Press Releases
PA Senate Democrats Share Statement on ‘Unserious’ Budget Exercise from Senate Republicans
Harrisburg, PA – October 21, 2025 – Today, the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus issued a statement following more budget delays that were led by Senate Republicans. “It is deeply frustrating to see Senate Republicans waste more time instead of coming to the table...
Senator Vincent Hughes Issues Statement Following Release of 2026 PA Affordable Care Act Health Insurance Rates
October 15, 2025 - Following the Pennsylvania Insurance Department’s (PID) release of the 2026 Affordable Care Act Health Insurance Rates, Senator Vincent Hughes, state Senate Democratic Appropriations Chair, shared this statement: “Healthcare is about to get more...
Senate Democrats Send Letter to Senate Republicans Calling for Immediate Passage of Bipartisan Budget Bill SB 160
HARRISBURG, PA − October 14, 2025 − Now that the Senate Republicans’ Budget Impasse has gone on for 106 days and counting, all twenty three members of the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus signed onto a letter urging Senate Republicans to call the Senate back...
Lawmakers Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Prohibit Student Cellphone Use in Pennsylvania Schools
HARRISBURG – October 10, 2025 − Citing the steep decline in youth mental health and academic performance during the past decade, Sens. Vincent Hughes (D-7), Steve Santarsiero (D-10), and Devlin Robinson (R-37) today announced the introduction of bipartisan legislation...
PA Senate Democratic Leadership Shares Statement on Latest House Budget Legislation
Harrisburg PA − October 8, 2025 − Today, Senator Jay Costa, Senate Democratic Leader, and Senator Vincent Hughes, Senate Democratic Appropriations Chair, shared the following statement after the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed a 25-26 budget for the...
PA Senators Collett, Hughes, Pisciottano Urge Feds to Protect Vaccine Access, Introduce Bill to Require Vaccine Insurance Coverage
Harrisburg, PA − September 20, 2025 − Following Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) meetings last week, Pennsylvania State Senators Maria Collett (D-Montgomery), Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) and Nick Pisciottano (D-Allegheny)...
Senator Hughes Calls on SEPTA to Cancel Planned Fare Increases
Philadelphia, PA − September 11, 2025 − Today, Senator Vincent Hughes shared a letter with SEPTA Board Members to express his disapproval of fare increases that are still planned to go into effect on September 14, 2025. A full copy of the letter is below and...
Senator Hughes Announces Over $14.9M in Funding to Support Victim Services in Philadelphia and Montgomery County
September 10, 2025 – Senator Vincent Hughes, Senate Democratic Appropriations Chair, announced more than $14.9M in funding for Philadelphia and Montgomery County to strengthen victim support and provide critical recovery resources. The grants were awarded by...
Senator Vincent Hughes Releases Statement on Ongoing Public Transportation Negotiations
August 31, 2025- Philadelphia, PA - Today, Senator Vincent Hughes, state Senate Democratic Appropriations Chair, issued a statement following SEPTA’s announcement that fare increases and regional rail cuts will be paused in accordance with a Common Pleas...
Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Democratic Appropriations Chair Vincent Hughes Urge Senate Republicans to Return to Negotiations as House Votes Down Unserious Budget and Transit Bills
HARRISBURG, PA – August 13, 2025 – Today, the House Rules Committee and the House Appropriations Committee voted down HB 257 and SB 160, respectively. Passed in the Senate yesterday evening, these bills represented unserious and unagreed-to budget proposals that were...
Senator Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Democratic Appropriations Chair Vincent Hughes Express Frustration, Urgency as Senate Republicans Fail to Meaningfully Advance Budget Negotiations, Transit Funding
HARRISBURG, PA – August 12, 2025 – Today, the Senate of Pennsylvania convened for session. Instead of advancing bills to bring the 2025-26 budget process to a close and to fully fund public transit, roads, and bridges, Senate Republicans chose to advance HB 257, a...
Lawmakers, and Advocates Sound the Alarm on Looming Burdensome SNAP Rules
PHILADELPHIA, PA – July 18, 2025 – On Friday morning, State Senator Art Haywood (D-4) was joined by fellow lawmakers and nonprofit leaders at a press conference in Philadelphia to sound the alarm on new federal work requirements for SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition...
Senator Vincent Hughes Announces New Laptops for Philadelphia Nonprofits
PHILADELPHIA, PA – July 18, 2025 – State Senator Vincent Hughes, Senate Democratic Appropriations Chair, has announced Pennsylvania Digital Connectivity Technology Program (DCTP) grants for two organizations in the 7th senatorial district. “Pennsylvania is taking...
Senate Democratic Leaders Urge Senate Republicans to Act After House Passes Budget Bill
HARRISBURG, PA - July 14, 2025 – Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa and Senate Democratic Appropriations Chair Vincent Hughes released the following statement after the House of Representatives passed HB 1330, an important step to closing out this year’s budget: ...
PA Senator Vincent Hughes Issues Statement on Passage of Republican “Big” Bill in the US Senate
July 1, 2025 – Today, Pennsylvania Senator Vincent Hughes, Senate Democratic Appropriations Chair, issued the following statement in response to the passage of President Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill” in the US Senate. If the legislation now passes in the US House of...
Senate Democrats Continue to Sound Alarm on Catastrophic Impacts of Trump’s Reconciliation Bill on Healthcare, Hospitals, and Food Access Across Pennsylvania
HARRISBURG, PA − June 30, 2025 − On Monday, June 30, members of the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus gathered in the East Wing Rotunda to draw attention to the urgency of stopping Trump’s domestic policy bill from becoming law. In its current form, the bill poses an existential threat to Medicaid, SNAP, and rural hospitals across Pennsylvania.
Senator Hughes Announces Over $14M for Affordable Housing Development in Philadelphia and Montgomery County
June 13, 2025 − Senator Vincent Hughes, Senate Democratic Appropriations Chair, announced over $14M in Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement Fund (PHARE) grants for affordable housing projects in Philadelphia and Montgomery County. The...
Senator Hughes Announces Over $1.6M for Community Health, Safety, and Abuse Recovery in Philadelphia and Montgomery County
June 12, 2025 – Senator Vincent Hughes, Senate Democratic Appropriations Chair, announced over $1.6M in grants for Philadelphia and Montgomery County to support substance abuse education and recovery, victims of child abuse, and violence prevention. The grants were...
Senator Vincent Hughes’ Prescription Drug Cost Transparency Legislation Passes the Pennsylvania Senate
Harrisburg, PA – June 12, 2025 – On June 10, 2025, Senate Bill 95 passed the Senate with a unanimous vote. The Senate Bill included Amendment A00975, introduced by Senator Hughes, that would require pharmacies in Pennsylvania to disclose cost information about...
House and Senate Democrats Fight to Protect Medicaid and SNAP Funding, Call on Republicans to Break Silence
Sharing personal stories, statewide data, and personal experiences, legislators urge Republicans at the state and federal level to join them in opposing cuts to critical social safety net programs HARRISBURG, PA − June 2, 2025 − On Monday, June 2, Senate and...