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Here is an update for June 26th. 

Thought of the day: “Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.” — Desmond Tutu

Yesterday, Michigan reported 353 new COVID-19 cases. This is the biggest uptick in June. This is a trend also happening across the country. Statistics from other states are alarming. Florida, Texas, and California are just some of the examples. It’s a nationwide trend and reminds us that this virus is still out there. Wear a mask, carry hand sanitizer, stay 6 feet part, wash your hands, and be smart. 

Last night, the House passed the Justice in Policing Act. This legislation would put forward significant reform. Among other things, it would mandate de-escalation training, ban chokeholds and other neck restraints, establish a national database to better track misconduct complaints, and bring transparency and accountability to policing. We must work together on critical issues like this that are tearing communities apart. The House and Senate need to now find away to work with each other and find a way to actually move real legislation and get it done. We don’t need message bills, we need action and I will work towards that outcome.

Yesterday, the Trump Administration asked the Supreme Court to strike down the Affordable Care Act in the middle of a global pandemic. This could lead to millions of Americans losing critical health protections. If the lawsuit is successful, insurers could once again deny coverage to millions of Americans with pre-existing conditions. Individuals who have cancer, high-blood pressure or diabetes could lose access to life-saving care they desperately need or face extremely unaffordable premiums because of their health status. The Republican lawsuit would also strike down all of the ACA’s vital consumer protections, harming every American regardless of the type of health insurance they have. Insurers could once again set lifetime and annual dollar limits on essential services, such as doctor and hospital visits and prescription drug coverage. They could once again subject older Americans to significantly higher premiums (an age tax) and charge women more than men for the same coverages .This could also once again deny coverage of free preventive services to nearly 137 million Americans. Young people could be kicked off their parent’s healthcare plans. And insurers would not be required to cover preventive services, such as flu shots, birth control, and cancer screenings at no cost to consumers. This is the wrong direction at the wrong time. 

Many other things are happening. We’re working to protect the Great Lakes on ensuring that the recent damage to the Enbridge Line 5 anchor support along the east leg of the dual pipeline is not a threat for a potential oil spill into the Great Lakes. A judge did grant Michigan a temporary shut-down of the pipeline this week. But we need evidence that that the pipe line is safe— we can’t just count on Enbridge data. We must know what happened and we must know the operation of Line 5 through the Straits of Mackinac does not pose a major environmental risk.

Last week, over 1.4 million Americans filed for unemployment. These are new claims and shows the virus is still having terrible impacts on too many hardworking men and women across the country. If you need to file for unemployment, or you have a friend of loved one who needs to, please visit here. 

The deadline to file for the Paycheck Protection Program is on June 30th. Sadly, we all know a small business that continues to struggle. This program helps provide resources available to those small businesses in our communities. To find a lender and to apply, please visit here.

Team Dingell is here seven days a week and wants to listen and help. It isn’t as smooth as we want on some issues, but we will never stop fighting for you. Call our office at 313-278-2936 or contact us through Facebook or our webpage.
 
New information becomes available every day. Below is a list of resources and information that can be helpful during this time. Please share this information with your family, friends, and colleagues. Remember, stay home, stay safe, save lives.

Coronavirus information

File for unemployment

Small Businesses can apply for low-interest disaster loans

Navigating Social Security Benefits
 
School Based Food Service Interactive Map
 
Food Banks and Kitchens in Michigan's 12th Congressional District
 
Contact numbers for people looking for information are:
• Centers for Disease Control, cdc.gov/coronavirus, 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636).
• Michigan.gov/coronavirus, or 888-535-6136.

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