News Releases
Senator Costa to Introduce Police Training Legislation
PITTSBURGH, PA − June 29, 2018 −In the wake of tragic officer-involved shootings across the commonwealth, and the nation, I am developing and will be introducing legislation to address these situations. I believe it is important that the General Assembly develop...
Senate Dems Introduce Legislation to Combat Janus Ruling
HARRISBURG, PA − June 27, 2018 − The PA Senate Dems filed the below cosponsorship memo this afternoon to combat the potential negative impacts of the SCOTUS ruling on Janus vs AFSCME today. Here’s a statement from Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr. Today’s decision...
Pa Senate Democrats Applaud On-Time Budget with Investments in Education, Health Care, Workforce Development and Social Justice
HARRISBURG, PA − June 22, 2018 − The Pennsylvania Senate passed the state budget for Fiscal Year 2018-19 (House Bill 2121) by a vote of 47-2. “In January, the Senate Democratic caucus outlined our priorities for the year and this budget puts the money where our mouths...
PA Senate Democrats Vote Against Aument Amendment to Senate Bill 22, Decry Hypocrisy
HARRISBURG, PA − June 12, 2018 − The Pennsylvania Senate Democrats voted unanimously against a Senator Aument amendment to create judicial districts, as part of the redistricting reform bill, Senate Bill 22. Ultimately, the amendment passed by a partisan vote of...
Senator Costa Outlines Concerns with Amended Senate Bill 22
HARRISBURG, PA − June 6, 2018 − For the past several months, the Senate has been working with constituents and advocacy organizations to improve the fairness of Pennsylvania’s redistricting process. That work took the shape of Senate Bill 22, sponsored by a majority...
Costa Bill on Public Health Emergencies Advances in the Senate
Pittsburgh, Pa. − May 22, 2018 − The Senate Health and Human Services Committee voted unanimously in support of Senate Bill 1001, Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr.‘s legislation that will allow the Department of Health to declare public health emergencies. The...
Senator Costa Applauds Certification of UPMC as Academic Clinical Research Program for Medical Marijuana
Pittsburgh, PA − May 8, 2018 − Governor Tom Wolf today announced the certification of eight medical facilities as academic, clinical research programs for medical marijuana. Among those certified is the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Senate...
Veto the Drug Formulary, Governor Wolf
Op-ed By Senator Jay Costa, Jr. & Rep. Frank Dermody
Sitting on Governor Tom Wolf’s desk right now is Senate Bill 936 – legislation that would interfere with the relationship between an injured worker and their doctor, as a way to save money for the insurance industry.
Senator Costa Announces $150,000 in Grants to Allegheny County Senior Community Centers
Pittsburgh, PA − April 20, 2018 − Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr. today announced nearly $150,000 in state grants will go to senior community centers in his district. “Senior centers play a critical role in our communities,” said Senator Costa....
Senator Costa Announces $250,000 in State Grant Funding for Apprenticeship Programs
Pittsburgh, PA − April 3, 2018 − Today Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr. announced the award of nearly $250,000 in state funding for apprenticeship and job training projects in Allegheny County. “Apprenticeships are a valuable, accessible tool for reaching...
Senator Costa Announces New Historical Marker in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pa. − March 29, 2018 − Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr. today announced the addition of an official Pennsylvania Historical Marker in Pittsburgh: film director Lois Weber. Lois Weber was the first American woman film director and a pioneer in...
Costa and Dermody Praise Wolf’s Fair Election Initiative
HARRISBURG, March 26, 2018 − Top Democrats in the House and Senate embraced Gov. Tom Wolf’s pledge of support for their ongoing efforts to reform the way political campaigns are paid for in Pennsylvania. “Our democratic form of government is designed to be...
Sen. Costa Remarks on Senate Domestic Violence Package
Harrisburg – March 21, 2018 – State Sen. Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) released the following statement on the domestic violence package that passed today in the senate: Earlier today, the Senate moved to prevent domestic violence and protect its victims. Among these...
Senator Costa Releases Statement on Federal Redistricting Ruling
Harrisburg – March 19, 2018 – State Sen. Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) released the following statement on today’s decision from the federal court on redistricting: I applaud the federal court for denying the Republican challenge to the new map. The map provided by the...
Senator Costa to Host Roundtable Discussion on Women in Government, Advocacy and the Private Sector
Pittsburgh, PA – March 12, 2018 – On Thursday, March 22, Senator Jay Costa, Jr. will host and moderate a roundtable discussion at the Carnegie Library in Oakland. The event is titled “A Conversation on Women in Government, Advocacy, and the Private Sector” and...
Senator Costa Announces $200,000 Grant to Verona Borough
PITTSBURGH, PA – February 27, 2018 – Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa today announced that the Borough of Verona will receive a $200,000 grant from Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) to install Automated Red-Light Enforcement (ARLE). Verona...
Senator Costa Releases Statement on Divesting State Funds from Companies that Produce Assault Weapons
Harrisburg – February 22, 2018 – State Sen. Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) released the following statement divesting state funds from companies that produce assault weapons: “Following the recent and tragic school shooting in Parkland, I was mortified to learn that the...
Costa Releases Statement on Submission of Senate Democratic Congressional Map to Supreme Court
Harrisburg – February 15, 2018 – Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) released the following statement concerning the submission of a congressional redistricting plan to the state Supreme Court. Senate Democrats submitted the plan following the court’s...
Senator Costa Supports Governor Wolf’s Rejection of GOP Map
Harrisburg, Pa. − February 13, 2018 − Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa fully supports Governor Wolf’s decision to reject the maps presented to him last week by just two Republican members. “A proposal that makes districts slightly more compact but no more fair...
Senator Costa Applauds Pittsburgh’s Financial Recovery & Termination of Act 47 Status
Pittsburgh – February 12, 2018 − After 14 years of financial recovery, Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) and local officials today signed Pittsburgh’s official release from this status. “This has been a long road for the City, but I...
Senator Costa and Representative Dermody Send Joint Letter to Governor on Republican Map Submission
Harrisburg, PA − February 9, 2018 − Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa and House Democratic Leader Frank Dermody send letter to Gov. Wolf condemning the congressional redistricting map shared with his office saying this: "This map was not the product of...
An Update on the Opioid Crisis in Pennsylvania
February 7, 2018 − State Senator Jay Costa has been leading the effort to stem the terrible impact of the opioid epidemic for years. As the Senate Democratic Leader, co-chair of the PA HOPE caucus (the Pennsylvania Heroin, Opioid Prevention and Education Caucus) and a...
Costa: $10 Million in State Funding to RIDC Southwestern PA Growth Fund for Hazelwood Green
Pittsburgh, Pa. – January 23, 2018 – Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa announced the award of $10 million to Regional Industrial Development Corporation (RIDC) Southwestern Pennsylvania Growth Fund to transform a former industrial mill in Hazelwood into a...
Senator Costa Condemns Trump Administration Move to Undermine State Medical Marijuana Policy
Pittsburgh, PA – January 3, 2018 – Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa today decried a move by the federal government to rescind state protections for medical marijuana programs. “Pennsylvania went through a very thorough process backed by expert testimony, public...
Senator Costa & Representative Gainey Announce $475,000 Grant for Wilkinsburg
Pittsburgh, PA – January 3, 2018 – Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa and State Representative Ed Gainey announced $475,000 in state support today to rehabilitate the Ardmore Linear Park in Wilkinsburg. “I’m pleased to have worked with the Borough of Wilkinsburg to...
Costa Announces $2.5M in Keystone Innovation Zone Funding to Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA – December 29, 2017 – Democratic Leader Senator Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) announced more than $2.5 million in funding to local businesses in the Oakland-based Keystone Innovation Zone. “We need to retain the bright, young college students who...
Costa: $7 Million in State Grants to Help Fund Key Local Projects
Hazelwood Green, Susquehanna Street Phase II among local projects funded Harrisburg – Dec. 22, 2017 – Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) said the $7 million in state grants released today for a variety of local projects will generate jobs, improve the...
Costa: $2 Million Grant for Penn Hills School District Approved
Harrisburg – Dec. 22, 2017 – The state Department of Education has approved $2 million in grant funding to help the Penn Hills School District tackle severe fiscal issues, state Sen. Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) said today. Costa, who has been meeting with officials...
Senate Hearing in Pittsburgh Focuses on Mandated Drug Addiction Treatment
Pittsburgh, December 8, 2017 − At the request of state Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, the state Senate Democratic Policy Committee today held a hearing on Costa’s legislation that would enable families to seek court-ordered addiction treatment for their...
Costa and Frankel Announce Grant for Wightman Park Rehabilitation and Development
Pittsburgh – December 5, 2017 – Wightman Park, located in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood, will be rehabilitated and further developed with a $500,000 grant from the state’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), according to state Sen. Jay...