These last several weeks have been challenging as we have adjusted to COVID-19 and statewide mitigation/closure orders. Challenges are nothing new to our community, and I’m proud of how our residents and businesses have responded. Thank you for your persistence.  

The waiver process to open businesses was often unexplainable and going forward, the Legislature, as an equal branch of government, has a role to play in improving those processes and ensuring that citizens have their concerns considered. 

The Legislature acted quickly in a bi-partisan manner to spell out government continuity responsibilities, including postponing the Primary Election Date until June 2, extending tax and other deadlines, permitting local municipalities and the Legislature to meet remotely, and clarifying the power of the Secretary of Education to provide flexibility for local school districts. 

I believe Job #1 must be to quickly, but safely, reopen Pennsylvania’s economy. The Pennsylvania Legislature has been meeting and acting (mostly via video) to do just that.   

We passed legislation that would implement a mitigation plan that is consistent with federal government CDC and Cybersecurity guidelines and is used by most other states. (Unfortunately, Governor Wolf vetoed that measure).

Knowing that rural Pennsylvania has little in common with Philadelphia or Pittsburgh, the Senate additionally passed a bill giving county government leaders more discretion in determining when it’s appropriate for local businesses to reopen to customers, again with Worker Safety protections in place.

We’re also working to provide relief to our crucial hospitals, medical professionals, and first responders.  It remains to be seen if those plans will be accepted by the Governor.

The Governor has cited northwest Pennsylvania as a likely region for limited reopening on May 8. Pennsylvania’s small businesses have been especially hard-hit by this crisis.  My heart breaks when I hear the frustrations of local entrepreneurs who are wondering if their businesses can survive.

It will take time for our economy to recover, especially in small towns and rural communities of Northwest Pennsylvania. But we are committed to getting Pennsylvania safely back to work. 

This article was published in the Venango Chamber’s May 2020 VenangoWorks! Newsletter.