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A Just Recovery

HARRISBURG – June 16, 2020 –The Pennsylvania Senate & House Democratic Caucuses will join 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.

“As we create the new normal that is the post COVID-19 world, we must not only help out our friends and neighbors who have faced deep economic, health, and safety struggles due to the pandemic, but we also must respond to the historic nationwide protests against racial inequity in this county and the calls for justice,” Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D – Allegheny) said. “These events will discuss the steps that we need to take as a legislative body to achieve a just recovery from this pandemic for all Pennsylvanians.”

COVID-19 has affected every community in Pennsylvania, but it has disproportionately affected Black Americans. According to data from the CDC, Black Americans are more likely to have the coronavirus and to die from COVID-19. This is due to the historic systemic disparities that the Black community faces in accessing quality healthcare, housing, and education. 

“We can’t afford to return to normal as it was, because that normal simply wasn’t working for thousands and thousands of Pennsylvanians,” said House Democratic Whip Jordan Harris (D-Philadelphia). “We must demand real reforms that will ensure the health and well-being of our residents, strengthen our small businesses and protect our communities, specifically our communities who are often marginalized and overlooked when it comes to recovery plans.”

A Just Recovery for all Pennsylvanians includes:

  • racial justice and police reforms;
  • making sure that Pennsylvanians returning to work have the resources they need to protect themselves from COVID-19; 
  • instituting additional small business stimulus packages;
  • making sure schools and students have the resources, including internet access, to facilitate proper socially distant learning;
  • working towards providing quality housing for every Pennsylvanian;
  • instituting tax fairness initiatives;
  • and continuing to ensure that all Pennsylvanians have access to the vote so their voices can be heard.

Senate and House Democrats will be hosting events in Philadelphia, Allegheny County, Montgomery County, Delaware County, Bucks County, Chester County, Dauphin County, Lehigh County, and in the Northeastern PA region. These events will 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.

For more information follow the PA Senate Democrats and PA House Democrats on all social media platforms, and visit pasenate.com/COVID19.

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