News Releases
Senator Costa Announces $150,000 in Local Senior Center Grants
Pittsburgh, PA − May 3, 2019 − Today, Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr. announced grant awards to three senior centers in the 43rd Senatorial District. “Pennsylvania has an aging population, and it’s important that we invest in our seniors,” said Senator Costa....
Sen. Costa responds to PA House member tweet calling construction workers “Nazis”
Pittsburgh, PA − May 2, 2019 − Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) issued the following reaction to a recent tweet from a Pennsylvania House member comparing union pipeline construction workers to Nazis: “It is disappointing and unacceptable for anyone to...
Senator Costa Announces $350,000 for Community Empowerment Association to Address Violence and Its Aftermath
Harrisburg, Pa. − April 30, 2019 − Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr. announced today that the Pennsylvania School Safety and Security Fund awarded $350,000 to the Community Empowerment Association, Inc. to fund its work in violence prevention and the treatment...
Senator Costa Announces $350,000 in Anti Violence Grant for Woodland Hills School District & Communities
Harrisburg, Pa. − April 30, 2019 − Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr. announced today $350,000 in state grant funding in a violence prevention initiative for the Woodland Hills School District communities in conjunction with the Pittsburgh Action Against...
Governor Tom Wolf Announces Support for SB600, PA to Join Us Climate Alliance
Harrisburg, PA − April 29, 2019 − At a press event earlier today at the State Capitol, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf announced his decision for the state to join the U.S. Climate Alliance, and offered his support for Senators Steve Santarsiero and Art Haywood’s...
State Senate Committee Holds Second Hearing on Global Warming
PITTSBURGH, April 23, 2019 – At the request of state Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Forest Hills) and Senator Wayne Fontana (D-Brookline), the Senate Democratic Policy Committee held a hearing today in Pittsburgh on strategies for combatting climate change by...
Sen. Costa Recommendation Elliot Howsie Nominated for Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas
Pittsburgh, PA – March 29, 2019 – Earlier today, Governor Tom Wolf nominated Allegheny County Public Defender Elliot Howsie to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of the Honorable Donna Jo McDaniel. “I was honored to recommend Elliot Howsie,” said Senator Jay...
Senator Costa Announces $10 Million in State Funding for Hazelwood
Hazelwood, Pa – March 27, 2019 – Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr. announced $10 million in state funding for Hazelwood. “This is the kind of development and investment that Hazelwood needs,” said Senator Costa. “A project of this magnitude can help this...
Senator Costa and Local State Representatives Announce more than $1.5 Million in State Funding for Transportation Projects
HARRISBURG, PA, March 26, 2019 – Today, Senator Jay Costa, Jr. and local state representatives announced funding of more than $1.5 million for multi-modal transportation projects. “We have a growing region, but to continue that development we have to make...
Democrats Introduce Package of Legislation to Curb Workplace Harassment
HARRISBURG, PA, March 26, 2019 – Democrats from the Pennsylvania House and Senate today introduced a package of legislation aimed to curb harassment in the workplace, along with support from Governor Tom Wolf and Victim’s Advocate Jennifer Storm. “As a caucus, we’ve...
Senators Williams, Costa, and Hughes Introduce PA Workplace Freedom Act
Pittsburgh, Pa. − March 14, 2019 − Senators Lindsey M. Williams, Jay Costa, and Vincent J. Hughes, joined by local elected officials, Allegheny County Labor Council members, and a crowd of union workers, announced the introduction of the Workplace Freedom Act today at...
Joint State Legislative Hearing in Clairton Focuses on Improving Air Quality
Clairton, February 7, 2019 – With an overflow crowd of steel workers and concerned citizens in attendance at Clairton City Hall, a joint state Senate-House Democratic Policy Committee hearing was held today on ways to improve air quality, community notification...
Senator Costa to Introduce Legislation to Halt UPMC Highmark Divorce, Require Productive, Ongoing Relationship for Benefit of Healthcare Consumers
Pittsburgh, Pa. − February 6, 2019 − Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr. today circulated a memo seeking cosponsors for legislation that would require UPMC and Highmark to either contract with each other for services or enter mandatory arbitration if they fail to...
Costa and Fontana Announce $650,000 for Open Space Project Near Arena
PITTSBURGH, February 1, 2019 – State Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa and Sen. Wayne D. Fontana today jointly announced a $650,000 state grant to provide open space and transportation improvements to the 28-acre former Civic Arena site in Pittsburgh. “I am pleased...
Senator Costa & Rep Deluca Announce $3 Million Grant for Project in Penn Hills
Penn Hills, Pa. – February 1, 2019 – Today, Senator Jay Costa and Representative Tony DeLuca announced $3 million in state funds for a roadway project in Penn Hills Township. The grant comes from the Multimodal Fund and will be used to repave and improve roadways...
Legislators, County Health Department Officials Discuss Clairton Coke Works Fire, Aftermath
McKeesport – January 25, 2019 – State Sens. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland), Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) and state Reps. Bill Kortz (D-Allegheny) and Austin Davis (D-Allegheny) received an update from officials from the Allegheny County Health Department concerning the Dec. 24 fire at U.S. Steel’s Clairton Coke Works.
Senator Costa, Reps. Gainey and Innamorato, and Mayor Peduto Announce Property Tax Relief Plan for Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pa. − January 22, 2019 − At a press event today in Pittsburgh Mayor William Peduto’s office, Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr., Representatives Ed Gainey and Sara Innamorato, and the Mayor announced plans for a property tax relief program...
Senator Costa to Introduce Unemployment Compensation Loan Plan for Federal Employees During Shutdown
Harrisburg, PA − January 17, 2019 − Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr. today circulated a memo seeking cosponsors for a bill that would create a no-interest loan fund for federal employees during the shutdown. Federal employees that are working are not...
Sens. Costa, Brewster & Rep. Davis Calls for Immediate Action at Clairton Coke Works
Mon Valley, Pa. − January 17, 2019 − The Mon Valley is in the midst of a public health situation; one that could have been avoided, and one that needs to be immediately remedied. Since the US Steel Corp.’s Clairton Coke Works fire on Dec. 24th, the plant has...
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...