Press Releases
Senator Hughes Echoes Senator Haywood’s Call for Zero Tolerance for Campus Hate
January 30, 2023 − Senator Vincent Hughes shared the following statement in support of Senator Art Haywood’s press conference, held today, announcing his new report on campus racism and call for zero tolerance for hate across all Pennsylvania campuses. “I...
Senator Art Haywood and Executive Director of the PHRC to Release Report Detailing Hate and Harassment on PASSHE Campuses
West Chester University, West Chester, PA − January 30, 2024 – Senator Art Haywood (D-4) in partnership with Chad Dion Lassiter, MSW- Executive Director of the PA Human Relations Commission (PHRC), hosted a press conference to announce the release of The ENOUGH...
State Senators Jay Costa, Vincent Hughes, and Judy Schwank Praise Governor Shapiro’s Higher Education Blueprint, Call for Continued Stakeholder Conversations
HARRISBURG, PA – January 26, 2024 − Today, members of the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic caucus praise Governor Shapiro’s new blueprint for higher education, which seeks to expand access to higher education for Pennsylvania’s learners while consolidating governance...
Senator Street Joins City Councilmembers in Support of Angel Davis Eviction Accountability Bill
Philadelphia - January 24, 2024 – Today, Councilmember Kendra Brooks (At-Large) announced legislation to bring oversight and accountability to Philadelphia’s eviction system, which has been plagued by violence for years. Councilmember Jamie Gauthier (3rd...
Policy Hearing Focuses on Addressing Rising Water, Wastewater Rates
WEST WHITELAND – January 23, 2024 – State Senator Katie Muth (D-Chester/Montgomery/Berks), chair of the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Policy Committee, joined Senator Carolyn Comitta (D-Chester), Senator John Kane (D-Chester/Delaware), Senator Tim Kearney...
Senator Hughes Celebrates Investments in Affordable Housing in Mantua
Philadelphia, PA − January 22, 2024 − Senator Vincent Hughes hosted a check presentation at 39thand Brown, in the Mantua neighborhood of Philadelphia, to celebrate a new state investment that will support affordable housing in the area. $500,000 was presented to...
Senators Hughes and Miller Say Basic Education Funding Commission Report is “Just a Start”
January 15, 2024 − Senators Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) and Nick Miller (D-Lehigh/Northampton), two Senate members of the Basic Education Funding Commission, issued a statement following the release and affirmative vote on the Commission’s report that...
Sen. Muth Encourages Schools to Apply for Safety and Security Grants
ROYERSFORD − January 12, 2024 − State Sen. Katie Muth (D-Chester/Montgomery/Berks) today encouraged schools across Senate District 44 to apply for funding for school safety and security through the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD). The framework...
Sen. Nick Miller, Rep. Schweyer Comment on Basic Education Funding Commission’s Approved Report
January 12, 2024 − As part of the Basic Education Funding Commission, Sen. Nick Miller (D-Lehigh/Northampton) and Rep. Peter Schweyer (D-Lehigh), who serves as chair of the House of Representatives Education Committee, voted yesterday in favor of a report that...
Senator Kearney Applauds Basic Education Funding Commission’s Vote to Approve 2024 Funding Report
DELAWARE COUNTY, PA – January 12, 2024 – On January 11, the Basic Education Funding Commission held a hearing and voted 8-7 to approve the 2024 Basic Education Funding Report. Below, you can find Senator Tim Kearney’s (D-Delaware) statement following the outcome of...
Sen. Lindsey Williams Releases Statement Following BEFC Vote Today
Harrisburg, Pa. − January 11, 2024 − Senator Lindsey M. Williams released this statement today, following her vote on the Basic Education Funding Commission Report. A full copy of the report, Senator Williams’ remarks, and all Commission hearings and materials...
Sen. Nick Miller Encourages Schools in District 14 to Apply for State Grants for Safety and Security
January 11, 2024 − Sen. Nick Miller (D-Lehigh/Northampton) today urged local schools to apply for new grants for safety and security via the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency. Applicants can find the application and information about each grant on...
Brewster Decides to Retire from the PA Senate After 14 Years
McKeesport – January 11, 2024 – State Senator Jim Brewster announced today that he would not seek re-election to another term in the state Senate. “It has been an honor, privilege, and pleasure to serve the citizens of the 45th Senatorial District in the Mon...
Senator Collett Joins Governor Shapiro to Celebrate Childcare Tax Credit Expansion, Putting Money Back Into Working Families’ Pockets
Berwyn, Pa. − January 5, 2024 − Today, Senator Maria Collett (D-12 Montgomery) joined Governor Josh Shapiro and fellow legislators at the Upper Main Line YMCA in Berwyn, Pennsylvania to celebrate the $100 million expansion of...
Public Grievance Submission Period Open for Water/Sewer Rate Increase
SCRANTON, PA − January 5, 2024 − Senator Marty Flynn and State Representative Kyle Donahue, in collaboration with State Representatives Bridget Kosierowski, Kyle Mullins, and Jim Haddock, played a pivotal role in a teleconference meeting held on January 3rd with the...
Muth, Rothman Introduce Bill to Simplify Retirement for Teachers with Military Service
HARRISBURG – January 5, 2024 − Sen. Greg Rothman (R-34) and Sen. Katie Muth (D-44) today introduced bipartisan legislation to ensure Pennsylvania teachers who serve in the military have adequate time to purchase military service toward their Public School Employees’...
Senator Hughes Celebrates Week of Holiday Giving for 11 Philadelphia Schools
Philadelphia, PA – December 21, 2023 – Senator Vincent Hughes joined leaders and educators at John B. Kelly school on Monday to kick off a week of holiday giving with his Food for the Brain campaign, in partnership with Share Food Program, DoorDash, Read to Succeed...
Delco State Elected Officials Collect Over 10K Diapers and Other Baby Items to Help Parenting Families
DELAWARE COUNTY, PA – December 20, 2023 – More than 10,000 diapers and other baby items were delivered to the Upper Darby WIC office on Tuesday thanks to collection efforts from the offices of several state elected officials who represent parts of Delaware...
PA Legislature Approves Bill to Protect Sexually Exploited Children and Human Trafficking Victims
HARRISBURG - December 14, 2023 - Pennsylvania Senators Maria Collett (D-12), Cris Dush (R-25), and Kristin Phillips-Hill (R-28) celebrated the final passage of their legislation to ensure children who are victims of human trafficking can seek justice and access...
Kayden’s Law Unanimously Passes Pennsylvania Senate
HARRISBURG - December 14, 2023 - The Senate of Pennsylvania last night unanimously passed critical legislation to save children’s lives. Senate Bill 55, also known as Kayden’s Law, is legislation that provides urgently needed reform to Pennsylvania’s child...
Senator Williams, Baker, Bartolotta’s Probation Reform Bill, SB 838, Passes through Senate
HARRISBURG – December 14, 2023 – Last night, the Senate voted to pass a bill sponsored by Sens. Anthony Williams (D-8), Lisa Baker (R-20) and Camera Bartolotta (R-46) that will reform Pennsylvania’s probation system. “People deserve a second chance,” Williams...
Senator Hughes’s Celebrates Budget Wins for Teachers, Criminal Justice, and Healthier Schools
Harrisburg, PA – December 14, 2023 – Senator Vincent Hughes, Senator Democratic Appropriations Chair, released the following statement in response to the passage of House Bill 301 and House Bill 1300, budget codes that enable important initiatives and funding for...
Pennsylvania Legislature Passes Code Bills, Finishing Overdue 2023-2024 Fiscal Year Budget
Harrisburg — December 14, 2023 — The Pennsylvania General Assembly passed two education code bills and a fiscal code bill, concluding the 2023-2024 budget months after the June 30 deadline had passed. Although a budget was initially passed in July and signed into law...
Senator Muth, Public Herald Raise Alarm About Workers Injured by Fracking’s Radioactive Waste
HARRISBURG − December 13, 2023 − State Sen. Katie Muth (D-Chester/Montgomery/Berks) joined investigative journalist Joshua Pribanic from Public Herald and oil and gas industry workers at a press conference earlier this week to raise alarm about the dangers to workers...
PA’s Biggest Tax Giveaway to Corporations and Wealthy Individuals Discriminates Against Children
Harrisburg, Pa. − December 13, 2023 − Senator Lindsey M. Williams, Minority Chair of the Senate Education Committee, voted against the 2023-24 School Code today because it continues to take tax dollars away from public education and instead funnels that money to...
Sen. Nick Miller Announces Funding for Community Colleges Authorized by the Legislature, Heads to Governor’s Desk for Signature
Harrisburg, December 13, 2023 – Sen. Nick Miller (D-Lehigh/Northampton) announced that House Bill 301, which will provide planned funding to public libraries and community colleges, among other educational components, passed the legislature. “Passing...
Bill Establishing Permanent WIC Advisory Board Clears Pennsylvania Senate
Harrisburg— December 12, 2023 — Today, Senate Bill 721 passed the Pennsylvania Senate by a of vote of 50-0. The bill aims to establish a permanent Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) advisory board in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Since its inception in...
Senator Art Haywood to Introduce Legislation to Combat Hate Speech
Harrisburg, PA – December 12, 2023 – In a press conference held today, Senator Art Haywood (D-4) unveiled forthcoming legislation to combat hate speech on campuses within the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE). Senator Haywood was joined by Senator...
Senator Hughes Applauds Progress on PA Promise Legislation in the House of Representatives
Harrisburg, PA – December 12, 2023 – Today, Senator Vincent Hughes, Senate Democratic Appropriations Chair, applauded the movement of House Bill 1886 in the House of Representatives. The bill would create the PA Promise Pilot Program to provide “last-dollar” college...
House Approves Ward and Collett Bill to Protect Prescription Coverage for Social Security Recipients
HARRISBURG – December 11, 2023 − The state House today approved legislation introduced by Sen. Judy Ward (R-30) and Sen. Maria Collett (D-12) that would ensure older Pennsylvanians do not lose access to two state prescription medication programs due to an increase in...
Senator Anthony Williams Releases Statement Regarding the Resignation of the University of Pennsylvania’s President, Liz Magill
Philadelphia, PA − December 11, 2023 − Senator Anthony H. Williams released the following statement regarding the resignation of the University of Pennsylvania’s President, Liz Magill: “Given the gravity of the times we are living and our responsibility to defend...
State Senator Steve Santarsiero Calls for the Resignation of the President of the University of Pennsylvania, Elizabeth Magill, and vows not to vote for any state appropriation for the university until she does so
BUCKS COUNTY − December 6, 2023 − Today, State Senator Steve Santarsiero (D 10, Bucks) called on Elizabeth Magill to resign as the president of the University of Pennsylvania in the wake of her congressional testimony on December 5, 2023, in which she failed to...