Dec. 08, 2020
HARRISBURG – Four members of the House Economic Growth Caucus – Reps. Barb Gleim (R-Cumberland), Mike Jones (R-York), Valerie Gaydos (R-Allegheny) and Dawn Keefer (R-York) – today applauded the efforts of House leadership for voicing support for
House Bill 1737 at a press conference in Hanover on Monday.
The Economic Growth Caucus is a group of state House members dedicated to making Pennsylvania more competitive and economically vibrant. It is comprised of 15 House members with entrepreneurial and business backgrounds.
House Bill 1737 called for limiting civil liability for schools, health care entities and business of all sizes including agritourism events which are in compliance with the governor’s Department of Health COVID-19 guidelines. This bill passed both the House and Senate with majority support but was vetoed by the governor on Nov. 30.
Rep. Kate Klunk organized the press conference, which highlighted local businesses, schools and health care entities that were disappointed by the governor’s veto of liability protections.
“I am grateful to see many of my colleagues as well as more than 77 small business owners, schools, service providers and others support this pro-economic growth initiative,” said Gleim, prime sponsor of House Bill 1737. “So many education, health care and food-production entities are struggling to stay afloat, and this effort not only will provide needed relief but incentives for compliance with state guidelines as well.”
Gaydos added, “We recognize COVID-19 is novel, but we also know business entities are doing the best they can and are going above and beyond to keep their customers, citizens, employees and family members safe. Allowing frivolous lawsuits in this trying environment would be devastating.”
Keefer said, “It doesn’t make sense for the governor to enact so many restrictive COVID-19 mitigation measures intended to keep people safe and then turn around and allow a complying entity to be sued for complying. In the cases of gross negligence, they can still be held liable, so the governor’s veto of House Bill1737 is just plain wrong.”
Jones, the Economic Growth Caucus chairman, stated, “Unfortunately, the governor’s shameful veto of House Bill 1737 demonstrates yet again why our state grows older, smaller and poorer as businesses look to invest in states that appreciate and welcome them.”
Jones, Gaydos, Keefer and Gleim are encouraged to see House Republican leaders not only support the reintroduction of this legislation in the-next session but that they also remain dedicated to supporting economic growth post-COVID-19 within our economy.
Representative Barbara Gleim
199th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Representative Mike Jones
93rd Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Representative Valerie Gaydos
44th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Representative Dawn Keefer
92nd Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Charles Lardner
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clardner@pahousegop.com
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