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
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Our Members at Work
Senator Haywood Announces the Approval of Housing Relief Funds to Prevent Foreclosure and Eviction
Senators Street & Haywood Secure $175 M Housing Relief Package in PA Budget
We need a just recovery that includes higher pay for Black, brown, and low-paid essential workers
Op-ed by Sen. Art Haywood
While small businesses owners and politicians have demanded that the state reopen quickly, the reopen health risks are largely on black, brown, and white low-paid workers. Essential grocery store, restaurant, food service public transit workers stayed on the job to save us as many of us stayed at home, even worked from home.
Senator Pam Iovino’s Statement of Support for Pennsylvania’s Interim Budget
Sen. Anthony Williams Announces PA Senate Allocation of $2.6 Billion CARES Act Relief Funds
Brewster: $215 Million in School Safety Grants Pass Senate
Senators Santarsiero, Collett Ask Governor to Allow Businesses in Personal Service Industry to Operate During Yellow and Green Phases of Reopening
Kearney Stands with House Colleagues Amid GOP Leaders’ Failure to Report COVID-19 Case
Sabatina: Bill to Avoid Expiration of Military Family Relief Assistance Program is headed to House (SB-1076)
Harrisburg, May 28, 2020 − Senator John Sabatina (D-Philadelphia) was pleased to announce Senate Bill 1076 passed unanimously (50-0) in the Senate today. The bill provides an extension of the Military Family Relief Assistance Program (MFRAP). Created in 2005, MFRAP provides grants up to $3,500 to Pennsylvania service members and their families in need.
Senator Collett Reacts to Governor Wolf’s Announcement of Bucks and Montgomery Counties’ Anticipated June 5th Move to Yellow Phase
Senator Santarsiero Asks Governor to Allow Curbside Pick-Up for All Retail Establishments During COVID-19 Pandemic
Senator Collett Urges Governor Wolf and Secretary Davin to Provide Additional Financial Support to Montgomery and Bucks County Businesses
Republican Reopening Scam Is the Worst Kind of Politics
Op-ed by Sen. Vincent Hughes
In the last few weeks, Pennsylvania Republicans have ramped up the political theatre in a brazen attempt at politicizing the Wolf Administration’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.
From staged political rallies organized by out-of-state, extreme right-wing agitators to attempts at strong-arming local officials to ignore the governor’s executive order on reopening, it’s clear that Republican legislators have decided that propping up President Trump — and by extension themselves — is more important than the public health.
Senator Santarsiero Urges Pennsylvania Supreme Court to Issue Order Further Protecting Individuals and Businesses from Evictions and Foreclosures During COVID-19 Pandemic
New Funding for Nursing Homes & Personal Care Facilities Gets Boost, Passes Senate
PA State Senate Unanimously Passes Legislation to Provide $538 Million in CARES Act Funding for Nursing & Long-Term Care Facilities and Fire & EMS Grants
Senator Collett Encouraged By Department Of Health Announcement Of Universal Testing For Long-Term Care Residents And Staff
Bill to Exempt Federal Stimulus Payments from State and Local Taxation Clears Committee
Senator Collett and Nursing Home Providers Say More PPE And Immediate, Mass Testing for Long-Term Care Residents and Staff Hold Key to Reopening State at May 7 Senate Aging & Youth Committee Hearing
The Impact Of Covid-19 on Nursing And Veterans Homes
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
Departments Of Health, Education Update Instructional Model Recommendations For Schools
Department Of Health: Over 5.6 Million Vaccinations To Date, First Doses Of Vaccine To 34.8% Of Population, PA Ranks 12th Among 50 States For First Dose Vaccinations
Department Of Health: More Than 5.5 Million Vaccinations To Date, First Doses Of Vaccine To 33.5 Percent Of Population, PA Ranks 12th Among 50 States For First Dose Vaccinations
Gov. Wolf: Successful Teacher and School Staff Vaccination Initiative is Completed Ahead of Schedule
Department Of Health: Over 5.4 Million Vaccinations To Date, First Doses Of Vaccine To 32.4% Of Population, PA Ranks 13th Among 50 States For First Dose Vaccinations
PA Department Of Aging: Partnership Between COVID-19 Vaccine Providers, Area Agencies On Aging Helps More Seniors Secure Vaccine Appointments
Wolf Administration Discusses Partnership Between COVID-19 Vaccine Providers, Area Agencies On Aging, MCOs To Help Seniors Secure Vaccine Appointments
L&I Acting Secretary Spotlights PennSERVE And AmeriCorps COVID Relief Efforts Across Pennsylvania
Department Of Health: Over 5.3 Million Vaccinations To Date, First Doses Of Vaccine To 32% Of Population
Senator Collett Responds to Vaccine Rollout Acceleration & Additional Doses Coming to SEPA
Department Of Health: Over 5.1 Million Vaccinations To Date, First Doses Of Vaccine To 31% Of Population
Department Of Health Offers Update On COVID-19 Investigations, Contact Tracing, Monitoring Efforts
Gov. Wolf Visits Drive-Thru Mass Vaccination Clinic, Discusses Vaccine Success
Wolf Admin: Updated Recommendations For K-12 Schools Match CDC Guidance For Social Distancing And COVID-19 Cases In Schools
Department Of Health: Over 5 Million Vaccinations To Date, PA Ranks 12th In The Country For First Doses
Pennsylvania COVID-19 Early Warning Monitoring Dashboard Update for March 19-25
Gov. Wolf Announces Nearly $5 Billion In Federal COVID-19 Relief For Pre-K-12 Schools
Gov. Wolf Announces Nearly $5 Billion in Federal COVID-19 Relief for Pre-K-12 Schools
Department Of Health Visits Masonic Village To Highlight Success In Vaccinating Residents And Staff And Updated Visitation Recommendation
Department Of Health: Nearly 5 Million Vaccinations To Date, PA Ranks 12th In The Country For First Doses
Department Of Health Announces Free COVID-19 Testing Site In Centre County, Stresses Need For Continued Testing
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.
















