Harrisburg – January 26, 2016 – State Senator Jay Costa today issued the following statement in reaction to Governor Wolf’s decision to close SCI Pittsburgh.
“Now that the decision has been made and SCI Pittsburgh is scheduled for closure by the end of June, it is imperative on us all to come together to ensure the shutdown is completed in a thoughtful and strategic manner.
“We need to focus on the future and work hard to bring development opportunities to this site. The goal is to quickly turn this property into a taxable parcel where hundreds of private sector jobs can be created. This would lessen the tax burden on city and county taxpayers and grow Pittsburgh’s employment base.
“My hope moving forward is that we take on the challenges created by this decision and turn it into an economic opportunity for the region. We need to utilize state and local resources and work together with the governor and his economic development team on the future use of the facility and the surrounding property.
“I look forward to working alongside corrections staff and the administration as we move through this process together, committed to offering job opportunities for facility staff while providing for a safe and seamless transfer of inmates and operations in the community.”
-30-
Harrisburg, January 20, 2017 − Senate Democrats today announced committee memberships for the upcoming 2017-18 legislative session.
Members assigned to standing committees are as follows:
AGING & YOUTH
- Chair – Haywood
- Sabatina
- Schwank
- Yudichak
AGRICULTURE & RURAL AFFAIRS
- Chair – Schwank
- Blake
- Dinniman
- Street
APPROPRIATIONS
- Chair – Hughes
- Schwank (Vice)
- Costa (ex-officio)
- Blake
- Brewster
- Haywood
- Leach
- Street
- Tartaglione
BANKING & INSURANCE
- Chair – Street
- Boscola
- Brewster
- Farnese
- Tartaglione
COMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
- Chair – Haywood
- Hughes
- Fontana
- Street
COMMUNITY, ECONOMIC & RECREATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
- Chair – Farnese
- Blake
- Boscola
- Fontana
- Sabatina
CONSUMER PROTECTION & PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE
- Chair – Boscola
- Farnese
- Fontana
- Haywood
- Yudichak
EDUCATION
- Chair – Dinniman
- Brewster
- Leach
- Williams
ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES & ENERGY
- Chair – Yudichak
- Leach
- Dinniman
- Williams
FINANCE
- Chair – Blake
- Costa
- Haywood
- Hughes
GAMES & FISHERIES
- Chair – Brewster
- Boscola
- Costa
- Yudichak
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
- Chair – Schwank
- Costa
- Haywood
- Street
INTERGOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS
- Chair – Williams
- Hughes
- Sabatina
- Tartaglione
JUDICIARY
- Chair – Leach
- Boscola
- Farnese
- Haywood
- Sabatina
LABOR & INDUSTRY
- Chair – Tartaglione
- Leach
- Sabatina
- Yudichak
LAW & JUSTICE
- Chair – Brewster
- Fontana
- Tartaglione
- Williams
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
- Chair – Blake
- Brewster
- Hughes
- Schwank
RULES & EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS
- Chair – Costa
- Boscola
- Farnese
- Fontana
- Hughes
- Williams
STATE GOVERNMENT
- Chair – Williams
- Dinniman
- Leach
- Schwank
TRANSPORTATION
- Chair – Sabatina
- Brewster
- Farnese
- Dinniman
- Yudichak
URBAN AFFAIRS & HOUSING
- Chair – Fontana
- Blake
- Haywood
- Street
VETERANS AFFAIRS & EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
- Chair – Costa
- Blake
- Dinniman
- Tartaglione
###
Harrisburg – January 4, 2017 – Applications for grants available through Pennsylvania’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) are now being accepted through Feb. 3, state Senator Jay Costa announced.
RACP is a commonwealth grant program administered by the Governor’s Office of the Budget for the acquisition and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic and historical improvement projects.
“These grants are critically important to the future growth of our communities,” Costa said. “When organizations receive RACP grants to assist with local projects and initiatives, it creates jobs, sparks economic development and provides new opportunities for businesses, families and the community at large.”
“I strongly encourage everyone in our business community to consider applying for a grant to support the work they’re doing. When we invest in the people and organizations close to home, we all win.”
In an effort to streamline the application process, an online application is now available. Organizations wishing to apply for grant funds should submit their application electronically at https://www.esa.dced.state.pa.us/login.aspx.
For more information about the RACP program and prior year grantees, visit http://www.budget.pa.gov/Programs/RACP/Pages/Main%20Page.aspx.
###
Harrisburg, December 29, 2016 – Senate Democrats today announced committee chairmanships for the upcoming 2017-18 legislative session, set to begin on Jan. 3, 2017.
“Our Senate Democratic committee chairs have the breadth and depth of experience, expertise and institutional knowledge necessary to address issues important to and affecting Pennsylvanians and their families,” Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) said. “We recognize the challenges in front of us in the upcoming session and look forward to working with our colleagues in the Senate and the House on policy issues and legislation that will move Pennsylvania forward.”
Members assigned as Democratic chairs for standing committees are as follows:
- Aging & Youth – Sen. Art Haywood (Philadelphia/Montgomery)
- Agriculture & Rural Affairs – Sen. Judy Schwank (Berks)
- Appropriations – Sen. Vincent Hughes (Philadelphia/Montgomery)
- Banking & Insurance – Sen. Sharif Street (Philadelphia)
- Communications & Technology – Sen. Art Haywood (Philadelphia/Montgomery)
- Community, Economic & Recreational Development – Sen. Larry Farnese (Philadelphia)
- Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure – Sen. Lisa Boscola (Northampton/Lehigh)
- Education – Sen. Andrew Dinniman (Chester)
- Environmental Resources & Energy – Sen. John Yudichak (Luzerne/Carbon)
- Finance – Sen. John Blake (Lackawanna/Luzerne/Monroe)
- Game & Fisheries – Sen. Jim Brewster (Allegheny/Westmoreland)
- Intergovernmental Operations – Sen. Anthony Williams (Philadelphia/Delaware)
- Judiciary – Sen. Daylin Leach (Montgomery/Delaware)
- Labor & Industry – Sen. Tina Tartaglione (Philadelphia)
- Law & Justice – Sen. Jim Brewster (Allegheny/Westmoreland)
- Local Government – Sen. John Blake (Lackawanna/Luzerne/Monroe)
- Public Health & Welfare – Sen. Judy Schwank (Berks)
- Rules & Executive Nominations – Sen. Jay Costa (Allegheny)
- State Government – Sen. Anthony Williams (Philadelphia/Delaware)
- Transportation – Sen. John Sabatina (Philadelphia)
- Urban Affairs and Housing – Sen. Wayne Fontana (Allegheny)
- Veteran’s Affairs and Emergency Preparedness – Sen. Jay Costa (Allegheny)
###
Harrisburg – December 21, 2016 – New details regarding the availability of medical marijuana in Pennsylvania were released by the Wolf administration today marking the first major step in the legalization process since the landmark legislation (Act 16) was signed into law, state Sen. Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) said.
“This is a great step forward and one that many Pennsylvanians and their families have been anxiously awaiting,” Costa said. “While there is still work to be done and months before medical cannabis will be available, knowing the process is moving provides much-needed hope to those waiting for relief for their loved ones.”
During a press conference in Harrisburg, Department of Health Secretary Karen Murphy and Medical Marijuana Program Director John Collins said the application period for growers/processors and dispensaries will open Jan. 17, 2017. They said that this is when application materials will be made available. Applications will be accepted from Feb. 20 through March 20.
The officials said that permits will be offered in a three-phase roll-out. Up to 12 grower/processor permits will be available statewide during the first phase of the application roll-out and up to 27 dispensary permits will be issued. Organizations granted a dispensary permit may open up to three individual locations, which must be approved by the Department of Health.
According to the Department, there are six identified regions where grower/processor and dispensary permits will be granted. Allegheny County, part of Region 5 covering the Southwestern portion of Pennsylvania, will be granted up to two dispensary permits.
As specified in the Medical Marijuana Act, the Department of Health will consider certain criteria when determining where to grant permits: number of patients with serious medical conditions; types of conditions; access to public transportation; and regional population. In addition, health care needs of rural and urban areas as well as those areas with significant economic development needs will be considered.
During Phases two and three of the program, the Department will determine if additional permit applications will be issued. According to program director, the Department is still on target to make medical cannabis available to patients by mid-2018.
Costa said that additional information about the temporary medical marijuana regulations issued earlier this year is available in the Pennsylvania Bulletin at www.pabulletin.com.
-30-
HARRISBURG, December 6, 2016 – Two local projects will benefit from more than $300,000 in state grant funds State Rep. Paul Costa, D-Allegheny and State Senator Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) announced today.
The grants were funded by the Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA). The CFA is an independent state agency responsible for administering Pennsylvania’s economic stimulus packages, including the Multimodal and Act 13 funds.
In West Homestead, the $71,685 grant will be used to replace 1,010 linear feet of sidewalk along the south side of state Route 837 in the borough. Handicapped access ramps will also be installed at two intersections along the route. The project is estimated to cost more than $102,000.
“This funding is crucial for the borough to continue to make necessary improvements to its infrastructure,” Rep. Costa said. “I applaud the officials who worked on these grants for the betterment of our local community.”
The CFA also approved funds to support an environmental assessment and structural inspection of the Carrie Furnace ‘hot metal bridge’ in Swissvale Borough. The $313,305 grant will be used to evaluate the structure and its existing paint system to assess contaminate levels and develop necessary remediation and rehabilitation plans.
“The Carrie Furnace Bridge remains a critical component of our transportation infrastructure in Allegheny County and we remain focused on making improvements to bring it back online,” Sen. Costa said. “These grant funds will allow us to provide necessary maintenance and plan for any future needs to ensure the safety of not only the bridge and those traveling on it, but also the surrounding community and waterways.”
The CFA was established in 2004 as an independent agency of the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) to administer Pennsylvania’s economic stimulus packages. The CFA holds fiduciary responsibility over the funding of programs and investments in Pennsylvania’s economic growth. The CFA consists of seven board members: four legislative appointees and the secretaries of DCED, the Office of the Budget and Department of Banking.
###
CONTACT: Stephany Dugan
House Democratic Communications Office
Phone: 717-787-7895
Email: sdugan@pahouse.net
Stacey Witalec
Office of Senator Jay Costa
Phone: 717-877-2997
Email: switalec@pasenate.com
