Press Releases
Democratic Senators to Introduce Emergency Relief Program Legislation
HARRISBURG - June 2, 2019 - Following the elimination of General Assistance, several members of the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus circulated a cosponsorship memo to create an emergency relief program that would serve the population now without cash assistance....
Senate Democrats Highlight Funding for Affordable Housing in the PA 2019-2020 Budget
HARRISBURG - July 1, 2019 - The just-passed state budget for Fiscal Year 2019-20 included a large increase in funding for the Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement Fund (PHARE). Several members of the Senate Democratic Caucus...
Senator Collett Reacts to Pennsylvania’s Final 2019-2020 Budget
HARRISBURG – June 28, 2019 – Yesterday, the Pennsylvania General Assembly passed the Fiscal Year 2019-2020 Budget and related code bills and will now be sending them on to Governor Wolf for enactment. Senator Maria Collett (D-12, Bucks and Montgomery) wishes...
Senator Costa Supports State Budget, Looks to Fall Session to Accomplish Policy Goals
HARRISBURG - June 27, 2019 - Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr. voted in support of the Fiscal Year 2019-20 General Appropriations budget which is now headed to Governor Tom Wolf’s desk; Senator Costa looks forward to returning to session in the fall...
Brewster: School Security Funding Included in Budget Package
HARRISBURG – June 27, 2019 – State Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland) today said that the state budget package includes $60 million for school district safety initiatives. “There are a great many needs to fill in helping school district improve safety...
Senator Iovino Releases Statement on 2019-2020 State Budget
HARRISBURG - June 27, 2019 - Today, Pennsylvania State Senator Pam Iovino released the following statement on the passage of the state’s budget: “I voted in support of the state budget because the package moves Pennsylvania forward and makes vital investments in key...
Sen. Blake: ‘19-‘20 Budget Invests and Balances
HARRISBURG - June 27, 2019 – State Sen. John Blake (D-Lackawanna/Luzerne/Monroe) today released the following statement regarding Senate passage of a $34 billion state budget for the 2019-20 Fiscal Year. “For all the positives on which we were able to reach consensus...
Schwank Pleased with Overall Budget, Disappointed by Lack of Movement in Property Tax Reform
HARRISBURG - June 27, 2019 -- The Pennsylvania legislature passed a $34 billion budget for the 2019-2020 fiscal year. State Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks) voted for the budget and was pleased with several aspects of it, like the $25 million increase in...
Sen. Boscola’s Statement on New State Budget
HARRISBURG - June 27, 2019 – Sen. Lisa Boscola (D-Lehigh/Northampton) today provided the following statement on the state’s new $33.9 billion budget proposal for fiscal 2019-20. The Senate approved the budget by a vote 42-8 today. The spending plan (House Bill 790)...
Farnese Votes ‘No’ on 2019-2020 State Budget Legislation
HARRISBURG – June 27, 2019 – Sen. Larry Farnese (D-Philadelphia) spoke today on the Senate floor to detail his reasons for opposing the proposed 2019-2020 General Fund budget bill. “Simply put, I believe there are multiple reasons to say we could do better for...
Dinniman: Applications Now Available for New Low-Cost Student Loan Program
HARRISBURG - June 27, 2019 – State Senator Andy Dinniman announced that applications are now available for the new PA Forward Student Loan Program. The PA Forward Student Loan Program provides low-cost, alternative student loans for undergraduate and...
Williams Speaks Out Against Philadelphia Energy Solutions’ Plan to Close South Philadelphia Refinery
HARRISBURG – June 26, 2019 – Sen. Anthony H. Williams (D-Philadelphia) spoke out against the news of Philadelphia Energy Solutions’(PES) plans to close the South Philadelphia oil refinery next month. “The decision to close the refinery is extremely disappointing news...
Senate Approves Boscola’s Bill to Eliminate Straight Party Voting
HARRISBURG - June 25, 2019 --- The state Senate today voted 30 to 20 in favor of Sen. Lisa Boscola’s Senate bill 421, which would do away with straight party voting. “Straight-ticket voting promotes the election of a party, not the election of a candidate,” Boscola...
Senator Haywood, Members of the General Assembly, & Statewide Advocates Defend General Assistance Program
HARRISBURG – June 24, 2019 – Health and Human Services Committee Democratic Chairman State Senator Art Haywood (D-Montgomery/Philadelphia) joined members of the PA General Assembly and statewide advocates to fight to protect the General Assistance program. House Bill...
Members of PA Senate Democratic Caucus Request Disaster Declaration on Gun Violence
HARRISBURG - June 24, 2019 - Members of the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus today jointly sent a letter to Governor Tom Wolf requesting a disaster declaration for gun violence in the Commonwealth. “We believe it is necessary to raise the public’s awareness of...
Brewster Applauds Approval of Sunday Hunting Bill
HARRISBURG– June 20, 2019 – Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland) applauded the passage of his Sunday Hunting Bill (Senate Bill 147) out of the Senate Appropriations Committee. The legislation, which would authorize the Game Commission to allow Sunday hunting...
Two Boscola Voting Reform Initiatives Clear Senate Committee
HARRISBURG - June 18, 2019 --- The state Senate State Government Committee today unanimously approved Sen. Lisa Boscola’s senate bill 421, which would do away with straight party voting. The bill will now move on to the full Senate. “Informed and committed...
Senator Muth Calls for 100% Renewable Energy in Pennsylvania
HARRISBURG – June 19, 2019 – Sen. Katie Muth (D-Berks, Chester, Montgomery) joined advocates of the clean energy movement today as they rallied to promote renewable energy initiatives at the state capitol. “We have a duty to maintain our values of security, safety,...
Sabatina: Marsy’s Law Passes Senate
HARRISBURG - June 19, 2019 - Senator John Sabatina (D-Philadelphia) was pleased to see Marsy’s Law pass unanimously in the Senate today by a vote of 50-0. The version that passed the Senate is State Rep. Delozier’s companion bill, HB 276, which is identical to Sen....
Sabatina: Karen’s Law Passes the Senate
HARRISBURG - June 19, 2019 - Sen. John Sabatina (D-Philadelphia) is elated that his legislation Senate Bill 123, also known as Karen’s Law, was passed unanimously (50-0) by the Senate and is one major step closer to becoming a law in Pennsylvania. “It’s been well...
Joint, Bipartisan Senate Committees Discuss Possible School District Consolidation
HARRISBURG - June 18, 2019 -- The Senate Majority Policy Committee and Senate Democratic Policy Committee yesterday jointly held a public workshop to discuss possible school district consolidation. “With 500 school districts in Pennsylvania this issue must be reviewed...
Sen. Anthony Williams Asks Governor Wolf to Declare a State of Emergency on Gun Violence
HARRISBURG - June 17, 2019 - Following a senseless act of violence on Father’s Day, and scores of other homicides in the city of Philadelphia and across the state, Senator Anthony H. Williams sent a letter to Governor Tom Wolf asking for a state of emergency on the...
Former Penn State Kicker, Joey Julius, Joins Sen. Santarsiero, Rep. Murt to Promote Eating Disorder Parental Education Bills
HARRISBURG - June 17, 2019 —State Senator Steve Santarsiero, state Representative Tom Murt, Dr. Rachel Levine, Secretary of Health for Pennsylvania, Joey Julius, former football kicker for the Penn State Nittany Lions, and representatives from the National Eating...
State Senate Hearing in Philly on Ride-hailing Companies
PHILADELPHIA - June 6, 2019 – At the request of state Senator Anthony Hardy Williams (D- Philadelphia), the Senate Democratic Policy Committee today held a hearing on ways to improve the accessibility, safety and reliability and working conditions for Transportation...
Senator Costa to Introduce Cap and Invest Bill for Pennsylvania
HARRISBURG - June 6, 2018 - Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr. today circulated a memo asking for cosponsors for a bill to create a “Cap and Invest” program for the state’s electric power sector. “The federal government has abdicated responsibility on climate...
Senators Maria Collett and Dan Laughlin Announce Legislation to Establish Statewide Family and Medical Leave Program
HARRISBURG - June 5, 2019- Senator Maria Collett (D-Montgomery/Bucks) and Senator Dan Laughlin (R-Erie) held a press conference today to introduce their legislation, “The Family Care Act,” to establish a statewide Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program. Alongside...
Military Family Education Program Bill Passes Senate Unanimously
HARRISBURG - June 5, 2019 - The Military Family Education Program (MFEP), or “Pennsylvania G.I. Bill”, passed unanimously out of the Senate today. The Bill has now been referred to the House of Representatives for consideration. The House overwhelmingly passed a...
Senate, House Members Unveil Election Reform Proposals
HARRISBURG - June 4, 2019 - State Sen. Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) and Rep. Sara Innamorato (D-Pittsburgh) led House and Senate Democrats in announcing several voting reform proposals Tuesday in the Main Capitol Rotunda. The legislators were...
Dinniman, Fellow Senators Introduce TRU Bill
HARRISBURG - June 3, 2019 – State Senator Andy Dinniman and fellow senators announced new legislation to address security needs and confront violence against faith-based organizations and those with diverse members. Dinniman was joined by state Senators Jay...
Senator Haywood Completed Stop #4 on His State-Wide Poverty Listening Tour
PHILADELPHIA – May 30, 2019 – State Senator Art Haywood (D-Montgomery/Philadelphia) was joined by State Senator Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland), and Public Policy Advocate of Just Harvest Ann Sanders on the fourth stop of his statewide poverty tour in...
Senator Costa Applauds Supreme Court Ruling, Calls for Continued Work on Health Care Access
PITTSBURGH - May 28, 2019 - Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr. expressed hopefulness at today’s ruling from the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in the case of Commonwealth vs. UPMC. In a 4-3 decision, the Supreme Court reversed and remanded the case back to the...
Senator Haywood Completes Stop #2 on his State-Wide Poverty Listening Tour
PHILADELPHIA – May 24, 2019 – State Senator Art Haywood (D-Montgomery/Philadelphia) was joined by State Senator Katie Muth (D-Berks/Chester/Montgomery), State Senator Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) and PA Department of Human Services Secretary Teresa...