Senator Jay Costa Archives

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.

PA Senate Democrats Unveil Plan to Spend $1.3 Billion in Remaining Cares Funds

October 16, 2020

Harrisburg − October 16, 2020 − Members of the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus today outlined a plan to spend the remaining $1.331 billion in CARES money that Pennsylvania received as part of a federal assistance package earlier this year. The money must be...

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...

PA Senate Democrats Discuss Police Reform Legislative Agenda and Statewide Racial Equity Solutions Tour

June 30, 2020

Harrisburg – June 30, 2020 – Pennsylvania Senate Democrats gathered in the Capitol and through Zoom to discuss the status of their legislative agenda for police reforms, and to announce a statewide Racial Equity Solutions Tour. PA Senate Democrats introduced a...

PA Senate Democrats Announce $225 Million for Small Business Assistance Grants Statewide

June 8, 2020

HARRISBURG – June 8, 2020 – Members of the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus announced the direction of $225 million in federal CARES Act funding to aid small businesses across the commonwealth. This funding was authorized by the recently enacted COVID-19...

PA Senate Democrats Announce $550 Million Main Street Business Revitalization Grant Program

May 22, 2020

Harrisburg, PA − May 22, 2020 − Senators Jay Costa, Vince Hughes, John Blake, Jim Brewster and Pam Iovino today called for $550 million of funds allocated to Pennsylvania through the federal CARES act to be used for a program they are calling the Main Street Business...

Sens. Costa, Hughes unveil PA CARES, a plan to allocate federal CARES Act funds

April 29, 2020

HARRISBURG – APRIL 29, 2020 – State Senators Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) and Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) unveiled the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus’ plan to allocate federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funds Wednesday...

PA Senate Democrats Urge Action on Legislation for Working Families, Pledge to Oppose Partisan COVID Task Force

April 8, 2020

Harrisburg, PA − April 8, 2020 − The Senate adjourned Tuesday afternoon after the House Republicans indicated they would not be taking up Senate Bill 841, legislation that would have enabled local municipalities to hold their meetings remotely, permitted e-notary use;...

House and Senate Democratic Caucuses Seek Immediate Legislative Action on Needs of Workers and Middle Class Families

April 6, 2020

Harrisburg, PA − April 6, 2020 − Leaders from the Democratic caucuses of the Pennsylvania House and Senate today presented legislative solutions for working families during the COVID outbreak and business closures. They addressed issues, including: Retaliation against...

Members of The General Assembly & Statewide Advocates Hosted News Conference Defending General Assistance

June 24, 2019

Harrisburg – June 24, 2019 – Health and Human Services Committee Democratic Chairman State Senator Art Haywood (D-Montgomery/Philadelphia) joined members of the PA General Assembly and statewide advocates to fight to protect the General Assistance program. House Bill...

Members of Pa Senate Democratic Caucus Request Disaster Declaration on Gun Violence

June 24, 2019

Harrisburg, Pa. − June 24, 2019 − Members of the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus today jointly sent a letter to Governor Tom Wolf requesting a disaster declaration for gun violence in the Commonwealth. “We believe it is necessary to raise the public’s awareness...

Senate Democrats to Launch Poverty and Economic Security Call to Action Honoring Legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

April 2, 2019

PHILADELPHIA − April 2, 2019 – As a tribute to the legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his fight for poor and working people, members of the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus are launching a 30-day campaign to address poverty and economic insecurity...

Democrats Introduce Package of Legislation to Curb Workplace Harassment

March 26, 2019

HARRISBURG, PA, March 26, 2019 – Democrats from the Pennsylvania House and Senate today introduced a package of legislation aimed to curb harassment in the workplace, along with support from Governor Tom Wolf and Victim’s Advocate Jennifer Storm. “As a caucus, we’ve...

Senators Williams, Costa, and Hughes Introduce PA Workplace Freedom Act

March 14, 2019

Pittsburgh, Pa. − March 14, 2019 − Senators Lindsey M. Williams, Jay Costa, and Vincent J. Hughes, joined by local elected officials, Allegheny County Labor Council members, and a crowd of union workers, announced the introduction of the Workplace Freedom Act today at...

Sens. Williams, Costa, and Hughes to Announce Introduction of Workplace Freedom Act with Allegheny County Labor Council Members

March 12, 2019

Pittsburgh, Pa. − March 12, 2019 − Senators Lindsey M. Williams, Jay Costa and Vincent J. Hughes will hold a press conference to announce the introduction of the Workplace Freedom Act on Thursday, March 14, 2019 at noon at the Allegheny County Courthouse. The...

Senate Democratic Caucus Details Local Impacts of Federal Shutdown, Outline State Remedies

January 16, 2019

HARRISBURG, PA − January 16, 2019 −Members of the Senate Democratic Caucus stood together Wednesday, outlining the impacts of the federal shutdown on their constituents and addressing potential remedies at a state level. “In my county of Allegheny, we have...

State Senators Write Banks Asking Institutions to help 12,000 Federal Employees Working without Pay

January 10, 2019

Harrisburg, PA – January 10, 2019 – On behalf of the 12,000 Pennsylvania federal employees, contractors and subcontractors who are not receiving a paycheck during the partial federal government shutdown, Senator Vincent Hughes...

Democratic Senators Detail Impact of Trump Actions on Affordable Care Act in Pennsylvania

October 18, 2017

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...

Senate Democrats Hail Gov. Wolf’s Call for Testing of Young Children

September 1, 2017

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...

Lawmakers Unveil Legislation Creating Trust Fund for Youth Impacted by Prison System

June 21, 2017

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

June 16, 2017

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...

Senate Democrats Call for Special Session on Property Tax Relief or Elimination

February 1, 2017

Harrisburg – February 1, 2017 – State Senate Democrats said that Gov. Tom Wolf should call a special session of the General Assembly to ensure that legislation that results in significant property tax relief or total elimination is passed and signed into...

Senate Democrats Announce Leadership Team

November 16, 2016

Harrisburg – November 16, 2016 – Senate Democrats today elected leaders for the 2017-18 legislative session. State Senator Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) was re-elected Democratic Floor Leader. “It is an honor and a privilege to once again be chosen to serve the caucus as...

Costa, Hughes Support Budget Becoming Law; New Funds for Education, Opioid Treatment

July 10, 2016

Harrisburg, July 10, 2016 – Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) and Senate Democratic Appropriations Chair Vincent J. Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) released the following comments in support of Gov. Tom Wolf’s announcement that he was...

Senate Democrats Call for More Funding for Human Relations Commission

June 22, 2016

June 22, 2016 − State Senate Democratic Whip Anthony H. Williams (D-Philadelphia/Delaware) today said that the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC) has been devastated by recurring state budget cuts and that the state spending plan now under consideration...

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