Jun. 10, 2020
HARRISBURG – Rep. Jerry Knowles (R-Berks/Carbon/Schuylkill) issued the following statement after voting in support of
House Resolution 836 to end Gov. Tom Wolf’s COVID-19 emergency declaration:
“It is time for all of us to move forward,” said Knowles. “Approximately 2 million Pennsylvanians have filed for unemployment compensation and have yet to get their money because of a faulty system.We need to reopen our businesses so employees can get back to work and feed their families. It is imperative to rebuild the economy and the only way to do it is to get businesses up and running in a responsible way.
“I am certain that the people and businesses that I represent have the intelligence and the common sense to take the necessary precautions to open and shop safely. It is their constitutional right!
“My House colleagues and I have urged the governor to work with us during this crisis, but he refuses to cooperate. It is our duty as members of a co-equal branch of government to examine the governor’s executive outreach and act accordingly, which we did with this resolution.
“We cannot stay on lockdown forever. Reopening Pennsylvania’s businesses will protect lives and livelihoods.”
Under the Pennsylvania Constitution, the General Assembly has the authority to terminate a state of disaster emergency at any time by concurrent resolution. Upon adoption of the resolution, the governor must issue an executive order or proclamation ending the state of disaster emergency. Last night’s House vote completes the concurrent resolution process.
House Resolution 836, which Knowles co-sponsored, passed the House of Representatives in a bipartisan vote of 121-81.
For more information about this legislation, or any other legislative topic, contact Knowles’ district office in Tamaqua at 570-668-1240, or in Hamburg at 610-562-3411. Information can also be found online at
RepKnowles.com or
Facebook.com/RepKnowles.
Representative Jerry Knowles
124th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Rick Leiner
717.260.6437
rleiner@pahousegop.com
RepKnowles.com /
Facebook.com/RepKnowles