COVID-19
Senate Democrats introduce legislative solutions for working families during the COVID-19 outbreak and business closures.
Continue below to view legislation, stay up-to-date on the latest news, find important resources and more.
Restaurant & Tavern COVID-19 Assistance
Senators Jim Brewster & Pam Iovino Propose $100 Million COVID-19 Grant Program & Financial Relief Package for PA Restaurants & Taverns
Allegheny County, PA – July 23, 2020 – Today, State Senators Jim Brewster and Pam Iovino announced a comprehensive proposal to provide emergency relief to Pennsylvania’s restaurants and taverns, which have seen significant financial loss due to the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting shutdown. The seven-point plan includes a $100 million grant program to retail liquor licensees using federal CARES Act funds, as well as a suite of policy changes to financially benefit these struggling businesses.
“Restaurants and taverns are not only favorite neighborhood destinations and community staples, they are the job creators and the cornerstone of vibrant main streets across Pennsylvania, representing the third-largest sector of the state’s economy – and they are in dire need of assistance,” said Senator Iovino (D – Allegheny & Washington). “As these small business owners struggle to determine if they can hang on, they need to know that there are lifelines available to them. This plan would direct financial relief to this specific retail sector and will help position our Commonwealth for a full and lasting economic recovery.”
“Restaurants, bars and the hospitality industry has been hit particularly hard by the COVID-19 pandemic and we have to provide relief,” said Senator Brewster (D – Allegheny & Westmoreland). “Too many bars and restaurants are imperiled, cannot survive under strict mitigation, or have closed their doors putting men and women out of work. We have an obligation and responsibility to move aggressively and provide help now. The assistance package we are offering today is critical for bars and restaurants and their employees.”
Pennsylvania Needs a Just Recovery
The Pennsylvania Senate & House Democratic Caucuses joined workers for virtual press events “based” across the state to highlight that Pennsylvania needs a just recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and justice for black lives. These events were able to bring together members of both legislative chambers to discuss the issues that constituents in their regions have brought to them as the major areas that they want to see change and assistance in as we create our recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Check out the events below.
Southeastern PA
Hosted by Senator Muth, Senator Santarsiero, Representative Bradford, Representative Comitta and Representative Otten
Allegheny
Hosted by Senator Costa, Represenative Dermody, Represenative Gainey, Represenative Davis and Represenative Miller
Lehigh / Northeastern PA
Hosted by Represenative Madden, Represenative Pashinski and Represenative Schlossberg
Southeastern PA (Delco)
Hosted by Senator Kearney, Represenative McClinton and Represenative Krueger
June 18 • 10 am
Location: Southeastern PA
Hosted by Senator Muth, Senator Santarsiero, Representative Bradford, Representative Comitta and Representative Otten
Meeting ID: 819 3979 1362
Password: 264672489
June 18 • 11:00 AM
Location: Philadelphia
Hosted by Represenative Harris, Represenative Dawkins and Represenative Rabb
Meeting ID: 976 0394 1503
Password: 075347
June 18 • 2:00 PM
Location: Allegheny
Hosted by Senator Costa, Represenative Dermody, Represenative Gainey, Represenative Davis and Represenative Miller
Meeting ID: 868 9581 3709
Password: 664954553
June 18 • 2:00 PM
Location: Lehigh / Northeastern PA
Hosted by Represenative Madden, Represenative Pashinski and Represenative Schlossberg
Meeting ID: 824 5670 0008
Password: 026015692
June 18 • 3:00 PM
Location: Southeastern PA (Delco)
Hosted by Senator Kearney, Represenative McClinton and Represenative Krueger
Meeting ID: 846 2996 9103
Password: 917287918
COVID-19 Response Priorities
Healthcare System and Protecting Front Line Workers
We are facing unprecedented challenges as we fight the spread of COVID-19. As the country and the world institute policies and procedures on how to keep our communities safe, our front-line workers continue to operate in dangerous working conditions on a daily basis. Workers in healthcare facilities, public assistance workers and other direct support professionals, first responders and public safety personnel, transportation employees, and other essential retail staff such as grocery store workers, face increased risk to their health as we rely on them to provide life-sustaining services to our communities.
We must provide front-line workers with the tools necessary for maintaining strong mental and physical health and to mitigate the spread of coronavirus on work sites that are still in physical operation.
Our legislation would do so in several ways:
- Provide emergency funding for safety equipment, including personal protective equipment such as N95 masks, and mental health supports for front line employees;
- Create clear standards for the implementation of containment control plans in healthcare facilities, including emergency standards and accountability;
- Prioritize front-line workers in COVID-19 testing;
- Suspend, or limit, in-person services to the greatest extent possible by shifting to virtual assistance working standards and requiring telemedicine coverage by insurers for public workers classified as essential;
- Require cleaning standards for workplaces that remain open during this crisis to meet or exceed state and federal standards for COVID-19 prevention.
- Require employers to adopt social distancing policies by making available more spaces for employees to take their breaks and meal periods.
- Create the COVID-19 Crisis Fire and EMS grant program to provide an additional, one-time grant to each fire and EMS company agency that has been approved by the PA Emergency Management Agency and the Office of State Fire Commissioner for an annual grant for the 2019-2020 fiscal year.
Assistance for Working People and Families
As protective measures are implemented statewide to protect our constituents from Covid-19 we must also act to protect all working people them from economic fallout as a result of this crisis. All working people and families deserve to be protected during this time of crisis.
Our legislation would do so in several ways:
- Emergency paid sick leave for all employees not covered by the federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act.
- Extending paid sick leave for an additional 4 days to cover the full two-week quarantine period as the federal bill only covers 10 days.
- The state will cover the additional 1/3 pay rate for those who must take leave to care for a child whose school has closed so employees receive 100% of pay.
- Extend family medical leave to all employees at 100% wage rate starting immediately upon starting leave to cover the unpaid time under the federal bill and then the additional 1/3 pay to fill the gap for 100% pay rate though the term covered by the Family Medical Leave Act.
- Requiring employers to reinstate workers returning from leave.
- Provide a presumption that all workers are eligible for Workers’ Compensation benefits if they contract the Coronavirus in the workplace.
- Ensure that all workers can not be fired for any reason related to the Coronavirus.
- Require protocols for sterilizing workplaces where known cases of COVID-19 have been identified
- Ensure that all contract employees of public agencies, including school districts, are compensated for time off during the emergency order.
- Make it illegal to evict or foreclose on a family suffering unemployment due to an emergency disaster declaration.
- Ensure that students that are not in school receive continuity of education service and are provided online education opportunities.
- Ensure receipt of a stimulus check from the Federal government is not included in consideration of an individuals income for purposes of qualifying for social safety nets.
- Exempt stimulus checks from the Federal government from State and local taxation, making those payments exempt from all levels of taxation.
Economic Stimulus
- Provide additional working capital availability under the newly created COVID Working Capital Program – access to the current program can be found at https://dced.pa.gov/
- Making sure that school districts have the resources necessary to educate and fee students in a safe environment, including address toxic buildings
- Providing resources through PennVest for water utilities, and other utilities, to make infrastructure improvements
- Provide $100 million to childcare centers to cover administrative expenses, including payroll, and fill the loss of tuition payments from families.
- Provide $17 million for Pre-K and Head Start to cover administrative expenses, including payroll to compensate for lost co-payments that would otherwise have been collected.
- Appropriate $50 million to extend Pre-K and Head Start programs into the summer to mitigate early childhood learning losses for students.
- Create a Common Wealth Fund to all for citizens and businesses to make donations to provide essential services to those in need.
PA Senate Democrats Protecting Pennsylvanians During COVID-19
PA Senate Dems COVID-19 Response Legislation
No Results Found
The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.
Our Members at Work
No Results Found
The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.
COVID-19 Resources
Department of Health Resources
LIVE daily briefings from the PA Department of Health:
pacast.com/live/doh or www.governor.pa.gov/live/ or watch on Facebook
Below, please find links to state and federal sites that can help you navigate health recommendations, closures, and resources.
- Economic Assistance:
- Information for PA Employees Impacted by COVID-19
- U.S. Small Business Administration: COVID-19 Small Business Guidance & Loan Resources
- Hebrew Free Loan Association’s Coronavirus Financial Bridge Loan Program
- Business Resources from the PA Dept. of Community & Economic Development
- Emergency assistance to service industry employees who are parents
- U.S. Chamber of Commerce
- PA Chamber of Commerce
- Honeycomb Crowdfunded Small Business Relief Loan
- COVID-19 Loan Programs Quick Guide
- Federal Information
- FAQ – Federal Stimulus Package (U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb)
- Emergency Family & Medical Leave Expansion Act and Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act (U.S. Dept. of Labor)
- IRS Information
- CDC
- CDC Coronavirus Self Checker Tool (click on the orange self-checker box in the lower right hand corner of the page)
- U.S. Treasury Department (Paycheck Protection Program and other resources for small businesses)
- Seniors
- Pharmaceutical Assistance Contract for the Elderly (PACE) Program can help older adult enrollees with prescription refill extensions
- PA Department of Health
- Apply for a mail in ballot for the April 28 primary
- Covid-19 Community Preparedness and Procedures Materials
- COVID-19 & the Census
- School Guidance/Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
- COVID-19 Unemployment Compensation Guidance & Resources
- PA Government general guidance and information
- PA 211
Latest State News & Updates
State Police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement August 19-20: 1,170 Compliance Checks; Four Notices of Violation
Harrisburg, PA – Pennsylvania State Police Liquor Control Enforcement Officers visited 1,170 licensed liquor establishments from Wednesday, August 19 through Thursday, August 20 to ensure businesses are abiding by COVID-19 mitigation requirements that include...
Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19, 693 Positives Bring Statewide Total to 127,633
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., August 21, that there are 693 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 127,633 All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19. The...
Human Services Reminds Pennsylvanians to Report Child Abuse and Keep Kids Safe at Home
Harrisburg, PA - Today, Department of Human Services (DHS) Secretary Teresa Miller encouraged Pennsylvania families during this back-to-school season to consider taking proactive steps to keep kids safe in their home environments and reminded all Pennsylvanians...
Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19, 791 Positives Bring Statewide Total to 126,940
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., August 20, that there are 791 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 126,940 All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19. Allegheny...
Gov. Wolf: $20 Million to Help Schools Provide Services to Students with Special Needs
Governor Tom Wolf is dedicating approximately $20 million to help 678 local education agencies, including school districts, to provide education services for students with disabilities who may have been negatively impacted by COVID-19 mitigation efforts and may face...
Wolf Administration to Federal Government: When School is Virtual, Pennsylvania Kids Still Rely on School Meals to Thrive
Harrisburg, PA - Today Wolf Administration officials raised their voices for Pennsylvania’s kids, calling for the federal government to extend waivers that have allowed Pennsylvania to provide 24 million meals to school children. Waivers expire at the end of the...
Wolf Administration Provides Support to Northumberland County Skilled Nursing Facility with COVID-19 Outbreak
Harrisburg, PA - Secretary of Health (DOH) Dr. Rachel Levine and Secretary of Human Services (DHS) Teresa Miller today outlined the multiple steps their agencies are taking to contain a COVID-19 outbreak at Milton Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Milton,...
State Police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement August 17-18: 1,625 Compliance Checks; Three Notices of Violation
Harrisburg, PA – Pennsylvania State Police Liquor Control Enforcement Officers visited 1,625 licensed liquor establishments from Monday, August 17 through Tuesday, August 18 to ensure businesses are abiding by COVID-19 mitigation requirements that include social...
Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19, 570 Positives Bring Statewide Total to 126,149
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., August 19, that there are 570 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 126,149 All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19. The...
Department of Agriculture Announces Pennsylvania Agriculture to be Celebrated Virtually for 2021 PA Farm Show
Harrisburg, PA - Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding announced today that Pennsylvania’s agriculture industry will be celebrated virtually for the 2021 PA Farm Show, with no in-person events or competitions, to mitigate against COVID-19. “There are times...
Department of Health Pilots COVID-19 Exposure Notification Mobile App to Strengthen Contact Tracing and Mitigation Efforts
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today announced that it is currently conducting a pilot program for a new COVID-19 exposure-notification mobile app, COVID Alert PA, which will be available to smartphone users starting early September. The...
Wolf Administration Officials Petition USDA: Immediate Action Needed to Ensure School-Aged Children Access to Food
Harrisburg, PA – Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding and Education Secretary Pedro Rivera wrote a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue calling on him to extend several national waivers that provide schools with meal...
Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19, 735 Positives Bring Statewide Total to 125,579
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., August 18, that there are 735 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 125,579 All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19....
Department of Agriculture Releases COVID-19 Restaurant Enforcement Actions, August 10-16
Harrisburg, PA – The Department of Agriculture today released data related to COVID-19 restaurant enforcement actions from August 10 through August 16, 2020. The information is specific to COVID-19 mitigation requirements for restaurants including social...
Wolf Administration: Update on COVID-19 Contact Tracing, Staff Now at 1,205, Training and Recruitment Continue
Harrisburg, PA - The Department of Health today shared an update on Pennsylvania’s contact tracing program expansion and current program data. Case investigations, contact tracing efforts, and ongoing monitoring are proven public health strategies to contain the...
Wolf Administration Orders Further COVID-19 Protection for Long-Term Care Facility Staff
Harrisburg, PA - In response to concerns from frontline workers, the Secretary of Health today issued an order requiring long-term care facilities to take additional steps to protect their staff and residents from COVID-19. “Across Pennsylvania, we have...
Department of Human Services Releases Penn State Study on Impact of COVID-19 on Pennsylvania’s Child Care Providers
Harrisburg, PA - Today, Department of Human Services (DHS) Secretary Teresa Miller released a Penn State University study of COVID-19’s impact on Pennsylvania’s child care industry. The study, completed by researchers at Penn State Harrisburg’s Institute of State...
Wolf Administration Grants Hazard Pay to Front-Line Workers in Life-Sustaining Industries
Governor Tom Wolf announced the recipients of $50 million in grants to help employers provide hazard pay to employees in life-sustaining industries during the COVID-19 pandemic. The program, announced last month, was created to keep front-line employees working...
Gov. Wolf Announces New Funding for York Small Business Impacted by COVID-19
Governor Tom Wolf today visited Magical Days Learning Center in York, which has been awarded a COVID-19 Statewide Small Business Assistance Grant, to highlight the importance of supporting small businesses as Pennsylvania continues to mitigate the spread of COVID-19....
Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19, 384 Positives Bring Statewide Total to 124,844
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., August 17, that there are 384 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 124,844. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19....
Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19, 660 Positives Bring Statewide Total to 124,460
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., August 16, that there are 660 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 124,460. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19. The...
FAQ’s
During the past few weeks, the PA Senate Democrats have hosted dozens of virtual town halls to provide information, build community and answer question. We wanted to share a few of the most frequently asked questions related to COVID-19.
STAY CALM. STAY SAFE. STAY HOME.