On the Issues

Rates still lagging among children in our communities. Take this opportunity to protect them.Nearly two years into this pandemic and now a year after vaccines became available, low-income neighborhoods and communities of color are still lagging behind everyone in...

$3.75 billion would be the largest in education funding everThis week, along with House Democrats and education advocates, I announced a school budget plan that would represent the largest investment in public education in Pennsylvania history. The $3.75 billion...

Additional Funds Raise State Investment to $45M This week, I was joined in West Philadelphia by Gov. Tom Wolf, gun violence victims and violence prevention providers to announce a $15 million increase in funding to further support grassroots prevention efforts in...

ARP funds provide new help for those who need coverage, but a deadline looms.Pennie is Pennsylvania’s official destination for shopping for quality health insurance plans and accessing financial assistance.  If you are not covered through work or another...

We can expect 1.5 million jobs a year, new roads, clean water and a wider internet​President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris delivered this week on an important promise to make historic investments in American infrastructure that will take steps to mitigate...

ARP funds provide additional savings for budget minded consumersIf you, or someone you know, needs health insurance coverage, now is the time to take those important steps toward peace of mind and healthy savings.  For more than a decade, the Affordable Care Act...

State providing a ‘webinar’ to help applicants learn the process Pennsylvania has made great strides in getting people vaccinated to end the COVID-19 pandemic.  While two-thirds of the total population is at least partially vaccinated, communities of color are...

$7 billion sits in a vault while real need goes unmet across the stateThree months ago, shortly after the 2021-22 state budget was passed, I gathered allies and advocates at City Hall in Philadelphia to talk about where we thought the budget would fall short on its...

Join us this Saturday for an event filled with fun things to do and lots of help in preparing for the upcoming election. We’ll be promoting public safety, including some senior self-defense demonstrations, while also helping people defend their right to vote with some...

Pennsylvania’s current state budget contains more than $24 million to help community groups intervene in the surge of violence that has spread through our neighborhoods since the pandemic started.  However, with only two weeks to go before the application deadline,...

We continue to push for more help for these critical small businesses After concerted and coordinated effort with our House colleagues, image and hair care businesses that were hit hard by the pandemic will now be eligible for $20 million in relief funding if they...

Income Affected by Pandemic? Apply now. Don’t wait. The Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) is available for renters of residential properties who are at risk of eviction or utility shutoffs due to hardship caused by COVID-19. Landlords can apply for assistance...

Hear about that and other topics on Wednesday Telephone Town HallAs we begin to emerge from the global pandemic, some are faring better than others and many questions remain for those who were hit hard over the past 16 months. The Biden Administration has stepped up...

PA hasn’t seen new minimum wage legislation in 15 years. On the 15th anniversary of the signing, state Senator Hughes and Sen. Christine M. Tartaglione marked the enactment of Pennsylvania’s last minimum wage legislation with a reenactment and rally with Gov. Tom Wolf...

Biden signs bipartisan bill into law, but struggles continueAfter Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on September 22, 1862, it took more than two years of bloody warfare for its goal of ending slavery in the United States was fully realized. By June...

The money is there. Is the courage?With a projected state budget surplus of more than $3 billion and more than $7 billion in federal aid idled by inaction, Senate & House Democrats gathered in front of local schools across Pennsylvania Friday to call for immediate...

We need everyone to get the vaccinetSheryl and I were proud to host five vaccine clinics in the community this weekend where we had about 1,000 people get the COVID-19 vaccine as a part of our #MayDayChallenge. We are still using the #StopTheVirus campaign to help...

Have questions about the vaccine? Get them answered Thursday eveningAs you may have already seen, Sheryl and I are partnering with health care providers, faith-based and community organizations to provide FREE vaccine clinics at five locations in the 7th Senatorial...

Vaccine clinics at 5 locations in the 7th Senatorial DistrictAs you know by now, Sheryl and I have launched our  #StopTheVirus campaign to help beat COVID-19 and begin transitioning to our new normal. A key part of our efforts has been raising awareness and sharing...

April 24 its National Prescription Drug Take Back Day In recognition of National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on April 24, I am partnering with Gateway Health, Town Watch, the Philadelphia Police Department, Shop Rite of Parkside and the Parkside Association of...

Montco program continues to accept applications Philadelphia has opened its rental assistance program to tenants for Phase 4 of its COVID-19 relief efforts. The city aims to help 10,000 to 15,000 residents with the $97 million in federal funding authorized to help pay...

Sen. Hughes, Rep. Cephas and Councilmember Jones want you to help #StopThe VirusCall 215-879-6625 to reserve your spotThose eligible in Phase 1A include: Patient-facing healthcare workers Long-term care facility residents and staff Those eligible in Phase 1B include:...

Pennsylvania’s current school funding formula creates a separate and unequal system that hurts children all across the commonwealth. I stood with a number of elected officials, education advocates, students and teachers April 5 – a day after the 53rd anniversary of...

The COVID-19 vaccine will soon be available to all adults in PA, sign up for the shot Sheryl and I have been working hard to get the word out about our #StopTheVirus campaign and how you can help by doing three things: get a mask, get the test, get the vaccine. That...

The school funding lawsuit will have an echoing impact on the public education system in PA I want to make you aware of a very important digital event coming up this week. The Urban League of Philadelphia is partnering with several partner organizations, including the...

There is help if you need it for rent and utilities, sign up today Good news for people those who have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and have had trouble paying rent: Rental and utility assistance programs are open and on the horizon. Montgomery County’s Rent...

Investment will help provide hope, opportunities to young people I recently presented at $1 million state development grant check to our friends at Philadelphia Youth Basketball (PYB), which is going to support The Alan Horwitz ‘Sixth Man’ Center Powered and Operated...

Get the latest public health information, mental health resources and moreSheryl and I remain committed to connecting our communities with trusted messages from trusted messengers through our #StopTheVirus campaign. We want you to join us for the latest conversation...

Get informed, stay up-to-date with the latest informationThe Pennsylvania Senate Appropriations Committee has commenced 2021-22 Budget hearings and we have begun hearing from state agencies about their financial outlook for the next fiscal year., under Gov. Tom Wolf’s...

Get a mask, get the test, get the vaccine; We are in this together!This week was a big week for the #StopTheVirus campaign Sheryl and I have launched. We got 5,000 masks to seniors in the 7th Senatorial District and will continue to deliver masks through the end of...

Funding will help organization get food to more neighbors in the regionShare Food Program helped feed 700,000 neighbors annually prior to the pandemic and now the organization is distributing food to more than 1 million people in the region. On Monday, Share Food...