On the Issues
Reports Are Showing that Our Children are on College Campuses and too many are STARVING AND HOMELESS!
The Hidden Crisis on College Campuses: Many Students Don’t Have Enough to Eat THE WASHINGTON POST | BY CAITLIN DEWEY | APRIL 3, 2018 Caleb Torres lost seven pounds his freshman year of college — and not because he didn’t like the food in the dining hall. A...
read moreApril 4, 2018: 50th Anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Assassination
On April 4, 1968, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated as he was standing on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel, in Memphis, Tennessee. In life, Dr. King made sacrifices and changed lives. As word of his death spread, the world shook. Dr....
read moreHappy Anniversary ACA
It has been eight years since President Barack Obama signed the Affordable Care Act (ACA) into law. March 23, 2010 is a significant day in United States history. It is a day when our country told the world all Americans are entitled to health care. Now,...
read moreHughes Walks and Speaks to Students for National Walkout Day
It was my honor and privilege to walk with and speak to students from the Science Leadership Academy School in Philadelphia who participated in National Walkout Day. I also attended an event at Philadelphia City Hall where students who participated in the walkout gathered.
read moreJoin Us for a Financial Freedom for Working Families Event
Together with PA Treasurer Joe Torsella and the Campaign for Working Families, Inc. invite you for a Financial Freedom event. Let us help you find money that you’re entitled to. The event will be held on March 13 from 10 a.m. til 2 p.m. at Parkwest Town Center located...
read moreHughes Welcomes Gov. Wolf to Groundbreaking for New Market West
I was thrilled to welcome Gov. Tom Wolf and other state and federal officials for the groundbreaking for New Market West, a community and retail hub planned for development at 5901 Market Street. This project will provide much needed services and homes to our West Philadelphia community.
read moreBoost Your Retirement Security: Click MyRetirementPA.com
Helping you boost your retirement security is critical. That’s why I’ve joined with a bipartisan group of lawmakers and public officials to strongly support a new retirement security tool. On Thursday, lawmakers unveiled a website called...
read moreStay the Course, the Fight is NOT Over
Wednesday, February 7, 2018 is National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
As long-time advocates and strong proponents of HIV/AIDS prevention, testing and education, my wife Sheryl Lee and I need your help. Join us in our fight.
Earned Income Tax Credit
The EITC is a federal tax credit that is available for eligible families based on income — you do not need to have children to qualify. Married couples, same-sex couples and individuals may all be eligible for more than $500 up to $6,318 in federal tax credits.
read morePennsylvania Promise: Free and Affordable Education for All
One of the most troubling challenges facing many students and families across Pennsylvania is the high cost of education. This is often such a high hurdle that many students simply forgo a college education and are prevented from acquiring the skills...
read moreGetting the Lead Out: Legislative, Financial and Local Initiatives Fight Childhood Lead Poisoning
Several years ago, a water crisis enveloped Flint, Michigan when, through a series of ill-advised bureaucratic and political decision making, lead and other contaminates poisoned the water. The Flint experience led policymakers in Pennsylvania to closely examine our...
read moreThe “American Dream” is Out of Reach for Millions
For generations, most Americans believed that if they worked hard they could support their families, own a home, and, one day, have a pension to retire on ---- The American Dream. Now, millions of Americans, many in Pennsylvania, have had that dream shattered. For...
read moreOur Schools…Unsafe … Unhealthy … Unfit
Have we achieved Martin Luther King’s Dream? Every day, thousands of children in Pennsylvania and millions of children across the country are sent into schools that are unsafe, unhealthy, and unfit for learning. Given this reality, have we achieved the dream...
read moreCelebrate the Memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a Day of Helping Others
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is Monday, January 15. “Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. dedicated his life to crusading against injustice and helping others. We should honor Dr. King’s memory by taking time out of our schedules to volunteer to help those in need.” I am often...
read moreStay Prepared for Freezing Temperatures
Frigid temperatures have been brutal this season and it is important that all citizens familiarize themselves with ways to keep safe in this weather. Freezing pipes, loss of heat, and power outages can occur due to the below freezing temperatures being experienced...
read moreTrump/Republican Tax Reform Delivers – to the Wealthy, Huge Corporations, Wall Street
The Trump/Republican tax plan that is poised for a vote in Washington over the next several days is a national disgrace. It provides huge benefits to the top 1 percent of all income earners and little help for those who struggle each day to make ends meet. Large...
read moreMy Bill to Protect Victims of Domestic Violence Passes Senate
This week the Senate unanimously passed a bill I’ve been working on for years to protect victims of domestic violence. My bill (Senate Bill 196) allows judges to require an ankle monitor for abusers with Protection from Abuse orders. Too often, abusers violate PFAs...
read moreHoliday Party with a Purpose
Join Sheryl Lee and I as we team up with SHARE to battle hunger. Help us feed those in need. On Sunday, December 17 you are invited to join us at our “Holiday Party with a Purpose” from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at First District Plaza, 3801 Market Street in Philadelphia. ...
read moreSign Up for Affordable Care Act Coverage this Thursday!
Enrollment is now OPEN for individuals and families who need health coverage through the Affordable Care Act for 2018, but only through Dec. 15. If you want to enroll and need assistance, I’m hosting an open enrollment event this Thursday, Nov. 16 from 1:30 to 4 p.m....
read moreSign Up Today for ACA Health Coverage
Open Enrollment Runs Nov. 1 to Dec. 15 Enrollment is now OPEN for individuals and families who need health coverage through the Affordable Care Act for 2018. The ACA has improved the lives of a million Pennsylvanians, helping 711,000 individuals access coverage...
read more‘Pathways to Pardons’ Event This Thursday at Drexel University
I’m teaming up with Lt. Gov. Mike Stack along and state Rep. Donna Bullock to host a “Pathways to Pardons” event this week to explain the process for obtaining a pardon or expungement of a past criminal conviction in Pennsylvania. Join us this Thursday,...
read moreJoin Us at Neighborhood Fall Festival Oct. 14
Everyone is invited to join me, my staff and the City Ave Special Services District to my upcoming Neighborhood Fall Festival, which will take place on Saturday, Oct. 14 at High School of the Future, 4021 Parkside Ave. in Philadelphia. This event is a neighborhood...
read moreFriday Roundtable to Focus on Voter Access
Voting is a fundamental right — a right we must protect. In an effort to dig deeper into growing concerns with respect to voting in Pennsylvania I’m hosting a forum on voting that you’re welcome to attend. The roundtable discussion will take place this Friday,...
read moreToday, September 26, is National Voter Registration Day
Today is National Voter Registration Day! This is an important opportunity to raise awareness about your right as an American. Right now, there are 8.6 million registered voters in Pennsylvania, but another 1.5 million Pennsylvanians are of voting age but not...
read moreMust Stop No Health Care/TrumpCare Bill
Far-right members of Congress are at it again. The U.S. Senate majority are working to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act and a vote could come as soon as next week. The new "Cassidy-Graham Bill" would slash federal spending on health care and puts state-level...
read more2017
10.17.2017: ‘Pathways to Pardons’ Event This Thursday at Drexel University
10.5.2017: Join Us at Neighborhood Fall Festival Oct. 14
9.27.2017: Friday Roundtable to Focus on Voter Access
9.26.2017: Today is National Voter Registration Day
9.22.2017: Must Stop No Health Care/TrumpCare Bill
8.30.2017: How You Can Help Hurricane Harvey Survivors
8.17.2017: We Must Not Be Silent
8.11.2017: Due to Inclement Weather Forecast, Tomorrow’s Block Party with a Purpose is Postponed
8.7.2017: Honoring Voting Rights Act & Increasing Voter Participation
8.3.2017: You’re Invited: Neighborhood Block Party with a Purpose!
7.25.2017: Shame! Health Care Repeal Effort Moves Forward
6.30.2017: There’s Still Time to Sign Up for Summer Reading Program
6.28.207: Absurd! Senate OKs Guns in Classrooms
6.23.2017: Unequal and Insufficient Education Funding in PA Must Come To An End
6.1.2017: First Time Homebuyer Seminar & Energy Conservation Workshop
5.12.2017: #1 Issue in Education – PA’s Unequal Education Funding! Worst in the Nation!
5.8.2017: Success Story! Jobs, Community Revitalization and Fresh Food Come Back to the Neighborhood
5.2.2017: Signups for Obamacare on the Rise
4.26.2017: Attack on Planned Parenthood Comes to the Pennsylvania Senate
4.5.2017: It’s Tax Return Season; See if You Qualify for Tax Credit
4.4.2017: Remembering Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr
2.27.2017: Join Us at Wednesday’s Community Forum
2.22.2017: Turn Anger Into Action at My Upcoming Forum!
2.21.2017: PA Budget Hearings Viewing Schedule
2.13.2017: Fighting Bad Policies that Hurt Women, Families and Workers
2.7.2017: ALERT: Watch Gov. Wolf’s Budget Address Today
2.7.2017: Today is National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
1.31.2017: Today is the LAST DAY to Sign Up for the Affordable Care Act
1.26.2017: You can STILL enroll in Obamacare!
1.19.2017: Just 11 days left to enroll in Obamacare!
1.18.2017: January 31st is the deadline to enroll in Obamacare!
1.4.2017: Time to Mobilize with Senator Hughes & Rev. Al Sharpton
1.1.2017: Happy New Year from Senator Hughes & Sheryl Lee Ralph-Hughes
2016
12.22.2016: You’re Invited to Celebrate Senator Hughes’ Inauguration
12.14.2016: Live Telephone Town Hall Meeting – December 15th at 6 p.m.
11.30.2016: Education Inequality In Its Most Basic Form
11.29.2016: Join Me for a Historic Holiday Package Drive
11.9.2016: Join Senator Hughes to Honor Military Families
10.24.2016: Do You Know Where Your Money is Going?
10.11.2016: Today is the last day to register to vote in Pennsylvania!
9.21.2016: Join Senator Hughes & Mothers in Charge for a Day of Remembrance
9.20.2016: Courts Must Step in to Ensure Fair Funding of Public Education
9.12.2016: Join Senator Hughes to Support Fair Funding Lawsuit for Public Schools
8.24.2016: ALERT: Flood victims in Louisiana need your help!
7.18.2016: “A New Deal for a New Urban America”
7.7.2016: Update on PA Budget from Senator Hughes
6.30.2016: PA Senate Passes 2016-2017 Budget with New Investments in Education
6.21.2016: Pennsylvania’s Teacher Crisis
6.16.2016: Enough is Enough! Here’s My Plan to Stop Gun Violence
5.20.2016: Investing In Summer Jobs and Year Round Internships for Young People
5.13.2016: Audit Finds Charter School Law is Strangling Philly Schools
4.6.2016: Addressing the Lead Problem in PA
3.24.2016: Final 2015-16 Republican Budget
3.16.2016: Another Bad Republican Budget Properly Vetoed
2.22.2016: PA Budget Hearings Viewing Schedule
2.9.2016: ALERT: Watch Gov. Wolf’s Budget Address Today
1.6.2016: Common Sense Gun Reform
2015
12.29.2015: Gov. Wolf Prevents School Closings with Line-Item Budget Veto
12.19.2015: Check Out the Next Big Project in West Philly’s Revitalization
12.14.2015: Here’s What I’m Doing on the Anniversary of the Mass Shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary
12.7.2015: PA Senate Votes 43-7 to Send PA Budget with Record Education Increase to House to End Budget Impasse
12.3.2015: Getting Results: New Affordable Housing Coming to West Philly
11.25.2015: Senator Hughes Invites You to Unleash the Power of Age Expo for Adults 50 +
11.9.2015: Check out my latest opinion piece in the Harrisburg Patriot-News
11.5.2015: Senator Vincent Hughes Celebrates Veterans Day 2015 by Honoring African American Women Veterans
10.22.2015: Help Me Stop the Next Act of Gun Violence
10.15.2015: Pennsylvania Needs a Budget, So GOP Must Compromise
10.7.2015: Republicans Pick Drillers Over Schools, Again
10.4.2015: The deadline to register to vote in the November 3rd election is October 5th.
9.24.2015: Hitting the Streets for Quality Health Insurance!
9.18.2015: You’ll Never Believe the Latest Republican Budget Stunt
8.27.2015: #BREAKING: You Won’t Believe What This Poll Says About the Republican Position on the State Budget
8.18.2015: Please share this video #TaxShaleFundSchools
8.13.2015: You Won’t Believe What’s Happening to Test Scores in Our Public Schools
7.29.2015: Here’s How to Beat the Heat
7.2.2015: Why Governor Tom Wolf Vetoed the Republican Budget
6.25.2015: Major Announcement: More Summer Jobs for Philly Youth!
6.23.2015: Three Reasons Why We Need More Funds for All Schools – Especially Philadelphia
6.8.2015: Live Telephone Town Hall Meeting – June 9th at 6 p.m.
6.3.2015: Sen. Hughes Presents Save our Skills: Read to Succeed Program
5.18.2015: Sen. Hughes Introduces Historic $3.8 Billion Cut in Property Taxes
4.7.2015: Senator Hughes Welcomes Governor Wolf to 7th Senatorial District in West Philadelphia
4.6.2015: Help Support Drexel Student Zakiya James
3.27.2015: Confronting Racism in PA: Why I Am Supporting Gov. Wolf’s Nominee for PA State Police
3.24.2015: Senator Hughes to Appear on Pa. Cable Network TONIGHT
3.16.2015: ALERT: Senate Budget Hearings Start Today
3.3.2015: ALERT: Governor Wolf to Deliver Budget Address
2.6.2015: Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day Resources
1.14.2015: Top Hughes Staffer Chosen by Governor-Elect to be Budget Secretary
1.12.2015: Important Deadline to Sign up for High Quality, Very Affordable Health Care is Approaching
1.6.2015: Private Panel Discussion & Screening of the Movie Selma
2014
12.24.2014: A Season for Giving Back
12.8.2014: More Bad News for PA: Gov. Corbett Announces $2 Billion Budget Hole
12.2.2014: Additional resources for World AIDS Day
12.1.2014: A Message from Senator Hughes and Sheryl Lee Ralph on World AIDS Day
11.18.2014: Senator Hughes Can Help Get Health Coverage for You and Your Family!
11.13.2014: Senator Hughes Re-Elected Senate Democratic Appropriations Chairman
11.10.2014: Please Join Me on Veterans Day
11.5.2014: Please Join Me on Veterans Day
11.3.2014: Vote for Our Schools and Our Kids!
10.31.2014: Your Right to Vote is Under Attack!
10.04.2014: Repaving City Line Ave Thanks to Act 89
09.05.2014: Update on your Credit Score
08.26.2014: Documenting School Conditions in Philadelphia
07.10.2014: Save our Skills Summer Reading Program
07.07.2014: 5th Annual Community of Giving Blood Drives in Memory of E. Steven Collins
6.18.2014: Solution #2 for PA’s Budget Deficit & Education Funding Crisis: Shale Tax for Schools
4.25.2014: PHEAA Financial Aid For College Deadline Approaching!
4.14.2014: Time to Tax Natural Gas Drilling to Fund Education
4.3.2014: Tomorrow: Breaking the Silence on Mental Wellness
3.26.2014: Register Now for Breaking the Silence: A Summit on Mental Wellness
3.25.2014: Action Alert: Fund Our Schools / Tax Marcellus Shale Rally
3.18.2014: Time is Running Out to Get Affordable Health Insurance
2.18.2014: Join Senator Hughes THIS Saturday to Get Health Insurance
2.12.2014: Gov. Corbett’s “Healthy PA” vs. Healthcare for All
2.10.2014: Governor Corbett’s “Proposed” 2014-2015 Education Budget
1.28.2014: West Philly, Get Covered Thanks to Obamacare!
1.22.2014: The Affordable Care Act is Working
1.17.2014: Test Scores Fall Because of Education Funding Cuts
1.16.2014: Mr. President: Don’t Buy Governor Corbett’s Health-care Plan
2013
12.11.2013: PA Senate Honors the Life of Nelson Mandela
11.26.2013: Senate Democrats Offer Plan to Create 80,000 Jobs to Put People Back to Work
11.19.2013: Help Available to Understand Health Insurance Options
10.30.2013: First in A Series: The Crisis in Education Funding!
10.1. 2013: Health Care for All: The Affordable Care Act/Obamacare Starts October 1, 2013! Enroll Now!
9.30.2013: Learn How to Get Health Coverage in the Insurance Marketplace
9.24.2013: Why It’s Time to Raise the Minimum Wage
8.14.2013: Tell the Governor to Send $45 million to Philly Schools
8.7.2013: Save Our Skills: Free Reading Program for Students
7.25.2013: Update on Philadelphia School District Funding Crisis: $138 Million response to $180 Million Request
7.11.2013: How We Can Create Jobs in PA
7.1.2013: Huge Victory in Senate on Medicaid Expansion
6.24.2013: Time for Big Push to Expand Health-Care
6.19.2013: How We Can Solve the Statewide School Funding Crisis
6.13.2013: Medicaid Expansion: Helps Others, Help Yourself
6.11.2013: Hughes Hosts “Welcome Home Hero: You’re Not Alone”
6.62013: PA Senate Passes Attack on Women’s Reproductive Health-Care Services
6.4.2013: 2013-14 State Budget -Stop the Cuts, Put the People First
5.7.2013: Free Dental Clinics in Pennsylvania
5.6.2013: Fresh Food Access Initiative for Urban Food Deserts
4.12.2013: Another Study Comes Out in Support of Medicaid
3.25.2013: Pennsylvania’s Job Picture: Wrong Direction, Unemployment Up, New Job Creation Down
3.8.2013: A True Look at Basic Education Funding In Pennsylvania
2.25.2013: Steep Federal Spending Cuts Will Have Serious Impacts on Pennsylvania
2.19.2013: Getting Philly Covered: The Promise and Opportunity of the New Health Care Law
2.19.2013: Senate Appropriations Committee 2013-14 Budget Hearings Begin Today
1.29.2013: Senate Democratic Appropriations Committee Hosts Health Care Reform Discussion
1.16.2013: President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden Unveil Proposals to Reduce Gun Violence
1.14.2013: Devastating Fire in West Philadelphia Highlights the Need for Fire Safety and Prevention Awareness
1.9.2013: Philadelphia School District Superintendent Releases Action Plan
1.8.2013: Senator Hughes Sworn-In to Fifth Full Term in PA Senate – Jobs to be Top Priority