LANSING, Mich. — Michigan House Democrats on Monday unveiled a plan that would provide $5 billion in federal dollars to help Michigan workers, small businesses, families and schools impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Specifics of the supplemental appropriations bills include:
- $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
RELATED: WATCH: Whitmer announces Michigan COVID Recovery Plan
“This bill simply gets all of Michigan’s federal stimulus dollars into the hands of Michigan residents,” said Rep. Joe Tate, sponsor of the bills and Democratic vice chair of the House Appropriations Committee. “We can take an up or down vote on this and get people relief immediately. These are real dollars. This is real relief.”
House Democratic Leader Donna Lasinski called on legislative Republicans to stop holding back funding for pandemic recovery.
“The COVID-19 virus doesn’t care about politics, yet legislative Republicans continue blocking pandemic relief with a list of political demands,” Lasinski said. “Michigan’s stimulus dollars are just sitting there, waiting to be deployed to people in need across the state. That is not what the people of the state of Michigan want or need. House Democrats are ready to take a vote on pandemic recovery that will put federal stimulus dollars to work immediately for those in need across our state.”
SEE MORE: Michigan House approves $465 million COVID-19 relief bill
