On Friday, I voted in support of COVID-19 relief funding to help increase testing, ensure safe delivery of the vaccine and support workers and businesses effected by Gov. Whitmer’s repeated shutdowns.

This relief funding is critical for both Michigan’s health care workers battling the virus and the thousands of Michigan workers and businesses struggling to make ends meet. The governor’s shutdowns have had an enormous impact on our state’s economy and the lives of Michigan families. Many workers are losing their jobs and our communities’ small businesses are facing the loss of their livelihoods. This funding was approved with bipartisan support to give them much-needed assistance, including extended unemployment benefits and survival grants for impacted small businesses.

Senate Bill 748 includes:

The bill uses available state and federal dollars and includes a provision that federal funds will be utilized instead of state funds if Congress approves a relief bill that directs more dollars to the states.

Senate Bill 748 now goes to the governor for final consideration.

Last week, the state Senate voted to concur with the House of Representatives to approve legislation I sponsored that will provide flexibility and access to student scholarships for Michigan’s Promise Zones.

These reforms would allow Promise Zone Authorities to make decisions that will benefit the individual needs of students within that zone. These programs are a great way to help students pursue an education; however, they do not currently meet the unique needs of students in different areas of the state.

The Michigan Promise Zone Authority Act provides scholarships to students who live and graduate from a high school located within the boundaries of a Promise Zone. The scholarships allow for students to pursue higher education while lessening their financial burden.

Currently, the Michigan Promise Zone Authority Act covers the cost of “qualified educational expenses” for students. Under the current definition, qualified educational expenses cover costs on top of tuition for expenses of books, supplies and equipment required for courses.

Senate Bill 1052 would modify what is considered a “qualified educational expense” and would make the cost of books, supplies and other equipment optional expenses that a Promise Zone Authority can cover if they choose to.

These reforms would put more money in the hands of Muskegon and Newaygo County students seeking tuition scholarships and address the diverse needs of students from different parts of the state.

The legislation will now go to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer for final consideration.

My colleagues and I approved Senate Bill 604, which would extend unemployment assistance to millions of out-of-work Michiganders through the spring of 2021.

This has been a difficult year for many hard-working families in Michigan, and as many as one in four of our families, neighbors, and friends have been without a paycheck during the continued shutdown of our state.

The latest shutdown was announced right before the holidays, and Michiganders are still suffering through no fault of their own.

The senate worked together to pass Senate Bill 604 to extend unemployment assistance to Michigan Families who need it into the spring of 2021. There are still many Michiganders who are genuinely unable to return to their jobs due to continued shutdowns, and those receiving unemployment should not have to worry about losing their benefits while they are forced out of work.

The Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association (MCCA) recently announced it is lowering the assessment charged per vehicle to $86 for the period beginning on July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022 for people who choose to maintain unlimited lifetime personal injury protection benefit coverage.

This announcement brings a 14% reduction, on top of the 55% reduction from the prior year with a total reduction of 61%, down from a high of $220 per vehicle. The MCCA stated that the reduction in the rates is primarily due to the savings created by cost controls for medical treatment and other changes made to Michigan’s no-fault insurance law. These changes have resulted in an estimated reduction in MCCA liabilities of $3.5 billion and eliminated a deficit position.

The insurance reform bill was signed into law in June 2019. These critical reforms continue to save money for Michigan’s drivers, families and seniors.

Hunting is a valued way of life in Michigan, and ensuring the health of our deer population is critical.

Deer hunters across the state are being urged to turn in the heads of harvested deer to a Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) check station or drop box for bovine tuberculosis (TB) testing this hunting season.

As of Nov. 20, Michigan was at less than 50% of its deer bovine TB testing quota required in an agreement between the United States Department of Agriculture and the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. Failure to meet the testing quota could prompt the USDA to reevaluate Michigan’s TB status, leading to additional testing requirements statewide of the state’s beef and dairy herds.

It is imperative we hit our testing quota numbers. Harvesting a large number of deer and getting the heads tested for TB can help reduce the overall population of deer with TB in areas that have a significant number of deer and will help Michigan show the USDA that we are containing the disease and working to eliminate it.

Check station and drop box locations can be found online at www.Michigan.gov/DeerCheck. For more information on bovine TB, visit www.Michigan.gov/BovineTB.

With the winter heating season in full swing, some households may need help with their heating bills. Energy assistance programs to help prevent shut-offs include:

Find more information at www.michigan.gov/bewinterwise.