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| Greetings,
Want to know the state of play on the next COVID relief package that is working its way through Congress? By the end of the week, the House is scheduled to vote on another round of COVID relief. In addition to providing much needed funding for vaccine manufacturing and distribution, this bill will provide another round of direct, $1,400 stimulus payments for those who qualify, and prioritize small businesses by continuing the Paycheck Protection Program and establishing a dedicated restaurant relief fund. The bill will also extend unemployment benefits through August, provide more funding for schools so they can reopen safely, and even help combat childhood poverty by temporarily expanding the Child Tax Credit. As COVID caused our state and local governments to go without the revenue they normally depend on, the need for federal aid is something I’ve been hearing about from both Republican and Democratic mayors in our district. This bill also includes an estimated $5.7 billion for our state and $4.4 billion for our county, city and township governments –– to help our state and local governments keep basic services going, prevent our firefighters, police, first responders and sanitation workers from getting pink slips, and help put us on good footing toward long-term recovery. And as a new member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, our committee worked on the part of the legislation that would impact our veterans. This includes assistance for unemployed veterans, providing funding for the Veterans Health Administration, and waiving copayments for medical care for veterans during the pandemic. Michiganders need COVID relief that will supercharge distribution of the vaccine, get more help to workers, businesses, and nonprofits, to not only get Michigan through the next couple of months, but to support our state’s economy in the long term. Although I would have preferred a bipartisan agreement on this latest round of relief, we have to meet the COVID threat with the response it deserves. That means passing an additional relief bill, even if it’s not perfect. Elissa
Elissa Slotkin |
next COVID relief package
