LANSING, Mich. — Sen. Stephanie Chang (D-Detroit) has issued the following statement after her bill to continue the moratorium on water shutoffs during the COVID-19 pandemic received final passage in the Michigan House today:
“I am beyond thrilled to see Senate Bill 241 on its way to the governor’s desk for her signature. Water is a human right and, especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic, is essential to hydration, hygiene, and public health. It is my hope that this bill, combined with recent efforts by the City of Detroit, will give residents some peace of mind as we head into the new year and one less thing to worry about during this difficult time.
“I appreciate my colleagues’ support for this legislation and look forward to seeing it signed into law, and am thankful to all the advocates who have fought tirelessly to prevent water shutoffs for our vulnerable community members. I will continue to work on long-term solutions so that we can ensure that every Michigander has access to affordable water for good.”
Senate Bill 241 places in statute Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s Executive Order 2020-144 by extending the water shutoff moratorium until March 31, 2021 and requiring public water suppliers to restore water service as soon as possible. Lastly, the bill also requires providers to report data to the state on their restoration efforts.
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