Press Releases
Dinniman to Talk School Safety with Students Thursday
WEST CHESTER – April 3, 2018 – State Senator Andy Dinniman will discuss school and student safety issues with representatives from the Chester County Student Forum at a special meeting on Thursday, April 5 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Chester County Intermediate Unit...
U.S. Sen. Casey, state Sen. Hughes Call for Federal Investigation of Racial Discrimination in Housing
Washington – April 3, 2018 – Recent revelations concerning potential racial discrimination in residential lending -- notably in Philadelphia -- have led U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pennsylvania) and state Sen. Vincent J. Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) to call on U.S....
Tartaglione’s Sexual Assault Awareness Month Resolution Passes PA Senate Unanimously
HARRISBURG, PA, March 29, 2018 – The Pennsylvania Senate unanimously passed a resolution authored by Sen. Christine Tartaglione this week declaring April 2018 as Sexual Assault Awareness Month throughout the Commonwealth. In her March 26 remarks from the Senate floor, Tartaglione described sexual assault and violence as a “pervasive epidemic that affects all of us.”
Gender Diversity Encouraged Through Senate Resolution 255
Harrisburg, March 27, 2018 – Sponsored by Senator Judith L. Schwank (D-Berks County), the Executive Women’s Council of Pittsburgh (EWC) has been instrumental in bringing Senate Resolution 255 to the forefront. The Resolution, titled “Encouraging equitable and diverse...
Sabatina Recognizes April as Autism Awareness Month
Harrisburg- March 27, 2018- Sen. John Sabatina (D-Philadelphia) introduced a resolution to designate April 2018 as Autism Awareness Month. “It is incredibly important to recognize all those who are on the autism spectrum, as well as their families and caregivers. We...
Dinniman: Opposition to Mariner East Pipeline Spreads to Europe
WEST CHESTER (March 23, 2018) – Opposition to Sunoco’s Mariner East Pipeline project doesn’t stop at the Pennsylvania or even U.S. border, according to state Senator Andy Dinniman, who said that his office has been contacted by individuals concerned about the pipeline...
CVS to Raise Its Minimum Wage; Decision Follows Meetings with Haywood and Rally
Philadelphia – March 23, 2018 — Grassroots advocacy and activism were likely factors in CVS’s decision to raise its minimum wage and help their workers, state Sen. Art Haywood (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) said today. “CVS officials met with us and were willing to...
Dinniman: Joint Hearing Highlights Need for Stronger Pipeline Safety Laws
HARRISBURG (March 20, 2018) – State Senator Andy Dinniman said today’s joint hearing of the Pennsylvania Senate Environmental Resources and Energy and Consumer Protection and Licensure Committees highlighted the dire need for stronger pipeline safety laws in...
Sabatina Supports Senate Action on Domestic Violence Protections
Harrisburg, March 20, 2018 – Sen. John Sabatina (D-Philadelphia) voted to push forward a package of domestic violence protections being considered by the Senate. Sabatina, a co-sponsor of Senate Bill 501, helped pass the bill out of the Senate Judiciary Committee....
Senator Tartaglione Secures $92,000 State Grant for Solar Power Array in Northeast Philadelphia
HARRISBURG, PA − March 20, 2018 – State Sen. Christine Tartaglione has secured a $92,000 Pennsylvania grant that will enable a self-storage facility in Northeast Philadelphia’s Crescentville section to install a quarter-million-dollar solar array on its roof. The Commonwealth Financing Authority awarded the Solar Energy Program on March 16. It will support matching funds supplied by the recipient, CubeSmart TRS, Inc., of Malvern, Pa.
Senator Costa Releases Statement on Federal Redistricting Ruling
Harrisburg – March 19, 2018 – State Sen. Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) released the following statement on today’s decision from the federal court on redistricting: I applaud the federal court for denying the Republican challenge to the new map. The map provided by the...
Dinniman Announces More than $1 Million in Solar Grants
HARRISBURG (March 16, 2018) – State Senator Andy Dinniman announced that four solar energy projects in Chester County will receive more than $1 million in total state funding. “These investments can go a long way in encouraging businesses to transition to solar...
Dinniman: Joint Senate Committee Meeting on Pipeline Safety Tuesday
HARRISBURG (March 19, 2018) – The Pennsylvania Senate Environmental Resources and Energy and Consumer Protection and Licensure Committees will hold a joint public hearing on pipeline safety tomorrow, Tuesday, March 20 at 11 a.m. The hearing will take place in Hearing...
Brewster: Grant Approved for Solar Energy Program in West Mifflin
Harrisburg- March 16, 2018 - State Sen. Jim Brewster (D- Allegheny/Westmoreland) announced today that Extra Space Management, Inc. of West Mifflin Borough in Allegheny County will receive a $84,176 grant for the installation of a rooftop photovoltaic power generation...
Farnese Applauds Funding for Two Developing Businesses
HARRISBURG, March 16, 2018 – Sen. Larry Farnese (D-Philadelphia) announced that Triple Bottom Brewing Company and Alliance HSP Philadelphia, two growing businesses in his district, have received grant and loan funding to support economic development projects in the...
Sabatina Announces Solar Energy Funding for Roosevelt Mall
HARRISBURG, March 16, 2018 – Sen. John Sabatina (D-Philadelphia) announced a solar energy grant has been approved for the engineering and installation of roof-top solar energy panels at Roosevelt Mall. “I am thrilled that Roosevelt Mall was selected as the recipient...
Dinniman: Immaculata, WCU to Get Nearly $56K in Total State Funding to Prevent and Fight Sexual Assault on Campus
WEST CHESTER (March 13, 2018) – State Senator Andy Dinniman announced today that two universities in Chester County – Immaculata University and West Chester University – will receive nearly $56,000 in total state grant funding to prevent and combat sexual on campus....
Senate Democrats Propose Legislation to Bolster Farmers, Agriculture Production
Harrisburg – March 12, 2018 – Bolstering farms and farmers, promoting the use of locally produced food and significantly increasing a tax credit to spur job creation and investment in rural communities is the focus of a package of bills offered by three state Senate Democrats.
Sen. Brewster Calls for Armed Security in School Buildings
McKeesport – March 9, 2018 – In the wake of the school shooting in Parkland, Florida, where 17 students died, state Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland) today proposed placing an armed security guard at all school buildings that conduct classroom instruction....
Dinniman Visits West Whiteland Pipeline Site to View Sinkholes
WEST WHITELAND (March 8, 2018) – State Senator Andy Dinniman today visited the site of multiple sinkholes apparently related to Mariner East II pipeline drilling on Lisa Drive in West Whiteland. “It seems like Sunoco doesn’t want the public to see or to know what is...
Hughes Statement on Court Hearing: Lawsuit Will Spur Action on School Funding
Harrisburg – March 7, 2018 — Senate Democratic Appropriations Chair Vincent J. Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) issued the following statement concerning today’s Commonwealth Court hearing on fair funding for Pennsylvania’s public schools. “We are not doing enough...
Dinniman: PUC Suspends Operations on Mariner East I Pipeline
WEST CHESTER (March 7, 2018) – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission today suspended operations on Sunoco’s Mariner East I pipeline due to ongoing safety and geologic stability concerns related to problems stemming from the drilling of Mariner East II, according...
Dinniman Urges PUC to Suspend Operations of Mariner East I, Drilling of Mariner East II
WEST CHESTER (March 7, 2018) – State Senator Andy Dinniman urged the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) to grant an emergency order suspending both operations of Sunoco’s Mariner East I pipeline and drilling of the Mariner East II pipeline in the Lisa Drive...
Dinniman: More Sinkholes May Mean Another Halt to Mariner II Pipeline
WEST WHITELAND (March 5, 2018) – State Senator Andy Dinniman said officials and inspectors from the federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) visited Lisa Drive in West Whiteland on Monday, a location where three sinkholes have opened up...
Dinniman, Senate Education Committee Hold Hearing on School Safety
HARRISBURG (March 2, 2018) – State Senator Andrew Dinniman and members of the Senate Education Committee held a public hearing on school and student safety this morning. “While we may focus in on the issue of gun control or mental health, we must understand that there...
Dinniman Opens Chester County Academic Competition
DOWNINGTOWN (February 26, 2018) – State Senator Andrew Dinniman this morning welcomed students to the Varsity Semifinals of the 34th Annual Chester County Academic Competition at the Chester County Intermediate Unit in Downingtown. “Today is a day where our...
Senator Hughes Statement on Congressional Redistricting
Harrisburg – February 23, 2018 – State Sen. Vincent J. Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) statement on congressional redistricting: "While the map ordered by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court addresses the problem of political gerrymandering -- and that was absolutely...
Hughes: State Attorney General Announces Investigation into “Redlining” in Philadelphia
HARRISBURG, PA – February 22, 2018 – Senator Vincent J. Hughes (D-Philadelphia) pressed the issue of “redlining” and discriminatory housing practices within Philadelphia during the budget hearing of Pennsylvania State Attorney General Josh Shapiro.
Dinniman: Rt. 29 Sinkhole Shows Dangers of Pipeline Drilling in Karst Formations
WEST CHESTER (February 22, 2018) – The recurring development of sinkholes near or beneath roadways in the East Whiteland Township area is all the more reason why the region is the wrong place for pipelines, state Senator Andy Dinniman said this week. “This is just...
Hughes Questions State Treasurer about Redlining in Philadelphia
HARRISBURG, PA – February 20, 2018 – During budget hearings with State Treasurer Joe Torsella, Sen. Vincent J. Hughes (D-Philadelphia) raised a recent report about redlining and housing discrimination specifically in the city of Philadelphia. Hughes cited a report by...
Costa Releases Statement on Submission of Senate Democratic Congressional Map to Supreme Court
Harrisburg – February 15, 2018 – Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) released the following statement concerning the submission of a congressional redistricting plan to the state Supreme Court. Senate Democrats submitted the plan following the court’s...
Senator Costa Supports Governor Wolf’s Rejection of GOP Map
Harrisburg, Pa. − February 13, 2018 − Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa fully supports Governor Wolf’s decision to reject the maps presented to him last week by just two Republican members. “A proposal that makes districts slightly more compact but no more fair...