Gregory Applauds Passage of Bills to Reopen Industries
HARRISBURG – Rep. Jim Gregory (R-Blair) on Tuesday lent his support to a pair of bills that would facilitate the reopening of some industries like construction and auto dealerships.
He released the following statement:
“My goal today was to vote ‘yes’ on
Senate Bill 613 and
Senate Bill 841 to provide opportunities for business sectors to return to work in Pennsylvania. That could be accomplished with safety measures in place that follow Centers for Disease Control guidelines.
“These bills will provide sectors the opportunity to reopen and get families in the 80th District back to work pending the governor’s signature.
“The construction industry’s return-to-work opportunity is so vitally important to every one of the 1.3 million workers who have filed for unemployment in Pennsylvania. This commonwealth is one of just three states not allowing for safe construction during the COVID-19 pandemic and is the highest per-capita state in the nation for total unemployment claims. Our unemployment compensation office is completely overwhelmed because of the volume. By removing the unemployed construction workers from that total, we can relieve some of the pressure on the unemployment compensation claims for others to get them the help they so desperately need.
“I am so grateful for my Republican colleagues and especially my partner to the east, Rep. Lou Schmitt of the 79th District, for coming the Capitol today to make this very important vote possible.”
Representative Jim Gregory
80th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives