News Releases
Senator Costa Statement on Penn Hill School District
Pittsburgh, PA − January 16, 2019 − Senator Costa released the below statement on Penn Hill School District:
Today, the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) announced that the Penn Hills School District will be taking its next steps toward complete financial recovery by entering the Commonwealth’s Financial Recovery Program. While in financial watch status PDE identified several areas that the district can improve upon to put it on solid financial footing. This new program will bring expert staff and new resources to Penn Hills to ensure that they stay on course to full financial recovery, while maintaining local control.
Senate Democratic Caucus Details Local Impacts of Federal Shutdown, Outline State Remedies
HARRISBURG, PA − January 16, 2019 −Members of the Senate Democratic Caucus stood together Wednesday, outlining the impacts of the federal shutdown on their constituents and addressing potential remedies at a state level. “In my county of Allegheny, we have...
Pa Senate Democratic Caucus Releases Committee Assignments
HARRISBURG, January 16, 2019 − Today, the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus released its committee assignments for the 2019-20 legislative session. “Committee meetings offer our members and the public the best opportunity to learn about legislation, and it’s...
State Senators Write Banks Asking Institutions to help 12,000 Federal Employees Working without Pay
Harrisburg, PA – January 10, 2019 – On behalf of the 12,000 Pennsylvania federal employees, contractors and subcontractors who are not receiving a paycheck during the partial federal government shutdown, Senator Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery),...
Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr. Announces Committee Chairs for 2019-20 Legislative Session
Harrisburg – January 7, 2019 – Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr. today announced the Democratic chairs for each of the Senate committees in the 2019-20 legislative session, which officially began earlier this month. The committees, listed here...
Senate Democrats Introduce Legislation to Protect Health Care for Pennsylvanians
Harrisburg – December 20, 2018 – The Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus continues its fight to protect the major tenets of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) through two legislative proposals that would ensure comprehensive, quality and affordable...
Western PA Senators Announce Funding For Affordable Housing
Pittsburgh, Pa. – December 14, 2018 – Today, Senators Jay Costa, Wayne D. Fontana and Senator-elect Lindsey Williams announced $2.2 million in state grant funding to promote affordable housing in Western Pennsylvania. “While the city has seen a surge of...
Senator Costa and Representative Rep. Frankel Announce $1M PCCD Grant for Victims of Tree of Life Mass Shooting
Pittsburgh, Pa. – December 12, 2018 – Following the mass shooting attack on the Tree of Life Synagogue in Squirrel Hill, the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) has granted a $1 million grant for the victims, Senator Jay Costa, Jr. and Rep....
Democratic leaders will serve on Redistricting Reform Commission
HARRISBURG, December 3, 2018 – The Democratic leaders of the House and Senate will both serve on the bipartisan Pennsylvania Redistricting Reform Commission formed by Gov. Tom Wolf and they intend to participate fully in the panel’s work. Sen. Jay Costa and Rep. Frank...
Costa Endorses Report of Commission that Examined Fire and Emergency Services Issues
Harrisburg – November 28, 2018 – Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr. (D-Allegheny) released the following statement regarding the adoption of the report from a select commission that examined issues impacting fire and emergency services. Costa served as a...
Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus Re-Elects Full Leadership Team
HARRISBURG, PA − November 14, 2018 − The entire leadership team of the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus was reelected today to serve its membership for the 2019-20 legislative session. The Senate Democratic Caucus won five new seats in the 2018 midterm...
Senator Costa Announces Nearly $700,000 in Community Conservation Grants
PITTSBURGH, November 14, 2018 − Today, Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr. announced the award of nearly $700,000 in grants for community conservation projects in the 43rd Senatorial District. “These grants are a worthwhile investment to protect our natural...
Senator Costa Announces $150,000 in Safety and Security Grants
Pittsburgh, Pa. − October 30, 2018 − Sen. Jay Costa (D- Allegheny County) today announced that $150,000 in School Safety and Security grants were awarded to school districts in the 43rd district through the School Safety and Security Committee within...
Senator Costa’s Statement on SB 261, Grand Jury Recommendations
HARRISBURG, October 17, 2018 – Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr. released the following statement on what transpired tonight on the legislation regarding the grand jury recommendations on child sex abuse: Since first reading its report, I have been a...
Senators Fontana, Costa and Vulakovich Announce Water Line Replacement Dollars
HARRISBURG, October 17, 2018 – State Senators Wayne D. Fontana (D-Allegheny), Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) and Randy Vulakovich (R-Allegheny) today announced $49 million in state funds to replace 28,000 residential lead lateral connections in Pittsburgh. “I am pleased that...
Sen. Costa Releases Statement on HB2060, Protections for Victims of Domestic Violence
Harrisburg – October 3, 2018 – State Sen. Jay Costa released a statement on HB2060, Protections for Victims of Domestic Violence: "Today is an historic day. We have finally passed substantive legislation to protect the victims of domestic violence, and it...
Senator Costa Applauds the Passage of Automated Speed Enforcement for Workzones
HARRISBURG, PA, October 2, 2018 − After years of debate, today the Pennsylvania Senate passed Senate Bill 172 which allows for automated speed enforcement for active work zones. “Active construction zones on highways can be dangerous places – both for drivers and for...
Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr. Submits Written Testimony to EPA on Fuel Economy Standards
HARRISBURG, PA, September 25, 2018 – The Environmental Protection Agency will hold a public meeting in Pittsburgh today regarding a proposal to eliminate fuel economy standards on vehicles; Senator Costa submitted written testimony in opposition as he was unable...
State Legislators Unveil Police and Community Relation Reform Legislation
Harrisburg, PA − September 25, 2018 − Following the death of Antwon Rose, Jr. earlier this year, and other incidents around the state and nation, state legislators began work on legislation regarding police management and community relations. Today, Senators...
Senator Costa & Representative Deluca Announce $500,000 in State Grants for Local Water & Sewer Projects
PITTSBURGH, PA − September 18, 2018 − Senator Jay Costa and Representative Tony DeLuca today announced the award of more than $500,000 for local water and sewer projects. “The quality of water infrastructure is a critical issue, at the national and local...
Senator Costa & Representative Paul Costa Announce $400,000 in State Grants for Local Projects
PITTSBURGH, PA − September 18, 2018 − Senator Jay Costa and Representative Paul Costa today announced the award of more than $400,000 for local projects. “Unfortunately, municipalities often lack the funds that they need to make critical repairs to their...
Senator Costa & Representative Gainey Announce $250,000 in State Grants for Wilkinsburg Water & Sewer Project
PITTSBURGH, PA − September 18, 2018 −Senator Jay Costa and Representative Ed Gainey today announced a state grant award for a water and sewer project in Wilkinsburg. “Access to clean water and a reliable sewer system is something that every citizen of...
Western PA State Legislators Unveil Police and Community Relation Reform Legislation
Pittsburgh, PA − September 13, 2018 − Following the death of Antwon Rose, Jr. earlier this year, and other incidents around the state and nation, state legislators from Western Pennsylvania began work on legislation regarding police management and community...
‘All Pa. workers have a right to breathe free’
PITTSBURGH, September 11, 2018 – On the 10th anniversary of the start of Pennsylvania’s Clean Indoor Air Act (CIAA), elected officials joined with advocates to celebrate the health benefits of a decade of the law and to call for extending those same benefits to all employees in Pennsylvania.
Senator Costa and Rep. Davis Announce $500,000 Grant for Carnegie Library of Homestead
Munhall, PA − September 6, 2018 − Senator Jay Costa, Jr. and Representative Austin Davis today announced the award of $500,000 to the Carnegie Library of Homestead for improvements to its Music Hall. “The Carnegie libraries and our community libraries are an...
Senator Costa & Rep. Gainey Announce $1,000,000 State Grant in Wilkinsburg
Wilkinsburg, Pa. − September 5, 2018 − Today, Senator Jay Costa, Jr. announced the award of $1,000,000 to the Chatham University for the creation of a new turf field after the merger of Wilkinsburg and Westinghouse high schools in the Borough of Wilkinsburg....
Senators Costa & Fontana Congratulate Pittsburgh School District on $1.6 Million State Education Grant
Pittsburgh, Pa. − August 27, 2018 − Senators Jay Costa, Jr. and Wayne D. Fontana jointly congratulated the Pittsburgh School District on the award of $1.6 million from the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) to support school improvement. “I want to...
Senator Costa Statement Regarding the Release of the Grand Jury Report on Abuse in the Catholic Church
PITTSBURGH, PA − August 14, 2018 − Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr. released the following statement regarding the release of the Grand Jury report on abuse in the Catholic Church: I applaud Attorney General Josh Shapiro for his committed work in...
Senator Costa Congratulates School Districts Awarded Health Food Grants
Allegheny County, Pa – July 30, 2018 – Today, Governor Tom Wolf announced $5 million in grants to school districts that are providing students with fresh fruits and vegetables during the school day; several of the grant awardees are in Senate Democratic Leader Jay...
Senator Costa Hears Testimony on Improving Police & Community Relations
Wilkinsburg, Pa. − July 17, 2018 − Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr. today attended a joint hearing of the Pennsylvania House and Senate Policy Committees regarding police and community relations. “Improving relations between police departments and the...