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Thursday, December 26, 2024

Michigan House approves $880 million COVID-19 relief funding bill

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Rep. Shane Hernandez | Michigan House Republicans

Rep. Shane Hernandez | Michigan House Republicans

The Michigan House has approved a bill that would provide the state with $880 million in COVID-19 relief funding.

“It’s an important step to take as Michigan reopens after months of COVID-19 shutdown mandated by the governor’s unilateral executive orders,” Rep. Shane Hernandez (R-Port Huron) said in a post on the Michigan House Republicans website.

Hernandez previously stated, via Michigan House Republicans, that the funding doesn’t address the state’s estimated $3.2 billion budget shortfall for the current fiscal year, but rather is meant to deal with expenses that have emerged due to the coronavirus.

“This federal funding is available to help states cover additional costs, and it will be put to good use -- helping workers forced into unemployment get the benefits they’re counting on, helping small businesses reopen and supporting the brave men and women working to keep us safe,” Hernandez said in a Michigan House Republicans report earlier this month.

The $880 million bill will include funding to increase staffing and improve technology at the Unemployment Insurance Agency, develop a restart grant program to help employees and job providers, and supply health care providers and first responders with hazard pay, supplemental pay and access to personal protective equipment.

There will also be funding for child care, farmers, food banks, domestic violence shelters, schools, rental and utility assistance, and infection control surveys in nursing homes.

“We led the way providing help when COVID-19 first hit, and we continue to lead the way supporting Michigan workers and families today,” Hernandez told Michigan House Republicans. “As we rebound and rebuild from COVID-19, this federal funding will help those affected by the pandemic in a variety of ways.”

There have been more than 61,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Michigan and more than 5,800 related deaths, as of June 23, according to Michigan.gov.

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