Harrisburg – May 10, 2017 – Concerned at reported mistreatment of children with low balances on school lunch accounts, State Sen. Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) today introduced legislation that would prohibit “lunch shaming” by school administrators and staff.
“These reports of schools consciously making the choice to bully children whose families are struggling to pay for school lunches is disturbing,” Costa said. “When did it become ok for children to be publicly shamed for something over which they have no control? We need to be supporting these families and providing assistance, not shaming their children.”
“These practices are unconscionable.”
Costa’s legislation, Senate Bill 709, would require school districts to serve meals to all children and puts a process in place for schools to reach out and work with families in need. The measure will require districts to implement policies to determine if children are eligible for free or reduced price meals as well as methods for notifying parents of the situation, and require districts to determine if further intervention is necessary.
Most importantly, the bill will prohibit schools from marking children or humiliating them in anyway if their family owes money to a school.
“This legislation sets the bar where it should have always been, preventing anyone from ever singling a child out for any reason, especially their ability to pay for lunch, Costa said. “No one can stamp them, make them wear a bracelet, or require them to do chores to eat, as we’ve heard reports of recently.”
“Our children are our most valuable resource. We must treat them as such and show respect for the families at home supporting them.”
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Harrisburg, April 21, 2017 — Efforts to educate local students about environmental issues will be bolstered by more than $50,000 in state Environmental Education Grant funding, Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) announced today.
“There is nothing more important than providing our children with a solid education focused on science and the environment,” Costa said. “Investments in our schools, our children and their education pay dividends far beyond the classroom. The opportunities provided to our students through these grants further our commitment to STEAM-based education – focused on science, technology, engineering, art and math.
“Most importantly, these grants fund critical programs and community organizations that will open doors to the future that many children otherwise would not have had.”
The grant funds announced today were made available through the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s Environmental Education Grant Program. The program uses funds collected annually for environmental education which are collected from pollution fines and penalties.
Since 1993, the program has awarded more than $11 million in environmental education grants.
According to Costa, the following local projects received grant awards:
- School District of Pittsburgh, Trout in the Classroom, $2,952 to improve student performance on the Pennsylvania Biology Keystone Exam and increase student engagement in science related course work;
- Pittsburgh Center for Creative Reuse, Creative Environmental Field Trips, $2,863 to provide field trip opportunities for area students to learn about the importance of reuse as a strategy for reducing negative environmental impacts; and
- Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy (Frick Environmental Center), Sustainable “Freedom Garden” Teaches All of Us, $50,000 for the construction of an interactive outdoor garden and walking trail with wild botanical plants and flowers that honor the horticultural experience of previously enslaved Freedom Seekers from the 1850s in the United States.
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Homewood and Hazelwood to receive significant investments
Harrisburg, April 13, 2017 — Three Pittsburgh communities will share $300,000 in state grant funds awarded through Pennsylvania’s Housing Affordability Rehabilitation and Enhancement Act (PHARE), also known as Pa’s housing trust fund, state Senator Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) announced today.
The PHARE grant funds were approved during today’s Pa Home Financing Authority (PHFA) board meeting in Harrisburg.
“These grant funds provide housing opportunities for our residents — one of the most basic needs that many of us take for granted,” Costa said. “It’s a great feeling when you can return funding back to the community that will directly impact the lives of your friends and neighbors and in many cases, open the door to a warm place to raise their family.
“PHFA is a wonderful organization doing work that changes the lives of families across the state. I’m grateful for their commitment and dedication to the communities and the families that need them the most.”
The Allegheny County Department of Human Services (DHS) will receive $50,000 for its Landlord Mitigation Fund, specifically to provide an enhanced security deposit/guarantee as an incentive to private market landlords who accept Housing Choice Vouchers. With these additional funds, DHS anticipates providing 25 households with an additional guarantee beyond the standard security deposit.
In Homewood, $200,000 in grant funds will be used for the Grassroots Green Homes – Home Boost Homewood program. Funding will allow grant recipient CCI to provide residents with safety evaluations, energy efficiency retrofits and necessary repairs and improvements. Through the Home Boost Homewood project, CCI also plans to hold educational meetings in the community to promote energy savings and ways residents can make their homes healthier and more efficient.
Hazelwood Initiative, Inc. will receive $50,000 in grant funds, which it plans to use to redevelop two local buildings into four affordable housing units. According to the organization, two of the units will serve as homeownership incubators allowing residents to set aside portions of monthly rent to be used toward the purchase of a home in a local neighborhood.
The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency provides affordable homeownership and rental housing options for older adults, low- and moderate-income families, and people with special housing needs. PHFA promotes economic development initiatives across the state through mortgage programs and investments in multifamily housing developments. The organization was created by the General Assembly in 1972. Since that time, PHFA has generated more than $13.1 billion of funding for nearly 167,400 single-family home mortgage loans, helped fund the construction of 132,531 rental units, and saved the homes of more than 48,800 families from foreclosure.
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Harrisburg, April 13, 2017 — State Sen. Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) expressed his thoughts and offered condolences on the passing of Pittsburgh Steelers owner Dan Rooney earlier today. According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Rooney was 84 years old.
“Today Pennsylvania mourns the loss of a great Pittsburgh institution. Dan Rooney was more than just the owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was a leader in the Pittsburgh area whose contributions will be felt for generations to come.
“I was blessed to know the Rooney family for more than 25 years. Dan made his mark on Pa and across the world not only in the realm of athletics but also in civic engagements when he served as U.S. ambassador to Ireland.
“His work improved the lives of people across the world and gave families everywhere a reason to spend time together, sharing in the love of football and enjoying life.
“The region, the state and our nation will absorb a tremendous loss on Dan’s passing. My heartfelt thoughts and prayers go out to the entire Rooney family at this difficult time. Godspeed to a truly wonderful man.”
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HARRISBURG, April 6, 2017 – State Senator Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) released the following statement after the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) approved the proposed settlement agreement with ride sharing company Uber Technologies.
While a proponent of Act 164 of 2016 that gave the PUC authority to regulate ride-share companies, Costa has long been a vocal critic of special provisions contained in the law which capped fines and penalties for Uber specifically at $250,000.
Costa had raised the special legislation during Senate floor debates and in a petition pending before the Commonwealth Court.
From Feb. to August of 2014, Uber was cited for 123,000 violations of operating without PUC authority and providing transportation services to the public for compensation without authorization.
Costa’s statement follows:
“I am pleased that a settlement agreement has been reached between the PUC and Uber Technologies. Today’s settlement of $3.5 million is the highest penalty ever imposed by the PUC on a utility. This issue lingered without resolution for far too long, preventing us from moving forward with full implementation of the ride-share legislation passed in Nov. 2016.
“Let me be clear – I have always been supportive of the ride-share concept and believe it to be a valuable part of our transportation network across Pennsylvania. However, I believe that all companies, regardless of industry, should be treated fairly, especially with respect to fines and penalties. No organization should have the benefit of special legislation being submitted for consideration specific to its individual needs.
“However, in this case, that’s exactly what was done. Act 164 was passed in the final moments of our two-year legislative session in November. Prior to passage, the bill was amended to include a retroactive provision for Uber, capping its financial penalty at $250,000 – far less than the $11.4 million for the 123,000 violations the company had accrued in fines for operating in the state without authority.
“Today’s approval of the settlement agreement brings closure to a complex case. My sincere thanks to our PUC Commissioners for their commitment to this issue and willingness to work with us to reach a settlement to which all parties could agree.”
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Costa, Brewster insist that Turnpike dollars are obligated to improve regional access
Harrisburg – March 31, 2017 – State Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) and Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland) said today that the legislative commitment concerning the Mon-Fayette Expressway is clear and that improving access to the region via a revitalized and comprehensive transportation network is an obligation that must be fulfilled.
The lawmakers released the following statements in response to the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission’s (SPC) vote earlier this week to delay funding of the Mon-Fayette Expressway. This was closely followed by an announcement by the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission that it was halting work on the roadway. The combined actions of the two agencies put further economic development opportunities associated with the project in jeopardy.
The lawmakers are calling for a meeting to be convened with members of the SPC, plus officials from the Turnpike, PennDOT, and regional leaders to discuss the status of the project.
The vote suspended funding for the final 14-mile piece of a proposed 74-mile highway running from West Virginia to Monroeville. The estimated total cost of the last section of the roadway, which connects PA Route 51 in Jefferson to Monroeville, is $2.1 billion.
The Mon-Fayette Expressway project was authorized in statute and identified as a legislative priority. The funds, if not spent on the project, may be used to pay for other legislatively-mandated projects, some of which are not located in the Mon Valley or eastern suburbs.
Costa’s statement follows:
“The decision by the SPC and the Turnpike puts further development of the project in jeopardy. These actions by these two agencies should not be viewed as a license for officials from other areas to try and leverage the funding for projects outside of the region.
“The funding set aside for the project is intended to pay for the improvement of the road network serving economic development sites in the Mon Valley and eastern suburbs. As a result of the actions of this past week, we need a more detailed examination and explanation of how the Turnpike is going to ensure that the legislative mandate to build the road network is going to be accomplished.
“This is an authorized project that was established by statute to aid the region. Those funds set aside for this project should be used to make significant improvements and upgrades to the road system of the region, not be used to help fund projects in Philadelphia or elsewhere. The goal of the project was to improve access and create jobs. We cannot lose sight of the intent of the project.”
Brewster’s statement follows:
“It is imperative that officials from the Turnpike and PennDOT recognize that the enhancement of the road network in the Mon Valley and eastern suburbs is critical. Building a first-rate road system for the region through the auspices of the Turnpike has been a priority, is specified in law, and the legislative mandate cannot be ignored.
“There is a compelling need for a quality transportation system that complements the region. Workers, businesses and residents of the area must be connected to jobs, markets and communities so the entire region can be revitalized and quality of life improved. That need has not been altered by the delay in funding the Mon-Fayette.
“The people in the region have waited a long time for a transportation link that opens up long-dormant economic sites so that the whole area can enjoy economic resurgence. The funds were intended to create access to the region and should not be used to fund projects that do little or nothing to help revitalize the Mon Valley and east suburban communities.”
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