Local state senators help COVID relief bill pass on to House
State senators from Butler County helped to guide and craft a COVID-19 relief bill that passed a Senate vote Tuesday and awaits state House approval.
“This legislation now serves to drive out nearly $1 billion of assistance to our communities to address the ongoing impacts of COVID-19,” said Sen. Joe Pittman, R-41st, on the Senate floor Tuesday.
Pittman said he originally introduced Senate Bill 109 to repeal a Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency program that since has ended. He then worked with his colleagues to transform the bill into its current state, a comprehensive $912 million relief package to help restaurants, schools, employers and tenants.
The bill amends the state Fiscal Code to allocate $569.8 million for Rental and Utility Assistance; $197 million for education programs; and $145 million to support Pennsylvania's hospitality industry.
“These are dollars that came to us from the Trump administration several weeks ago, and it's time we put them on the street in our communities to address these important needs,” Pittman said.
The bill moved Monday to the Senate floor, coming from the Senate Appropriations Committee on which Sen. Elder Vogel, R-47th, serves as vice chairman.“The COVID pandemic has impacted so many lives in Pennsylvania,” said Vogel in a statement Wednesday. “We wanted to use these funds to help those families who are struggling to meet their housing costs and are in danger of being evicted from their homes.”The funding comes from federal coronavirus relief funds. Rental and utility assistance would be proportionally distributed to counties based on their population, and conditions in the bill ensure the funds are used properly. Of the $197 million of educational funding, $150 million will be used to create a grant program under the state Department of Education to assist nonpublic schools that have been affected by the pandemic and have not received government assistance.The remaining $47 million would provide $17.5 million for career and technical centers; $17.5 million for intermediate units; $7.075 million for charter schools for the deaf and blind and approved private schools; and $5 million for the State System of Higher Education to support its restructuring initiative.The third component would transfer $145 million from the Workers' Compensation Security Fund to the COVID-19 Response Restricted Account to provide county block grants to assist the hospitality industry, including restaurants, bars and hotels.Grants would be provided in increments of $5,000 up to $50,000, but with some restrictions on what it can be spent on. “Many bars and restaurants are struggling and some have already closed,” Vogel said. “Often, these are small, family-owned businesses and it is essential that Pennsylvania helps them get beyond these troubled times.”The bill received a near unanimous 48-0 approval vote. On Wednesday, the bill was referred to the House Appropriations Committee, but it did not make it to the House floor. Wednesday marked the final day of the January session. Both chambers return next week.
