Amid Rising Hate, Democratic Senators Reintroduce Safe Spaces Bill
HARRISBURG, PA – March 6, 2023 – On Friday, March 3rd Senators Street, Schwank, Tartaglione and Hughes, reintroduced Sacred Spaces legislation, amending Section 3307 of Title 18 (Institutional Vandalism) to enhance the existing statute to give District...
Hughes, Bullock Announce $100+ Million in Grants to Support Community Violence Intervention, Prevention Efforts for Pennsylvania Organizations
PHILADELPHIA, PA – January 12, 2023 − On Thursday afternoon, Senate Democratic Appropriations Chairman Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) and Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus Chairwoman Representative Donna Bullock (D-Philadelphia) announced a...
Sens. Haywood, Hughes, and Saval Host Jan. 6 Commemoration to Honor First Responders
PHILADELPHIA – Jan. 6, 2023 – Sen. Art Haywood (D-Montgomery/Philadelphia) joined Sen. Vincent Hughes (D-Montgomery/Philadelphia), Sen. Nikil Saval (D-Philadelphia), state Rep. Mary Isaacson (D-Philadelphia), and statewide elected officials at the National...
Sen. Hughes & Sheryl Lee Ralph Give Away 1,000+ Literacy Kits During “Smart Santa” Event
PHILADELPHIA, PA – DECEMBER 22, 2022 − In the spirit of Christmas, State Senator Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) once again teamed up with his wife, actress and activist Sheryl Lee Ralph, for their “Smart Santa” event Wednesday afternoon. Senator Hughes and...
Hughes, Collett & Sanchez Announce $4.5M to Rebuild Upper Dublin Township & Police Facility Post-Ida
Upper Dublin, Pa. – November 22, 2022 – Senator Maria Collett (D-12 Montgomery/Bucks), Senator Vincent Hughes (D-7 Philadelphia/Montgomery), and Representative Ben Sanchez (D-153 Montgomery) have announced $4,500,000 in Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP)...
Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus Elects Leadership Team for 2023-24 Legislative Session
Harrisburg, PA − November 15, 2022 − The Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus today elected its leadership team for the 2023-24 legislative session. The Senate Democratic Caucus proudly welcomes a new member, Senator Nick Miller of Allentown. The new and...
Sen. Hughes Announces Nearly $29M in RACP Grants for Groups in 7th Senatorial District
HARRISBURG, PA – October 26, 2022 − Today, State Senator Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) announced the awarding of $28,950,000 in Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) grants to various organizations for 24 projects in the 7th senatorial...
Senator Hughes Celebrates $2M+ Investment in Lancaster Ave. Commercial Corridor
PHILADELPHIA, PA – October 17, 2022 − On Friday, October 14, 2022, State Senator Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) presented a $2.05 million mock check to the Islamic Cultural Preservation and Information Council (ICPIC) for its work to revitalize and...
State Lawmakers Announce $500,000 in Funding for Roxborough High School for Security Enhancements
PHILADELPHIA, October 11, 2022 – State Reps. Malcolm Kenyatta, D-Phila., and Pamela A. DeLissio, D-Montgomery/Phila., and state Sen. Vince Hughes, D-Montgomery/Phila., announced $500,000 in funding for Roxborough High School today for security enhancements. The...
WealthCon, Generational Wealth Building in Philadelphia, Kicks off MED Week
PHILADELPHIA, PA − October 7, 2022 – On Wednesday, October 5th Senator Sharif Street kicked off Minority Entrepreneur Development Week – this year’s theme being ‘Generational Wealth’ – with WealthCon, an inaugural community empowerment event focused on building...
Sen. Hughes Presents $500K Check to Methodist Services for its Power House Redevelopment Project
PHILADELPHIA, PA – September 29, 2022 – State Senator Vincent Hughes (D-Montgomery/Philadelphia) presented Methodist Services with a $500,000 check for its Power House redevelopment project. The grant money comes by way of the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program...
Senator Hughes Secures $250K Grant for Cradles to Crayons
PHILADELPHIA, PA – September 29, 2022 − State Senator Vincent Hughes on Wednesday presented a $250,000 mock check to Cradles to Crayons, a non-profit organization leading the way in filling a critical gap in services for families in low-income and poverty situations. This funding, secured by Sen. Hughes, is made possible thanks to the American Rescue Plan, and will enable Cradles to Crayons to provide more diapers to Philadelphia-area families in need.
Sen. Hughes Announces More than $700 Thousand in New Funding for Montgomery County, Philadelphia Projects
HARRISBURG, PA – September 21, 2022 − State Senator Vincent Hughes (D-Montgomery/Philadelphia) announced Tuesday three new project approvals through the Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA) for environmental and infrastructure projects in the 7th...
Senator Hughes Calls for the Guns to be Put Down & Demands Leaders Create Different Paths to Success for Our Youth
PHILADELPHIA, PA – SEPTEMBER 12, 2022 − Following the fatal shooting of a beloved Philadelphia recreation center worker, Senator Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) issued the following impassioned statement: “Tiffany Fletcher should still be...
Senators Collett & Hughes Announce $1.5 Million for Ida-Impacted Residents in Upper Dublin & Horsham Townships
Upper Dublin, PA − September 1, 2022 − One year after the remnants of Hurricane Ida struck Pennsylvania, State Senators Maria Collett (D-12 Montgomery/Bucks) and Vincent Hughes (D-7 Philadelphia/Montgomery) participated in a remembrance ceremony at Temple...
Gov. Wolf, Sen. Hughes, General Assembly Celebrate Critical Investments to Address Affordable Housing Crisis
Philadelphia, PA − August 12, 2022 − Today, Governor Tom Wolf was joined by members of the General Assembly, housing advocates and stakeholders in Philadelphia to celebrate the critical $375 million investment in the 2022-23 budget addressing the affordable...
Building a Better Student-to-Teacher Pipeline Can Ease Staffing Crisis
By Senator Vincent Hughes and Sharif El-Mekki
A decade ago, Pennsylvania certified 20,000 new teachers. Last year, that number was down to 6,000. Chronic understaffing, along with underfunding, is driving increased burnout and shorter teaching careers.
That loss of teachers is particularly concerning among communities of color which make up 37 percent of the student body, but only 7 percent of teachers.
Sen. Hughes Issues Statement Regarding State Supreme Court Act 77 Ruling
HARRISBURG, PA – August 2, 2022 – In response to the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania’s 5-2 ruling Tuesday upholding the state’s mail-in voting law as constitutional, State Senator Vincent Hughes (D-Montgomery/Philadelphia) issued the following statement: “I am pleased...
Hughes Statement Regarding Dobbs Decision
Philadelphia, PA − June 24, 2022 − State Sen. Vincent Hughes today released the following statement on today’s Supreme Court decision on Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization: “Today’s Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v Wade devastates a women’s...
Senate Democrats Support Pres. Biden’s Call for State Gas Tax Holiday
Harrisburg, PA – June 22, 2022 – Today, Pennsylvania Senate Democrats held a press conference shortly after President Joe Biden made a call to federal and state law makers to pause gas taxes. “Our stance is simple; we are calling on state Republicans to join us...
Senate Passes Hughes Workforce Development Plan
Harrisburg, June 22, 2022 – The Senate today passed a workforce development initiative authored by Sen. Vincent Hughes that will help those preparing students for the workforce better predict what employers will be looking for when they enter the job market. Hughes’...
Senate Democrats Call on Republicans to Immediately Prioritize Gun Violence Prevention Legislation and Appropriations
HARRISBURG – May 25, 2022 – Today, Pennsylvania Senate Democrats wrote the following letter to Republican leaders in response to rampant gun violence and mass shootings that have become too common in the United States. Just this year, 215 mass shootings have taken...
New Study Shows More Than Three-Quarters of PA Voters Support Bipartisan Whole-Home Repairs Act
Philadelphia, PA − May 24, 2022 − Today, Senator Nikil Saval (D–Philadelphia County) held a rally attended by more than 200 housing and energy advocates, community leaders, Pennsylvania residents, and Democrat and Republican legislators from the General Assembly...