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Dear Friends,
As we progress toward April 30, and we continue to see the curve flatten, we should begin working to get the rest of our state transitioning back to their jobs and normal lives.
My colleagues and I have launched a bipartisan work group aimed at answering some of the questions surrounding how we can get Michiganders back to work safely. In conjunction with the work group, we have also launched an online forum that allows businesses to give input on what they are doing to help against the pandemic and measures they are taking to keep employees and customers safe. Please share your thoughts and suggestions at www.MiSafeWorkplaces.com so the work group has feedback from the job providers and workers of the 34th District to make informed recommendations.
In the meantime, my office is open remotely and my staff and I are available to assist you. You may contact us by emailing [email protected] or by telephone at 1-855-347-8034. Also, please check out my Facebook page for updates. Let me know if I can assist you in any way or if you have an idea to help move our state forward. Sincerely,
Jon Bumstead State Senator 34th District
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Governor signs executive order temporarily extending expiration of driver’s licenses, state ID cards and vehicle registrations
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Gov. Gretchen Whitmer earlier this week signed Executive Order 2020-47, temporarily extending the expiration of valid driver’s licenses, state identification cards and commercial vehicle registrations that would otherwise expire during the state’s COVID-19 emergency declaration.
The temporary extension does not apply to motorists with suspended or revoked driver’s licenses. Read more here.
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Whitmer signs executive order extending capacity for disaster relief child care services for essential workforce
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Gov. Whitmer on Wednesday signed Executive Order 2020-51, which expands capacity for child care services for health care workers, first responders, and other members of the essential workforce providing critical infrastructure to Michiganders during the COVID-19 epidemic until May 13.
The order provides temporary and limited relief from certain regulatory restrictions regarding child care services and facilitates and the use of certain property for child care services. Read more here.
Other recent executive orders include:
Executive Order 2020-44 — Enhanced support for deliveries. This is a rescission of Executive Order 2020-12.
Executive Order 2020-45 — Enhanced authorization of remote means for carrying out state administrative procedures. This is a rescission of Executive Order 2020-23.
Executive Order 2020-46 — Helps mitigate the economic harm of the COVID-19 pandemic through the creation of a spirits buyback program for restaurants and bars throughout the state.
Executive Order 2020-47 — Temporary extension of the validity of certain driver’s licenses, state cards, and vehicle registrations.
Executive Order 2020-48 — Temporary authorization of remote participation in public meetings and hearings and temporary relief from monthly meeting requirements for school boards. This is a rescission of Executive Order 2020-15. You can read more on the Frequently Asked Questions page.
Executive Order 2020-49 — Temporary enhancements to operational capacity and efficiency of health care facilities. This is a rescission of Executive Order 2020-13.
Executive Order 2020-50 — Enhanced protections for residents and staff of long-term care facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Executive Order 2020-51 — Expands child care access during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a rescission of Executive Order 2020-16.
Additional information on the governor’s executive orders and other state news can be found here.
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Senate work group discusses first wave of recommendations to governor
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Michigan residents have been asked to make extraordinary sacrifices in our state’s battle against the coronavirus. And Michigan businesses and workers have responded with tremendous displays of selflessness for the greater good. THANK YOU for your outstanding efforts.
While our battle continues, it is also time to begin planning for a transition back to typical daily life – including reopening businesses that can operate safely, especially those in which people operate alone, or can safely practice social distancing. Unfortunately, Gov. Whitmer’s latest extension of the “Stay Home, Stay Safe” executive order fails to acknowledge reopening the economy as an option.
To begin the process of planning for renewed economic activity, the Senate has created a bipartisan “Safe Behavior for Safe Workplaces” work group to develop recommendations to Gov. Whitmer as to how Michigan can safely and systematically open for business.
As we continue forward, we need your input.
We have launched an online forum for you to share your thoughts and to help us understand the needs of job providers and workers as we work toward reopening our state for business. What are the safety protocols you feel need to be in place for your business or workplace to operate safely? What should the work group be considering as it contemplates resuming economic activity? Does your business or job require high or low levels of physical interaction between customers and/or employees? Can you operate at a successful level utilizing current social distancing, hygiene and mask guidelines?
Please share your thoughts and suggestions at www.MiSafeWorkplaces.com so the work group has feedback from the job providers and workers of the 34th District to make informed recommendations.
Again, thank you for the role you have played in battling the deadly coronavirus. With your input, we can begin planning for an eventual return to more typical daily life in our great state.
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Federal CARES Act and unemployment update
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Many have contacted my office with questions surrounding the recent federal legislation to provide relief to citizens across the nation.
Many have already successfully filed for unemployment and many have received their federal stimulus payments as well.
If you are still trying to file a claim with the state’s unemployment office, please continue trying and be patient. The state is seeing a record number of claims week after week and necessary adjustments are being made to both the online and telephone systems.
Those wishing to file online are encouraged to do so during the hours of 8 p.m. – 8 a.m. and should do so according to the following schedule: • Last names beginning with letters A-L: file claims on Mondays, Wednesday, Fridays. • Last names beginning with letters M-Z: file claims on Sundays, Tuesdays, or Thursdays. • Saturdays will be available for anyone who was unable to file during their allotted times.
Those who prefer telephone should follow the following updated schedule: • Last names beginning with letters A-L: call on Monday or Wednesday. • Last names beginning with letters M-Z: call on Tuesday or Thursday. • Friday and Saturday will be available for anyone who missed the above opportunities.
The call center has also extended its hours from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday.
To file online, please visit www.Michigan.gov/UIA.
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Michigan to receive $89 million in education grants
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The state of Michigan is up for $89.4 million in federal grant funding to assist with education during the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos announced earlier this week.
The money is part of $3 billion being allocated to governors nationwide as they deal with coronavirus-related school closures. Michigan, like many other states, has shut down in-person learning for the remainder of the school year.
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Michigan airports awarded $256 million in coronavirus crisis aid
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Michigan airports are set to receive $256 million in federal aid to help ease economic hardship from the coronavirus crisis. The federal aid, through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, was announced Tuesday, April 14. Read more.
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Need tips on teaching children at home?
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Some Michigan parents are feeling overwhelmed with the new reality of educating their children at home now that school buildings across Michigan are closed for the year.
Parents across the nation have shared their ingenuity and creative solutions for educating their kids at home and keeping them engaged while doing so. As we continue moving forward together, I wanted to provide some additional resources that may assist you with keeping your children up to date.
You can also read what other parents are doing here!
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Michigan's 34th Senate District
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The 34th State Senate District includes the counties of Muskegon, Newaygo, and Oceana.
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Thank you for subscribing to my electronic newsletter! I am honored to represent you in the state Senate. As always, please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns. Please feel free to forward this on to others who may be interested in receiving the 34th District E-news. You may sign up for it also at my website.
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Senator Jon Bumstead 4600 Connie Binsfeld Building P.O. Box 30036 Lansing, MI 48909-7536 |
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