April 17, 2021
Friends,
Michigan has once again become the epicenter of our nation’s continued fight against COVID-19, and I truly hope you take all the necessary precautions to stay safe: Such as continuing to socially distance, wearing a mask around others, washing your hands, as well as other important CDC guidelines.
In recent news, our state is slated to receive $18 billion in further COVID-19 relief from the federal government, of which, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has requested the legislature to prioritize students, as well as finally fixing Michigan’s crumbling infrastructure. You can find more information like this below, including resources related to vaccines and other economic help during these difficult times.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to my office at 517-373-0990, or email me if you have any questions or need assistance.
Stay safe and be well,
Sylvia Santana
State Senator
District 3
APRIL IS ARAB AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH
On Wednesday, April 14, I introduced Senate Resolution 40 to recognize April as Arab American Heritage Month in Michigan. Our great state is home to more than 277,000 Arab Americans, all of whom are an integral part of our state’s cultural identity.
Arab Americans live all around our state — but Dearborn is where so many of them call home and I’m honored to represent this proud community in the Michigan Senate. Their history is not only embedded within the American ideals of freedom and equality, but also a strong affinity for family, friends, and community service. I hope this resolution serves as a reminder for all of us to take some extra time to appreciate Michigan’s ethnically and religiously diverse Arab American brothers and sisters by supporting their communities and businesses.
MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY THERAPY BEING USED TO TREAT COVID-19
On Wednesday, April 14, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services announced the state is working to expand the use of a medical intervention — monoclonal antibodies — designed to significantly reduce hospitalizations and deaths due to COVID-19. Additional doses are being made available to providers to expand the number of infusion sites in the state.
Monoclonal antibodies (mAb) are laboratory-produced molecules that can restore, enhance, or mimic the immune system’s attack on cells. Clinical trials have shown promising data that this therapy works for the treatment of COVID-19 in patients who are at high risk for progressing to severe symptoms and/or hospitalization, including older Michiganders. It’s administered through an intravenous infusion and is designed for people who have tested positive for COVID-19 and have mild to moderate symptoms, and it’s not intended for hospitalized patients.
To date, preliminary data suggests more than 6,600 Michiganders have received mAb treatment with 65% reporting feeling better with two days and less than 5% of them requiring hospitalization following treatment.
Additional information on monoclonal antibody therapy can be found at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Combating COVID website and Michigan.gov/COVIDTherapy.
MIOSHA EXTENDS EMERGENCY RULES TO OCTOBER 14
As broad community spread of COVID-19 continues, the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) within the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) has extended its emergency rules that were originally issue on Oct. 14, 2020, to protect Michigan workers, businesses, customers and communities from the spread of COVID-19.
As of Tuesday, April 13, 2021 the emergency rules have been extended until October 14, 2021, but can be modified or withdrawn at any time in response to changes in COVID-19 spread.
Since March 2020, employers have reported more than 40 worker deaths from COVID-19 in Michigan, and MIOSHA has received over 12,000 complaints from employees alleging COVID-19 hazards in the workplace. In addition, more than 605 referrals were received from local government, including local health departments, indicating that businesses were not taking all the necessary measures to protect their employees from infection.
According to data released Sept. 3 through April 1, as reported to Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) by local public health departments, workplace outbreaks include 670 in manufacturing and construction, 250 in restaurants and bars, 374 in retail, 332 in office settings, and 52 in personal care services. This data demonstrates the need for the rules extension and employer strategies that ensures the protection of hardworking Michiganders.
Under the emergency rules, employers must continue to implement policies that require remote work for employees where remote work is feasible, ensuring that COVID-19 transmission is mitigated to the maximum extent possible. While in-person work is permitted when remote work is not feasible, remote work is recommended as a strategy to minimize in-person contacts and is included in guidance from the CDC and Federal OSHA to protect employees in the workplace.
Employers and employees with questions regarding workplace safety and health may contact MIOSHA using the new hotline at 855-SAFE-C19 (855-723-3219). To learn more about the efforts to support a safe reopening in Michigan, visit Michigan.gov/COVIDWorkplaceSafety.
REMINDER: TAXES ARE DUE MONDAY, MAY 17
Michigan taxpayers are reminded that they should file their state individual income tax returns before midnight on May 17, according to the Michigan Department of Treasury.
On March 19, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer secured bipartisan support to give Michiganders more time to file their individual income tax returns. For the benefit and convenience of taxpayers, both the beginning and end of income tax filing season are the same as the dates set by the Internal Revenue Service.
Individual taxpayers who need additional time to file beyond the May 17 deadline can request an extension to Oct. 15, 2021. Taxpayers requesting additional time to file should estimate their tax liability and pay any taxes owed by May 17, 2021, to avoid additional interest and penalties.
Taxpayers who are owed a refund are encouraged to file their state income tax returns, so they can receive their refunds. More information about e-filing is available at Michigan.gov/MIFastFile.
JOHNSON & JOHNSON COVID VACCINE USE PAUSED
On Tuesday, April 13, based on recommendations from Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services asked all Michigan providers to temporarily pause the administration of the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccine.
This temporary recommendation is based on the identification of six reported U.S. cases of a rare and severe type of blood clot in individuals after receiving the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. In these cases, a type of blood clot called cerebral venous sinus thrombosis was seen in combination with low levels of blood platelets (thrombocytopenia). These adverse reactions appear to be extremely rare, as more than 6.8 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine have been administered in the United States as of April 12, with nearly 200,000 of those doses administered in Michigan.
Vaccine providers across the state have been instructed not to administer this vaccine at this time, while the CDC and FDA review further data and assure that clinicians are identifying and reporting any potential adverse reaction. Clinics that are scheduled to administer Johnson & Johnson vaccine will either reschedule or use a different vaccine.
People who have received the J&J vaccine and who develop a severe headache, abdominal pain, leg pain or shortness of breath within three weeks after vaccination should contact their health care provider. Health care providers are asked to report adverse events to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System.
GOVERNOR WHITMER ANNOUNCES FEDERAL FUNDING PRIORITIES
On Monday, April 12, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced her funding priorities as the state readies for more than $18 billion in federal funding available through the American Rescue Plan Act. The state government is expected to receive $5.7 billion in additional federal funding, in addition to $4.4 billion directed to local governments and $3.9 billion to K-12 schools. Many Michiganders have already received stimulus checks from the federal government through the Act.
Several key priority areas for investment that have sustainable and long-term benefits include job creation, infrastructure, access to health care, and children and their education, which could involve:
- Grant programs for small businesses to keep our main streets vibrant and our communities resilient, support for Michigan’s community development financial institutions (CDFI) to compliment the traditional lenders supporting businesses through Paycheck Protection Program loans, and creation of a small business accelerator to provide startup capital and support for entrepreneurs.
- Business attraction efforts to invest in future technologies, mobility, and advanced vehicle technology research and development is also important. Investing in workforce opportunity and talent retention will also help transform the state.
- Addressing the long-term neglect of our infrastructure to help provide all Michiganders access to clean drinking water, broadband, public green space, climate resilient dams and local infrastructure, and a clean environment.
- Using lessons learned this past year to fuel investment in improved public health capacity, expanded access to behavioral health supports, additional services to the aging and expanded options to age in place, and redesigned and integrated access to state benefits.
- Making long-term investments in our children and the next generation, including expanding access to preschool and childcare, addressing pandemic learning loss, creating out of school learning opportunities, providing wraparound supports for mental health and social-emotional well-being, creating safe learning environments, and providing incentives to improve teacher recruitment and retention efforts.
INFORMATION ON NEW EXPUNGEMENT LAWS
On Monday, April 12, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced a new Department of Attorney General webpage devoted to informing Michigan residents on the state’s new expungement laws, when they go into effect, the eligibility requirements, forms, and downloadable checklists.
As of April 11, a person convicted of one or more misdemeanor or local ordinance marijuana crimes may petition the convicting court to set aside the convictions if they were based on activity that would not have been a crime after December 6, 2018 — when a 2018 voter-passed initiative to legalize recreational use of marijuana in Michigan went into effect. By visiting the webpage, Michiganders can access the filing and service requirements, a checklist specifically designated for misdemeanor marijuana offenses, and frequently asked questions.
Also, as of April 11, a person convicted of one or more criminal offenses including felonies but not more than a total of three felonies, may petition the convicting court to set aside the convictions. By visiting the webpage, Michiganders can access the filing and service requirements and a checklist specifically designed for this part of the expungement law. The Attorney General has also established an email address specifically devoted to answering questions on the new expungement laws.
In the coming weeks, the Attorney General’s office plans to announce additional phases to its expungement assistance initiative. The most up-to-date information will be available via the webpage.
Questions on the expungement process or any information provided on the Department expungement webpage can be directed via email to ag-expungements@michigan.gov.