Press Releases
Senator Iovino and Senate Colleagues Request Action on Legislation to Protect Quality and Stable Healthcare in PA
HARRISBURG – January 7, 2020 – Today, Senators Pam Iovino (D – Allegheny & Washington), Vincent Hughes (D -Philadelphia & Montgomery), Steve Santarsiero (D - Bucks), Maria Collett (D - Montgomery & Bucks), and Tim Kearney (D – Delaware & Chester)...
Dinniman Issues Statement on Pipeline Fine, Settlement
HARRISBURG (January 3, 2020) – State Senator Andy Dinniman today issued the following statement in response to news that the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has issued a $30.6 million civil penalty to ETC Northeast Pipeline for violations related...
Sen. Hughes urges Gov. Wolf to immediately direct state funds to address chronically underfunded public school infrastructure
PHILADELPHIA – December 20, 2019 – Following the fifth and sixth closures of Philadelphia schools as a result of health hazards, State Senator Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) called on Gov. Tom Wolf to direct state funding to address the issue of chronic...
Senator Haywood And Power Caroled to McRaise the Wage to Advocate for Minimum Wage Increase for Local Workers
Philadelphia – December 19, 2019 – State Senator Art Haywood (D-Montgomery/Philadelphia) joined POWER to Carol for A McRaise event outside of the Chelten Avenue McDonald’s. This was an effort to get owner Derek Giacomantonio to raise the wage of his employees to...
Farnese Appointed to Senate Transportation Committee
Harrisburg – December 17, 2019 – State Sen. Larry Farnese, a long-time advocate for Philadelphia’s cyclists and pedestrians, has been appointed to the Senate Transportation Committee, Senate leadership announced today. “I think we are overdue in rethinking the way we...
Senator Maria Collett Joined by More State Legislators Across the Country Committing to Protect Drinking Water
Harrisburg, Pa. – December 3, 2019 – Senator Maria Collett (D-12 Montgomery/Bucks) has been joined by legislators in 20 states across the country in introducing legislation to address PFAS contamination in drinking water. PFAS, or "forever chemicals,” are found in...
Members of The PA General Assembly Hosted Press Conference Following Senate Passage of Minimum Wage Legislation
Harrisburg – November 20, 2019 – Today, State Senator Christine Tartaglione (D-Philadelphia), joined State Senator Art Haywood (D-Montgomery/Philadelphia), State Representative Patty Kim (D-103), State Representative Chris Rabb (D-200), and advocacy organization State...
Pennsylvania Senate Adopts Tartaglione’s Bill to Raise the Minimum Wage for the First Time in 13 Years
Philadelphia, PA, November 20, 2019 – As the Pennsylvania Senate adopted her legislation to raise the state’s minimum wage for the first time in 13 years, State Senator Christine Tartaglione (D-Philadelphia) today urged her colleagues to continue working toward a higher rate that will enable workers to support themselves and their families.
Senator Tartaglione Calls for Stronger Minimum Wage Legislation as Committee Advances $9.50 Plan
As a $9.50/hour minimum wage plan advanced in the Senate, the amended bill also included a moratorium on changes to PA’s outdated overtime pay rules. Philadelphia, PA, November 19, 2019 – State Senator Christine Tartaglione (D-Philadelphia) voted yesterday in favor of...
Schwank and Rozzi Hosting Free ACA Event Nov. 22, Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner to Speak
Reading, November 19, 2019 – State Sen. Judy Schwank and State Rep. Mark Rozzi are hosting a free Affordable Care Act (ACA) enrollment event from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Muhlenberg Township Building at 210 George Street on Friday, Nov. 22. Pennsylvania’s Insurance...
Senator Haywood Opposes Restrictions on Women’s Right to Choose
Harrisburg – November 18, 2019 – Democratic Chair of the PA Senate Health and Human Services Committee State Senator Art Haywood (D-Montgomery/Philadelphia) released the following statement opposing Down Syndrome abortion legislation: “Termination of a pregnancy is an...
Senator Maria Collett Highlights Pennsylvania’s Primary Care Loan Repayment Program
North Wales, Pa. – November 18, 2019 – Senator Maria Collett (D-12 Montgomery/Bucks) would like to call attention to the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s recent notice of requests for applications under the Pennsylvania Primary Care Loan Repayment Program. ...
Committee Approves Boscola’s Infant Opioid Addiction Reporting Bill
Harrisburg, November 18, 2019 – The state Senate Aging and Youth Committee 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...
FBI Investigation into Pipeline Permits Echoes Dinniman’s Repeated and Long-Standing Concerns
WEST CHESTER (November 15, 2019) – While news that the FBI is investigating how permits were issued for the Sunoco/ET Mariner East pipeline spread across Chester County, Pennsylvania, and the nation this week, for state Senator Andy Dinniman questions about the...
Senator Anthony H. Williams to Introduce Expanded Syringe Exchange
Philadelphia, Pa. − November 7, 2019 − Senator Anthony H. Williams today announced plans to introduce legislation that would expand access to needle and syringe programs throughout Pennsylvania. “As Pennsylvanians continue to deal with the impact of the opioid crisis,...
Sen. Kearney Announces $250,000 to Support Early Childhood Education at DCCC
SPRINGFIELD (October 31, 2019) – Sen. Tim Kearney (D – Delaware, Chester) today announced that Delaware County Community College (DCCC) will receive $250,000 from the Preschool Development Grant program. This funding will support the development of a statewide model...
Sen. Hughes touts Act 76, which brings innovation to Pa. schools by changing “vocational-technical schools” to “career and technical schools”
HARRISBURG – October 30, 2019 – State Senator Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) praised Act 76 of 2019, which expands access to career and technical education and workforce development opportunities and takes the important step of changing...
Schwank Applauds Senate Vote to Expand Absentee Voting Rights
Harrisburg, October 30, 2019 – All Pennsylvania voters would be able to vote by mail under legislation approved Monday by the Pennsylvania Senate. The bill includes language proposed by Sen. Judy Schwank (D-11th district), who has been a leading advocate for...
Senate Approves Major Boscola Voting Reform Bill that Includes No Excuse Mail-in Option
Harrisburg, PA − October 29, 2019 − The state Senate today voted 35 to 14 in favor of a Senator Lisa Boscola’s bill (Senate Bill 421) that modernizes Pennsylvania’s antiquated voting laws and provides greater access for voters. The omnibus bill, which Boscola...
A. Williams Introduces Legislation to Allow Municipalities to Authorize Supervised Injection Sites
Harrisburg – October 29, 2019 – Sen. Anthony H. Williams (Delaware/Philadelphia) has introduced Senate Bill 933 which would allow municipalities to authorize by ordinance or resolution the operation of a supervised injection site. The legislation also lays out...
Senator Costa to Introduce Legislation Reforming Campaign Finance, Improving Transparency
Harrisburg, Pa. − October 25, 2019 − Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr. today circulated a memo to his colleagues in the Senate seeking cosponsors on legislation that would reform Pennsylvania’s campaign finance laws and ensure better transparency and...
Dinniman, Kearney Discuss Support for Brain Injury Community
HARRISBURG − October 23, 2019 – Pennsylvanians living with traumatic and acquired brain injuries came to the state capitol this week to share their stories of survival, recovery, and hope. State Senator Andy Dinniman, who serves as co-chair of the Senate Brain...
Senator Hughes announces Senate Bill 913 aiming to create a housing trust fund for abuse victims, survivors
HARRISBURG – October 24, 2019 – State Senator Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) unveiled his bill that would create a housing trust fund to increase resources for programs that provide housing access to victims fleeing abusive situations, such as domestic...
Leach Introduces Bail Reform Legislation
HARRISBURG – October 22, 2019 – State Senator Daylin Leach (D-Montgomery/Delaware) today introduced legislation that would end pretrial detention for those who fail to post bail. “There are nearly half a million Americans who are in jail even though they haven’t been...
Legislators Introduce Local Solar Program in House and Senate
Harrisburg, Pa − October 22, 2019 − A bipartisan, bicameral group of legislators along with advocates and utility providers came together in Harrisburg today to announce plans for a local solar program. “In my district, I have seen a huge spike in folks interested in...
Dinniman Shares Results of Study on Delayed School Start Times
HARRISBURG (October 17, 2019) – State Senator Andy Dinniman shared today the results of a comprehensive sleep study advocating for the delay of secondary school start times. The study was conducted by a special Pennsylvania Joint State Government Commission...
Senators Santarsiero, Iovino, Hughes and Brooks to Introduce Legislation to Protect Healthcare Rights of Pennsylvanians
HARRISBURG − October 15, 2019 − In an effort to protect the healthcare rights of Pennsylvanians in the event the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is overturned through judicial actions at the federal level, state Senators Steve Santarsiero (D-10), Pam Iovino (D-37), Vincent...
Senator Iovino To Introduce Legislation To Improve PA School Safety By Restoring School Police Officer Authority
Harrisburg, PA – October 8, 2019 − Today, Pennsylvania State Senator Pam Iovino (D - Allegheny & Washington) expressed her intention to introduce legislation that would make Pennsylvania schools safer by restoring arrest, detention, and citation powers to school...
Climate Caucus Praises Governor’s Proposal to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions
HARRISBURG − October 3, 2019 − State Senator Steve Santarsiero (D-10) and state Representative Steve McCarter (D-154), co-chairs of the bipartisan, bicameral Climate Caucus, along with vice-chair state Representative Carolyn Comitta (D-156) offered praise for Governor...
Senator Costa Applauds Governor’s Move on Environmental Protection, Pledges to Continue the Fight in the Legislature
Pledges to Continue the Fight in the Legislature
Harrisburg, Pa. − October 3, 2019 − Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr. applauded Governor Tom Wolf’s move today to instruct the PA Department of Environmental Protection to join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI).
RGGI is a market-based collaboration among nine Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change while generating economic growth.
Leach Proposes Constitutional Ban on Fracking
HARRISBURG – October 1, 2019 – State Senator Daylin Leach (D-Montgomery/Delaware) today announced legislation to create a constitutional amendment banning hydraulic fracturing in Pennsylvania. “My staff and I have toured fracking sites all over this commonwealth and...
Senator Anthony H. Williams Named to Special Council on Gun Violence
Harrisburg, PA – September 18, 2019 – Governor Tom Wolf this week appointed Senator Anthony H. Williams (D-Philadelphia) to serve as a member of the Special Council on Gun Violence. The Special Council was established by the Governor’s Executive Order...