Slotkin Votes to Approve Final COVID Relief Bill

WASHINGTON –– U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (MI-08) voted in favor of the American Rescue Plan this afternoon, a COVID relief bill that now heads to President Joe Biden's desk to be signed into law.

The bill provides much-needed funding to achieve multiple goals. It significantly ramps up vaccine distribution; delivers K-12 schools across Michigan roughly $3.92 billion to help with safe reopenings and to help schools pay for COVID-related changes to stay open; ushers in more relief for small businesses with additional Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funding, and by establishing a dedicated $25 billion restaurant relief fund; provides up to $1,400 stimulus payments for those who qualify; extends federal unemployment benefits through early September; and provides funding for state and local governments to keep services going, prevent layoffs of firefighters and police and set Michigan communities up for a successful long-term recovery.

"In short, this bill will jumpstart our economy and help get us back to normal as soon as possible," Slotkin said. "Right now, folks aren't secure: they're struggling to keep their businesses open, to make their mortgage payments and even just to cover the cost of their prescriptions. Michiganders have been hit hard by this crisis, and the bill we passed today will begin to make a difference for people across my district almost immediately.

"This bill isn't perfect, but it provides the jolt we need to get our economy up and running. The American Rescue Plan will help Michigan defeat the virus by supercharging vaccine distribution and making it much easier and faster for people to get their shots. Moreover, it will provide more targeted stimulus checks to qualifying Americans; help safely return children to their classrooms and help pay for changes already made by schools; keep our cops and firefighters on the payroll; and get badly needed relief to our small businesses and working families.

"One item I'm particularly proud of is that our restaurant owners will finally get the relief they've been waiting for through a new fund with $25 billion in grants to help them make up for lost revenue. This was a bill I fought for for almost a year, and I've had the joyful opportunity to call some restaurant owners this week and hear the hope in their voices now that they'll have the opportunity to apply for these grants.

"Meanwhile, the bill's increase to the Child Tax Credit and the $1.14 billion in new childcare funding designated for Michigan means millions of working families will have an easier time taking care of their kids and getting back to work.

"I'm eager to get to work partnering with local government officials, community groups and advocacy organizations in the coming days and weeks to make sure my constituents, and working families all over Michigan, can take advantage of this bill's provisions to help them get back on their feet."

The American Recovery Act will use various tax credits and an expansion of the Affordable Care Act to insure an additional 1.3 million Americans by next year and puts $20 billion toward a national vaccination program that includes setting up mass vaccination sites nationwide. The bill allocates $4.38 billion specifically to help local governments in Michigan keep essential workers like police officers and firefighters on the payroll and roughly $3.92 billion for K-12 schools in the state to help them safely reopen and get students back in the classroom.

To support our higher education institutions, it will also provide $40 billion nationally to help colleges and universities across the country, including schools in the 8th District including (estimates):

• MSU -- $81 million
• Cleary University -- $1.18 million
• LCC -- $21.25 million
• Rochester University -- $2.53 million
• Oakland University -- $39 million

The $4.38 billion in funding for Michigan's local governments, which would help keep essential workers on the payroll, includes, but is not limited to (estimates):

• Livingston County: $38 million
• Oakland County: $246 million
• Ingham County: $57 million
• Lansing: $47 million
• Brighton (city and township): $4.89 million
• Rochester Hills: $13.8 million

The bill also allocates an additional $1.25 billion for the SBA's Shuttered Venue Operator Grant Program to keep our local venues open until we can enjoy concerts and other live events again.

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