Press Releases
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...
Senator Maria Collett and Representative Gene DiGirolamo Announce Legislation to Set Safe Nurse-to-Patient Limits
HARRISBURG – March 20, 2019 – Senator Maria Collett RN (D-Montgomery/Bucks) and Representative Gene DiGirolamo (R-Bucks) held a press conference today to introduce their legislation to set safe nurse-to-patient limits in Pennsylvania hospitals. SB 450 and HB 867...
Senate Democrats Present Bold Plan to Tackle Crushing Student Loan Debt
HARRISBURG – March 20, 2019 – A bold and innovative plan to help students and their families save thousands of dollars, pay down crushing student loan debt and better deal with the high cost of borrowing was unveiled by Sens. Vincent J. Hughes...
Senator Hughes Applauds Senate Education Committee Support of Career and Technical Schools Bill
HARRISBURG - March 19, 2019 - Sen. Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) released the following statement on the passing of Senate Bill 89 out of the Senate Education Committee: I’d like to thank the Senate Education Committee members for voting SB 89 out...
Sen. Muth to Introduce Pipeline Safety Legislation
Harrisburg – March 19, 2019 – Sen. Katie Muth (D- Berks/Chester/Montgomery) announced that she will be introducing two pieces of legislation that would mandate specific safety and public awareness standards for pipeline construction and operation. “While...
Leach and Street Bill Will Legalize Cannabis for Adult-Use in PA; Proposed Model Emphasizes Minority Ownership and Criminal Justice Reform
HARRISBURG - March 18, 2019 – State Senator Daylin Leach (D-Montgomery/Delaware) and State Senator Sharif Street (D-Philadelphia) today announced legislation that would end Pennsylvania’s prohibition of cannabis and would ultimately legalize cannabis for adult-use in...
Sens. Williams, Costa, and Hughes Announce Introduction of Workplace Freedom Act
PITTSBURGH - March 14, 2019 - Senators Lindsey M. Williams, Jay Costa, and Vincent J. Hughes, joined by local elected officials, Allegheny County Labor Council members, and a crowd of union workers, announced the introduction of the Workplace Freedom Act today at the...
Senator Haywood Hosted Town Hall on Environmental Consciousness
PHILADELPHIA – March 14, 2019 – State Senator Art Haywood (D-Montgomery/Philadelphia) joined PennEnvironment, Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership, Inc., the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, and the Montgomery County Planning Commission for a Town...
Senators Haywood, Killion and Santarsiero Offer Bipartisan Bill to Modernize Pennsylvania’s Renewable Energy Standards
HARRISBURG - March 13, 2019 --- State Senator Steven J. Santarsiero, Senator Art Haywood and Senator Thomas H. Killion issued a co-sponsorship memorandum detailing their proposed expansion of the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards Act (AEPS). AEPS was enacted in...
Brewster Ties Extraction Levy to Environmental Protection, Education, Security Initiatives
HARRISBURG – March 13, 2019 – A new plan to use revenue generated from an energy extraction tax to provide school funding, safety investments and environmental protection initiatives will soon be introduced by state Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland). “The...
Senator Kearney Urges Moratorium On Mariner East Project Until Safety Protocols Provided
HARRISBURG - March 11, 2019 – Earlier today, Senator Tim Kearney (D-Chester/Delaware) joined lawmakers across Delaware County and Chester County in sending a letter to Governor Wolf urging a moratorium on the operation and transmission of Natural Gas Liquids and...
Senator Maria Collett Introduces Legislation to Allow Local Regulation of Firearms on Municipal Properties
NORTH WALES – March 11, 2019 – Keeping a major campaign promise to support common sense gun safety legislation, Senator Maria Collett (D-Bucks/Montgomery) introduced a bill memo for co-sponsorship today which would allow local governments, by ordinance, to restrict...
Senator Hughes Applauds Gun Violence Task Force Indictments
HARRISBURG -March 7, 2019 - Senator Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) issued the following statement after Attorney General Josh Shapiro, Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, and Philadelphia Police Commissioner Richard Ross announced indictments in...
Bartolotta and Schwank Bill Would Improve Screening, Treatment of Postpartum Depression
HARRISBURG - February 28, 2019 – Bipartisan legislation would improve screening and treatment of new mothers affected by postpartum depression, according to the bill’s sponsors, Senators Camera Bartolotta (R-46) and Judy Schwank (D-11). The Prenatal and Postpartum...
Senator L. Williams Prime Sponsor of Landmark Education Program to Support PA National Guard Member Families
HARRISBURG - February 27, 2019 - Senator Lindsey M. Williams, along with Governor Tom Wolf, Major General Tony Carrelli, Adjutant General of Pennsylvania, Senator Mike Regan, Representative Stephen Barrar, and Representative Chris Sainato announced legislation...
Senator Collett Addresses PFAS Crisis in Budget Hearing with Pa Secretary of Health
HARRISBURG - February 27, 2019 – Pennsylvania’s Secretary of Health, Dr. Rachel Levine, testified before the Senate Appropriations Committee today. A major topic of conversation was our region’s PFAS crisis. Addressing this crisis from both an environmental and public...
Senator Williams and Representative Gainey Respond to Charter Appeal Board Decision
PITTSBURGH, February 26, 2019 --- Senator Lindsey M. Williams and Representative Ed Gainey expressed disappointment that the Corbet-appointed Charter Appeal Board overruled the Pittsburgh Public School Board’s unanimous decision to deny a charter to Catalyst Academy...
Dinniman Discusses Ways to Improve GED at Chester County OIC
COATESVILLE - February 14, 2019 – State Senator Andy Dinniman recently visited the Chester County Opportunities Industrialization Center’s (OIC) new home in Coatesville to discuss ways to improve access to high school equivalency credentials for those who may not...
State Senator Santarsiero and State Representative Warren Call for Passage of Safe Storage Legislation
BUCKS COUNTY, February 15, 2019 – On the one year anniversary of the mass shooting in Parkland, Florida, State Senator Steve Santarsiero (D-Bucks), State Representative Perry Warren (D-Bucks), and former State Representative...
State Senate Hearing in Philly Focuses on Gun Violence
PHILADELPHIA – February 14, 2019 – At the request of state Senator Arthur Haywood (D-Philadelphia), the state Senate Democratic Policy Committee today held a hearing on ways to prevent gun violence in Pennsylvania. “This policy hearing is to share proven solutions to...
Senator Collett Reacts to EPA PFAS Plan Announcement
NORTH WALES – February 14, 2019 – The acting administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Andrew Wheeler, today announced the EPA’s intended nationwide PFAS action plan. Addressing the urgent PFAS crisis is Senator Maria Collett’s (D-12) top...
Sen. Fontana Renews “Extreme Risk” Gun Suspension Effort
PITTSBURGH - February 14, 2019 – On the one-year anniversary of the Parkland mass shooting tragedy, state Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (D-Allegheny) today reintroduced legislation that would empower families and police officers to petition a court to temporarily remove...
Sen. Tartaglione, Gov. Wolf Lead Rally for Long-Overdue Raise to Pennsylvania’s Minimum Wage
PHILADELPHIA, February 8, 2019 – State Sen. Christine M. Tartaglione (D-Philadelphia) and Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf led a coalition of elected officials, labor leaders, worker advocates, and commuters at the bustling Frankford Transportation Center today to rally...