Press Releases
Alleged Victims of Convicted Child Molester Pediatrician Johnnie Barto File First Lawsuit and Call for Passage of SB 540
Harrisburg, PA – May 15, 2019 – Former patients of convicted pedophile pediatrician, Dr. Johnnie Barto announced the filing of a lawsuit against Conemaugh Health Systems, Laurel Pediatrics and Johnnie Barto. These are the first lawsuits filed since Barto was convicted...
Sen. Lindsey M. Williams Introduces Bill to Change Compulsory School Ages
PITTSBURGH, May 14, 2019 --- Today, Senator Lindsey M. Williams announced the introduction of Senate Bill 642, which will amend the Public School Code to lower the compulsory enrollment age from eight to six. This bill will also raise the drop out age from seventeen...
State Legislators Announce Legislation Addressing Hate Crimes
SQUIRREL HILL - May 9, 2019 - Members of the Pennsylvania House and Senate stood together today outside the Tree of Life Synagogue in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh to announce plans for legislation that will address hate crimes.“Hate crimes are on...
Senate Democrats Spotlight Key Farm Issues, Introduce Elements of PA Farm Bill
HARRISBURG – May 7, 2019 – Senate Democrats introduced key pieces of the PA Farm Bill today, including measures to promote organic farming, exempt taxes for beginning farmers, increase tax credits and stimulate urban farming. The four-bill package is being sponsored...
Military Family Education Program (MFEP) Voted Unanimously Out of Senate Committee
HARRISBURG - April 30, 2019 - Senate Bill 589, the Military Family Education Program (MFEP), or “Pennsylvania G.I. Bill” was unanimously voted out of the Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee today. A committee vote is expected on the House...
Lawmakers Announce Legislation to End the Death Penalty in Pennsylvania
HARRISBURG – April 30, 2019 – Today, Sen. Sharif Street (D-Philadelphia), Sen. Katie Muth (D-Berks, Chester, Montgomery), and Rep. Chris Rabb (D-Philadelphia) were joined by advocates as they called for ending the death penalty in Pennsylvania. The lawmakers are...
Moms Demand Action and CeaseFire PA Join Senator Street to Welcome Team 26 to Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA - April 29, 2019 - Moms Demand Action and CeaseFire PA joined Senator Street, Philadelphia Councilwoman Cindy Bass and Senator Haywood at Temple in leading a community rally to welcome Team 26 to Philadelphia. The Pennsylvania Senate also honored...
Governor Tom Wolf Announces Support for SB600, PA to Join US Climate Alliance
HARRISBURG - April 29, 2019 - At a press event earlier today at the State Capitol, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf announced his decision for the state to join the U.S. Climate Alliance, and offered his support for Senators Steve Santarsiero and Art Haywood’s...
Brewster Hails Auditor General’s Call for More Mental Health Funding to Reduce Gun Deaths
HARRISBURG – April 25, 2019 – State Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland) – a strong advocate for additional mental health funding -- applauded state Auditor General Eugene DePasquale’s recent call for more mental health resources to prevent gun deaths. “A key...
Dinniman to Introduce Consent Education Bill
WEST CHESTER - April 23, 2019 – State Senator Andy Dinniman announced today that he is introducing legislation to require consent education in the school curriculum. Dinniman, who serves as minority chair of the Senate Education Committee, said the curriculum would...
State Senate Committee Holds Second Hearing on Global Warming
PITTSBURGH, April 23, 2019 – At the request of state Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Forest Hills) and Senator Wayne Fontana (D-Brookline), the Senate Democratic Policy Committee held a hearing today in Pittsburgh on strategies for combatting climate change by...
This Earth Day, Senator Maria Collett Introduces Legislation to Address PFAS Contamination Crisis
North Wales, Pa. – April 22, 2019 – Senator Maria Collett (D-Montgomery/Bucks) introduced two pieces of legislation today to address the PFAS contamination crisis. SB 581 lowers the acceptable level of PFAS in our drinking water to 10 parts per trillion until such...
Senators Maria Collett and Dan Laughlin Announce Legislation to Establish Statewide Family and Medical Leave Program
HARRISBURG – April 18, 2019 – Senator Maria Collett (D-Montgomery/Bucks) and Senator Dan Laughlin (R-Erie) have introduced “The Family Care Act” to establish a statewide Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program. Every day, Pennsylvanians struggle to care for...
Senators Santarsiero, Haywood, and Killion Gather with Advocates in Support of Renewable Energy Standards Modernization Bill
HARRISBURG - April 10, 2019 - State Senators Steven J. Santarsiero (D-10), Art Haywood (D-4), Thomas H. Killion (R-9), and state Representatives Steve McCarter (D-154) and Carolyn Comitta (D-156), were joined by renewable energy advocates in...
Farnese Supports Effort to Eliminate Statute of Limitations for Sexual Offenses
HARRISBURG -- April 10, 2019 – Sen. Larry Farnese (D- Philadelphia) today said he strongly supports legislation unveiled by Senate Democrats that would eliminate the statute of limitations for sexual offenses and allow victims to sue their abusers for damages. ...
Senate Democrats Jointly Introduce Bill to Eliminate Statute of Limitations for Sexual Offenses
HARRISBURG - April 10, 2019 --- Today, members of the Senate Democratic Caucus introduced legislation to eliminate the statute of limitations for sexual offenses and open a window for civil liability. The legislation was introduced as Senate Bill 540. “I...
State Senate Committee Approves Sen. Boscola’s Redistricting Bill
HARRISBURG - April 9, 2019 – The Senate State Government Committee today approved Sen. Lisa M. Boscola’s (D-Northampton/Lehigh) statewide redistricting reform legislation. The measure would amend the state’s constitution to establish an 11-member independent citizen’s...
Senators Haywood and Street Hosted Press Conference and Film Screening on Life Without Parole in PA
HARRISBURG – April 9, 2019 – State Senator Art Haywood (D-Montgomery/Philadelphia) and State Senator Sharif Street (D-Philadelphia) joined Villanova University’s Film Department, John Pace, and Tyrone Werts for a press conference and screening of The Mayor of...
State Senate Legislative Policy Hearing in Philadelphia to Discuss Pedestrian Safety
PHILADELPHIA - April 5, 2019 – The Senate Democratic Policy Committee held a hearing in Philadelphia today on solutions to improve pedestrian safety and decrease traffic incidents across Pennsylvania. “Pedestrian deaths in Pennsylvania were up 41% in the first half of...
Sens. Hughes, Williams and POWER Interfaith Support Marriott Hotel Workers in Fight for Fair, Equitable Working Conditions
PHILADELPHIA– April 5, 2019 – Senator Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) and Senator Lindsey Williams (D-Allegheny) joined POWER Interfaith, UNITE HERE, the Black Clergy of Philadelphia and Raise the Wage PA, and other supporters of the Marriott hotel workers...
Sens. Hughes, Haywood, Williams, and Street Make Call to Address Poverty and Economic Insecurity in Honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
PHILADELPHIA – April 4, 2019 – Senators Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery), Art Haywood (D-Montgomery/Philadelphia), Sharif Street (D-Philadelphia), and Lindsey Williams (D-Allegheny) stood with local activists and advocates to announce the Senate Democrats...
Leach Proposal Aimed at Cracking Down on Poachers and Conserving Wildlife
HARRISBURG, April 2, 2019 – State Senator Daylin Leach (D-Montgomery/Delaware) today announced legislation that would help law enforcement crack down on poachers and other forms of wildlife trafficking. “Poachers, traffickers, and criminal organizations are driving...
Sen. Williams Calls on Philly School Board to Reconsider Vote to Put Metal Detectors in All Schools
PHILADELPHIA – April 2, 2019 – Sen. Anthony H. Williams called on the Philadelphia School Board to reconsider their vote to mandate metal detectors in all Philadelphia schools. “The Board had an opportunity to thoroughly review their use and find a better way to...
Senators Santarsiero and Collett Introduce Bill to Modernize Pennsylvania’s Equal Pay Law
HARRISBURG, April 1, 2019 – On the eve of Equal Pay Day, Senators Steve Santarsiero (D-Bucks) and Maria Collett (D-Bucks/Montgomery) issued a joint memorandum inviting fellow senators to join them in support of legislation that will...
Haywood Lauds State Treasurer Torsella’s Retirement Security Report
Philadelphia – March 28, 2019 – State Sen. Art Haywood (D-Montgomery/Philadelphia) yesterday applauded the findings of Pennsylvania Treasurer Joe Torsella’s Private Sector Retirement Security Task Force to establish a state-managed private retirement savings plan....
Leach Bill Would Increase Vaccination Rate by Eliminating Religious and “Philosophical” Exemptions
HARRISBURG - March 28, 2019 – State Senator Daylin Leach (D-Montgomery/Delaware) today announced legislation designed to increase the number of Pennsylvania school children who are immunized against diseases that spread easily among groups, interrupt school life and...
Sabatina: Marsy’s Law & Karen’s Law Head to Full Senate
HARRISBURG - March 27, 2019 – The Senate Judiciary Committee approved both Marsy’s Law (SB149) and Karen’s Law (SB123), Sen. John Sabatina (D-Philadelphia) announced. Both bills passed unanimously, 12-0. They now head to the full senate for consideration. “Both of...
Senator Hughes Stands with Reps. Harris, Roebuck; Hundreds of PASSHE Students in Call for Free College through the Pennsylvania Promise Initiative
HARRISBURG- March 27, 2019 - Hundreds of Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Students rallied with Senator Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery), Representative Jordan Harris (D-Philadelphia), Representative James Roebuck (D-Philadelphia), and other...
Democrats Introduce Package of Legislation to Curb Workplace Harassment
HARRISBURG - March 26, 2019 -Democrats from the Pennsylvania House and Senate today introduced a package of legislation aimed to curb harassment in the workplace, along with support from Governor Tom Wolf and Victim’s Advocate Jennifer Storm. “As a caucus, we’ve...
Joint State Legislative Hearing Focuses on College Affordability
HARRISBURG -March 26, 2019 – Democratic lawmakers today held a joint Senate-House hearing in Harrisburg on legislation aimed at making college more affordable. The joint state Senate-House Democratic Policy Committee hearing focused on the proposed “Pennsylvania...
Senator Hughes declares “Higher Education Affordability Week” at Pa. Capitol
HARRISBURG - March 25, 2019 - Renewing his commitment to addressing growing student debt and soaring college tuition costs, Senator Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) will introduce a resolution declaring March 25-29 “Higher Education Affordability Week.” Sen....
State Senate Hearing in Chester County Focuses on Restricting Robocalls
FRAZER – March 21, 2019 – At the request of state Senator Andy Dinniman (D-Chester), the Senate Democratic Policy Committee held a public hearing today on ways to curb robocalls. The panel discussed legislative solutions to restrict and reduce robocalls, which are...