Press Releases
Joint Policy Hearing Focuses on Pandemic Funding for Childcare Centers
Harrisburg – May 27, 2020 – At the request of state Senators Judy Schwank (D – Berks) and Lindsey Williams (D – Allegheny), the Senate and House Democratic Policy Committees today held a virtual public hearing to discuss critical funding for childcare centers, pre-K,...
Senator Haywood Calls for 7 Day Extension to Count Vote-By-Mail Primary Ballots
Harrisburg – May 27, 2020 – Sen. Art Haywood (Philadelphia/Montgomery) today called for a seven-day extension to count potentially 1.6 million mail-in ballots that have been sent in for the June 2, 2020, primary election. Under current law, mail-in ballots will only...
PA Senate Democrats Announce $550 Million Main Street Business Revitalization Grant Program
Harrisburg, PA − May 22, 2020 − Senators Jay Costa, Vince Hughes, John Blake, Jim Brewster and Pam Iovino today called for $550 million of funds allocated to Pennsylvania through the federal CARES act to be used for a program they are calling the Main Street Business...
Senator Collett Reacts to Governor Wolf’s Announcement of Bucks and Montgomery Counties’ Anticipated June 5th Move to Yellow Phase
Lower Gwynedd, Pa. - May 22, 2020 — In response to Governor Wolf’s announcements at today’s 4 PM press conference, Senator Maria Collett (D-12 Montgomery/Bucks) offers the following initial reactions: “The residents and businesses of Bucks and Montgomery County...
Senator Santarsiero Asks Governor to Allow Curbside Pick-Up for All Retail Establishments During COVID-19 Pandemic
BUCKS COUNTY – May 20, 2020 − Senator Steve Santarsiero (D-10) was joined by almost 80 democratic colleagues in the House and Senate yesterday, in asking Governor Wolf to support our small business community by allowing for curbside pick-up at all retail stores across...
Senator Collett Urges Governor Wolf and Secretary Davin to Provide Additional Financial Support to Montgomery and Bucks County Businesses
Lower Gwynedd, Pa. - May 19, 2020 — Today, Senator Maria Collett (D-12 Montgomery/Bucks) sent a letter to Governor Tom Wolf and Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary Dennis Davin urging them to ramp up financial support for Montgomery and Bucks...
Senator Santarsiero Urges Pennsylvania Supreme Court to Issue Order Further Protecting Individuals and Businesses from Evictions and Foreclosures During COVID-19 Pandemic
BUCKS COUNTY – May 13, 2020 – Senator Steve Santarsiero (D-10) joined with Senator Katie Muth (D-44) and their Democratic colleagues in the Senate and 39 Democratic House members today to request that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court issue an order staying all eviction...
New Funding for Nursing Homes & Personal Care Facilities Gets Boost, Passes Senate
Philadelphia, May 13 – On Tuesday Senator Street joined colleagues in the PA Senate to approve new funding of $500 million, a significant increase to the initial amendment to provide $200 Million in aid to nursing homes, assisted living facilities and Emergency...
PA State Senate Unanimously Passes Legislation to Provide $538 Million in CARES Act Funding for Nursing & Long-Term Care Facilities and Fire & EMS Grants
Legislation Includes Senators Iovino & Kearney Amendment to Allow Volunteer Firefighter Relief Association Funds to be Used for COVID-19 Expenses Harrisburg, PA – May 13, 2020 – Yesterday evening, the Pennsylvania State Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 1122,...
Senator Collett Encouraged By Department Of Health Announcement Of Universal Testing For Long-Term Care Residents And Staff
Harrisburg, Pa. - May 12, 2020 — Senate Aging & Youth Democratic Chairwoman Senator Maria Collett (D-12 Montgomery/Bucks), who just last week pressed Secretary Levine on the Commonwealth’s ability to test long-term care residents and staff, was pleased and...
Bill to Exempt Federal Stimulus Payments from State and Local Taxation Clears Committee
McKeesport – May 11, 2020 – The Pennsylvania House of Representatives’ version of legislation sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland) to exempt federal coronavirus stimulus funds from state and local taxation cleared the state Senate...
Senator Collett and Nursing Home Providers Say More PPE And Immediate, Mass Testing for Long-Term Care Residents and Staff Hold Key to Reopening State at May 7 Senate Aging & Youth Committee Hearing
Harrisburg, Pa. − May 8, 2020 — At yesterday’s joint hearing of the Senate Aging & Youth and Health and Human Services Committees, Aging & Youth Democratic Chairwoman Senator Maria Collett (D-12 Montgomery/Bucks) heard testimony from panelists in the...
Senate Hearing Focuses on Toughening Laws Against Shoddy Construction Work
Harrisburg, May 7, 2020 − At the request of state Sen. Larry Farnese (D-Phila.) the Senate Democratic Policy Committee held an online hearing to study the impact of overzealous and unsafe construction in Philadelphia’s burgeoning neighborhoods. “The city’s iconic...
Senators Pam Iovino, Katie Muth & Lisa Boscola Co-Chair Virtual Policy Hearing Regarding the Impact of COVID-19 on Nursing and State Veterans’ Homes
May 6, 2020 – Pennsylvania State Senators Pam Iovino (D – Allegheny & Washington), Katie Muth (D – Berks, Chester & Montgomery), and Lisa Boscola (D – Lehigh & Northampton) co-chaired a virtual Senate Democratic Policy Committee meeting today to better...
Senate Hearing Focuses on Devastating Impact of COVID-19 on PA Nursing Homes
Harrisburg, May 6, 2020 − The state Senate Democratic Policy Committee held an online hearing today that focused on the pandemic’s impact on residents and employees in Pennsylvania nursing homes and state veterans’ homes. According to the state Department of Health,...
Senator Collett Announces Legislation to Ensure Adequate PPE Stockpiles for Future Public Health Emergencies
Harrisburg, Pa. - May 4, 2020 — Senator Maria Collett (D-12 Montgomery/Bucks) introduced a bill memo for co-sponsorship to ensure Pennsylvania has adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) stockpiles available during future public health emergencies like the...
Senator Santarsiero, Representatives Warren and Galloway Call on Governor Wolf to Increase Funding for Morrisville School District
MORRISVILLE − May 1, 2020 − State Senator Steve Santarsiero (D-10) and state Representatives Perry Warren (D-31) and John Galloway (D-140) held a virtual press conference today to discuss the critical need for funding to support Morrisville School District. They...
Senator Street Marches with Health Heroes on May Day, Calls for $200 Million Boost to Nursing Homes in PA CARES Act
Philadelphia, PA − May 1, 2020 – Today Senator Street joined Temple Nurses and Allied Health Professionals in their call for COVID-19 hazard pay, testing, quarantine, and PPE for all. Nurses nationwide held May Day protests underlined by a demand for adequate...
Senator Collett Issues Statement in Support of PA Auditor General’s Review of and Critical of Efforts to Subpoena Wolf Administration Officials Regarding Flawed DCED Waiver Program During Health Crisis
Lower Gwynedd, PA — April 30, 2020 — Senator Maria Collett (D-12 Montgomery/Bucks) issued the following statement after a party-line vote in the Senate Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness (“VAEP”) Committee meeting today to move forward with the issuance of...
Senator Lindsey Williams Supports Audit of DCED Waiver Program; Denounces Senate Republican Political Theater
Pittsburgh, Pa. − April 30, 2020 − Senator Lindsey M. Williams, Democratic Chair of the Community, Economic & Recreational Development Committee, announced her support for the upcoming audit of the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) waiver...
Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr. Issues Statement Supporting PA Auditor General’s Review of DCED Waiver Program
Harrisburg, Pa. − April 30, 2020 − Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr. issued the following statement regarding the Senate Republican efforts to subpoena Governor Tom Wolf’s cabinet officials in the middle of a public health crisis.
Brewster: Bill Requires that First Responders be Notified About Local COVID-19 Cases
McKeesport – April 29, 2020 – State Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland) said today that he strongly backs legislation to require that 911 communication centers, police, fire and other first responders receive notification when a documented communicable...
Senator Santarsiero Announces Support for Pennsylvania CARES Plan to Allocate Federal CARES Funds
BUCKS COUNTY – April 29, 2020 – State Senator Steve Santarsiero (D-10) joined his Democratic colleagues for a virtual press conference to unveil the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus’ plan to allocate federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES)...
Governor Wolf Signs House Bill 1869 Into Law, Provides Compensation to PA National Guard Members Impacted by COVID-19 on Active Duty
Allegheny County, PA – April 29, 2020 – Today, Governor Tom Wolf signed House Bill 1869, now Act 17 of 2020, after its unanimous passage last week by both the Pennsylvania House and Senate. This bipartisan legislation expands the Pennsylvania Heart and Lung Act...
Boscola Bill Would Exempt Real Estate Work from State’s COVID-19 Restrictions
Bethlehem, April 29, 2020 --- State Senator Lisa M. Boscola (D-Lehigh/Northampton) today introduced legislation that would exempt real estate work from Pennsylvania’s business closure order – if it complies with certain mitigation practices including Centers for...
Senate Approves Boscola’s Infant Opioid Addiction Reporting Bill
Harrisburg, April 29, 2020 – The Pennsylvania Senate today unanimously approved Sen. Lisa Boscola’s bill that would mandate the reporting of any infant born with an addiction to opioids. “My bill (Senate Bill 368) would ensure the coordination of reporting through the...
Sen. Fontana: State’s Covid-19 Stimulus Spending Needs Done Quickly
Harrisburg, April 29, 2020 – State Sen. Wayne Fontana (D-Allegheny) today provided the following statement in support of the state Senate Democratic proposal for distributing Pennsylvania’s $3.9 billion in federal stimulus dollars. “It is crucial that we check...
Sens. Costa, Hughes unveil PA CARES, a plan to allocate federal CARES Act funds
HARRISBURG – APRIL 29, 2020 – State Senators Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) and Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) unveiled the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus’ plan to allocate federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funds Wednesday...
State Sen. Muth, Chester County Coroner VandePol Call for Immediate Investigation into Chester County Southeast Veterans Center amidst Growing COVID-19 Concerns
Harrisburg, PA − April 28, 2020 − State Senator Katie Muth (D – Berks, Chester, Montgomery) and Chester County Coroner Christina VandePol, M.D. are calling for an immediate investigation into the handling of the COVID-19 outbreak at the Southeast Veterans'...
Senators Lindsey Williams and Pam Iovino Hold Joint Policy Hearing with Front-Line Essential Workers on Workers Memorial Day
Pittsburgh, PA − April 28, 2020 − Senator Lisa Boscola convened a policy hearing today, co-chaired by Senator Lindsey M. Williams and Senator Pam Iovino, focused on front-line essential workers during the COVID-19 crisis. This hearing coincided with Workers Memorial...
State Senate Hearing Focuses on Issues of Front-line Workers
Harrisburg, April 28, 2020 -- At the request of Senators State Senators Lindsey M. Williams and Pam Iovino (both D-Allegheny), the state Senate Democratic Policy Committee held its first-ever online hearing, which focused on the problems and needs of first responders,...
Senator Pam Iovino Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Support Business Interruption Insurance Claims, Provide Needed Cash Flow to Struggling Businesses During Crisis
Allegheny County, PA – April 28, 2020 – Today, Senator Pam Iovino (D – Allegheny & Washington) announced the introduction of bipartisan legislation to assist Pennsylvania businesses in receiving payment on business interruption insurance claims...