Pennsylvania Member of Congress Tracking Report 5-10-2020

Pennsylvania Member of Congress Tracking Report – 05.10.20

This is a 100% volunteer effort brought to you by a handful of progressive Democrats and Independents who share a vision of an informed electorate.  We want to offer a big thank you to Pennsylvania Statewide Indivisible and Demcast organizations who host our report and help us share it out to the residents of our Commonwealth!

Tracking Congress in the Age of Trump

Member of Congress	This week’s score	Change from last report
Senator Bob Casey (D)	29.8%	0.0%
Senator Pat Toomey (R)	87.9%	0.0%
PA-01 Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R)	64.5%	0.0%
PA-02 Rep. Brendan Boyle (D)	13.3%	0.0%
PA-03 Rep. Dwight Evans (D)	12.2%	0.0%
PA-04 Rep. Madeleine Dean (D)	4.2%	0.0%
PA-05 Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (D)	6.7%	0.0%
PA-06 Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D)	5.6%	0.0%
PA-07 Rep. Susan Wild (D)	8.0%	0.0%
PA-08 Rep. Matt Cartwright (D)	20.4%	0.0%
PA-09 Rep. Dan Meuser (R)	98.6%	0.0%
PA-10 Rep. Scott Perry (R)	89.7%	0.0%
PA-11 Rep. Lloyd Smucker (R)	95.7%	0.0%
PA-12 Rep. Fred Keller (R)	95.2%	0.0%
PA-13 Rep. John Joyce (R)	98.6%	0.0%
PA-14 Rep. Guy Reschenthaler (R)	95.7%	0.0%
PA-15 Rep. Glenn W. Thompson (R)	98.2%	0.0%
PA-16 Rep. Mike Kelly (R)	96.4%	0.0%
PA-17 Rep. Conor Lamb (D)	23.7%	0.0%
PA-18 Rep. Mike Doyle (D)	15.2%	0.0%

Nate Silver’s FiveThirtyEight website assesses the voting records of our MoCs to provide this index, by comparing any bills where President Trump has stated a position, and comparing the vote of the legislator to that opinion. FiveTHirtyEight has not scored votes since late March.

Want to see exactly what votes went into giving your MoC the numbers above?  Click on the name of any legislator and you will be brought to their 538 webpage, where all of the positions that went into the index are listed in an easy-to-read format.

Votes of Interest  

A Failure to overturn a Trump veto on asserting Congressional War Powers on Iran Hostilities 

Senate Vote to overturn a veto on S.J.Res. 68: A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress

Back in February a bipartisan group of four senators (Time Kane of Virginia, Dick Durbin of Illinois, Rand Paul of Kentucky and Mike Lee of Utah) introduced a joint resolution to limit the president’s ability to direct an offensive strike against Iran.  The resolution is built around the opening statement of “Congress has the sole power to declare war under article I, section 8, clause 11 of the United States Constitution.” The measure goes on to affirm that the United States Congress has NOT declared war on Iran, and notes that “more than 100 members of the United States Armed Forces sustained traumatic brain injuries in the Iranian retaliatory attack on the Ain al-Assad air base in Iraq despite initial reports that no casualties were sustained in the attack.”  The closing portions of the resolution read (emphasis added by MoCTrack):

(a) Termination – Pursuant to section 1013 of the Department of State Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1984 and 1985 (50 U.S.C. 1546a), and in accordance with the provisions of section 601(b) of the International Security Assistance and Arms Export Control Act of 1976, Congress hereby directs the President to terminate the use of United States Armed Forces for hostilities against the Islamic Republic of Iran or any part of its government or military, unless explicitly authorized by a declaration of war or specific authorization for use of military force against Iran.

(b) Rule of construction – Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent the United States from defending itself from imminent attack.

The Senate passed this with a 55-45 vote on February 20, 2020. The House passed this with a 227-186 vote on March 11, 2020 (Pennsylvania MoCs split on party lines).  But President Trump vetoed this resolution on Wednesday, May 6, 2020, and the Senate was unable to get the ⅔ vote needed to overturn that veto.

Vote date: Thursday, May 7, 2020 Vote Tally: 49-44 (failed, ⅔ needed)

Party Breakdown: All Democrats and Independents present voted YES.  They were joined by seven Republicans –  Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Todd Young of Indiana, Rand Paul of Kentucky, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Susan Collins of Maine, Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, and Mike Lee of Utah. Jerry Moran of Kansas, who had supported this measure in February, was not present for the vote this week.

Additional Reading:

• “Senate fails to override Trump veto of Iran War Powers resolution,” from CNN Politics
• “Senate fails to overturn Trump’s Iran war powers veto,” from Politico
• “Failing to Override a Veto, Senate Falls Short of Curbing Trump’s Iran War Powers,” from The New York Times

Bob Casey voted YES to overturn the veto and Pat Toomey voted NO to support President Trump.

Senate Confirmation #1 

Senate Confirmation Vote on William R. Evanina to be Director of the National Counterintelligence and Security Center

William R. Evanina has been filling the position as Director of the National Counterintelligence and Security Center since the Obama Administration, but he was not officially confirmed until this week.  President Trump nominated him to officially in June 2018, but one senator was holding up the process.  Iowa’s Chuck Grassley had put a hold on this confirmation because the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) and the Attorney General had not responded to his oversight requests.  As per The Hill, Sen. Grassley made this statement:

If [they] had simply respected legitimate congressional oversight and their agreements with me and the Judiciary Committee from the beginning, Mr. Evanina would have been confirmed long ago… Let this also be a reminder that when it comes to congressional oversight, I will use all the tools at my disposal to get to the truth of the matter and get access to the records that I believe are necessary to advance my investigations.

But before anyone gets excited about the idea of a Republican senator exerting congressional oversight, know that the documents that Senator Grassley was seeking from the intelligence apparatus before he would lift his hold pertained to… the texts between Peter Strzok and Lisa Page.  Apparently, there were some mentions of Mr. Evanina in those text messages, and Sen. Grassley placed the hold, at least in part, to find out more about how Mr. Evanina was involved with that maligned couple (he wasn’t.)

Vote date: Wednesday, May 6, 2020 Vote Tally: 84-7

Party Breakdown: The seven NO votes were all from Democrats

Additional Reading:

• “GOP senator lifts two-year hold on Trump’s nominee for counterintelligence chief,” from The Hill
• “Senate Confirms William Evanina for Top Counterintelligence Position After 2 Years,” from The Epoch Times
• “Financial Cost of Coronavirus Leads Top Counterintelligence Official to Relax Top-Secret Clearance Rules,”  from Newsweek

Both Bob Casey and Pat Toomey voted YES

Senate Confirmation #2 

Senate Confirmation Vote on Robert J. Feitel to be Inspector General, Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Mr. Feitel was confirmed to the Inspector General, or oversight watchdog position, at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the body that oversees all of our nation’s nuclear power facilities.  He was nominated last October, after serving for over two decades at the Federal bureau of Investigation and the department of Justice.

THe unanimous vote shows that he is a non-controversial nominee to this position.  Any partisan exchanges over this confirmation vote pertained to why MitchMcConnell was bringing the Senate back into session for the week for a confirmation like this, when the Phase Four coronavirus negotiations and bill writing were  left untouched.

Vote date: Monday, May 4, 2020 Vote Tally: 87-0

Party Breakdown: This was unanimous.

Additional Reading:

• “Senate Confirms Trump Nominee for Nuclear Regulator Watchdog,” from Bloomberg Law
• “Senate Confirms Robert Feitel to be Inspector General of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission,” from the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works press release
• “Senate confirms nominee in first non-coronavirus vote since May,” from the Washington Times

Editor’s Note – in general MoCTrack does not like to use the Washington Times in our additional reading recommendations, as it is rated as a  right-of-center “questionable source” by the Media Bias/Fact Check website. But the only other coverage of this confirmation was either paywalled or a press release, so there were few alternatives for those who want additional information.

Both Bob Casey and Pat Toomey voted YES

Unanimously passed legislation

The following concurrent resolution was passed through unanimous consent. There were a handful of other items passed unanimously, but it is the practice of MoCTrack to exclude matters related to post offices, stamps, memorials, awareness weeks and other ceremonial activities.

• S.Con.Res.38 – A concurrent resolution to establish the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies for the inauguration of the President-elect and Vice President-elect of the United States on January 20, 2021

What coronavirus-related or -adjacent legislation are our MoCs supporting?

Our lawmakers have made many statements about the sort of legislation they want to see, but there’s a big difference between statements and the process of introducing, sponsoring and co-sponsoring bills.  Below you’ll find a rundown of the coronavirus legislation that our lawmakers have put their names on.

The chart below is an attempt to reduce the following 12 pages into a single image. You’ll find that there are many bills out there attempting to tackle those 20 different broad topics listed below, so a lot of detail is lost in the translation. But it should paint a picture of the sort of topics that are attracting our MoCs.

🔵 Senator Bob Casey:

Senator Casey has introduced a handful of new bills related to the coronavirus, the current pandemic or pandemic preparedness:

• S.3536 – Ensuring Coverage in Public Health Emergencies Act, “This bill requires private health insurance plans to provide a 30-day special enrollment period for eligible individuals after a public health emergency is declared… The bill also requires such plans to cover services related to the disease or condition resulting in the public health emergency.”
• S.3544 – Coronavirus Relief for Seniors and People with Disabilities Act, this is a detailed bill that would appropriate additional funds to expand Medicaid and provide for expansive coverage of pandemic related health services.
• S.3562 – Supporting Child Care Providers and Families Affected by Coronavirus Act, “To provide supplemental appropriations for the Child Care and Development Block Grant program, and the Head Start and Early Head Start programs.”
• S.3563 – Food Assistance for Kids and Families During COVID-19 Act, “This bill modifies food and nutrition programs of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to address COVID-19… The bill provides funding for USDA to support grocery delivery for SNAP participants who are seniors, immunocompromised individuals, or other individuals who are unable to travel safely to a grocery store.”
• S.3564 – Ensuring Treatment for COVID Act, “This bill requires state Medicaid programs to cover treatment for COVID-19. State Medicaid programs must also cover COVID-19 testing and treatment for uninsured individuals.”
• S.3655 – A bill to provide funding for targeted purchases of qualified agricultural products from producers that rely on local agricultural food markets affected by COVID-19. (text not available at MoCTrack Report time)
• S.3660 – A bill to provide emergency funding for caseworkers and child protective services. (text not available at MoCTrack Report time)

There are also several pandemic related bills that Sen. Casey has co-sponsored:

• S.3415 – Paid Sick Days for Public Health Emergencies and Personal and Family Care Act, “This bill expands the availability of paid sick time by requiring employers with at least one employee to provide a minimum amount of accrued paid sick time per work week and additional paid sick time in the event of a public-health emergency such as the coronavirus.” Introduced by Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WA)
• S.3468 – Preventing Essential Medical Device Shortages Act, “To require the manufacturers of certain essential medical devices to notify the Food and Drug Administration when such manufacturers become aware of a circumstance that could lead to a shortage of such devices.” Introduced by Rep. Kelly Loeffler
•  S.3491 – Job Protection for Quarantined Individuals Act, “This bill prohibits employers from taking adverse actions (e.g., terminating, disciplining, threatening, or penalizing) against employees who are unable to work because the employee is or has been (1) quarantined, (2) in isolation, or (3) caring for a family member in isolation or quarantine.” Introduced by Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN)
• S.3497 – Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Act, “This bill expands unemployment benefits to certain individuals affected by the public health emergency declared by the Department of Health and Human Services on January 27, 2020, with respect to COVID-19.” Introduced by Sen. Gay Peters (D-MI)
• S.3499 – Free COVID-19 Testing Act, “This bill requires specified public health care programs and private health insurance to cover testing for COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) without imposing cost-sharing (e.g., deductibles, coinsurance, or copayments) for the duration of the public health emergency.” Introduced by Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN)
• S.3513 – Providing Americans Insured Days of Leave Act, “This bill establishes, revises, and repeals specified paid sick time and paid leave programs, including programs addressing the public-health emergency related to COVID-19.”  Introduced by Sen. Patty Murray D-WA)
• S.3517 – ACCESS ‘Advancing Connectivity during the Coronavirus to Ensure Support for Seniors’ Act, “To increase the ability of nursing facilities to access telehealth services and obtain technologies to allow virtual visits during the public health emergency relating to an outbreak of coronavirus disease.” Introduced by Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
• S.3570 – A bill to provide for the expedited procurement of equipment needed to combat COVID-19 under the Defense Production Act of 1950, “Not later than 24 hours after the enactment of this Act, the President shall issue a “DX” rated priority purchase order…to procure 300,000,000 N95 respirators and facemasks” and other specified equipment. Introduced by Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WA)
• S.3627 – A bill to provide for the expedited and transparent procurement and distribution of equipment and supplies needed to combat COVID-19. (text not available at MoCTrack Report time) Introduced by Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WA)

🔴 Senator Pat Toomey:

Sen. Toomey has not sponsored any of his own legislation related to the coronavirus, the current pandemic or pandemic preparedness. He has, however, co-sponsored one of his colleague’s legislation on those topics:

• S.3600 – A bill to authorize the imposition of sanctions with respect to the deliberate concealment or distortion of information about public health emergencies of international concern. This bill would enable the President to impose sanction upon any foreign person who “is responsible for, or complicit in, ordering, controlling, or otherwise directing, or financially benefits from, acts intended to deliberately conceal or distort information about a public health emergency of international concern, including coronavirus disease 2019.” Introduced by Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR)

🔴 PA-01’s Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick:

Rep. Fitzpatrick has introduced a pair of bills to address issues related to the pandemic:

• H.R.6431 – Made in America Emergency Preparedness Act, “This bill establishes in the legislative branch a National Commission on United States Preparedness for National Emergencies…The bill (1) requires certain medical, pharmaceutical, and emergency preparedness products integral to the response to a national emergency to be manufactured and procured within the United States; and (2) provides for a temporary 100% expensing for firms that incur costs associated with pharmaceutical or medical device manufacturing within the United States, including personal protective equipment and other necessary items.”
• H.R.6497 – Never Again Small Business Protection Act, “To make available insurance coverage for business interruption losses due to national emergencies.”

There are also several pandemic related bills that Rep. Fitzpatrick has co-sponsored:

• H.R.6198 – Emergency Paid Leave Act, “This bill requires the Social Security Administration (SSA) to provide emergency paid leave during each 30-day period that specified employees take leave due to COVID-19.” Introduced by Rep. Stephanie Murphy (D-FL)
• H.R.6206 – PREP ‘Pandemic Response and Emergency Preparedness’ Act, “To provide that the President may provide additional Federal assistance for an emergency related to a public health emergency, including a pandemic or virus threat.” Introduced by Rep. Antonio Delgado (D-NY)
• H.R.6283 – Good Samaritan Health Professionals Act, “This bill extends liability protection for harm caused by acts or omissions by volunteer health care professionals in the course of providing certain health care services during specified public-health or national emergencies or major disasters.” Introduced by Rep. Raul Ruiz (D-CA)
• H.R.6355 – To temporarily modify the John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This bill increases funding to the foster care program, and directs states to “establish and conduct an outreach program designed to increase the enrollment of individuals who are eligible for medical assistance under the State plan.”  Introduced by Rep. James Langevin (D-RI)
• H.R.6364 – SECURE ‘Securing and Enabling Commerce Using Remote and Electronic’ Notarization Act, to “establish minimum standards for electronic and remote notarizations that occur in or affect interstate commerce.” Introduced by Rep. Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA)
• H.R.6408 – To extend the charitable deduction to all taxpayers regardless of whether a taxpayer itemizes deductions in order to encourage and increase charitable giving, and to provide for loans and loan guarantees to certain public charities. This bill “directs the Department of the Treasury to make or guarantee loans to tax-exempt charitable organizations. The aggregate amount of such loans may not exceed $60 billion. Treasury must give priority in making such loans to organizations that are providing direct assistance to the COVID-19 (i.e., the coronavirus disease 2019) response effort.”  Introduced by Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA)
• H.R.6427 – PANDEMIC ‘Pausing All New Detention and Ending Movement of Inmates for Coronavirus’ Act, “This bill limits the transfer of prisoners between facilities during the public health emergency.” Introduced by Rep. Fred Keller (R-PA)
• H.R.6487 – ACCESS ‘Advancing Connectivity during the Coronavirus to Ensure Support for Seniors’ Act, “To increase the ability of nursing facilities to access telehealth services and obtain technologies to allow virtual visits during the public health emergency relating to an outbreak of coronavirus disease.” Introduced by Rep. Janice Schakowsky (D-IL) 
• H.R.6502 – COVID-19 Graduate Relief Act, “This bill allows students who graduate from institutions of higher education between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2020, to defer payments on their federal student loans for up to three years.” Introduced by Rep. Josh Harder (D-CA)
• H.R.6550 – Access to Credit for Small Businesses Impacted by the COVID-19 Crisis Act, “This bill temporarily provides credit unions with an exception to limits on outstanding member business loans. Specifically, for a three-year period, loans used for recovery from the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) emergency do not count towards this limit.” Introduced by Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA)
• H.R.6559 – COVID-19 Every Worker Protection Act, “This bill requires the Department of Labor to promulgate both an emergency temporary occupational safety or health standard and a permanent standard to protect certain employees from occupational exposure to the coronavirus… Further, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention must collect and make public information regarding employee exposure in these occupations and provide guidance to further protect such employees.”  Introduced by Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA)
• H.R.6597 – Equity in Student Loan Relief Act, “the Secretary of Education shall carry out a temporary program concerning the novel coronavirus virus disease (COVID–19) outbreak to provide payment relief to borrowers” with federal family education loans.” Introduced by Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) 
• H.R.6643 – Supporting State and Local Leaders Act, “This bill repeals the prohibition against granting federal, state, and local governments a tax credit for paid sick and paid family and medical leave.”Introduced by Rep. Bradley Schneider (D-IL)
• H.R.6697 – To amend the Small Business Act to expand the Paycheck Protection Program for certain organizations, (text not available at MoCTrack Report time) Introduced by Rep. Chris Pappas (D-NH)
• H.R.6699 – To establish a commission to determine essential employment during the COVID-19 crisis period and provide loan repayment and education credit to workers employed in such essential employment during such crisis, (text not available at MoCTrack Report time) Introduced by Rep. Ann Kuster (D-NH)
• H.R.6776 – To provide for improvements related to the employee retention tax credit, (text not available at MoCTrack Report time) Introduced by Rep. Stephanie Murphy (D-FL)
• H.R.6789 – To extend certain temporary credit union provisions enacted under the CARES Act, to include an exception for disaster area member business loans made by insured credit unions, (text not available at MoCTrack Report time) Introduced by Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA)

H.R.6797 – To increase support for State Children’s Health Insurance programs during the COVID-19 emergency (text not available at MoCTrack Report time) Introduced by Rep. Susan WIld (D-PA)

🔵 PA-02’s Rep. Brendan Boyle:

Rep. Boyle has not sponsored any of his own legislation related to the coronavirus, the current pandemic or pandemic preparedness. He has, however, co-sponsored a pair of his colleagues’ legislation on those topics:

• H.R.6139 – COVID-19 Health Care Worker Protection Act, “This bill requires the Department of Labor to promulgate both an emergency temporary occupational safety or health standard and a permanent standard to protect certain employees from occupational exposure to SARS-CoV-2.”  Introduced by Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA)
• H.R.6150 – Paid Sick Days for Public Health Emergencies and Personal and Family Care Act, “This bill expands the availability of paid sick time by requiring employers with at least one employee to provide a minimum amount of accrued paid sick time per work week and additional paid sick time in the event of a public-health emergency such as the coronavirus.” Introduced by Rep. Rose DeLauro (D-CT)
• H.R.6202 – Resilient Elections During Quarantines and Natural Disasters Act, “This bill requires states and jurisdictions to adopt contingency plans and permit absentee voting in order to prevent the disruption of federal elections due to natural disasters or infectious diseases, including COVID-19.” Introduced by Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR)
• H.R.6317 – Ensuring Coverage in Public Health Emergencies Act, “to provide for special enrollment periods during public health emergencies, coverage of services related to public health emergencies.” Introduced by Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX)
• H.R.6390 – Medical Supply Chain Emergency Act,”This bill directs the President to use existing authorities under the Defense Production Act of 1950 with respect to the production of ventilators, N-95 respirator masks, and specified personal protective equipment to address COVID-19.” Introduced by Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH)
• H.R.6398 – Frontline Health Care Workers Assistance Act, “To provide for the expedited procurement of equipment needed to combat COVID–19 under the Defense Production Act of 1950.” Introduced by Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO)
• H.R.6425 – Protect Our Post Offices Act, “This bill appropriates $25 billion to the U.S. Postal Service, to remain available through FY2022 for revenue forgone due to the coronavirus pandemic.” Introduced by Rep. Joe Neguse (D-CO)
• H.R.6514 – Worker Health Coverage Protection Act, “to provide premium assistance for COBRA continuation coverage and furloughed continuation coverage for individuals and their families during the COVID–19 emergency period and 180-days thereafter.” Introduced by Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA)
• H.R.6680 – To amend title II of division A of the CARES Act to modify certain provisions related to unemployment compensation (text not available at MoCTrack Report time) Introduced by Rep. Dan Kildee (D-MI)
• H.R.6711 – To provide for the expedited and transparent procurement and distribution of equipment and supplies needed to combat COVID-19, (text not available at MoCTrack Report time) Introduced by Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO) 

🔵 PA-03’s Rep. Dwight Evans:

Rep. Evans has introduced a bill to address issues related to the pandemic:

• H.R.6344 – Expediting the EIDL Program Act, “This bill modifies the disbursement of economic injury disaster loans by the Small Business Administration (SBA) with respect to such loans made in response to COVID-19.”

There are also several pandemic related bills that Rep. Evans has co-sponsored:

• H.R.6268 – SBA Business Stabilization Direct Loan Program Act, “This bill requires the Small Business Administration (SBA) to temporarily make loans directly to small businesses located in a U.S. state or territory with a confirmed or presumed positive case of COVID-19.” Introduced by Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-NY)
• H.R.6303 – Increasing Access to Capital Act, “This bill requires the Small Business Administration (SBA) to temporarily waive, or reduce to the maximum extent possible, certain fees on SBA loans.” Text from this measure was included in the CARES Act. Introduced by Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO)
• H.R.6312 – COVID-19 Relief for Small Businesses Act, “This bill establishes measures to support small businesses impacted by COVID-19, [to] provide grants to small businesses suffering substantial economic injury because of COVID-19.”   Introduced by Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-NY)
• H.R.6317 – Ensuring Coverage in Public Health Emergencies Act, “to provide for special enrollment periods during public health emergencies, coverage of services related to public health emergencies.” Introduced by Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX)
• H.R.6343 – Small Business COVID-19 Recovery Grants Act, “This bill requires the Small Business Administration to provide grants to small businesses that have suffered substantial economic injury as a result of COVID-19, …[it] may be used to address direct effects of COVID-19, including (1) providing paid sick leave to employees, (2) maintaining payroll, and (3) meeting increased supply chain costs.” Introduced by Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-NY)
• H.R.6425 – Protect Our Post Offices Act, “This bill appropriates $25 billion to the U.S. Postal Service, to remain available through FY2022 for revenue forgone due to the coronavirus pandemic.” Introduced by Rep. Joe Neguse (D-CO)
• H.R.6460 – To provide funding for needed child and adult care so that essential workers can report to work during the COVID-19 pandemic, Introduced by Rep. Danny David (D-IL)
• H.R.6563 – Emergency Educational Connections Act, “This bill establishes and provides funding for the Emergency Connectivity Fund, from which the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) must provide support for certain schools or libraries to purchase specified telecommunications equipment during the public health emergency declared because of COVID-19.” Introduced by Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY)
• H.R.6567 – GROCER ‘Giving Retailers and Our Convenience Employees Relief’ Act, “This bill excludes from gross income, for income tax purposes, compensation and other income up to $25,0000 paid to certain retail grocery and gasoline service station employees between the period of February 15, 2020, and June 15, 2020, who are working in a county that has at least one confirmed case of COVID-19.”
• H.R.6585 – Equitable Data Collection and Disclosure on COVID-19 Act, “To conduct or support data collection on the racial, ethnic, and other demographic implications of COVID–19 in the United States and its territories, including support to assist in the capacity building for State and local public health departments to collect and transmit racial, ethnic, and other demographic data to the relevant Department of Health and Human Services agencies.” Introduced by Rep. Robin Kelly, (D-IL)
• H.R.6697 – To amend the Small Business Act to expand the Paycheck Protection Program for certain organizations, (text not available at MoCTrack Report time) Introduced by Rep. Chris Pappas (D-NH)
• H.R.6797 – To increase support for State Children’s Health Insurance programs during the COVID-19 emergency (text not available at MoCTrack Report time) Introduced by Rep. Susan WIld (D-PA)

🔵 PA-04’s Rep. Madeleine Dean:

Rep. Dean has introduced a bill to address issues related to the pandemic:

• H.R.6316 – Emergency Relief for Student Borrowers Act, “To provide relief for Federal and private student loan borrowers during the COVID–19 pandemic.”

There are also several pandemic related bills that Rep. Dean has co-sponsored:

• H.R.6319 – To establish a Congressional COVID-19 Aid Oversight Panel, to authorize the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program to coordinate audits and investigations in connection with the receipt of Federal aid related to COVID-19. Introduced by Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN)
• H.R.6364 – SECURE ‘Securing and Enabling Commerce Using Remote and Electronic’ Notarization Act, to “establish minimum standards for electronic and remote notarizations that occur in or affect interstate commerce.” Introduced by Rep. Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA)
• H.R.6390 – Medical Supply Chain Emergency Act,”This bill directs the President to use existing authorities under the Defense Production Act of 1950 with respect to the production of ventilators, N-95 respirator masks, and specified personal protective equipment to address COVID-19.” Introduced by Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH)
• H.R.6398 – Frontline Health Care Workers Assistance Act, “To provide for the expedited procurement of equipment needed to combat COVID–19 under the Defense Production Act of 1950.” Introduced by Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO)
• H.R.6425 – Protect Our Post Offices Act, “This bill appropriates $25 billion to the U.S. Postal Service, to remain available through FY2022 for revenue forgone due to the coronavirus pandemic.” Introduced by Rep. Joe Neguse (D-CO)
• H.R.6442 – Providing Americans Insured Days of Leave Act, “This bill establishes, revises, and repeals specified paid sick time and paid leave programs, including programs addressing the public-health emergency related to COVID-19… The bill requires employers to grant at least 1 hour of accrued paid sick time to each employee for every 30 hours worked, up to a minimum of 56 hours, or 7 days, for use under specified circumstances. Further, employees are immediately entitled to up to 14 days of additional paid sick time if a public-health emergency is declared. The bill also reimburses the employers of individuals who use accrued or additional sick time under these provisions.”
• H.R.6467 – Coronavirus Community Relief Act, “the bill provides funding for FY2020 for units of local government with a population of 500,000 or less.” Introduced by Rep. Joe Neguse (D-CO)
• H.R.6506 – To amend the Small Business Act to modify the paycheck protection program, “This bill modifies and establishes additional funding for the Paycheck Protection Program of the Small Business Administration that was implemented in response to COVID-19.” Introduced by Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-WA)
• H.R.6548 – National Commission on the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States Act, to “make a full and complete assessment and accounting of the actions by the Federal Government, State governments, local governments, and the private sector in response to the outbreak and spread of COVID–19 in the United States.” Introduced by Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA)
• H.R.6592 – Coronavirus Relief for States Act, “This bill provides $500 billion to states and tribal governments affected by the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic for FY2020.” Introduced by Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO)
• H.R.6643 – Supporting State and Local Leaders Act, “This bill repeals the prohibition against granting federal, state, and local governments a tax credit for paid sick and paid family and medical leave.”Introduced by Rep. Bradley Schneider (D-IL)
• H.R.6680 – To amend title II of division A of the CARES Act to modify certain provisions related to unemployment compensation (text not available at MoCTrack Report time) Introduced by Rep. Dan Kildee (D-MI)
• H.R.6698 – To amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to improve the quality of care in skilled nursing facilities under the Medicare program and nursing facilities under the Medicare program during the COVID-19 emergency period. (text not available at MoCTrack Report time) Introduced by Rep. Janice Schakowsky (D-IL) 
• H.R.6699 – To establish a commission to determine essential employment during the COVID-19 crisis period and provide loan repayment and education credit to workers employed in such essential employment during such crisis, (text not available at MoCTrack Report time) Introduced by Rep. Ann Kuster (D-NH)
• H.R.6797 – To increase support for State Children’s Health Insurance programs during the COVID-19 emergency (text not available at MoCTrack Report time) Introduced by Rep. Susan WIld (D-PA)

🔵 PA-05’s Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon:

Rep. Scanlon has not sponsored any of her own legislation related to the coronavirus, the current pandemic or pandemic preparedness. She has, however, co-sponsored a number of her colleagues’ legislation on those topics:

• H.R.6139 – COVID-19 Health Care Worker Protection Act, “This bill requires the Department of Labor to promulgate both an emergency temporary occupational safety or health standard and a permanent standard to protect certain employees from occupational exposure to SARS-CoV-2.”  Introduced by Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA)
• H.R.6150 – Paid Sick Days for Public Health Emergencies and Personal and Family Care Act, “This bill expands the availability of paid sick time by requiring employers with at least one employee to provide a minimum amount of accrued paid sick time per work week and additional paid sick time in the event of a public-health emergency such as the coronavirus.” Introduced by Rep. Rose DeLauro (D-CT)
• H.R.6390 – Medical Supply Chain Emergency Act,”This bill directs the President to use existing authorities under the Defense Production Act of 1950 with respect to the production of ventilators, N-95 respirator masks, and specified personal protective equipment to address COVID-19.” Introduced by Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH)
• H.R.6398 – Frontline Health Care Workers Assistance Act, “To provide for the expedited procurement of equipment needed to combat COVID–19 under the Defense Production Act of 1950.” Introduced by Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO)
• H.R.6496 – Emergency Money for the People Act, “This bill directs the Department of the Treasury to make monthly payments during a specified 12-month period to certain citizens and noncitizens of the United States and their dependent children. The amount of such payments shall be $2,000 each month ($4,000 for married couples filing joint returns) and additional amounts for their dependent children. The monthly amount shall be phased out for individuals whose adjusted gross income exceeds $130,000 ($260,000 for joint return filers). The payments must begin within 14 days of the enactment of this bill. Introduced by Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH)
• H.R.6509 – Public Safety Officer Pandemic Response Act, “To amend the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to provide public safety officer death and disability benefits for certain public safety officers who contract COVID-19.” Introduced by Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY)
• H.R.6525 – Reopen America Act, “To provide the necessary Federal financial and logistical support so States can reopen their economies once periods of isolation have sufficiently reduced coronavirus infection and transmission rates, and with adequate testing and other safeguards to ensure infection rates do not exceed medical resources, and virus transmission rates are maintained below 1 and thereby steadily reduce the number of infected.” Introduced by Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD)
• H.R.6541 – PPE ‘Providing Protective Equipment ‘ Act, “To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for maintaining adequate supplies in Strategic National Stockpile.” Introduced by Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-NJ)
• H.R.6563 – Emergency Educational Connections Act, “This bill establishes and provides funding for the Emergency Connectivity Fund, from which the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) must provide support for certain schools or libraries to purchase specified telecommunications equipment during the public health emergency declared because of COVID-19.” Introduced by Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY)
• H.R.6585 – Equitable Data Collection and Disclosure on COVID-19 Act, “To conduct or support data collection on the racial, ethnic, and other demographic implications of COVID–19 in the United States and its territories, including support to assist in the capacity building for State and local public health departments to collect and transmit racial, ethnic, and other demographic data to the relevant Department of Health and Human Services agencies.” Introduced by Rep. Robin Kelly, (D-IL)
• H.R.6610 – Director of Pandemic and Biodefense Preparedness and Response Act, “To establish the Cabinet-level position of Director of Pandemic and Biodefense Preparedness and Response in the executive branch.” Introduced by Rep. Max Rose, (D-NY)
• H.R.6702 – To amend the national service laws to prioritize national service programs and projects that are directly related to the response to and recovery from the COVID-19 public health emergency, (text not available at MoCTrack Report time) Introduced by Rep. David Price (D-NC)
• H.R.6711 – To provide for the expedited and transparent procurement and distribution of equipment and supplies needed to combat COVID-19, (text not available at MoCTrack Report time) Introduced by Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO) 
• H.R.6797 – To increase support for State Children’s Health Insurance programs during the COVID-19 emergency (text not available at MoCTrack Report time) Introduced by Rep. Susan WIld (D-PA)

🔵 PA-06’s Rep. Chrissy Houlahan:

Rep. Houlahan has introduced a pair of bills to address issues related to the pandemic:

• H.R.6307 – Easing Disruption for America’s Small Contractor Act, “This bill requires a federal agency to provide a small business contractor with additional time to perform its responsibilities and to pay such contractor regardless of any delay or interruption that is due to COVID-19.”
• H.R.6583 – To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish a risk corridor program for Medicare Advantage plans during the COVID-19 emergency

There are also many pandemic related bills that Rep. Houlahan has co-sponsored:

• H.R.6268 – SBA Business Stabilization Direct Loan Program Act, “This bill requires the Small Business Administration (SBA) to temporarily make loans directly to small businesses located in a U.S. state or territory with a confirmed or presumed positive case of COVID-19.” Introduced by Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-NY)
• H.R.6317 – Ensuring Coverage in Public Health Emergencies Act, “to provide for special enrollment periods during public health emergencies, coverage of services related to public health emergencies.” Introduced by Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX)
• H.R.6390 – Medical Supply Chain Emergency Act,”This bill directs the President to use existing authorities under the Defense Production Act of 1950 with respect to the production of ventilators, N-95 respirator masks, and specified personal protective equipment to address COVID-19.” Introduced by Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH)
• H.R.6445 – Food Assistance for Kids and Families During COVID-19 Act, “The bill modifies the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as the food stamp program) to require USDA to (1) notify retailers of the existing opportunities through which they can deliver groceries to SNAP participants; and (2) authorize public-private partnerships between itself, authorized SNAP retailers, and community-based organizations to support grocery delivery during the COVID-19 national emergency.” Introduced by Rep. Jahana Hayes (D-CT)
• H.R.6652 – Flexibility for Localities and Eligibility Expansion Act, “the bill authorizes a state, tribal government, or unit of local government to use funds (1) to offset revenue shortfalls that occurred between March 1 and December 30, 2020, related to the COVID-19.” Introduced by Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE)
• H.R.6699 – To establish a commission to determine essential employment during the COVID-19 crisis period and provide loan repayment and education credit to workers employed in such essential employment during such crisis, (text not available at MoCTrack Report time) Introduced by Rep. Ann Kuster (D-NH)
• H.R.6702 – To amend the national service laws to prioritize national service programs and projects that are directly related to the response to and recovery from the COVID-19 public health emergency, (text not available at MoCTrack Report time) Introduced by Rep. David Price (D-NC)
• H.R.6797 – To increase support for State Children’s Health Insurance programs during the COVID-19 emergency (text not available at MoCTrack Report time) Introduced by Rep. Susan WIld (D-PA)

🔵 PA-07’s Rep. Susan Wild:

Rep. Wild has introduced a pair of bills to address issues related to the pandemic:

• H.R.6313 – Combating Hunger for Older Americans During Coronavirus Crisis Act, “This bill makes changes to nutrition services for older adults as part of the response to the COVID-19 public health emergency. Specifically, it expands eligibility for home-delivered meals to eligible individuals who are unable to obtain nutrition as a result of COVID-19 response measures such as quarantine.”
• H.R.6797 – To increase support for State Children’s Health Insurance programs during the COVID-19 emergency (text not available at MoCTrack Report time)

There are also MANY pandemic related bills that Rep. Wild has co-sponsored:

• H.R.6139 – COVID-19 Health Care Worker Protection Act, “This bill requires the Department of Labor to promulgate both an emergency temporary occupational safety or health standard and a permanent standard to protect certain employees from occupational exposure to SARS-CoV-2.” Introduced by Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA)
• H.R.6187 – MEALS ‘Maintaining Essential Access to Lunch for Students’ Act, “This bill modifies food and nutrition programs of the Department of Agriculture to allow certain waivers to requirements for the school meal programs, including waivers that increase federal costs during a school closure related to COVID-19.” Introduced by Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN)
• H.R.6275 – Supporting Students in Response to Coronavirus Act, “This bill establishes and provides funds for grant programs to respond to safety and health risks presented by qualifying emergencies, including COVID-19.” Introduced by Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA)
• H.R.6317 – Ensuring Coverage in Public Health Emergencies Act, “to provide for special enrollment periods during public health emergencies, coverage of services related to public health emergencies.” Introduced by Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX)
• H.R.6324 – Too Small to Fail Act, “This bill establishes requirements for, and revises components of, loan programs of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to provide economic relief to small businesses affected by COVID-19… Specifically, the SBA must waive the requirement that small businesses affected by COVID-19 be unable to find credit elsewhere in order to be eligible for SBA loans, and it must provide loans made in response to COVID-19 at no interest rate.” Introduced by Rep. Chris Pappas (D-NH)
• H.R.6390 – Medical Supply Chain Emergency Act,”This bill directs the President to use existing authorities under the Defense Production Act of 1950 with respect to the production of ventilators, N-95 respirator masks, and specified personal protective equipment to address COVID-19.” Introduced by Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH)
• H.R.6397 – Coronavirus Emergency Student Loan Refinancing Act, “to provide for the refinancing of certain Federal student loans.” Introduced by Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT)
• H.R.6425 – Protect Our Post Offices Act, “This bill appropriates $25 billion to the U.S. Postal Service, to remain available through FY2022 for revenue forgone due to the coronavirus pandemic.” Introduced by Rep. Joe Neguse (D-CO)
• H.R.6455 – COVID-19 Commission Act, the bill will create a Commission that will “make a full and complete accounting of the circumstances surrounding the emergence of the 2019 novel coronavirus, the Nation’s preparedness for the 2019 novel coronavirus pandemic, and the actions taken by Federal, State, local, Tribal, and territorial governments at critical junctures… identify and examine lessons learned… review and evaluate recommendations and pandemic plans… and publish a public report that includes recommendations for the development of a national plan to improve preparedness, response, and recovery efforts.” Introduced by Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS)
• H.R.6467 – Coronavirus Community Relief Act, “the bill provides funding for FY2020 for units of local government with a population of 500,000 or less.” Introduced by Rep. Joe Neguse (D-CO)
• H.R.6510 – SNAP Online Purchasing Flexibility Act, “The program allows approved retail food stores to accept SNAP benefits through online transactions.” Introduced by Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN)
• H.R.6514 – Worker Health Coverage Protection Act, “to provide premium assistance for COBRA continuation coverage and furloughed continuation coverage for individuals and their families during the COVID–19 emergency period and 180-days thereafter.” Introduced by Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA)
• H.R.6532 – COVID Special Enrollment Act, “To amend the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a special enrollment period during the COVID–19 emergency period and to carry out outreach and educational activities.” Introduced by Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX)
• H.R.6548 – National Commission on the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States Act, to “make a full and complete assessment and accounting of the actions by the Federal Government, State governments, local governments, and the private sector in response to the outbreak and spread of COVID–19 in the United States.” Introduced by Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA)
• H.R.6559 – COVID-19 Every Worker Protection Act, “This bill requires the Department of Labor to promulgate both an emergency temporary occupational safety or health standard and a permanent standard to protect certain employees from occupational exposure to the coronavirus… Further, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention must collect and make public information regarding employee exposure in these occupations and provide guidance to further protect such employees.”  Introduced by Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA)
• H.R.6563 – Emergency Educational Connections Act, “This bill establishes and provides funding for the Emergency Connectivity Fund, from which the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) must provide support for certain schools or libraries to purchase specified telecommunications equipment during the public health emergency declared because of COVID-19.” Introduced by Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY)
• H.R.6585 – Equitable Data Collection and Disclosure on COVID-19 Act, “To conduct or support data collection on the racial, ethnic, and other demographic implications of COVID–19 in the United States and its territories, including support to assist in the capacity building for State and local public health departments to collect and transmit racial, ethnic, and other demographic data to the relevant Department of Health and Human Services agencies.” Introduced by Rep. Robin Kelly, (D-IL)
• H.R.6597 – Equity in Student Loan Relief Act, “the Secretary of Education shall carry out a temporary program concerning the novel coronavirus virus disease (COVID–19) outbreak to provide payment relief to borrowers” with federal family education loans.” Introduced by Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) 
• H.R.6644 – To require group health plans and health insurance issuers offering group or individual health insurance coverage to provide coverage for services furnished via telehealth if such services would be covered if furnished in-person during the COVID-19 emergency. Introduced by Rep. Kim Schrier (D-WA)
• H.R.6697 – To amend the Small Business Act to expand the Paycheck Protection Program for certain organizations, (text not available at MoCTrack Report time) Introduced by Rep. Chris Pappas (D-NH)

🔵 PA-08’s Rep. Matt Cartwright:

Rep. Cartwright has introduced one bill to address issues related to the pandemic:

• H.R.6709 – To direct the Secretary of the Treasury to establish a coronavirus fund to provide hazard payments to high-risk health care workers and essential workers (text not available at MoCTrack Report time)

There are also several pandemic related bills that Rep. Cartwright co-sponsored:

• H.R.6275 – Supporting Students in Response to Coronavirus Act, “This bill establishes and provides funds for grant programs to respond to safety and health risks presented by qualifying emergencies, including COVID-19.” Introduced by Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA)
• H.R.6427 – PANDEMIC ‘Pausing All New Detention and Ending Movement of Inmates for Coronavirus’ Act, “This bill limits the transfer of prisoners between facilities during the public health emergency.” Introduced by Rep. Fred Keller (R-PA)
• H.R.6467 – Coronavirus Community Relief Act, “the bill provides funding for FY2020 for units of local government with a population of 500,000 or less.” Introduced by Rep. Joe Neguse (D-CO)
• H.R.6559 – COVID-19 Every Worker Protection Act, “This bill requires the Department of Labor to promulgate both an emergency temporary occupational safety or health standard and a permanent standard to protect certain employees from occupational exposure to the coronavirus… Further, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention must collect and make public information regarding employee exposure in these occupations and provide guidance to further protect such employees.”  Introduced by Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA)
• H.R.6680 – To amend title II of division A of the CARES Act to modify certain provisions related to unemployment compensation (text not available at MoCTrack Report time) Introduced by Rep. Dan Kildee (D-MI)

🔴 PA-09’s Rep. Dan Meuser:

Rep. Meuser has not sponsored any of his own legislation related to the coronavirus, the current pandemic or pandemic preparedness. He has, however, co-sponsored a pair of his colleagues’ legislation on those topics:

• H.R.6407 – “To rescind the appropriation made to the Kennedy Center in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act.” Introduced by Rep. Bryan Steil (R-WI)
• H.R.6697 – To amend the Small Business Act to expand the Paycheck Protection Program for certain organizations, (text not available at MoCTrack Report time) Introduced by Rep. Chris Pappas (D-NH)

🔴 PA-10’s Rep. Scott Perry:

Rep. Perry has not sponsored any of his own legislation related to the coronavirus, the current pandemic or pandemic preparedness. He has, however, co-sponsored a few of his colleagues’ legislation on those topics:

• H.R.6336 – Increasing Hospital Capacity to Fight the Coronavirus Act, “This bill allows unapproved capital expenses that are made by health care facilities during the public health emergency.” Introduced by Rep. Dan Bishop (R-NC)
• H.R.6396 – To provide tax and regulatory relief and health care flexibility to individuals and businesses affected by the 2020 coronavirus pandemic (text not available at MoCTrack Report time) Introduced by Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ)
• H.R.6427 – PANDEMIC ‘Pausing All New Detention and Ending Movement of Inmates for Coronavirus’ Act, “This bill limits the transfer of prisoners between facilities during the public health emergency.” Introduced by Rep. Fred Keller (R-PA)
• H.R.6433 – HEROES ‘Helping Emergency Responders Overcome Emergency Situations’ Act, “This bill excludes from gross income, for income tax purposes, wages and other income up to $50,000 of qualified first responders for the period beginning on February 15, 2020, and ending on June 15, 2020.” Introduced by Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-MI)
• H.R.6657 – WUHAN ‘Working Under Humanity’s Actual Needs, Rescissions Act, this bill would remove hundreds of million dollars appropriated in the CARES Act, including funding for NASA, the EPA, the Forest Service and other federal agencies and programs (example – removing $65,000,000 from “Community Planning and Development—Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS”).

🔴 PA-11’s Rep. Lloyd Smucker:

Rep. Smucker has not sponsored any of his own legislation related to the coronavirus, the current pandemic or pandemic preparedness. He has, however, co-sponsored one of his colleague’s legislation on those topics:

• H.R.6597 – Equity in Student Loan Relief Act, “the Secretary of Education shall carry out a temporary program concerning the novel coronavirus virus disease (COVID–19) outbreak to provide payment relief to borrowers” with federal family education loans.” Introduced by Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) 

🔴 PA-12’s Rep. Fred Keller:

Rep. Keller has introduced one bill to address issues related to the pandemic:

• H.R.6427 – PANDEMIC ‘Pausing All New Detention and Ending Movement of Inmates for Coronavirus’ Act, “This bill limits the transfer of prisoners between facilities during the public health emergency.”

There are also several pandemic related bills that Rep. Keller co-sponsored:

• H.R.6364 – SECURE ‘Securing and Enabling Commerce Using Remote and Electronic’ Notarization Act, to “establish minimum standards for electronic and remote notarizations that occur in or affect interstate commerce.” Introduced by Rep. Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA)
• H.R.6407 – “To rescind the appropriation made to the Kennedy Center in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act.” Introduced by Rep. Bryan Steil (R-WI)
• H.Res.917 – “Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States should withhold the contribution of Federal funds to the World Health Organization until Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus resigns and an international commission to investigate the World Health Organization is established.”  Introduced by Rep. Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA)

🔴 PA-13’s Rep. John Joyce:

Rep. Joyce has not sponsored any of his own legislation related to the coronavirus, the current pandemic or pandemic preparedness. He has, however, co-sponsored a few of his colleagues’ legislation on those topics:

• H.R.6080 – Preventing Drug Shortages Act, “To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to reduce drug shortages…The Secretary may require a manufacturer of a drug described in subsection (a) to conduct periodic risk assessments to identify vulnerabilities in the manufacturing supply chain of such manufacturer and  to develop plans to mitigate the risks associated with any vulnerabilities so identified.” introduced by Rep.Scott Peters (D-CA)
• H.R.6364 – SECURE ‘Securing and Enabling Commerce Using Remote and Electronic’ Notarization Act, to “establish minimum standards for electronic and remote notarizations that occur in or affect interstate commerce.” Introduced by Rep. Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA)
• H.R.6407 – To rescind the appropriation made to the Kennedy Center in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. Introduced by Rep. Bryan Steil (R-WI)

🔴 PA-14’s Rep. Guy Reschenthaler:

Rep. Reschenthaler has introduced two bills during this time of pandemic that don’t directly relate to the health response, but one was clearly influenced by the needs of social distancing, and the other by the political messaging desires of President Trump:

• H.R.6364 – SECURE ‘Securing and Enabling Commerce Using Remote and Electronic’ Notarization Act, to “establish minimum standards for electronic and remote notarizations that occur in or affect interstate commerce.”
• H.Res.917 – Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States should withhold the contribution of Federal funds to the World Health Organization until Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus resigns and an international commission to investigate the World Health Organization is established.

There are no pandemic related bills that Rep. Reschenthaler co-sponsored. However, he has joined onto this bill which seems to be directly influenced by the Republican Party’s strategy of diverting attention from the Trump Administration’s disastrous handling of the pandemic by throwing blame at China

• H.R.6598 – SOS ACT ‘Secure Our Systems Against China’s Tactics’ Act, “To preserve national security by providing guarantees to investors for investments in businesses at risk of predatory economic tactics by the Communist Party of the People’s Republic of China… the Secretary of the Treasury is authorized to make guarantees to investors to cover up to 50 percent of the costs of an investment in an eligible business made during the emergency period.” Introduced by Rep. Mark Green (R-TN)

🔴 PA-15’s Rep. Glenn W. Thompson:

Rep. Thompson has introduced two of his own bills to address issues related to the pandemic:

• H.R.6298 – COVID-19 WIC Response Act, “This bill modifies food and nutrition programs of the Department of Agriculture… [to] grant waivers allowing participants under WIC to get certified or recertified without being physically present at a WIC clinic, [and] grant waivers from administrative requirements for WIC if it determines that the requirement cannot be met by a state due to COVID-19.”
• H.R.6567 – GROCER ‘Giving Retailers and Our Convenience Employees Relief’ Act, “This bill excludes from gross income, for income tax purposes, compensation and other income up to $25,0000 paid to certain retail grocery and gasoline service station employees between the period of February 15, 2020, and June 15, 2020, who are working in a county that has at least one confirmed case of COVID-19.”

There are also several pandemic related bills that Rep. Thompson co-sponsored:

• H.R.6203 – COVID-19 Child Nutrition Response Act, “This bill modifies food and nutrition programs of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to allow certain waivers of program requirements with respect to COVID-19.” Introduced by Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR)
• H.R.6427 – PANDEMIC ‘Pausing All New Detention and Ending Movement of Inmates for Coronavirus’ Act, “This bill limits the transfer of prisoners between facilities during the public health emergency.” Introduced by Rep. Fred Keller (R-PA)
• H.R.6433 – HEROES ‘Helping Emergency Responders Overcome Emergency Situations’ Act, “This bill excludes from gross income, for income tax purposes, wages and other income up to $50,000 of qualified first responders for the period beginning on February 15, 2020, and ending on June 15, 2020.” Introduced by Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-MI)
• H.R.6611 – Making supplemental appropriations for fiscal year 2020 for the Department of Agriculture to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, “This bill provides $50 billion in FY2020 supplemental appropriations for the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to support agricultural producers impacted by the COVID-19.” Introduced by Rep. Austin Scott (R-GA)

🔴 PA-16’s Rep. Mike Kelly:

Rep. Kelly has not sponsored any of his own legislation related to the coronavirus, the current pandemic or pandemic preparedness. He has, however, co-sponsored one of his colleague’s legislation on those topics:

• H.R.6354 – Small Business Assistance Act, “This bill allows a one-time tax credit to small businesses to cover rent or mortgage payments paid or incurred by such businesses during the first four months of 2020. The credit allowable to a taxpayer may not exceed $50,000 in any taxable year.”

🔵 PA-17’s Rep. Conor Lamb:

Rep. Lamb has not sponsored any of his own legislation related to the coronavirus, the current pandemic or pandemic preparedness. He has, however, co-sponsored many of his colleague’s legislation on those topics:

• H.R.6303 – Increasing Access to Capital Act, “This bill requires the Small Business Administration (SBA) to temporarily waive, or reduce to the maximum extent possible, certain fees on SBA loans.” Text from this measure was included in the CARES Act. Introduced by Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO)
• H.R.6305 – Coronavirus Relief for Seniors and People with Disabilities Act, “the bill provides FY2020 supplemental appropriations to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for specified quality improvement and laboratory certification activities.” Introduced by Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI)
• H.R.6322 – Student Veteran Coronavirus Response Act, “the bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to continue paying work-study allowances during emergency periods.” Introduced by Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA)
• H.R.6390 – Medical Supply Chain Emergency Act,”This bill directs the President to use existing authorities under the Defense Production Act of 1950 with respect to the production of ventilators, N-95 respirator masks, and specified personal protective equipment to address COVID-19.” Introduced by Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH)
• H.R.6398 – Frontline Health Care Workers Assistance Act, “To provide for the expedited procurement of equipment needed to combat COVID–19 under the Defense Production Act of 1950.” Introduced by Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO)
• H.R.6467 – Coronavirus Community Relief Act, “the bill provides funding for FY2020 for units of local government with a population of 500,000 or less.” Introduced by Rep. Joe Neguse (D-CO)
• H.R.6514 – Worker Health Coverage Protection Act, “to provide premium assistance for COBRA continuation coverage and furloughed continuation coverage for individuals and their families during the COVID–19 emergency period and 180-days thereafter.” Introduced by Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA)
• H.R.6597 – Equity in Student Loan Relief Act, “the Secretary of Education shall carry out a temporary program concerning the novel coronavirus virus disease (COVID–19) outbreak to provide payment relief to borrowers” with federal family education loans.” Introduced by Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) 

🔵 PA-18’s Rep. Mike Doyle

Rep. Doyle has not sponsored any of his own legislation related to the coronavirus, the current pandemic or pandemic preparedness. He has, however, co-sponsored many of his colleague’s legislation on those topics:

• H.R.6150 – Paid Sick Days for Public Health Emergencies and Personal and Family Care Act, “This bill expands the availability of paid sick time by requiring employers with at least one employee to provide a minimum amount of accrued paid sick time per work week and additional paid sick time in the event of a public-health emergency such as the coronavirus.” Introduced by Rep. Rose DeLauro (D-CT)
• H.R.6317 – Ensuring Coverage in Public Health Emergencies Act, “to provide for special enrollment periods during public health emergencies, coverage of services related to public health emergencies.” Introduced by Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX)
• H.R.6390 – Medical Supply Chain Emergency Act,”This bill directs the President to use existing authorities under the Defense Production Act of 1950 with respect to the production of ventilators, N-95 respirator masks, and specified personal protective equipment to address COVID-19.” Introduced by Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH)
• H.R.6397 – Coronavirus Emergency Student Loan Refinancing Act, “to provide for the refinancing of certain Federal student loans.” Introduced by Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT)
• H.R.6425 – Protect Our Post Offices Act, “This bill appropriates $25 billion to the U.S. Postal Service, to remain available through FY2022 for revenue forgone due to the coronavirus pandemic.” Introduced by Rep. Joe Neguse (D-CO)
• H.R.6467 – Coronavirus Community Relief Act, “the bill provides funding for FY2020 for units of local government with a population of 500,000 or less.” Introduced by Rep. Joe Neguse (D-CO)
• H.R.6496 – Emergency Money for the People Act, “This bill directs the Department of the Treasury to make monthly payments during a specified 12-month period to certain citizens and noncitizens of the United States and their dependent children. The amount of such payments shall be $2,000 each month ($4,000 for married couples filing joint returns) and additional amounts for their dependent children. The monthly amount shall be phased out for individuals whose adjusted gross income exceeds $130,000 ($260,000 for joint return filers). The payments must begin within 14 days of the enactment of this bill. Introduced by Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH)
• H.R.6643 – Supporting State and Local Leaders Act, “This bill repeals the prohibition against granting federal, state, and local governments a tax credit for paid sick and paid family and medical leave.”Introduced by Rep. Bradley Schneider (D-IL)
• H.R.6674 – To ensure access to affordable, comprehensive health insurance benefits for certain uninsured individuals during the COVID-19 emergency, and to ensure adequate coverage of treatments for COVID-19 under the Medicare and Medicaid programs and under group health plans and group or individual health insurance coverage (text not available at MoCTrack Report time) Introduced by Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA)

MoC Twitter Action

Courtesy of contributor Helen a.k.a. @ElastigirlVotes

Twitter Action – Pandemic

🔵 Senator Bob Casey, @SenBobCasey, 05/07/20:

“Reminder that the President and Republicans in Congress are STILL trying to dismantle the Affordable Care Act and rip away pre-existing condition protections – in the middle of a public health emergency. #DropTheLawsuit #ProtectOurCare”

🔴 Senator Pat Toomey, @SenToomey, 05/07/20:

“Our nation’s nursing homes face extraordinary challenges right now. See@SenBobCasey’s & my op-ed in the @mcall on what we must do to protect the lives of nursing home workers & residents.” Tweet includes link to article in The Morning Call.

🔴 PA-01’s Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, @RepBrianFitz, 05/08/20:“Community First. I am fighting for our local community hospitals to have access to Remdesivir, to allow our local healthcare professionals to provide the best possible treatment for those who have tested positive for #COVID19 in our community.” Tweet includes link to Bucks County Courier Times article.

🔵 PA-02’s Rep. Brendan Boyle, @CongBoyle, 05/03/20:“The CDC just added to the list of official #COVID19 symptoms. In response, Philadelphia has expanded the parameters that qualify people for a test. You can learn more below.” Tweet includes link to CDC website.

🔵 PA-03’s Rep. Dwight Evans, @RepDwightEvans, 05/08/20:

“The virus doesn’t care how anyone FEELS.

AMERICA.

NEEDS.

TESTING!”

🔵 PA-04’s Rep. Madeleine Dean, @RepDean, 05/08/20:“We are battling a pandemic that claimed more than 75,000 lives. Yet Trump is pushing to suspend healthcare for 20M Americans. People are dying, Mr. President, throw out your case, there could not be a worse time to tear down the ACA & its protections.” Tweet includes link to a Washington Post article.

🔵 PA-05’s Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, @RepMGS, 05/07/20:

“I know that this has been an incredibly challenging time filled with uncertainty. We have compiled a list of resources available to constituents during #COVID19 below. If you have any questions, please call our office at 610-626-2020. We are here to help.”Tweet includes link to Medium article.

🔵 PA-06’s Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, @RepHoulahan, 05/04/20:“I’m proud to support @UNFPA and grateful for their efforts to protect women and girls around the world from increased rates of gender-based violence during this pandemic.” Tweet includes link to Forbes article.

🔵 PA-07’s Rep. Susan Wild, @RepSusanWild, 05/05/20:

“My mask protects you, your mask protects me.Making sure all workers have access to the PPE (masks, hand sanitizer, thermometers, etc.) they need to stay safe is critical Get connected with Pennsylvanians who can lend a hand (or in this case, a mask)” Tweet includes link to Pennsylvania website.

🔵 PA-08’s Rep. Matt Cartwright, @RepCartwright, 05/04/20:“There are now over 20 #COVID19 testing sites in northeastern Pennsylvania. Each has their own guidelines on how, where and when you can get tested, so be sure to call ahead or check online before visiting. “ Tweet includes link to a Times-Tribune article.

🔴 PA-09’s Rep. Dan Meuser, @RepMeuser, 05/07/20:

“ATTN PA Nursing Homes: @fema

 is coordinating two shipments totaling a 14-day supply of PPE to more than 15,000 nursing homes across the nation. The first shipment is being sent this week, while the second is expected to begin in early June.” Tweet includes link to FEMA website.

🔴 PA-10’s Rep. Scott Perry, @RepScottPerry, 05/07/20:

“On this #NationalDayOfPrayer, we continue to seek guidance from God – especially in these times of challenge and strife. We pray for the souls lost to sickness, and all on the frontlines of the battle against those who wish to do us harm. May God continue to bless and keep you.”

🔴 PA-11’s Rep. Lloyd Smucker, @RepSmucker, 05/09/20:

“Many Americans have received their Economic Impact Payments. However, some have been delivered to family members that have died. Click Q.10 & Q.41 to learn how to rectify the issue with the IRS. For a full list of answers to questions visit https://irs.gov/coronavirus/economic-impact-payment-information-center.”

🔴 PA-12’s Rep. Fred Keller, @RepFredKeller, 05/09/20:

“The small business owners, their employees, have really built this economy that we had before the invisible enemy struck…If we give them the guidance and the guidelines, they’ll be able to do it and make sure they are operating safely.” Tweet includes link to The Daily Review.

🔴 PA-13’s Rep. John Joyce, @RepJohnJoyce, 05/03/20:

“After weeks of costly sacrifices to protect our neighbors, Pennsylvanians have done our part to stop the spread of #coronavirus and to save lives. It’s time for @GovernorTomWolf to let us get back to work.”

🔴 PA-14’s Rep. Guy Reschenthaler, @GReschenthaler, 05/09/20:

“COMING UP: I will be joining America’s News Headquarters with @LelandVittert to discuss reopening Pennsylvania’s economy and China’s role in #COVID19. Tune in at noon on 

@FoxNews”

.

🔴 PA-15’s Rep. Glenn W. Thompson, @CongressmanGT, 05/01/20:

“While I’m pleased the Governor is moving many counties from red to yellow status, there needs to be a concerted effort to reopen businesses in those counties that have not experienced new #COVID19 cases in weeks.”  Tweet includes link to Governor Wolf’s website.

🔴 PA-16’s Rep. Mike Kelly, @MikeKellyPA, 05/06/20:

“Happy #NationalNursesDay to all nurses. We are grateful for all that you are doing to help those struggling with COVID-19 and all you did before this pandemic and will do after it passes. Thanks for selflessly serving our families, friends, and neighbors!”

🔵 PA-18’s Rep. Mike Doyle, @USRepMikeDoyle, 05/05/20:

“Many families don’t know where to turn for help during #COVID19.@NEXTPittsburgh has compiled a guide to finding food, housing, financial, and health assistance in #PGH that you may find useful.”  Tweet includes link to Next Pittsburgh.

Twitter Action – Corruption/ Pandemic Malfeasance 

🔵 Senator Bob Casey, @SenBobCasey, 05/05/20:

“The complaint raises serious concerns that the Trump Administration is playing political games with the health of the American people. If confirmed, these allegations involve the worst kind of cronyism—that which puts human life in jeopardy.”

🔵 PA-02’s Rep. Brendan Boyle, @RepBrndanBoyle, 05/07/20:

“We should be strengthening #SocialSecurity, not giving a payroll tax cut to corporations. I’m proud to join @RepJohnLarson on the Emergency Social Security Benefits Improvement Act to help our seniors during the #COVID19 crisis. #ExpandSocialSecurity”

Tweet includes link to Bloomberg article.

🔵 PA-03’s Rep. Dwight Evans, @RepDwightEvans, 05/04/20:

“We could use this money for things like:

✅ Testing

✅ PPE and hazard pay for frontline workers

✅ Help for small businesses

✅ Aid to state & local governments & the Postal Service”

🔵 PA-04’s Rep. Madeleine Dean, @RepDean, 05/08/20:

“Instead of focusing on getting the country through this pandemic, the President and AG Barr are corruptly focused on helping their friends. 

Gen. Flynn pled guilty to lying to the FBI. It is an assault on our rule of law to drop the charges. I’ll say again, AG Barr should resign

This is a blatant attempt to rewrite the history of this administration’s wrongdoing. But, history has a way of remembering it accurately. Historians write history, not “winners.””

🔵 PA-05’s Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, @RepMGS, 05/07/20:

“Michael Flynn lied to the FBI.

Michael Flynn admitted it. 

Michael Flynn is not above the law…unless he broke the law for Donald Trump.”

Tweet includes link to New York Times article.

🔵 PA-06’s Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, @RepHoulahan, 05/06/20:

“I encourage everyone to listen to today’s Supreme Court Case. Our 

@JoshShapiroPA is working to protect the #AffordableCareAct. It is critical, especially in a pandemic, that we fight for every American to have access to affordable and quality health care.”

      Tweet included live link to Supreme Court oral arguments.

🔵 PA-07’s Rep. Susan Wild, @RepSusanWild, 05/06/20:

“Endangering the health care of millions in the middle of a pandemic is pure politics > policy. Millions of Pennsylvanians rely on ACA protections & in this extreme hour of need they cannot be ripped away. 

This lawsuit needs to be dropped.”

Tweet includes link to Representative Wild’s website.

🔵 PA-08’s Rep. Matt Cartwright, @RepCartwright, 05/07/20:

“In a pandemic, *voluntary* safety guidelines for workplaces are not enough, especially as #COVID19 outbreaks have temporarily shuttered food production facilities across the U.S., including in #NEPA. Today, my colleagues and I called on @OSHA_DOL to step up their enforcement.”

🔵 PA-17’s Rep. Conor Lamb, @RepConorLamb, 05/05/20:

“.@CMSGov needs to immediately increase the frequency of inspections in nursing homes & long-term care facilities. Today my colleague @USRepMikeDoyle joined me in a letter to urge prompt action. #PA17”  Tweet includes link to Representative Lamb’s website.

🔵 PA-18’s Rep. Mike Doyle, @USRepMikeDoyle, 05/06/20:

“Our nation needed a strong federal response to #COVID19. @POTUS assigned a team of inexperienced volunteers to buy emergency medical equipment. They ignored established suppliers and pursued leads from cronies and political allies of @realDonaldTrump”Tweet includes link to Washington Post article.

Tweet of the Week

🔵 Senator Bob Casey, @SenBobCasey, 05/08/20:

“Today Ahmaud Arbery should be celebrating his 26th birthday. His family deserves full accountability and justice for a life lost too soon.”

🔴 Senator Pat Toomey, @SenToomey, 05/06/20:

“We are currently experiencing technical difficulties, but will be live again in a minute.”

🔴 PA-01’s Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, @RepBrianFitz, 05/05/20:

“Yesterday, I led a bipartisan effort w/ @HouseForeign Chair @RepEliotEngel, RM @RepMcCaul & @RepStephMurphy calling to extend the Iran Arms Embargo. The @StateDept must renew the embargo & travel restrictions on those aiding Iran’s proliferation pursuits.”Tweet includes link to Radio Farda article.

🔵 PA-02’s Rep. Brendan Boyle, @CongBoyle, 05/08/20:

“This #NationalNursesWeek, I stand in solidarity with nurses across the nation as they demand the protections they need to do their jobs safely during the #COVID19 crisis. We need more PPE to #ProtectNurses who are on the front lines of this global fight.”Tweet includes link to Business Insider Article.

🔵 PA-03’s Rep. Dwight Evans, @RepDwightEvans, 05/08/20:

“Children in #Philly can visit any City Health Center to receive immunizations, even without an appointment: https://phila.gov/services/mental-physical-health/city-health-centers/ 

Here’s information on why keeping kids’ vaccines up to date is important:

https://vitals.lifehacker.com/why-you-need-to-keep-your-kids-vaccines-up-to-date-righ-1843170208”Tweet includes link to City of Philadelphia website.

🔵 PA-04’s Rep. Madeleine Dean, @RepDean, 05/07/20:

“I will not stop pushing for direct support for small businesses in our next relief package. 

In the meantime, I am thankful the @MontcoPA commissioners announced $5M in economic development funds for small businesses. “

Tweet includes link to Montgomery County website.

🔵 PA-05’s Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, @RepMGS, 05/06/20:

“Reproductive rights are human rights. 

Period. 

Grateful to @PAAttorneyGen for defending these rights. 

#HandsOffMyBC”

🔵 PA-06’s Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, @RepHoulahan, 05/06/20:

“I was grateful to spend a couple hours volunteering with them last week and assist with their effort to #GetGrowingChesterCounty.

Even in dark times, there are always moments of light, reminding us we will get through this by being #InThisTogether”

🔵 PA-07’s Rep. Susan Wild, @RepSusanWild, 05/07/20:

“Today, I was happy to join @PPLElectric as the keynote speaker for their Mental Health Lunch. 

#MoreThanEverBefore, our mental health deserves the same attention as our physical health. It’s okay to ask for help when you need it. We all do better when we see we are not alone.”

🔵 PA-08’s Rep. Matt Cartwright, @RepCartwright, 05/08/20:

On this 75th anniversary of the Nazi surrender in Europe, we honor those who fought to deliver this victory. In this challenging time, let it also be a reminder of what we can do when we put our differences aside and work together in pursuit of a common and worthy goal. #VEDay75

🔴 PA-09’s Rep. Dan Meuser, @RepMeuser, 05/08/20:

“Today marks the 75th anniversary of VE Day. We humbly and gratefully thank the great Americans that defeated tyranny and evil and delivered democracy and freedom to their future generations!”

🔴 PA-10’s Rep. Scott Perry, @RepScottPerry, 05/06/20:

“Thank you to our NURSES – our heroes – for their compassion, care, and tireless dedication to keeping our communities safe. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for all that you do for us, our communities, and our families. #ThankYouNurses #NationalNursesWeek”

🔴 PA-11’s Rep. Lloyd Smucker, @RepSmucker, 05/07/20:

“Today, lets pray for the doctors, nurses, senior living facility staff and everyone fighting COVID-19. We will get through this and the power of prayer will help us. May God bless America.”

🔴 PA-12’s Rep. Fred Keller, @RepFredKeller, 05/08/20:

“I’ll be on Tipping Point with @Liz_Wheeler on @OANN tonight in the 9:00 p.m. ET hour talking about the D.C. swamp being exposed for trying to tear down President @realDonaldTrump by any means necessary just because he wanted to take their power and return it to the people! “

🔴 PA-13’s Rep. John Joyce, @RepJohnJoyce, 05/06/20:

“As we kick off #NursesWeek, I am grateful for the tireless dedication of the nurses in Pennsylvania and across the country – not just during this coronavirus outbreak, but every day. Thank you for your hard work to serve American patients!’

🔴 PA-14’s Rep. Guy Reschenthaler, @GReschenthaler, <date>:

“Today I joined @RealDonaldTrump, @GOPLeader & other @HouseGOP members at the White House. I thanked him for holding China and WHO accountable for their role in #COVID19. Additionally, I spoke to the problems we’re having with Gov Wolf’s one-size-fits-all shutdown of our economy.” Tweet includes video.

🔴 PA-15’s Rep. Glenn W. Thompson, @CongressmanGT, <date>:

“The positive impact nurses have on our communities cannot be overstated. They risk exposure to care for our loved ones and we are indebted to them for their sacrifice. I’m grateful for their service always, particularly during #COVID19. #NursesWeek2020”

Tweet includes link to The Bradford Era article.

🔴 PA-16’s Rep. Mike Kelly, @MikeKellyPA, 05/04/20:

“Thank you to @CommerceGov for opening a 232 investigation of imported electrical steel products. As the last electrical steelmaker in the U.S., Butler, PA-based AK Steel is crucial to our national security. My statement on @SecretaryRoss’ announcement: 

https://kelly.house.gov/press-release/rep-kelly-commends-department-commerce-opening-232-investigation-imported-electrical”

🔵 PA-17’s Rep. Conor Lamb, @RepConorLamb, 05/05/20:

“Thank you to all of the #PA17 teachers who are going above and beyond to serve their students during these challenging times. #TeacherAppreciationWeek #ThankATeacher”

🔵 PA-18’s Rep. Mike Doyle, @USRepMikeDoyle, 05/07/20:

“.@SenateMajLdr doesn’t think we need this legislation? Black Americans are STILL being killed by violent racists. In February, I voted for the Emmett Till Anti-Lynching Act to make lynching a federal crime. @SenateMajLdr standing in the way of justice for so many victims.”

Casey in the News 

Courtesy of contributor Linda Houk

Since it has been so long since we have had a media coverage section, a lot of these statements from Senator Casey have been used in multiple sources across the past few weeks.  Linda was kind enough to note when she saw one comment in many places.

“Many of these rural hospitals are operating at close to negative margins to begin with… What we could not secure was in law, in statute, a specific outline or determination as to how that money would be spent.”

—from an article in WENY News titled “New York to receive over $600 million in new hospital funding” – also seen in 2 other articles

“I’m certainly open to those ideas because we may have to codify this beyond just the pandemic premium provision… There may be reason to codify or enlarge the scope of this based upon the crisis itself.”

… “wouldn’t be able to reach the millions of workers that should be provided this just measure of compensation.”

—from an article in WTAE Action News titled “Senators Casey, Toomey say they are open to discussing legislation on essential worker hazard pay” – also seen in 1 other article

“Republicans talk about it (Medicaid) as a problem to be managed. That’s the official Republican position for many years now. They want to end Medicaid expansion. When you cut Medicaid, you not only hurt health care, you are losing jobs.”

“We need more Democrats to win elections. That is the political battle ahead of us as far as Medicaid and other political battles.”

—from an article in the Williamsport Sun-Gazette titled “Senator Bob Casey speaks out on behalf of Medicaid” 

“I am pleased that Pennsylvania will receive more than $8.1 million to help our public housing authorities provide safe, clean, reliable housing to the communities.”

“83 different housing authorities across the Commonwealth will be able to use funding from the Housing Choice Voucher program to ensure they can meet emerging needs during the COVID-19 pandemic and maintain existing programs. Housing insecurity is among the challenges worsened by this crisis and these grants come at a time when families and individuals need assistance most.”

—from an article in the Bradford Era titled “Casey announces funds for housing authorities” – also seen in 3 other articles

“Pennsylvania’s nurses are fighting on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic, making sacrifices to help their patients every day.”

“They spend tireless hours caring for those sickened with the virus, risking their own health to care for others. Our nurses are heroes, and I will continue fighting to ensure that all of our health care workers caring for COVID-19 patients receive premium pay, as well as the resources they need to fight this pandemic.”

—from an article in the Bradford Era titled “Officials offer thanks to nurses for National Nurses Week” 

“This is a positive but long overdue step which must now be carried through to ensure the United States does not lose its last remaining electrical steel manufacturer. For two years, I have been calling on this Administration to take action on electrical steel cores and laminations. I’m glad they’re finally paying attention to an issue on which several senators have repeatedly urged action.”

—from an article in the Pennsylvania Business Report titled “US Commerce Dept launches investigation into steel component imports that impact AK Steel”

“We can not simply pat them on the back and say thank you. That’s not enough. We’ve got to provide them a tangible benefit.”

—from an article in WTAE Action News titled “WTAE Action News” – also seen in 4 other articles

“Republicans were happy to provide a tax giveaway to the super-rich and biggest corporations in 2017, which is expected to drive up the deficit by $1.9 trillion over ten years,” he said in an email to The Center Square on Wednesday. “And yet, decades of disinvestment in local, state and federal governments has left us unable to do the basic things that many other countries are doing for their citizens during this pandemic. We need governments that are resourced to respond to the needs of the people, in good times and in bad times.”

—from an article in Tioga Publishing titled “Pennsylvania governor prefers more federal coronavirus aid to bankruptcy”

“This virus spares no state, no county, no facility. The unprecedented crisis unfolding in our nation’s nursing homes demands an immediate, extraordinary response. Reports indicate nursing home residents and workers account for roughly 1 in 4 deaths from COVID-19 in the United States.” 

“The Nursing Home COVID-19 Protection and Prevention Act would provide $20 billion in emergency funding to devise a sorely needed national, coordinated response to stem the spread of this terrible virus in nursing homes and intermediate care facilities.” 

— from an article in the Press & Journal titled “Sen. Casey bill would provide $20 billion to nursing homes in U.S. to fight coronavirus”

Toomey in the News 

Courtesy of contributor Elayne Baker

“All of government necessarily depends on having an economy. “Endless government spending is just not sustainable.”  

— from an article in The Daily Item titled “Expert: Consumers need to feel safe before economy will fully reopen”

“The Chinese Communist Party should have responded to the outbreak of COVID-19 with transparency. Instead, the CCP has consistently lied, spread disinformation, and withheld important facts and data about COVID-19, contributing to the virus’s spread and severity. This sanctions bill would allow the United States to hold accountable members of the CCP who deliberately lied and silenced doctors on the ground in Wuhan.” 

— from a CBS 21 article titled “Sen. Toomey: Hold those accountable that lied, silenced doctors in China”

Senator Toomey also provided an interview to Breitbart on May 8th, and they published the contents in their article titled “Exclusive – Sen. Pat Toomey Calls for Reopening America Faster: ‘Danger’ of Coronavirus to Most Americans Overstated.” It is so chock full of PEAK PATSY content that we are including it below, in full.

Exclusive – Sen. Pat Toomey Calls for Reopening America Faster: ‘Danger’ of Coronavirus to Most Americans Overstated

“Let me start with my starting premise and that is there was a very specific reason why we shut down our economy,” Toomey told Breitbart News on Friday. “Think about how drastic and draconian a step that was. It was completely unprecedented in American history to just forbid economic activity. We did it for one reason. That was to slow down the rate of the transmission of the virus, not to stop it altogether—nobody thought that was possible, but to slow it down so that we wouldn’t have such a rapid surge of sick people that they would overwhelm our hospitals’ capacity to treat them. That was the reason. It is now absolutely clear that there is no danger of overwhelming our hospitals. In fact, the vast majority of hospitals in Pennsylvania are mostly empty. UPMC is the biggest hospital system in all of Pennsylvania, and one of the bigger systems in the country. They have 5,500 hospital beds. They have 40 COVID patients. So, there is no chance of overwhelming the hospitals. Therefore, since the whole reason of depriving everyone in Pennsylvania of an income and a livelihood is no longer a risk, why are we still doing it?”

“We need to get on with the business of reopening our economy,” Toomey said. “Here’s another very important factor in all of this, it’s now increasingly obvious what was not entirely obvious when this outbreak began and that is this is a disease of the elderly and the ill. In Pennsylvania, 68 percent of all fatalities have happened inside nursing homes. So it’s the most vulnerable subset of the most vulnerable subset—in other words, the nursing home residents of the elderly population, those are the ones who are extremely vulnerable. By all means, we should be doing everything we can to protect them. But the vast majority of people are not vulnerable. So I’ve advocated a phased reopening of our economy. I think that actually most of Pennsylvania, a large majority of Pennsylvania, could be substantially reopened. We’re not moving as quickly as we should and could and need to to allow people to restore their livelihoods.”

“I think that’s hard to say and I don’t want to speak for him,” Toomey said when asked if Wolf is denying the scientific data that is informing his push to reopen Pennsylvania faster. “The science is an essential ingredient in our decision-making, in our input, but it doesn’t have the answer. The question that we’re posing is how do we weigh these tradeoffs between a maybe slightly lower rate of infection that’s going to happen anyway if we stay locked down versus all the carnage we’re doing by virtue of staying locked down including increases in diseases of despair like depression and alcohol and drug abuse and suicide that comes from people who have lost their livelihoods and lost their prospects of getting a job? How about all the businesses who are failing and will never come back? Medical science doesn’t have an opinion about how you weigh those things. But for elected officeholders, that’s our job—to weigh these competing claims or demands or interests and try to make a judgment about how to go forward. I think we are not making a good judgment about that right now, because we’re overstating the danger of the virus—that’s not to minimize it. Obviously, it’s lethal for people who are vulnerable to it. But it’s not lethal to everyone and in fact it’s not lethal to the vast majority of people. The danger is we’re overstating the risks of that, and we’re underestimating the damage that’s being done by a closed economy and I’m trying to strike what I think is an appropriate balance.”

“I think it really varies state by state,” Toomey said when asked if he expects others in Congress to follow his idea of offering a counter-plan to the governor’s plan. “There’s states that have had virtually no impact at all from the coronavirus and other states have been hit hard and governors have responded very differently. I would say it really depends on the state.”

“In my case, I began working on my plan because the governor had not released one. There was no plan,” Toomey said. “And, I completed my plan and announced that I would be releasing it the next day, and that afternoon that we started lining up the press conference for the following day the governor then announced a press conference that night and he then released a plan. Well, okay, that’s good and that’s progress. But part of the impetus of my doing a plan is because Pennsylvania did not have one. Then the reason I’ve continued to weigh in on this is I think our governor’s plan moves just way too slowly. Look, as you know, having never been through this before, there’s no plan on the shelf. Nobody ever contemplated the government shutting down our economy. It’s just so bizarre and so unprecedented. So there’s no plan for how you restore the economy. I think it’s something we’ve got to have a vigorous debate about, and I feel like I have a point of view and I have an opportunity to get input from a tremendous wide range of really valuable sources all over Pennsylvania and beyond and so I’ve got a responsibility to lay out a vision, a process, a mechanism by which we restore our ability to have a livelihood.

Call to Action – Support this Bill! 

H.R. 5687: Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief and Puerto Rico Disaster Tax Relief Act

The pandemic is affecting each and every person on earth, so of course it is taking up a huge proportion of the news environment.  But it also means that some truly newsworthy issues are not getting the attention they deserve.  This is one of them.

Last weekend Puerto Rico was hit by another large earthquake on the southern part of the island.  This is after that same area spent the better part of January suffering from hundreds of quakes, and they hadn’t even fully recovered from Hurricane Maria!  This whole situation is worsened by COVID, too – because you can’t shelter at home in safety when your home has crumbled around you!

In February, the House passed an emergency aid package to help Puerto Rico – H.R. 5687 – but like so many other bills, it is just gathering dust while Mitch McConnell and the GOP lawmakers in the Senate ignore it. We need to call Senator Toomey and tell him that we expect him to help our fellow Americans, and we want to see H.R. 5687 get a vote in the Senate!

SCRIPT: Puerto Rico has experienced another earthquake while waiting for the Senate to take up H.R. 5687, to provide them with aid to recover from the disaster in January.  The House passed this bill months ago!  I want Senator Toomey to work with his GOP colleagues to bring H.R. 5687 up for a vote!

Please call, tweet, email, fax or Resistbot this messaging to Senator Toomey THIS WEEK!

This report was brought to you by the Pennsylvania  MoCTrack team… 

CC

Elayne Baker 

Gary Garb
Helen aka @ElastigirlVotes
Linda Houk

Kierstyn Piotrowski Zolfo

We are seeking additional assistance. Our Congresspeople are always busy and there is always more for us to cover — tasks big and small to fit any level of time commitment or experience. Can you help us out?  Please email KierstynPZ@gmail.com and put “MoCTrack Help” in the subject. Thanks!