Senate Bill 88 – which would eliminate costs for diagnostic breast imaging – is one step closer to law.
HARRISBURG – June 24, 2025 − With broad bipartisan support, the Senate today approved legislation to strengthen Pennsylvania’s no-cost breast cancer screening law by ensuring diagnostic imaging is fully covered, removing financial barriers for patients. Sponsored by Sen. Frank Farry (R-6) and Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward (R-39), Senate Bill 88 builds on the success of Act 1 of 2023, which provided no-cost preventive screenings for those at high risk.
Senate Bill 88 ensures that individuals who receive abnormal results from supplemental screenings – such as MRIs or ultrasounds, already covered under Act 1 – can now access necessary follow-up diagnostic imaging at no cost. The bill also broadens eligibility beyond high-risk patients to include those at average risk, bringing Pennsylvania’s law in line with guidance from the federal Health Resources and Services Administration.
While 26 other states have followed Pennsylvania’s lead in offering no-cost supplemental breast screening since the passage of Act 1, Pennsylvania remains the only state without guaranteed coverage for diagnostic imaging. Senate Bill 88 closes this gap, ensuring patients can access the full continuum of care without financial burden.
Following the Senate vote, lawmakers and advocates gathered in the Capitol’s rotunda for a news conference to highlight the importance of expanding access to diagnostic imaging. The bill’s co-sponsors shared personal stories and emphasized how the legislation will eliminate barriers to timely care.
Sen. Frank Farry (R-6)
“This bill is deeply personal to me. As I walk alongside my wife’s breast cancer journey, I know how critical diagnostic testing is after an abnormal screening and no one should have to delay it because of the cost. This legislation builds on the historic progress of Act 1 and ensures more women can get the answers they need. Early detection saves lives, and this bill brings us another step closer to making that a reality for everyone.”
Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward (R-39)
“Act 1 of 2023 was a landmark step forward – we broke down barriers and brought hope to thousands of women by making supplemental breast cancer screening and testing available at no cost. But we know that screening is just one part of early detection, and far too many patients are still being hit with costs for the diagnostic imaging they need next. It’s time to finish what we started and make sure every woman has access to the full range of breast imaging, including diagnostic exams, without cost standing in the way.”
Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa (D-43)
“I am so proud to join my colleagues in the Senate to celebrate the passage of Senate Bill 88, which will, without a doubt, ensure more of Pennsylvania’s moms, sisters, aunts, friends, and daughters stay alive as they seek diagnostic screenings for breast cancer. Like many families in our commonwealth, my family has been touched by breast cancer, and I am honored to play a small part in expanding coverage and removing barriers to early detection. I look forward to continuing to work in a bipartisan fashion to protect Pennsylvania’s women and families.”
Sen. Tracy Pennycuick (R-24)
“Breast cancer is one of the most common kinds of cancer in women. The good news is that a mammogram and advanced diagnostic screenings, can diagnose the disease early when it is most beatable. Today’s vote not only builds on Act 1 of 2023 but establishes our commonwealth as a leader in women’s health care, ensuring all those who need additional testing can do so without roadblocks.”
Sen. Christine Tartaglione (D-2)
“Today, Pennsylvania takes another step forward in the fight against breast cancer. With Senate Bill 88, we’re ensuring that cost is no longer a reason someone delays or skips a diagnostic exam. This is about saving lives through early detection and it’s deeply personal to me. I lost my sister to breast cancer, and I’ve carried that loss into every fight for better care. I’m proud of the bipartisan support behind this bill and grateful to every advocate who helped get us here. Together, we’re removing barriers and putting patients first.”
Sen. Devlin Robinson (R-37)
“This issue is very personal to me. As someone who carries the BRCA gene, I know firsthand what it means to live with a higher risk. I hear from many of my constituents who have this risk as well, which is why this bill matters. With its passage, we are eliminating cost barriers to diagnostic imaging, making sure that when a woman gets a concerning result from a mammogram or an MRI, they can immediately get the follow-up care they need. No delays. No financial hurdles. Just access to answers – and to potentially lifesaving treatment.”
Sen. Chris Gebhard (R-48)
“Preventive health care – such as genetic testing and breast MRIs – are indispensable for early cancer detection and treatment. Act 1 of 2023 was historic legislation and this bill aims to build on that success, providing no-cost diagnostic breast imaging and ultimately cutting costs and improving health outcomes.”
The bill has received support from leading advocacy groups, including the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition and the American Cancer Society, and is not opposed by insurers.
Senate Bill 88 now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration.
View today’s press conference here.
###
CONTACTS:
Harrisburg, PA – July 7, 2023 − Sunday, July 9th, marks seventeen years since Pennsylvania lawmakers last raised the minimum wage.
On July 9th, 2006, Governor Ed Rendell was joined by Senator Christine Tartaglione, Senator Vincent Hughes, and Senator Jay Costa, to sign Senate Bill 1090, Senator Tartaglione’s legislation that raised PA’s minimum wage to $7.15.
“When Senate Bill 1090 was signed into law in 2006, it was a promise to continue to fight for our Commonwealth’s lowest earners and ensure that the needs of Pennsylvanian’s lowest earners are never forgotten or cast aside,” said Senator Tartaglione. “I reintroduced Senate Bill 12 because I, like so many of my colleagues refuse to sit idly by as the Pennsylvanians that earn our poverty level minimum wage continue to struggle to make ends meet. Pennsylvania needs its government to act swiftly and decisively on behalf of our Commonwealth’s workers that need it most.”
Senate Democrats continue to support a higher minimum wage. In June, House Democrats passed a bill that would raise Pennsylvania’s minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2026. Senator Christine Tartaglione (D- Philadelphia) introduced Senate Bill 12, a similar bill.
“Pennsylvania is failing our workers,” said Senator Vincent Hughes (D-Phila./Montgomery). “For seventeen years now, Republican state lawmakers have done nothing to guarantee hard working people get paid fairly and adequately for contributions to our economy. I was proud to join Governor Rendell in 2006 to support pay that benefited workers and families. I hope to join Governor Shapiro one day to end seventeen years of inaction for minimum wage workers in Pennsylvania.”
Pennsylvania’s current minimum wage sits at the federal requirement of $7.25. According to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Pennsylvania’s minimum wage is far from a livable wage in the state. The cost of housing and other living expenses has continued to rise while Pennsylvania’s minimum wage has remained stagnant for over a decade.
A minimum wage increase to $15 an hour would impact one million workers who are currently making less than $15 an hour in Pennsylvania.
“Everyone who works for a living deserves to earn a living wage, and the current minimum wage in PA is not one. It is long past time to do right by our working families and make sure we can raise our children on one good job,” said Senator Jay Costa (D-Allegheny). “I have been proud to champion a living wage for every Pennsylvanian, and I look forward to working alongside fellow legislators, workers, and activists to deliver on this crucial value.”
Senate Democrats stand ready to vote on the House bill, but Senate Republicans, who are in the majority, must bring it to the floor for a vote. Meanwhile, every state surrounding Pennsylvania has raised the minimum wage. New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia, and Ohio, all pay a higher minimum wage. Pennsylvania is in last place when it comes to delivering for workers.
“Raising the minimum wage is critical to respecting the dignity of hardworking people so that they can afford housing and food, and so that they don’t have to choose between food, heat, clothing, and other basic needs,” said Senator Art Haywood (D-Phila./Montgomery), who has also been a fierce advocate for raising PA’s minimum wage.
He continued, “This is about helping parents and allowing them to be parents, no longer having to work two or three jobs and having greater freedom to provide their children with a better education, enrich their young ones with opportunities like recreational activities, be more active in their communities, and spend time with their families.”
Harrisburg, PA − November 15, 2022 − The Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus today elected its leadership team for the 2023-24 legislative session.
The Senate Democratic Caucus proudly welcomes a new member, Senator Nick Miller of Allentown.
The new and returning members elected the following Caucus Leadership Team:
- Leader – Jay Costa, Jr.
- Caucus Whip – Tina Tartaglione
- Appropriations Committee Chair – Vincent Hughes
- Appropriations Vice Chair – Tim Kearney
- Caucus Chair – Wayne D. Fontana
- Caucus Secretary – Maria Collett
- Administrator – Judy Schwank
“I am honored and humbled to announce that I will be serving as the Leader of the PA Senate Democratic Caucus for the next two years. I’d like to thank my fellow Democratic senators for entrusting me with this responsibility, and I hope to do our caucus proud,” said Senator Jay Costa. “I am excited about the work before us, and I am honored to be leading the Democratic caucus as we continue to deliver for PA’s families. Let’s get it done.”
###
HARRISBURG – May 25, 2022 – Today, Pennsylvania Senate Democrats wrote the following letter to Republican leaders in response to rampant gun violence and mass shootings that have become too common in the United States. Just this year, 215 mass shootings have taken place in the country, with the devastating shooting that occurred at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas on May 24, 2022, being the 215th.
In the letter, the caucus calls on the Republican majority to act on “reasonable and responsible legislation and appropriations” that does not infringe on Second Amendment rights but will help keep guns away from bad actors and support gun violence prevention. Senate Democrats list seven bills that have been introduced to mitigate gun violence but have sat in committee with no discussion or votes. They also highlight how American Rescue Plan dollars and Pennsylvania’s current budget surplus can be used to help communities prevent horrific violence.
Loading...
Community colleges, state-related universities, and a technical school would be awarded a combined $130 million in CARES Act funding to cover COVID-related costs.
Philadelphia, PA – September 9, 2020 − The Pennsylvania Senate Appropriations Committee today advanced legislation sponsored by State Senator Christine Tartaglione and Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa that would allocate $130 million in federal CARES Act funding to help higher education institutions in the Commonwealth manage financial hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Senate Bill 1226 proposes to grant $35 million to Pennsylvania’s community colleges, $25 million each to Temple University, the University of Pittsburgh, and Penn State University, $10 million to Lincoln University, and $10 million to Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology. Previously, the Senate adopted legislation to allocate more than $72 million in federal CARES Act funding to PA State System of Higher Education universities and to the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency.
The Appropriations Committee adopted SB1226 unanimously. The legislation will advance to the full Senate for consideration.
“Pennsylvania’s state-related institutions, community colleges, and technical schools have suffered great financial setbacks due to the pandemic,” Senator Tartaglione said. “Despite these challenges, our higher education community has responded to this crisis in numerous ways to assist students and the entire Commonwealth as we navigate this uncharted territory.”
“Shuttering campuses; transitioning to distance learning; refunding room, board, and activities fees; and the potential loss of enrollment have all caused financial hardship and uncertainty for these institutions. They have already received some federal funding, but more must be done to help sustain them through this difficult time.”
In keeping with federal requirements, all CARES Act funds will be used to cover costs incurred by the recipients due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
# # #
Reload document 
Open in new tab