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03/28/2024 01:19 PM
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=H&SPick=20190&cosponId=32014
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House of Representatives
Session of 2019 - 2020 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted: June 23, 2020 01:02 PM
From: Representative Sara Innamorato
To: All House members
Subject: A Just Transition for Workers Impacted by the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond
 
In the near future, I and Senator Muth will introduce legislation that establishes the Office of Just Transition, which will act as a resource for workers and communities witnessing high unemployment rates due to the COVID-19 pandemic as well as natural economic cycles that result in significant worker displacement. 

Prior to COVID-19, Pennsylvania was already facing vital economic questions of what we as a Commonwealth should invest in. With the decline of the fossil fuel industry, we have seen plant closures; communities across the Commonwealth have experienced economic downturns and growing unemployment from industry retractions. 

COVID-19 has exacerbated these impacts. According to a StateImpact article published on April 27, 2020: 
“In Pennsylvania, Consol idled its Enlow Fork mine in Washington County, citing low demand. Just over the border in West Virginia, Longview Power — the most efficient coal-fired power plant in the country — filed for bankruptcy, citing reduced demand because of coronavirus.”

A research note from the Rhodium Group cites that in early April, there was a three day period in which wind and solar surpassed coal-sourced electricity production. 

For far too long, the Commonwealth has artificially propped up dying industries that rely on finite materials and put workers in unsafe and unhealthy environments. Rather than passively allowing workers to become displaced, whether due to industry contractions or a pandemic, Pennsylvania should stand with our workforce and invest in targeted job development and workforce transitions to sustainable industries. 
A strong and comprehensive policy is needed to invest in new financial resources and ensure training support for a workforce that may not have a job to return to after the COVID-19 pandemic. That is why we are proposing to establish the Office of Just Transition. 

Housed in the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, this office will create a Just Transition Advisory Committee charged with developing a just transition plan that will be submitted to the Governor and legislature for review. The task force will investigate:
  • Benefits for former workers to help them support themselves and their families, including wage differential benefits, access to education and training leading to high-quality jobs, and benefits similar to the federal Trade Adjustment Assistance for Workers (under the Trade Act of 1974);
  • Strategies to assist communities that dealing with the closure of major employers due to the COVID-19 pandemic or natural economic cycles to transition to sustainable job and industry development;
  • Grants and other sustainable funding to assist eligible entities and communities that are seeking to create a diversified, equitable and vibrant economic future.

The findings will help determine how the office can effectively aid workers in their transition through the deployment of resources from the Just Transition Fund, which will fall under the purview of the State Treasury. 

The office will utilize policy development processes that actively engage industry representatives, labor organizations, impacted communities and other stakeholders to ensure that procedures and resources are designed and deployed to effectively address the needs of workers across the state. By working proactively, Pennsylvania can decrease the negative impact these closures will have on our families and communities. 

Please join us in co-sponsoring this pro-growth, pro-business, pro-jobs, pro-people and pro-earth legislation.