Congressman Bradley Byrne (AL-01) on Wednesday delivered a report to Governor Kay Ivey outlining recommendations on reopening the economy in Alabama’s First Congressional District, located in the southwest portion of the state.
Ivey requested a set of recommendations from each member of Alabama’s congressional delegation. These reports are all due on Wednesday and will form one of the three sources the governor has said she and State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris will rely on before reopening the economy.
Byrne’s recommendations came after he consulted with a task force of his district’s business, industry and health care leaders he announced last week.
“Their input based upon their own expertise and experience, and their consultations with others in their industry areas and communities, has been invaluable. But these are my recommendations and do not necessarily reflect the precise views of all members of the task force,” Byrne advised in the introduction section of his report.
“While efforts to fight the coronavirus are ongoing, it is critical to make informed preparations to begin safely reopening our local economy. The recommendations from our task force are the result of input from leaders of diverse backgrounds throughout our district and prioritize the need to provide clear and concise guidance to the public while holding businesses to the same reasonable standards regardless of their size. I thank all the members of our task force for offering their time and expertise, and I hope Governor Ivey finds our recommendations helpful,” Byrne stated.
“Even as we begin talking about reopening portions of the economy, that does not mean we can relax the necessary distancing and hygiene requirements like wearing a cloth mask in public and washing our hands thoroughly,” he added. “By continuing to fight this virus together, Southwest Alabama will weather this storm.”
One important thing to note in Byrne’s report is that he “consulted the Opening Up America Again Guidelines (the ‘Guidelines’) issued by the White House and the Centers for Disease Control on April 16,” specifically, the guidelines applicable to Phase One of this approach.
“I have concluded that we can begin to implement Phase One in Alabama’s First Congressional District on May 1. I have also concluded that it is premature to discuss going beyond Phase One at this time,” Byrne emphasized, later adding this is contingent on the current data trends holding through that date.
After lamenting that tens of thousands of Alabamians in his district have lost their job during the pandemic, Byrne remarked, “Every one of those job losses is a tragedy and reversing this trend is a pressing public policy priority.”
“Though President Trump and Congress have acted to cushion the effects of this unprecedented economic downturn, particularly with passage of the CARES Act, federal fiscal and monetary policy are incapable of doing so for the long term,” he continued. “The U.S. either returns to work or this country ceases to exist as anything like the free and prosperous country we have been.”
He also warned of a potential mental health crisis related to the pandemic and economic shutdown, calling that a looming “public health emergency.”
Byrne’s topline recommendations as follows:
Moving forward, Byrne recommended that the task force “should reconvene in one month to make a second round of recommendations, including the potential transition to Phase 2.”
Byrne’s report recommended that “bars and bar seating should remain closed, unless such seating can be accomplished consistent with six feet distancing guidelines. Bars should consider a transition to seated dining options during Phase One with government at every level assisting in removing any regulatory barriers to this transition.”
The congressman also stressed that his district is facing an especially critical time for its economy.
The period between Memorial Day and Labor Day is critical to our tourism-based businesses along the Gulf Coast. As such, I believe we should reopen our beaches on May 1st while ensuring strict social distancing enforcement. pic.twitter.com/VsgGSN2Cb8
— Rep. Bradley Byrne (@RepByrne) April 22, 2020
Byrne’s report called on medical providers, including hospitals, to be able to allow performing elective procedures again “at the earliest practical date they can do so safely, based upon available staff, PPE, and other resources.” Like Congressman Robert Aderholt’s (AL-04) report released Tuesday, Byrne’s report warned of “devastating” financial impacts to medical professionals and facilities stemming from State Health Orders.
The AL-01 report subsequently recommended “that the Governor immediately assemble a diverse group of faith leaders to provide specific recommendations to phase-in religious services.”
You can read the full report here.
In addition to the recommendations from Alabama’s congressional delegation, Ivey has said that the Alabama Small Business Commission Emergency Task Force’s Subcommittee to Reopen the Economy and an executive committee she put together are the sources her administration will use to formulate a plan for getting Alabamians back to work..
Sean Ross is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn
Don’t miss out! Subscribe today to have Alabama’s leading headlines delivered to your inbox.