Press Releases
Sen. Fontana Releases Statement on the Governor’s 2021 Budget Address
Harrisburg – February 3, 2021 – Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (D- Allegheny) released the following statement following Governor Tom Wolf’s budget address: For the last 11 months, millions of Pennsylvanians have sacrificed—by protecting their loved ones, looking out for their...
Members of Pa. Senate Dems urge U.S. House Majority Leader Pelosi to investigate, expel Rep. Scott Perry for seditious acts
HARRISBURG – January 29, 2021 – Members of the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus wrote U.S. House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi urging an investigation into the “traitorous and seditious acts” against the U.S. Constitution by U.S. Rep. Scott Perry. “This is not a...
Democratic State Senators Reintroduce Bills to Protect Quality, Stable Health Care in PA
HARRISBURG – January 28, 2021 – State Senators Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery), Maria Collett (D-Montgomery/Bucks), Wayne Fontana (D-Allegheny), and Tim Kearney (D-Delaware), reintroduced package of bills to ensure Pennsylvanians maintain quality, stable...
PA Senate Democrats Release Statement on Violent Protest in DC
Harrisburg, PA – January 6, 2021 – The PA Senate Democrats released the following statement on the violent protest today in the nation’s Capitol: The First Amendment is one of our most sacred. It is not political and it is not partisan. The rights to free speech,...
Senator Fontana Announces Over $38 Million in Local Grant Project Funding
Pittsburgh – December 23, 2020 – Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (D- Allegheny) announced today that $38,971,428 in state grant funds has been awarded to local projects across his Senate district. “The investment of state funds into local projects is essential to the...
Fontana Re-elected to Serve as Senate Democratic Caucus Chairman
Harrisburg, November 19, 2020 – 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...
Sen. Fontana Committed to Reforms at PHEAA After Auditor General Report
Harrisburg – October 2, 2020 – Pennsylvania Auditor General Eugene DePasquale released a follow-up audit yesterday to a 2008 Auditor General report of the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) where Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (D- Pittsburgh) sits on the...
Sen. Fontana Announces Over $3 Million for Local Arts/Cultural Outlets
Brookline, PA – September 15, 2020– Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (D-Allegheny) today announced that 13 Allegheny County arts and cultural entities will receive a total of $3.08 million in state grant funds. “Knowing how the ongoing pandemic has harmed these important...
Sen. Fontana Announces Over $2 Million in State Funds for Local Water and Sewer Projects
Pittsburgh – August 17, 2020 – Sen. Wayne Fontana (D- Allegheny) announced today that $2,193,358 in state grant funds have been awarded to local waterway and sewer improvement projects throughout his Senate district. “It is critical that our local governments have the...
PA Senate Democrats Announce $225 Million for Small Business Assistance Grants Statewide
HARRISBURG – June 8, 2020 – Members of the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus announced the direction of $225 million in federal CARES Act funding to aid small businesses across the commonwealth. This funding was authorized by the recently enacted COVID-19...
Democratic PHEAA Board Members Tout $30 Million In Cares Act Funding For PHEAA Grants
HARRISBURG — June 5, 2020 — State Senators Wayne Fontana (D-Allegheny), Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery), John Blake (D-Lackawanna), and Art Haywood (D-Montgomery/Philadelphia touted the $30 million in funding the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus was...
Sen. Fontana’s Bill Would Make Pennsylvania a Mail-in Ballot state
Harrisburg, April 22, 2020 – Sen. Wayne Fontana (D-Allegheny) today introduced a bill that would change Pennsylvania’s voting system so that all elections are conducted entirely by mail. “The pandemic has compromised the health and safety of our citizens, shaken our...
Sen. Fontana: Returning Workers too Soon is too Dangerous
Harrisburg, April 15, 2020 – Insisting that sound mitigation practices and indelible worker protections must be in place before re-opening additional Pennsylvania workplaces, state Sen. Wayne Fontana (D-Allegheny) today voted against Senate Bill 613, legislation he...
PA Senate Democrats Urge Action on Legislation for Working Families, Pledge to Oppose Partisan COVID Task Force
Harrisburg, PA − April 8, 2020 − The Senate adjourned Tuesday afternoon after the House Republicans indicated they would not be taking up Senate Bill 841, legislation that would have enabled local municipalities to hold their meetings remotely, permitted e-notary use;...
Sen. Fontana Endorses American Working Family Relief Plan
Pittsburgh, March 18, 2020 – State Sen. Wayne Fontana today endorsed policies and legislation that would help protect workers during and after the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. The “American Working Family Relief Action Plan” addresses practices for...
Fontana Announces Grants to Improve Safety and Security for Pittsburgh Nonprofits
HARRISBURG, March 11, 2020 – Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (D-Allegheny) today announced a total of $149,080 for three non-profit organizations in Pittsburgh to strengthen safety and security measures. Organizations qualify for the grants based on a Federal Bureau of...
Governor’s Budget Plan Touts Numerous Fontana Initiatives
HARRISBURG, February 4, 2020 – Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (D-Allegheny) today provided the following statement on Gov. Tom Wolf’s proposed $36 billion budget for fiscal 2020-21: “This budget plan would hold the line on taxes while stoking investment in education, job...
Fontana Announces $2.8 Million in State Grants for Local Transportation Projects
Pittsburgh, November 12, 2019 – Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (D-Allegheny) today announced four state transportation grants in his district totaling $2.857 million. “These state funds bolster community efforts to improve efficiency, safety and enhance access throughout our...
Fontana Announces $460,000 in State Grants for Three Local Projects
HARRISBURG, September 17, 2019 – Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (D-Allegheny) today announced a total of $460,000 in state grants for three Allegheny County projects in his senate district. “These grant dollars help local communities move forward on projects that improve...
Fontana Announces $15 Million in State Grants for 17 Local Projects
Pittsburgh, August 1, 2019 – State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana today announced a total of $15 million in state grants for 17 Pittsburgh development projects. “These state dollars will support and speed up progress on innovative projects that will help create jobs, attract...