There is no question this is an incredibly challenging time for families across our state, especially as our schools and many businesses are closed and we’re asked to remain socially distant from one another – sometimes even from the people we love. Together, we will get through this and I’m going to keep doing everything I can to provide the people of Michigan the support they need during this difficult time.

The Coronavirus pandemic is a public health and economic crisis on a scale we have not seen before. That’s why we need a comprehensive approach to confront this disease head-on. In the Senate, I’m focused on supporting Michigan’s workers, small businesses, and our hospitals and health care professionals on the front lines preventing the spread of Coronavirus.

Click here to watch my floor speech on how the 3rd Coronavirus Package
will bring support to Michiganders

I helped secure passage of a new bipartisan Senate bill that includes a number of those priorities and worked to dramatically improve the bill. This bill takes a number of steps, including:

• Expanding Unemployment Insurance and Benefits. The legislation includes my bill expanding unemployment benefits to those who do not normally qualify for unemployment insurance. It would expand who is eligible for unemployment to include workers who have exhausted their state unemployment benefits or other workers who would not usually qualify, including self-employed workers like independent contractors, small business owners, and workers in the gig economy. Workers could receive these benefits for up to 39 weeks. It takes the unprecedented step of expanding these types of benefits in response to a public health emergency and ensures workers who are quarantined – at home taking care of kids out of school, working reduced hours, or self-employed – can apply. This bill also increases the amount of unemployment benefits by $600 for four months, through July 2020. Both federal funded unemployment assistance and state unemployment insurance benefits will be administered by the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency. Click here for more information about the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency.
• Increasing Funding for Small Businesses. I’ve spoken with small business owners across Michigan about how devastating this pandemic has been to them and their employees. Small businesses are engines of economic growth in Michigan – we need to do all we can to support them. This bill raises funding for 7(a) loans, minority-owned businesses and includes 100% loan guarantees for small businesses impacted by this pandemic. Small businesses in Michigan interested in applying for a 7(a) loan are encouraged to contact their lender, whether it is a community bank, credit union, or other financial institution, to inquire about applying for a 7(a) small business loan.
• Additional Support for Health Care Providers. I pressed for this bill to include additional funding for hospitals – including rural hospitals – so that our health care providers have the financial resources and medical supplies needed to care for patients and keep themselves safe. This includes $100 billion in direct payments to hospitals and health care providers across the country, including in Michigan. This will help ensure that hospitals can make up for lost revenue, continue their operations and make payroll for the dedicated nurses, doctors and health care providers who are on the front lines of pandemic response efforts.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: Michiganders who aren’t receiving a paycheck or have lost their jobs because of the Coronavirus pandemic shouldn’t have to worry about whether they can pay their bills or put food on the table.

I’m going to continue to work tirelessly to make sure workers, heath care professionals, families, and small businesses have the resources they need to weather this unprecedented emergency. My office continues to stand ready to help and provide you with reliable information to help you and your family stay up-to-date and safe. Please visit my website https://www.peters.senate.gov/coronavirus for more information.

To every nurse, doctor, and health care professional, thank you for all that you’re doing on the front lines to protect your fellow citizens during this pandemic. We each have a role to play in combatting this pandemic, and I’m going to keep fighting for the people of Michigan. Together, I know we can get through this, even stronger.

Thanks for reading,

Gary Peters
United States Senator for Michigan

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