House Passage of Representative Chuck Owen's HR133 Creates a Covid Commission

Monday on the House floor, HR133 by Representative Chuck Owen passed with a unanimous vote of 96-0. This House Resolution “requests the House Select Committee on Homeland Security to review state government actions during the COVID-19 Pandemic and postpandemic period and make recommendations to improve the government's response in future health emergencies,” and reads:

To request the House Select Committee on Homeland Security to review state government actions during the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, including the related shutdowns and other postpandemic activities, and to make recommendations to improve the state's response in future health emergencies.

WHEREAS, COVID-19 was first described as a public health emergency of international concern early in 2020 and created both a public health crisis and an economic crisis in the United States and across the globe; and

WHEREAS, all units of government, including but not limited to the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of state government in Louisiana, were prompted and forced to take unprecedented actions to first analyze, respond to, and then attempt to function while the worldwide pandemic unfolded; and

WHEREAS, the COVID-19 pandemic and related shutdowns caused great societal disruption and had drastic impacts on our health and welfare including mental health, educational systems and outcomes, and our economy; and

WHEREAS, analysis shows that the impact of the pandemic on K–12 student learning was significant, leaving students on average five months behind in mathematics and four months behind in reading by the end of the school year; widened preexisting opportunity and achievement gaps; and had an impact on not just academics but also the broader health and well-being of students, with a significant number of parents very or extremely concerned about their children’s mental health; and

WHEREAS, the fallout from the pandemic threatens to depress this generation’s prospects and constrict their future opportunities; and

WHEREAS, the pandemic has disrupted lives, pushed the hospital system to its capacity, and created an ongoing global economic slowdown; and

WHEREAS, government exists to serve the public and provide order and a structure whereby people can make their needs and opinions known to public officials; and

WHEREAS, Louisiana citizens deserve to know that their government will do all in its power to study the appropriateness of its response to the pandemic and ensure mistakes made previously will not be repeated and that every effort will be made to respect their rights and overall health and welfare; and

WHEREAS, all actions of government should be open to review and analysis for the public good.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby request the House Select Committee on Homeland Security to review state government actions during the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, including the related shutdowns and other postpandemic activities, and to report its findings and recommendations to the House of Representatives not later than March 30, 2025.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the report include the following:

(1) Recommendations for any changes to law to enable the state to better handle future pandemics.

(2) Identification of successes and failures of government during the pandemic including the related shutdowns and other postpandemic activities with recommended pathways for the future.

(3) Identification of key governmental infringements on the civil liberties of Louisiana's citizens and recommended pathways for the future.

(4) Identification of actions by government that may have assisted or harmed educational outcomes of Louisiana K-12 and higher education students and recommended pathways for the future.

(5) Identification of key governmental actions that affected the economic health and future of the state of Louisiana and recommended pathways for the future.

Monday’s presentation of HR133 on the House floor by Rep Owen. . .

Who sits on the House Select Committee on Homeland Security?

Once again, we thank Representative Chuck Owen for bringing much needed legislation to evaluate the state’s actions during covid and provide insight and recommendations for future administrations.

Posted on May 14, 2024 and filed under Coronavirus, Louisiana.