Press Releases
PA Senate Passes Two Major Law Enforcement Reform Bills
HARRISBURG, PA − June 24, 2020 − The Pennsylvania Senate today unanimously passed two major pieces of police reform legislation, both sponsored by members of the Senate Democratic Caucus: Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr. (D-Allegheny) and Senator Sharif Street...
PA Senate Democrats Announce Comprehensive Police Reform Legislation
HARRISBURG – June 10, 2020 – Today, members of the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus announced plans for a comprehensive package of legislation to reform policing in Pennsylvania. Two years ago, members of the caucus introduced police and community relations...
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...
State Senate Policy Hearing on the Impact of COVID-19 on the African American Community
Harrisburg – June 4, 2020 – At the request of state Senators Art Haywood (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery), Anthony Williams (D-Philadelphia/Delaware, Vince Hughes (D-Philadelphia), and Shariff Street (D-Philadelphia), the Senate Democratic Policy Committee today held a...
PGW Rate Increased Amid Pandemic and Record Unemployment ill-timed
Philadelphia, PA − June 3, 2020 − State Senator Sharif Street (D-Philadelphia) provided the following testimony on Public Input Hearings on Philadelphia Gas Works Rate Increase Request: Good Afternoon: My name is Senator Sharif Street. I represent the 3rd Senate...
The Murder of George Floyd Must Not Go Unpunished
We are a nation of laws. It is often said that “Justice delayed is justice denied”. Clearly, this is a sentiment shared by the family of George Floyd and many people in Minnesota, as well as across this nation and world. Our frustration and anger are warranted as this...
Senators Street & Haywood Secure $175 M Housing Relief Package in PA Budget
Philadelphia PA – May 29, 2020 – On Thursday, Senator Sharif Street (D-Philadelphia) and Senator Art Haywood (D-Montgomery/Philadelphia) successfully secured $175 million in rental and mortgage assistance, a measure included in the temporary 5 month budget featuring...
New Funding for Nursing Homes & Personal Care Facilities Gets Boost, Passes Senate
Philadelphia, May 13 – On Tuesday Senator Street joined colleagues in the PA Senate to approve new funding of $500 million, a significant increase to the initial amendment to provide $200 Million in aid to nursing homes, assisted living facilities and Emergency...
Senator Street Marches with Health Heroes on May Day, Calls for $200 Million Boost to Nursing Homes in PA CARES Act
Philadelphia, PA − May 1, 2020 – Today Senator Street joined Temple Nurses and Allied Health Professionals in their call for COVID-19 hazard pay, testing, quarantine, and PPE for all. Nurses nationwide held May Day protests underlined by a demand for adequate Personal...
Senator Street and Senate Democrats Applaud PA Supreme Court Decision to Halt Evictions/Foreclosures Amid COVID-19 Pandemic
HARRSIBURG, March 18, 2020 – Today Senator Street joined colleagues in the Senate Democratic Caucus in Harrisburg to formally enact rules to allow the Senate to convene remotely and submit a request the Pennsylvania Supreme Court halt all eviction and foreclosure...
Coronavirus Testing & Treatment in PA to be Covered by All Major Insurance Companies
Philadelphia, March 13, 2020 –Senator Sharif Street (D-Philadelphia), PA Senate Democratic Chair of the Banking and Insurance Committee, announced today that all major Insurance companies in Pennsylvania will provide comprehensive medical coverage in the commonwealth...
Safe Injection Sites: Saving Lives & Keeping Communities Safe
Philadelphia, PA – February 27, 2020 – Senator Sharif Street (D-Philadelphia) today sent the following letter expressing support for efforts to create a process to give local governments control over the siting of supervised injection sites within...
Senator Street and Other Legislators Join Recovery Community to Protect Drug-Free Addiction Recovery Program Funding
Philadelphia, February 21, 2020 – Senator Sharif Street (D-Philadelphia) today led a group of legislators and addiction recovery professionals to respond to proposed recovery house regulations promulgated by the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol...
Senator Street Pleased by Budget that Funds Education and Gun Violence Reduction
Harrisburg PA, February 4, 2020 – Today Senator Street offered support for Governor Wolf’s sixth budget address which included significant education funding, raising the minimum wage, major gun violence reforms and additional funding to reduce gun violence. On Monday...
DEP Reminds Pennsylvanians to Take a Commonsense Approach to Home Heating Oil and Propane Supply for a Safe Winter
Harrisburg, PA – The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) reminds the more than 2.5 million Pennsylvania households that heat with oil or propane to take a commonsense approach to maintaining their fuel supply for a safe winter. “Many people don’t realize the...
Governor Wolf Announces $2.2 Million in Teacher in the Workplace Grants to Connect Schools and Local Employers
Harrisburg, PA – January 6, 2019 – Governor Tom Wolf today announced $2.2 million in Teacher in the Workplace grants have been awarded to 92 local education agencies (LEA) to enable teachers to visit local employers and learn the skills and industry trends to enhance...
Senator Street Joins Senator Haywood, Councilwoman-Elect Kendra Brooks on People’s Budget Proposal
Philadelphia – December 2, 2019 – Senator Sharif Street (D-Philadelphia) joined Senator Art Haywood (D-Montgomery/Philadelphia) and local elected officials for a dual event focused on economic justice: Senator Haywood announced the People’s Budget and the completion...
Street Family 39th Turkey Distribution a Success
PHILADELPHIA, PA − November 26, 2019 – On Thursday November 14th Senator Sharif Street hosted the 39th Annual Street Family Turkey Drive and Giveaway in partnership with Nicetown CDC to deliver 2,380 Turkeys to 119 organizations and 190 individuals including all 44...
Senator Street Pleased at Cheyney’s Resurgence, in the wake of significant changes.
Philadelphia, November 25, 2019 – Senator Street was pleased to learn that he Middle States Commission on Higher Education reaffirmed Cheyney University's accreditation removing the threat of losing federal student funding. For many years the future of Cheyney...
Sen. Street Announces 945K in Redevelopment Grants for North Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA, PA – November 15, 2019 – Today Senator Street announced $945,400 in state grant funding which has been approved for projects in North Philadelphia. Funding was approved for the North Station District LLC, Sharswood Partners, LLC and 3701 N. Broad LLC....