Sen. Anthony H. Williams Statement on $100 Million University of Pennsylvania Contribution to Philly Public Schools
Philadelphia, PA − November 17, 2020 − Sen. Anthony H. Williams released the following statement on $100 Million University of Pennsylvania Contribution to Philly Public Schools: I am so elated that the University of Pennsylvania, our longtime neighbor here in West...
Sen. Anthony H. Williams to Introduce Resolution Requiring Only Budget Legislation be Voted on During Sine Die Sessions
Harrisburg – October 19, 2020 – Sen. Anthony H. Williams has begun circulating a co-sponsorship memoranda for a Senate Resolution to limit voting during a sine die session of the Senate to budget-related matters only. “The people of Pennsylvania will be...
State Senate Hearing Focuses on Expanding the Amber Alert System in PA
Harrisburg – October 15, 2020 – At the request of Sen. Anthony H. Williams (D- Philadelphia/Delaware), the Senate Democratic Policy Committee today held a virtual public hearing to discuss expanding Pennsylvania’s Amber Alert system to include hit-and-run incidents....
Sen. Anthony H. Williams Announces Over $1 Million in State Funding for Delco Water and Sewer Projects
Philadelphia – August 18, 2020 – Sen. Anthony H. Williams (D- Philadelphia/Delaware) announced today that $1,301,824 in state grant funding have been awarded to local waterway and sewer improvement projects in Delaware County. “I am very pleased that these grants have...
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...
Senator Anthony H. Williams Hosts Racial Equity Solutions Tour Kickoff Event with Special Guest Van Jones
Harrisburg – July 22, 2020 – Sen. Anthony H. Williams (D- Philadelphia/Delaware) hosted a kickoff event for the Senate Democrat’s Racial Equity Solutions Tour. The event was held via Zoom for safety as we continue to battle the COVID-19 pandemic. Van Jones, Reform...
Senator Anthony H. Williams Statement on Positive COVID-19 Test
Philadelphia, PA – July 14, 2020 – State Senator Anthony Williams (D-Philadelphia/Delaware) released the following statement after testing positive for COVID-19: “I have tested positive for COVID-19. I am following all recommended guidelines from the CDC and...
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...
Senator Anthony H. Williams to Partner with Local Organizations to Bring Free COVID-19 Testing to Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA − June 18, 2020 − Senator Anthony H. Williams has announced free COVID-19 testing coming to southwest Philadelphia. On Saturday, June 20th from 10am to 4pm, free testing will be available at the Church of Christian Compassion at 6121 Cedar Avenue for...
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...
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 Sharif Street (D-Philadelphia), the Senate Democratic Policy Committee today held a...Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams Speaks to the Senate on the Death of George Floyd
Harrisburg – May 28, 2020 – Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams (D – Philadelphia/Delaware) made remarks during last night’s livestream of Senate session to his colleagues and all present on the tragic death of George Floyd. Video of Floyd, who is black, being forcibly held...
Sens. Hughes, A. Williams Lay Out Proposed Temporary Changes to Business Interruption Insurance with Support of Small Business Owners, PRLA
HARRISBURG – April 20, 2020 – Several small business owners and the Pennsylvania Restaurant and Lodging Association (PRLA) joined state Sens. Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) and Anthony Williams (D-Delaware/Philadelphia) in the call for temporary changes to...
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...
Senator Anthony H. Williams to Introduce Legislation to Redistribute Federal Stimulus Monies
Philadelphia, Pa. − March 30, 2020 − Senator Anthony H. Williams today announced plans to introduce legislation that would allow Pennsylvanians to voluntarily return their federal stimulus money. Returned funds would create a Pennsylvania Common Wealth account,...
Senator Anthony H. Williams Calls on PA Supreme Court To Release Inmates Detained For Parole Violations
Harrisburg – March 23, 2020 – Sen. Anthony H. Williams (D- Delaware/Philadelphia) sent a letter today to Chief Justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, Thomas Saylor, to request the release of inmates in Pennsylvania state prisons incarcerated for parole violations...
Effective Friday, March 13 – Senator Anthony H. Williams’ Philadelphia Offices Will Be Closed
Philadelphia, PA – March 12, 2020 − Effective Friday, March 13 Senator Anthony H. Williams’ offices in Philadelphia will be closed as COVID-19 continues to spread. “Those of us in positions of responsibility should be leading as we all continue to grapple with...
Sen. Anthony Williams Joins Elected Officials to Stand Against Supervised Injection Sites Without Community Approval
Philadelphia – March 3, 2020 – Sen. Anthony H. Williams (D- Delaware/Philadelphia) was joined by a number of elected officials in Philadelphia yesterday at a press conference to stand against the opening of a supervised injection site in the city without...
2020 politicians: Stop pandering to black voters and actually come to our neighborhoods
Op-ed by Anthony H. Williams
There has been a lot of discussion about race and racism this political season. While former New York City mayor and billionaire Mike Bloomberg pours millions into ads appealing to African Americans, Sen. Bernie Sanders’s campaign preaches about a coalition including and highlighting African Americans and Latinos. Earlier this month, it was the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania versus the mayor and district attorney. Before that, it was President Donald Trump accusing Gov. Tom Wolf of denying a black Philadelphia girl a scholarship.
Democratic Senators Introduce Legislation to Reform Judicial Nomination Process for Vacant Court Seats
Harrisburg, Pa. − December 18, 2019 − Today, Senators Anthony H. Williams (D – Delaware, Philadelphia), Lindsey M. Williams (D – Allegheny), Maria Collett (D – Bucks, Montgomery), and Katie Muth (D – Chester, Montgomery, Berks) introduced Senate Bill 978, which...
Senator Anthony H. Williams to Introduce Expanded Syringe Exchange
Philadelphia, Pa. − November 7, 2019 − Senator Anthony H. Williams today announced plans to introduce legislation that would expand access to needle and syringe programs throughout Pennsylvania. “As Pennsylvanians continue to deal with the impact of the opioid crisis,...
A. Williams Introduces Legislation to Allow Municipalities to Authorize Supervised Injection Sites
Harrisburg – October 29, 2019 – Sen. Anthony H. Williams (Delaware/Philadelphia) has introduced Senate Bill 933 which would allow municipalities to authorize by ordinance or resolution the operation of a supervised injection site. The legislation also lays out...
Senator Williams to Introduce Legislation Prohibiting Supervised Injection Sites
Philadelphia, Pa. – October 3, 2019 – Senator Anthony H. Williams is seeking cosponsors for legislation that would prohibit supervised injection sites. “Children and families should not have to witness a constant flow of drug users wandering the streets of their...
Senator Anthony H. Williams Named to Special Council on Gun Violence
Harrisburg, PA – September 18, 2019 – Governor Tom Wolf this week appointed Senator Anthony H. Williams (D-Philadelphia) to serve as a member of the Special Council on Gun Violence. The Special Council was established by the Governor’s Executive Order...
Sen. Anthony Williams Statement on Folmer Charges
Philadelphia, PA – September 18, 2019 – Sen. Anthony Williams releases the following statement on Folmer charges: I echo my colleagues in support of Senator Folmer’s resignation. Leaving the Senate was the only appropriate course of action given the serious...
A. Williams Announces Half a Million in Recreational Funds
Philadelphia – September 17, 2019 – Sen. Anthony Williams (D- Philadelphia/Delaware) announced today that funding totaling $542,208 has been awarded to projects within his district through the Greenways, Trails and Recreation Program. “Access to parks and recreational...
OP-ED: It’s Time for Nonpartisan Municipal Elections
Op-ed by Anthony H. Williams and David Thornburgh
In Philadelphia, 23% or nearly a quarter-million voters effectively don’t get a say in who becomes mayor, represents them on city council or runs the District Attorney’s office. Despite standing in line to cast ballots and informing themselves on candidate positions, these citizens are locked out of the process simply because they’ve not registered to vote as a Democrat. But what if when you went into a voting booth, there were no party labels – no Democrat, no Republican, no Green – but only names? For voters in 85% of America’s cities and towns, that’s the reality – and Philadelphia should join them.