Hughes Calls for Immediate Action on Toxic and Unsafe School Infrastructure

General Assembly Democrats, Local Leaders Across PA Call for Immediate Action on Toxic and Unsafe School Infrastructure
Statewide, PA − June 11, 2021 -- As the projected state budget surplus surged to $3 billion and more than $7 billion in federal aid remains idled by inaction, Senate & House Democrats gathered in front of local schools across Pennsylvania on Friday to call for...
March for School Equity
Senator Hughes and the Rev. Gregory Holston joined students from Lower Merion and Overbook high schools for a walk to demonstrate the inequities in school funding between schools less than four miles apart. The students’ march was inspired by Sen. Hughes and Rev. Holston’s march a year prior.

Sen. Hughes: Bipartisan Effort Needed to Address Broken and Toxic Schools
HARRISBURG – February 27, 2020 – Pennsylvania faces a statewide crisis in its school infrastructure. Some students go to school in buildings containing lead, asbestos, mold and other environmental hazards while others must overcome broken pipes, leaking roofs and...
Senator Hughes details lead and asbestos problems in schools statewide
Senator Hughes and the Rev. Gregory Holston joined students from Lower Merion and Overbook high schools for a walk to demonstrate the inequities in school funding between schools less than four miles apart. The students’ march was inspired by Sen. Hughes and Rev. Holston’s march a year prior.

Gov. Wolf Announces Billion-Dollar Plan to Fix Toxic Schools, Address Lead Across Pennsylvania
Harrisburg, PA – January 29, 2020 – Governor Tom Wolf today presented a series of proposed 2020-21 budget items totaling more than $1.1 billion to support reducing the risks to Pennsylvanians of lead and asbestos, and remediating existing toxins in schools, day care...

Senate Democrats Demand Action to Remediate Philadelphia’s Toxic Schools
Senate Democrats stood at sunrise today with House colleagues, parents, teachers and city officials outside Carnell Elementary School to decry the continued contamination of Philadelphia schools and demand at least $170 million from the state’s Rainy Day Fund to...

Sen. Hughes urges Gov. Wolf to immediately direct state funds to address chronically underfunded public school infrastructure
PHILADELPHIA – December 20, 2019 – Following the fifth and sixth closures of Philadelphia schools as a result of health hazards, State Senator Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) called on Gov. Tom Wolf to direct state funding to address the issue of chronic...
Senator Hughes Hosts Press Conference on Toxic Schools
Senator Hughes Addresses School Funding Equality Issues from Upper Dublin High School

Gov. Wolf Announces Initiative for a Lead-Free Pennsylvania with Support from Sen. Hughes
Philadelphia, PA – August 28, 2019 − Governor Tom Wolf today unveiled his initiative to create a lead-free Pennsylvania by calling on the legislature to increase access to blood testing for children in alignment with federal guidelines, increasing local response...
Senator Hughes Marches from Overbook High School to Lower Merion High School
Senator Hughes and Rev. Gregory Holston’s #Moral March Show PA’s School Funding Inequities

Sen. Hughes joins Gov. Wolf at announcement for $4.3 million to improve conditions at Philadelphia school buildings
PHILADELPHIA – July 31, 2019 – Governor Tom Wolf is providing $4.3 million in state funding for lead paint stabilization at Philadelphia school buildings. The governor was joined by members of Philadelphia’s legislative delegation, School District of Philadelphia, and...
Sen. Hughes Remarks on Funding Proposal for Emergency Cleanup Efforts of Philadelphia Schools
Sen. Hughes & Fund our Facilities Coalition Announce Funding Proposal for Emergency Cleanup Efforts in Philadelphia schools

Fund Our Facilities Coalition Announces Legislation to Invest $85 Million in School Building Repairs
PHILADELPHIA, PA − May 29, 2019 − The union leaders and legislators who comprise the Fund Our Facilities Coalition today met at Richard Wright Elementary School to announce legislation sponsored by State Senator Vincent Hughes that would invest $85 million to make...

Senator Hughes says legislators must work together to enact recommendations of Advisory Committee and Task Force Report on Lead Exposure
Harrisburg, May 7, 2019 − Senator Vincent J. Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) stood with legislative members of the Task Force on Lead Exposure for a press conference to discuss the legislative recommendations that were part of ‘Lead Exposure Risks and Response in...

Sen. Hughes Joins Coalition, Calls for Immediate, $170 Million Investment to Improve Philly’s School Buildings
PHILADELPHIA − March 29, 2019 – Today, Senator Hughes joined a broad coalition of union leaders and elected officials convened by the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers. The group gathered at F.S. Key Elementary School to propose an immediate investment of $170...
Sens. Hughes, Farnese join Gov. Wolf in support of Restore Pennsylvania, aiming to help remediate contaminants in Pennsylvania schools
Philadelphia, PA – March 21, 2019 – Governor Tom Wolf toured the John H. Taggart School in Philadelphia today to see progress on removing contaminants which can cause serious health problems. The governor also outlined how Restore Pennsylvania, the most aggressive...
Senator Vincent Hughes Remarks on Lead Testing in Schools
Public Hearing on Philadelphia Healthy & Safe Schools Initiative
Sen. Hughes Remarks on “Toxic” School Funding
“Toxic” Schools Funding News Conference
Sen. Hughes Hails $15 Million for Emergency Cleanup and Repair of “Toxic” Schools
PHILADELPHIA, June 29, 2018 – The $15.6 million investment to help eliminate threats from lead, asbestos and mold in Philadelphia schools announced today by Gov. Tom Wolf, state Sen. Vincent J. Hughes (D-Philadelphia), other local and state elected officials, and...
Sen. Hughes Toxic Schools 3 Cases
Sen. Hughes Toxic Schools News Conference
Senator Hughes requests mayor, superintendent authorize aggressive deep-cleaning in “toxic” Philadelphia schools, asks for community to share conditions with state officials
PHILADELPHIA – May 23, 2018 – State Senator Vincent J. Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery County) is calling on city leaders to authorize deep-cleans in “toxic” Philadelphia schools and is asking the community to take action in the fight against toxic schools. Pointing...