FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021
Contact: Stephanie Cepak, Byrum & Fisk Advocacy Communications, 517-862-2036, scepak@byrumfisk.com
House Democrats: Republicans leave millions of Michigan’s COVID-19 recovery dollars in Washington, D.C.
Leader Lasinski: Michigan families need vaccines deployed quickly, not political games
LANSING — House Democratic Leader Donna Lasinski, D-Scio Twp., today called out House Republicans for leaving millions of Michigan taxpayer dollars in Washington, D.C. instead of bringing all those dollars home and putting them to immediate use for small businesses, workers, families and schools.
“Today’s vote in the House left millions of Michigan taxpayer dollars sitting in a bank in Washington, D.C.,” Lasinski said. “House Democrats know Michiganders need help now – not next month or next quarter. We will continue to fight for a pandemic recovery plan that returns all of Michigan’s taxpayer dollars home so small businesses, workers, families and schools get real relief.”
House Democrats were stalled by Republicans to amend the bills so all of Michigan’s federal stimulus money would come back home, including:
- $90 million for vaccine distribution throughout Michigan so we can get more shots into people’s arms.
- $575 million to expand COVID-19 testing, contact tracing and lab capacity.
- $2.1 billion in food assistance.
- $661 million to help with rental assistance and winter utility bills.
- $2 billion for Michigan’s public schools.
- $270 million for small-business relief.
- Language that would extend unemployment assistance from 20 to 26 weeks.
House Republicans stalled efforts to bring real relief to Michiganders in need across the state.
“Our economy needs a shot in the arm and that will require more COVID-19 vaccines,” Lasinski said. “Today, House Republicans left money in Washington, D.C. that would accelerate distribution of COVID-19 vaccines across Michigan.”
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