Pittsburgh, PA − April 22, 2020 − Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr., Representative Ed Gainey and Representative Austin Davis today announced the award of more than $140,000 in state grants for school districts in the 43rd senatorial district to bridge technological gaps with students learning remotely this academic year.
“The outbreak of COVID-19 has impacted Pennsylvanians of all ages, but I’ve been particularly concerned about our school-aged children who have to complete their academic year outside of the classroom,” said Senator Costa. “Online education is a great option, but not all of our students have the same access to the resources they need to make use of virtual learning. The Continuing of Education Equity grants will help districts identify those gaps and correct them.”
Schools in the 43rd senatorial district receiving grants today are:
- Steel Valley School District – $75,900.00
- Wilkinsburg Borough School District- $29,950.00
- The New Academy CS – $11,500.00
- Urban Academy of Greater Pittsburgh CS – $24,700.00
“In light of COVID-19 its essential that all children have the resources they need to learn, it’s a pleasure to announce some good news for the children of Steel Valley School District. The grant awarded today will guarantee that students who once lacked sufficient access to resources will now have the equipment and support they need. I look forward to the positive outcomes these grants will have for them and their families.” Representative Davis said.
“We’ve asked a lot of our hardworking teachers, educators, students and parents in the face of the coronavirus,” Rep. Gainey, who represents Wilkinsburg and the Urban Academy said. “Trying to keep teaching and learning during a pandemic isn’t easy, and it’s all but impossible if teachers and students don’t have the necessary tools to do so. We know that we need to continue to work to equitably fund our schools, and these grants are a small step in that direction. I want to thank the Wolf administration for working quickly to get this money to schools where it is so desperately needed.”
CEEG grants are designed to help provide access and inclusion for all learners by bridging the gap for students who are currently limited in their ability to participate in continuity of education.
These grants may be used to purchase computer equipment, such as laptops, tablets, and internet hot spots, or used towards providing instructional materials, such as paper lessons and coursework. Schools with the highest percentages of students lacking access to resources were given priority in receiving these grants.
In addition, the state Department of Education has partnered with Pennsylvania’s public television stations to provide instructional programming to students through the seven individual Public Broadcasting System (PBS) member stations in the state. Public television reaches over 12.4 million Pennsylvanians serving large diverse, rural and underserved audiences. These free “Learning at Home” resources are available to families and educators via www.learningathomepa.org
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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; lengthened the time period a property tax payer can receive an early payment discount and delay penalties for late payments to Dec. 31st; and allowed businesses to make delayed payments on EITC. Another important amendment offered by Senator Pam Iovino (D-Allegheny) allowed school districts to renegotiate contracts to ensure contracted school workers can get paid and continue to receive benefits.
The amended SB 841 passed the Senate with bipartisan support. While the Senate Democrats and Republicans chose to put partisan difference aside, the House Republicans were pushing to please special interests and big donors. Intending to use this crisis as leverage, Speaker Turzai and his caucus passed legislation to prematurely allow businesses to reopen during this public health crisis and create a partisan task force to interfere with the Governor’s disaster response, both of which unnecessarily risk lives and threaten to expend the emergency.
“While the Governor and Department of Health Secretary offer leadership on public safety in daily briefings and Democratic members of the PA House and Senate draft legislation to protect working people who are either out of work or employed on the front lines of essential businesses, Republicans are putting lives at risk and undermining the Governor and Secretary Levine’s best efforts to end this crisis,” said Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr. “Instead of taking the advice of our Health Secretary, they are trying to slow down our response and hasten the re-opening of non-essential businesses against the guidance of every public health entity in the country.”
The House Republicans were seeking even more egregious measures to provide civil immunity to big businesses, upend school districts ability to pay their teachers, and leave our corrections department employees at serious threat of the Coronavirus. Perhaps worst of all, the language does nothing to protect frontline workers, provide assistance to those that are out of work, or to help small businesses weather this crisis.
In an amendment to Senate Bill 327, House Republicans designed a task force with partisan appointees to usurp the Governor’s ability to rapidly respond to this quickly-evolving crisis. Their bill would require the Secretary of Health to leave PEMA, take hours away from public health crisis planning and defend her work in front of a redundant, political body.
The Senate Democratic Caucus will not support these bills. Alternatively, this caucus will be supporting legislation on the following issues:
- The American Working Family Relief Action Plan for front-line worker protections (Collett/L. Williams)
- Protecting workers during public health emergencies (Santarsiero)
- COVID-19 Food Worker Safety Act (Tartaglione)
- COVID-19 Grocery Store Worker Safety Act (Tartaglione)
- Payment of contract services in schools (Iovino)
- Childcare assistance (Schwank/L. Williams)
- Emergency expansion of the Family Medical Leave Act to provide paid sick leave (Farnese)
- Crisis grants for volunteer fire and EMS companies due to COVID-19 (Brewster)
- Require business interruption insurance to cover COVID-19 related business closures (Hughes)
- Eviction protection for all disaster emergencies (Farnese)
- Coronavirus disease and schools: allowing for online instruction (Dinniman)
- Creating a Common Wealth Fund to collect donations from individuals to provide for essential needs of those in need (AH Williams)
- Providing a presumption of eligibility for Workers’ Compensation benefits for workers that get sick in the workplace (Tartaglione)
- Ensuring receipt of a stimulus check from the Federal government is not included in an individual’s income for purposes of qualifying for social safety nets (Schwank)
- Exempting stimulus checks from the Federal government from State and local taxation (Brewster)
- Collaborating with financial institutions to mandate mortgage loan forgiveness, assistance to homeowners that were laid off due to state emergencies (Farnese)
“While many working Pennsylvanians are suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic, facing lost hours or even complete unemployment, others who find themselves in more fortunate circumstances have expressed a desire to help their fellow citizens by either donating to a local charity or patronizing local businesses,” said Senator Anthony H. Williams. “By establishing the “Pennsylvania Common Wealth” restricted account, taxpayers could redirect all or a portion of their stimulus check to the state, which in turn would be authorized to direct those funds into programs which help the neediest Pennsylvanians – property tax & rent rebates, temporary assistance for needy families, CHIP or medical assistance.”
“Pennsylvania needs solutions that help protect its working people who have been hit the hardest by the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic,” Senator Vincent Hughes said. “We in the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus have put forth a number of policy proposals that would do just that, meanwhile House Republicans have chosen to ignore these needs and push an agenda that jeopardizes public health and puts additional pressure on working people by delaying immediate relief. Our mission should be helping people in this unprecedented time of need and we will remain vigilant in protecting hardworking folks across the commonwealth.”
“As public servants, our most important duty is to protect the health, safety and welfare of our citizens. This includes making difficult decisions in challenging times. We all want businesses to reopen, employees back on the job, students back in classrooms and some semblance of normal life to resume, but that cannot happen unless we first continue mitigation efforts and follow the advice of our scientists and experts,” said Senator Wayne D. Fontana. “Anything contrary can set back progress and cause further harm on our economy and most importantly, on human health. The bipartisan legislation the Senate approved provides some necessary guidance and relief to local governments, businesses, school employees and property taxpayers during this unprecedented situation. It is unconscionable that House Republicans blatantly disregarded that duty and have chosen not to act.”
“The spread of coronavirus has not quieted the voice of special interests in Harrisburg and that’s tragic,” said Senator Larry Farnese. “Mitigation through isolation is working and we have to recognize that sacrifice through legislation that actually helps front-line workers instead of just saying nice things on social media.”
“This crisis and the Commonwealth’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic requires leadership, transparency and cooperation – not partisan politics,” said Senator John Blake. “While we’ve worked well with the Senate majority on real solutions that actually help people in this crisis, the House majority looks to undermine the executive authority of the Governor as well as the advice of medical and scientific experts regarding public health. I applaud the work being done by Governor Wolf and his administration to keep Pennsylvanians safe and to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. I will continue to support important legislation to help our business community, front-line workers and medical professionals; and to protect our citizens, schools and local governments across this state. We need to remain vigilant in following the recommendations of the PA Department of Health and the federal CDC.”
“Issues that the Commonwealth was already facing have been exacerbated by this pandemic, and child care services and early learning programs are near the top of the list. Childcare centers are teetering on the brink of insolvency, which is why part of our legislative package addresses early childhood learning and safe, quality childcare. We will not be able to restart Pennsylvania’s economy without this key component,” Senator Judy Schwank said. “Additionally, it’s vital that the income requirements of state programs like PACENET and Property Tax and Rent Rebate are adjusted so that Pennsylvanians receiving federal aid are not penalized later.”
“The key to an effective response to the pandemic is to ensure that our citizens are protected, health risks are addressed, and our economy restarts quickly,” Senator Jim Brewster said. “That’s why I introduced a six-point stimulus plan that will help small business, protect workers and create jobs once we are clear the threat posed by the pandemic. In addition, we need to make sure to address the immediate and long-term needs of first responders and all workers and businesses who are providing essential services during this time of extraordinary stress.”
“There is no segment of our Commonwealth that hasn’t been upended by this crisis. Everything is a priority. But in order to save livelihoods, we must first save lives,” said Senator Maria Collett. “As a nurse, I know firsthand the challenges our health care workers are up against and the urgency of passing legislation like the American Working Family Relief Action Plan for Front-Line Workers. Our doctors, nurses, first responders, senior care aides and others should not have to worry about getting sick or infecting others while performing their essential work.”
“It is irresponsible for the state to reopen businesses at the height of the COVID-19 outbreak. Those who are not essential workers should remain home,” said Senator Art Haywood. “We need to do all we can as legislators to support essential employees risking their lives on a daily basis,” said Senator Haywood (D-Montgomery/Philadelphia). “I will continue to support the work Governor Wolf and Secretary Levine have done to inform the public to remain safe and stay home.”
“The citizens of Pennsylvania are counting on their elected representatives to save lives by responding swiftly, pragmatically, and in a bipartisan manner to slow the spread of this highly contagious virus,” said Senator Pam Iovino. “To fulfill our duty to the public, we must follow the consensus guidance of public health professionals, focus on protecting front-line essential workers, and put in place protections that allow furloughed or unemployed workers and small businesses to weather the economic disruption.”
“As the Democratic chair of the Local Government Committee, I worked with stakeholders for weeks to craft the provisions of SB 841, I am disappointed these commonsense measures, which passed the Senate with bipartisan support, are being held up by House Republicans for little reason,” said Senator Tim Kearney. “The House should immediately pass SB 841 and focus on bringing relief to Pennsylvanians, rather than sabotaging the Governor’s efforts to keep our families safe.”
“Yesterday, the majority party in both chambers failed to use their legislative power, where they can literally pass any bill they want to, and instead decided to pack up and go home without,” said Senator Katie Muth. “Failing to pass meaningful bills when people are fighting for their lives is simply negligent.”
“Now is not the time to play politics,” said Senator Steve Santarsiero. “Saving lives has to be the first priority. In order to do that, we must all do our part and follow the Governor’s and Department of Health’s plans as they’ve been explained to us countless times. SB 841 is just one of many ways our caucus has worked in a bipartisan effort to provide relief to those who need it most. However, SB 327 is exactly what our healthcare professionals warn us against. Promoting a premature return to normalcy will only undermine our effort to keep the public safe, and further endanger thousands of lives.”
“Government’s most important role is the protection of its people. Since the COVID-19 crisis the Senate has met three times, with little to show for it. Communities across the commonwealth have no interest in the paralysis of government especially in the most desperate of times. What they do care about is the protection of our essential workforce, the interruption of our small businesses, job loss, staying in their homes and educating their children. The only thing that matters is the preservation and protection of every resource needed to keep families safe during this health crisis,” said Senator Sharif Street.
“We need to be back in Harrisburg, we need to get back to work. We must work together to ensure our communities are protected during uncertain times.”
“As thousands of Pennsylvanians continue to get sick and hundreds die, now is no time to play partisan politics,” Senator Tina Tartaglione said. “As public leaders, we must unite behind the common goal of reducing the threat of this virus and mitigating the harm being done to our constituents. The package of bills we have proposed will directly help all Pennsylvania families, including essential workers, displaced workers, first responders, school children, those who have become sick, and those in need. I urge all legislators from all political parties to support these bills.”
“Stopping the spread of COVID-19 and saving lives is our top priority. We also need to protect and support our constituents, our communities, and our businesses,” said Senator Lindsey Williams. “Our front-line essential workers – our hospital workers, grocery store workers, emergency service personnel and others – cannot afford to wait for PPE. They needed it weeks ago. Our childcare facilities need our help to stay open and provide care to the children of our essential workers while they risk their lives for us. Our small businesses need financial support to stay afloat. Our municipalities need the ability to meet remotely and make decisions that will ensure the safety of all of residents. There are a lot of needs right now and our constituents do not have time for us to waste playing partisan games or naming bridges. The Senate Democrats have offered concrete solutions that will help people. We should all be working together to get them to the Governor’s desk for signature as soon as possible.”
More information on the work of the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus during the COVID-19 crisis can be found at pasenate.com/covid19.
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Harrisburg, PA − April 6, 2020 − Leaders from the Democratic caucuses of the Pennsylvania House and Senate today presented legislative solutions for working families during the COVID outbreak and business closures. They addressed issues, including:
- Retaliation against employees
- Pay for all K-12 employees, including contracted employees
- Strengthening standards for care
- Ensuring that workers compensation covers COVID cases
- A voucher program for childcare
- Earned, paid leave
“We are in the middle of a public health crisis, one that we must navigate with special attention to our workforce,” said Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr. “Many folks will not be able to work in the coming weeks, and we need to be certain they will not be plunged into poverty or lose their access to health care. For those who are still working, their workplaces must be made as safe as possible. Working together at every level of government and jointly with our partners in private business, we can emerge from this crisis with a financially and medically healthy workforce.”
“We’ll pull through this by pulling together. All of us are depending on people who are doing many important jobs,” said House Democratic Leader Frank Dermody (D-Allegheny). “As lawmakers we need to take every possible step to smooth the way for vital workers on the front lines of health care, public safety, education and ensuring that food remains available. They’re getting the job done for us so we need to get this done for them.”
“Any action taken on a local, state or federal level must put our workers first,” Sen. Hughes said. “These are the people who maintain our social structure and drive our economy, whether or not there is a crisis. We must prioritize their needs as a part of our coordinated response so that families can stay home, remain safe and free from distress during times of need.”
“We are facing an unprecedented health and economic crisis, and not everyone has a job that enables them to work from home,” said Democratic House Appropriations Chairman Matt Bradford (D-Montgomery). “These Pennsylvanians — who work in healthcare, essential retail and public safety — are on the front lines of this crisis to ensure vital services are still delivered. We owe it to them to provide basic protections like paid sick leave, insurance coverage, and job security.”
“It is absolutely clear that hardworking people are the core of our nation and the economy. During this crisis, healthcare workers are the difference between massive death and survival,” said Senator Haywood (D-Montgomery/Philadelphia) “Now we must protect each other with paid sick leave, childcare vouchers, and extended unemployment compensation, including COVID-19 cases. We have everything to lose, we cannot wait any longer.”
“This crisis has uncovered the flaws in our system that so many working Pennsylvanians already knew existed,” said House Democratic Whip Jordan Harris (D-Philadelphia). “We can’t sustain a society, nor should we want to sustain a society, where so many of our citizens are one missed paycheck away from losing their home, one unpaid sick day away from not being able to afford their food or medicine, or a few missed hours away from losing their childcare. During this extraordinary situation we must show extraordinary leadership, including quickly enacting legislation that will protect those who through no fault of their own are now struggling without income.”
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Cosponsorship memos for the legislation mentioned above can be downloaded here.
Lawmakers, PSP discuss increase in incidents and urge public action
PITTSBURGH, April 2, 2020 – Alarmed by disturbing warnings that racist attacks on Asian Americans are increasing in Pennsylvania and across America during the coronavirus crisis, a group of Pennsylvania lawmakers, the Pennsylvania State Police and other stakeholders today held a press conference to alert the public and to urge vigilance against this rising evil.
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“We are hearing, both locally and as part of a nationwide problem, that our Asian American communities are being attacked and maligned as somehow responsible for the Covid-19 Pandemic,” said Rep. Dan Frankel, D-Allegheny. “While ridiculous on its face, this line of thinking is dangerous, and we unfortunately know very well in my district what can happen when a community is made to be a scapegoat for society’s problems. We are here today to say to the Asian communities throughout Pennsylvania; ‘We are taking this seriously, and we have your back.’”
“Crimes against anyone based in their race, creed, gender, country of origin or sexual orientation are absolutely unacceptable,” said Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr., D-Allegheny. “There is no place for discrimination in Pennsylvania at any time. But as we are in the midst of a public health crisis, we need now more than ever to work together and support each other as best we can.”
In addition to warnings from the Pennsylvania State Police, earlier this week the FBI warned that hate crime incidents against Asian Americans likely will surge across the United States, based on the assumption that a portion of the US public will mistakenly associate COVID-19 with China and Asian American populations.
For many in the Asian American community, the threat is very real – and personal.
“There are those who still believe that Asian Americans don’t face discrimination or racism in this country. The outbreak of Covid-19 reminds us that that is a false assumption,” said Marian Lien, president of OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates, Pittsburgh chapter. “This pandemic has unleashed a torrent of hate and violence by bigots who blame Asian Americans for the global pandemic — we have been intimidated, spit on, physically attacked. Hundreds of people have come forward, but we know hundreds more go unreported.”
“It truly saddens me to hear that the Asian-American community has been the target of such painful attacks. I would like to urge members of the Asian-American community and people of the commonwealth to report these crimes so they can be addressed,” said Rep. Patty Kim, D-Dauphin. “Reporting would allow us to direct resources, education and better understand as to what’s going on before the situation gets worse. Even though we need to keep a safe distance from each other, it’s incredibly important that we stand with the community and show our support.”
The Heritage Affairs Section of the Pennsylvania State Police is dedicated to the response and investigation of hate/bias crimes and incidents. If people feel they are a victim of a hate/bias crime or incident, they should report it immediately by calling 911, or their local police department. For non-emergencies, they can also send Tips to PA Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-4PA-Tips (1-800-472-8477), or via email at tips@pa.gov. Dispatchers and Troopers have the capability to communicate in a multitude of languages, 24-hours a day, 7 days a week.
The increase incidents has also inspired a community statement pledging support for the state’s Asian American communities organized by the Anti-Defamation League in Philadelphia, which has gathered support from more than 40 community organizations.
State Sen. Larry Farnese, D-Philadelphia, said his office has received numerous calls from individuals regarding incidents of racism since the COVID-19 crisis began – in fact, some of the first calls to his office during the evolving crisis were regarding racially motivated incidents in his and the broader Philadelphia community.
“Hate doesn’t take a pause during COVID-019 and neither will we in our fight to eradicate it,” Farnese said.
To address hate crimes and racism in Pennsylvania, earlier this year legislators partnered with religious and community organizations to creat the Coalition Against Hate, a broad, diverse group that aims to increase of awareness and promote action on legislation addressing the issue. As time and history have shown, racism and hate remain the enemy of peace and progress.
“Hate is the enemy of humanity,” said state Rep. Ed Gainey, D-Allegheny, and a member of the coalition. “We must work together collectively to overcome this coronavirus. We must never tolerate the evil of hate but do everything we can to eliminate it.”
Earlier this year the legislators moved to introduce a comprehensive legislative package to address hate crimes in Pennsylvania, and bring the state’s laws into the modern era, extend protections to threatened communities, and give law enforcement the tools it needs to prevent and address hate crimes across the commonwealth.
Information about the legislation is available at http://www.PaAgainstHate.com
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 19 outbreak. These funds will be combined with $21 million in other available funds for a total of $61 million.
Small businesses are among the most affected by the closure of non-essential businesses, and in the financial recovery which will follow this outbreak, they will need as much support as the state and federal government is able to provide.
“In the wake of the unprecedented Coronavirus pandemic, it’s important that state government is trying to respond to all manner of its impacts, and that includes providing support to our small business community,” said Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr. “Today, the CFA took necessary and swift action to provide low interest loans to small businesses to help keep them afloat during these difficult times. I commend the leadership of Governor Wolf and the other caucuses of the General Assembly for working together so quickly to come up with a viable plan to provide this assistance.”
“There’s been major disruption to small businesses and their employees,” said House Democratic Leader Frank Dermody. “This is a bipartisan down payment to get some working capital out quickly. Much more help is needed and we’ll keep working on that.”
These funds will be used to fund working capital loans of up to $100,000 directly to small businesses (those that employ 100 or fewer persons). The PIDA board has the authority to move money from MELF to SBF for such purposes. The interest rate is currently 3 percent; however, The Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority (PIDA) board has the authority to adjust the interest rates.
The SBF is the most logical program to assist small businesses quickly because this is already its intended purpose. It has the structure along with the needed regional infrastructure to help small businesses immediately including partnerships with local a Certified Economic Development Organization (CEDO) in preparing and submitting an application for approval by the Authority. As these loans have a maximum amount of $100,000, they can all be approved by the staff and thus, if all requirements are met, and a complete application is submitted, each loan can be turned around rather quickly.
Harrisburg, Pa. − March 17, 2020 − The Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus today endorsed a package of policies and legislation intended to protect workers during and after the COVID-19 outbreak.
The platform, called American Working Family Relief Action Plan, includes practices for public and private employers, as well as policy positions for local, state and federal governments. Many of the items have been on the PA Senate Democrats’ agenda for some time, including earned sick leave for all workers, access to affordable health care, protecting the security of elections, and more.
“We are in the middle of a public health crisis, one that we must navigate with special attention to our workforce,” said Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr. “Many folks will not be able to work in the coming weeks, and we need to be certain they will not be plunged into poverty or lose their access to health care. For those who are still working, their workplaces must be made as safe as possible. Working together at every level of government and jointly with our partners in private business, we can emerge from this crisis with a financially and medically healthy workforce.”
The American Working Family Relief Action Plan has been endorsed by dozens of organizations and elected officials around the country.
Here is the entirety of the plan:
Expansion of Healthcare Access:
- Fully paid leave for any COVID-19 related issue, including sick time, furlough, self-quarantine, and providing care to infected family members;
- Free COVID-19 testing and treatment, regardless of insurance status, language, race, country of origin, or immigration status;
- No profits from this crisis. Private corporations providing public health services must do so at no cost, and any eventual vaccine must be made available cost-free to the public.
- Protections from disciplinary action from employers against workers who utilize sick time or leave due to COVID-19 related issues;
- Expansion of Medicaid to all Pennsylvanians without insurance until the end of 2020.
- Waive all cost sharing for emergency room (in or out of network), urgent care (in network), and office visits (in network) associated with medically necessary screening and testing (in and out of laboratories) for Covid-19.
Protection of Front-line Workers and Communities:
- Emergency funding for safety equipment and mental health supports for front-line healthcare workers, direct support professionals, and first responders;
- Emergency standards and accountability for healthcare facilities to implement containment control plans;
- Suspension of foot traffic to public and community facilities, where operationally feasible and legally permissible. When not feasible/permissible, limitations of foot traffic to the greatest extent possible by shifting public services with online and in-person options to online-only. Promotion of teleworking options for public and private sector employees;
- Regular cleaning of workplaces that remain open to workers and/or the public in a manner that meets or exceeds federal and state standards for preventing COVID-19;
Economic Relief for Working Families
- Doubling unemployment compensation and extending the length of the benefit to 52 weeks, eliminating the “waiting week” and waiving the requirement to search for work for COVID-19 related layoffs and closures, and increased staffing to allow the rapid processing of new unemployment applications;
- Suspension of foreclosures, utility shutoffs, evictions, credit defaults, school loan payments, and other liens for workers who may be laid off or have reduced hours for the duration of the national public health emergency;
- Enhancement of food security programs for Pennsylvania’s working families, the elderly, and children by increasing funding for nutrition assistance programs;
- Review and revision of public benefit and unemployment compensation eligibility requirements to ensure that low-income, seasonal, contract, and gig workers are not adversely affected by the pandemic;
- Continuation of pay and benefits for hourly K-12 School District employees, along with salaried employees, during any school shutdowns;
- Continuation of pay for contracted workers, such as those employed by food service contractors, during any campus shutdowns ordered by the colleges and universities where they work, including PASSHE and state-supported colleges and universities, as well as non-public colleges and universities;
- Return to work protections for those who utilize unemployment compensation or leave work due to childcare, school, or other temporary closures;
- Assessment of benefits such as paid sick leave and unemployment compensation for tipped workers based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ calculation of $11.85 as their hourly rate;
- Establish free and reliable access to telecommunication tools so that workers can work remotely by ensuring internet providers waive fees for the duration of the crisis and cell phone companies provide free mobile hotspots through every cell phone.
Protection of our Values, Safety, and Voices
- Expansion of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission to properly investigate attacks on Pennsylvania’s Asian American and Pacific Islander communities, as well as to educate, and inform the public to prevent discrimination that may result as a result of this pandemic;
- Implementation of aggressive legal and regulatory measures to prevent price gouging for common household goods, especially those necessary to prevent and treat COVID-19;
- Necessary resources to protect our democracy and ensure all people have the ability to be counted and make their voice heard, including the 2020 Census and ongoing elections;
- Ensuring fair and accessible elections in Pennsylvania during the pandemic by mailing all voters a ballot with postage paid return.
