Audio
September 29, 2020: Senator Fontana hosted a Telephone Town Hall to discuss Voting in November’s Election. You can hear the entire Town Hall by clicking on the player below:
May 15, 2020: Senator Fontana hosted a Telephone Town Hall on the Coronavirus. You can hear the entire Town Hall by clicking on the player below:March 25, 2020: Senator Fontana hosted a Telephone Town Hall on the Coronavirus. You can hear the entire Town Hall by clicking on the player below:
June 5, 2019: The state Senate declared June 5th as “Gun Violence Awareness Day” in Pennsylvania. Senator Fontana and his fellow Senate Democrats are working to keep Pennsylvanians safe by proposing common sense gun laws.
June 4, 2019: Senator Fontana joined with fellow Senate Democrats and activists to call for the passage of a package of bills that would make voting easier for Pennsylvanians.
May 7, 2019: A task force that’s been looking into lead contamination across the state has turned in its report, and Senator Fontana is one of a number of lawmakers who are responding with a package of bills designed to keep Pennsylvanians, especially children, safe.
March 26, 2019: Senator Fontana joined with fellow Democrats in the Senate and the House to introduce a package of bills designed to protect Pennsylvania workers from workplace harassment.
February 5, 2019: Senator Fontana reacts to Governor Wolf’s 2019 Budget Address
September 27, 2018: As part of a package of bills aimed at improving the relationship between the police and the communities they serve, Senator Fontana introduced a bill that would create a Civilian Review Board in Allegheny County as a way find ways to improve the level of trust and cooperation between citizens and police on a broad range of matters such as use of force, diversity education, oversight, and community relations.
June 15, 2018: Senator Fontana reminds families that Pennsylvania’s Children’s Health Insurance Program — CHIP — covers all kids with quality health insurance.
May 25, 2018: The state Senate has passed and sent to the House Senator Fontana’s bill requiring carbon monoxide detectors be installed in all child care facilities in the state.
May 18, 2018: May is Military Appreciation Month. Senator Fontana encourages Pennsylvania’s veterans to take advantage of the benefits they’ve earned.
April 18, 2018: April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Senator Fontana says the theme of the Awareness Month is “Embrace Your Voice.”
April 11, 2018: An estimated one in every 68 children in the United States is living with an autism spectrum disorder. Senator Fontana says the state has ways to make life easier for those with autism and their families.
April 4, 2018: April is Child Abuse Awareness Month. Senator Fontana has information about Pennsylvania’s Child Abuse Hotline that could save a child’s life.
March 6, 2018: Senator Fontana says Pennsylvania is ready to help families save for college by providing a savings plan with some tax advantages.
February 12, 2018: If you’re looking for a job, Senator Fontana says that help is available.
January 30, 2018: Democrats in the state Senate laid out their legislative priorities for Pennsylvania in 2018. Senator Fontana talked about what Pittsburgh and other cities across the state are doing about climate change.
January 4, 2018: Winter weather is here, and Senator Fontana is advising travelers to check with PA 511 and get road conditions before venturing out.
December 12, 2017: It’s the season of giving, and Senator Fontana has a suggestion for a gift you can give to others — and to yourself.
November 15, 2017: Senator Fontana reminds Pennsylvanians that they can still sign up for health insurance on the Affordable Care Act website (Healthcare.gov) — or modify an existing policy — but the time to do so is limited.
November 6, 2017: Senator Fontana and his fellow Senate Democrats say the Affordable Care Act is still providing insurance to Pennsylvanians, but the time they have to sign up has been reduced.
October 19, 2017: The state Senate will soon be voting on Senator Fontana’s bill that would require child care centers to install carbon monoxide detectors.
September 25, 2017: Senator Fontana urges everyone to help the victims of this summer’s hurricanes, but warns that you shouldn’t become a victim yourself.
August 25, 2017: Senator Fontana says now that school is back in session, drivers should keep alert around school buses.
June 20, 2017: Senator Fontana joined with the group Penn Environment for a rally in the Capitol Rotunda in Harrisburg. They emphasized the importance of Pennsylvania showing leadership and following through with the climate adjustments the state made in the wake of the Paris Climate Accord. Legislation being co-sponsored by Senator Fontana would ensure that Pennsylvania continues to meet commitments made under the Paris climate accord.
June 13, 2017: A group of Democratic lawmakers announced a package of bills aimed at increasing voter participation in Pennsylvania, bills that Senator Fontana says have been bottled up in committees for too long. Sen. Fontana’s legislation (Senate Bill 440) would allow early voting in Pennsylvania.
June 9, 2017: Senator Fontana says he doesn’t think that President Trump spoke for Pittsburghers when he pulled the U.S. out of the Paris Climate Accord.
May 9, 2017: Senator Fontana has introduced legislation that would require hospitals to compile and maintain daily reports in each patient care unit, and make sure that unit staffing reports be posted publicly in patient care areas.
February 7, 2017: Senator Fontana says Gov. Tom Wolf’s 2017-18 state budget proposal is a lean budget for lean times.
January 23, 2017: Here is Senator Fontana talking about Monday’s hearing at the Capitol in Harrisburg. The Senate Judiciary Committee joined with the Democratic and Republican Policy Committees to look at the proposed closure of two state prisons in June – the state Department of Corrections is looking at five prisons across the state, including SCI-Pittsburgh, and says it will decide by this Thursday which two to close.
January 19, 2017: Senator Fontana makes the case for keeping SCI-Pittsburgh open. The Corrections Department is looking to close two state prisons as a way of saving money in the state budget, and SCI-Pittsburgh is one of five prisons that might be closed.
January 18, 2017: Pennsylvania Moment: Winter weather can cause hazards and delays for drivers on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Senator Fontana advises you to be prepared by checking Turnpike conditions before you head out.
December 1, 2016: Pennsylvania Moment: Senator Fontana suggests making a donation to your local food bank as one way to make this a happy holiday season for all.
November 3, 2016: In an effort to build support for legislation that would allow early voting in Pennsylvania, the Senate Democratic Policy Committee held a hearing yesterday in Pittsburgh to gather testimony from county officials, the League of Women Voters, and Common Cause, among others. Here’s more with Senator Fontana, sponsor of the early voting legislation, who says Pennsylvania is one of only 13 states that does not have early voting — and that it should not be a partisan issue but appears to be so in Pennsylvania.
November 2, 2016: Pennsylvania Moment: Registration has opened for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Senator Fontana says the LIHEAP program is designed to help low-income Pennsylvanians pay for heat this winter and get needed repairs to furnaces and other heating equipment.
September 2, 2016: Pennsylvania Moment: The deadline to register to vote in this November’s Presidential election is October 11th. Senator Fontana reminds state residents that they can now register online to vote (register.votespa.com).
August 5, 2016: Pennsylvania Moment: Senator Fontana reminds drivers to watch out for highway workers, police and emergency personnel who may be on the shoulder of the road.
July 5, 2016: Pennsylvania Moment: Lyme disease has been found in all 67 Pennsylvania counties. Senator Fontana has some simple tips to help everyone avoid Lyme disease this summer, as well as the West Nile and Zika viruses carried by mosquitoes.