Senator Gary Peters Coronavirus Update

Friend –

As Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee – and your U.S. Senator – it’s my top priority to ensure all Michiganders are safe and equipped with the resources needed to combat the Coronavirus.

The bottom line is this: Michiganders should not be forced to worry about whether they can put food on the table or pay their bills. Some of the stories I’ve heard – from workers, small business owners, and families are absolutely heartbreaking.

Click here to watch my video update.

The Senate this week passed bipartisan legislation that is an important first step towards supporting Michigan families. Some of the action this bill takes includes:

Support for Families & Workers: We must ensure that those forced to not work are taken care of. This bill expands paid emergency, sick and family leave, as well as unemployment insurance, while expanding Medicaid benefits to state programs like Michigan’s.
Free Testing for Coronavirus: No one should avoid being tested because of the costs. This bill ensures that everyone – with or without insurance – has access to the test at no cost.
Food Security: This bill takes important efforts to strengthen SNAP, student meals, seniors’ nutrition and more. 22 million children rely on free or reduced-price school meals, and we need to ensure they have food at the table.

But let’s be clear: this bill was only a first step. Our work — and this crisis — is far from over. We must take additional action. I will keep focusing on efforts that will provide resources to Michiganders and boost our economy, including small businesses.

If you have any questions or need additional resources on Coronavirus, visit my website at peters.senate.gov/coronavirus for guidance on how you can prepare and prevent the spread of the Coronavirus. You can also call the State of Michigan’s Coronavirus hotline at 1-888-535-6136.

If you have any additional questions – please contact my office. We remain committed to serving you and doing everything possible to assist Michiganders.

Americans have always united in times of uncertainty to overcome countless hardships over the years. Today we are facing significant challenges — and we must all do our part to deal with this crisis. In the end, I am confident we will emerge stronger as a nation.

Thanks for reading,