ANN ARBOR, Mich. (Jan. 27, 2021) — Sen. Jeff Irwin (D–Ann Arbor) has issued the following statement on Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s third State of the State address that she gave this evening: 

“I am ecstatic that Governor Whitmer announced her commitment to improving care for elderly and disabled residents who rely on direct-care workers. These caregivers provide intimate, essential support to more than a million Michiganians but the access to these services is severely limited.  

“The governor’s proposal to increase pay for direct-care workers will greatly improve access to, and the quality of, care provided to seniors and disabled residents. Direct-care workers continue to do essential work at very low wages and improving how these services work for recipients and providers will make a big difference in the lives of Michigan’s people.”   

### 

Sen. Irwin represents the 18th Senate District in Washtenaw County that includes the cities of Ann Arbor, Milan (portion), Saline, and Ypsilanti, and the townships of Ann Arbor, Augusta, Pittsfield, Salem, Superior, York, and Ypsilanti.