News Releases
State Legislators Discuss a Just Recovery for Pennsylvania in Telephone Town Hall
Harrisburg – July 1, 2020 – State Senators Jay Costa (D- Allegheny) and Art Haywood (D- Montgomery/Philadelphia) joined Pennsylvania House Representatives Summer Lee (D- Allegheny) and Liz Hanbidge (D- Montgomery) for a telephone town hall hosted by the State...
PA Senate Democrats Discuss Police Reform Legislative Agenda and Statewide Racial Equity Solutions Tour
Harrisburg – June 30, 2020 – Pennsylvania Senate Democrats gathered in the Capitol and through Zoom to discuss the status of their legislative agenda for police reforms, and to announce a statewide Racial Equity Solutions Tour. PA Senate Democrats introduced a...
PA Senate Passes Two Major Law Enforcement Reform Bills
HARRISBURG, PA − June 24, 2020 − The Pennsylvania Senate today unanimously passed two major pieces of police reform legislation, both sponsored by members of the Senate Democratic Caucus: Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr. (D-Allegheny) and Senator Sharif Street...
Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus to Close Offices in Recognition of Juneteenth
Harrisburg, PA June 18, 2020 - Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr. Announced that the Senate Democratic Caucus offices will be closed on Friday, June 19th to recognize Juneteenth. Juneteenth, also known as Jubilee or Liberation Day, the holiday celebrates the end...
PA Senate and House Democrats to Host “PA Needs A Just Recovery” Statewide Events
HARRISBURG – June 16, 2020 –The Pennsylvania Senate & House Democratic Caucuses will join workers for virtual press events “based” across the state to highlight that Pennsylvania needs a just recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and justice for black lives....
Sen. Costa Announces $1.7 Million in State Grants for Victim Services, Addiction Treatment & Forensic Science
Pittsburgh, PA − June 10, 2020 − Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr. today announced the award of more than $1.7 million in state grants to fund programs in victims services, addiction treatment and local forensic science improvement. The awards were made...
PA Senate Democrats Announce Comprehensive Police Reform Legislation
HARRISBURG – June 10, 2020 – Today, members of the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus announced plans for a comprehensive package of legislation to reform policing in Pennsylvania. Two years ago, members of the caucus introduced police and community relations...
PA Senate Democrats Announce $225 Million for Small Business Assistance Grants Statewide
HARRISBURG – June 8, 2020 – Members of the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus announced the direction of $225 million in federal CARES Act funding to aid small businesses across the commonwealth. This funding was authorized by the recently enacted COVID-19...
Senator Costa Supports 5-Month State Budget, Fully Funding Education and Spending State’s Federal Cares Money
Harrisburg, Pa. − May 28, 2020 – Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr. today voted in support of House Bill 2387, a General Appropriations bill that funds state operations through November, and fully funding education through the entire fiscal year. The bill passed...
PA Senate Democrats Announce $550 Million Main Street Business Revitalization Grant Program
Harrisburg, PA − May 22, 2020 − Senators Jay Costa, Vince Hughes, John Blake, Jim Brewster and Pam Iovino today called for $550 million of funds allocated to Pennsylvania through the federal CARES act to be used for a program they are calling the Main Street Business...
Costa, Wheatley Applauds Confirmation of Khadija Diggs to Pa. Parole Board
PITTSBURGH, May 14, 2020 – Today state Senator Jay Costa, D-Allegheny and state Rep. Jake Wheatley, D-Allegheny, announced the unanimous confirmation vote of Khadija Diggs, Esq., to the Pennsylvania Parole Board from the state Senate. Diggs, from Verona, Allegheny...
Senate Democrats Condemn Wasteful, Political Hearing of Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee
Harrisburg, Pa. − April 30, 2020 − The Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness (VAEP) Committee led by Chairman Mike Regan (R-Cumberland) today held a hearing, not to address veterans’ affairs nor emergency preparedness, but rather to issue subpoenas to...
Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr. Issues Statement Supporting PA Auditor General’s Review of DCED Waiver Program
Harrisburg, Pa. − April 30, 2020 − Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr. issued the following statement regarding the Senate Republican efforts to subpoena Governor Tom Wolf’s cabinet officials in the middle of a public health crisis.
PA Senate Democrats Unveil PA CARES
Sens. Costa, Hughes unveil PA CARES, a plan to allocate federal CARES Act funds
HARRISBURG – APRIL 29, 2020 – State Senators Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) and Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) unveiled the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus’ plan to allocate federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funds Wednesday...
Costa Authors Legislation to Protect Cares Act Payments from Garnishment
Harrisburg – April 23, 2020 – Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr. (D-Allegheny) unveiled legislation today that would protect federal stimulus payments to people from being preyed upon by creditors and debt collectors. Costa’s bill would prohibit the garnishment...
Senator Costa, Reps Gainey and Davis Announce $140,000 in Education Equity Grants
Pittsburgh, PA − April 22, 2020 − Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr., Representative Ed Gainey and Representative Austin Davis today announced the award of more than $140,000 in state grants for school districts in the 43rd senatorial district to bridge...
PA Senate Democrats Urge Action on Legislation for Working Families, Pledge to Oppose Partisan COVID Task Force
Harrisburg, PA − April 8, 2020 − The Senate adjourned Tuesday afternoon after the House Republicans indicated they would not be taking up Senate Bill 841, legislation that would have enabled local municipalities to hold their meetings remotely, permitted e-notary use;...
House and Senate Democratic Caucuses Seek Immediate Legislative Action on Needs of Workers and Middle Class Families
Harrisburg, PA − April 6, 2020 − Leaders from the Democratic caucuses of the Pennsylvania House and Senate today presented legislative solutions for working families during the COVID outbreak and business closures. They addressed issues, including: Retaliation against...
Rise in hate crimes leads to warning from state police, lawmakers
Lawmakers, PSP discuss increase in incidents and urge public action PITTSBURGH, April 2, 2020 – Alarmed by disturbing warnings that racist attacks on Asian Americans are increasing in Pennsylvania and across America during the coronavirus crisis, a group of...
General Assembly Agrees to Transfer $61 Million From CFA To Small Business Loan Program
Harrisburg, PA − March 18, 2020 − Leaders from each of the four caucuses of the General Assembly and the Governor agreed to move $40 million under the Commonwealth Financing Authority to a small business loan program to aid businesses impacted by the COVID...
Pa Senate Democratic Caucus Endorses American Working Family Relief Action Plan
Harrisburg, Pa. − March 17, 2020 − The Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus today endorsed a package of policies and legislation intended to protect workers during and after the COVID-19 outbreak. The platform, called American Working Family Relief Action Plan,...
Senate Leaders Issue Statement on COVID-19
HARRISBURG – March 12, 2020 − Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-25), Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman (R-34) and Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa (D-43) have issued the following statement regarding COVID-19: “COVID-19 discussions are ongoing...
Costa-Frankel Nonprofit Security Grant Program Announces more than $500K for Local Organizations
Pittsburgh, Pa. − March 11, 2020 − Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr. (D-Allegheny) and Representative Dan Frankel (D-Allegheny) today announced the award of more than $500,000 for local organizations to improve safety and security measures to prevent hate...
Senator Costa and Rep. Gainey Announce Nearly $1.5 Million in Local School and Community Safety Grants
Pittsburgh, Pa. − February 26, 2020 − Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr. today announced state funding for school and community safety programs in districts throughout the 43rd senatorial district. “Students cannot focus on learning if they’re worried...
Senator Costa Announces Nearly $2 Million in Local School and Community Safety Grants
Pittsburgh, Pa. − February 26, 2020 − Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr. today announced major state funding for school and community safety programs in districts throughout the 43rd senatorial district. “Students cannot focus on learning if they’re worried...
Senator Costa Wishes Senator Dinniman Best in Retirement, Thanks Him for Years of Dedicated Service
Pittsburgh, Pa. − February 7, 2020 − Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr. wishes Senator Andy Dinniman the best in his retirement and thanks him for years of dedicated service to his constituents. “It has been an honor to serve with Senator Dinniman since he was...
New Study: Pennsylvanians breathed months of dirty air in 2018
For many PA cities, air quality was unhealthy around 1 out of every 4 days
PITTSBURGH, PA – January 28, 2020 – Millions of Pennsylvanians across the state are breathing months’ worth of poor air quality due to pollution in 2018, according to a new report released today by the PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center and Frontier Group. The groups’ report was released as Pittsburgh and other metropolitan areas experienced unhealthy air days this month, an uncommon experience in wintertime for the Commonwealth’s cities.
Senator Costa Announces Nearly $400,000 in State Dairy Grants
Harrisburg, Pa. − January 22, 2020 − State Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr. today announced two awards to local dairy programs, totaling nearly $400,000. “Dairy is one of Pennsylvania’s largest industries, with unique and difficult challenges. If we want...
Senator Costa Announces PA Smart Grants for Five Local School Districts
Pittsburgh, Pa. − January 17, 2020 − Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr. today announced the award of $35,000 in state grants for computer science classes and teacher trainings to each of five local school districts. “I was honored to stand with Secretary of...