Press Releases
Sen. Williams Cautiously Optimistic Following House Approval of His Cigarette Tax Proposal
HARRISBURG, July 3, 2014 — Students, families and teachers in the School District of Philadelphia moved one step closer to being able to close a significant portion of the system’s $93 million budget deficit following the approval last night of state Sen. Anthony...
Sen. Williams Wins Senate Approval of $2/Pack Cigarette Tax Amendment
HARRISBURG, June 30, 2014 — State Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams won overwhelming approval tonight on an amendment that would allow the City of Philadelphia to levy a $2-per-pack cigarette tax and raise $83 million in new annual revenue for the School District of...
Penn Wood Student Team Wins Sen. Williams’ 1st ‘Anti-Bullying Mobile App Challenge;’ Take Home New iPad2s
HARRISBURG, June 25, 2014 — A team of juniors and seniors from Penn Wood High School, Yeadon, won first place and a team of 7th graders from the Add B. Anderson School, West Philadelphia, second, in Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams’ 1st “Anti-Bullying Mobile App...
‘No Excuses,’ Sen. Williams Says as Legislature Considers New Philly Schools $$
HARRISBURG, June 24, 2014 — In his push for a $2-per-pack cigarette tax to drive more critical dollars to the School District of Philadelphia, state Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams today said supporters of his proposal should expect compromise with his bill but “no...
Forum, Tele-Town Hall Open Conversation About Marijuana Legalization in PA
HARRISBURG, June 20, 2014 — State Sen. Anthony H. Williams convened a forum this week to have a public discussion about the future of cannabis regulations in Pennsylvania. Dubbed “The Great Marijuana Debate,” 2,700 people participated in discussions over the course of...
Sen. Williams to Kick Off Annual ‘Summer of Peace’ on Saturday
PHILADELPHIA, June 19, 2014 — State Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams’ campaign to reduce crime and educate children about alternatives to violence will debut at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 21, with a block party at 55th Street and Chester Avenue in Philadelphia. “Summer of...
Sen. Williams Applauds GA’s Approval of Bill Allowing Holocaust, Genocide Instruction in Public Schools
HARRISBURG, June 17, 2014 — State Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams said today he is pleased that the General Assembly has finally approved a bill allowing for Holocaust and genocide studies in Pennsylvania’s public schools. House Bill 1424, if signed into law by the...
Sen. Williams’ ‘Great Marijuana Debate’ Panel Discussion
PHILADELPHIA, June 16, 2014 — With the Pennsylvania General Assembly moving forward on legislation to legalize medical cannabis, state Sen. Anthony H. Williams held a forum on Saturday, June 14, at the University of Pennsylvania School of Law, to discuss the pros and...
Sen. Williams Joins Call to Continue Education Improvement, Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credits
HARRISBURG, June 11, 2014 — State Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams today joined advocates in their call for Pennsylvania to continue helping students pay for a better education in the school of their choice. Williams and the Orthodox Union Advocacy Center, the public...
Sen. Williams’ Annual ‘Summer of Peace’ to Kick Off June 21
PHILADELPHIA, June 5, 2014 — State Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams’ campaign to reduce crime and educate children about alternatives to violence returns later this month when “Summer of Peace 2014” opens with a block party at 55th Street and Chester Avenue in...
Sen. Williams Urges Gov. Corbett to Urge Support of Cigarette Tax for Schools
PHILADELPHIA, May 22, 2014 — State Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams today released a letter to Gov. Tom Corbett urging him to support his proposal to deliver new revenue to the School District of Philadelphia with a cigarette tax. A copy of Sen. Williams’ letter is below:...
Sen. Williams Planning June Forum on Marijuana Legalization in PA
PHILADELPHIA, May 19, 2014 — With the Pennsylvania General Assembly moving forward on legislation to legalize medical cannabis, state Sen. Anthony H. Williams today said he will hold a forum next month, in partnership with the University of Pennsylvania School of Law,...
Marking Education Tax’s 13th Anniversary, Sen. Williams Urges School Choice Advocates to Continue Fight
HARRISBURG, May 7, 2014 — Standing with dozens of Pennsylvania children who are attending schools chosen freely for them by their parents, state Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams today said it is more important than ever for them to continue reminding lawmakers of how...
Sen. Williams, Judy Meisel, Speak Against Discrimination During Holocaust Remembrance at National Constitution Center
PHILADELPHIA, May 2, 2014 — Some 400 Philadelphia and Delaware county school students got a first-hand lesson in the dangers of discrimination April 28 when state Sen. Anthony H. Williams, Holocaust survivor Judy Meisel, and the Anti-Defamation League delivered a...
Sens. Williams, EEC, Students, to Host Earth Day Cleanup at Cobbs Creek Park
HARRISBURG, April 17, 2014 — State Sen. Anthony H. Williams, the Cobbs Creek Community Environmental Education Center, and residents of the greater Philadelphia area will work for two hours on Monday, April 21, cleaning up the basketball courts area of Cobbs Creek...
Sens. Williams, Kitchen, Policy Committee to Tackle College Affordability, Access During Public Roundtable
HARRISBURG, April 15, 2014 — State Sen. Anthony H. Williams, Senate Democratic Whip; Sen. Shirley Kitchen, chair of the Philadelphia Delegation; and the Senate Democratic Policy Committee will hold a public roundtable discussion at 11 a.m., Wednesday, April 16, at...
Sen. Williams, DelCo DA Whelan, Police Chief McDevitt to Address Latest Teacher Sex Abuse Case; Need for ‘Pass The Trash’ Bill
HARRISBURG, April 9, 2014 — State Sen. Anthony H. Williams, Delaware County District Attorney Jack Whelan and Darby Township Police Chief Len McDevitt will discuss the recent case of a Darby Township elementary school teacher who allegedly sexually abused eight girls....
Sen. Williams Targets Gifts to Lawmakers in Bill Reforming PA Ethics Act
HARRISBURG, March 25, 2014 — Following recent allegations that elected officials accepted gifts from lobbyists and others but did not report them, state Sen. Anthony H. Williams said today he will introduce a bill to tighten Pennsylvania’s ethics act. Williams, a...
Sen. Williams, Advocates to Rally for Final Adoption of SESAME Bill
HARRISBURG, March 17, 2014 — State Sen. Anthony H. Williams, victim advocates, a teacher-abuse survivor and leaders of a national advocacy group will hold a major rally at 10 a.m., Wednesday, March 19, in the Capitol Rotunda, to fight for the adoption of legislation...
Senate Democrats Unveil Pension Reform Proposal to Save Billions for Taxpayers
HARRISBURG, March 12, 2014 – State Senate Democrats today said they would save Pennsylvania taxpayers billions of dollars and solve the state’s pension problem if their proposal to further reform pension rules, refinance billions and help school districts avoid...
3 School Systems Receiving ‘Safe Schools’ Grants, Sen. Williams Says
HARRISBURG, March 10, 2014 – State Sen. Anthony H. Williams today said three school systems in his district will receive grants totaling $75,000 to help them take steps to improve the protection and safety of their students. The Safe Schools Targeted Grants help...
People Who Publish Names of Crime Investigation Witnesses, Victims On Internet Could Also Go to Jail Under Sen. Williams’ Legislation
HARRISBURG, March 3, 2014 – To make it safer for people to cooperate with police during criminal investigations, state Sen. Anthony H. Williams today said he will re-introduce legislation that could mean jail time for people who publish confidential names of witnesses...
Sen. Williams’ Resolution Seeks Condemnation of Uganda’s, Nigeria’s Anti-LGBT Laws
HARRISBURG, Feb. 6, 2014 – Anti-lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered legislation recently considered and adopted by the African nations of Uganda and Nigeria should be condemned by the Pennsylvania Senate, state Sen. Anthony H. Williams said today. To provide the...
U.S. Sen. Toomey Takes Sen. Williams’ ‘Pass The Trash’ Bill to Washington
HARRISBURG, Feb. 4, 2014 – State Sen. Anthony H. Williams’ fight to prevent school districts from “passing” teachers suspected of sexual misconduct to other schools instead of the police packed new muscle Friday morning when U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey and state Attorney...
Senate Democrats Deride Gov’s Budget as Election-Year Pandering
Harrisburg, February 4, 2014 – Senate Democratic leaders today called Gov. Tom Corbett’s 2014-15 budget proposal election-year pandering and woefully lacking on multiple levels. “The governor really needs to stop promising and start delivering for Pennsylvania.”...
Sen. Williams’ Next Step in Anti-Bullying Campaign: Mobile App Design Competition for Students
PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 24, 2014 — Encouraging students to work together and take the initiative against bullying, state Sen. Anthony H. Williams today said he is sponsoring an anti-bullying mobile application design contest for students in his 8th Senatorial District’s...
Williams Reacts to Justice Department Audit of Philly Safety Net Grant
PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 21, 2014 — State Sen. Anthony H. Williams today issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Department of Justice’s audit of an $800,000 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance grant to Philadelphia Safety Net: “The Department of...
Sen. Williams to Promote Holocaust Education Bill Sunday at Klein JCC
PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 17, 2014 — State Sen. Anthony H. Williams will address Holocaust survivors and members of the Jewish community at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 19, during an event in the Klein JCC’s Holocaust Awareness Museum and Education Center. Williams and state Rep....
Sen. Williams to Keynote MLK Day Event
PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 17, 2014 — State Sen. Anthony H. Williams will deliver the keynote address Monday, Jan. 20, during the Christian Street YMCA’s MLK Day Celebration. The event, which marks the kickoff of the centennial anniversary of the Y’s service to the community...
Williams Comments on Voter ID Decision
PHILADELPHIA, January 17, 2014 — State Sen. Anthony H. Williams today issued the following comment in response to Commonwealth Court Judge Bernard McGinley’s decision today to strike down the Corbett administration’s voter identification law. “We knew when this law...
State Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams Reacts to American Studies Association’s Boycott of Israel
PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 6, 2014 – State Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams has drafted a resolution addressing a controversial move by the American Studies Association to boycott Israeli scholarship. He offered the following comments: “I’ve been greatly disappointed by recent...
Senate Democrats Outline Billion Dollar Budget Savings and Revenue Plan
Harrisburg – December 10, 2013 – In advance of the governor’s planned mid-year budget briefing, state Senate Democrats today announced details of a plan to generate more than $1 billion in budget savings and revenues they say can be used to make key investments, avoid...
Sen. Anthony H. Williams to Participate in ‘Standing United With Israel’ Event
HARRISBURG, Dec. 9, 2013 — State Sen. Anthony H. Williams will participate in the “Standing United with Israel Community Event,” Tuesday evening, Dec. 10, at Temple Sinai in Dresher. Williams will be one of several featured guests at the free event, which is designed...
Sen. Williams: Nelson Mandela, ‘Embodied a Universal Affirmation’
HARRISBURG, Dec. 5, 2013 – State Sen. Anthony Williams, Democratic whip, shared the following statement on the death of the iconic Nelson Mandela: “For those of us who were – or whose parents and families were – fully enmeshed in the struggle for civil and human...
Sen. Williams, Staff to Deliver Pies, Treats to 1st Responders
HARRISBURG, Nov. 22, 2013 — To share his thanks for the men and women who are first to respond when people need them the most, Sen. Anthony H. Williams will deliver pies and treats on Monday, Nov. 25, to the 8th Senatorial District’s emergency crews. Because first...
Sen. Williams’ Staff to Deliver Free Turkeys to People-in-Need
HARRISBURG, Nov. 21, 2013 — To help make Thanksgiving more bountiful for area residents, the office of Sen. Anthony H. Williams will deliver nearly 200 turkeys to 8th Senate District residents Friday, Nov. 22, in Philadelphia. The turkeys will be going to people who...
Sen. Williams to Announce ‘Health Awareness Season’ Winner
HARRISBURG, Nov. 20, 2013 — Nearly two months after helping residents in Philadelphia and Delaware counties become healthier, Sen. Anthony H. Williams will wrap up his “2013 Health Awareness Season” and announce the winner tomorrow, Nov. 21, of a free one-year...
Williams, Senate Democrats Come to Aid of PA’s Returning Soldiers
HARRISBURG, Nov. 19, 2013 — Sen. Anthony H. Williams and the Senate Democratic Caucus today unveiled a 21-bill package designed to help soldiers returning to civilian life in Pennsylvania. Williams is the prime sponsor of two of the proposals: Senate Bill 1137, which...
State Sen. Anthony H. Williams Honors Veterans During Unveiling of Renderings for Hardy Williams Veterans Center
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 13, 2013 — A cloudless sky, hearty barbecue and seriousness of purpose served as the backdrop for a Veterans Day that featured a preview of Southwest Philadelphia’s forthcoming Hardy Williams Veterans Center. State Sen. Anthony H. Williams joined...
Sen. Williams to Lend Support of House Bill Designed to Stop Inappropriate Teacher-Student Relationships
HARRISBURG, Nov. 12, 2013 -- State Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams will join state Rep. Will Tallman at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 13, in the Capitol Media Center to urge approval of the Adams County lawmaker’s legislation addressing inappropriate teacher-student...