Newsroom
Gas Drillers Need to Work With our Communities, Not Against Them
Op-Ed by Senator Wayne Fontana I was disappointed to hear that the Marcellus Shale Coalition is already scurrying into court in an attempt to overturn parts of Pennsylvania’s new gas drilling regulations. The industry needs to understand that our people are entitled...
Fontana Lauds Progress of Lower Hill District Infrastructure Work
Pittsburgh, October 7, 2016 -- State Senator Wayne D. Fontana (D-Brookline) today served as master of ribbon cutting ceremonies as officials and community leaders marked the opening of the new connector streets in the city’s lower Hill District. “Reconstructing these...
Fontana Announces $5 Million in State Grant Funds for Two Local Projects
Brookline – Sept. 30, 2016 – State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana today announced state grant funding for two projects in Pittsburgh. “I am pleased that state dollars will supplement these local economic development and community resource efforts,” Fontana said. “I will...
Fontana Details Steady Progress of Beechview Rail Project
Beechview, September 9, 2016 –State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana today said he is pleased with the progress of the Red Line rail project in Beechview and confident it will reopen for riders on Sept. 25 as scheduled. “I have worked and remained in touch with county and local...
Joint Legislative Hearing in Pittsburgh Focuses on Eradicating Blight
Wilkinsburg, August 4, 2016 – At the request of state Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, a joint state Senate-House Democratic Policy Committee hearing was held today on efforts and resources to fight blight within our communities, including the successes and...
Fontana Measure to Mandate Online Posting of School Policies Becomes Law
Harrisburg, July 15, 2016 - Public school districts will soon be required to post additional policies and information on their websites under legislation sponsored by Sen. Wayne D. Fontana's (D-Allegheny) that was amended into the state's school code (House Bill...
Fontana Business Development Legislation Enacted
Harrisburg, July 14, 2016 –Sen. Wayne D. Fontana’s (D-Allegheny) legislation that funds the state’s “Business in our Sites” program has passed the legislature and was signed into law (Act 85 of 2106) by the governor. The Business in our Sites program invests state...
Fontana Wins Expansion of State’s Film Tax Credit Program
Harrisburg, July 13, 2016 – The state Senate today approved legislation backed by Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (D-Allegheny) that will bolster Pennsylvania’s film and television industry by expanding the state’s film tax credit program. “The state’s film tax credit program...
Fontana Helps Secure State Money for Beechview Revitalization
HARRISBURG, July 1, 2016 – State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (D-Allegheny) today announced $600,000 in state grant funding to redesign and revitalize part of Broadway Avenue in Beechview. “This project will make that business corridor safer, more attractive and more...
Senate Approves Fontana Bill to Help Communities Rectify Sewer Lateral Problems
HARRISBURG, June 30, 2016 – The state Senate today unanimously approved legislation sponsored by Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (D-Allegheny) that would give municipal governments the option of establishing policies and helping residents repair damaged sewer laterals. “This...
Sen. Fontana Lauds Education Funding Boost in Budget Bill
HARRISBURG, June 30, 2016 – State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana provided the following comment yesterday afternoon after the state Senate voted 47-3 in favor of a bipartisan 2016-17 fiscal budget (Senate Bill 1073). The bill now returns to the House for consideration. “Like...
Senate Unanimously Approves Reforming Pittsburgh Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority
Harrisburg – June 28, 2016 – Legislation establishing accountability and transparency at the Pittsburgh Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority (ICA) received unanimous support in the Senate today, said Senators Jay Costa (D-Allegheny), Wayne Fontana (D-Allegheny) and...
Committee Approves Fontana Amendment to Ban Workplace Sexual Orientation Discrimination
HARRISBURG, June 22, 2016 – A state Senate committee today approved Sen. Wayne D. Fontana’s (D-Allegheny) amendment that would outlaw discrimination in the workplace based on one’s sexual orientation or gender identity. “My proposal puts the force of law behind basic...
Senate Committee Backs Fontana Bill to Provide Lead Detection Test Option for Home Buyers
HARRISBURG, June 22, 2016 – The state Senate Committee on Urban Affairs and Housing today unanimously approved Sen. Wayne D. Fontana’s bill that would give home buyers the option of requesting that a prospective home be tested to determine what level of lead is in the...
Nurses Rally in Support for Fontana Bill on Hospital Staffing and Care
HARRISBURG, May 10, 2016 – Dozens of nurses rallied in the state Capitol Rotunda today to show support for legislation sponsored by Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (D-Allegheny) that would improve staffing and the quality of care at Pennsylvania hospitals. Fontana’s Senate Bill...
State Senate Hearing in Pittsburgh Focuses on Opiate Addiction Treatment
Pittsburgh - April 7, 2016 - At the request of state Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, the state Senate Democratic Policy Committee today held a hearing on ways to improve access to treatment for people suffering from addiction to opiates, such as heroin, opium and...
Fontana, Costa Call For Removal of ICA Director, Criminal Investigation
Harrisburg, April 5, 2016 - State Sen. Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) and Caucus Chairman Wayne Fontana (D-Allegheny) called today for the removal of Pittsburgh Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority (ICA) Executive Director Henry V. Sciortino and...
Fontana Bill Would Make a Lead Detection Test an Option for Home Buyers
HARRISBURG, March 23, 2016 –State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana today introduced legislation that would give home buyers the option of requesting that a home be tested to determine what level of lead is in the water. The Fontana bill (Senate Bill 1176) was part of a five-bill...
Fontana Re-Elected Vice Chair of PHEAA Board
HARRISBURG, February 18, 2016 – State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (D-Allegheny) today was unanimously re-elected to serve as the vice chairman of the board of directors for the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA). Created in 1963 by the state...
Fontana Statement on Senate Kane Removal Attempt
HARRISBURG, February 10, 2016 – State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana today provided the following statement on the state Senate’s attempted vote to remove Attorney General Kathleen Kane from office. The senate voted 29 to 19 in favor of recommending Kane’s removal. However,...