Press Releases
On the One-Year Anniversary of Sunoco Spill, Sen. Muth & Rep. Friel Otten Condemn Sunoco, DEP for Lack of Remediation at Marsh Creek Lake
CHESTER COUNTY − August 11, 2021 - Yesterday marked the one-year anniversary of Sunoco’s massive spill of drilling fluid at its Mariner East 2 pipeline construction site near Marsh Creek State Park. On August 10, 2020, Sunoco spilled approximately 8,000 gallons of...
PA Senate Dems Host Policy Hearing on Solitary Confinement in PA
Harrisburg – August 10, 2021 - At the request of Senator John Kane (D- Chester/Delaware) and Representative Tina Davis (D- Bucks), the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Policy Committee held a hybrid in person and virtual public hearing to discuss the use of solitary...
PA Senate Dems Host Policy Hearing on the Healthcare Workforce Crisis in PA
Harrisburg – July 21, 2021 - At the request of Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D- Allegheny), Sen. Wayne Fontana (D- Allegheny), Sen. Jim Brewster (D- Allegheny/Westmoreland), Sen. Lindsey Williams (D- Allegheny), & House Representative...
With a Just Cause and Clear Vision, Street Joins Biden to Defend Democracy
Philadelphia, PA − July 13, 2021 − On Tuesday, July 13th Senator Sharif Street was among guests invited to join President Biden at the National Constitution Center to defend the right to vote. Senator Street offered the following statement on President Biden’s visit:...
PA Senate Dems Hold Policy Hearing on Statewide Barriers for the Transgender Community
Harrisburg – June 29, 2021 - At the request of Senators Amanda Cappelletti (D- Delaware/Montgomery), Tim Kearney (D- Chester/Delaware) and Lindsey Williams (D- Allegheny), the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Policy Committee held a virtual public hearing during Pride...
Senator Kearney Votes ‘No’ for the 2021-22 State Budget
HARRISBURG, PA − June 29, 2021 − State Senator Tim Kearney (D- Chester/Delaware) issued the following statement on his decision to vote ‘No’ for the state budget: “Last Friday, just before midnight, the Pennsylvania legislature passed the 2021-2022 state budget. While...
Fontana Lauds Boost for Film Industry Jobs in 2021-22 Budget
HARRISBURG – June 28, 2021 – State Sen. Wayne Fontana today praised the inclusion in Pennsylvania’s final budget changes to the Film Production Tax Credit that will recognize the popularity of short-series streaming shows and help producers apply the tax credits to...
Senator Street’s Statement on Budget Passage
Harrisburg, PA − June 26, 2021 − The Pennsylvania state budget for the upcoming year is deficient at many levels, leaving more than $5 billion of unspent American Rescue Plan funds at a time when every level of society is in desperate need. Ultimately it received my...
Senator Haywood Announces State Budget Funding and Legislation
Harrisburg, Pa. – June 26, 2021 – State Senator Art Haywood (D-Montgomery/Philadelphia) announced today that Harrisburg lawmakers approved the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s budget for fiscal year 2021-2022. “As our communities recover from COVID-19 and its many...
Senator Boscola Votes For State Budget
HARRISBURG, PA − June 25, 2021 − State Senator Lisa Boscola (D-Lehigh/Northampton) today issued the following statement on her decision to vote for the state budget: “This budget may not have included everything I wanted but without a tax increase it makes...
Hughes Statement on Budget Passage
Harrisburg, PA − June 25, 2021 − Senate Democratic Appropriations Chair Vincent Hughes issued the following statement tonight regarding the 2021-2022 state budget: “The budget that is being passed today makes progress in a number of areas. From extra school...
Senator Kane Statement on Budget Passage
June 25, 2021 − Chester, PA − Senator John Kane issued the following statement on the 2021-22 budget: "Today, I voted for the proposed budget for the 2021-22 fiscal year. This budget does some good things -- an additional $300 million for education, increased funding...
Senator Flynn Votes Yes on State Budget Funding and Legislation
Harrisburg, Pa. – June 25, 2021 – State Senator Marty Flynn (D-Lackawanna/Luzerne/Monroe) has voted in support of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s budget for fiscal year 2021-2022 that was approved today. “The approved budget represents a compromise between our five...
Brewster: Budget Deadline Won’t End Fight for Education Equity
HARRISBURG, June 25, 2021 – With help for pandemic-stricken Pennsylvanians falling far short of needs, state Sen. Jim Brewster said today he voted to approve Pennsylvania’s state budget because it meets one of his priorities: getting help to struggling Pennsylvanians...
Senator Collett Reacts to Pennsylvania’s 2021-22 Budget
Harrisburg, Pa. - June 29, 2021 — Late Friday night the Pennsylvania General Assembly passed the Fiscal Year 2021-2022 Budget and related code bills, which are currently awaiting Governor Wolf’s signature. Senator Maria Collett (D-12 Montgomery/Bucks, Democratic...
Senator Tartaglione Votes for New $38 Billion PA Spending Plan, Opposes Administrative & School Code Bills
Philadelphia, PA – State Senator Christine Tartaglione (D-Philadelphia) voted in support of the $38 billion Fiscal Year 2021-2022 budget adopted by the Pennsylvania General Assembly today, but voted against accompanying Administrative Code and School Code legislation....
Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa Votes for PA Budget, Highlights Timeliness and Major Education Investments
Harrisburg, Pa. – June 25, 2021 – Pennsylvania State Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa today voted in support of the state budget for Fiscal Year 2021-22. The final budget package included bipartisan and bicameral compromises, but Senator Costa highlighted several...
PA Approves $30 Million for Community Violence Prevention Programs
Harrisburg, Pa. – June 25, 2021 – The Pennsylvania Legislature has allocated $3o million dollars for community violence prevention programs in the approved 2021-2022 fiscal year budget. The Block Grants will be managed by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and...
Senate Republicans refuse to consider campaign finance amendments to HB1300
Harrisburg, Pa. − June 25, 2021 − Today on the PA Senate floor, Senate Republicans refused to consider a campaign finance amendment offered by Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa. He introduced the amendment to House Bill 1300, a piece of legislation that Republicans...
Senate Democrats Offer Restaurant & Tavern Recovery Legislation
Harrisburg, Pa. – June 21, 2021 − After Republicans failed to pass a clean, bipartisan bill to extend mixed drinks to go for restaurants and taverns, the Pennsylvania Senate Democrats are introducing legislation that will provide the opportunity for bars, taverns and...
Statement: Senator Santarsiero Applauds Supreme Court Decision on Obamacare
BUCKS COUNTY − June 17, 2021 − The following statement is attributable to Senator Steve Santarsiero (D-10) in response to the United State Supreme Court Decision on the Affordable Care Act: “Today’s Supreme Court decision in California v. Texas sends a clear...
Education Advocates Push Fontana ‘Nellie Bly’ Tuition Aid Program
HARRISBURG, June 15, 2021 – A diverse group of education advocates joined state Sen. Wayne Fontana today to urge passage of Fontana’s legislation to create the “Nellie Bly Scholarship Program” aimed at easing financial burdens to keep Pennsylvania students in...
Comitta, Herrin Introduce RGGI Investments Act to Benefit the Environment and Economy
HARRISBURG − June 14, 2021 – As Pennsylvania moves forward towards reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions by participating in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), Governor Tom Wolf today joined state Senator Carolyn Comitta and state Rep. Dianne...
Boscola Statement on Vote to Extend the Tools Needed to Address the COVID Crisis
Harrisburg − June 10, 2021 - Today, I voted in support of both HB854, extending waivers needed to address the COVID crisis as a matter of legislation, and HR 106, ending the emergency declaration. As I cast these votes, I viewed my decision as an opportunity to...
House & Senate Democrats Join Gov. Wolf to Call for Investing in Schools, Delivering Equity for all Students
HARRISBURG, June 8, 2021 – House and Senate Democrats and advocates for students from across the state joined Gov. Tom Wolf to call for investing half of the $3 billion in above-expected state revenue into improving schools for students statewide, and fully...
Senator Collett Reiterates Need for Immediate Action to Set PFAS Standards Following DEP Sampling Results
Lower Gwynedd, Pa. − June 3, 2021 − Today, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced the final results of their statewide Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) sampling efforts. “For decades, my constituents unknowingly...
PA Senate Democrats Hold Policy Hearing on Improving Care in Nursing Homes
Harrisburg – June 2, 2021 – At the request of Senators Wayne Fontana (D- Allegheny), Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D- Allegheny), Jim Brewster (D- Allegheny/Westmoreland), and Lindsey Williams (D- Allegheny), the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Policy Committee...
Members of the Women’s Health Caucus Host 4th Trimester Awareness Day Press Conference to Support Mothers and Families throughout Pennsylvania
Harrisburg, PA − May 27, 2021 −State Senator Katie Muth (44th Senate District) and members of the Pennsylvania Women's Health Caucus hosted a virtual press conference to highlight Senate Resolution 74 that would recognize May 26, 2021 as Fourth Trimester Awareness Day...
Legislators Reaffirm their Commitment to Protecting Access to Abortion Hosted by PA Women’s Health Caucus
HARRISBURG, PA − May 25, 2021 − Chairs, members, and advocates of the Pennsylvania Women’s Health Caucus (WHC) gathered today to reaffirm their commitment to protecting abortion access in response to the recent anti-abortion hearings in the Pennsylvania House...
Senator Street Statement on the One Year Anniversary of George Floyd’s Murder
Philadelphia, PA − May 25, 2021 – On the one-year anniversary of George Floyd’s death Senator Street offered the following statement on the progress of police reform in the Pennsylvania General Assembly: “Today marks a full year since the murder of George Floyd. There...
PA Senate Democrats Hold Policy Hearing on OSHA Protections for Public Employees
Harrisburg – May 20, 2021 - At the request of Senator Tina Tartaglione (D- Philadelphia), Democratic Chair of the Senate Committee on Labor & Industry, the Pennsylvania Democratic Policy Committee held a virtual public hearing to discuss Senate Bill...
PA Senate Democrats Hold Policy Hearing on the Impact of the State System of Higher Education Redesign Plan
Harrisburg – May 17, 2021 - At the request of state Senators Judy Schwank (D-Berks) and Lindsey M. Williams (D-Allegheny), the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Policy Committee held a virtual public hearing on the impact of the Pennsylvania state system of higher...