Rep. Clemente supports vote on all $5 billion in federal stimulus
LANSING, Mich., Feb. 4, 2021 — Rep. Cara Clemente (D-Lincoln Park) is voicing her opposition to House Republican legislation that would leave needed COVID-19 vaccine funding and other money in Washington, D.C.
Earlier this week, House Democrats released a pandemic recovery plan that would immediately release over $5 billion in federal dollars to help Michigan workers, small businesses, families and schools impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. On Thursday, House Republicans pushed through a short-sighted appropriations package that leaves some of Michigan’s taxpayer dollars back in Washington, D.C.
“Political games should not come before the health and wellbeing of Michigan families, and this supplemental drastically falls short of our constituents’ needs and the resources necessary to survive through the COVID crisis. Schools deserve unfettered access to the federal appropriations allocated to the state so they can continue to operate safely and prevent future learning loss,” said Clemente. “Small businesses also desperately deserve robust financial support measures to bring our economy back on track. Residents everywhere need reliable food assistance services and the security of knowing they may no longer have to foreclose on their homes or be evicted. These are simple facts and the legislation before us does not meet the moment.”
House Democrats demanded several changes to the bills during session, including:
- Bringing home all $90 million in federal stimulus for vaccine distribution throughout Michigan
- Bringing home all $575 million in federal stimulus to expand COVID testing, tracing and lab capacity
- Bringing home all $2.1 billion in federal stimulus to provide food assistance
- Bringing home all $661 million in federal stimulus to help with rental assistance and winter utility bills
- Adding $240 million in direct relief to small businesses
- Extending unemployment assistance from 20 to 26 weeks