Stefano Honored as Champion of Small Businesses

HARRISBURG – Sen. Pat Stefano (R-32) was recognized by the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) as a Guardian of Small Business for his impeccable voting record in support of key small business issues during the 2019-20 legislative session.

While NFIB recognizes lawmakers who voted favorably on small business issues at least 70% of the time, Sen. Stefano was in a special class of legislators who supported small businesses initiatives 100% of the time. The key issues include COVID-19 waivers for businesses, COVID-19 mitigation plans, tax measures and minimum wage requirements.

“Small businesses truly drive the Commonwealth’s economy, and we recently witnessed what can happen if they’re prevented from doing business. It truly impacts not just our economy but also the availability of products we need,” Sen. Stefano said. “The COVID-19 response was a grave reminder of how critical it is for all of us to support small businesses, and I am grateful that I’ve been given the opportunity to do that in a meaningful way.”

Sen. Stefano prioritized employers in the wake of the pandemic, co-prime sponsoring legislation that would provide for limited, temporary and targeted COVID-19 liability for businesses that have attempted to comply with confusing and ever-changing state and federal COVID-19 guidelines. Senate Bill 273 would acknowledge that decisive action – like manufacturers donating materials and being forced to increase production – was required before research could be conducted. The process was outside normal assumptions about precautions, risks, responsibility and liability.

He also opposes Pennsylvania joining the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative and has shepherded the state’s emergency declaration measures forward.

Since 1943, NFIB has advocated on behalf of America’s small and independent business owners.

 

CONTACT: Mark Fetzko, mfetzko@pasen.gov

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