State Rep. Andrew Fink today detailed a comprehensive recovery plan introduced in the Michigan House to help the state bounce back from COVID-19.

The plan initially provides about $3.5 billion in federal and state funds to help struggling families and job providers, get kids back in school and allow them to participate in sports, and bring accountability to the governor’s floundering vaccine distribution program.

“We don’t have time to waste. Small businesses most impacted by the pandemic and the governor’s shutdowns need fast and immediate relief in order to survive,” said Fink, of Hillsdale. “That’s what this plan delivers: Meaningful help and hope for the road ahead.”

Fink said the approval process for the House Republican plan begins with a discussion in today’s House Appropriations Committee. Highlights include:

Helping struggling families and job providers: Families forced to the brink will benefit from federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program support. Other assistance includes funding for meals for seniors, child care and development, mental health, and substance abuse prevention and treatment. The plan also includes rent and utility relief to ease pressure on family budgets, and property tax relief for job providers. Restaurants and other businesses crippled by the governor’s economic shutdown orders would be supported by a $415 million grant program, $38.5 million to reimburse liquor license and health department fees, and investments to support the unemployment benefits trust fund while providing relief for afflicted job providers who pay into the system.

Getting kids back in school: Grant funding will help local school districts provide in-person K-8 summer school and before-and-after school programs – enabling kids to catch up on lost learning. The program is supported by stipends to help families cover costs, and financial incentives for participating teachers and staff.  Additional assistance of up to $250 per student will help districts committing to reopen in-person instruction by Feb. 15. Federal Title I support also will be distributed, and more money will support benchmark assessments to figure out where kids stand academically after this tumultuous past year.  The $2.1 billion education plan is contingent upon approval of a law moving power to close in-person learning and sports activities away from the governor’s administration to local health departments, which would have that authority following health metrics.

Distributing COVID vaccine more effectively and efficiently: Additional resources would be allocated periodically as needed – rather than all at once — to allow more legislative review of the process and ensure funds aren’t squandered. The Legislature approved more than $50 million for vaccine distribution in December. This new plan goes beyond that with an additional initial investment of $22 million for vaccine distribution, and $144 million for COVID testing. Other resources will be held in reserve for when they are needed.

The plan does not include money for items the governor proposed – such as Capitol metal detectors and corporate giveaways for new job creation – because those issues aren’t related to COVID.

“Simply put, the governor’s budget request misses the mark,” Fink said. “For example, while her plan includes talking points about supporting summer school, our plan actually provides funding so Michigan schools can make it a reality.”

Fink believes the governor’s proposal is nothing more than a blank check to continue a broken vaccine rollout strategy. The legislator maintains the plan must require transparency and accountability, forcing the governor’s administration to finally start delivering real and measurable results.