Reese Joins Colleagues in Passing Legislation to Save Family-Sustaining Jobs
HARRISBURG – Rep. Mike Reese (R-Westmoreland/Somerset) today joined his colleagues in the state House in voting for legislation that would require the governor to develop and implement a plan to mitigate COVID-19 for businesses and allow those businesses that can meet the requirements of that plan to reopen. The plan must be developed using Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and U.S. Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s (CISA) guidelines.
“The purpose of
Senate Bill 613 is to reopen many of Pennsylvania’s businesses safely and responsibly,” said Reese. “Federal guidance from agencies like the CDC and CISA have communicated that construction businesses and auto dealers can operate safely with the right precautions.”
Senate Bill 613 was amended in the House to include provisions which direct the governor to produce a plan to allow businesses that can follow CDC and CISA’s essential workforce guidelines to resume working in Pennsylvania.
“This does not mean we all should eschew all the precautions we have been taking, but with the passage of Senate Bill 613 we are sending a message to the governor that we need to also focus on our economic recovery, as both safety and economic prosperity can be achieved by taking a balanced approach,” continued Reese. “Flattening the curve should not also mean we flatten our economic recovery. It is time we consider allowing businesses to reopen that can meet these strict guidelines. Senate Bill 613 is a good proposal that will provide a responsible and safe approach to protecting the lives and livelihoods for Pennsylvanians by allowing safe and essential businesses to reopen.”
Senate Bill 613 now goes before the Senate for further consideration.
Representative Mike Reese
59th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives