Apr. 14, 2020
HARRISBURG – Rep. Jack Rader (R-Monroe) today joined a majority of his colleagues in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in supporting legislation that would allow certain businesses to safely reopen. Senate Bill 613 would require the governor to develop and implement a plan to mitigate COVID-19 for businesses using guidelines established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).
Rader issued the following statement regarding the legislation:
“I think it’s important right now to not be political in Pennsylvania and try to do the right thing. We need to find a balance for economic recovery, which will be more important as we go along, and protecting the health of Pennsylvanians. I think we can do both.
“Surrounding states operate under CDC and CISA guidelines, as far as which businesses are closed and which are not. I think we should do the same thing.
“I have had a lot of people call my office and tell me about their little one- or two-man operation, and they don’t see why they should be closed. They could easily operate under CDC guidelines and be open, and I think they should be. We need to think about small businesses and how they can safely open without risking the health of others, as long as they operate under the proper structure.
“It’s not a political answer here. I think we have to worry about our health and we have to think about helping businesses, and I think we should do both. Because of that, I supported
Senate Bill 613.”
Senate Bill 613 now heads back to the Senate for concurrence on amendments made by the House.
Representative Jack Rader
176th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives