| Friend –A year into this pandemic, it’s clear that Michiganders and Americans still need additional support to put food on the table, pay their bills and make ends meet. I have heard gut-wrenching personal stories from countless Michiganders – who are trying to keep their heads above water and get through this public health and economic crisis.
That’s why I was proud to help pass — and am so glad that — the American Rescue Plan has been signed into law. This bill will deliver comprehensive, robust relief for Michigan families, workers, small businesses, schools and communities.
Click here to view my recent floor speech on how the American Rescue Plan
will deliver critical relief to Michiganders.
The American Rescue Plan contains significant funding for key priorities to stop the spread of this virus and provide Michiganders with much needed relief, including:
- Direct Stimulus Checks: The package includes a new round of direct payments of $1,400 per adult and child to most Americans. This would ensure that a typical family of four would receive an additional $5,600.
- Resources to Accelerate Vaccine Distribution: The bill includes $50 billion to help the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) support a national vaccination program. This was something I talked about with President Biden and Vice President Harris directly in the Oval Office, and something I secured as Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.
- Support to Safely Reopen Schools: The package includes $170 billion to help schools reopen safely under the guidance of public health officials.
- Unemployment Assistance: The legislation provides an additional $300 per week for all workers receiving unemployment benefits, through September 6, 2021.
- Support for Small Businesses: The bill includes $7 billion in support for the Paycheck Protection Program AND $25 billion in grants for restaurants and bars. I also led the charge in securing $10 billion to provide $10 billion for the State Small Business Credit Initiative, including $1.5 billion to support minority-owned businesses. And;
- Support for Local Communities: The legislation provides $350 billion in emergency funding for cash-strapped communities across the country to continue essential services and retain critical frontline workers such as police officers, firefighters, EMTs and teachers.
Securing this comprehensive support has been my TOP priority. This package has not only received broad support in Michigan and across the country, but is also one of the most popular pieces of legislation to be signed into law in decades.
While we’ve made important progress, we cannot let up now. The virus doesn’t take a day off – and neither can we. Our state and our country has needed a shot in the arm to overcome this pandemic, and I am confident that this landmark package will provide the resources needed to get us through this crisis.
Thanks for reading,
Gary Peters
United States Senator for Michigan |
