PITTSBURGH, PA – September 15, 2026 −Today, Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa joins State Representatives from Allegheny County to announce Local Share Account (LSA) grants approved by the Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA).
“I am very pleased today to announce LSA funding to benefit the people who call the 43rd Senatorial District home,” said Senator Costa. “From repairing roads to fighting blight to building homes to improving critical infrastructure, this funding is an important investment in improving the quality of life for Allegheny County residents. I look forward to seeing these projects get underway.”
Senator Costa announces the following awards:
- Edgewood Borough was awarded $200,000 to install concrete sidewalks, stairs, concrete curbs, lawn restoration, and replace the landscaping wall and concrete pavers to renovate Memorial Park.
- Forest Hills Borough was awarded $317,604 to enhance the stormwater management system, including the construction of an extended detention basin with integrated rain gardens and an underground stormwater detention facility. The project will mitigate flooding, reduce sediment and nutrient loading, and improve overall watershed health by treating stormwater prior to discharge.
- Wilkins Township was awarded $250,000 for the Baker Street Bridge Replacement Project.
- Wilkinsburg Borough was awarded $300,000 for a demolition project.
- Wilkinsburg Borough was also awarded $150,063 for upgrading the traffic signals at four intersections. In addition to the upgrade/replacement of the traffic signal equipment, the signals will be upgraded to include missing pedestrian crossing equipment and the construction of ADA-compliant curb ramps.
- Wilkinsburg Borough was further awarded $78,000 for reconstructing a portion of Hay Street.
With Representative La’Tasha D. Mayes, Senator Costa announces the following awards:
- On behalf of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania, the Urban Redevelopment Authority Of Pittsburgh was awarded $400,000 for upgrades to the Shadyside Clubhouse, including the replacement of flooring on the first floor of the facility, abatement of asbestos base under first-level flooring, complete reconstruction of roofing system, replacement of all windows, the replacement of entire HVAC system, and the milling and paving of the parking lot and access entrances surrounding the facility.
- On behalf of Carlow University, the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh was awarded $243,038 for the purchase of laboratory instruments and equipment to modernize Carlow University’s Biochemistry lab. This upgraded equipment will help address healthcare worker shortages in the region and improve the educational experience of university, College in High School, and Neighborhood Learning Alliance students.
- Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh was awarded $100,000 for the rehabilitation of the Alma Speed Fox Building. The building will be used to serve up to eight minority-owned businesses and community-based organizations. It will also be a space providing voter-education and voter-protection for residents and host workforce development workshops.
- On behalf of Rising Tide Partners in cooperation with the East Hills 1 Homeowners Association, Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh was awarded $149,987 for improvements to the East Hills 1 affordable housing complex.
With Representative Joe McAndrew, Senator Costa announces the following awards:
- Oakmont Borough was awarded $400,000 to make sanitary sewer system repairs,
- Penn Hills Township in cooperation with Penn Hills Library was awarded $750,000 for an infrastructure upgrade project at the public library.
- Verona Borough was awarded $175,660 to improve accessibility, safety, and the overall usability at Riverbank Park by replacing outdated infrastructure with modern, ADA-compliant facilities.
With Representative Aerion Abney, Senator Costa announces that, on behalf of the Neighborhood Resilience Project, Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh was awarded $500,000 to construct a three-story ADA-compliant elevator and shaft as part of its 20,000-square-foot facility expansion at 2038 Bedford Avenue in Pittsburgh’s Hill District.
Learn more about Senate Democrats’ commitment to every Pennsylvanian here.
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PITTSBURGH, PA − July 31, 2026 − Senate Democratic Policy Committee Chair Nick Miller (D-14) held a policy hearing on lowering consumer grocery costs, alongside co-host Senate Democratic Leader Senator Costa (D-43). This hearing examined the status of grocery affordability for Pennsylvanians and food production-related pressures including rising input costs (such as fuel, fertilizer), cost of climate impacts, and safeguarding from pathogens or other hazards.
“Every week I hear from families across my district that every trip to the grocery store is putting more strain on their pockets, while our farmers are facing growing challenges from unpredictable weather, rising production costs, and other pressures beyond their control,” said Senator Miller. “As Chair of the Senate Democratic Policy Committee, I convened this hearing to better understand what’s driving these costs and identify practical solutions to help develop policies that strengthen Pennsylvania agriculture, protect our food supply, and help make groceries more affordable for working families.”
“Senate Democrats have been laser focused on delivering real affordability for Pennsylvania’s families, ensuring that costs stay down while pay goes up,” said Senate Democratic leader Senator Costa. “Today’s hearing provided incredible insights into the myriad factors driving up costs at the grocery stores and making it hard for families to make ends meet. I look forward to taking today’s feedback to Harrisburg so that we can continue the work of improving the lives of every Pennsylvanian.”
Wendell Young IV, President of UFCW Local 1776, representing nearly 30,000 workers across about 100 contracts, explained how tariffs are harming members firsthand. The Trump tariffs have led to plant closures, job losses, reduced hours, wage stagnation, and hiring freezes. At JBS Souderton, a major beef processing plant set to close on August 14th where they represent 1,400 members, increased transportation costs, inconsistent federal trade policies, and chaotic immigration policies have created severe uncertainty for hundreds of workers. Similarly, at Post Consumer Brands’ pet food facility in Bloomsburg, PA, more than 100 members in wet food production were laid off due to rising can costs driven by federal tariff policies.
“Consumers will feel this price impact immediately, workers will be left in the dust, and taxpayers will shoulder the burden with increased public assistance costs,” said Young. “In conclusion, this is the story that needs to be told about how our federal government is creating chaos and increasing costs for working families in Pennsylvania and our country.”
In written testimony, the Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association emphasized that rising costs of living are stretching family budgets across the state, and that the affordability of everyday essentials, especially food, remains a major concern for Pennsylvania residents.
Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding emphasized in his written testimony that farmers are facing unprecedented pressures from rising production costs, labor shortages, unpredictable weather, and emerging plant and animal diseases. Additionally, global supply chain disruptions, international conflicts, tariffs, and market consolidation have contributed to higher grocery prices for Pennsylvania’s consumers. Despite strong state investments and efforts to build a resilient food system, many producers operate with narrowing margins and have limited control over commodity prices, while elevated costs for fertilizer, feed, fuel, and equipment continue to strain farm viability.
“Affordability doesn’t begin in the checkout lane. It begins with building food systems that are resilient competitive and work for everyone,” said Secretary Redding. “That means recognizing a simple truth: we cannot have affordable food without successful farms. We cannot have food security without resilient supply chains. We can’t build a stronger Commonwealth unless everyone, from the producer to the consumer, has a place at the table.”
Representing the charitable food network, Julie Bancroft of Feeding Pennsylvania, Colleen Young of the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, and Jordan Golin of Jewish Family and Community Services of Pittsburgh drew attention to the increased traffic to food banks, even as the costs of purchasing and transporting food has gone up for the charitable food systems. Between increased operational costs and increased needs, charitable food networks are doing more with less to address food insecurity across Pennsylvania.
“Transportation costs add another layer,” said Julie Bancroft. “The mid-Atlantic regional cooperative feeding PA program that supplies produce to thirty seven food banks in 14 states along the eastern seaboard has seen delivery costs rise sharply. The cost to ship a truckload of produce from Philadelphia to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank – last year that was $1475. That same truck of produce now costs $1775 to get across the state. Also, the average cost per pound of produce has increased from 22 cents to thirty cents. All of this leaves food banks scrambling to do more with less, just as families are doing the same.”
“Our neighborhood food pantry – our costs are going up by about $100,000 a year,” said Jordan Golin. “Why is that happening?…Rising food costs, food inflation, cuts to government support for food banks across the country, and we’re seeing the increased need of families across our region coming to us. So the numbers of people we’re serving are going up as the cost of food is also going up, and the resources to provide this food are going down.”
Testifiers for the hearing included:
- Russell Redding, Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture
- Wendell Young, United Food & Commercial Workers Local #1776
- Julie Bancroft, Feeding Pennsylvania
- Colleen Young, Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank
- Jordan Golin, Jewish Family and Community Services (JFCS) of Pittsburgh
Senator Nick Miller was elected Policy Chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus in December 2024.
Footage of the hearing, as well as the written testimony of the panel, is available at PASenatorMiller.com/Policy. Photographs and downloadable videos are available upon request.
Learn more about the PA Senate Democrats commitment to protecting our commonwealth’s healthcare needs and other legislative priorities at www.pasenate.com.
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Testimony
- Wendell Young IV, President, United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local #1776
- Secretary Russell Redding, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (virtual) 1
- Julie Bankroft, Chief Executive Officer, Feeding PA
- Colleen Young, Government Affairs Director, Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank
- Jordan Golin, Chief Executive Officer, Jewish Family & Community Services of Pittsburgh (JFCS)
Additional Testimony
Harrisburg – July 23, 2026 – The Pennsylvania Supreme Court deemed mandatory life sentences for people convicted of second-degree felony murder unconstitutional on March 26, 2026. The landmark Court ruling was then stayed, giving the Pennsylvania General Assembly 120 days to amend the unconstitutional law and provide an alternative remedy for the more than 1,100 incarcerated individuals who have been harshly or unfairly convicted.
The legislature is now out of time, with the Court’s mandated deadline approaching on Friday, July 24.
Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-43, Allegheny) and Senator Amanda M. Cappelletti, Democratic Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee (D-17, Delaware/Montgomery), issued the following statement:
“The Court’s ruling in Commonwealth v. Lee gave our state legislature a historic opportunity to redress a longstanding injustice. Pennsylvania is one of only four states that mandate life-without-parole sentences for people who are convicted of second-degree felony murder. Such sentences do not consider whether the actor intended to take a life when they committed the felony. Nor do they consider their degree of involvement in the crime. At its core, the way Pennsylvania was sentencing those convicted of felony murder was often disproportionate with the crimes at hand, and found to be “cruel punishment” under the Pennsylvania Constitution.
“The legislature has known about the July 24 deadline to heed the Court’s ruling. Rather than take action to deliver a just, fair solution to incarcerated Pennsylvanians serving these sentences, Pennsylvania Senate Republicans have spent the past 120 days spewing misinformation about what this ruling means for public safety, while refusing to work collaboratively.
“Though Senate Republicans are content stoking the dishonest lie that the more than 1,100 people serving these sentences will be released from prison come July 24, the truth is that if the legislature fails to act, resentencings are the actual expected outcome. Individual resentencings will take years to process. And it is likely that many incarcerated people impacted by this ruling may still receive a life sentence. Resentencings require the full use of our court system, which will severely strain our public defenders and prosecutors, and produce inconsistent outcomes across the state.
“It is also true that Senate Republicans claimed to take action by passing Senate Bill 1400 back in June. However, not only did Senate Republicans proceed without feedback, they shirked participating in ongoing conversations among stakeholders who were working to craft a comprehensive solution. Instead of working in a bipartisan way, they circulated their proposed legislation less than 24 hours before a Senate Judiciary Committee vote, without any stakeholder or Democratic feedback, to force a perfunctory measure through the chamber. In our divided legislature, when bipartisan consensus is essential, these performative measures are unacceptable.
“A true solution to this matter would provide an adequate sentence for second-degree felony murder that is appropriate under Pennsylvania’s current sentencing guidelines and proportionate to the role the actor played in the crime; parole eligibility for people currently serving a life-without-parole sentence for felony murder after they’ve served a minimum number of years and; a procedure that ensures a judge will issue a culpability determination if they impose a life-without-parole sentence.
“We, along with our Senate Democratic colleagues, look forward to passing collaborative, comprehensive, and meaningful legislation that actually delivers justice.”
Read more from the Abolitionist Law Center about Commonwealth v. Lee.
Read the letter to the Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing from Senators Costa and Cappelletti.
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PITTSBURGH, PA – July 17, 2026 − Yesterday, the Office of the Budget met today to award Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) funding throughout the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. RACP projects are authorized in the Redevelopment Assistance section of a Capital Budget Itemization Act, have a regional or multi-jurisdictional impact, and generate substantial increases or maintain current levels of employment, tax revenues, or other measures of economic activity.
As a result, Senator Costa is proud to announce that six awards were made to projects in the 43rdSenatorial District.
“It’s a joy and an honor to bring dollars back home to Allegheny County to fund projects to improve our community,” said Senator Costa. “I look forward to these investments making a difference for our treasured universities, training centers, and libraries, which serve as critical cornerstones for the 43rd district. As we move forward, I am confident that the projects receiving funding today will bear fruit for years to come.”
The awards announced are as follows:
Eastern Atlantic States Carpenters Tech was awarded $1,000,000 to build a two-story open-air training shell and a small garage addition on the existing campus at 652 Ridge Road, Pittsburgh PA 15205. The shell is a steel frame with a mass timber canopy, a metal deck with a concrete second floor, and a roof deck, sited on the current gravel lot. Work includes cutting into the hillside to create training terraces, relocating and doubling the Bridge Project, and adding stair and landing training areas.
Duquesne University was awarded $1,000,000 for the design and construction of a state-of-the-art academic and clinical facility for the School of Health Sciences. The new building will feature cutting-edge simulation centers, advanced research laboratories, flexible classrooms, and purpose-built spaces for interdisciplinary collaboration and community engagement.
Point Park University was awarded $2,000,000 to redevelop the vacant building at 305 Wood Street into student housing for Point Park University. The budget includes full renovation of the existing structure. Construction costs cover demolition of outdated interiors, replacement of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems, and upgrades to meet ADA accessibility and life safety standards. Funds will support structural steel installation, partitioning, and new finishes to create student apartments, study spaces, and community areas.
Penn Hills Library was awarded $1,500,000 to build an extension for larger events that cannot be accommodated within the library. At one end of the new building a welcome foyer, restrooms, and a kitchen will occupy less than a fifth of the overall space. Open space with seating capacity of 250 will front a raised stage suitable for concerts plays and other large events, offering library activities for patrons that require larger spaces not now available. It will be constructed adjacent to the library and oriented to maximize solar access.
Turner Dairy was awarded $1,321,536 to construct a large cold storage warehouse additionand install a semi-automatic palletizing line which will streamline a current manual process. The new steel-frame building will sit on a concrete slab with insulated cooler panels and a tapered rubber membrane roof with three parapet walls. Equipment will include a palletizer, wrapper, drag chain panning, and conveyors. Specialized flooring will be installed, and material handling equipment will be purchased.
Pittsburgh Symphony Inc. was awarded $55,0000 for Pittsburgh Symphony Heinz Hall XI, a project consisting of four components: modernization of the office tower and backstage passenger elevators; replacement of an air handler within the physical plant; replacement of Heinz Hall’s front-of-house carpeting; modernization of Heinz Hall’s Garden Room, Overlook Room, and Grand Tier lounges.
Learn more about the PA Senate Democrats’ commitment to thriving communities for every Pennsylvanian here.
HARRISBURG, PA – July 17, 2026 − Yesterday, President Donald Trump took an extraordinary step in his years-long efforts to undermine faith in US elections by delivering a prime-time speech disparaging American elections workers, spewing baseless allegations about Chinese interference, and proposing sweeping voter disenfranchisement policy.
Since 2020, President Trump and Pennsylvania Senate Republicans have issued subpoenas, used multiple committees, and joined countless lawsuits attempting to access confidential, sensitive voter data on Pennsylvania’s voter rolls, manipulate the interpretation of our election laws and block the counting of valid ballots. All this, despite a complete lack of any evidence whatsoever of widespread voter fraud. Trump’s singular focus on disproving the audited, certified results of the 2020 Presidential Election has resulted in a monumental waste of time and resources.
In the face of this full-court press by Republicans at all levels to access protected voter data, Senate Democrats and Governor Shapiro have stood strong with Pennsylvania’s voters, successfully shielding 9 million voters’ personal information from the Trump administration and an unlawful use of legislative power to obtain it. Pennsylvania Senate Democrats have strongly supported additional legislative efforts to make certain all qualified Pennsylvania voters can access the ballot, including same-day voter registration, electronic poll books, pre-canvassing of mail-in ballots, notifications for Pennsylvanians turning 18, and ballot drop-boxes, among other reforms.
Senate Democrats applauded Governor Shapiro and Secretary Al Schmidt’s executive actions to improve ballot access, including redesigning mail-in ballots to reduce confusion and implementing an automatic voter registration program at PennDOT’s driver and motor license centers.
Together, Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa and Senate Democratic State Government Committee Chair Steve Santarsiero offer the following statement in response to President Trump’s speech last night:
“President Trump’s despicable attempts to once again destroy the public’s faith in our elections systems are dangerous, terrifying, disgusting, and shameful. Pennsylvania’s elections undergo rigorous audits to ensure that our systems are fair, free, safe, and secure. Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt and the thousands of incredible elections workers who ensure our voices are heard work hard to execute our laws faithfully so that every eligible Pennsylvanian can cast their ballots without fear, intimidation, or unnecessary barriers, and it is downright unconscionable that President Trump demonizes their labor on national television for his own personal gain.
“As we celebrate 250 years of the American experiment, Senate Democrats are more committed than ever to protecting Pennsylvanians from the unlawful overreach of Trump’s lapdogs and ensuring that all voters are free to exercise their fundamental right to vote in free and equal elections for the leaders of their choosing without this constant interference. We cannot sit idly by and let an aspiring dictator permanently rig our elections and destroy our hard-won freedom to vote.”
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