Press Releases
$50 Million for Whole-Home Repairs in Shapiro’s Budget: A Win for PA Homes
Harrisburg, PA − February 6, 2024 − Following Governor Shapiro’s announcement of $50 million for Pennsylvania’s nationally acclaimed Whole-Home Repairs Program in his proposed 2024–2025 budget, State Senator Nikil Saval (D–Philadelphia), author of the program, issued the following statement: “Every person has a right to a home that is safe, a home that is healthy. But hundreds of thousands of people across Pennsylvania are denied this right simply because they lack access to the resources they need and deserve to fix their homes.
Policy Committee Highlights Whole-Home Repairs Program in Pittsburgh
PITTSBURGH − February 3, 2024 – The Senate Democratic Policy Committee traveled to Pittsburgh yesterday to host two events to highlight the successes of Pennsylvania's groundbreaking Whole-Home Repairs Program. Less than a year after the distribution of funds, the...
PA State Legislators Call for Congressional Support for Ceasefire and Release of Hostages
Harrisburg, PA − November 21, 2023 − Today members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly called for congressional support for a ceasefire, for the release of all hostages, and for humanitarian aid to residents throughout the region impacted by the ongoing...
State Senate Democratic Caucus Members Announce Build Better PA
PHILADELPHIA – October 10, 2023 – State Senators Steve Santarsiero (D-10), Tina Tartaglione (D-2), Jimmy Dillon (D-5) and John Kane (D-9), and representatives from the building trades announced Build Better PA, a package of bills to promote fairness, quality, and...
Senators Saval & Collett Introduce AAPI-Inclusive Curriculum Bill To Fight Anti-Asian Hate
Harrisburg, Pa. − September 7, 2023 — To expand education and confront the rise in bias crimes against people of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) descent, State Senators Maria Collett (D-12 Montgomery) and Nikil Saval (D-1...
Senator Nikil Saval Praises State Commitment to Whole-Home Repairs, Calls for Continued Public Investment
Harrisburg, PA − July 5, 2023 − Today State Senator Nikil Saval (D–Philadelphia) released the following statement on the passage of the state budget: “Pennsylvanians deserve investment—in our homes, in our labor, in our schools, and in our public spaces. A thriving...
Senators Saval & Collett Advocate for AAPI Inclusive Curriculum
Harrisburg, PA− May 1, 2023 − In an effort to expand education and fight the recent rise in bias crimes against people of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) descent in the Commonwealth, State Senators Maria Collett (D-12 Montgomery) and Nikil Saval (D-1...
Senator Nikil Saval Speaks Against Proposed Criminalization of Overdose Prevention Centers
Harrisburg, PA − April 25, 2023 − Today, in response to a vote in the Pennsylvania Senate’s Judiciary Committee to advance legislation that criminalizes overdose prevention centers, Pennsylvania State Senator Nikil Saval (D–Philadelphia) released the following...
Senator Nikil Saval Joins Lancaster Community in Call for Permanent Funding for Whole-Home Repairs
Lancaster, PA- April 21, 2023—Today, State Senator Nikil Saval (D–Philadelphia) and State Representative Ismail Smith-Wade-El (D–Lancaster) joined Lancaster Stands Up, POWER Interfaith, CASA, and residents and community leaders in a united call for permanent funding...
Senator Nikil Saval Joins Pittsburgh Community in Call for Permanent Funding for Whole-Home Repairs
PITTSBURGH, PA − April 20, 2023 − Today, State Senator Nikil Saval (D–Philadelphia), State Representative Sara Innamorato (D–Allegheny), and State Representative Aerion Abney (D–Allegheny), joined One Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania United, 1Hood Power, Action Housing,...
Senator Nikil Saval Joins Lehigh Valley Community in Call for Permanent Funding for Whole-Home Repairs
ALLENTOWN, PA − April 19, 2023 − Yesterday State Senator Nikil Saval (D–Philadelphia) joined Lehigh Valley Stands Up, Make the Road Pennsylvania, POWER Interfaith, Community Action Lehigh Valley, Sunrise Movement, and Berks County elected officials, community...
Senator Nikil Saval Joins Berks Community in Call for Permanent Funding for Whole-Home Repairs
READING, PA − April 18, 2023 − Yesterday, State Senator Nikil Saval (D–Philadelphia) joined Berks Stands Up, Make the Road Pennsylvania, Sunrise Movement, and Berks County elected officials, community leaders, and residents in a united call for permanent funding for...
Senator Saval Joins Community Organizations and Advocates in Call for Permanent Funding for Whole-Home Repairs
READING, ALLENTOWN, PITTSBURGH, and LANCASTER, PA − April 12, 2023 − State Senator Nikil Saval (D–Philadelphia), Pennsylvania Stands Up, One Pennsylvania, Make the Road Pennsylvania, POWER Interfaith, Sunrise Pennsylvania, state and local representatives, and...
Senators Saval and Street Announce Legislation to Prohibit Use of Private Contractors in Enforcing Evictions
Philadelphia, PA − March 30, 2023 − In response to the shooting of a Philadelphia resident by a private contractor during an attempted eviction, Senators Nikil Saval (D–Philadelphia County) and Sharif Street (D–Philadelphia County) today announced...
Overwhelming Demand for Whole-Home Repairs Program in Counties Across PA
Philadelphia, PA − February 9, 2023 − The Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development recently released information on the overwhelming demand for Whole-Home Repairs Program funding in counties across the Commonwealth: 64 of Pennsylvania’s 67...
Sens. Haywood, Hughes, and Saval Host Jan. 6 Commemoration to Honor First Responders
PHILADELPHIA – January 6, 2023 – Sen. Art Haywood (D-Montgomery/Philadelphia) joined Sen. Vincent Hughes (D-Montgomery/Philadelphia), Sen. Nikil Saval (D-Philadelphia), state Rep. Mary Isaacson (D-Philadelphia), and statewide elected officials at the National...
Senators Saval, Browne Announce Major Development for Pennsylvania’s Whole-Home Repairs Program
Allentown, PA − November 18, 2022 − Today Senators Nikil Saval (D–Philadelphia) and Pat Browne (R–Lehigh) joined local elected officials and members of the Allentown community to announce the publication of the Whole-Home Repairs program guidelines. “The Whole-Home...
Senator Nikil Saval Announces $400,000 to Preserve and Enhance Community Spaces
Philadelphia, PA − September 20, 2022 − Today Senator Nikil Saval (D–Philadelphia) announced $416,469 in grants for recreation centers and community spaces throughout Pennsylvania’s First Senatorial District. “It is impossible to overstate the...
Gov. Wolf, General Assembly Celebrate Critical Investments to Address Affordable Housing Crisis
Philadelphia, PA − August 12, 2022 − Today, Governor Tom Wolf was joined by members of the General Assembly, housing advocates and stakeholders in Philadelphia to celebrate the critical $375 million investment in the 2022-23 budget addressing the affordable housing...
Senator Nikil Saval Celebrates Creation of Whole-Home Repairs Program with $125 Million in State Budget
Harrisburg, PA − July 8, 2022 − Today State Senator Nikil Saval (D–Philadelphia) announced a $125-million appropriation in Pennsylvania’s 2022–2023 budget to establish his groundbreaking Whole-Home Repairs Program. He issued the following statement: “Every person has...
Senator Nikil Saval’s Statement on U.S. Supreme Court’s Extremist Ruling in Dobbs V. Jackson Women’s Health Organization
Philadelphia, PA June 24, 2022 — Senator Nikil Saval (D–Philadelphia) released a statement today on the U.S. Supreme Court’s extremist ruling on Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, overturning the constitutional right to abortion and marking the largest...
Pa. Senate committee creates bipartisan plan to combat blight statewide
A proposal to use part of the state’s approximate $5 billion budget surplus to fund a program against statewide blight received rare bipartisan support in Harrisburg on Monday. The bill creating a Whole-Home Repairs and Homeownership Affordability Fund to provide...
Senators Collett & Saval Unveil Legislation to Fight Anti-Asian Discrimination with More Robust Education
Harrisburg, Pa. − May 31, 2022 − In an effort to improve education and fight the recent rise in bias crimes against people of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) descent in the Commonwealth, State Senators Maria Collett (D12-Montgomery/Bucks) and Nikil...
Senate Democrats Call on Republicans to Immediately Prioritize Gun Violence Prevention Legislation and Appropriations
HARRISBURG – May 25, 2022 – Today, Pennsylvania Senate Democrats wrote the following letter to Republican leaders in response to rampant gun violence and mass shootings that have become too common in the United States. Just this year, 215 mass shootings have...
New Study Shows More Than Three-Quarters of PA Voters Support Bipartisan Whole-Home Repairs Act
Philadelphia, PA − May 24, 2022 − Today, Senator Nikil Saval (D–Philadelphia County) held a rally attended by more than 200 housing and energy advocates, community leaders, Pennsylvania residents, and Democrat and Republican legislators from the General Assembly...
Senator Saval Announces $17.8 Million in Grants for Local Projects
Philadelphia, PA − May 5, 2022 − Senator Nikil Saval (D–Philadelphia) has announced $17,815,000 in grants for multiple local projects throughout the First Senatorial District, adding to the tens of millions of dollars in major investments previously secured.
Senators Collett & Saval Unveil Legislation to Improve Nursing Home Transparency & Protections
Harrisburg, Pa. − April 19, 2022 − A new package of legislation proposed by State Senators Maria Collett (D-12 Montgomery/Bucks) and Nikil Saval (D-1 Philadelphia) will bring greater transparency, accountability, and support for residents and...
Senator Nikil Saval and Lehigh Valley Stands Up Call for Passage of Whole-Home Repairs Act
Allentown, PA − March 25, 2022 − Yesterday afternoon, State Senator Nikil Saval (D–Philadelphia) and Lehigh Valley Stands Up brought together residents and community leaders in a united call for the passage of Pennsylvania’s Whole-Home Repairs Act (SB1135), a...
Senator Nikil Saval and Berks Stands Up Call for Passage of Whole-Home Repairs Act
Reading, PA − March 24, 2022 − Yesterday, State Senator Nikil Saval (D–Philadelphia) and Berks Stands Up brought together residents, community leaders, and elected officials in a united call for the passage of Pennsylvania’s Whole-Home Repairs Act (SB1135), a...
Senator Nikil Saval and Lancaster Stands Up Call for Whole-Home Repairs During Week of Action
Lancaster, PA − March 22, 2022 − Today, State Senator Nikil Saval (D–Philadelphia) and Lancaster Stands Up brought together residents, community leaders, and state and municipal officials in a united call for the passage of Pennsylvania’s Whole-Home Repairs Act...
Senator Nikil Saval and Advocates Call for Passage of Whole-Home Repairs Act
Philadelphia, PA − March 21, 2022 − Today, standing with residents, community leaders, housing and energy advocates, disability rights activists, and federal, state, and municipal elected officials, State Senator Nikil Saval (D–Philadelphia) launched his campaign for...
Senate Democrats Discuss Housing Scarcity and Houselessness at Policy Hearing
PHILADELPHIA, March 15, 2022 – State Senator Katie Muth (D- Berks/Chester/Montgomery), Chair of the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Policy Committee, joined Senators Sharif Street, Nikil Saval, Amanda Cappelletti, Tina Tartaglione and Art Haywood to host a public...
House and Senate Lawmakers Announce Relief Plan for Rental Assistance Fund
HARRISBURG − February 16, 2022 − Lawmakers from the state House and Senate held a news conference today to outline plans to restore Pennsylvania’s depleted Emergency Rental Assistance Program and help thousands whose incomes were affected by the pandemic. State...
Muth, Saval Host Virtual Hearing on Home Repair Issues Facing PA Families
ROYERSFORD, December 8, 2021 – State Senator Katie Muth (D- Berks/Chester/Montgomery), Chair of the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Policy Committee, today joined Senator Nikil Saval (D-Philadelphia) to host a virtual public hearing on the need to improve, expand, and...
Senator Saval Announces $39.5 Million in Grants for Local Projects
Philadelphia, PA − December 7, 2021 − Senator Nikil Saval (D–Philadelphia) today announced $39,501,740.00 in grants for local projects throughout the First Senatorial District. These grants are awarded through the Redevelopment Assistance Capital...
Senator Nikil Saval Announces Fair Records for Renters Legislation
Harrisburg, PA − November 29, 2021 − Senator Nikil Saval (D–Philadelphia) today announced Fair Records for Renters legislation, which would rectify false eviction records data and thus eliminate a major barrier that currently prevents tens of thousands of...
Senate Dems Discuss Worker Misclassification Issues at Policy Hearing
PHILADELPHIA − November 15, 2021 – State Senator Katie Muth (D- Berks/Chester/Montgomery), Chair of the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Policy Committee, today joined Senators Nikil Saval, John Kane, Christine Tartaglione and Lindsey Williams to host a public hearing...
Senator Saval Moves to End Housing Discrimination Against Pennsylvanians with Criminal Records
Harrisburg, PA − November 3, 2021 − Building from the work of generations of organizers and activists fighting housing discrimination around the country, State Senator Nikil Saval (D–Philadelphia) today announced the introduction of his Fair Chance Housing...
Senate Democrats Urge State Supreme Court to Take Action on Evictions for Tenants with Pending ERAP Applications
Senator Saval’s Statement on U.S. Supreme Court’s Ruling Thrusting Millions of Renters into Precarity
Philadelphia, PA — August 27, 2021 — Senator Nikil Saval (D–Philadelphia) released a statement today on the decision of the U.S. Supreme Court to eliminate the only remaining protection for renters: “Hundreds of thousands of people across our state, and millions of...