Press Releases
Fontana Re-elected to Serve as Senate Democratic Caucus Chairman
Harrisburg, November 14, 2018 – State Senate Democrats today unanimously re-elected state Senator Wayne D. Fontana (D-Brookline) to serve as Democratic Caucus chairman for the upcoming two-year legislative session. The caucus chairman sets the daily caucus agenda and...
Fontana Announces Funding for Six Area Recreational/Environmental Grant Projects
HARRISBURG, November 14, 2018 – State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana today announced state grants totaling $952,500 for six local environmental/recreational projects. “I’m pleased that these state dollars will support local efforts to enhance parks and other recreational...
Fontana Announces $300,000 Clean Energy Grant for Local Business
BROOKLINE, November 8, 2018 – Senator Wayne D. Fontana today announced a $300,000 state grant for Giant Eagle, Inc. to buy 20 compressed natural gas (CNG) trucks, saving more than 355,000 gasoline gallon equivalents per year. “This grant program helps businesses...
Sen. Fontana Condemns Neo-Nazi Propaganda in Brookline
BROOKLINE, November 7, 2018 – Senator Wayne D. Fontana (D-Pittsburgh) today condemned those who have been posting hate propaganda in the Brookline community. The senator made the following statement: “Posting messages that advocate hatred and violence in our community...
Senator Fontana Announces $300,000 in School Safety and Security Grants
Harrisburg, PA - October 2018 - Sen. Wayne Fontana (D- Allegheny County) is pleased to announce that $300,000 in School Safety and Security grants were awarded to school districts in the senatorial district through the School Safety and Security Committee within...
Fontana Lauds Senate Vote on Economic Revitalization Program Expansion
HARRISBURG, October 17, 2018 – Senator Wayne D. Fontana (D-Pittsburgh) today lauded Senate passage of a bill (House Bill 645) that would double the state’s tax credit program aimed at encouraging businesses to invest in community revitalization efforts. Fontana...
Senators Fontana, Costa and Vulakovich Announce Water Line Replacement Dollars
HARRISBURG, October 17, 2018 – State Senators Wayne D. Fontana (D-Allegheny), Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) and Randy Vulakovich (R-Allegheny) today announced $49 million in state funds to replace 28,000 residential lead lateral connections in Pittsburgh. “I am pleased that...
Senator Fontana Receives Dewey Award for Environmental Work
PITTSBURGH, September 27, 2018 – Senator Wayne D. Fontana (D-Pittsburgh) today received the Clean Water Action organization’s “Dewey Award.” The award is granted to individuals who are proven champions of the environment within their community. “Throughout my...
Fontana Supports Legislation to Provide Justice for Child Abuse Victims
HARRISBURG, September 24, 2018 – Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (D-Brookline) today urged his legislative colleagues to pass legislation that would expand the state’s statute of limitations, enabling more child sexual abuse victims to seek justice. “Considering the harrowing...
Fontana Supports Call for Opening Window to Allow Child Abuse Victims to Seek Justice
Pittsburgh – September 18, 2018 – At a news conference today at the City-County Building in Pittsburgh, State Sen. Wayne Fontana (D-Allegheny) supported the call to open a 2-year window to allow victims of child abuse by priests to file civil actions against abusers...
Fontana Announces $2 Million in Grants Approved for Small Water and Sewer Projects, Recreation
Harrisburg – September 18, 2018 – More than $2 million in state grants were approved by a state funding authority for nine projects in his district in Pittsburgh and suburban communities in Allegheny County, state Sen. Wayne Fontana (D-Allegheny) said today. ...
Sen. Fontana Announces $15.75 Million in Redevelopment Assistance
PITTSBURGH, PA − September 5, 2018 − Senator Wayne D. Fontana is pleased to announce today that redevelopment projects within Allegheny County have received a combined total of $15.75 million through the state administered Redevelopment Assistance Capital (RACP)...
Senators Costa & Fontana Congratulate Pittsburgh School District on $1.6 Million State Education Grant
Pittsburgh, Pa. − August 27, 2018 − Senators Jay Costa, Jr. and Wayne D. Fontana jointly congratulated the Pittsburgh School District on the award of $1.6 million from the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) to support school improvement. “I want to...
Senator Hughes and Senator Fontana to introduce bill regulating 3D-printed guns
HARRISBURG, August 1, 2018 — Looking to stop the spread of undetectable and untraceable 3D-printed guns, Senator Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia) and Senator Wayne Fontana (D-Allegheny) plan to introduce a bill to ensure Pennsylvania’s Uniform Firearms Act...
Sen. Fontana Announces Funds for Local Signal Light Improvements
Brookline, July 12, 2018 – State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana today announced that five local communities will receive a total of more than $4.5 million in state grant funds for roadway signal light improvements. “These funds will upgrade traffic signals -- improving safety...
Fontana Lauds State Budget’s Investment in Education, Workforce and Economic Development
Harrisburg, June 22, 2018 – State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (D-Allegheny) today provided the following statement on the passage of the 2018-19 state budget: “I am pleased with this bipartisan spending plan. It holds the line on taxes, keeps spending under the inflation...
Fontana Praises PHEAA Decision that Avoids Cuts to Student Grants
Harrisburg, May 24, 2018 – State Sen. Wayne Fontana (D-Allegheny) today said he is pleased with the PHEAA (Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency) board decision to use additional reserve funds to maintain grants to students at the current amounts. Without...
Senate Passes Fontana’s Bill Mandating Carbon Monoxide Alarms in Childcare Centers
Harrisburg, May 23, 2018 – The state Senate today unanimously approved Sen. Wayne Fontana’s legislation that would require that working carbon monoxide (CO) alarms be installed in childcare centers that use fireplaces or oil/gas-fired furnaces. “With alarms costing an...
Sen. Fontana to Introduce Bills Aimed at Preventing Mass Shootings
PITTSBURGH, February 21, 2018 – Calling it the “Protection for Pennsylvanians” legislation, state Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (D-Allegheny) today announced that he will introduce two bills aimed at preventing gun violence and mass shootings. “These commonsense proposals...
Fontana Lauds Pittsburgh’s Departure from Financial Distressed Status
PITTSBURGH, February 12, 2018 – Sen. Wayne D. Fontana today made the following comment about Gov. Tom Wolf’s decision to remove Pittsburgh from state financial recovery oversight (Act 47): “I have supported Pittsburgh’s removal from Act 47 oversight for quite some...