MDP Weekly Round-Up: Gary Peters Is Fighting For Michigan

U.S. Senator Gary Peters continues to fight for Michiganders — from working to make sure our hospitals have the critical resources they need to fighting to improve access to affordable health care and protect the 1.7 million Michiganders with pre-existing conditions. 

Read below on Gary getting things done for Michiganders this week:

GARY WORKING TO ENSURE MICHIGAN RECEIVES COVID-19 HOSPITAL FUNDING

As Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, U.S. Senator Gary Peters released a report revealing that the Trump Administration has delayed distributing $72 billion in hospital relief, and neglected supporting hard hit communities in Michigan. 

Detroit Free Press: Report: Michigan hospitals shorted $130K per COVID-19 patient in federal aid

• A new report analyzing how federal coronavirus relief money was distributed shows stark disparities in which states got the biggest portions of $175 billion in aid from the Provider Relief Fund, which includes money from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

• Hospitals in the states hardest hit by the virus in March and April — New York, New Jersey, Michigan, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania — got the least amount of federal support per patient, according to a 17-page report released Tuesday by U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, a Michigan Democrat and ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.

• “Places like Detroit did not receive the funds despite being hit very hard and that’s simply unacceptable,” Peters said Tuesday during a telephone call with reporters. 

• About 41% of the $175 billion in federal coronavirus relief money Congress approved three months ago to help hospitals get through the pandemic still hasn’t reached hospitals, Peters said.

• The delay, he said, has “increased … the number of people who are laid off or are on furloughs, and is digging a deeper hole in the financial picture for hospitals and other health providers across the country.” The delay also means providers are less prepared if COVID-19 surges again, he said.

• He called on President Donald Trump’s administration to ensure that money is paid within the next four weeks, and to redistribute the remaining funds to ensure the areas that have been hardest hit by the virus get a bigger share.  

Read more:

• Detroit News: Peters: Trump administration has not distributed 41% of COVID-19 hospital funding
• Michigan Radio: Report: Michigan hospitals shorted $130K per COVID-19 patient in federal aid
• Michigan Advance: Peters report: Trump admin. has failed hospitals during pandemic
• Fox 2: Michigan hospitals missed out on $130,000 in COVID-19 relief, report finds
• Bloomberg Government: Health Care Briefing: Fauci Says U.S. Plans to Step Up Testing
• Bridge: Report: Michigan hospitals shorted $130K per COVID-19 patient in federal aid
• WNEM: Peters says Michigan hospitals receiving less COVID relief money than most states

GARY IS FIGHTING TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE AND PROTECT THE 1.7 MILLION MICHIGANDERS WITH PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS

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GARY IS FIGHTING FOR LGBTQ+ MICHIGANDERS

As the country celebrates the five year anniversary of the historic Obergefell v. Hodges decision solidifying same-sex marriage into law, U.S. Senator Gary Peters penned an op-ed this week for Between the Lines to discuss his strong record of advocating for equal rights for LGBTQ+ Michiganders and continued fight in the Senate to pass the Equality Act.

Between The Lines: Together We Can Make Historic Change

• I was active in the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” because no patriot should be turned away from serving their country because of who they are, and I have been an advocate of marriage equality, including signing the amicus brief to support the overturning of the DOMA. But there is still so much more work to be done and that includes passing the Equality Act.

• As I continue to work in the Senate, I can promise that I will keep fighting for consistent and explicit non-discrimination protections for every American. No employer should ever be able to discriminate an individual based on their sexual orientation and/or gender identity.

• That’s why in 2020, our goal is clear: Win back the White House, hold the majority in the House, and flip the Senate blue. And that starts right here in Michigan with this Senate seat. To capture the Senate majority and take back the White House, we must win Michigan.

GARY DISCUSSES DISCUSSES HIS WORK FOR MICHIGAN ON WOOD TV’S ‘TO THE POINT’

Gary Peters joined Rick Albin on WOOD TV’s ‘To The Point’ on Sunday where he discussed his work for Michigan including his recent legislative efforts to address racial inequities and policing reforms and his ongoing work to get Michiganders the relief they need to get through the COVID-19 crisis. 

WOOD TV: To the Point: Interview with U.S. Senator Gary Peters

• “I’m the ranking member on the Senate Homeland Security Committee. I’m the top Democrat. So I oversee FEMA. I’ve been intimately involved in this, making sure we have personal protection equipment for our health care providers. And now that we’re opening up the economy, everybody needs to have access to that kind of protection equipment.”

• “I’ve been involved with, as I mentioned, with small businesses to make sure the Paycheck Protection Program works for folks, to make sure the unemployment system was available…That’s actually my legislation, the Pandemic Assistance Act that was incorporated into the CARES Act that now provides assistance for hundreds of thousands of folks here in Michigan that wouldn’t normally have access to that. And that dominates my efforts. “

• “Another piece of legislation that is critically important, and that’s to get back to the roots of community policing, to make sure that our police officers are in the community getting to know the individuals, know them by name. Know the ins and outs. And even more importantly, the residents get to know those police officers…And I’ve just introduced legislation this week with the support of the NAACP, the Urban League, as well as police organizations. It’s bipartisan, which is the way I like to work.”

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