This week, Senator Gary Peters stood up for Michigan families to ensure they’re receiving the relief they need during the ongoing economic and public health crisis. While more work still needs to be done, Gary’s leadership is directly helping Michiganders on the front lines of the crisis, including hospitals, workers and families across the state. Take a look at how Gary has been delivering results for Michigan this week:
GARY’S ON THE PHONE WITH MICHIGANDERS.
GARY’S TOWN HALLS DRAW TENS OF THOUSANDS OF MICHIGANDERS. Gary hosted multiple town hall where he spoke directly to more than 17,000 Michiganders to discuss the resources available to workers, families, small businesses and medical professionals in the bipartisan Coronavirus, Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Read more here:
- Michigan Daily: Senator Gary Peters hosts telephone town hall
- WWTV 9&10 News: Senator Peters Live: Telephone Town Hall
- AARP: AARP Michigan hosts Sen. Peters in a teletown hall on the federal stimulus package
GARY’S BILL TO EXPAND UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE BENEFITS IS IMPLEMENTED IN MICHIGAN. Gary’s unemployment assistance provision was implemented in Michigan this week and will provide families critically needed relief in the wake of the coronavirus. Thanks to his work, self-employed workers like small business owners, independent contractors, freelance workers, and more will now qualify for unemployment insurance.
WATCH: Governor Whitmer on expanded unemployment insurance: “Gary Peters was a big part of helping make that happen, I’m grateful to him.”
Read Gary’s Op-ed in The Hill: Unprecedented Health Crisis Called for Historic Expansion of Unemployment Insurance
- The unemployment insurance provisions in this package will significantly increase unemployment compensation benefits and help Americans who are facing unemployment as a result of this crisis make ends meet.
- Our bill will create the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program, modeled on the existing disaster assistance fund. These types of benefits have never been extended for public health crises, but this is an unprecedented challenge. While states will still administer the allocation of benefits, the federal government will pick up the entire tab, ensuring that this initiative will not place new pressures on already cash-strapped state funds.
- Additionally, this program will work to cover the gaps in the current unemployment insurance system by granting benefits to those who are self-employed, working in the gig economy or as independent contractors, caring for children who are out of school, working reduced hours due to shelter-in-place orders, or quarantined due to coronavirus exposure.
- Importantly, we can’t allow anyone to fall through the cracks. That’s why our bill takes extra steps to increase benefits for those not covered by the current system.
WORKING WITH FEMA TO GET PPE TO MICHIGAN. As Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Gary was in close communication with FEMA administrator Peter Gaynor to press for PPE to be allocated to Michigan. His work this week resulted in swift action and clearance for more N95 respirators to be shipped to the Great Lakes state.
TURNING UP THE HEAT ON TRUMP TO GET MICHIGANDERS HEALTH CARE. When the Trump administration announced they were blocking holding special health care enrollment period during the coronavirus pandemic, Gary immediately responded, reiterating his call to reopen ACA marketplaces so Michiganders could get health care. A record-breaking 300,000+ Michiganders filed for unemployment insurance in the last week – a special enrollment period would help them rapidly get care.
ICYMI: GARY’S VETERAN’S APPRENTICESHIP BILL WAS SIGNED INTO LAW. Gary’s bipartisan Support for Veterans in Effective Apprenticeships Act was signed into law by the president and will give veterans access to more apprenticeship programs across the state – ensuring those who serve our country have paths to good-paying jobs. Read more about the bill:
- Holland Sentinel: Peters visits West Michigan tradesmen to tout GI apprenticeship bill
