News Releases
Bipartisan, Inter-Branch Task Force Announces New Policy Recommendations to Improve Juvenile Justice
Recommendations highlight data-driven policies and practices to protect community safety and create better paths for youth and families
HARRISBURG – June 22, 2021 – The inter-branch and bipartisan Pennsylvania Juvenile Justice Task Force on Tuesday released a comprehensive final report with policy recommendations that protect public safety, increase accountability, achieve savings for reinvestment, and improve outcomes for youth, families, and communities.
Senate Democrats Offer Restaurant & Tavern Recovery Legislation
Harrisburg, Pa. – June 21, 2021 − After Republicans failed to pass a clean, bipartisan bill to extend mixed drinks to go for restaurants and taverns, the Pennsylvania Senate Democrats are introducing legislation that will provide the opportunity for bars, taverns and...
General Assembly Democrats, Local Leaders Across PA Call for Immediate Action on Toxic and Unsafe School Infrastructure
Statewide, PA − June 11, 2021 -- As the projected state budget surplus surged to $3 billion and more than $7 billion in federal aid remains idled by inaction, Senate & House Democrats gathered in front of local schools across Pennsylvania on Friday to call for...
Senator Costa Announces $750K In State Funding for Housing Projects
Pittsburgh, Pa. - June 10, 2021 − Senator Jay Costa today announced the award of $750,000 in state funding for local housing projects in Wilkinsburg and Hazelwood. “These communities have incredible potential just waiting to be unlocked, and today’s awards will help...
Senator Costa Announces $400K in Historical Preservation Grants for Region
Pittsburgh, PA − June 10, 2021 − Senator Jay Costa today announced the award of more than $400,000 in Keystone Historic Preservation grants for the region on a variety of exciting projects. “Allegheny County and the City of Pittsburgh are modern regions and have...
House & Senate Democrats Join Gov. Wolf to Call for Investing in Schools, Delivering Equity for all Students
HARRISBURG, June 8, 2021 – House and Senate Democrats and advocates for students from across the state joined Gov. Tom Wolf to call for investing half of the $3 billion in above-expected state revenue into improving schools for students statewide, and fully...
PA Senate Democrats Hold Policy Hearing on Improving Care in Nursing Homes
Harrisburg – June 2, 2021 – At the request of Senators Wayne Fontana (D- Allegheny), Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D- Allegheny), Jim Brewster (D- Allegheny/Westmoreland), and Lindsey Williams (D- Allegheny), the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Policy Committee...
Senator Costa Announces More Than $300k in State Funding for Blight Projects
Pittsburgh, Pa.− May 25, 2021 − Today Senator Jay Costa announced $327,180 in state grants for blight projects in the 43rd senatorial district. “Our district has many promising neighborhoods and communities that merely need a little help with...
PA Senate Democrats Introduce Spending Plan for $7 Billion in Federal American Rescue Plan Funds – The New Deal For PA
Harrisburg, Pa. – May 12, 2021 – Today, Pennsylvania Senate Democrats unveiled the “New Deal for PA” – a $6.15 billion investment of federal funds coming to the Commonwealth pursuant to the American Rescue Plan. The New Deal for PA focuses on Jobs, Opportunity,...
PA Senate Dems Hold Policy Roundtable to Discuss Bright Future of Labor & Clean Energy
Harrisburg – April 22, 2021 - At the request of Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D- Allegheny), the Senate Democratic Policy Committee held a virtual round table discussion on the future of clean energy development and clean energy jobs in...
Senators Announce Funding for Pittsburgh Region Water Upgrades
HARRISBURG, April 21, 2021 – More than 2,000 water customers across the Pittsburgh region will receive new, lead-free water lines through a series of grants announced today by state Sens. Jay Costa, Wayne Fontana and Lindsey Williams. More than $18 million will go to...
Senator Costa Announces $1 Million in State Grants for Local Projects
Pittsburgh − April 21, 2021 – Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) today announced the award of more than $1 million for local development projects in the 43rd senatorial district. “Across the state, we are in the mend in many ways and the...
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...