budget:...
Sen. Brewster Votes for State Budget Bill
McKeesport – November 20, 2020 – State Senator Jim Brewster today issued the following statement on the final 2020-21 state budget: “With the dire impact of the pandemic as the backdrop, I am pleased that the legislature was able to hold the line on taxes while fully...
Sen. Blake Statement on Passage of Final 2020-21 State Budget
HARRISBURG, November 20, 2020 – State Sen. John Blake (D-Lackawanna/Luzerne/Monroe) today released the following statement regarding passage of a $35 billion state budget which accounts for the final seven months of the fiscal year that were not addressed in May. The...
Senator Collett Reacts to Pennsylvania’s 2020-21 Supplemental Budget
Harrisburg, Pa. - November 20, 2020 — Tonight, the Pennsylvania General Assembly passed SB 1350 and HB 2536, the 2020-2021 Supplemental Budget, and will be sending them on to Governor Wolf for enactment. Senator Maria Collett (D-12 Montgomery/Bucks) voted against the...
Statement from Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr. on the PA Budget
Harrisburg, PA − November 20, 2020 − Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr. released the following statement on the PA Budget: “This is not the budget we wanted. It’s not a budget that provides enough assistance to those struggling with the economic woes caused...
Senator Haywood’s Statement on Denying Pennsylvania a Just Recovery
Philadelphia – November 20, 2020 – State Senator Art Haywood (D-Montgomery/Philadelphia) released the following statement on the state budget: “The budget plan introduced yesterday denies Pennsylvania a just recovery. The COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked...
Sabatina: Karen’s Law Passed House by a Vote of 168-33
Harrisburg – November 18, 2020 − Senator John Sabatina (D-Philadelphia) announced his Karen’s Law legislation cleared its last hurdle in the General Assembly passing the House on concurrence by a vote of 168-33. The bill passed in the Senate 46-3 in October. It now goes to Governor Wolf’s desk to be signed into law. Wolf is expected to sign the bill.
Schwank and Rozzi Hosted Free ACA Event for Constituents
Reading, November 18, 2020 – State Sen. Judy Schwank (D-11th district) and State Rep. Mark Rozzi (D-126th district) hosted a free Affordable Care Act (ACA) enrollment event at the Muhlenberg Township Building on Wednesday, Nov. 18. During the event, healthcare...
Senator Hughes praises the University of Pennsylvania’s $100 million pledge to address facilities needs in Philadelphia schools
Philadelphia, PA − November 17, 2020 − State Senator Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) issued the following statement after the University of Pennsylvania announced its $100 million pledge to the School District of Philadelphia for remediation of...
Senator Muth Announces Virtual Healthcare Enrollment Event
Royersford, PA − November 13, 2020 − State Senator Katie Muth (D - Chester, Montgomery, Berks) announced that her office will be hosting two virtual health care enrollment events to help constituents through the process of selecting an insurance plan through the new...
Senator Santarsiero Defends Integrity of Pennsylvania Elections, Calls for Unity
HARRISBURG – November 13, 2020 – State Senator Steve Santarsiero (D-10) called on all elected officials – Democrats and Republicans alike – to reject publicly the claim that there was fraud in the process leading up to the November 3rd election and in the...
Sen. Costa responds to partisan calls for election review
Harrisburg, PA − November 12, 2020 − Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr. released the following statement regarding the partisan calls for election review done by the General Assembly: There has been no evidence of fraud and there's no reason for this additional...
PA Senate Democrats Announce Series of Virtual Health Care Enrollment Events
Statewide, Pa. − November 9, 2020 − Pennsylvania Senate Democrats today announced a series of virtual health care enrollment events to help constituents through the process of selecting an insurance plan through the new Pennsylvania state exchange, Pennie. The...
Senators Costa & Hughes Slam Republican Inaction on Federal CARES Funds
HARRISBURG – October 29, 2020 – Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa and Senate Democratic Appropriations Chair Senator Vincent Hughes and members of the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus today slammed House and Senate Republicans for recessing the General Assembly until mid-November without passing legislation to drive out Pennsylvania’s remaining $1.3 billion in federal CARES funds to Pennsylvanians suffering the economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.
Etna EcoDistrict Wins Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence
Etna, PA — October 22, 2020 — On October 13, 2020, the Borough of Etna and the Etna Community Organization (ECO) jointly received the Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence from the Pennsylvania Department of Environment Protection on behalf of the Etna...
Sabatina: Karen’s Law Passed by a Vote 46-3
Bill will move forward as House Companion Bill (HB-1538 White) Harrisburg, October 21, 2020 − Senator John Sabatina (D-Philadelphia) announced Karen’s Law passed in the Senate by a vote of 46-3. The House companion bill (HB-1538 – White) will be the official...
Senator Haywood Highlights Harassment of Black Students at PASSHE Schools, Questions Chancellor in Senate Hearing
Harrisburg, Pa. − October 21, 2020 − Today in a hearing of the Senate Education Committee, Senator Art Haywood shared stories he had learned from Black students at the PA State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) universities and blasted PASSHE Chancellor Dan...
Sen. Anthony H. Williams to Introduce Resolution Requiring Only Budget Legislation be Voted on During Sine Die Sessions
Harrisburg – October 19, 2020 – Sen. Anthony H. Williams has begun circulating a co-sponsorship memoranda for a Senate Resolution to limit voting during a sine die session of the Senate to budget-related matters only. “The people of Pennsylvania will be...
PA Senate Democrats Unveil Plan to Spend $1.3 Billion in Remaining Cares Funds
Harrisburg − October 16, 2020 − Members of the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus today outlined a plan to spend the remaining $1.331 billion in CARES money that Pennsylvania received as part of a federal assistance package earlier this year.
Tartaglione Applauds New Overtime Regulations Granting 200,000 PA Workers Additional Protection
Philadelphia, PA – October 6, 2020 – State Senator Christine Tartaglione applauded new overtime rules published in The Pennsylvania Bulletin on October 3 that require all Pennsylvania employers to pay time-and-a-half wages to employees who earn less than $45,500 a year and who log more than 40 hours in a workweek.
Tartaglione Provides Update on COVID-19 Relief Funding for Small Businesses in and Around the 2nd District
Philadelphia, PA – October 6, 2020 – State Senator Christine Tartaglione today announced that 258 small businesses in and around the 2nd Senate District have received or will soon receive a combined $4.5 million in COVID-19 relief funding through Statewide Small Business Assistance (SBA), a $225 million program created by the General Assembly in May through its comprehensive PA CARES legislation.
Gov. Wolf Announces Additional $96 Million for Small Businesses Impacted by COVID-19
Harrisburg, PA – Governor Tom Wolf today announced that an additional $96 million in state grants have been approved for 5,373 Pennsylvania small businesses that were impacted by the business closure order due to the COVID-19 public health crisis. Businesses in...
Democratic Lawmakers Host Hearing on Electricity Outages, Reliability, and Preparedness
Harrisburg – September 29, 2020 – The Senate Democratic Policy Committee today held a virtual public hearing today at the request of Sen. Steve Santarsiero (D- Bucks) to focus on electricity outages, reliability and preparedness. “At the end of the day, we need to...
Sen. Hughes announces additional $20 million in COVID-19 grants for Philadelphia’s small business
PHILADELPHIA – September 24, 2020 – State Senator Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) applauded the City of Philadelphia’s announcement that it would provide additional grant funding for small businesses in the city Thursday afternoon. The City of Philadelphia...
Democratic Lawmakers Host Hearing on Growing Popularity of Outdoor Recreation During Pandemic
Harrisburg – September 15, 2020 – At the request of Senator Lindsey M. Williams (D-Allegheny), the Senate Democratic Policy Committee today held a virtual public hearing on ways to help manage and support the growing public interest in outdoor recreation during the pandemic.
Philly Black Clergy Joins Senator Street & State/City Leaders for GOTV Event Amid Voter Suppression
Philadelphia, PA – September 15, 2020 – Today Senator Sharif Street joined members of the Philadelphia Black Clergy and state and local leaders to emphasize the importance of free and open elections amid COVID-19 as the Pennsylvania Supreme Court is poised to rule on...
Democratic Lawmakers Host Hearing on the Impact of COVID-19 on the Arts, Cultural, and Historical Institutions of PA
Harrisburg – September 14, 2020 – The Senate Democratic Policy Committee today held a virtual public hearing to focus on issues impacting the arts, cultural and historical institutions across Pennsylvania.
Senate Committee Unanimously Advances Tartaglione-Costa Legislation to Fund PA Higher Education Institutions
Philadelphia, PA – September 9, 2020 − The Pennsylvania Senate Appropriations Committee today advanced legislation sponsored by State Senator Christine Tartaglione and Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa that would allocate $130 million in federal CARES Act funding to help higher education institutions in the Commonwealth manage financial hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.