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PRINTER'S NO. 3742
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
869
Session of
2020
INTRODUCED BY DEASY, GALLOWAY, RAVENSTAHL, DELLOSO, A. DAVIS,
LEE, HILL-EVANS, SCHWEYER, KORTZ, SCHLOSSBERG, DeLUCA, ROZZI,
CIRESI, READSHAW AND SANCHEZ, MAY 12, 2020
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON CONSUMER AFFAIRS, MAY 12, 2020
A RESOLUTION
Urging the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission to suspend all
utility rate hikes through the end of 2020.
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania is navigating uncharted territory as a
result of the global pandemic that plagues our Commonwealth and
this country; and
WHEREAS, In Pennsylvania, record unemployment rates have
resulted in the distribution of more than $3.6 billion in
unemployment benefits through April 30, 2020; and
WHEREAS, The Federal Reserve Bank in St. Louis is forecasting
that the unemployment rate in this nation could rise to 30%
during this pandemic; and
WHEREAS, The national unemployment rate was 25% during the
Great Depression; and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania has more than 1.7 million unemployed
workers and that number currently exceeds 22 million unemployed
workers nationally; and
WHEREAS, According to the United States Small Business
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Administration Office of Advocacy, Pennsylvania is home to
nearly 1.1 million small businesses which employ more than 2.5
million workers; and
WHEREAS, The United States Small Business Administration
reported in 2016 that small business workers account for 46.6%
of the private sector workforce; and
WHEREAS, In addition to Federal small business loans and
payroll protection loans, Pennsylvania has given more than $61
million in small business loans; and
WHEREAS, This assistance constitutes only a tiny amount of
what is needed to help small businesses recover in Pennsylvania;
and
WHEREAS, During this crisis, Pennsylvania families and
businesses are struggling and witnessing economic devastation;
and
WHEREAS, Various economic and safety measures to minimize the
impact of the pandemic have been implemented; and
WHEREAS, During recovery from this crisis, Pennsylvania must
undertake initiatives to assist unemployed and stressed
residents and our small businesses and provide them a chance to
outlast this pandemic; and
WHEREAS, Some utility companies are requesting astonishing
rate increases, as much as 24%, while families are struggling to
stay in their homes, and small businesses, nonprofit
organizations and educational institutions are fighting to carry
on through the current challenges; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives, recognizing the
proclamation of a pandemic emergency, urge the Pennsylvania
Public Utility Commission to suspend all utility rate hikes
through the end of 2020; and be it further
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives, mindful that
many utility companies have had successive annual rate
increases, urge the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission to
freeze all requests for utility rate hikes through 2020.
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