Press Releases
Democratic Senators Detail Impact of Trump Actions on Affordable Care Act in Pennsylvania
HARRISBURG, October 18, 2017 — State Senate Democrats today blasted President Trump’s latest actions regarding the Affordable Care Act in Pennsylvania and detailed the debilitating impact on Pennsylvanians that his latest acts will have...
Hughes, Yudichak, Brewster Sponsor Three-Pronged Manufacturing Initiative
Harrisburg – October 11, 2017 – A new legislative initiative designed to spur manufacturing and job creation should be a priority for Senate consideration, according to Sens. Vincent J. Hughes (D-Philadelphia), John T. Yudichak (D-Luzerne) and James R. Brewster (D-Allegheny), the prime sponsors of the plan.
Hughes Statement on PA Supreme Court Ruling on William Penn School District
HARRISBURG, September 28, 2017 — State Sen. Vincent Hughes applauded the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s decision today on William Penn School District v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania school funding case. Six school districts, along with several parents, initially filed...
Sen. Hughes to Host Roundtable Discussion on Voter Access
PHILADELPHIA, September 25, 2017 — To dig deeper into growing concerns with respect to voting in Pennsylvania, provide an update on national issues around voting and discuss a package of legislation calling for greater voter access in Pennsylvania, state Sen....
Sen. Hughes Comments on Pennsylvania’s Credit Downgrade
HARRISBURG, September 20, 2017 — State Sen. Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery), the Democratic chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement on Pennsylvania’s credit rating downgrade by S&P Global Ratings due to a failure...
Hughes Introduces ‘It’s on Us PA’ Bill Expanding Office of Safe Schools to Include Colleges
HARRISBURG, September 6, 2017 — As part of ongoing efforts to prevent sexual violence on college campuses, state Sen. Vincent Hughes has introduced legislation that would expand Pennsylvania's Office of Safe Schools to cover postsecondary institutions. This expansion,...
Senate Democrats Hail Gov. Wolf’s Call for Testing of Young Children
Senate Democrats have been in the forefront of efforts to address exposure to lead Harrisburg – Sept. 1, 2017 – State Sen. Vincent J. Hughes and Senate Democrats applauded Gov. Tom Wolf’s support of universal testing of children under the age of 2 to determine their...
Sen. Hughes Invites Community to Upcoming ‘Neighborhood Block Party with a Purpose’
PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 8, 2017 — To celebrate the relocation of his Philadelphia district office, state Sen. Vincent Hughes, along with his wife Sheryl Lee Ralph, his staff and the City Ave Special Services District, invites the community to an upcoming Neighborhood Block...
Sen. Hughes Comments on Senate Passage of State Budget Revenue Package
HARRISBURG, July 28, 2017 — State Sen. Vincent Hughes released the following statement on the Senate’s passage of a package of revenue bills needed to fund the 2017-18 state budget. “This revenue package, though imperfect, represents a bipartisan compromise among four...
Lawmakers Highlight Need to End Budget Impasse, Fund State-Related Universities
PHILADELPHIA, July 20, 2017 — As Pennsylvania prepares to enter a fourth week without a state budget revenue package, a budget bill that funds the five state-related universities has become embroiled in the state budget funding standoff. State lawmakers today...
Hughes: ‘Austere’ Budget Takes Steps to Move PA Forward
HARRISBURG, June 30, 2017 — The Pennsylvania Senate today approved a $31.99 billion state budget plan that, although austere, will move Pennsylvania forward, according to state Sen. Vincent Hughes, the Democratic chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “This...
Lawmakers Unveil Legislation Creating Trust Fund for Youth Impacted by Prison System
HARRISBURG, June 21, 2017 — A bipartisan group of state senators and Pennsylvania Department of Corrections Secretary John Wetzel today unveiled legislation to establish a public charitable trust to help children impacted by the prison system and reverse the direction...
Lawmakers Rally to Denounce ‘Repeal and Replace’ Health Care Plan
HARRISBURG, June 26, 2017 — Lawmakers from the state Senate and House of Representatives, along with Wolf Administration officials and advocates, denounced the latest attempt in Washington to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act during a rally today at the State...
Sen. Hughes Unveils Legislation Addressing School Funding Inequities
PHILADELPHIA, June 15, 2017 — State Sen. Vincent Hughes, along with state and local advocates, today unveiled legislation that would provide funding to upgrade school facilities and ensure education equity in public schools. The news conference was held at Cassidy...
Lawmakers Announce Voting Access Improvement Package
HARRISBURG, June 13, 2017 — A group of Democratic lawmakers announced a package of bills today aimed at increasing voter participation in Pennsylvania. "We are committed to reforming our election process by improving voting access and...
Brewster, Hughes React to New State Report on Charter Schools
Harrisburg – May 24, 2017 – State Sens. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland) and Vincent J. Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) reacted to today’s release of the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee report, which examined the financial impact of charter schools...
Hughes Announces $2.2 Million for Traffic Signal Improvements in Upper Dublin
UPPER DUBLIN, May 12, 2017—Upper Dublin Township has been awarded significant state funding to upgrade traffic signals, according to state Sen. Vincent Hughes. The $2.2 million in funds will go toward the installation of adaptive traffic signal equipment and software...
As Tax Deadline Looms, Hughes, Torsella Urge Pennsylvanians to Claim Tax Credit
PHILADELPHIA, April 4, 2017 — With the deadline for taxpayers to file their income taxes just two weeks away, state Sen. Vincent Hughes and state Treasurer Joe Torsella today urged Pennsylvanians to claim every cent of cash they may be owed by the federal Earned...
Lawmakers’ Plan Offers Middle Class Tax Cut, Ensures Wealthiest Pay ‘Fair Share’
HARRISBURG, March 22, 2017 — State Sens. Art Haywood and Vincent Hughes, along with the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center, today announced a plan to generate additional revenue to address the commonwealth’s deficit by ensuring that the wealthiest Pennsylvanians...
Hughes: ‘Turn Anger into Action’ at Upcoming Community Forum
PHILADELPHIA, February 22, 2017 — State Sen. Vincent Hughes invites the public to participate in an upcoming community forum that will focus on public engagement on legislative issues in Harrisburg and Washington, DC. The community forum will take place on Wednesday,...