#PAStartsUpSafely: A Framework to Gradually and Safely Reopen the State Economy

This week, I released my conceptual framework for gradually and safely reopening Pennsylvania's economy with a three-phased approach.

It's called #PAStartsUpSafely and you can read it for yourself here. There's also a one-pager for quick review here.

Governor Wolf made public his plan for reopening the economy in the northwest and northcentral parts of the state beginning May 8th. Throughout the COVID-19 crisis, I have had regular contact with the governor and his team about several issues, including how we begin the process of returning to normal life. Our plans share many of the same features, but there several differences. My framework allows for the following:

• With Pennsylvania's health care systems not being overwhelmed by COVID-19 patients, most of the state should resume some economic activity immediately

• Provides counties with the flexibility to account for isolated statistical anomalies. For example, in Beaver County, cases of COVID-19 in nursing homes account for more than 60 percent of all confirmed cases.

• Allows doctors and hospitals to resume elective procedures, like joint replacement surgeries and cancer screenings, immediately - provided safety benchmarks are met.

• Expands and improves testing for at-risk health care workers, including those in nursing homes.

Additional Small Business Relief Authorized

By now you're probably aware that last month Congress passed the CARES Act, a $2 trillion economic rescue package that includes direct payments to Americans, money for hospitals and health care providers, resources to ramp up testing, and money to help small businesses and their employees through a program called the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).

The PPP was funded at $350 billion, and due to the overwhelming need for this money in the small business community, the money lasted just a few weeks.

The good news is that Congress has again authorized more than $300 billion to refill the PPP. This money helps to keep employees on the payroll so they don't have to file for unemployment. And we know from the Small Business Administration that the average loan size is $206,000.

For more information about SBA resources available to you, please visit the SBA's website or my site's COVID-19 resource page.

Overseeing Economic Stabilization Efforts

Last week, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) selected me to serve as a member of the Congressional Oversight Commission responsible for overseeing the economic stabilization efforts of the Treasury Department and the Federal Reserve.

These two federal entities are being entrusted with enormous resources and authority to stabilize the economy. As a commissioner, my goal will be to protect the taxpayers by ensuring those resources are used in an appropriate, equitable, and pro-growth manner. Specifically, I will be overseeing how the federal government's lending program to businesses is carried out, and importantly, that there is no favoritism and there is proper transparency.

It's important the American people trust the federal government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and I appreciate Leader McConnell's confidence in appointing me.

Read more about the commission here.

Update on COVID-19

To date, hospitals in Pennsylvania have not been overwhelmed with critically ill COVID-19 patients. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, across the state as of Friday, April 24, 2020:

• Nearly half of all hospital beds were available
• 40% of ICU beds were available
• Nearly 70% of ventilators were still available

Hand sanitizers are no more effective than traditional soap and water, when they are used properly. There is no need to go out of your way to procure hand sanitizer.