HARRISBURG – January 26, 2022 – The PA Senate Democrats were proud to pass legislation yesterday that will provide $225 million in funding to Pennsylvania hospitals and health care providers. This funding comes through the federal American Rescue Plan and final passage is expected in the House of Representatives later today.
“Our health care workers have been pushed to capacity physically, financially, mentally, and emotionally these last two years as we battle the Covid-19 pandemic. Not only do they deserve our support and continued advocacy for every eligible person to get vaccinated, but they also need the resources to continue this battle against Covid-19,” Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa said.
There will be $100 million allocated for the retention and recruitment of direct care hospital employees, $110 million for recruitment and retention of staff at behavioral health providers, high Medicaid hospitals, and critical access hospitals.
There will also be a $15 million allocation to PHEAA for further loan forgiveness for Pennsylvania nurses. This is in addition to previous funds Senate Democrats advocated for to forgive up to $7,500 of Pennsylvania nurses – a program designed and championed by Senator-and-nurse Maria Collett last year.
House Bill 253, which allocates this funding, will also create an 11-member task force for addressing the impact of opioid abuse on children.
“As we continue to fight the Covid-19 pandemic, we see the toll this takes on our health care professionals, our hospitals, and our communities. The Senate Democratic Caucus will continue fighting for the resources our communities need to stay safe, and we encourage all who can to get vaccinated to help end this pandemic and the effects it is having on our health care professionals,” Sen. Costa said.
Senator Kearney has been named Vice Chair of the Appropriations Committee
Harrisburg, Pa. – January 19, 2022 – Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa today announced the appointment of Senator Tim Kearney (D-Delaware) to Vice Chair of the Appropriations Committee.
“Senator Kearney has distinguished himself as a leader in the Senate, and I know that he will serve our caucus well as part of our leadership team,” said Senator Costa. “Appropriations is one of the most important and encompassing committees in this body, and the role of vice chair provides critical counsel to our chair and advocacy on behalf of our caucus.”
“As the new Vice Chair of the Appropriations Committee, I’m honored to serve with Senator Hughes to ensure we meet the needs of Pennsylvanians while ensuring financial accountability on behalf of the Commonwealth,” said Senator Kearney. “I vow to fight for a state budget that promotes equity and growth by continuing to champion for increased funding for public school education and investments in transportation infrastructure. This appointment is a unique opportunity to make a difference, and I’m ready to serve.”
The Vice Chair of Appropriations assists the Democratic Chair of Appropriations, Senator Vincent Hughes, with agenda setting, priority development and meeting management. The role is part of the leadership team for the caucus along with Leader, Whip, Appropriations Chair, Secretary, Caucus Chair and Policy Chair.
“The Vice Chair is my right hand through budget hearings and negotiations every year,” said Democratic Appropriations Chair Vincent Hughes. “We’re about to begin that process and I’m ready to get in the trenches with Senator Kearney – his insight and advocacy are what we need on this committee.”
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Pittsburgh, Pa. − December 20, 2021 − Today Senator Jay Costa announced the award of more than $800,000 in state grants from the Keystone Communities Program (KCP) for community organizations in the 43rd senatorial district.
“These grants are going to worthy organizations for valuable projects – exactly what we are looking for when deciding how to make state investments,” said Senator Costa. “With these awards, organizations like Action Housing and Community Kitchen, and others around the state, are going to be able to improve their facilities while furthering their important missions.”
The entities receiving grants today in the 43rd district include:
- Action Housing Inc.: $700,000 to complete construction of the Second Avenue Commons homeless facility in Pittsburgh
- Community Kitchen Pittsburgh: $91,020 to upgrade the training facility to provide onsite food preparation and service experience
- Wilkinsburg Community Development Corporation: $50,000 to continue façade improvements along a targeted area of downtown Wilkinsburg, including Penn Avenue
The Keystone Communities Program (KCP) program is designed to encourage the creation of partnerships between the public and private sectors that jointly support local initiatives such as the growth and stability of neighborhoods and communities; social and economic diversity; and a strong and secure quality of life.
The program allows communities to tailor the assistance to meet the needs of its specific revitalization effort.
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Harrisburg, Pa. – December 16, 2021 − State Senator Jay Costa today voted in favor of the preliminary maps that were presented to the Legislative Reapportionment Commission (LRC). The preliminary maps were approved by the LRC and now enter a 30 day public comment period.
The Senate preliminary map was accepted unanimously by the commission.
“I’m proud of the preliminary product that we advanced today, as well as the thoughtful and bipartisan process we used to get here,” said Senator Costa. “After months of hearings and countless hours of testimony from experts and the public, we’ve drafted a document that creates representative seats, compact and contiguous districts, and elevates minority voices.”
This year, the LRC accepted publicly submitted maps and allowed testimony via Zoom to make the process more participatory than in the history of redistricting. There were 9 meetings, 6 hearings, 29 publicly submitted maps, testimony from 51 citizens and 29 experts.
Due to COVID related challenges, census data was delivered five months late which compressed the timeline for a preliminary map. Despite this, the Commission is submitting a map on schedule with the expected May primary for 2022.
“I hope that everyone takes a close look at the plan as a whole but more importantly, their area of the state and gives us feedback about what they like but also what they don’t like about the map,” said Senator Costa. “We will be taking those comments seriously when putting together the Final Plan.”
More information on future meetings and the preliminary map are available at redistricting.state.pa.us.
Pittsburgh, Pa. – December 6, 2021 − Senator Jay Costa today announced the award of a $2 million state grant for Yeshivath Achei Tmimim of Pittsburgh, and $2 million for The Riviera at 350 Technology Drive.
Yeshivath Achei Tmimim will use the grant for the rehabilitation of the Greenfield Campus of the Yeshiva Schools. The Jewish day school purchased the former St. Rosalia Catholic School in Greenfield and that facility will now operate as its boys’ school. St. Rosalia was built in 1923 and for many years operated as an elementary school in the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh before it closed in 2018.
The property exceeds 70,000 sq ft and will educate 300 boys, housing 50 to 60 of them from out of town. Yeshiva Schools was founded in 1943 and the Greenfield expansion is part of its most recent 5-year plan.
The Riviera at 350 Technology Drive is a state-of-the-art office space that will offer bio-tech and wet lab space.
“These grants allow the state to invest in organizations and businesses that are investing in our communities and in our people,” said Senator Costa. “These are exciting projects that I’m happy to help come to fruition. Both entities are assets in our region and their expansions will benefit so many.”
Today’s grants are provided for by the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP), a Commonwealth grant program administered by the Office of the Budget for the acquisition and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic, recreational, and historical improvement projects.
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Project will reimagine the site of the worst anti-Semitic attack on U.S. soil
Pittsburgh, PA − December 6, 2021 − Governor Tom Wolf visited the Tree of Life in Pittsburgh today to announce $6.6 million in state funding to support the rebuilding and reimagining of the synagogue. The governor was joined by Rabbi Jeffrey Myers, Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa and members of the Tree of Life’s REMEMBER. REBUILD. RENEW campaign which will transform the site of the worst antisemitic attack in U.S. history into a new place of hope, remembrance, and education.
“Following the tragedy that occurred here, Pennsylvanians came together in solidarity to support the Tree of Life and the other congregations,” said Gov. Wolf. “We continue to stand with you today as the Tree of Life community works to reimagine this space into a welcoming place of reflection, education, and healing.
“I am proud to join you by providing this state funding to the Tree of Life’s efforts to remember and rebuild here and create a place for residents and visitors from around the world to reflect, learn, and grow.”
The state funding was provided through the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP), which supports community, economic development, and revitalization projects throughout Pennsylvania.
“We are tremendously thankful to Governor Wolf for this significant and generous investment in our effort to establish a new and reimagined space that serves not only our congregation but all of Tree of Life’s neighbors and the broader community,” said Rabbi Jeffrey Myers. “Our campaign and the grant that comes in support of it provide an opportunity to collectively renew our resolve to fight antisemitism and bigotry of all kinds, as we continue our journey of healing.”
The project will create spaces for worship and education as well as to commemorate those who lost their lives in the tragedy. A new home for exhibitions and public programs of the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh will be included.
”Tree of Life has been near and dear to me for many years – since I grew up just a few blocks away, to representing Squirrel Hill in the state senate, to grieving with this community in the past years,” said Sen. Costa. “Its history is long, but so is its future and I’m honored to be even just a small part of the REMEMBER.REBUID.RENEW project.”
“For decades, this special place has housed joyous and important life events and enriched the spiritual and cultural lives of countless families,” said Representative Dan Frankel. “With state funding, along with the vision and hard work of community members, we can help restore the Tree of Life building to its work as a spiritual home alongside of its new and crucial role as a witness to history.”
Eleven people were killed and seven were wounded in the antisemitic attack at the Tree of Life on Oct. 27, 2018.
In 2019, Gov. Wolf honored the victims during a trip to Lithuania and Poland. The governor carried a mezuzah from inside the synagogue with him as he visited Paneriai and Auschwitz-Birkenau, two prominentt locations of atrocities against the Jewish people during the Holocaust.
The governor also wrote the names of the 11 victims in the guestbooks at both locations with the intent of memorializing them in perpetuity. Following the trip the governor returned the mezuzah to Rabbi Myers.
