(WASHINGTON, DC) – Representative Conor Lamb’s (PA-17) statement following the House of Representative’s final passage of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (H.R. 1319) to address the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic:

“Help is on the way, and western Pennsylvania deserves every dollar.  Family budgets, union pensions, schools, transit agencies, and the airport will all be stronger because of this bill.”

The legislation is now headed to the President for his signature.  Visit Lamb’s website for additional details on what is included in the final $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

Congress OKs $1.9T virus relief bill in win for Biden, Dems
By ALAN FRAM Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress has sent President Joe Biden the landmark $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill. The House approved the bill Wednesday over solid Republican opposition in a vote that gives the new president and Democrats a victory just seven weeks after he took office. Biden tweeted that “help is here” and said he would sign the bill on Friday. The 628-page measure represents Democrats’ effort to bridle the catastrophic pandemic and revive the enfeebled economy. Republicans say the measure is bloated, crammed with liberal policies and heedless of signs the dual crises are easing. The Senate passed the measure over unanimous Republican opposition four days ago.

US aid to state draws GOP warning to use it for 1-time costs
By MARC LEVY Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania state government is expected to receive more than $7 billion from the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 rescue package making its way through Congress, or almost one-fifth of its operating costs this year. On Tuesday, some lawmakers warned that the one-time sum of money should only be used for one-time costs. Many across the state government were still trying to determine exactly what restrictions are on the money. The estimated $7.3 billion coming to Pennsylvania state government dwarfs the roughly $2.5 billion deficit projected next year for state government next year by the Independent Fiscal Office, a legislative agency.

Fully-vaccinated people can gather without masks, CDC says
By MIKE STOBBE AP Medical Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — Fully-vaccinated Americans can gather with other vaccinated people indoors without wearing a mask or social distancing. That’s according to long-awaited guidance from federal health officials. The recommendations were announced Monday. They also say that vaccinated people can come together in the same way with people considered at low-risk for severe disease, such as in the case of vaccinated grandparents visiting healthy children and grandchildren. Officials say a person is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving the last required dose of vaccine. About 30 million Americans or only about 9% of the U.S. population have been fully vaccinated with a federally authorized COVID-19 vaccine so far.

(Pittsburgh, Pa.) Giant Eagle will be holding another clinic next week at Heinz field. This week’s clinic is full and starting this afternoon Appointments for March 8-9 will be made available online. Additional appointments may be added as more vaccines are received.

Appointments can be scheduled at the “Vaccine Clinics” option via the Giant Eagle online scheduling tool.

Giant Eagle Pharmacy expects to receive a shipment of vaccine in the coming days that would enable appointments for March 10 to be made available online over the weekend, and eligible patients are encouraged to routinely check availability online.

Lawmakers call for improved vaccine distribution for seniors
By MARK SCOLFORO Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania lawmakers are imploring state officials to do better at getting COVID-19 vaccines to seniors while the Health Department says the recent approval of a third vaccine will help. Aging Secretary Robert Torres told a state House committee on Tuesday that his agency has dedicated employees from its subsidized prescription drug and disabilities services programs to help older adults make vaccine appointments. At a separate press briefing, the Health Department’s senior adviser for COVID-19 response says the state has administered more than 2.48 million vaccine doses, among a state population of nearly 13 million people. Pennsylvania received more than 500,000 doses last week.

Teachers to get 1-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine, Wolf says
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Gov. Tom Wolf says teachers will receive doses of the newly approved one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine, under a plan his administration will release. In a news conference on a separate topic, Wolf said his administration’s plan will be released Wednesday. State officials expect 94,000 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine to arrive this week. Education groups say vaccinating school staff is essential to reopen schools and keep them open. The state is still in Phase 1A of its vaccine plan, offering the shots to people age 65 and over and younger people with high-risk medical conditions. That’s about 4 million people.

Pro teams allowing fans as Pennsylvania eases restrictions
By MICHAEL RUBINKAM and MARC LEVY Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Fans will soon return to pro sports venues whose stands have been empty for a year or more as Pennsylvania eases restrictions on large gatherings. State officials said Monday the changes take effect immediately and reflect a sustained slide in new COVID-19 cases. State officials say outdoor venues are now allowed to host events up to 20% of their maximum capacity, while indoor occupancy will be 15% of maximum capacity, regardless of venue size. Separately, the state is doing away with requirements for people who are traveling to Pennsylvania from another state and officials are considering a plan to speed up the vaccination for teachers.

(Harrisburg, Pa.) As COVID-19 cases continue to decline and the state’s vaccination plan is amplified, the Wolf Administration announced revised and lifted mitigation restrictions that are effective statewide today.

“Pennsylvania is taking a measured approach to revising or lifting mitigation orders,” Gov. Wolf said. “The reason we are seeing cases drop can be attributed, in part, to people following the mitigation efforts we have in place. Mask-wearing, social distancing and hand hygiene are making a difference and need to continue even as we see more and more people fully vaccinated. We need to balance protecting public health with leading the state to a robust economic recovery. We are lifting mitigation efforts only when we believe it is safe to do so.”

The revised mitigations restrictions announced today include:

• Revised maximum occupancy limits for indoor events to allow for 15% of maximum occupancy, regardless of venue size. Core public health measures such as face covering (mask-wearing), social distancing, and hand hygiene still must be enforced. The 15% of maximum occupancy is permitted only if attendees and workers are able to comply with the 6-foot physical distancing requirement.
• Revised maximum occupancy limits for outdoor events to allow for 20% of maximum occupancy, regardless of venue size. Core public health measures such as face covering (mask-wearing), social distancing, and hand hygiene still must be enforced. The 20% of maximum occupancy is permitted only if attendees and workers are able to comply with the 6-foot physical distancing requirement.
• Eliminate out-of-state travel restrictions.  In November, the Department of Health provided an updated travel order requiring anyone over the age of 11 who visits from another state to provide evidence of a negative COVID-19 test or place themselves in a travel quarantine for 14 days upon entering Pennsylvania. Today, this order was rescinded. The current downward trend of cases nationwide and implementation of testing requirements and universal face covering on public transportation and transportation hubs are reducing the risk that interstate travel is a vector of disease transmission.

Along with these changes, there is caution. Reduced cases, hospitalizations and deaths, and the more than 2.3 million vaccinations are good signs, but the CDC advises that now is not the time to introduce expansive loosening of mitigation efforts known to put people at more risk. New cases of variants continue to appear, and some experts warn of a fourth surge in cases.

The state considered broad range of data for today’s announcement and when considering lifting additional restrictions including (all data is as of Feb. 26):

• Percent of population receiving at least one dose of vaccine: 14 percent of the population under the jurisdiction of the Department of Health has received at least one dose of vaccine; if you remove those under age 16, the percentage increases to 16.9.
• Percent positivity; this stands at 6.3%
• The incidence rate per 100,000 residents; this stands at 101.3 over a 7-day period; and
• Hospital bed capacity (availability) stands at 41%.

(WASHINGTON, DC) –  Representative Conor Lamb (PA-17) statement following the House of Representative’s passage of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (H.R. 1319):

“This bill provides wartime-level funding to help end the COVID-19 pandemic.  To honor the 500,000 Americans who have lost their lives, we must fight this virus to the finish, and the size and scope of this bill will allow us to do that.

“The funding in this bill will deliver vaccines quicker, make schools safer, and better support the unemployed.  It will help the millions more who have lost hours at work due to the pandemic, and will protect people’s jobs, especially those who work for airlines and the public sector.

“Millions of Americans are worrying today about how to make ends meet, and when a vaccine will help them get back to normal.  They deserve to see their government act with the urgency demanded by this deadly disease.  The Senate should pass this bill without delay.”

Visit Lamb’s website for additional details on what is included in the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.