U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) led introduction of the bipartisan, bicameral Coronavirus Worker Relief Act. The new bill, which Peters introduced with U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI), Todd Young (R-IN), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), and Mitt Romney (R-UT) would provide disaster unemployment assistance to people who are unable to work due to the current coronavirus outbreak.
Assistance would be available to individuals, including self-employed individuals and independent contractors, who are sick, quarantined, furloughed, or whose family circumstances keep them from working or reduce their pay as a result of the coronavirus outbreak or government containment efforts.
“Michiganders forced to stay at home from work due to coronavirus shouldn’t need to worry about being able to pay their bills or putting food on the table,” said Senator Peters. “We need to do everything possible to support workers and families during this challenging time. I’m pleased to lead this bipartisan effort to help ensure Michigan families can stay afloat financially during the coronavirus outbreak.”
The Coronavirus Worker Relief Act would expand the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Disaster Unemployment Assistance Program by making those who are impacted by the coronavirus outbreak eligible for benefits. Specifically, the bill would:
- Provide access to disaster unemployment assistance for workers, including self-employed individuals and independent contractors, who are sick, quarantined, furloughed, laid off, or whose individual or family circumstances have changed as a result of COVID-19 or government containment efforts;
- Waive state waiting periods and work search requirements to ensure that workers can get the assistance they need as soon as possible;
- Set a minimum amount of assistance at parity with that of state unemployment compensation laws; and
- Assist states in the administration of this unemployment assistance.
