On the Issues
Stop the Gun Violence
One Step Away from Commonsense Gun LawsSenator Hughes was joined by Senators Jimmy Dillon, Art Haywood, Tim Kearney, the Pennsylvania and Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, and community leaders to call attention to two commonsense gun bills that are one step...
National Night Out
Communities Making a Difference TogetherSenator Hughes celebrated National Night Out at 5 different neighborhoods around the district including Carroll Park, Parkside, Mantua, East Falls, and Strawberry Mansion. National Night Out was celebrated across the country on...
Over $1 Million Dollars in State and City Grants for Granahan Playground
Senator Hughes, Representative Cephas, and Councilman Curtis Jones Jr. came together to present over $1 million dollars in grants from the state and city of Philadelphia for improvements to the Granahan Playground and Recreational Center.
Senator Hughes In and Around the Neighborhood
Senator Hughes recently visited YEAH Philly to talk with young people about the important work they are doing to empower youth in their community and discourage gun violence.
Fund Our Schools Equitably and Adequately
When it comes to our schools, with a $9B surplus, a $5.1B Rainy Day Fund, a Commonwealth Court decision, and no Republican appeals, we should fund our schools NOW! If not now, when? In February, the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania ruled that our public school...
All About Education
Supporting Students and Teachers in the 7th District
Senator Hughes has been busy in the district visiting schools and introducing legislation to financially compensate future teachers.
STOP THE GUN VIOLENCE: Pass commonsense gun laws now!
Commonsense gun laws are one step away in PAThe Pennsylvania House of Representatives recently passed two, commonsense gun bills that would make communities throughout the commonwealth safer. The bills- HB1018 and HB 714- would: 1. Create a “Red Flag...
Investing $100 Million for Affordable Housing!
“This is a big deal.” - Senator Hughes Yesterday, I held a press conference at the New Courtland Apartments on Henry Avenue to highlight $100 million dollars that is now available through the Housing Options Program for the preservation and construction of new...
School Funding Ruling Major Victory for Students, Teachers, and All Pennsylvanians
We won’t stop fighting for our children! After years of fighting to make sure all of Pennsylvania’s students get a quality, 21st century education, this week, we scored a major victory. On Tuesday, a Commonwealth Court judge ruled Pennsylvania’s education funding...
Investing in Our Community Groups: $100+ Million in Grants Will Help Us Win the War Against the Gun Violence
Today, I want to share some good news with you that has been a long time coming. You may remember that back in September, my colleagues and I gathered at Mander Playground with Governor Wolf, to announce the availability of $100+ million in funding for community-based...
Deadline to apply for Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program December 31!
Did you know… …this year, the deadline for older and disabled Pennsylvanians to apply for rebates on rent and property taxes paid in 2021 was extended from June 30 to Dec. 31, 2022? The property tax/rent rebate program – which benefits eligible Pennsylvanians ages 65...
APPLY NOW: Deadline for Philadelphia Tax Relief Program *This* Thursday, Dec. 1!
Philadelphia homeowners, make sure you don’t miss this opportunity to save $1000+ on your real estate taxes! Did you know that If you own your home, you are eligible for the Homestead Exemption on your Real Estate Tax? But you must act fast: the deadline to apply is...
Attention Philly Voters! If you voted by mail-in/absentee ballot, make sure your ballot isn’t flawed, now!
Friends, as you all know, there is so much at stake this election and the last thing you want is for your mail-in or absentee ballot to not be counted due to a mistake. However, it appears as though that could be the case for many unless you take action...
Back by Popular Demand – Free Paper Shredding Event Nov. 12!
My team and I are once again hosting a free paper shredding event this Saturday, November 12. If you are looking for a way to securely get rid of documents that contain personal information like your social security, credit card, and bank account numbers, you don’t...
Apply Today for Student Loan Debt Relief!
During my time serving the people of the 7th senatorial district, I’ve been fighting to make higher education more affordable and less of a financial burden for families. Whether it’s working to launch the Keystone Scholars program, or pushing for the Pennsylvania...
Be Prepared: Now’s the Time to Explore Your Affordable Healthcare Options Ahead of Open Enrollment
For my entire time in the legislature, expanding access to health insurance to the uninsured and underinsured has been a central focus of my work. When we fully implemented the Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid expansion in 2015 with Governor Wolf, more than 1...
APPLY NOW: Important Funding for Violence Prevention, Prosecution, and Protection Programs Available!
Deadlines to apply are fast-approachingGun violence is plaguing communities across the commonwealth, and sadly, Philadelphia is feeling its impact in unimaginably painful ways. When I spoke at Tiffany Fletcher’s funeral, the mood was heavy and you could feel the...
Big Win in Harrisburg: Creating the Teacher Diversity Pipeline
Pennsylvania has a problem.A decade ago, the commonwealth certified 20,000 new teachers.Last year, that number was down to just 6,000. However, we recently enacted some important, bipartisan legislation to address that problem and others surrounding teacher...
APPLY TODAY: Applications Now Open for Violence Intervention & Prevention (VIP) Program
When it comes to preventing violence in cities and towns across the commonwealth, my colleagues and I made a key investment with the passing of the ’22-’23 budget: $105 million for the Violence Intervention and Prevention Program.
It takes an all-hands-on-deck approach to combat violence in Pennsylvania, and community-based groups and initiatives are doing tremendous work on the local level.
Got plans this Wednesday? Join us at the Discovery Center for our “Report to the People” Summer Community Briefing!
There is a lot going on in Harrisburg, and my team and I want to make sure you know all about it! That’s why I’m inviting you to join us this Wednesday, August 31, at the Discovery Center, 3401 Reservoir Drive, Philadelphia PA 19121 starting at 5:30 PM for a summer...
Getting Justice for Victims of Modern-Day Redlining in Philadelphia
After years of our team pushing for investigations, accountability, and justice, state and federal leaders announce historic settlementFor years, my team and I have fought for people of color to have the right to make their American dream of owning a home come true....
Dramatic Increase in Housing Funds a Key Component of New State Budget
Total investment in affordable housing jumps eight fold, from $55 million a year ago to more than $435 million over the next year For years before the COVID-19 pandemic ruptured the economy, we saw a growing housing crisis in low-income neighborhoods as...
Historic State Budget Takes Broad Approach to Community Safety
In addition to violence prevention grants, public safety and prosecution get a boost While the news that Pennsylvania’s commitment to violence intervention programs represented a huge victory for advocates in Philadelphia, it was only part of the story in how our...
Violence Prevention Funding More than Tripled in State Budget
Just a year after a historic first-ever investment in community programs, $105 million is budgeted In last year’s state budget, we were able to secure more than $30 million for programs aimed at curbing the community violence that surged along with the COVID-19...
Read 2 Succeed Turns 10 This Summer
Program’s first students are now entering college, or the job market, better prepared With great partners, parents and eager students, the Read 2 Succeed program is celebrating its tenth anniversary this summer. More than 400 young students have already signed up and...
Historic Education Package Includes Funding for Mental Health, School Safety
In all, Gov. Wolf and allies in the General Assembly have raised education commitment by 40 percent since 2013In our most recent On the Issues I talked about the historic new funding for basic education and the Level-Up program which aims to boost the state’s 100 most...
New PA Budget Delivers Historic Education Investment
$1.1 billion increase, much of it through ‘Level Up’ to help disadvantaged schoolsIn a significant victory for allies and advocates, the state budget signed by Gov. Tom Wolf last week delivered historic new funding for education, capping off years of progress that...
Deadline for Tax and Rent Relief Extended
Each year, thousands who qualify fail to apply. Now they have until the end of the year.The deadline for older and disabled Pennsylvanians to apply for rebates on rent and property taxes paid in 2021 has been extended from June 30 to Dec. 31, 2022, the departments of...
You’re Invited to an Open House on Saturday
Breakfast, refreshments and lots of vital information will be available at my West Philadelphia District OfficeI’m hoping to see you this Saturday May 14 from 9 a.m. until noon for an Open House at my West Philadelphia District Office where you can meet my team and...
Housing Investment Plan: A Historic Opportunity to Stabilize Neighborhoods
$2.27 billion plan could construct thousands of new housing units across PAPhiladelphia has seen a housing boom, but it’s a bust for our middle-and -lower income neighbors. Working families, including the essential workers who have been bearing the brunt of the...
Investing in Our Youth Through Sports in North Philadelphia
Key state official visits ‘West Philly’s Main Street’ to chart a path forwardContinuing his focus on reinvesting in communities to revitalize neighborhoods, Senator Hughes guided a $2.5 million state investment to Philadelphia Youth Basketball (PYB) for the...
Free Tax Help Available as Deadline Approaches
Register now to take advantage of breaks available for working familiesAs the federal tax filing deadline approaches, I’m holding a series of interactive zoom events to help you and your family navigate the tax season and all the new benefits available to you and your...
Expert Panel Discusses the Dire Problem of Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness
Discussion at CHOP Karabots offers solutions for interrelated problems in health and education This week, at the CHOP Karabots Pediatric Center in West Philadelphia, I convened a panel of experts to discuss what can be done about the dramatic and catastrophic surge in...
Reinvest to Revitalize Tour
Key state official visits ‘West Philly’s Main Street’ to chart a path forwardOnly days after his official nomination, Pennsylvania’s top economic development official spent a recent day in West Philadelphia touring important and historic economic corridors and talking...
Convenient and Free Vaccine Clinic Tomorrow
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...
Wolf Proposes Historic Education Budget
Gov. Tom Wolf delivered his last annual budget address this week, calling for historic investments in education, along with bolstering workforce development, criminal justice reform and raising the minimum wage.
The plan has the potential to reverse generations of systemic inequity in education funding and comes with no increase in taxes.
Hughes and Colleagues Announce Historic Education Plan
$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...
New $15M Investment in Gun Violence Prevention
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...
New Subsidies Make Health Insurance More Affordable
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...
Historic Jobs and Infrastructure Act Poised to Deliver
We can expect 1.5 million jobs a year, new roads, clean water and a wider internetPresident 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...
Open Enrollment for Affordable Health Insurance is Now Open
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...
Vaccine Outreach Grant Deadline Quickly Approaching
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...
PA Pandemic Relief Efforts Tragically Underfunded
$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...
New Vaccine Outreach Grant Program
New Grant Program to Help Community Heroes Spread the WordGovernor Wolf visited Strawberry Mansion today to talk about a new grant program that will support the efforts of community organizations conducting outreach on COVID-19 vaccines. The $5...