Senator Jay Costa Announces over $15 Million in PENNVEST Funding for the 43rd District
PITTSBURGH, PA – October 16, 2024 – Today, the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST) held a Board Meeting to award loan and grant funding for the latest round of applicants.
“The delivery of safe, clean, lead-free drinking water is absolutely crucial,” said Senator Costa. “I am very proud to have secured funding for projects that will ensure our water is potable and not harmful to our children. I look forward to seeing these projects get underway for our friends and neighbors in Allegheny and Wilkinsburg.”
In the 43rd Senatorial District, the two recipients of PENNVEST dollars are as follows:
Pennsylvania American Water Company was awarded a $1,891,056 loan and a $3,908,944 grant to replace 357 lead service lines. Three hundred of these lines represent replacement of the privately-owned portion of the lead service line, while 57 lines will be replaced on both the public and private portion.
Wilkinsburg-Penn Joint Water Authority was awarded a $3,101,917 loan and a $6,798,083 grant for the removal and replacement of approximately 1,060 existing lead service lines on either the Wilkinsburg-Penn Joint Water Authority or customer side of the water service lines with approximately 42,400 feet of new ¾-inch copper water service lines and 1,060 curb boxes. Also, any associated surface restoration will be included with the project.
Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa Responds to Updates in Pat Browne Lawsuit
HARRISBURG, PA – October 15, 2024 − Today, the Commonwealth Court denied two of the three lawsuits filed by the PA Senate Democrats in defense of Secretary of Revenue Pat Browne. Since the Senate Republicans passed SR 334, forcing Pat Browne to disclose sensitive taxpayer data or else be detained by the Sergeant at Arms, Senate Democrats filed suit to affirm Secretary Browne’s decision to follow the law and withhold identifying information about private citizens.
In response, Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa issues the following statement:
“I am disappointed by these results, but maintain our resolve that Secretary Browne is following the law as it is written,” said Senator Costa. “The Senate of Pennsylvania has taken the extraordinary step of passing a resolution attempting to hold the Secretary in contempt. The facts of this moment are notably distinguishable from those of the case referenced in the court’s decisions. If or when the Senate tries to hold the Revenue Secretary in contempt, we will assuredly renew our efforts to have this subpoena thrown out on the merits.”
View Senator Costa’s remarks on the floor regarding SR 334 here.
Senator Jay Costa Announces over $4 Million in PA Broadband Development Authority Funding for the 43rd District
PITTSBURGH, PA – October 10, 2024 – Today, the PA Broadband Development Authority met to award grants from the Multipurpose Community Facilities Program. The Facilities Program offered $45 million in competitive grants to community anchor institutions and units of local government for community projects to construct, acquire, or improve facilities that are, or will be open to the public and will directly enable work, education, and health monitoring at the respective facility.
“I am delighted to be announcing these grant dollars to benefit Pittsburgh and Allegheny County,” said Senator Costa. “These projects will continue to empower communities by improving the spaces where people gather, learn, and seek care. I look forward to seeing these undertakings come to fruition as we go forward.”
In the 43rd Senatorial District, the three recipients of MCFP dollars are:
- Latino Community Center was awarded $1,631,198.80 to expand the Latino Community Center of Allegheny County. The project entails renovations to the Community Center facilities.
- Primary Care Health Services, Inc. was awarded $2,000,000 for the PCHS Wilford A. Payne Medical Center. A new 44,000 square-foot medical center and office building will be constructed on a surface parking lot adjacent to the current facility.
- Woodland Hills School District was awarded $500,000 to renovate Carnegie Free Library of Swissvale.
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Costa, Stefano Bill Offering New Option to Reinstate Driving Privilege Sent to Governor’s Desk
HARRISBURG – October 9, 2024 – Today, the Pennsylvania General Assembly gave final approval on legislation by Sens. Pat Stefano (R-32) and Jay Costa (D-43) that would allow magisterial district judges to grant Pennsylvania drivers who are unable to pay the fees and fines of their suspended license the option to pursue community service as a payment alternative. This initiative would only apply to drivers whose suspension resulted from routine violations.
“The ability to drive is essential in rural Pennsylvania,” Stefano said. “This legislation will empower Pennsylvania drivers struggling to escape the prison of debt, created by those fines and fees from traffic violations, to get back on the road so they can continue to contribute to our local communities.”
Senate Bill 1118 would also allow those who currently have suspended licenses – due to inability to pay certain fines and fees – to be provided with the option of community service if a judge sees fit. The community service payment alternative could additionally apply to suspensions related to driving with a suspended license.
“Today is a great day for justice reform in Pennsylvania,” said Costa. “This bipartisan legislation stands to make an enormous difference in the lives of low-income drivers who cannot afford the fines to reinstate suspended licenses. By allowing judges to assign community service instead of financial penalties for drivers already struggling to make ends meet, we can ensure workers get to jobs, patients get to doctor’s appointments, kids get to school and families can live their lives. I look forward to seeing this legislation put to work in our communities.”
During the bill’s passage in the House of Representatives, a variety of amendments were added to the legislation for structural changes. Alterations to the bill included increasing the response time for an individual to receive notice of a license suspension and reducing the soon-to-be law’s effective date from 26 to 18 months.
“This has been many years in the making. Sen. Costa and I first introduced this legislation, three legislative sessions ago, following a study that showed that failure to pay fines and fees and failure to appear in court are the two most common reasons for a license suspension among young drivers,” Stefano said. “I’m happy to see this initiative finally come to fruition.”
The bill now heads to the governor’s desk for enactment.
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Senate Democrats File Lawsuits Seeking to Block Enforcement of Senate Resolution 334
HARRISBURG, PA – October 9, 2024 − Today, four members of the Senate Democratic Caucus filed suit in Commonwealth Court against President Pro Tempore Kim Ward, Senator Joe Pittman, and Senator Jarret Coleman in order to halt a subpoena compelling Secretary of Revenue Pat Browne from turning over sensitive taxpayer data. Yesterday, Senate Resolution 334 was adopted 28-22 ordering the Sergeant-at-Arms to bring Pat Browne before the Senate.
Senators Jay Costa, Vincent Hughes, Tina Tartaglione, and Nikil Saval joined forces to file suit in Commonwealth Court to challenge the subpoena issued by the Intergovernmental Operations Committee, noting that the Senators were asked to take an illegal vote compelling the Secretary of Revenue to violate a taxpayer’s private records; to ask the Court to enjoin enforcement of the subpoena; and to ask the court to hear the matter expeditiously.
<“We have been clear from the beginning that Senate Resolution 334 is inappropriate and should not be enforced,” said Senator Costa. “A resolution cannot and must not override the rule of law, specifically Act 24 of 2021. Secretary Browne is following the law as it is written. The lawsuits brought by my colleagues and me support Pat Browne in his following the rule of law.”
Footage of Senator Costa’s remarks during the floor debate on SR 334 is available here.
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