HARRISBURG, PA – June 10, 2026 − Today, Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) filed a motion to grant a discharge to the House House Bill 2189introduced by Representative Dawkins. Passed in March on bipartisan lines, the bill would augment the minimum wage to $15 over three years. The bill has languished in the Pennsylvania Senate for months, awaiting action.
Urging Senate Republicans to take action and directly address the affordability crisis by raising wages for thousands of workers, Senator Kosta issues the following statement:
“It is long past time to raise Pennsylvania’s pathetic minimum wage and provide a significant raise to thousands of hard-working Pennsylvanians. We are an outlier among contiguous states when it comes to a minimum wage of $7.25 an hour, which is a disgrace. It is time to do the right, smart and popular thing by raising Pennsylvania’s minimum wage. By filing today’s discharge petition, Senate Democrats stand by “Stand in solidarity with every worker earning less than $15 an hour to demand a family-sustaining wage for every Pennsylvanian.”
Earlier today Senator Costa made remarks at a press conference regarding the wage augmentstrongly calling on Senate Republicans to advance HB 2189.
You can read more about the Senate Democrats’ Affordability Action Plan here.
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