News Releases
Governor Shapiro, Lt. Governor Davis, Child Care Workers, and Legislators Highlight New Child Care Recruitment & Retention Bonuses Secured in the 2025-26 Budget
Verona, PA – December 1, 2025 – Today, Governor Josh Shapiro and Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis joined child care workers, legislators, and community leaders at Riverview Children’s Center in Allegheny County to highlight child care investments secured in the 2025-26 budget the Governor signed last month. These investments will help Pennsylvania recruit and retain child care workers, expand access to quality care, and ensure more parents can stay in the workforce and provide for their families.
Senator Jay Costa Announces $725,000 In Gaming Economic Development Tourism Fund Grants for the 43rd District
PITTSBURGH, PA – November 19, 2025 − Today, Senator Jay Costa announces $725,000 in Gaming Economic Development Tourism money benefiting the 43rd senatorial district. Gaming Economic Development Tourism Fund (GEDTF) grants allow municipalities, authorities,...
Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa Celebrates the Passage of Historic 2025-26 State Budget
The $50.1 billion 2025-26 Pennsylvania Budget secures record-setting investments in education, affordability, community safety, and economic development HARRISBURG, PA − November 12, 2025 − On Wednesday, November 12, 2025, the Senate of Pennsylvania passed the...
Senate Democrats Applaud Governor Shapiro’s Disaster Declaration, Celebrates Court Decision Ordering SNAP
HARRISBURG, PA − October 31, 2025 − Today, Senate Democrats express gratitude to Governor Shapiro for his decision to sign a Declaration of Disaster Emergency and sending $5 million in Commonwealth Funding to Pennsylvania’s network of foodbanks. Additionally,...
Senate Democrats Introduce Pennsylvania Food Bank and Hunger Relief Grant Program to Fight Hunger Amid SNAP Funding Freeze
HARRISBURG, PA − October 28, 2025 − Today, Senate Democrats held a press event to introduce the Pennsylvania Food Bank and Hunger Relief Grant Program, legislation that will allocate $50 million from the Rainy Day Fund for the Department of Agriculture to send to...
Senator Costa Discusses Budget Impasse on PCN
Harrisburg, PA − October 23, 2025 − On Wednesday, October 22, Senator Jay Costa provided an update to Francine Schertzer on the status of the 2025-26 Pennsylvania Budget negotiations, as well as policy priorities for the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus. You can watch the entire interview here:
PA Senate Democrats Share Statement on ‘Unserious’ Budget Exercise from Senate Republicans
Harrisburg, PA – October 21, 2025 – Today, the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus issued a statement following more budget delays that were led by Senate Republicans. “It is deeply frustrating to see Senate Republicans waste more time instead of coming to the table...
Senators Jay Costa, Lindsey M. Williams, and Wayne Fontana Announce Over $70 Million in PENNVEST Funding for Pittsburgh Water Lead Line Replacement
Pittsburgh, Pa. − October 17, 2025 − Today, Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Senator Wayne Fontana, and Senator Lindsey M. Williams announced the approval of a $70,350,208 loan for Pittsburgh Water from the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority...
Senate Democrats Send Letter to Senate Republicans Calling for Immediate Passage of Bipartisan Budget Bill SB 160
HARRISBURG, PA − October 14, 2025 − Now that the Senate Republicans’ Budget Impasse has gone on for 106 days and counting, all twenty three members of the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus signed onto a letter urging Senate Republicans to call the Senate back...
Senator Jay Costa Announces Over $6 Million in Low Income Housing Tax Credits Benefitting Senate District 43
PITTSBURGH – October 10, 2025 − Today, State Senator Jay Costa announces $6,196,549 in funding from the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) in federal tax credits utilized to finance the development of affordable housing. The funding was conditionally reserved...
PA Senate Democratic Leadership Shares Statement on Latest House Budget Legislation
Harrisburg PA − October 8, 2025 − Today, Senator Jay Costa, Senate Democratic Leader, and Senator Vincent Hughes, Senate Democratic Appropriations Chair, shared the following statement after the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed a 25-26 budget for the...
Senate Democratic Caucus Policy Committee Holds Hearing Regarding Solutions for Addressing Housing Affordability
McKees Rocks − September 16, 2025 − Today, Senate Democratic Policy Committee Chair Nick Miller held a hearing to examine housing affordability and seeking solutions to a growing issue across Pennsylvania. “Housing affordability continues to be a major issue across...
Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa Offers a Statement on Pittsburgh Regional Transit Funding Announcement
PITTSBURGH, PA – September 11, 2025 − Today, PRT requested permission from Governor Shapiro and PENNDOT to use infrastructure dollars for operating expenses. This follows the Governor’s approval of SEPTA’s request for temporary operational support using state funds...
Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa Announces Over $3.5 Million in PCCD Federal Victims of Crime Act Grant Funding for the 43rd Senatorial District
PITTSBURGH, PA – September 10, 2025 − Today, Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa announces $3,556,350 in funding from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) benefitting the 43rd district, encompassing parts of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County. These...
Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa Responds to SEPTA Funding Announcement, Calls for Statewide Permanent Sustainable Transit Funding
HARRISBURG, PA – September 8, 2025 – Today, Governor Shapiro and PennDOT approved SEPTA’s request for temporary operational support using state funds that are typically reserved for capital expenses that fund the purchase and maintenance of transit vehicles and...
Senator Jay Costa Announces Over $440,000 for Broadband Access in the 43rd Senatorial District
PITTSBURGH, PA – The PA Broadband Development Authority met on Friday, August 22, at 10 a.m. to award grants from the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program. These grants will generate over $1.3 Billion in infrastructure spending that will create...
Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Democratic Appropriations Chair Vincent Hughes Urge Senate Republicans to Return to Negotiations as House Votes Down Unserious Budget and Transit Bills
HARRISBURG, PA – Today, the House Rules Committee and the House Appropriations Committee voted down HB 257 and SB 160, respectively. Passed in the Senate yesterday evening, these bills represented unserious and unagreed-to budget proposals that were roundly condemned...
Senator Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Democratic Appropriations Chair Vincent Hughes Express Frustration, Urgency as Senate Republicans Fail to Meaningfully Advance Budget Negotiations, Transit Funding
HARRISBURG, PA – Today, the Senate of Pennsylvania convened for session. Instead of advancing bills to bring the 2025-26 budget process to a close and to fully fund public transit, roads, and bridges, Senate Republicans chose to advance HB 257, a bill that would...
Senate Democratic Caucus Policy Committee Roundtable Regarding Emergency Service and First Responder Recruitment
EPHRATA, PA − July 30, 2025 − Today, Senate Democratic Policy Committee Chair Nick Miller held a secondary roundtable discussion of the current challenges emergency service and first responders are facing in their communities. “We have heard a clear and...
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 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 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
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.
“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.
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. ...
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...
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, 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...