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...
Hughes, Fiedler, Rally with Educators for Full School Funding
PHILADELPHIA − May 12, 2022 − With Pennsylvania sitting on more than $8 billion in excess revenue, and a dismal national ranking for school equity, state Sen. Vincent Hughes and Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler held a pre-budget school funding rally in South Philadelphia today...
Senators Costa and Hughes Issue Statements on Debate Over Whether to Spend or Sit on Billions in Surplus Budget: “We Can Do Both!”
May 5, 2022 – Senator Jay Costa, State Senate Democratic Leader, and Senator Vincent Hughes, Democratic Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued the following statements in response to Governor Wolf’s announcement on historic state revenues in April and...
Hughes Announces $7.5 million for Local Redevelopment Projects
HARRISBURG ± April 26, 2022 – Community development projects in the 7th Senate District have been awarded $7.5 million state funds, Sen. Vincent Hughes announced today. The grants will be awarded through Pennsylvania’s highly competitive Redevelopment Assistance...
House and Senate Lawmakers Announce Relief Plan for Rental Assistance Fund
HARRISBURG − February 16, 2022 − Lawmakers from the state House and Senate held a news conference today to outline plans to restore Pennsylvania’s depleted Emergency Rental Assistance Program and help thousands whose incomes were affected by the pandemic.
PA Senate Democrats Strongly Support Governor’s Proposed Budget to Invest in Pennsylvanians
HARRISBURG – February 8, 2022 – Governor Tom Wolf gave his final budget address today to a joint Pennsylvania House and Senate Session. The proposed budget invests in Pennsylvanians through education, workforce development, criminal justice reform, public health...
Gov Wolf Announces $1.7 Billion Plan to Secure a Brighter Pennsylvania for Generations
Harrisburg, PA – February 2, 2022 – Governor Tom Wolf announced today his $1.7 billion plan to help Pennsylvania fully recover from the pandemic and pave the way for a successful future with support for families and workers, small businesses, the healthcare system,...
Hughes, Democratic Colleagues Announce Historic School Funding Plan
Harrisburg, PA − January 31, 2022 – State Sen. Vincent Hughes, along with House Democrats and education advocates, announced today a school budget plan that would represent the largest investment in public education in Pennsylvania history. The $3.75 billion outline,...
Hughes Announces $15M in Violence Prevention Grants for Philly
HARRISBURG – January 26, 2022 – Efforts to stem violence in the City of Philadelphia will receive nearly $15 million in new state funding, state Sen. Vincent Hughes announced today. The grants, administered through the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and...
Hughes, Wolf Announce New Funding for Gun Violence Prevention
PHILADELPHIA − January 20, 2022 − State Sen. Vincent Hughes was joined in West Philadelphia today by Governor Tom Wolf, gun violence victims and violence prevention providers to announce a $15 million increase in funding to further support grassroots prevention efforts in Philadelphia and across Pennsylvania.
Sen. Hughes & Allies Rally to Condemn January 6th Insurrection and Defend Democracy
Philadelphia, January 6, 2022 – Today, State Senator Vincent Hughes (D- Montgomery/Philadelphia) hosted a press conference to remember and condemn the horrific events that took place on January 6, 2021 at the United States Capitol. “We are here to never forget, and to...
Latest Round of Anti-Violence Funding “Not Enough”, Sen. Street Joins Sen. Hughes to Call for Boost
Philadelphia − December 9, 2021 – As a record-breaking year for violence heads to a close, Senator Sharif Street joined Sen. Vincent Hughes and Senator Haywood to call for Pennsylvania to invest more of a $7 billion surplus in local efforts to stop the surge. Leaders...
Wolf Administration, General Assembly Announce $11.4 Million Investment in Cold Storage Infrastructure for Food Banks
Reading, PA – December 9, 2021 − First Lady Frances Wolf joined members of the General Assembly and representatives from the charitable food network today at Mary’s Shelter in Reading to announce an $11.4 million investment in cold...
Senator Collett and Colleagues Unveil New Initiative to Support PA’s Nursing Workforce
Harrisburg, Pa. – September 28, 2021 — Senator Maria Collett (D-12 Montgomery/Bucks), joined by Acting Secretary of Health Alison Beam, PHEAA Vice Chair Senator Wayne Fontana, and Democratic Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee Senator Vincent Hughes,...
Hughes and Wolf Urge Community Groups to Apply for Anti-Violence Grants
Harrisburg, September 23, 2021 – Gov. Tom Wolf joined state Sen. Vince Hughes today for a news conference in Philadelphia to urge local community groups to apply for share of $24 million in state funds set aside for efforts to stem violence. The grants, through the...
Senate Democrats File Application for Relief to Pause Overreaching Senate Republican Actions Until Court Issues Ruling on Lawsuit
Harrisburg – September 23, 2021 – State Senate Democrats issued the following statement announcing the filing of an application for relief in Commonwealth Court in response to the Senate Republican subpoena of the Department of State, including the request of...