During an unusual Friday evening session, Senate Republicans offered a relief bill that would help Michigan hospitals combating the COVID-19 surge, increase testing capacity and vaccine distribution, and assist the thousands of workers and businesses facing financial ruin due to Gov. Whitmer’s shutdowns.

Republicans are stepping up to help the thousands of Michiganders hurt by the governor’s shutdowns. Our plan creates an Employee Assistance Fund to provide grants to help restaurant workers who are again out of work due to the governor’s shutdowns. We’re also helping local businesses avoid permanent closure by creating Small Business Survival Grants.

The plan includes dollars to facilitate storage and delivery of the coronavirus vaccine for those who choose to receive it but makes clear no resources can be spent to mandate vaccinations.

The relief bill is the latest step in our plan to tackle the pandemic and its impact on Michiganders. We’re already passed bills to extend unemployment benefits into Spring 2021, and to help hospitals hire more nurses at this critical time.

If this latest plan is signed into law, we will have dedicated nearly $4 billion to combatting COVID-19 this year.

Despite the unprecedented nature of this year, I was proud of the legislative priorities I was able to push for on behalf of the people of the 31st District. Here are some highlights:

Senate Bill 431 was a selfish bill that would have only benefitted the aggregate mining community while putting local communities in harm’s way. I was strongly opposed to this bill and fought its passage at every turn. I am proud to say that SB 431 did not pass the Senate before the end of 2020, and therefore it will no longer be active as we start a new legislative term in January.

This bill would have allowed sand and gravel mining operations to operate with virtually zero oversight from any level of government — regardless of where the operation is located or its impact on nearby residents, the community, or on water quality. It would have stripped away the limited local authority and all safeguards that currently exist. As a former township supervisor, I understand the frustration our local officials would be facing with this bill.

Those in support of this bill would argue there is a shortage of aggregate in Michigan. That is simply not true. There are already over 1,600 construction grade sand and gravel sites operating in Michigan. While the need to access gravel and other aggregate material is important to our roads, we should not take away the rights of our local officials and residents to have a say in matters like these.

According to a Marketing Resources Group poll conducted in September of this year, more than 78% of people oppose the elimination of local approval for aggregate mining operations. My office heard from countless residents expressing concerns with this bill.

You’re voices matter and are a big reason this bill did not succeed.

Senate Bill 431 would have created a statewide one-size-fits-all process, incorrectly treating all communities and all mining operations alike. But we all know no two communities, or mining operations, are exactly alike. Local units of government know their areas best and are in the best position to determine if a mining operation is safe for their community. I am happy we were able to stop this bill, and my team and I will continue to fight any future versions that may appear.

This summer in the wake of concerns surrounding the upcoming election, I introduced Senate Bill 977, which would have made it a felony to knowingly submit another person’s name or personal identity information on an absent voter ballot application or attempt to obtain multiple ballots.

Earlier this year, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson announced she would be mailing absentee ballot applications to each of the state’s registered voters. Many had voiced their concern about the increased likelihood of fraud. My bill would have hindered criminal activity by making people think twice about trying to cheat the system.

Voting is the foundation of our system of government and people need to have confidence in the results. Election security is not a partisan issue. This is something we should have been able to work together and agree on.

Unfortunately, the governor vetoed this legislation that would have given Michiganders an extra boost of confidence in the security of their votes.

My bill passed both the House and Senate with overwhelming bipartisan support. Whether you're a Republican or a Democrat, protecting election security should be a no-brainer. It is unfortunate that we could have had an additional safety net in place that could have mitigated some of the concerns we’re currently facing regarding the November election.

My team is continuing to work with residents to help them access the unemployment benefits they are entitled to.

If you are having issues with your Unemployment Insurance claim, please contact my office via this webform we created to expedite Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) claims at: www.senatorkevindaley.com/unemployment-assistance/.

Once a completed form is received by my office, a member of my team will then take your information and send it to the UIA for resolution. Please note we are not personally able to fix any errors on your claim or process payments but we can make sure that you are contacted by a representative of the UIA who can assist you. We will always reach out to you if we have any updates but typically the agency will reach out directly to you once we’ve submitted your form and they’ve had a chance to review your claim.

It can take 12 or more weeks for the agency to review and resolve a case due to the extremely high volume they are experiencing. In some instances, if you have not received any benefits to date, we can request that your case is escalated with the agency. It is the decision of the UIA on whether they accept that request, but we are always willing to try.

We know this has been a frustrating process for many. My staff and I are doing everything we possibly can to get your case resolved. We appreciate your patience and will do our best to help any way we can during this difficult time.

Working hard and putting in the effort to start your own business is a textbook American dream story. Many Michiganders have successfully pursued this dream after years of hard work, breaking even, long hours, government regulations and other hoops small business owners must jump through to survive.

Unfortunately, because of a foreign virus causing a global pandemic, many of these people have had their life’s work taken from them without so much as a chance to survive. I cannot begin to put into words the sadness and frustration I feel for the people who had to go through the experience of locking their doors one last time because they just couldn’t meet the burdens anymore.

We need to do our part to mitigate this disaster and keep our communities thriving — this starts with supporting local businesses. If you are able to, and to do so safely, I kindly ask that you join me in doing our part to keep businesses in our communities alive. Shop at your local supermarket or order your favorite meal from the restaurant down on the corner. For years small businesses have been there to provide excellent service, and now it’s our turn to give back and lend them a helping hand.

Michigan’s small businesses that have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic are now able to apply for grants of up to $15,000 through the Pure Michigan Small Business Relief Initiative. The program will utilize $10 million in federal U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) CARES Act funding to provide economic assistance to small businesses across Michigan.

Grants of up to $15,000 per eligible business will be awarded, and applications will be reviewed on a “first-in” basis. Information on how to apply – including application questions and instructions and a video tutorial on the application process – as well as eligibility criteria and program guidelines are available at www.MichiganBusiness.org/relief.

My office is happy to offer legislative tributes in honor of noteworthy events such as retirement, anniversaries of businesses in our community, awards and public recognitions.

The 31th state Senate District includes all of Bay, Lapeer, and Tuscola counties.