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.
“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.
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.
HARRISBURG – March 12, 2020 − Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-25), Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman (R-34) and Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa (D-43) have issued the following statement regarding COVID-19:
“COVID-19 discussions are ongoing between both Senate Caucuses, as well as House Leaders and the Governor. At this time, Senate Session will take place as scheduled next week.
“Under the guidance of the Secretary of the Senate, the Senate has long-standing Continuity of Operations (COOP) plans in place for emergencies.
“The coronavirus situation changes daily. It remains our top priority to do what is in the best interest of protecting public health. District office openings and hours remain at the discretion of each member. Evaluation of circumstances are ongoing and changes to Senate operations will be made if necessary.”
Pittsburgh, Pa. − March 11, 2020 − Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr. (D-Allegheny) and Representative Dan Frankel (D-Allegheny) today announced the award of more than $500,000 for local organizations to improve safety and security measures to prevent hate crimes.
This program was the joint effort of Senator Costa and Rep. Frankel following meetings with community and faith leaders following the tragic violence in Squirrel Hill in October of 2018.
“In the aftermath of the tragedy in the Squirrel Hill community, Representative Frankel and I knew we had to do everything in our power to prevent this kind of horrific event from striking again. It was an honor to craft this important program together with input from our local leaders in the faith community,” said Senator Costa. “I wish this program weren’t necessary, but I’m proud of the work that got us to $5 million in funding for it statewide, and I’m glad that institutions across the Commonwealth will see improved security. No one should live and worship in fear.”
“As we know only too well, evil can strike at anytime and anywhere, even in those places we consider to be sacred. And as we strive toward a world without hate, we must also not be blind to the difficult realities we face, which is one of the reasons I joined Sen. Costa and others in fighting for this new grant program,” Frankel said. “This investment in security and safety for our religious institutions, regardless of faith, sends a strong message to the diverse communities that make our neighborhoods, cities and state strong – we see you, we hear you and we stand with you. No one should ever have to enter a house of worship with fear in their hearts. Instead, we should always join together in life, light and love.”
The following nonprofit organizations will receive funding:
Organization
Amount
Hillel Academy of Pittsburgh
$ 45,158
The Aleph Institute Inc
$ 23,385
Locally Grown
$ 20,000
Yeshivath Achei Tminim of Pittsburgh
$119,341
Lubavitch Center
$ 25,000
Rodef Shalom Congregation
$ 24,589
Chabad of Carnegie Mellon University, Inc.
$ 25,000
ACHIEVA
$ 24,419
Pittsburgh Kollel Beth Yitzhok
$ 25,000
Community Day School
$ 74,584
Carnegie Library of Homestead
$ 71,593
First Methodist Church of PGH
$ 17,500
The Rector, Wardens and Vestrymen of Calvary Protestant Episcopal Church
$ 25,000
Congregation Dor Hadash
$ 15,100
TOTAL:
$ 535,669
The funding comes from Act 83 of 2019, which established a new program at the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD). Act 83 directs PCCD to administer grants to Pennsylvania-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations who principally serve individuals, groups or institutions that are included within a bias motivation category for single bias hate crime incidents as identified by the FBI’s 2017 Hate Crime Statistics publication. The categories include race/ethnicity/ancestry; religion; sexual orientation; disability; gender; and gender identity.
Applicants were eligible for security enhancements designed to protect the safety and security of the users of a facility located in the Commonwealth that is owned or operated by the nonprofit organization.
In January of this year, PCCD released a $5 million solicitation for the grant program. 805 total applications requesting approximately $27 million were submitted and reviewed.
