News Releases
Senator Costa Announces Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Funding for Area Schools
PITTSBURGH – August 4, 2021 – Sen. Jay Costa (D- Allegheny) announced today that 15 schools in his Senate district will receive funding through the Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Program (FFVP), awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and distributed by the PA...
Sen. Costa Announces Over Half a Million in Keystone Communities Program Grant Funding
Pittsburgh – August 2, 2021 – Sen. Jay Costa (D- Allegheny) announced today that $635,000 in Keystone Communities (KC) program grant funding has been awarded to community revitalization projects. “Every opportunity to revitalize a community gathering space, bring a...
Senator Costa Statement on Rise of Leslie Davis to President & CEO of UPMC
PITTSBURGH – July 28, 2021 - Today, Senator Jay Costa released the following statement in regards to the announcement that Leslie Davis is rising to become President and CEO of UPMC and the departure of Jeffrey Romoff: “I welcome the ascension of Leslie Davis to the...
$23.9 Million Approved for Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Rehabilitation Project
Allegheny County – July 23, 2021 – Today, Pennsylvania State Senators from Allegheny County including Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Senator Wayne Fontana and Senator Lindsey Williams announced the approval of a $23,970,000 loan for the Pittsburgh Water...
PA Senate Dems Host Policy Hearing on the Healthcare Workforce Crisis in PA
Harrisburg – July 21, 2021 - At the request of Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D- Allegheny), Sen. Wayne Fontana (D- Allegheny), Sen. Jim Brewster (D- Allegheny/Westmoreland), Sen. Lindsey Williams (D- Allegheny), & House Representative...
Democratic Members of the Senate Intergovernmental Operations Committee Send Letter to Counties Contacted for Mastriano Audit
Harrisburg, PA − July 8, 2021 − Democratic Members of the Senate Intergovernmental Operations Committee send the following letter to counties contacted for Mastriano audit:
$628,880 in State Grants Awarded to Allegheny County for Traffic Upgrades
Allegheny County – July 7, 2021 – Today, Pennsylvania State Senators from Allegheny County including Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Sen. Wayne Fontana and Sen. Lindsey Williams announced $628,880 in state grants have been awarded to the area for traffic signal...
Senators Costa and Williams Respond to Mastriano Attempted Audit
Harrisburg, PA − July 7, 2021 − Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa and Senate Democratic Whip Anthony H. Williams sent the following letter to Republican Leadership in response to Senator Mastriano’s latest attempt to audit the results of the 2020 election:
E-Scooter Pilot Program to Start in Pittsburgh
Harrisburg – June 30, 2021 − Senator Wayne Langerholc, Jr. (R-35), chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, and Senator Jay Costa (D-43), minority leader of the Senate, announced a two-year pilot program for electric low-speed scooters (e-scooter) to commence...
Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa Votes for PA Budget, Highlights Timeliness and Major Education Investments
Harrisburg, Pa. – June 25, 2021 – Pennsylvania State Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa today voted in support of the state budget for Fiscal Year 2021-22. The final budget package included bipartisan and bicameral compromises, but Senator Costa highlighted several...
Senator Costa Announces New Compensation Guidelines for NCAA Athletes In Pennsylvania
Harrisburg, Pa. – June 25, 2021 - Pennsylvania athletes may soon be able to earn compensation from their name, image and likeness, thanks to a bill that passed the General Assembly, Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa announced Friday night. “There is an...
Senate Republicans refuse to consider campaign finance amendments to HB1300
Harrisburg, Pa. − June 25, 2021 − Today on the PA Senate floor, Senate Republicans refused to consider a campaign finance amendment offered by Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa. He introduced the amendment to House Bill 1300, a piece of legislation that Republicans...
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...