Pennsylvania Needs a Just Recovery

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

Our Members at Work

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