Press Releases
Kearney Introduces “Breonna’s Law” to Ban No-Knock Warrants
HARRISBURG (August 19, 2020) – Senator Tim Kearney (D – Delaware, Chester) today introduced "Breonna's Law" to ban no-knock warrants, which allow law enforcement to forcibly enter a person's home without warning. The bill is named after Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old...
Legislators Call on Wolf Administration to Revoke Mariner East Pipeline Permits in Chester County
Harrisburg – August 2020 – State legislators representing five House districts and three Senatorial districts in Chester County have signed a letter to Secretary Patrick McDonnell of the PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine of...
Kearney Announces $1.4 Million in Affordable Housing Grants
HARRISBURG − August 13, 2020 – Senator Tim Kearney (D – Delaware, Chester) today announced the award of $1.4 million in state funding for affordable housing programs in Delaware and Chester Counties. “Everyone should have a decent, affordable, and safe place to call...
Delaware County lawmakers call for investigation into violence against Black Lives Matter supporters
HARRISBURG – August 7, 2020 – Today, a group of state lawmakers from Delaware County called for District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer to investigate violence and intimidation aimed at Black Lives Matter supporters during a march in Ridley Township on Saturday, August...
State Senate Committee Holds Online Hearing on Strategies to Safely Reopen Schools
Harrisburg – August 3, 2020 – At the request of state Senators Tim Kearney (D-Chester/Delaware), Maria Collett (D-Bucks/Montgomery), Andrew Dinniman (D-Chester) and Larry Farnese (D-Philadelphia), the Senate Democratic Policy Committee today held an online public...
Senators Collett, Kearney, Muth, L. Williams Announce Bill to Suspend Per Diem Pay for Legislators During COVID-19 Pandemic
Harrisburg, Pa. - July 30, 2020 — Senators Maria Collett (D-12 Montgomery/Bucks), Tim Kearney (D-26 Delaware/Chester), Katie Muth (D-44 Berks/Chester/Montgomery) and Lindsey M. Williams (D-38 Allegheny County) have introduced a bill memo for co-sponsorship to suspend...
PA Senate Democrats Discuss Police Reform Legislative Agenda and Statewide Racial Equity Solutions Tour
Harrisburg – June 30, 2020 – Pennsylvania Senate Democrats gathered in the Capitol and through Zoom to discuss the status of their legislative agenda for police reforms, and to announce a statewide Racial Equity Solutions Tour. PA Senate Democrats introduced a...
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...
The hard truths of racial injustice
As a member of the Pennsylvania Senate, I am generally reluctant to call out my individual colleagues. I know my fellow senators love our Commonwealth and our country – we just have different ideas about how to best serve our people.
However, times arise when a fellow public servant’s statement demands a response. Senator Mike Regan, my colleague from Cumberland and York counties, recently published an op-ed on the recent protests against police brutality and racial injustices that requires such a response.
Kearney Stands with House Colleagues Amid GOP Leaders’ Failure to Report COVID-19 Case
SPRINGFIELD − May 28, 2020 – Senator Tim Kearney (D – Chester, Delaware) today released a statement following the revelation that Republican leaders in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives knew one of their members had tested positive for COVID-19 but never...
PA State Senate Unanimously Passes Legislation to Provide $538 Million in CARES Act Funding for Nursing & Long-Term Care Facilities and Fire & EMS Grants
Harrisburg, PA – May 13, 2020 – Yesterday evening, the Pennsylvania State Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 1122, which appropriates $538 million in federal CARES Act emergency funding for nursing and long-term care facilities and creates a COVID-19 Crisis Fire Company and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Grant Program.
Kearney Votes Against Bill to Risk Public Safety and Put Workers in Harm’s Way
SPRINGFIELD − April 15, 2020 − Senator Tim Kearney (D – Chester, Delaware) today voted against Senate Bill 613, which would override Governor Tom Wolf's COVID-19 mitigation efforts and reopen non-essential businesses in Pennsylvania against the advice of medical...
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;...
Hughes, Kearney, Scanlon, Boyle Lead Effort to Convert PA Distilleries into Hand Sanitizer Production Facilities
PHILADELPHIA, PA − March 25, 2020 − State Senators Vincent Hughes and Tim Kearney, U.S. Representatives Mary Gay Scanlon and Brendan Boyle announced today that they have successfully broken down the regulatory barriers preventing more than 130 small...
Kearney Calls for Halt to Mariner East Construction During COVID-19 Crisis
SPRINGFIELD − March 20, 2020 – Sen. Tim Kearney (D – Delaware, Chester) today called for an immediate halt to construction of the Mariner East II pipeline, due to increased health risks during the COVID-19 outbreak In a letter sent today to Pennsylvania Public Utility...
General Assembly Agrees to Transfer $61 Million From CFA To Small Business Loan Program
Harrisburg, PA − March 18, 2020 − Leaders from each of the four caucuses of the General Assembly and the Governor agreed to move $40 million under the Commonwealth Financing Authority to a small business loan program to aid businesses impacted by the COVID...
Sen. Kearney Announces Grants for Local Synagogues to Prevent Hate Crimes
SPRINGFIELD − March 12, 2020 – Sen. Tim Kearney (D – Delaware, Chester) today announced that two Delaware County synagogues have been awarded state grants to improve safety and security measures to prevent hate crimes. Temple Sholom in Broomall will receive $50,000...
Sen. Kearney Releases Statement on Presumptive Case of Coronavirus in Delaware County
SPRINGFIELD −March 6, 2020 – Sen. Tim Kearney (D – Delaware, Chester) issued the following statement on the presumptive case of COVID-19, or coronavirus, in Delaware County. “We are in regular contact with the Department of Health and the Governor’s Office, as well as...
Senator Kearney Announces $2.5 Million in School Safety Grants
SPRINGFIELD − February 27, 2020 – Senator Tim Kearney (D – Delaware, Chester) today announced the award of $2.5 million in state funding for school safety in Delaware and Chester Counties. “Every child deserves to learn in a safe and nurturing environment,” said...
State Senate Committee Holds Delaware County Hearing on State’s Opioid Epidemic
Media – February 12, 2020 – At the request of state Senators Tim Kearney (D- Chester/Delaware) and Anthony H. Williams (D – Delaware/Philadelphia), the Senate Democratic Policy Committee today held a hearing on combating the opioid addiction epidemic in Pennsylvania....
Sen. Kearney Announces $175,000 in PAsmart Grants for Areas Schools
SPRINGFIELD (January 17, 2020) – Sen. Tim Kearney (D – Chester, Delaware) today announced that four school districts and one intermediate unit in his district will receive $175,000 in targeted grants through the PAsmart Initiative. Funding will be used to expand...
Sen. Kearney Announces $250,000 in Business-Education Partnership Grants
MEDIA, PA (January 16, 2020) – Sen. Tim Kearney (D – Chester, Delaware) today announced Chester and Delaware Counties will receive $250,000 in Business-Education Partnership (BEP) grants to help local businesses and school districts work together to better prepare...
State Democratic Policy Committee Hearing on Net Neutrality in Pennsylvania
Philadelphia - January 9, 2020 – At the request of state Sen. Larry Farnese (D- Philadelphia), the Senate Democratic Policy Committee today co-hosted a hearing with state Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler (D- Philadelphia) on net neutrality legislation in Pennsylvania....
Group of Democratic State Senators Request Hearing or Committee Vote on Bills Aimed at Protecting Quality, Stable Health Care in PA
HARRISBURG – January 7, 2020 – State Senators Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery), Pam Iovino (D-Allegheny/Washington), Steve Santarsiero (D-Bucks), Maria Collett (D-Montgomery/Bucks), and Tim Kearney (D-Delaware/Chester) have requested that the state Senate...
Kearney Named Minority Chair of Communications & Technology Committee
HARRISBURG − December 19, 2019 – Sen. Tim Kearney (D – Delaware, Chester) today announced his appointment as Minority Chair of the Senate Communications & Technology Committee. “I am honored to serve as the lead Democrat on this committee,” said Kearney....
Sen. Kearney Announces Grants for Remote Technology for Ill and Injured Students
SPRINGFIELD − December 11, 2019 – Sen. Tim Kearney (D – Chester, Delaware) today announced Chester and Delaware Counties' Intermediate Units will receive over $45,000 from the Keystone Telepresence Education Grant Program. Funding will go to remote classroom...
Sen. Kearney Disappointed by Limited Reforms of Statute of Limitations
HARRISBURG (November 20, 2019) – Sen. Tim Kearney (D – Delaware, Chester) today voted for a package of legislative reforms to Pennsylvania's statute of limitations for survivors of child abuse, but expressed his disappointment with the bills' limited reach. "More...
Sen. Kearney Announces $1.8 Million in State Funding for District 26
SPRINGFIELD (November 12, 2019) – Sen. Tim Kearney (D – Delaware, Chester) today announced that over $1.8 million in state grants will go to projects within District 26. Funding for these projects comes from the Commonwealth Financing Authority's Multimodal...
Sen. Kearney Announces $250,000 to Support Early Childhood Education at DCCC
SPRINGFIELD (October 31, 2019) – Sen. Tim Kearney (D – Delaware, Chester) today announced that Delaware County Community College (DCCC) will receive $250,000 from the Preschool Development Grant program. This funding will support the development of a statewide model...
Dinniman, Kearney Discuss Support for Brain Injury Community
HARRISBURG − October 23, 2019 – Pennsylvanians living with traumatic and acquired brain injuries came to the state capitol this week to share their stories of survival, recovery, and hope. State Senator Andy Dinniman, who serves as co-chair of the Senate Brain...
Senator Kearney Denounces Bill to Ban Abortion Before Many Women Know They’re Pregnant
SPRINGFIELD, PA − October 23, 2019 – Sen. Tim Kearney (D – Delaware, Chester) today announced his staunch opposition to Senate Bill 912, which would criminalize most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. Introduced by Senator Doug Mastriano (R – Franklin), the...
Sen. Kearney Announces $2.3 Million State Infrastructure Loan for Ridley
RIDLEY TOWNSHIP – October 16, 2019 – Sen. Tim Kearney (D – Delaware, Chester) today announced a $2.3 million state loan to Ridley Township for stormwater improvements. The loan is provided by the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST). "This...
Senators Kearney, Killion, and Dinniman Welcome Heather Mitts to the Capitol, Urge Support for Victoria’s Law
HARRISBURG − October 15, 2019 – Bipartisan legislators from Chester and Delaware Counties, who are calling for a ban on puppy mills, will welcome Olympic gold medalist Heather Mitts to the Capitol on October 22 to urge support for Senate Bill 44 (“Victoria’s Law”)....
Sen. Kearney to Hold Policy Hearing on Firefighting and EMS Services
SPRINGFIELD − September 30, 2019 − At the request of Sen. Tim Kearney (D – Delaware, Chester), the Senate Democratic Policy Committee will hold a public hearing this Thursday to discuss the future of firefighting and emergency medical services in Pennsylvania....
Kearney Announces State Money to Go Toward Community Recreation Programs
Swarthmore – September 18, 2019 – Sen. Tim Kearney (D- Chester/Delaware) announced today that projects throughout his district would be receiving a total of $450,000 through the state’s Greenways, Trails and Recreation Program. “I am very pleased that this investment...
Sen. Kearney Releases Statement on the Charges Against Sen. Folmer
SPRINGFIELD, PA − September 18, 2019 – Sen. Tim Kearney (D – Delaware, Chester) issued the following statement on the charges against Sen. Michael Folmer. “The charges against Senator Folmer are deeply troubling and beyond reprehensible. As elected officials, we are...
Sen. Kearney Announces Plans to Protect Children from Being Confronted by Their Abusers
SPRINGFIELD – September 16, 2019 – Sen. Tim Kearney (D – Delaware, Chester) will introduce legislation to fix a serious oversight in state agencies' administrative proceedings that allows accused child abusers to cross-examine their victims. The proposed...
State Senate Policy Committee to Convene in Phoenixville
Harrisburg, PA − September 13, 2019 − At the request of Sens. Katie Muth and Tim Kearney, the Senate Democratic Policy Committee will hold a public hearing Friday in Phoenixville on addressing institutional and societal rape culture. The hearing is scheduled for...
Senator Kearney Honored as Guardian of Victims’ Rights
SPRINGFIELD, PA − August 26, 2019 – Sen. Tim Kearney (D – Delaware, Chester) was today presented with the Guardian of Victims’ Rights Award from Marsy’s Law for Pennsylvania.
“I’m humbled to receive the Guardian of Victims’ Rights Award from the fearless advocates at Marsy’s Law for Pennsylvania,” said Senator Kearney.