COVID-19 Archives

House and Senate Lawmakers Announce Relief Plan for Rental Assistance Fund

February 16, 2022

HARRISBURG − February 16, 2022 − Lawmakers from the state House and Senate held a news conference today to outline plans to restore Pennsylvania’s depleted Emergency Rental Assistance Program and help thousands whose incomes were affected by the pandemic.

Sen. Hughes issues statement in response to U.S. Senate approving the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Saturday

March 6, 2021

Philadelphia, PA − March 6, 2021 − State Senator Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery), who also serves as the Democratic chairman of the state Senate Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Senate passing the $1.9...

#StopTheVirus: Join Sen. Hughes, Sheryl Lee Ralph-Hughes’ May Day Challenge

February 18, 2021

#StopTheVirus: Join Sen. Hughes, Sheryl Lee Ralph-Hughes’ May Day Challenge Get a mask, get the test, get the vaccine; We are in this together! Sheryl and I announced our #StopTheVirus campaign Thursday morning, with the goal of getting out information about the...

Sen. Hughes touts passage of critical COVID-19 relief legislation that includes key rental assistance, small business grant provisions

February 5, 2021

PHILADELPHIA — February 5, 2021 — State Senator Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) touted the Pennsylvania General Assembly’s action to drive out COVID-19 relief for vulnerable residents Friday after Senate Bill 109 was sent to Gov. Tom Wolf for signature. The...

Big Win for PA renters and small businesses!

February 5, 2021

Big Win for PA renters and small businesses! General Assembly sends COVID-19 relief package to Gov. Wolf for signature I am pleased to announce the Pennsylvania General Assembly has passed legislation that would provide much-needed aid to our people and communities in...

City opens applications for COVID-19 Restaurant and Gym Relief Program

January 28, 2021

City opens applications for COVID-19 Restaurant and Gym Relief Program Funding will help organization get food to more neighbors in the region The city of Philadelphia has launched a new COVID-19 Restaurant and Gym Relief Program (RGRP) to help provide grants of up to...

State legislators push for eviction, foreclosure protections ahead of looming deadline

January 4, 2021

HARRISBURG – January 4, 2021 – State Senators Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) and Nikil Saval (D-Philadelphia) were joined by State Representatives Elizabeth Fiedler (D-Philadelphia) and Sara Innamorato (D-Allegheny) in a call to extend eviction and...

We are in this together, please mask up!

December 28, 2020

We are in this together, please mask up! Sen. Hughes and Sheryl Lee Ralph-Hughes want you to help protect public health I hope you and your loved ones had a great holiday, whether you celebrated Christmas, Hanukkah, are in the process of celebrating Kwanzaa. As we...

Sen. Hughes issues statement following Gov. Wolf initiating $145M transfer of funds to support PA small businesses

December 23, 2020

PHILADELPHIA – December 23, 2020 – State Senator Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) issued the following statement after Gov. Tom Wolf announced a transfer of $145 million from the commonwealth’s Workers’ Compensation Fund Security Fund at the...

PA CARES 21 plan would provide relief to 500K jobless PA’ians

December 9, 2020

PA CARES 21 plan would provide relief to 500K jobless PA’ians Senate Dems proposal is to provide $350 a week to those on pandemic-related unemployment programs for six additional weeks Last week, my colleagues in the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus and I...

Sen. Hughes unveils bold, innovative $4 billion COVID relief plan

December 4, 2020

Sen. Hughes unveils bold, innovative $4 billion COVID relief plan The PA CARES 21 plan is supported by the PA Senate Democratic Caucus People have been struggling and been bearing the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic. They need help and they need it now. Whether that’s...

Pa Senate Dems Unveil Innovative $4 Billion Pandemic Relief Plan to Help Front-Line Workers, Vulnerable Residents, Small Businesses and More

December 4, 2020

Pennsylvania − December 4, 2020 − Aiming to stimulate Pennsylvania’s economy by providing direct aid to workers, families, small businesses and other vulnerable populations, the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus announced a bold, innovative $4 billion pandemic...

Senator Hughes announces forthcoming proposal for no-cost COVID-19 vaccine coverage in PA

December 1, 2020

PHILADELPHIA— December 1, 2020 — Pointing to the need to protect public health and to ensure Pennsylvanians have access to the COVID-19 vaccine it becomes available to the public, state Senator Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) announced plans for a new...

Senators Costa & Hughes Slam Republican Inaction on Federal CARES Funds

October 29, 2020

HARRISBURG – October 29, 2020 – Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa and Senate Democratic Appropriations Chair Senator Vincent Hughes and members of the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus today slammed House and Senate Republicans for recessing the General Assembly until mid-November without passing legislation to drive out Pennsylvania’s remaining $1.3 billion in federal CARES funds to Pennsylvanians suffering the economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.

Gov. Wolf Announces Additional $96 Million for Small Businesses Impacted by COVID-19

October 5, 2020

Harrisburg, PA – Governor Tom Wolf today announced that an additional $96 million in state grants have been approved for 5,373 Pennsylvania small businesses that were impacted by the business closure order due to the COVID-19 public health crisis. Businesses in...

Sen. Hughes applauds additional $20 million in COVID-19 grants for Philadelphia’s small business

September 24, 2020

PHILADELPHIA – September 24, 2020 – State Senator Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) applauded the City of Philadelphia’s announcement that it would provide additional grant funding for small businesses in the city Thursday afternoon. The City of Philadelphia...

Our people need help Call Sen. Pat Toomey and demand he support the HEROES Act

August 28, 2020

Our people need help Call Sen. Pat Toomey and demand he support the HEROES Act Dial 202-224-3121 today and make your voice heard It has been nearly three weeks since the first round of federal COVID-19 relief measures and protections have expired. Negotiations on a...

PA Senate Democrats & Small Businesses Rally Behind Legislation Supporting Business Interruption Insurance Claims

August 27, 2020

Harrisburg, PA – August 27, 2020 – Today, State Senators Iovino, Street, Brewster, Schwank, and Hughes joined members of the Commonwealth’s small business community via Zoom to advocate for bipartisan legislation that would help Pennsylvania businesses file claims on...

Sen. Hughes announces $440K in COVID-19 small business relief grants awarded in the 7th Senatorial District

August 18, 2020

PHILADELPHIA — August 18, 2020 — A total of $440,000 in pandemic relief grants have been awarded to the businesses in the 7th Senatorial District, State Senator Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) announced Tuesday. The grants were awarded...

Sen. Hughes touts $50 million in hazard pay grants awarded to PA’s front-line businesses

August 17, 2020

PHILADELPHIA – August. 17, 2020 — State Senator Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) announced that $50 million in hazard pay grants had been recently awarded to Pennsylvania businesses through the Department of Community and Economic Development...

PA Senate Democrats & CDFI Network Announce $96 Million in Small Business Grants

August 10, 2020

Statewide, Pa. – August 10, 2020 – The Pennsylvania CDFI Network and the PA State Senator Democrats today announced $96 million in grant awards under the COVID-19 Relief Pennsylvania Statewide Small Business Assistance program. The small businesses that have been...

Join Sen. Hughes for a community conversation about educating Philadelphia children during the COVID-19 crisis

August 5, 2020

Philadelphia Community Stakeholders to lead dialogue on needs and concerns to ensure a successful school year Philadelphia’s public schools will begin the academic year online and I want to invite you to a conversation with the Philadelphia Community Stakeholders to...

Pennsylvanians need the HEROES Act

July 30, 2020

Pennsylvanians need the HEROES Act Tell Sen. Toomey to put people first and support the $3 trillion plan Our people need help. The U.S. economy has seen its worst drop in its history, unemployment claims are again on the rise, and COVID-19 cases continue to surge....

Tell Sen. Toomey to support the HEROES Act

July 29, 2020

Tell Sen. Toomey to support the HEROES Act Our people need a comprehensive recovery plan Our communities are still reeling from the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic and are in desperate need of help from the federal government. As a means to help those who are struggling...

New $50 million hazard pay program now accepting applications

July 17, 2020

New $50 million hazard pay program now accepting applications Grants would give $3 per hour pay increase to front-line workers Pennsylvania is offering $50 million in grants to provide hazard pay to front-line workers in a number of fields that sustain the...

Newsroom