Press Releases
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,...
State Auditor General’s Report backs Fontana’s Call to Dissolve ICA
PITTSBURGH, November 10, 2015 – State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (D-Brookline) today issued a statement in response to the audit report issued by state Auditor General Eugene DePasquale. The audit concludes that the state-imposed Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority...
Fontana Calls GOP Stopgap Budget a Wasteful PR Stunt
Harrisburg, Sept. 18, 2015 – State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (D-Allegheny) today gave the following statement after the party-line Senate vote in favor of the Republican’s so-called stopgap budget measure. Fontana voted against the legislation. “I’m disgusted by this...
Fontana Bill Would Disband “Redundant and Unecessary” ICA in Pittsburgh
PITTSBURGH, Sept. 15, 2015 – Calling Pittsburgh’s state-imposed Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority (ICA) “unnecessary, redundant and a waste of taxpayer dollars,” State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana today announced legislation that would disband the authority. “The ICA...
Fontana Calls GOP Budget a Political Scam
HARRISBURG, June 30, 2014 – State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana today provided the following comment after the state Senate’s 30-19 party line vote for a Republican-sponsored 2015-16 fiscal year budget (House Bill 1192): “It’s disappointing that Republicans are advocating...
Fontana Backs Suit to Enforce Highmark-UPMC Consent Decree
Harrisburg, May 22, 2015 – State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (D-Allegheny) has signed on to a “friend of the court” legal brief aimed at backing the state Attorney General’s lawsuit to enforce the Highmark-UPMC consent decree. The lawsuit would force the two sides into...
Fontana Credits Governor Wolf for Dynamic Budget Proposal
Harrisburg, March 3, 2015 – State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (D-Allegheny) today provided the following statement in response to Gov. Tom Wolf’s 2015-16 state budget proposal: “Any budget discussion must begin with the fact that the irresponsible policies of the past four...
Fontana Bill would Legalize and Regulate Ride-Share Services
Brookline – February 12, 2015 – State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (D-Allegheny) today re-introduced legislation that would legalize, regulate and license transportation network companies (TNC) in Pennsylvania. Uber and Lyft, and other so-called ride-sharing service...
Fontana Opens Local Mobile Offices to Reach More Constituents
HARRISBURG, February 3, 2015 – In an effort to make his staff and local services more convenient and accessible for constituents, state Senator Wayne D. Fontana is opening two new mobile offices. “Redistricting has changed some of the communities I represent,” Fontana...
Fontana Appointed Democratic Chair of Senate Urban Affairs and Housing Committee
HARRISBURG, January 15, 2015 – State Senator Wayne Fontana has been named Democratic Chair of the Senate Urban Affairs and Housing Committee. “I am pleased with this committee assignment and will use my position to help cities like Pittsburgh and its outlying...