| Washington D.C. (April 20, 2020) | Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-GA) issued the following statement after Georgia Governor Brian Kemp announced some businesses in Georgia will reopen this week: “I commend Governor Brian Kemp for making the decision to begin opening Georgia back up for business. Georgia is known nationwide as the best state in which to do business; and, to continue leading the nation in this area, we must get hardworking Georgians back to work as soon and as safely as possible. As a family man and a small business owner for over twenty years, I know the hardships and uncertainty many Georgians have been facing. This pandemic has caused many in our state to lose their jobs, making it challenging to pay the bills and put food on the table; small business owners have watched sales nose-dive and business dry up; and some farmers have watched their crops rot due to a decrease in demand. “I have spent a lot of time talking with small business owners in northwest Georgia, and they are eager to get opened and serve the public once again. These business owners are not only committed to serving Georgians, but also to ensure they do so in a way that will protect the health and safety of their customers. “Along with the excellent team the Governor has surrounded himself with to battle this pandemic and reopen Georgia, he and his staff are following the ‘Opening Up America Again’ guidelines put forth by the Administration, which is a three phase program the Task Force developed, heeding the advice of public health experts, to reopen our nation. Georgia is on pace to meet Phase One requirements, and some businesses will be allowed to open their doors this Friday, with Minimum Basic Operations in place.” Background For more information on Governor Kemp’s announcement, and for information regarding the current shelter-in-place order, what type of businesses are reopening, and the next steps, please CLICK HERE. For more information on Phases I, II, and III of the administration’s ‘Opening Up America Again’ program, please CLICK HERE. |