April 23, 2020
Washington, DC
Signatures updated: 4/24/20
In response to public health guidance from the White House, governors in Georgia, Texas, Mississippi, Florida, South Carolina, Alaska, and Tennessee have begun announcing phased re-openings of their states and communities, allowing people to choose to return to work, go shopping, purchase services, and attend religious services, and once again exercise their rights and judgments as citizens. We applaud the thoughtful leadership of these governors.
- In Georgia, Gov. Brian Kemp has announced that some businesses, including gyms and hair salons, will be permitted to reopen, and elective surgeries can resume on April 24. Restaurants and theaters can re-open on April 27.
- In Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott re-opened state parks on April 20, and stores can begin offering “retail to go” starting April 24. Texas residents may also resume attending religious services.
- In Mississippi, Gov. Tate Reeves has allowed nonessential businesses to do curbside pickup, delivery, and drive-through service, and is considering permitting businesses to re-open on April 27.
- In Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis opened beaches for walking, biking, hiking, fishing, and running in parts of the state on April 17, and will soon issue a plan to safely re-open the entire state.
- In South Carolina, Gov. Henry McMaster is permitting some beaches and retail stores to re-open, including department stores and bookstores.
- In Alaska, Gov. Mike Dunleavy is permitting restaurants, retail stores, and non-essential businesses to re-open while following “rigorous health and safety standards.”
- In Tennessee, Gov. Bill Lee said the “vast majority” of businesses may re-open on May 1.
Americans mobilized quickly in the face of the COVID19 outbreak, and through their efforts, prevented the spread of the disease and the overwhelming of hospital facilities. But now, it is time to allow the country to re-open, so that the public health response does not result in even more damage and fatalities from sustained financial ruin.
Public opinion polling also reflects this. According to polling done by Scott Rasmussen, Americans are increasingly ready for society to open back up again. Fifty percent of voters say that a top priority when the lockdown ends should be letting people gather in small groups at a friend’s house. Many voters polled also emphasized reopening churches and retail stores.
We echo the efforts of the House Freedom Caucus and other national leaders who are urging states to responsibly permit their citizens to return to work and reject the growing number of unconstitutional mandates that trample on civil liberties that remain essential, even in a crisis.
Americans have shown they are resilient and responsible. But as this pandemic comes to an end, they must be allowed to exercise their constitutional rights and return to daily life. We thank and support the states that are turning in this direction.
| The Honorable Edwin Meese III Attorney General President Ronald Reagan (1985-1988) |
Alfred S. Regnery Chairman, Conservative Action Project Chairman, Law Enforcement Legal Defense Fund |
| The Honorable Becky Norton Dunlop White House Advisor President Ronald Reagan (1981-1985) |
The Honorable Morton C. Blackwell President The Leadership Institute |
| Myron Ebell Director, Center for Energy and Environment Competitive Enterprise Institute |
Lisa B. Nelson Chief Executive Officer American Legislative Exchange Council |
| Thomas Fitton President Judicial Watch, Inc. |
Kelly J. Shackelford, Esq. Chairman, CNP Action, Inc. President and CEO, First Liberty Institute |
| The Honorable Tony Perkins President Family Research Council |
Cleta Mitchell, Esq. Partner Foley & Lardner LLP |
| The Honorable Jim DeMint Chairman, Conservative Partnership Institute Member, US Senate (SC 2005-2013) |
Ed Corrigan Vice Chairman, Conservative Action Project President, Conservative Partnership Institute |
| Jenny Beth Martin Chairman Tea Party Patriots Citizen Fund |
L. Brent Bozell, III Founder and President Media Research Center |
| The Honorable David McIntosh President Club for Growth |
Scott T. Parkinson VP for Government Affairs Club for Growth |
| Tom McClusky President March for Life Action |
The Honorable J. Kenneth Blackwell National Leadership Council Save Our Country Coalition |
| The Honorable T. Kenneth Cribb, Jr. Chief Domestic Advisor President Ronald Reagan (1987-1988) |
The Honorable Donald Paul Hodel U.S. Secretary of Energy (1982-1985) U.S. Secretary of Interior (1985-1989) |
| William L. Walton President Council for National Policy |
David Bozell President ForAmerica |
| Noah Wall Vice President of Advocacy FreedomWorks |
The Honorable Matt Schlapp Chairman American Conservative Union (ACU) |
| Penny Y. Nance President & CEO Concerned Women for America |
The Honorable Bob McEwen U.S. House of Representatives Former Member, Ohio |
| Lt. Gen. William G. Boykin (Ret.) Executive Vice President Family Research Council |
The Honorable James C. Miller III Budget Director for President Reagan, 1985-1988 |
| Craig Shirley Reagan Biographer Presidential Historian |
Ron Robinson President Young America’s Foundation |
| Trent England Executive Director Save Our States |
Mat Staver Founder and Chairman Liberty Counsel |
| The Honorable Donald J. Devine Ronald Reagan Director of U.S. Office of Personnel Management The Fund for American Studies |
Joseph A. Morris Attorney and Partner, Morris & De La Rosa Former Assistant U.S. Attorney General (Reagan / Meese) |
| Kevin Freeman Founder NSIC Institute |
The Honorable Gary L. Bauer President American Values |
| Dr. Rick Scarborough President Recover America Now |
The Honorable Tom DeLay Former Majority Leader U.S. House of Representatives |
| Norman Singleton President Campaign for Liberty |
Jim Backlin Vice President of Legislative Affairs Christian Coalition |
| Jay Mount President MDS Communications Corporation |
Terry Schilling Executive Director American Principles Project |
| Richard Manning President Americans for Limited Government |
Rob Chambers Vice President AFA Action |
| Amapola Hansberger President Legal Immigrants for America |
Glenn Preston Story President & Co-Founder Patriot Mobile |
| Karen England Executive Director Capitol Resource Institute & Nevada Family Alliance |
Eaton Hopkins President Liberty Surgical |
| Daniel McCarthy Senate Candidate Arizona MakeUp Eraser |
Paavo Ensio Chairman Universal Minerals Group |
| Steve Berger Pastor Grace Chapel |
Eric Georgatos Executive Producer America Can We Talk? americacanwetalk.org |
| Mark Stuhlreyer President Contingent Holdings, LLC |
Michelle Easton President Clare Boothe Luce Center for Conservative Women |
| Chad Connelly President Faith Wins |
Richard D. Hayes Partner Hayes Berry White & Vanzant LLP |
| Kirk Uhler Executive Director National Tax Limitation Committee |
Seton Motley President Less Government |
| Gary Marx President The Concord Fund |
Anne Schlafly Cori Chairman Eagle Forum |
| Lee Beaman CEO Beaman Automotive Group |
Benjamin R. Case CEO FOF |
| Floyd Brown Publisher The Western Journal |
Reverend Gregory Quinlan President The Center for Garden State Families |
| Kay R. Daly President Coalition for a Fair Judiciary |
James L. Martin Founder/Chairman 60 Plus Association |
| Martha Boneta President Vote America First |
Saulius “Saul” Anuzis President 60 Plus Association |
| Anthony Saliba CEO Reagan.com |
Sandy Rios Director of Governmental Affairs AFA |
| Marlin Sharp Field Director STAND Foundation, Inc. |
Richard H. Wright Owner R & S |
| Tim LeFever Chairman Capitol Resource Institute |
The Honorable George K. Rasley Jr. Managing Editor ConservativeHQ.com |
| Dr. Mark Smith President Columbia International University |
The Honorable Penny Pullen Former Illinois State Legislator Illinois General Assembly |
| Ed Martin President Phyllis Schlafly Eagles |
Charlie Copeland President Intercollegiate Studies Institute |
| Rebekah Gantner Executive Director Eagle Forum Education & Legal Defense Fund |
Jeff Hunt Director Centennial Institute |
| Judson Phillips Founder Tea Party Nation |
Bob Carlstrom President AMAC Action |
| Marc Little Chairman Center for Urban Renewal and Education |
Elaine Donnelly President Center for Military Readiness |
| Richard Norman Founder and President The Richard Norman Company |
William Shaker CEO Washington Marketing Group |
| William P. Mills, III Member, Executive Member Council for National Policy |
Dr. Jerome R. Corsi, Ph.D. Founder and CEO CorsiNation.com |
| Dr. Paige Patterson President Sandy Creek Foundation |
Allen Hebert Chairman American-Chinese Fellowship of Houston |
| Melissa Ortiz Admin/Blogger DCBelleonWheels.com |
Willes K. Lee President National Federation of Republican Assemblies |
| Jack Park Conservative Activist and Donor Law Offices of Jack Park |
Peggy Dau Representative IranAliveMinistries.org |
| The Honorable Peter Thomas Chairman The Conservative Caucus |
Gerard Kassar State Chairman NYS Conservative Party |
| James C. Roberts President Radio America |
Dr. Richard Lee President There’s Hope America Inc. |
| Robert D. Thompson Former Administrator The Weyrich Lunch (1999 – 2016) |
C. Preston Noell III President Tradition, Family, Property, Inc. |
| Mario Navarro da Costa Director, Washington Bureau Tradition, Family, Property |
Lee Troxler Lee Troxler Companies |
All organizations listed for IDENTIFICATION purposes only.
