News Releases
Senate Democrats Plead for Justice for Sexual Abuse Survivors
Harrisburg, Pa. − April 19, 2021 − Following the bipartisan passage of House Bill 951, the statutory creation of a two-year window for sexual abuse survivors to sue their abusers, the Pennsylvania Senate Democrats urged the majority to bring the bill up for a vote in...
Legislative Leaders Seek Applicants Interested in Serving as Chair of Reapportionment Commission
HARRISBURG − March 29, 2021 − The four caucus floor leaders - Senate Majority Leader Kim Ward (R-38), House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff (R-171), Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-43), and House Democratic Leader Joanna McClinton (D-191) — today announced...
Senate Democratic Leader Costa Responds to Republican Delay & Inaction for Survivors of Sexual Abuse
Harrisburg, Pa. − March 22, 2021 − Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa responded to the statement from Senate Republicans indicating that an emergency constitutional amendment to provide a window for justice for survivors of sexual abuse will not be voted in the Senate...
Senator Costa Looks Forward to Again Serving on the Legislative Reapportionment Committee
Harrisburg, PA − March 16, 2021 − Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa was today named to the legislative reapportionment committee for the 2021 redistricting. The Constitution provides that the leader of each of the four legislative caucuses serves on the...
P Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa Applauds Congress for Passage Of $1.9 Trillion American Rescue Plan
Pittsburgh, Pa. – March 10, 2021 − Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa thanked members of Congress today for their affirmative votes on the American Rescue Plan, a COVID relief bill that provides $1.9 trillion in funding. “COVID-19 has been a...
Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa Wishes Senator Blake Well in New Position
Pittsburgh, PA − February 15, 2021 − Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa released the following statement regarding Senator John Blake’s (D-Lackawanna) resignation. Senator John Blake will be missed in our caucus. Since he was elected ten years ago, he has been...
Sens. Costa, Hughes Respond to Gov. Wolf’s 2021-22 Budget Proposal
HARRISBURG — February 3, 2021 — Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) and Democratic Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) jointly responded to Gov. Tom Wolf’s 2021-22 Budget Address with a...
Pa Senate Democrats Introduce Legislation to Get Justice for Adult Victims of Childhood Sexual Abuse
Harrisburg, Pa. − February 1, 2021 − Pennsylvania Senate Democrats will introduce legislation to statutorily create a two-year window for survivors of sexual abuse to seek justice on claims that previously would have been time barred. This legislative solution...
Members of Pa. Senate Dems urge U.S. House Speaker Pelosi to investigate, expel Rep. Scott Perry for seditious acts
HARRISBURG – January 29, 2021 – Members of the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus wrote U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi urging an investigation into the “traitorous and seditious acts” against the U.S. Constitution by U.S. Rep. Scott Perry. “This is not a request...
Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa Applauds Nomination of Alison Beam to Acting Secretary Of Health
Pittsburgh, Pa. – January 22, 2021 − Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa released the following statement regarding Governor Tom Wolf’s nomination of Alison Beam to be the new Acting Secretary of Health. I wish Alison Beam the best as she takes on the position of...
Senator Costa Introduces Comprehensive Campaign Finance Reform Legislation
Harrisburg, Pa. – January 19, 2021 – Again this session, Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa is seeking cosponsors for comprehensive campaign finance reform legislation. “Pennsylvania is one of the most poorly regulated states as it relates to campaign finance laws,”...
Pa Senate Democrats Announce Committee Chairs and Membership for 2021-22 Legislative Session
Harrisburg, Pa. − January 15, 2021 − Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa today announced the slate of Democratic chairs and members for the Senate’s standing committees in the 2021-22 legislative session. “Our caucus is diverse in every way – from demographics to...
Senator Costa Will Attend Swearing in for Senator Brewster on Wednesday
Pittsburgh, Pa. — January 12, 2021 — Statement from Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa: “Tomorrow morning, I am looking forward to joining Senator Jim Brewster in Harrisburg for his swearing in ceremony. I want to thank Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman...
Senate Democrats Respond to Federal Court Ruling in Senator Brewster’s Race
Pittsburgh, Pa. — January 12, 2021 — Today, U.S. District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan issued a ruling in favor of seating the rightful winner of the 45th senatorial district – Senator Jim Brewster, and upholding the counting of ballots as certified by the...
Senator Costa Responds to Senate Pro Tempore Comments on Defying Court Orders and Overturning Elections
Pittsburgh, Pa. − January 8, 2021 − Earlier today, Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman released a statement indicating that he intends to overturn the decision of voters in the 45th senatorial district and to defy a federal judge’s order. “I am deeply disturbed...
Senator Costa Calls for Senator Mastriano to Resign Immediately
Pittsburgh, Pa. − January 7, 2021 − Following the riot in Washington, D.C. yesterday, Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa issued the following statement: Senator Mastriano is guilty of encouraging yesterday’s coup attempt in Washington and inspiring its violent actors...
PA Senate Democrats Release Statement on Violent Protest in DC
The First Amendment is one of our most sacred. It is not political and it is not partisan. The rights to free speech, assembly and petition are what allow this country to flourish. However, those rights do not permit the violence we are seeing today in the nation’s...
Senator Costa Announces $9.3 Million in Grants for Local Projects
Pittsburgh, Pa. − December 23, 2020 − Today, Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa announced the award of $9.3 million in grants from the state to help fund local projects in the 43rd senatorial district. “Our community needs all the help it can get as...
Senate Democrats Correct Record on Housing Assistance Program
Pennsylvania − December 22, 2020 − Pennsylvania Senate Democrats seek to correct the record regarding the failure of the General Assembly to address housing insecurity due to COVID 19. Recent press coverage has outlined that $108 million of $175 million intended...
Statement: 16 Democratic State Senators Denounce Frivolous Election Lawsuits and Continued Attempts to Undermine our Democracy
HARRISBURG – December 10, 2020 – Today the following members of the Pennsylvania State Senate signed a joint statement – set forth below – denouncing the brazen attempt of the attorneys general of Texas and seventeen other states to disenfranchise millions...
Pa Senate Dems Unveil Innovative $4 Billion Pandemic Relief Plan to Help Front-Line Workers, Vulnerable Residents, Small Businesses and More
Pennsylvania − December 4, 2020 − Aiming to stimulate Pennsylvania’s economy by providing direct aid to workers, families, small businesses and other vulnerable populations, the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus announced a bold, innovative $4 billion pandemic...
Joint Statement from Senate and House Democratic Leaders
Harrisburg, Pa. − December 4, 2020 − Following an announcement from Republican Leaders in the General Assembly, Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa and House Democratic Leader Joanna McClinton issued a joint statement: The facts are clear: Pennsylvania had a free,...
PA Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa statement on the Senate Republican Policy Hearing featuring Rudy Giuliani and President Trump
Pittsburgh, PA − November 25, 2020 − PA Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa released the following statement on the Senate Republican Policy Hearing featuring Rudy Giuliani and President Trump: “If Senate Republicans want to entertain conspiracy theories from Rudy...
Statement from PA Senate Democratic Leader Costa on Republican efforts to steal Electoral College
Pittsburgh, PA − November 21, 2020 − Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr. released the following statement on the news that Republican state legislators will join out-going President Donald Trump at the White House to discuss electoral college “options”: Two of the...
Statement from Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr. on the PA Budget
Harrisburg, PA − November 20, 2020 − Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr. released the following statement on the PA Budget: “This is not the budget we wanted. It’s not a budget that provides enough assistance to those struggling with the economic woes caused...
Sen. Costa responds to partisan calls for election review
Harrisburg, PA − November 12, 2020 − Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr. released the following statement regarding the partisan calls for election review done by the General Assembly: There has been no evidence of fraud and there's no reason for this additional...
Senators Costa & Hughes Slam Republican Inaction on Federal CARES Funds
HARRISBURG – October 29, 2020 – Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa and Senate Democratic Appropriations Chair Senator Vincent Hughes and members of the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus today slammed House and Senate Republicans for recessing the General Assembly until mid-November without passing legislation to drive out Pennsylvania’s remaining $1.3 billion in federal CARES funds to Pennsylvanians suffering the economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.
Senator Costa Announces More Than $1 Million in Funding for COVID Related Needs in Local Schools
Pittsburgh, Pa. − October 27, 2020 − Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr. today announced the award of $1,152,408 in funding for local school districts to deal with COVID-related needs. The following schools in the 43rd Senatorial District will receive funds: Penn...
Major Grant Pushes Churchill Valley Greenway Project Forward
Churchill & Penn Hills, PA – The community conservation project to permanently preserve the meadows, woodlands and paved trails of the defunct Churchill Valley Country Club as a 148-acre greenway for public recreation and environmental education received another...
PA Senate Democrats Unveil Plan to Spend $1.3 Billion in Remaining Cares Funds
Harrisburg − October 16, 2020 − Members of the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus today outlined a plan to spend the remaining $1.331 billion in CARES money that Pennsylvania received as part of a federal assistance package earlier this year. The money must be...