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| Dear John, Our community is facing a once-in-a-hundred-year crisis - a literal pandemic, and I'm doing everything I can both here in Pennsylvania and in Congress to help mitigate the spread of coronavirus, protect the most vulnerable, and stand up for our small businesses impacted by this economic standstill. Over the last several weeks, my team and I have heard from all corners of our community. Families are concerned about their loved ones, especially older members of our community, contracting the virus and having no means to get tested. Mushroom growers are worried about crops they can’t sell because restaurants are closed. Seniors on a fixed income are worried about the health of their retirement accounts, watching their carefully made plans crash with the stock market. Small businesses are asking landlords for forbearance on rent, and landlords are wondering whether banks will understand when it comes time for them to pay the mortgage. Nonprofits are wondering how they will continue delivering services if donations slow down while money is tight. Self-employed and contract workers are wondering if there will be any support for them as demand for their work dries up. And the list grows every time our phones ring. These members of our community need relief, and they need it now. Like many of you, I was frustrated by how long it took the Senate to pass a bipartisan relief package. As you receive this, I am reading through the legislation and en route to Washington to get this thing done for Pennsylvanians. I look forward to sharing more in my next newsletter and on our telephone town hall.
AnnouncementsAs our community's representative in Congress, it is my responsibility to communicate up-to-date information. That's why I've held four telephone town halls, and I will continue to do so. While there are countless important announcements relating to COVID-19, I've highlighted a few below.
Resources
Specific health questions about COVID-19? Call the Greater Philadelphia hotline at 1-800-722-7112 or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting PA to 741-741. For a comprehensive list of state and local resources, please visit our website here. En Español Para recursos en español, hagan clic aquí. Como recordatorio, tenemos hispanohablantes en cada oficina, asi que no duden en llamarnos en Reading a (610) 295-0815 o West Chester a (610) 883-5050.
I also helped introduce legislation that would require the President to implement the Defense Production Act, which will help get PPE into the hands of our health care workers quickly. This is a time that demands urgency, and the President needs to be there for those thousands of workers who are saving lives every day.
As someone who served in both the Air Force and with Teach for America, I know how crucial national service is during a time of crisis and in the days following a crisis. National service members have been in schools to help build a better future for our nation’s youth. They’ve aided our older family and community members. They have been on the ground to provide disaster relief to those most in need. During this pandemic, our national service members need us to step up to the plate for them as they have countless times for us. I’m leading a group of bipartisan members to make sure these volunteers are protected and can continue their critical service at a time we need them most.
This is simultaneously a health and an economic crisis. Small businesses, the backbone of our economy, are getting hit hard. Many of these small businesses have contracts with our federal government, and during this crisis, need expedited payments. I led a bipartisan effort to provide that. We must be doing everything we can to lift up our small businesses to help them weather this trying time.
We had over 4,000 people join us for another Coronavirus Telephone Town Hall. Nearly 200 of you asked questions that helped so many people. We will continue to host these as I want this office to be a resource for everyone in our community. If you missed it, be sure to listen to the full audio recording here. Please join us for our next telephone town hall.
Like many of you, I've been inspired, but not surprised, by members of our community stepping up to help those who need it most. In trying times like this, there are always stories of resilience and selflessness. I thought I'd share a few with you: The Reading Eagle – In age of social distancing, Berks County residents find ways to show kindness This experience is challenging us to be our best selves. Whether you donate your time, services, or financial support to community organizations, I encourage you to help others. If you are interested in helping our health care professionals, the Chester County Medical Reserve Corps is looking to grow their medical and non-medical volunteer base.
If you or someone you know is struggling, our office is here to help. Our staff is fully operational and stands ready to address your concerns. If you are:
We want to hear from you. Please stay in touch and let us know what you thought of this e-newsletter. You can call one of our offices or fill out our contact form. As always, please subscribe to this e-newsletter to keep up with our many events and the work we're doing for Pennsylvanians. Respectfully,
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