Press Releases
Senator Hughes thanks PHEAA Board for funding student grant program, avoiding cuts
Senator Vincent J. Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) applauded the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) Board of Directors for ensuring recipients of the Pennsylvania State Grant Program did not lose any funding, pending passages of the state...
Senator Hughes requests mayor, superintendent authorize aggressive deep-cleaning in “toxic” Philadelphia schools, asks for community to share conditions with state officials
PHILADELPHIA – May 23, 2018 – State Senator Vincent J. Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery County) is calling on city leaders to authorize deep-cleans in “toxic” Philadelphia schools and is asking the community to take action in the fight against toxic schools. Pointing...
Senator Hughes calls on legislators to address the state’s public school infrastructure after release of final PlanCON report
HARRISBURG – May 23, 2018 – After the release of the Pennsylvania Public School Building Construction and Reconstruction Advisory Committee (Plan CON) report Wednesday morning, Democratic Appropriations Committee Chairman Vincent J. Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery)...
Hughes, Farnese Call for Creation of Pennsylvania Center for Gun Violence Research
Harrisburg – May 3, 2018 – Horrific school shootings have prompted calls for banning assault weapons, posting armed guards in school buildings and other school safety upgrades. Two Philadelphia senators say we need to do more. Sen. Vincent J. Hughes...
Senator Hughes calls for Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission investigation into discrimination incident at York County golf club
HARRISBURG – April 25, 2018 – State Senator Vincent J. Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery County) called for the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission to investigate an incident of reported discrimination over the weekend in York County. In addition to calling...
Senator Hughes joins Senator Browne and Senator Martin in proposing new school threat reporting system
HARRISBURG – April 24, 2018 – Bipartisan legislation introduced by Senators Vincent J. Hughes (D-7), Pat Browne (R-16), and Scott Martin (R-13) to help reduce school violence by creating a new school threat monitoring system unanimously passed the Senate Education...
Senator Hughes congratulates staff member becoming U.S. citizen on state Senate floor
Harrisburg – April 19, 2018 – To a standing ovation in Senate Chambers, Senator Vincent J. Hughes congratulated a legislative staffer who recently completed her nine-year journey to becoming a United States citizen. Before Lynette Carter, 26, took the oath of...
Senator Hughes, Pennsylvania Senate Honors the 1977-1978 Division II National Champion Cheyney University Men’s Basketball Team
Harrisburg – April 17, 2018 – State Senator Vincent J. Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) and the entire Pennsylvania Senate today honored the 40th anniversary of the Cheyney University men’s basketball team winning the 1977-1978 Division II Men’s National...
Hughes Highlights Approval of State Funding for Lead Remediation Pilot Program
Harrisburg – April 12, 2018 – Senate Democratic Appropriations chair Vincent J. Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) said today that he was pleased that the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Authority (PHFA) has approved a $300,000 grant for the Home Free Lead Remediation...
U.S. Sen. Casey, state Sen. Hughes Call for Federal Investigation of Racial Discrimination in Housing
Washington – April 3, 2018 – Recent revelations concerning potential racial discrimination in residential lending -- notably in Philadelphia -- have led U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pennsylvania) and state Sen. Vincent J. Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) to call on U.S....
Senate Democrats Propose Legislation to Bolster Farmers, Agriculture Production
Harrisburg – March 12, 2018 – Bolstering farms and farmers, promoting the use of locally produced food and significantly increasing a tax credit to spur job creation and investment in rural communities is the focus of a package of bills offered by three state Senate Democrats.
Hughes Statement on Court Hearing: Lawsuit Will Spur Action on School Funding
Harrisburg – March 7, 2018 — Senate Democratic Appropriations Chair Vincent J. Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) issued the following statement concerning today’s Commonwealth Court hearing on fair funding for Pennsylvania’s public schools. “We are not doing enough...
Senator Hughes Statement on Congressional Redistricting
Harrisburg – February 23, 2018 – State Sen. Vincent J. Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) statement on congressional redistricting: "While the map ordered by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court addresses the problem of political gerrymandering -- and that was absolutely...
Hughes: State Attorney General Announces Investigation into “Redlining” in Philadelphia
HARRISBURG, PA – February 22, 2018 – Senator Vincent J. Hughes (D-Philadelphia) pressed the issue of “redlining” and discriminatory housing practices within Philadelphia during the budget hearing of Pennsylvania State Attorney General Josh Shapiro.
Hughes: State Grant to Bolster Housing Stock in Conshohocken
Harrisburg – February 20, 2018 – Conshohocken is slated to receive a state grant of $112,875 to bring households into compliance with local and state building code standards, state Sen. Vincent J. Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) said today. “This state grant...
Hughes Questions State Treasurer about Redlining in Philadelphia
HARRISBURG, PA – February 20, 2018 – During budget hearings with State Treasurer Joe Torsella, Sen. Vincent J. Hughes (D-Philadelphia) raised a recent report about redlining and housing discrimination specifically in the city of Philadelphia. Hughes cited a report by...
Redlining in Philadelphia, Hughes Seeks Answers, Accountability
PHILADELPHIA – February 15, 2018 – State Sen. Vincent J. Hughes (D-Philadelphia) reacted angrily to media reports about the continued “redlining” of neighborhoods in Philadelphia, pledging to seek answers via inquires of state officials when they appear before the...
Hughes to Gov: New Maps Must Adhere to Voting Rights Act
Harrisburg – February 9, 2018 – In a letter to Gov. Tom Wolf on the preparation of new congressional maps, state Sen. Vincent J. Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) reminded the governor that the new districts must adhere to the provisions of the Voting Rights Act of...
Hughes: Jobs, Workforce Development, Education Investments Highlight Budget Proposal
Harrisburg – February 6, 2018 – Senate Democratic Appropriations Chair Vincent J. Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) issued the following statement regarding the governor’s $32.9 billion General Fund budget proposal for 2018-2019. The proposed budget represents a 3.1...
Senator Hughes Joins the Call for Affordable Higher Education For All Pennsylvania Students
Harrisburg, PA – January 23, 2018 – Senator Vincent Hughes spoke today in support of affordable higher education for Pennsylvanians. Standing with advocates and researches from the Association of State College & University Faculty, Keystone Research Center,...