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Coronavirus Update: April 3rd

April 3, 2020

Friday, April 3, 2020

Dear Constituent—

I wanted to provide you with regular updates on the coronavirus.

The coronavirus pandemic is developing very quickly, and I know many people have questions and concerns. I will try to answer some of them below.

The CARES Act is the latest emergency relief bill passed by Congress to address the coronavirus pandemic. More information is below.

MICHIGAN UPDATE

K-12 Schools: On Thursday, April 2, 2020, Governor Whitmer announced an executive order that will close all K-12 school buildings for the remainder of the school year. This executive order also states education will continue remotely and outlines guidelines for online distance learning. District facilities may be used by public school employees and contractors for the purposes of online distance learning while also practicing social distancing.

Water Shutoffs: Governor Whitmer announced an executive order requiring the reconnection of service to residences that have had water service shut off. A $2 million Water Restart Grant Program will help communities comply with the order. More information can be found here. Communities interested in applying can email EGLE-RestartGrants@michigan.gov to learn more.

State and City Income Tax Deadlines: The state income tax deadline, as well as most city income tax deadlines, have been extended from April 15 to July 15, via executive order by Governor Whitmer. Income tax filings in cities that had an April 30 deadline will now have their city filings due by July 31. More information can be found here.

Medical Professionals Can Volunteer to Combat Coronavirus: Michigan's healthcare system is receiving many new patients due to the spread of coronavirus. The Governor and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), are calling on medical professionals and everyday Michiganders to volunteer their talents and time to save lives. More information can be found here.

Map of Coronavirus Cases in Michigan: An up-to-date map of coronavirus cases in Michigan, provided by the Michigan State Police, can be viewed here.

Stay At Home Order:"Stay at Home, Say Safe" Order: Effective through April 13, Governor Whitmer's issued an executive order to all Michigan businesses and operations temporarily suspending in-person operations that are not necessary to sustain or protect life. The executive order has been in effect since midnight March 24.

Help With Consumers Energy Bill: If you are having trouble paying for your Consumers Energy bill, they have set up a webpage to help you understand your options. You can also call 1-800-477-5050. If you are a small business, you can call 1-800-805-0490 or can reach out to businesscenter@cmsenergy.com

Unemployment Insurance Benefits: The governor has expanded the criteria for those who can file unemployment benefits. This applies to those out of work caring for family members who are sick or because of school closures; workers who are "sick, quarantined or immunocompromised" and don't have paid family and medical leave; workers who have been laid off; first responders who became sick or quarantined; and self-employed, contracted, and "gig" economy workers. Those eligible for these benefits should apply online at www.Michigan.gov/UIA or call 866-500-0017. The Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) continues to see a historical increase in working families seeking emergency financial relief, so to improve functionally, accessibility and help alleviate issues in both the online system and over the phone, the agency has developed a schedule for workers to file for benefits based on the first letter of their last name.

WASHINGTON UPDATE

Help for Small Businesses: The U.S. Small Business Association (SBA) is providing disaster relief loans of up to $10 million to small businesses, agricultural cooperatives and non-profits that have suffered substantial economic injury from the coronavirus. Visit here or call SBA's national disaster relief line at 1-800-659-2955 for more information. Click here for an FAQ sheet created by the House Small Business Committee for more information about what the House of Representatives is doing to help small businesses. For more information regarding help for Michigan small businesses, visit here.

Information from the IRS for Seniors: The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service recently announced that Social Security beneficiaries, who are not typically required to file tax returns, will not need to file an abbreviated tax return to receive an Economic Impact Payment. Instead, payments will be automatically deposited into their bank accounts. For now, veterans, SSDI And SSI recipients will still need to file returns. For more information, visit here.

Information From The Ways and Means Committee: The Ways and Means Committee, the chief tax-writing committee arm of the U.S. House of Represenatives, has launched a new website page with information for taxpayers, including recent legislative action to protect American working families. For more information, visit here.

On Friday, March 27, I voted in support of, and the President signed into law the CARES Act. While the bill is not perfect, it goes a long way in providing immediate economic relief to workers, small businesses and our frontline hospitals and health care workers. More information can be found here.

The bill includes:

  • Direct Payments to Taxpayers: The bill will provide $1,200 in direct payments to taxpayers with incomes up to $75,000 per year before starting to phase out and ending altogether for those earning more than $99,000. Parents would receive an additional $500 per child. Seniors, including those on Social Security, as well as non-tax filers and those on SSDI and SSI will also be eligible for this assistance. Information on how this will work for those on Social Security can be found here
  • Expanded Unemployment Benefits: The bill would significantly extend jobless insurance by 13 weeks and include a four-month, $600 increase in benefits. House Democrats successfully fought to expand unemployment insurance benefits for self-employed contractors and "gig" economy workers. More information can be found here.

  • Support for Hospitals, Health Care Workers: The bill provides $200 billion to support hospitals and frontline health care workers. Also, Federally Qualified Health Centers and Rural Health Centers will be able to bill directly for telehealth services during the coronavirus crisis. More information can be found here.

  • Additional Small Business Grants: Small businesses will receive additional help, in the form of emergency loans and grants. The bill provides federally-guaranteed support, through community banks, to small businesses, including loans that can be forgiven if businesses keep workers on the payroll, instead of laying workers off. More information can be found here.

  • Loans for Large Businesses: Larger companies can apply for loans through the Federal Reserve, including the airline industry. House Democrats successfully negotiated that any large company that receives loans through the federal government will have to take additional steps to keep their workers on the payroll, limit executive bonuses, and ban stock buybacks. The loans will also have to be paid back to the federal government. More information on protections for tax payers can be found here.

A full summary of the bill can be found here, a summary of the funding provisions can be found here and a more in depth section-by-section can be found here.

On March 18, H.R. 6201, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, was signed into law. I supported this legislation because it expands paid sick and family leave, strengthens food assistance and ensures anyone can access coronavirus testing at no cost. For more information, visit here.

On March 6, H.R. 6074, the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, was signed into law. I supported this legislation because it provided $8.3 billion in emergency funding to address the coronavirus and protect Americans from this public health crisis. For more information, visit here.

Coronavirus Testing: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has launched a new website and app with a coronavirus screening tool and resources to help people protect their health. The website can be found here and the app can be accessed here.

Federal Student Loans: On March 20, the U.S. Department of Education announced that students with federally held student loans will not accrue interest for at least 60 days and do not have to make payments on their loans for at least two months. Borrowers can find more information on the U.S. Department of Education's website.