LANSING—Today, State Rep. Mari Manoogian (D-Birmingham) announced her support for Michigan House Democrats’ plan to appropriate $5 billion in federal relief to support Michigan families, small businesses, workers, and schools through the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Manoogian also joined House Democrats’ call for House Republicans to stop playing politics with the federal funding and come to the table to find innovative ways to use these funds to support Michigan’s recovery. House Democratic leadership indicated Wednesday that they will motion to discharge the package from the Committee on Appropriations.
“The situation is dire for so many Michiganders, and playing political games with their lives is unacceptable,” Manoogian said. “It’s time to come together and support a package that gets folks who have been left behind by this pandemic their unemployment benefits, helps working people pay their mounting rent and utility bills, support our public schools through their ongoing reopening, and saves our Michigan small and local businesses.”
The supplemental appropriations bills include:
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- $90 million for vaccine distribution throughout Michigan;
- $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; and
- Extending unemployment assistance from 20 to 26 weeks.
“Our congressional delegation fought hard for these federal dollars to come back to Michigan to jumpstart our recovery,” Manoogian said. “I’m confident that this package puts these funds to good use. It should receive a fair, up-or-down vote on the floor of the House.”
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