Timeline

Senator Aument’s COVID-19 Response

January 26, 2022 – The Senate Community, Economic, & Recreational Development Committee hosts a public hearing to receive testimony from economic experts and entrepreneurs on Senator Aument’s proposed Small Business Assistance Package designed to enhance economic recovery in Pennsylvania. Small businesses throughout the Commonwealth have been struggling to remain relevant, with pandemic restrictions, the workforce shortage and other factors playing a role.

January 25, 2022 – The State Senate approves critical funding for hospitals and frontline health care workers who continue to keep Pennsylvanians safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

January 13, 2022 – Senator Aument introduces legislation to empower parents to send their child to a school with COVID-19 policies of their choice by creating a universal Education Savings Account (ESA) for parents and students to utilize during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

December 15, 2021 – Continuing efforts by the General Assembly to limit the power of government and return it to the people of Pennsylvania, Senator Aument applauds the House’s approval of Senate Bill 106, which proposes amending Pennsylvania’s Constitution to restore the balance of power in government and restore voter confidence in our elections and their outcomes. He then urged the Senate to concur on the House’s action immediately.

December 8, 2021 – Senator Aument and Speaker Cutler publish an op-ed entitled, “Balance of Power in Government Means More Power for the People,” in which they said that, “The abuse of executive power by both parties and at all levels of government must stop.”

November 19, 2021 – Senator Aument announces more than $3.6 million in grants for the 36^th Senatorial District to be used to benefit local communities by creating and improving outdoor recreational opportunities, for which we have seen an increased demand post-pandemic. It will also be used for safety improvements in numerous locations.

November 9, 2021 – Continuing efforts by the General Assembly to ensure no single person, authority or interest can outweigh the voices of the people of the Commonwealth, Senator Aument and Speaker Cutler introduce two amendments to the Pennsylvania Constitution that would restore the balance of power to the three-branch system of governing.

October 28, 2021 – Senator Aument published an op-ed entitled, “When It Comes to Education: More Options, Less Arguments,” in which he says that he’s, “…consistently argued that local control is vital to addressing the unique needs and wants of our students.”

September 29, 2021 – Senator Aument votes in favor of legislation to extend waivers of an array of regulatory statutes, rules and regulations to aid in Pennsylvania’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

September 28, 2021 – The Senate Education Committee approves Senator Aument’s bill to address the pandemic-induced learning gap on this generation of students by expanding educational options through the Open Campus Initiative at no cost to taxpayers.

August 31, 2021 – Senator Aument issues a statement entitled “One-Size-Fits-All Mask Mandate is Wrong for PA” following Governor Wolf’s announcement that he will be requiring all school students, teachers, and staff across Pennsylvania to wear masks, citing his authority to do so under the Disease Control & Prevention Act.

August 30, 2021 – Senator Aument announces his intent to introduce legislation to empower parents to send their child to a school with COVID-19 policies of their choice by creating a universal Education Savings Account (ESA) for parents and students to utilize during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

July 28, 2021 – Senator Aument attends a public hearing in Lancaster hosted by the Senate Community, Economic, & Recreational Development Committee on the economic impact of the workforce shortage. A May 2021 survey conducted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce found that 49% of Americans who became unemployed during the pandemic said they are not actively or not very actively looking for work.

June 26, 2021 – The Senate approves a $40.8 billion General Fund Budget for Fiscal Year 2021-22 that supports Pennsylvania’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic while protecting taxpayers from tax increases.

June 24, 2021 – Senator Aument votes in favor of legislation that prevents the excess use of power by the state Secretary of Health and prohibits vaccine passport requirements while ensuring the protection of public health. (Vetoed by governor) 

June 16, 2021 – Senator Aument votes in favor of legislation that allows family members to safely visit long-term care facilities during a pandemic as essential caregivers.

June 10, 2021 – Senator Aument votes to end Governor Wolf’s COVID-19 emergency declaration after voters approved two Constitutional amendments in May 2021 that limited the length of disaster declarations and gave the General Assembly the sole power to extend a governor’s initial disaster declaration. Constitutional amendments are required to pass both chambers of the General Assembly in two consecutive sessions and then be approved by Pennsylvania voters in a ballot referendum. Senator Aument voted in favor of this Constitutional amendment both in 2020 and again in 2021 before it was finally approved by Pennsylvania voters.

June 10, 2021 – Senator Aument votes in favor of legislation to ensure all waivers previously effective under the COVID-19 emergency will remain in effect until Sept. 30, 2021, unless sooner terminated by the authority which initially authorized the waiver.

May 18, 2021 – Pennsylvania voters approve a Constitutional amendment to limit the length of future emergency declarations to 30 days and require any extension of the declaration to be approved by the General Assembly. Constitutional amendments are required to pass both chambers of the General Assembly in two consecutive sessions and then be approved by Pennsylvania voters in a ballot referendum. Senator Aument voted in favor of this Constitutional amendment both in 2020 and again in 2021 before it was finally approved by Pennsylvania voters in the May 2021 Primary Election.

April 20, 2021 – Senator Aument and a group of lawmakers highlight ongoing efforts to better educate the public about potential amendments to the Pennsylvania Constitution ahead of the May 2021 Primary Election. Lawmakers approved potential amendments to the Constitution that will appear on the ballot for voters in the May 18 election, including two questions designed to improve the way the state responds to future emergencies. The Department of State was responsible for drafting the questions in a way that’s fair and easy to understand. However, the Wolf Administration was widely criticized for wording the emergency response questions in a way that was deeply confusing and prejudicial.

April 20, 2021 – The Senate approves legislation sponsored by Lancaster County Senators Ryan Aument and Scott Martin to address the lasting effects of the pandemic-induced learning gap on this generation of students by helping schools find substitute teachers.

April 7, 2021 – Senator Aument signs on as a co-sponsor of Senate Bill 618, legislation that would prohibit vaccine passport requirements in Pennsylvania while ensuring the protection of public health.

April 1, 2021 – Senators Ryan P. Aument (R-36), Camera Bartolotta (R-46), Judy Ward (R-30), and Kristin Phillips-Hill (R-28) issue an op-ed entitled “As Pennsylvania Begins its Slow Recovery from COVID-19, Small Businesses Must Be a Top Priority,” saying that, “If we want to emerge from this crisis stronger than ever before, we need to make a concerted effort to create a favorable environment for business and job growth.”

March 15, 2021 – Senators Ryan P. Aument (R-36), Camera Bartolotta (R-46), Judy Ward (R-30), and Kristin Phillips-Hill (R-28) host a press conference in Lititz, PA to announce a package of bills designed to support small businesses that have been affected by Governor Wolf’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

March 2, 2021 – Lancaster County Senators Ryan Aument and Scott Martin announce they will introduce a bill to address the lasting effects of the pandemic-induced learning gap on this generation of students by helping schools find substitute teachers.

March 2, 2021 – Lancaster County Senators Ryan Aument and Scott Martin host a special COVID-19 Vaccine Virtual & Telephone Town Hall to discuss Lancaster County’s COVID-19 Mass Vaccination Plan and answer questions regarding the vaccine.

February 9, 2021 – Senator Aument announces that he was chosen to be one of four members of the General Assembly to serve on a bipartisan COVID-19 Vaccine Joint Task Force. Through his work on the Task Force, Senator Aument was able to both help Pennsylvania distribute the vaccine to all those who wanted it more quickly while also ensuring that the voices of his constituents were heard by the Governor and his administration for perhaps the first time since the pandemic began. He was also able to advocate for reopening Pennsylvania as more residents were vaccinated when democrats wanted to keep businesses closed longer.

February 5, 2021 – Senator Aument votes to approve a comprehensive $912 million relief measure to help restaurants, schools, employers, and tenants impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

February 3, 2021 – Lancaster County Senators Ryan Aument and Scott Martin raise serious concerns about the massive tax hikes and unsustainable new government spending included in Governor Tom Wolf’s 2021-22 budget proposal. They took particular concern with Governor Wolf’s proposal to raise the minimum wage, arguing that, “businesses that were forced to fully or partially close during the pandemic should be exempt from the minimum wage increase and should have their overall tax burden reduced, not increased.”

January 26, 2021 – Senator Aument votes in favor of legislation which proposes a Constitutional amendment to limit the length of future emergency declarations to 30 days and require any extension of the declaration to be approved by the General Assembly. Constitutional amendments are required to pass both chambers of the General Assembly in two consecutive sessions and then be approved by Pennsylvania voters in a ballot referendum. Senator Aument voted in favor of the previous version of the bill, which was passed by both chambers in the 2019-20 legislative session. The proposal needs to pass both chambers again in the 2021-22 legislative session before it can be considered finally by Pennsylvania voters.

December 18, 2020 – Senator Aument announces his intent to introduce a package of bills aimed at providing both immediate and long-term relief to the Commonwealth’s struggling restaurants, bars, and small businesses.

December 15^th, 2020: Senator Aument signed on as a cosponsor of legislation reintroduced by Senator John Blake that would create a tax credit program for manufacturers who convert or retrofit their facilities and operations in order to produce personal protective equipment or who produce equipment necessary for the production of personal protective equipment to help with the Commonwealth’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

December 15^th, 2020: Senator Aument signed on as a cosponsor of legislation reintroduced by Senator Bob Mensch that would allow a family member or other designated person to visit and care for an elderly relative in a long-term care facility (LTFC).

December 14^th, 2020: Senator Aument signed on as a cosponsor of legislation reintroduced by Senator Lisa Baker that would establish a commission to conduct an informed, nonpartisan after action assessment of state capabilities and response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

December 14^th, 2020: Senator Aument signed on as a cosponsor of legislation reintroduced by Senator Michele Brooks that would establish a Sales Tax Holiday for the purchase of personal protective equipment and other emergency preparedness equipment.

December 14^th, 2020: Senator Aument signed on as a cosponsor of legislation reintroduced by Senator Lisa Baker that would provide liability assistance for health care providers, PPE manufacturers, schools, businesses, etc., to protect them from unfair lawsuits against the good-faith actions they took during the pandemic.

December 11^th, 2020: Senator Aument signed on as a cosponsor of legislation introduced by Senator Lisa Boscola that would temporarily permit liquor licensees to purchase wines and spirits from the state liquor stores and beer from distributors on a credit basis – no payment being required at the time of purchase – for the purpose of providing financial assistance to small businesses during the pandemic.

December 11^th, 2020: Senator Aument signed on as a cosponsor of legislation introduced by Senator Lisa Boscola that would provide Pennsylvania restaurants and bars with a sales tax suspension and wholesale tax break.

December 11^th, 2020: Senator Aument signed on as a cosponsor of legislation reintroduced by Senators Bartolotta and Laughlin that would dedicate additional Medicaid funding to facilities that serve a substantial number of patients who require ventilator or tracheostomy care.

December 10^th, 2020: Senator Aument signed on as a cosponsor of legislation reintroduced by Senators Bartolotta and Judy Ward that would allow small businesses to take a net loss against other sources of income. Creates parity – currently, corporations in Pennsylvania may take Net Operating Losses (NOL) against future years for up to 20 years. However, small businesses paying their taxes through personal income cannot carry losses forward. This bill allows small businesses to “carry back” losses to previous tax years in order to get cash into the hands of small businesses quicker without creating a new grant or loan program.

December 10^th, 2020: Senator Aument signed on as a cosponsor of two bills (School Property Tax Payment & Penalty Relief and Municipal Property Tax Payment & Penalty Relief) reintroduced by Senator Scott Martin that would expand relief to property taxpayers by permitting local governments and school districts to choose to extend their discount period and/or waive penalties due to the pandemic.

December 10^th, 2020: Senator Aument signed on as a cosponsor of legislation reintroduced by Senators Kristin Phillips-Hill and Judy Ward that would grant Commonwealth school entities, municipalities, and government authorities the option to choose whether they wish to pursue a moratorium on the existing Pennsylvania Prevailing Wage Act requirements due to a significant decline in tax revenue from COVID-19.

December 9^th, 2020: Senator Aument signed on as a cosponsor of legislation reintroduced by Senator Judy Ward that would allow club license holders to sell malt beverages for off-premise consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic.  

December 8th, 2020: Senator Aument reintroduced legislation that would reform statewide judicial elections and ensure fair representation. More information on the bill can be found on Senator Aument’s Fair Judicial Districts webpage. 

December 8th, 2020: Senators Aument & Phillips-Hill reintroduced legislation that would strengthen, secure, and consolidate information technology (IT) across state agencies in order to modernize and streamline operations and other issues exacerbated by the pandemic. 

December 7th, 2020: Senator Aument signed on as a co-sponsor of legislation reintroduced by Senators Judy Ward and Gene Yaw that would ensure that milk haulers can travel on highways during a declaration of disaster emergency.

December 4th, 2020: Senator Aument signed on as a co-sponsor of legislation introduced by Senator Majority Leader Kim Ward which proposes a Constitutional amendment that would limit the length of future emergency declarations to 30 days and require any extension of the declaration to be approved by the General Assembly. Constitutional amendments are required to pass both chambers of the General Assembly in two consecutive sessions and then be approved by Pennsylvania voters in a ballot referendum. The previous version of the bill (Senate Bill 1166) was passed by both chambers in the 2019-20 legislative session which expired on 11/30/2020, but would need to pass both chambers again in the 2021-22 legislative session before it could be considered finally by Pennsylvania voters.

December 4th, 2020: Senator Aument signed on as a co-sponsor of legislation reintroduced by Senator Joe Pittman that would allow volunteer fire departments, veterans organizations and other non-profits to conduct Small Games of Chance (SGOC) fundraisers online amidst the COVID-19 disaster emergency declaration.

December 4th, 2020: Senator Aument signed on as a co-sponsor of legislation reintroduced by Senator Kristin Phillips-Hill that would allow for greater flexibility for substitute teacher certification in order to help our school districts during these uncertain times. 

November 30th, 2020: EXPIRATION OF 2019-2020 LEGISLATIVE SESSION – all bills introduced during this two year period expired at midnight on this date. Any bills that were not enacted into law during this period must be reintroduced in the 2021-2022 legislative session if the prime sponsor wants the General Assembly to consider those proposals moving forward.

November 27^th 2020: Senator Aument promoted the Senate Transportation Committee’s hearing regarding PennDOT funding challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

November 27^th, 2020: Senator Aument joined the Lancaster Chamber to promote their “Think Local” campaign to encourage residents to support struggling small businesses throughout their communities during the holiday season. 

November 23^rd, 2020: Senators Ryan Aument and Scott Martin hosted a virtual town hall event with guest speaker Dr. Michael Ripchinski, Chief Clinical Officer at Lancaster General Health, to discuss the COVID-19 response in Lancaster County. 

November 20^th, 2020: Senator Aument voted in favor of legislation aimed at providing liability assistance for health care providers, PPE manufacturers, schools, businesses, etc., to protect them from unfair lawsuits against the good-faith actions they took during the pandemic. Governor Wolf later vetoed the bill.

November 20^th, 2020: The Legislature completed work on the 2020-21 state budget, agreeing to a plan that maintains critical state services without the need for tax or fee increases. The budget plan completes the work that began in May, when a five-month budget plan was enacted to provide additional time to determine the full financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

November 18^th, 2020: Senator Aument voted in favor of two bills that would ensure the Second Amendment rights of Pennsylvanians are protected during emergency declarations:

• House Bill 1747 would ensure firearm sales are not prohibited during an emergency declaration and that the rights of law-abiding citizens to open carry firearms during a state of emergency are not infringed upon.
• House Bill 2440 would ensure shooting ranges, sportsman clubs, hunting facilities and firearm and ammunition manufacturers, retailers and distributors are considered life-sustaining businesses that will not be shuttered by state government during an emergency declaration.

Governor Wolf ultimately vetoed both bills.

November 19^th, 2020: Senator Aument supported his colleague, Senator Scott Martin, in seeking clarification from the Pennsylvania Department of Health regarding their new masking mandates for athletes. 

November 19^th, 2020: Senator Aument participated in a conference call with Dr. Mike Ripchinski, Chief Clinical Officer at Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health, to discuss the impact and implications of the increase in COVID-19 hospitalization numbers in Lancaster County over the last three weeks. 

November 18^th, 2020: Senator Aument voted in favor of legislation that would give schools more flexibility by easing many certification and staff development requirements that are difficult to fulfill during the pandemic and extending certain emergency permits when staff development requirements cannot be completed.

November 12^th, 2020: Senator Aument participated in a conference call with WellSpan Health intended to provide elected officials with an update on their COID-19 response and the potential impact to local communities.

November 12^th, 2020: Senator Aument spoke to the Columbia Economic Development Corporation to discuss developing innovative solutions to both help existing industries and attract new ones to invest in our state as we collectively seek to restore, rebuild, and reimagine a stronger Pennsylvania in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

October 21st, 2020: The Senate approved two bills to boost the availability of broadband by reducing regulatory burdens on telecommunications companies and utilizing existing infrastructure to further deploy high-speed internet, the need for which has only increased during the pandemic.

October 21st, 2020: The Senate gave final approval to Senate Bill 1110, legislation that would require the Pennsylvania Department of Health and local health agencies to provide 911 dispatch centers with the address of any known positive case of a communicable disease that is infectious through aerosolized transmission.

October 20^th, 2020: Senator Aument published an op-ed discussing his Restore, Rebuild, & Reimagine PA report in which he lays out his legislative priorities to build a stronger Pennsylvania in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

October 19th, 2020: Senator Aument hosted a virtual town hall event in which he answered questions and listened to feedback from community residents on issues related to COVID-19, the upcoming election, and more.

October 19th, 2020: The Senate approved legislation to ensure safe visitation and enhanced care for residents of long-term care facilities.

October 6th, 2020: The Senate approved comprehensive legislation that would strengthen, secure, and consolidate information technology (IT) across state agencies in order to modernize and streamline operations and other issues exacerbated by the pandemic.

October 6th, 2020: The Senate approved Senate Bill 1268, legislation that would allow temporary nurse aides hired during the COVID-19 emergency declaration to receive certification to continue working in the field.

October 5th, 2020: Senator Aument participated in a Senate Education Committee public hearing to take a closer look at legislation that would ensure children in Pennsylvania will have access to the educational resources they need to succeed through “Education Scholarship Accounts.” Watch Senator Aument’s Q&A with testifiers at the hearing here.

October 5th, 2020: Senator Aument announced the release of his Restore, Rebuild, & Reimagine Pennsylvania report, a document containing his legislative priorities based on the results of constituent feedback. A full copy of the report can be found here.

September 22nd, 2020: In an effort to eliminate discrepancies between the number of COVID-19 deaths reported by the Department of Health and county coroners, the Senate passed legislation that would ensure county coroners are notified of all suspected deaths in their jurisdiction caused by this virus and other contagious diseases.

September 22nd, 2020: Senator Aument voted in favor of approving bipartisan legislation that would ease Governor Wolf’s arbitrary and burdensome restrictions on owners of bars and restaurants.  He also visited Mick’s All American Pub to talk about the devastating effect that the Governor’s restrictions have had on the hospitality industry: Struggling Restaurant Industry Needs Cooperation, Not Partisanship in Harrisburg.

September 22nd, 2020: Senator Aument voted in favor of approving legislation to protect residents of assisted living facilities and other long-term care homes from disease outbreaks.

September 21st, 2020: The Senate unanimously approved House Bill 2487, legislation that would apply a freeze to COLA (cost of living adjustments) for public officials through 2021 in response to COVID-19.

September 16th, 2020: Senator Aument signed on as a co-sponsor of a package of bills sponsored by Senators Andrew Dinniman & Wayne Langerholc that would provide online support and learning for identified groups and age-appropriate pandemic instruction.

September 15th, 2020: Senator Aument issued a brief statement on the decision issued by a United States District Judge that declared Governor Wolf and Secretary Levine’s shutdown order unconstitutional. 

September 14th, 2020: Senator Aument signed on as a co-sponsor of legislation sponsored by Senators Scott Martin & Pat Stefano that would distribute $500 million of CARES Act funding to provide aid to Pennsylvania restaurants, bars, and businesses in the tourism and hospitality industries suffering due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

September 11th, 2020: Senator Aument joined Representative Brett Miller for a tour of Hempfield High School in Landisville to learn about the work done by educators and staff to ensure that students have the opportunity to safely return to school.

September 9th, 2020: The Senate gave final approval to House Bill 2787, legislation that would ensure school districts could make the final decision on whether to allow school sports, extracurricular activities and spectators during the 2020-21 school year.

September 9th, 2020: The Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 835, legislation that would establish a grant program to extend deployment of broadband services in under-served areas of the state, the need for which has been further exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

September 8th, 2020: Senator Aument participated  in a hearing of the Senate Communications & Technology Committee that focused specifically on scrutinizing and properly vetting the contact tracing mobile app developed by the Pennsylvania Department of Health with assistance from Apple and Google. The app was not created by any bill in the Legislature, nor is it administered by the General Assembly. That is why Senator Aument and his colleagues asked the questions that they knew their constituents wanted answered during this oversight hearing, particularly with regards to privacy concerns.

September 8th, 2020: Senator Aument voted to move House Bill 2513, legislation that would remove the governor’s 25-percent cap on occupancy and allowed restaurants to operate at 50 percent capacity until the current COVID-19 emergency declaration ends, out of the Senate Law & Justice Committee. Senator Aument also expressed disappointment that the Wolf Administration acted to further restrict restaurant and bar operations on the same day that the Legislature moved bipartisan, agreed to language to help the hospitality industry. 

September 4th, 2020: Senator Aument participated in an emergency voting meeting of the Senate Education Committee, in which members of the Committee advanced legislation that would codify into law Pennsylvania’s local school district’s ability to make decisions regarding fall sports and activities, thereby ensuring that our school districts are not subject to the ever-changing whims of Governor Wolf. 

August 31st, 2020: Senator Aument signed on as a co-sponsor of Senate Bill 1268, legislation sponsored by Senator Judy Ward that would enable Temporary Nurse Aides hired during the COVID-19 emergency declaration to transition to Certified Nurse Aides in an effort to support these workers and the Long-Term Care Facilities that employ them.

August 25th, 2020: Senator Aument wrote an op-ed entitled “Don’t Be Fooled by Misinformation on Social Media” in which he emphasized the importance of quality, verifiable, and unbiased information in the COVID-19 era and offered practical tips to recognize misinformation.

August 20th, 2020: Senator Aument introduced legislation that would increase online learning resources for our school entities by requiring the PA Department of Education (PDE) to establish a central repository of online courses accessible to all public schools, nonpublic schools, home education programs, and the general public.

August 19th, 2020: Senator Aument participated in a joint hearing of the House & Senate Education Committees to discuss the safe reopening of Pennsylvania schools, which included testimony from Secretary Rivera of the PA Department of Education and Secretary Levine of the PA Department of Health, among others. Senator Aument asked Secretary Levine about the adverse health effects of keeping students home this fall.

August 18th, 2020: Senator Aument signed on as a co-sponsor of legislation sponsored by Senator Bob Mensch that would allow a family member or other designated person to visit and care for an elderly relative in a long-term care facility (LTFC).

August 18th, 2020: Senator Aument signed on as a co-sponsor of Senate Bill 1234, legislation sponsored by Senator Tom Killion that proposes to use flexible funds available under the Federal CARES Act to assist utility customers who were economically displaced as a result of the pandemic. 

August 17th, 2020: Senator Aument signed on as a co-sponsor of legislation sponsored by Senator Lisa Baker that would establish a commission to conduct an informed, nonpartisan after action assessment of state capabilities and response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

August 14th, 2020: Senator Aument signed on as a co-sponsor of a legislative package sponsored by Senator Scott Martin that would expand relief to property taxpayers by permitting local governments and school districts to choose to extend their discount period and/or waive penalties in 2021 and the 2021-2022 school year.

August 12th, 2020: Senator Aument signed on as a co-sponsor of a legislative package sponsored by Senator Pat Stefano that would offer relief to Pennsylvania Restaurants and Taverns by removing the 25% occupancy requirement, removing the food requirement and ban on bar service, expanding outdoor dining to non-contiguous areas, and waiving all license renewal and permit fees.

August 12th, 2020: Senator Aument signed on as a co-sponsor of legislation sponsored by Senator Kristin Phillips-Hill that would allow for greater flexibility for substitute teacher certification in order to help our school districts during these uncertain times.

August 12th, 2020: Senator Aument joined the Elizabethtown Chamber of Commerce and Representatives Mindy Fee and Dave Hickernell in a virtual conversation to provide updates on COVID-19-related legislative issues, funding, and support.

August 5th, 2020: Senator Aument signed on as a co-sponsor of a legislative package sponsored by Senators Elder Vogel and Judy Schwank that would assist Pennsylvania’s struggling dairy industry by allowing the Pennsylvania Milk Marketing Board (PMMB) to expand oversight on currently un-licensed dealers.

July 30th, 2020: Senator Aument expressed his support for the sentiments expressed in colleague Senator Scott Martin’s letter to Governor Wolf in which he called on the Administration to develop guidelines on allowing spectators to attend fall sports activities, including at a minimum, parents of athletes.

July 28th, 2020: Senator Aument signed on as a co-sponsor of legislation sponsored by Senator Joe Pittman that would allow volunteer fire departments, veterans organizations and other non-profits to conduct Small Games of Chance (SGOC) fundraisers online amidst the COVID-19 disaster emergency declaration.

July 22nd, 2020: Senator Aument made a guest appearance on Terry Christopher’s podcast “The Right Frame of Mind” to discuss Governor Wolf’s new mandates, and the status of House Resolution 836 and other legislative measures to rein in the Governor’s unchecked power.

July 17th, 2020: Senator Aument published an op-ed summarizing his support for the fair judicial districts legislation.

July 15th, 2020: The Senate approved legislation to amend the Pennsylvania Constitution to require legislative approval before a governor can extend an emergency disaster declaration.

July 15th, 2020: The Senate approved legislation to reform statewide judicial elections and ensure fair representation. Senator Aument spoke in favor of the legislation on the Senate floor and created a webpage for constituents to use to learn more about the legislation.

July 15th, 2020: Lancaster County Senators Ryan Aument & Scott Martin expressed disappointment in the new restrictions announced by the Governor, citing concerns over the lack of data to support the severe measures: “The Governor’s actions prove that more input and collaboration is needed when making decisions that affect all Pennsylvanians. While we intend to keep working towards a veto override of House Resolution 836 to end the emergency declaration, we also intend to demand that the General Assembly has a role in making important decisions to protect lives and livelihoods.”

July 15th, 2020: The Senate gave final approval to a bill this week that would restore transparency in state government by prohibiting the governor from directing a state agency to ignore records requests during an emergency declaration. The legislation would ensure Pennsylvanians can continue to access public records during a disaster declaration.

July 15th, 2020: The Senate approved legislation to assist recent teaching graduates who are attempting to navigate the state certification process, which was disrupted during the COVID-19 pandemic.

July 6th, 2020: Senator Aument announced his intent to re-introduce legislation that would reform statewide judicial elections and ensure fair representation.

July 1st, 2020: Senators Aument & Martin expressed frustration over PA Supreme Court’s emergency declaration ruling, and vowed to, “…work with leaders in both chambers of the General Assembly to explore every option to rein in Governor Wolf’s largely unchecked power and his gross mismanagement of the COVID-19 pandemic, and to try to avoid even more damage to our communities.”

June 30th, 2020: The Senate voted unanimously to pass House Bill 2455, which requires the governor to submit to the General Assembly the plan for COVID-19 testing — including any amendments — that was submitted to the federal government.

June 30th, 2020: Senator Aument participated in a hearing of the Senate Majority Policy Committee today to discuss reopening the economy of southcentral Pennsylvania. During the hearing, he asked Andrea Shirk from Rock Lititz about  the utility of forming a joint task force to address the myriad issues created by the pandemic and the importance of including more voices from the business community in our response efforts.

June 30th, 2020: The Senate passed Senator Aument’s bill to assist businesses, health systems, and consumers in deploying innovative technological tools and resources to more effectively cope with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic by establishing basic rules for the operation of Personal Delivery Devices in the Commonwealth.

June 29th, 2020: Senator Aument voted to pass legislation that would make improvements and expand access to the Community-Based Health Care Program by providing funding to community health clinics in several different categories and reducing the unnecessary use of hospital emergency rooms for non-emergent care.

June 24th, 2020: Senator Aument voted to pass legislation to protect the future of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE).  As many PASSHE schools face considerable financial and enrollment pressures worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic, the goal of this legislation is to ensure the system has the tools to achieve its mission for years to come.

June 24th, 2020: Senator Aument voted in favor of passing House Bill 2418, legislation that would require the Pennsylvania Treasury to conduct a DOVID-19 debt cost reduction review by identifying and examining all outstanding debt obligations of the Commonwealth and its authorities, commissions, agencies, or boards, and submitting a report of the findings to the General Assembly no later than October 30, 2020.

June 23rd, 2020: Senator Aument voted in favor of advancing legislation out of the Senate Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee, including two bills that would address fairs and food establishments impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak.

June 18th, 2020: Senator Aument hosted a Zoom Roundtable Discussion with local agriculture and conservation leaders from across Lancaster County to answer questions and gather feedback as part of his Restore & Reimagine PA initiative.

June 15th, 2020: Senator Aument introduced legislation to assist businesses, health systems, and consumers in deploying innovative technological tools and resources to more effectively cope with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic by establishing basic rules for the operation of Personal Delivery Devices in the Commonwealth.

June 12th, 2020: Senator Aument hosted a Zoom Roundtable Discussion with local government leaders from across Lancaster County to answer questions and gather feedback as part of his Restore & Reimagine PA initiative.

June 10th, 2020: Senator Aument voted to pass Senate Bill 1125, legislation sponsored by Senator Scott Martin to give each school district the option to extend property tax discount periods and remove penalties for late payments through June 30, 2021.

June 10th, 2020: Senator Aument voted to pass Senate Bill 1166, a proposed Constitutional amendment that would limit the length of future emergency declarations to 30 days and require any extension of the declaration to be approved by the General Assembly.

June 9th, 2020: Senator Aument voted to pass House Resolution 836 to immediately terminate the governor’s emergency disaster declaration. He also delivered a speech on the Senate floor explaining the need for this measure and the reasoning for his support of it.

June 9th, 2020: Senator Aument attended a Senate Education Committee hearing on the impact of COVID-19 on higher education in Pennsylvania.

June 4th, 2020: Senator Aument hosted a Zoom Roundtable Discussion with faith leaders from across Lancaster County to answer questions and gather feedback as part of his Restore & Reimagine PA initiative.

June 3rd, 2020: Senator Aument hosted a Zoom Roundtable Discussion with the Lancaster Chamber Columbia / Donegal / Hempfield / Elizabethtown Consortium to answer questions and gather feedback from the business community as part of his Restore & Reimagine PA initiative.

May 29th, 2020: Senator Aument, along with Senator Scott Martin, hosted a Zoom Roundtable Discussion with the Lancaster Chamber Conestoga Valley / ELANCO / Pequea Valley Consortium to answer questions and gather feedback from the business community as part of his Restore & Reimagine PA initiative.

May 28th, 2020: Senator Aument supported passage of an interim $25.8 billion state budget proposal and a package of bills designed to support families, businesses, employees, and organizations affected by the pandemic.

May 28th, 2020: The Senate voted unanimously to pass Senate Bill 1108, which appropriates Pennsylvania’s federal CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) funding for critical needs created by the COVID-19 pandemic, including funding for county governments, community service providers, first responders, and food banks that have been impacted by the virus.

May 28th, 2020: The Senate gave final approval to Senate Bill 1122, which appropriates $507 million from Pennsylvania’s share of federal CARES funding to support a variety of programs and services for senior citizens, including nursing homes and long-term care facilities, and $31 million for a one-time grant program for volunteer fire and EMS companies.

May 28th, 2020: The Senate gave final approval to Senate Bill 1027, an omnibus COVID-19 business closure response bill that would require notice of any laws or regulations suspended by the Governor during an emergency, provide for state and local debt and cost reduction review, and provides that the Governor cannot fine or suspend a license for violations of emergency orders. Governor Wolf vetoed the bill on June 8th.

May 28th, 2020: Senator Aument voted in favor of passing House Bill 1210, legislation that would provide for transfers into the School Safety and Security Fund from federal funds related to COVID-19 and amends the Public-School Code of 1949 to repeal outdated and unnecessary provisions and implement the 2020-21 budget.

May 27th, 2020: Senator Aument and Senator Yudichak introduced the language for their bill to change the Governor’s emergency declaration powers to promote greater collaboration and transparency.

May 27th, 2020: Senator Aument hosted a Zoom Roundtable Discussion with the Lancaster Chamber Lititz / Manheim / Manheim Township Consortium to answer questions and gather feedback from the business community as part of his Restore & Reimagine PA initiative.

May 26th, 2020: Senator Aument hosted a Zoom Roundtable Discussion with the Lancaster Chamber Cocalico / Ephrata Consortium to answer questions and gather feedback from the business community as part of his Restore & Reimagine PA initiative.

May 22nd, 2020: As part of Lancaster County’s comprehensive plan to reopen safely during COVID-19, Senator Aument announced new testing and contact tracing initiatives are underway to protect the health and safety of community residents.

May 22nd, 2020: In lieu of his annual Senator for a Day event, which was cancelled due to the shutdown, Senator Aument hosted a Zoom Virtual Town Hall with students from local schools in which he answered questions and listened to their perspective on restoring, rebuilding, and reimagining a stronger Pennsylvania as part of his Restore & Reimagine PA initiative.

May 21st, 2020: Senator Aument hosted a Facebook Live Town Hall to answer questions and gather feedback from community residents as part of his Restore & Reimagine PA initiative.

May 15th, 2020: Senator Aument, along with other Lancaster County elected officials, continue to advance the Commissioners’ comprehensive plan to safely reopen the county.

May 14th, 2020: Senator Aument, along with other Lancaster County elected officials, responded to each of the 34 questions that the LNP Editorial Board posed to them after revealing their plan to safely reopen the county.

May 14th, 2020: Senator Aument co-sponsored a bill authored by Senator Dave Arnold aimed at ensuring public safety during a declaration of emergency, if the need arises to release state prison inmates.

May 13th, 2020: Senator Aument voted in favor of a four-bill package that would give county governments more control over reopening their local economies and provide waivers from the Governor’s closure order for a variety of businesses — if they can operate in a manner that protects employees and customers.

May 13th, 2020: Senator Aument offered remarks on the Senate floor in favor of Senate Bill 327 and the Lancaster County plan to safely reopen.

May 12th, 2020: Senator Aument voted in favor of legislation that would provide vital funding to nursing homes, personal care facilities and other senior citizens’ programs impacted by COVID-19 and allow them to continue providing essential services for the state’s most vulnerable population.

May 12th, 2020: The Senate voted unanimously to pass House Bill 1076, which expedites payments from the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program.

May 12th, 2020: The Senate approved Senate Bill 1128, legislation that would delay the suspension of a driver’s license during a judicial emergency.

May 11th, 2020: Senator Aument participated in a Senate Education Committee hearing on the continuity of education during the COVID-19 pandemic. He asked panelists questions about partnerships between cyber charter schools and traditional public schools to provide expertise on online learning.

May 11th, 2020: Senator Aument, along with other military veteran lawmakers Rep. Frank Ryan (R-Lebanon), Sen. Doug Mastriano (Adams/Cumberland/Franklin/York), Reps. Tim O’Neal (R-Washington), Greg Rothman (R-Cumberland) and Andrew Lewis (R-Dauphin) issued a joint press release pushing back against the Governor labeling them as “cowards” in the fight against the coronavirus.

May 10th, 2020: Senator Aument, along with elected officials from all levels of government representing Lancaster County, joined together to unveil a comprehensive plan to safely begin reopening the county in a data-informed manner in a letter sent to Governor Wolf. Senator Aument later issued a press release in which he outlined a detailed roadmap explaining how elected officials intend to both protect public health and restart the local economy in a safe, data-informed manner.

May 8th, 2020: In an effort to assist businesses, health systems, and consumers to deploy innovative technological tools and resources that will help them to more effectively cope with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Senator Aument circulated a co-sponsorship memo announcing his intent to introduce legislation that establishes the basic rules for the operation of Personal Delivery Devices in the Commonwealth.

May 7th, 2020: Senator Aument hosted a live telephone town hall event to answer questions and gather feedback from community residents specifically related to coronavirus issues.

May 6th, 2020: Senator Aument launched the “Restore & Reimagine PA” initiative to collect feedback from constituents in an effort to create a legislative agenda to restore, rebuild, and reimagine a stronger Pennsylvania together.

May 6th, 2020: Senator Aument participated in a public hearing of the Senate Law & Justice Committee to consider Liquor Control Board issues and the impacts on small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Senator Aument asked the panelists questions about disparities in the market place created by the shutdown order, as well as the timeline for when the LCB began planning for the shutdown.

May 5th, 2020: Senator Aument participated in a joint public hearing of the Senate Labor and Industry Committee and Senate Communications and Technology Committee held a joint hearing to examine the problems with the Unemployment Compensation (UC) system that have created significant delays in assistance and extreme frustrations from claimants.

May 4th, 2020: Senator Aument issued a public statement entitled, “Disagreements & Collaboration Result in Better Public Policy” in which he urged Pennsylvanians and elected officials to be understanding and compassionate during a time when disagreements are inevitable but not inherently bad, as they present an opportunity to reevaluate assumptions and improve ideas.

May 1st, 2020: Senator Aument expressed deep frustrations that no restrictions have been lifted for local employers and workers who can safely operate in counties that are still in the red phase.

April 30th, 2020: Senator Aument and Senator Yudichak announced their intent to introduce legislation to change the Governor’s emergency declaration powers to promote greater collaboration and transparency.

April 29th, 2020: Senator Aument voted to pass legislation that would:

• Require the state to notify local first responders of COVID-19 cases in their communities. Senate Bill 1110 would require the Department of Health or local health authority to release to 911 centers, police, fire, coroners and EMS personnel an individual’s communicable disease status when the disease is the subject of an emergency disaster proclamation by the Governor.
• Extend the amount of time employees who work with children have to recertify background checks until December 31, as many are unable to complete the necessary FBI criminal background checks due to the COVID-19 pandemic. House Bill 360 would also create different criteria for initial applicants to work on a temporary basis.
• Simplify the judicial process by establishing the following temporary measures immediately, which would then be automatically implemented during any future judicial emergencies. Senate Bill 1119 would toll the Statute of Limitations for civil and criminal cases and provide additional time for the filing of any necessary pleadings. Senate Bill 1120 would extend the time period individuals have for responding to a citation, or paying the appropriate fines, costs, or restitution.

April 29th, 2020: Senator Aument, along with Senator Doug Mastriano and other Senate Republicans, sent a letter to Governor Wolf urging him to reverse his March 19, 2020 decision to prohibit the sales of vehicles.

April 29th, 2020: Senator Aument and Senator Martin supported critical funding for nursing homes so that they can better deal with the significant new challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic, and urged the Wolf Administration to do everything in its power to expediently grant regulatory waivers to assist these facilities hit hardest by this crisis.

April 29th, 2020: Senator Aument, along with other elected officials from Lancaster County, sent a letter to Governor Wolf urging him to reconsider his classification of Lancaster County as part of the Southeastern region as he considers when to allow Pennsylvania regions to reopen.

April 28th, 2020: Senator Aument voted in favor of passing Senate Bill 1097, legislation that would allow for remote notarizations.

April 28th, 2020: Senator Aument, along with all 27 of his Senate Republican colleagues, signed on to a letter to Pennsylvania Auditor General Eugene DePasquale urging him to conduct an audit of the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development’s (DECD) handling of the waiver process for businesses that felt they were incorrectly classified as non-essential after Governor Wolf ordered all non-life-sustaining businesses in the Commonwealth to close. The purpose of the audit is to ensure accountability and transparency in government, as DCED has thus far denied all requests to make public the list of business who did and did not receive waivers.

April 27th, 2020: Senator Aument co-sponsored legislation that would amend the County Code to make clear that all deaths in a county suspected of COVID-19 shall be referred to the county coroner for investigation.

April 24th, 2020: Senator Aument sponsored a bill to protect Pennsylvania’s food supply chain by allowing garden centers to reopen if they can adhere to social distancing and mitigation measures established by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

April 21st, 2020: The Senate voted unanimously to pass House Bill 1869, which ensures law enforcement, first responders, and active duty National Guard members who contract COVID-19 can receive compensation while quarantined or receiving treatment for the virus.

April 21st, 2020: In response to comments that Governor Wolf made in a press conference regarding what employers should do if an employee refuses to come back to work due to their Unemployment Compensation expanded benefits outpacing their regular wages, Senator Aument pushed back on the governor’s fraudulent claims, stating that, “…not only did the Governor say that folks wouldn’t have to go back to work, but he also argued that employers should have to pay increased wages, essentially mandating small businesses increase wages to exceed the expanded UC benefits. Governor Wolf has proven time and time again throughout this crisis that he is more focused on achieving partisan goals than working together to do what’s in the best interest of Pennsylvanians.”

April 21st, 2020: Senator Aument voted in favor of legislation that would:

• Help more patients overcome barriers to care during the COVID-19 pandemic by promoting the use of telemedicine.
• Ensure law enforcement, first responders and active duty National Guard members who contract COVID-19 can still receive compensation while quarantined or receiving treatment for the virus. 

April 20th, 2020: Senator Aument voted in favor of a new law to allow notaries to do business remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic, clearing a major hurdle that prevented auto sales from being conducted online.

April 16th, 2020: Senator Aument hosted a live telephone town hall event to answer questions and gather feedback from community residents specifically related to coronavirus issues.

April 15th, 2020: Senator Aument voted in favor of two bills that would have provided some much-needed clarity and common sense to the process of deciding which businesses can safely operate during the COVID-19 pandemic. Those measures include:

• Senate Bill 613 would have aligned Pennsylvania’s list of essential vs. non-essential businesses with a list developed by the CDC and the Cybersecurity Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) that was, at the time, used by 22 other states across the nation. It would have required the governor to create clear guidelines for businesses to operate during the COVID-19 pandemic and permit them to re-open as long as they comply with mitigation strategies.
• To restore local control, Senate Bill 327 would give county governments the option to develop and implement their own plans to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, following CISA guidelines. Under the bill, businesses already identified as essential could continue to operate. However, counties would also be given the authority to develop plans to allow other industries to operate if it is safe to do so. The bill also creates a COVID-19 Cost and Recovery Task Force made up of representatives of all three branches of government to identify and address issues related to the COVID-19 public health emergency together. The panel would be responsible for developing a recovery plan to restore public services and economic activity when it is safe to do so.

April 15th, 2020: In response to Governor Wolf’s announcement that he had joined a multi-state council to coordinate COVID-19 response across the region, Senator Aument urged the governor to first work with the General Assembly and coordinate with local leaders to solve local problems, saying: “While the time will come to seek input from surrounding states, we must put on our own oxygen mask before we help others put on theirs.”

April 8th, 2020: Senator Aument voted to pass Senate Bill 841, legislation that would take a number of steps to ensure local governments can continue to operate during the coronavirus pandemic. The bill would:

• Allow local governments to provide greater flexibility on property tax deadlines.
• Permit local governments to conduct remote meetings.
• Give notaries emergency authorization to notarize documents remotely through the use of communications technology.

April 7th, 2020: Senator Aument again called on Governor Wolf to work with the General Assembly to establish transparent benchmarks and communicate a plan to the public to protect public health and a data-informed process to roll back economic restrictions. He actively advocated in favor of legislation that would establish the bipartisan, inter-branch COVID-19 Cost & Recovery Task Force.

April 7th, 2020: Senator Aument co-sponsored legislation that would assist business owners across the Commonwealth by providing for a temporary halt on any foreclosure or eviction notice, should they be unable to make payment.

March 30th, 2020: Senator Aument, along with Senate Republican leadership, sent a letter to Governor Wolf asking him to include residential construction in Pennsylvania’s list of “essential businesses” per the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s guidelines. On May 1^st, 2020 the Governor sent this response letter alerting Senator Aument that, per his request, all construction would be permitted to resume in-person operations immediately.

March 30th, 2020: Senator Aument called for greater collaboration and a transparent exit plan in the fight against COVID-19.

March 27th, 2020: Senator Aument called on Governor Wolf to add automotive sales –provided they are conducted remotely or electronically, with vehicle return and delivery in-person by appointment only – to the list of life-sustaining businesses permitted to operate during the coronavirus pandemic due to the essential nature of their services.

March 25th, 2020: Senator Aument voted to pass several bills to keep Pennsylvania moving forward during the COVID-19 coronavirus public health emergency. The coronavirus response measures included:

• Senate Bill 422, which postpones Pennsylvania’s primary election from April 28 to June 2.
• Senate Bill 751, which updates Pennsylvania’s School Code to waive a number of mandates on schools that cannot be fulfilled under the current circumstances.
• House Bill 68, which provides for emergency changes to the state’s Unemployment Compensation law in response to COVID-19.
• House Bill 1232, which provides additional funding to healthcare facilities to purchase medical supplies and equipment and extends the deadline for certain state and local income tax payments and filings.

March 23rd, 2020: Senator Aument assured constituents that Pennsylvania will emerge from this crisis and provided resources to help constituents during these trying times.

March 20th, 2020: Senator Aument joined Senate leaders in raising concerns about some of the unforeseen problems that could arise from Governor Wolf’s executive order to close all non-life-sustaining businesses in Pennsylvania and how this measure could impact small businesses. As a result of these efforts, the Wolf Administration announced a waiver process for any company that believes they should be considered a life-sustaining-business. 

March 18th, 2020: Senator Aument voted in favor of resolution that would allow members of the Pennsylvania Senate to vote remotely, an important step to ensure continuity of Senate operations throughout the pandemic.

March 16th, 2020: Senator Aument co-sponsored legislation that would provide economic injury resources for small business throughout Pennsylvania.

March 16th, 2020: Senator Aument announced that the 36th Senatorial District office would be temporarily closed to in-person meetings.