July 16, 2021
Dear Neighbor,
As your State Senator, I want to make sure you’re informed about state and local issues affecting our communities in the 18th Senate District.
To that end, in the edition below, you can find information about:
- Washtenaw County Flood Update
- Legislative Update
- Supplemental Budget Update
- School Aid Budget Update
- Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency Update
- COVID-19 Emergency Rent and Utility Resources
- Upcoming Coffee Hour – happening tomorrow morning!
As always, you can reach my office at (517) 373-2406 or by replying to this email.
Jeff Irwin
State Senator
18th District
WASHTENAW COUNTY FLOOD UPDATE
Yesterday, President Biden approved the disaster declaration for Washtenaw County.
Residents and business owners who sustained losses can begin applying for assistance by registering online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA(3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. (local time), seven days a week until further notice.
Additionally, the Washtenaw County Office of Community and Economic Development has compiled a list of resources available to residents affected by flooding, which is available at Washtenaw.org.
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Senate Bills 303-304 – Voter Suppression Bills
The Senate is considering a strict voter ID law that will make lines longer and prevent some eligible voters from casting a ballot on Election Day. I oppose these bills and will continue to fight against preventing legal voters from casting their ballot on Election Day (or through an absentee ballot). Michigan already has a voter ID law and almost all voters check in with photo identification. Michigan requires paper ballots, audits our elections, and has a long tradition of secure elections. Nonetheless, there are some who want to make it more difficult to vote and even some who want to invalidate the will of the voters and install leaders from their party despite the results of a free and fair election.
Senate Bill 445 – Helping People with Unemployment
Last month, I introduced SB 445 which would allow part-time workers who are eligible for federal unemployment to keep their benefits even if they checked the wrong box on UIA forms. My bill passed the Senate quickly and is awaiting action in the House. This fix is important to thousands of people who are facing repayment orders and garnishment for benefits that they needed and were eligible for, if they had only checked the right boxes. Here is one story on how this has affected Michiganians.
If you or somebody you know is struggling with UIA, please reach out for help to my office.
Senate Bill 591 – Ban on PFAS in Food Packaging
PFAS are a class of harmful chemicals that are in our water, our bodies, and even our food packaging. While some businesses have begun to take action and ban this chemical, many large chains continue to use PFAS compounds in their packaging, seeping into our food and adding another unnecessary vector for PFAS to affect our health. For that reason, I reintroduced my bill that would ban toxic PFAS, BPA, and phthalate ‘forever chemicals’ from the manufacturing and sale of food packaging in Michigan.
SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET UPDATE
Yesterday, the Senate passed an important supplemental budget bill. Senate Bill 27 provides $105 million for increasing reimbursement rates for childcare providers. This important supplement for childcare providers is absolutely critical to supporting families struggling to find quality, affordable childcare.
In addition, SB 27 provides additional funding for nursing homes and hospitals hit hard by COVID as well as a needed deposit into the wrongful imprisonment compensation fund. Also, this budget provides $10 million to address flooding in Wayne County. I am working with colleagues to ensure that Washtenaw County victims are included and that we get state and FEMA resources into the hands of Washtenaw County victims.
SCHOOL AID BUDGET UPDATE
This week, Governor Whitmer signed the fiscal year 2021-2022 School Aid budget. The budget totals $17.1 billion, including $85.4 million from the state’s General Fund.
This budget eliminates the funding gap between districts at the minimum and maximum foundation allowances. For the first time since Proposal A in 1994, our budget eliminates the former funding gap by allocating $723 million and setting per-pupil funding at $8,700 per pupil, an increase of $589 per pupil from the current year minimum amount. In addition, intermediate school districts will receive a 4% operational funding increase. (Categorical funding like special education or line items mentioned below in the “highlights”, as well as hold harmless millages and capital bonds, will still result in uneven funding levels).
The FY 2021-2022 School Aid budget also makes a big investment in early childhood education through the Great Start Readiness Program, which provides preschool to families at or below 250% of the federal poverty level. The $168.5 million new investment includes $121 million in federal funding and $47.5 million from the School Aid Fund. The full-day per child allocation is increased from $7,250 to $8,700, and additional funding is provided to expand program access to an additional 22,000 eligible children.
More highlights in the 21-22 School Aid Budget include:
- Recognizing the need for school counselors, psychologists, nurses, and social workers by providing $240 million over 3 years for additional hires in high-need districts. After 3 years, these new hires are fully funded in an ongoing manner by the district.
- Prioritizing student mental health with a $17 million increase to support school-based mental health programming.
- Investing an additional $74.2 million in Special Education.
- Small, rural, and isolated districts will receive a $1.4 million increase.
- Maintained funding for economically disadvantaged and an additional $1.5 million for dental screenings.
- English Language Learner supports are increased by 4%.
- Incentives for districts to adopt a year-round school calendar by helping to provide for HVAC and infrastructure improvements.
- To better gauge student progress and intervention needs, the budget includes $11.5 million for benchmark assessments.
- $10 million to support school safety initiatives. Funding provides up to $50,000 per school building or $250,000 per school district.
- Support for children impacted by the drinking water emergency in Flint is increased by $2.4 million.
MICHIGAN UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE AGENCY UPDATE
Notice of Expanded Eligibility Reasons for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) – Immediate Action Required
Many individuals are receiving letters from the Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) asking you to re-file your unemployment claim. These letters may be alarming and confusing, and I want you to know you can reach out to my office for help. Simply put, Michigan’s PUA program included four reasons that were not approved by the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL). Because of this, UIA is asking individuals who received unemployment to re-submit their claim using a provided list of qualifying reasons. Individuals may pick several reasons as situations change and many reasons may apply to an individual’s specific circumstance.
What to Do
Log in to your MiWAM account and click on the “Requalify for PUA” link under the Alerts tab which will provide a Self-Attestation response form for each week that you certified for unemployment assistance. You do not have to pick the same reason for each week and you can pick more than one if they apply to your situation.
Once the self-attestation of eligibility is processed, you will receive a redetermination letter. If it is found that you are not eligible, you can appeal the redetermination. If it is determined that you were not eligible and receive an overpayment letter, UIA will evaluate and determine if you will receive a waiver so that you do not have to pay restitution. If you receive an overpayment letter, please contact my office so that we can assist you in requesting a waiver. Unless UIA determines that you were intentionally deceptive when seeking benefits, a waiver should be granted.
I understand that this may be confusing and frustrating, please feel free to reach out to my office at 517-373-2406 or by filling out our unemployment assistance form on my website at SenatorIrwin.com/Unemployment.
COVID-19 EMERGENCY RENT AND UTILITY RESOURCES
Need help with rent, utilities, and/or internet bills?
Apply today at Michigan.gov/CERA.
You can also access the CERA online application, links to paper applications, and new user guides to walk tenants and landlords through the application process at Washtenaw.org.
Washtenaw County Barrier Busters
Barrier Busters is a group of 90+ social service agencies committed to improving services for Washtenaw County residents in need. To serve residents, member agencies have access to the “Barrier Busters Emergency Unmet Needs” Fund — public and private funds that provide social workers, case managers, and other direct-service providers access to emergency assistance funds for clients.
This fund provides agencies an efficient way to prevent evictions and utility shutoffs and assist with other emergency costs that threaten residents’ housing and financial stability. Residents in need work with their existing provider to access financial assistance.
If you or someone you know needs assistance, please visit Washtenaw.org to find an agency provider.
UPCOMING COFFEE HOUR ON SATURDAY, JULY 17
Join me at my upcoming virtual coffee hour on Saturday, July 17 at 11:00 a.m. on Zoom.
>> Please use this form to RSVP to the coffee hour and to receive the information about how to join the meeting, which you can also watch on my Facebook page.
If you are unable to access the form or have any problems with the link, please contact my office at (517) 373-2406 or by responding to this email.
I will provide a legislative update on my work for you in Lansing at the coffee hour and answer questions that you submit. I hope to see you all there!