News Releases
Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa Responds to Louisiana v. Callais
HARRISBURG, PA – April 29, 2026 − Today, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision in Louisiana v. Callais, holding that a plaintiff alleging race-based discrimination under the Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 will be successful only if they can prove that there was a “strong inference of intentional discrimination” by the State and using an impossible legal test for any future plaintiff to meet in doing so.
Senate Democratic Caucus Files Amicus Brief in Support of City of Philadelphia to Protect Black History at President’s House Exhibit
HARRISBURG, PA – April 27, 2026 − The Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus today filed an amicus brief in support of the City of Philadelphia urging the Third Circuit Court of Appeals to require the National Park Service to fully restore and maintain the exhibits...
Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa Condemns Treasurer’s Denial of Security Upgrades to Governor’s Residence
HARRISBURG, PA – In response to State Treasurer Stacy Garrity’s letter stating her refusal to approve funds for security upgrades to Governor Shapiro’s residence, Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa offers the following statement on behalf of the Pennsylvania Senate...
Senate Democrats Champion Affordability Action Plan to Bring Down Costs and Expand Economic Opportunities to PA Families
HARRISBURG, PA − April 21, 2026 − Today, members of the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus were joined by Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis to hold a press conference in the Main Capitol Rotunda to kick off their Affordability Action Plan, which highlights...
Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa Commends Commonwealth Court Decision Ending State Prohibition on Reproductive Healthcare Spending
HARRISBURG, PA – April 20, 2026 − Today, the Commonwealth Court issued a decision holding that reproductive choice is a fundamental right guaranteed by the PA constitution, and that the state’s MA coverage prohibition on abortion services violates the Equal Rights...
Senators Fontana and Costa Announce over $21 Million in PENNVEST Funding for Allegheny County
Allegheny County – April 15, 2026 – Today, Senators Wayne Fontana and Jay Costa announce that the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST) awarded a loan of $21,770,999 to Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority (PWSA) for a water main replacement...
Senators Jay Costa, Lindsey Williams, and Wayne Fontana Announce over $53 Million in PENNVEST Funding for Allegheny County
PITTSBURGH, PA – April 15, 2026 − Today, the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST) held a Board Meeting to award loan and grant funding for the latest round of applicants. Together, Senators Jay Costa, Lindsey Williams, and Wayne Fontana announce...
Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa Announces Nearly $2 Million in Keystone Grants for Libraries in the 43rd District
PITTSBURGH, PA – April 7, 2026 − Today, Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa announces $1,900,000 in funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Education Office of Commonwealth Libraries benefitting three libraries in the 43rd Senatorial District. Keystone grants...
Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa Celebrates Passage of House Minimum Wage Bill, Calls for Swift Movement in Senate
HARRISBURG, PA – March 24, 2026 – Today, Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa offers the following statement on the final passage of HB 2189: “The PA House of Representatives today passed a minimum wage bill that, in one swift motion, champions working families,...
Shapiro Administration Continues Commitment to Revitalizing Pittsburgh, Highlights $3.3 Million Investment to Support a More Vibrant Downtown
The recent Neighborhood Assistance Program award to the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership will help create a cleaner, safer downtown over the next six years. Since Governor Josh Shapiro united the public, private, and non-profit sector behind a concrete plan to...
Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa Announces Over $1.7 Million in PCCD Grant Funding for the 43rd Senatorial District
PITTSBURGH, PA – March 11, 2026 − Today, Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa announces $1,798,040 in funding from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) benefitting the 43rd district, encompassing parts of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County. The...
Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa Lauds Governor Shapiro’s Housing Action Plan, Urges Bipartisanship to Enact Priorities
PITTSBURGH, PA: Today, Governor Josh Shapiro joined members of the Senate Democratic Caucus, stakeholders, and activists in Philadelphia to celebrate his Housing Action Plan, which will expand housing access and opportunity across the commonwealth. Building on...
Senators Maria Collett and Jay Costa Lead Senate Democrats in Affirming Constitutional Rights, Introducing Resolution Condemning Unconstitutional Use of Force by Federal Immigration Officers
Harrisburg, PA — January 27, 2026 − Senator Maria Collett (D-12, Montgomery, Caucus Chair) and Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-43, Allegheny) announced plans to introduce a new resolution affirming that constitutional rights guaranteed by the United States and...
Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Allegheny County Representatives Announce Grant Awards from Small Water and Sewer Program
PITTSBURGH, PA – January 22, 2026 − Today, Senator Jay Costa joins State Representatives from Allegheny County to announce grants from the Small Water and Sewer Grant Program. “I am delighted to be announcing the recipients of these Small Water and Sewer...
Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Allegheny County Representatives Announce Grant Awards from the Multimodal Transportation Fund
PITTSBURGH, PA – January 20, 2026 − Today, Senator Jay Costa joins State Representatives from Allegheny County to announce grants from the Multimodal Transportation Fund. “I am delighted to be announcing the recipients of these Multimodal Transportation...
Senators Haywood and Costa Lead January 6 Commemoration Honoring Law Enforcement Who Defended Democracy
HARRISBURG, PA − January 6, 2026 − Today, State Senator Art Haywood, and Senator Jay Costa, Democratic Party Leader, gathered in the Main Rotunda of the Pennsylvania State Capitol to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the January 6, 2021 insurrection and to honor...
Sen. Jay Costa and Rep. Joe McAndrew Bring $3 Million Back to Help Penn Hills with Road Projects
HARRISBURG, December 23, 2025 − State Sen. Jay Costa and state Rep. Joseph McAndrew today announced $3 million in state funding to support the Municipality of Penn Hills with its public works planned transportation improvements. The funding comes from the state...
Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Allegheny County Representatives Announce LSA Grant Awards
PITTSBURGH, PA – Today, Senator Jay Costa joins State Representatives from Allegheny County to announce grants for the Statewide Local Share Account (LSA) and Act 13 Programs. Administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, these...
Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa Announces Nearly $2 Million in PCCD Funding for the 43rd Senatorial District
PITTSBURGH, PA – December 11, 2025 − Today, Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa announces $1,933,927 in funding from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) benefitting the 43rd district, encompassing parts of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County. “I am...
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...