Press Releases
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...
Costa Authors Legislation to Protect Cares Act Payments from Garnishment
Harrisburg – April 23, 2020 – Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr. (D-Allegheny) unveiled legislation today that would protect federal stimulus payments to people from being preyed upon by creditors and debt collectors. Costa’s bill would prohibit the garnishment...
Senate and House Democrats Discuss Legislative Action to Fight COVID-19 in Pennsylvania
Harrisburg – April 23, 2020 – State Senators Judy Schwank (D – Berks) and Lindsey Williams (D – Allegheny) joined State Representatives Joanna McClinton (D- Philadelphia) and Sara Innamorato (D – Allegheny) for a telephone town hall hosted by the State Innovation...
Senator Iovino Remarks on Providing Benefits to PA National Guard Members Who Contract COVID-19 During State Active Duty Deployment
Harrisburg, PA − April 21, 2020 − Today, Senator Pam Iovino (D – Allegheny & Washington) addressed the Pennsylvania State Senate via remote connection to voice her support for House Bill 1869, which expands the Pennsylvania Heart and Lung Act to provide 100%...
Sens. Hughes, A. Williams Lay Out Proposed Temporary Changes to Business Interruption Insurance with Support of Small Business Owners, PRLA
HARRISBURG – April 20, 2020 – Several small business owners and the Pennsylvania Restaurant and Lodging Association (PRLA) joined state Sens. Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) and Anthony Williams (D-Delaware/Philadelphia) in the call for temporary...
Brewster: COVID-19 Updates on Liquor Sales and Unemployment Compensation
McKeesport – April 20, 2020 – State Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland) said today that the state has opened a new way to access wine and spirits and activated a website that allows independent contractors and gig workers to file for unemployment...
Brewster Details Business Restart Strategy: “COVID-19 Health and Business Recovery Plan”
McKeesport – April 16, 2020 – Ensuring that workers, customers and clients are protected while businesses are given a responsible schedule to resume operations are key elements of state Sen. Jim Brewster’s “COVID-19 Health and Business Recovery Plan,” he announced today.
Dinniman Releases Statement on COVID-19 Response, Senate Bill 613
WEST CHESTER (April 16, 2020) – State Senator Andy Dinniman today called on fellow lawmakers to put politics aside and all levels of government to work together in the ongoing response to the unprecedented COVID-19 public health crisis. Dinniman’s comments came...
Tartaglione Applauds Wolf Administration for Bolstering COVID-19 Protections for Essential Workers
Philadelphia, PA, April 15, 2020 – State Senator Christine Tartaglione (D-Philadelphia) today applauded Pennsylvania Department of Health Secretary Rachael Levine and Governor Tom Wolf for issuing an executive order implementing the senator’s legislation that bolsters...
Sen. Fontana: Returning Workers too Soon is too Dangerous
Harrisburg, April 15, 2020 – Insisting that sound mitigation practices and indelible worker protections must be in place before re-opening additional Pennsylvania workplaces, state Sen. Wayne Fontana (D-Allegheny) today voted against Senate Bill 613, legislation he...
Kearney Votes Against Bill to Risk Public Safety and Put Workers in Harm’s Way
SPRINGFIELD − April 15, 2020 − Senator Tim Kearney (D – Chester, Delaware) today voted against Senate Bill 613, which would override Governor Tom Wolf's COVID-19 mitigation efforts and reopen non-essential businesses in Pennsylvania against the advice of medical...
Legislation to Help Secure Paychecks & Healthcare for School Contract Workers During Pandemic Passes PA General Assembly
Allegheny County, PA – April 14, 2020 – Today, Senator Pam Iovino (D – Allegheny & Washington) announced that her legislation to provide consistent protections for all school contractors during the COVID-19 pandemic passed the Pennsylvania House and...
Dinniman Introduces Legislation to Combat Robocalls During COVID-19 Crisis
WEST CHESTER (April 9, 2020) – Robocall scammers looking to profit off of public fear, confusion, and uncertainty during the COVID-19 crisis should think again, state Senator Andy Dinniman said. This week, Dinniman announced plans to introduce legislation to enact...
Dinniman Remarks on School Code Education Bill
WEST CHESTER (March 25, 2020) -- State Senator Andy Dinniman, Minority chair of the Senate Education Committee, made the following statement today, March 25, on Senate Bill 751 (The School Code Bill). The first three paragraphs were presented on the Senate floor:...