Press Releases
Senate Democrats Share Joint Statement on PA Supreme Court Wage Theft Decision
November 30, 2023 – Members of the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus, including Senator Vincent Hughes, Senator John Kane, Senator Christine Tartaglione, and Senator Lindsey Williams, issued a joint statement in response to the PA Supreme Court’s opinion that...
Senator Hughes and PA Leaders Celebrate $98M Win for Affordable Rental Housing, Call for More Housing Investments
Philadelphia, PA - November 30, 2023 − Senator Vincent Hughes, Democratic Appropriations Chair, stood with fellow lawmakers and affordable housing leaders to celebrate a new, affordable housing grant program that awarded $98 million dollars to projects that will...
Senate Dems Discuss Need for Universal Background Checks at Philly Hearing
PHILADELPHIA − October 30, 2023 – State Senator Katie Muth (D-Chester/Montgomery/Berks), chair of the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Policy Committee, today joined Senator Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) to co-host a public hearing on the need for universal...
Senator Hughes and PHFA Announces $93 Million in Grants from NEW Affordable Housing Program
Harrisburg, PA − October 18, 2023 − Today, Senator Vincent Hughes, Democratic Appropriations Chair, and the PA Housing Finance Agency (PHFA), announced $93 million dollars in affordable housing grants awarded through the Housing Options Program (HOP). The grant...
Senator Hughes Announces $200K for Miles Park in Whitemarsh Township
October 12, 2023 –Senator Vincent Hughes announced $200,000 in Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Community Conservation Partnerships Program Grants for the continued development of Miles Park in Whitemarsh Township. “I’m proud to see Miles...
Sen. Lindsey Williams Hosts Pittsburgh Basic Education Funding Commission Hearing
Pittsburgh, Pa. − October 11, 2023 − Senator Lindsey M. Williams (D-Allegheny), Minority Chair of the Senate Education Committee, hosted the Basic Education Funding Commission for their Pittsburgh hearing, the first in the series of state-wide hearings to be held in...
Senator Hughes Announces Over $19.5M for Victim Support Services and Criminal Justice in Philadelphia and Montgomery County
September 28, 2023 - Senator Vincent Hughes, Senate Democratic Appropriations Chair, announced over $19.5 million dollars in grants for 35 projects that support crime victims and criminal justice in the 7th District. The funds were awarded through multiple grant...
Senator Hughes Joins PHFA to Announce Over $65M in Available Affordable Housing Grants
September 25, 2023 – Senator Vincent Hughes, Senate Democratic Appropriations Chair, joined the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) to announce the 2023-24 PA Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement (PHARE) grant fund. Over $65 million is available...
Bipartisan Legislation to Protect Children Online Passes Committee
HARRISBURG, PA – September 19, 2023 – The Senate Communications and Technology Committee unanimously approved bipartisan legislation that would take a major step to protect minors and empower parents, according to the bill’s sponsors, Sens. Vincent Hughes...
Senator Hughes Applauds Automatic Voter Registration Through PennDOT
Philadelphia, PA – September 19, 2023 – Today, Senator Vincent Hughes applauded Governor Shapiro’s announcement that PennDOT will change their voter registration system from an “opt-in” system to an “opt-out” system. Senator Hughes has introduced automatic voter...
Sen. Lindsey Williams Releases Statement on Opening of Basic Education Funding Commission Hearings
Pittsburgh, Pa. − September 12, 2023 − Senator Lindsey M. Williams (D-Allegheny), Minority Chair of the Senate Education Committee, issued the following statement after the first hearing of the Basic Education Funding Commission (BEFC) in Allentown: “Today, the Basic...
Senator Hughes Celebrates Property Tax and Rent Rebate Expansion for 173K Newly Eligible Seniors
Harrisburg, PA – August 3, 2023 − Today, HB 1100, a bill that will amend the Property Tax and Rent Rebate (PT/RR) Program, completed the final step in passing the Senate and will now be sent to Governor Shapiro to sign into law. The legislation will expand...
Collaboration Between State and City Lawmakers Leads to Over $1M Investment in West Philadelphia Recreation Center
Philadelphia, PA – July 26, 2023 – Senator Vincent Hughes, Representative Morgan Cephas, and Councilman Curtis Jones Jr. came together to present over $1 million dollars in grants from the state and city of Philadelphia to the Friends of Granahan for improvements to...
Senator Hughes Shares Statement on Republican Lawmakers Accepting Ruling on Unconstitutional Public School Funding by Commonwealth Court
Harrisburg, PA – July 24, 2023 − “Time is up! No more delays; no more stalling. We must do right by our students and begin immediately to address the court order to adequately and equitably fund our public schools,” said State Senator Vincent Hughes, following the...
Senator Hughes and PA Senate Democrats Remind Pennsylvanians We Are ONE Step Away from Commonsense Gun Laws
Philadelphia, PA – July 21, 2023 – Senator Hughes was joined by Senators Jimmy Dillon, Art Haywood, Tim Kearney, the Pennsylvania and Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, and community leaders to call attention to two commonsense gun bills that are one step away...
Senator Hughes Announces Over $4.4M in Affordable Housing Grants
PHILADELPHIA − July 13, 2023 − Today, Senator Vincent Hughes, Democratic Appropriations Chair, along with the PA Housing Finance Agency (PHFA), announced over $4.4 million dollars in affordable housing grants awarded through the Housing Options Program (HOP)....
Seventeen Years and Counting – Senate Democrats Continue to Fight to Raise PA’s Minimum Wage
Harrisburg, PA – July 7, 2023 − Sunday, July 9th, marks seventeen years since Pennsylvania lawmakers last raised the minimum wage. On July 9th, 2006, Governor Ed Rendell was joined by Senator Vincent Hughes, Senator Jay Costa, and Senator Tina Tartaglione to sign a...
Senator Hughes Shares Statement on Recent Supreme Court Decisions
Harrisburg, PA - July 3, 2023 - Senator Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) issued the following statement in response to recent Supreme Court decisions that end affirmative action, support the discrimination of LGBTQ individuals, and strike down President...
Senator Hughes Applauds Bipartisan Support to Expand Pennsylvania’s Property Tax and Rent Rebate Program
Harrisburg, PA– On Friday, the Pennsylvania Senate passed HB 1100, a bill that would amend the Property Tax and Rent Rebate (PT/RR) Program to expand eligible income thresholds to include an additional 173,000 individuals and to increase the maximum rebate amount for...
Senator Hughes Announces Over $6.5M for Violence Prevention and Substance Abuse Treatment
Harrisburg, PA – June 14, 2023- Senator Vincent Hughes ((D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) announced over $6.5 million dollars from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) for violence prevention and substance abuse reduction, treatment, and recovery...