District 6 News & Updates

Note From Erika  
Greetings Friends and Neighbors,   

With summer nearing its final days and autumn almost upon us (the autumnal equinox is next week), now is a good time to prepare for (gasp!) winter so that it doesn’t sneak up on us. Double check that you have such things as extra flashlights or battery-operated camp lanterns, batteries, and a winter weather emergency kit including extra blankets stashed away in for your vehicle(s). Being prepared and thinking ahead can save us from headaches later on.  

In addition, with all our schools back in session, keep an eye out for those school buses and heed the rules for stopping when students are boarding or exiting.   
As always, it is an honor and pleasure to serve you in Lansing, and please do not hesitate to contact my office for any assistance you may need or questions and ideas you may have.   

This edition of our e-newsletter is packed with information that my team and I hope you will find useful.

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to our office by email at SenEGeiss@senate.michigan.gov or by phone at 517-373-7800.  

Erika Geiss   
State Senator   
6th District   

In This Edition:  

• Legislative Updates 
• 1931 abortion law ruled unconstitutional Gov. Whitmer announces more assistance to lower cost of groceries 
• Childhood Cancer Awareness Month COVID-19 Vaccine Update Emergency Rental Assistance Program Unemployment Assistance Community Update 
• 2022 Romulus DDA Pumpkin Festival 

LEGISLATIVE UPDATES

1931 Abortion Law Ruled Unconstitutional  

Michigan Court of Claims Judge Elizabeth Gleicher has recently declared that the 1931 law that banned abortion in our state is unconstitutional. The ruling began as a temporary order but is now a permanent injunction. Gleicher stated that the Michigan Constitution grants people the right to bodily integrity and to make their own autonomous health decisions. With this ruling, abortion rights are currently protected in Michigan given the pending litigation. Concurrently, Michigan’s Attorney General Dana Nessel stated that she will not be filing any charges related to the 1931 law. 

Governor Gretchen Whitmer recently announced that all Michigan families who are eligible for food assistance benefits will continue to receive at least an additional $95 monthly payment in September to help lower the cost of groceries. The additional assistance will help more than 1.3 million Michiganders in more than 700,000 households.   All households eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will receive an increase of at least $95 monthly, even if they are already receiving the maximum payment or are close to that amount. Households that received more than $95 to bring them to the maximum payment for their group size will continue to receive that larger amount.   
The maximum allowable benefits for SNAP customers are based on their respective household size:   

• One Person: $250     
• Two Persons: $459     
• Three Persons: $658     
• Four Persons: $835     
• Five Persons: $992     
• Six Persons: $1,190     
• Seven Persons: $1,316     
• Eight Persons: $1,504     

Eligible families do not need to re-apply to receive the additional benefits. To check your benefits balance on your Michigan Bridge Card, visit michigan.gov/MIBridges or contact a consumer service representative toll-free at 888-678-8914.  

CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS MONTH  Ever y September is recognized as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month (CCAM). During this month, advocacy organizations, health care institutions, families, and patients take time to acknowledge childhood cancer. The goal is to advocate, honor, and raise awareness for those affected by childhood cancer. Gold ribbons are used as a symbol to represent this month and all that comes with it. To read more about CCAM, how to get involved, and stories by children affected visit the American Childhood Cancer Organization website.  

COVID-19 VACCINE UPDATE  
Recently, the FDA amended the emergency use authorizations (EUAs) of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine and the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to use bivalent formulations as a single booster dose. This most up-to-date booster dose can be given after at least two months prior to the primary or booster vaccination. The updated booster is more effective at protecting against the newer variants of COVID-19 such as the omicron BA.4 and BA.5 variants.   
Who is eligible for the updated booster vaccination?  

• Individuals 18 years of age and older are eligible for a single booster dose of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent   Individuals 12 years of age and older are eligible for a single booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent  

The COVID-19 vaccines and boosters are safe, effective and free. Children aged six months and older are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The FDA approved the Pfizer-BioNTech and  
Moderna vaccines and parents/guardians can begin making appointments today.   
For children aged six months to five years, the Pfizer-BioNTech is delivered in a series of three doses, whereas the Moderna vaccine is delivered in a series of two doses. More information on COVID-19 vaccination and testing sites is available on the Wayne County website*.  
The following people meet the criteria for eligibility for a second booster of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines:  

• You received your first booster more than 4 months ago and You are 50-years-old or older  You are 12-years-old and moderately to severely immunocompromised  

You received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine for both your primary dose and booster  
Children aged 5-11 are eligible for a single booster if they received their second Pfizer-BioNtech vaccination shot at least five months ago.  
If you have not already received your primary dose of the COVID-19 vaccine or booster, now is the time to do so. Information on vaccines, vaccine boosters, and testing locations are available on the Wayne County website.  
With both the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services revising guidelines for masking, getting vaccinated and boosted now is more critical than ever to help protect ourselves and our communities — especially for those among us who are immunocompromised or otherwise cannot take the vaccine.  
*The Wayne County Health Department handles the 42 Wayne County communities outside of Detroit, which has its own separate health department.

EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM  The Wayne County Emergency Rental Assistance Program is still open for applications if you need rental assistance. Please be aware that you cannot receive assistance from both CERA and Wayne County’s program for the same time period.  
UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE  Senate Bill 445, signed into law by Governor Whitmer, turns off the “able and available” requirement for federal unemployment claims filed during the pandemic. Part-time workers who could not work full-time will not have to pay back the benefits they received and/or may be eligible to claim benefits they were denied.  
To know if your claim was affected by this “able and available” requirement, your Notice of Determination, or Notice of Redetermination will list the “Issue” as either “Ability” or “Availability”. It will look similar to the one below:

If your claim was denied, you had your benefits halted, or your eligibility was re-determined because of the “able and available” requirement, please fill out the issue form on our website and our office will assist you. As always, if you or someone you know who lives in Senate District 6 is having trouble receiving their Unemployment Insurance (UI) or Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), please fill out this unemployment assistance form and our office will reach out to assist you with your issue as soon as possible.   
You can also visit the Michigan LEO FAQs page for answers to questions you may have regarding eligibility for unemployment or for issues you may have with your current claim.  

COMMUNITY UPDATE  2022 Romulus DDA Pumpkin Festival  
The 24th annual Pumpkin Festival is a three-day event that begins on Friday and runs through Sunday. It will take place at Romulus Historical Park and Downtown Romulus along Goddard Road. 
WHEN: Friday, Sept. 16 at 10 p.m. through Sunday, Sept. 18 at Midnight 
WHERE: Romulus Historical Park, 11147 Hunt St., Romulus, MI 48174  The festival begins with a parade of lights and continues with music, food, crafts, and games for all ages. You can visit or enter the Classic Car Show, Craft and Vendor Show, or relax and listen to music.  
If you would like to volunteer, be a vendor, or donate, please call (734) 955-4577. Have a great time!