Newsroom
Senate Democratic Leaders Urge Senate Republicans to Act After House Passes Budget Bill
HARRISBURG, PA - July 14, 2025 – Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa and Senate Democratic Appropriations Chair Vincent Hughes released the following statement after the House of Representatives passed HB 1330, an important step to closing out this year’s budget: ...
Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa Laments Passage of Trump Domestic Policy Package, Implores Pennsylvanians to Call Congress
HARRISBURG, PA − July 1, 2025 − On Tuesday, the US Senate passed President Trump’s landmark domestic policy package by a vote of 51-50, sending it back to the US House of Representatives before it goes to the President’s desk. This bill will slash funding to...
Senate Democrats Continue to Sound Alarm on Catastrophic Impacts of Trump’s Reconciliation Bill on Healthcare, Hospitals, and Food Access Across Pennsylvania
“Stop the Billionaire Tax Giveaway” National Bus Tour Stops in Harrisburg
Harrisburg, PA − June 24, 2025 − On Tuesday, June 24th Fair Share America, Pennsylvanians Together and Unrig our Economy brought the “Stop the Billionaire Tax Giveaway” national bus tour to Harrisburg’s Capitol Complex to highlight the devastating impact of the GOP’s budget and tax proposal on the Keystone State’s families, communities and economy.
Senator Costa Reintroduces Legislation to Prevent Instances of Electric Shock Drowning
Session Spotlight :: June 2, 2025
Senator Costa joins Governor Shapiro to Champion PA Innovation Plan
Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa Announces Two Fresh Food Financing Initiative Grant Recipients in the 43rd Senatorial District
PITTSBURGH, PA – May 21, 2025 – Today, Senator Jay Costa announces $129,043 in Fresh Food Financing Initiative (FFFI) grant money benefiting the 43rd senatorial district. This program, administered by the Department of Agriculture, helps ensure that low-income...
Senate Democrats Hold Policy Hearing Regarding the Worker Protections
PHILADELPHIA, PA − May 14, 2025 − Today, Senate Democratic Policy Committee Chair Nick Miller held a hearing to examine ways to protect Pennsylvania’s infrastructure and economy with a skilled, protected, and reliable workforce. “The testimony we heard today from...
Senator Costa Delivers Remarks on Public Transit
On The Issues: PA Budget
Senator Costa Discusses 2025-26 Budget Updates on CBS 21
Session Spotlight : June 23, 2025
Senator Costa Joins Leaders to Defend Medicaid in East Liberty
Senate Democratic Caucus Policy Committee Hosts Second Hearing Regarding Worker Protections
PITTSBURGH, PA − June 12, 2025 − Today, Senate Democratic Policy Committee Chair Nick Miller held a second hearing to continue the dialogue on what is needed to safeguard Pennsylvania’s infrastructure and economy through a skilled and dependable workforce. ...
House and Senate Democrats Fight to Protect Medicaid and SNAP Funding, Call on Republicans to Break Silence
HARRISBURG, PA − June 2, 2025 − On Monday, June 2, Senate and House Democrats banded together for a rally in the Capitol to raise awareness of the catastrophic impacts Trump’s budget proposal would have on Pennsylvania’s families. Together, Senators and Representatives called on their Republican colleagues to join them in defending access to care, medication, and healthy food that Trump and Musk’s DOGE cuts threaten to rip away.
Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa Responds to Trump Post on Partnership between Nippon Steel and U.S. Steel
HARRISBURG, PA – May 23, 2025 − Earlier today, President Trump posted about a “partnership” between Nippon Steel and U.S. Steel. Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa offers the following statement in response: “As soon as a deal between Nippon Steel and U.S. Steel...
Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa Announces Two Solar for Schools Grant Recipients in the 43rd Senatorial District
PITTSBURGH, PA – May 20, 2025 − Today, Senator Jay Costa announces $376,995 in Solar for Schools Grant money benefiting the 43rd senatorial district. “Today’s Solar for Schools grant announcement is cause for much celebration,” said Senator Costa. “I am delighted that...
Senate Democrats Jay Costa, Nick Pisciottano Celebrate Passage of EDGE Tax Credit in PA House, Call for Swift Movement in the Senate
PITTSBURGH, PA – May 14, 2025 – Today, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed HB 500, a critical part of Governor Shapiro’s Lightning Plan which updates the Pennsylvania Economic Development for a Growing Economy (PA EDGE) Tax Credit Program to bring...
State Senator Working on Legislation to Create Transit Authority in Southwestern Pennsylvania
Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa Expresses Disappointment and Concern for Pennsylvania as Congress sends Domestic Policy Bill to Trump’s Desk
HARRISBURG, PA − July 3, 2025 − Today, US Congress passed President Trump’s domestic policy bill by a vote of 218-214, sending it to his desk for his final signature. It's estimated that 300,000 Pennsylvanians will lose Medicaid, and over 143,000 will lose SNAP....
Senate Democrats Continue to Sound Alarm on Catastrophic Impacts of Trump’s Reconciliation Bill on Healthcare, Hospitals, and Food Access Across Pennsylvania
HARRISBURG, PA − June 30, 2025 − On Monday, June 30, members of the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus gathered in the East Wing Rotunda to draw attention to the urgency of stopping Trump’s domestic policy bill from becoming law. In its current form, the bill poses an existential threat to Medicaid, SNAP, and rural hospitals across Pennsylvania.
Senate Passes Lifesaving, Bipartisan Breast Cancer Imaging Legislation
HARRISBURG – June 24, 2025 − With broad bipartisan support, the Senate today approved legislation to strengthen Pennsylvania’s no-cost breast cancer screening law by ensuring diagnostic imaging is fully covered, removing financial barriers for patients. Sponsored by Sen. Frank Farry (R-6) and Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward (R-39), Senate Bill 88 builds on the success of Act 1 of 2023, which provided no-cost preventive screenings for those at high risk.
Session Spotlight :: June 9, 2025
Senators Jay Costa and Camera Bartolotta Reintroduce Electric Shock Drowning Prevention Legislation
HARRISBURG, PA – June 9, 2025 − Today, State Senators Jay Costa and Camera Bartolotta reintroduced legislation to prevent Electric Shock Drowning (ESD) in Pennsylvania’s docks and marinas. ESD has become the catch-all phrase to encompass all in-water shock casualties...
Senator Costa Rallies for #CareNotCuts
Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Democratic Appropriations Chair Vincent Hughes Encourage PA Senate Republicans to Speak Up as “Big Beautiful Bill” Clears US House of Representatives
HARRISBURG, PA – May 22, 2025 − This morning, Republicans in the US House of Representatives passed a budget bill that will result in 15 million Americans losing their health insurance and 3 million American families losing access to healthy food. Senate Democratic...
Session Spotlight :: May 12, 2025
Arts and Culture Caucus Celebrates Arts Advocacy Day, Features Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre Dancers
HARRISBURG, PA – May 13, 2025 – Today, members of the Pennsylvania Legislative Arts and Culture Caucus and Pennsylvania artists gathered at the capitol in celebration of “Arts Advocacy Day.” “As a lifelong lover of the arts, I am always delighted to join fellow...
Senator Costa Participates in Intergovernmental Roundtable on Federal Threats to Health Insurance
Philadelphia, PA − April 23, 2025 − On Tuesday, April 22nd, Senator Vincent Hughes hosted an intergovernmental roundtable with federal, state, and local lawmakers and healthcare leaders from across Pennsylvania. The goal was to bring a variety of stakeholders together...