Debbie's Blog
Dingell Update: October 13, 2020
Washington,
October 13, 2020
Here is an update for October 13th.
Thought of the day: “Kind words do not cost much. Yet they accomplish much.” – Blaise Pascal Today, the federal government announced a 1.3 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for Social Security and Supplemental Security (SSI) beneficiaries in 2021. Seniors and other Social Security beneficiaries know that their prescription drugs and other costs have gone up by more and the COLA should reflect that. For years, I’ve said we need to consider changing the way the cost-of-living is decided including looking at CPI-E (Consumer Price Index for the Elderly). After a lifetime of hard work and paying into Social Security, people should be able to count on the promise of Social Security and Medicare in retirement. We must ensure these earned benefits are strong and meet the needs of seniors and beneficiaries across the country and in Michigan. Moving a coronavirus relief package through Congress remains frustrating. Let me tell you this, it’s been nearly five months since the House passed the Heroes Act to provide relief to frontline workers, small businesses, and state and local governments. We cannot afford to not get relief directly to the American people. Unemployed workers can’t wait. Small businesses can’t wait. Teachers and nurses can’t wait. Yet, the Administration and the Senate are playing political games and sending mixed signals to the American people. Mixed signals are a disservice and slap in the face to those who need help. Everyday, we hear from workers, small business, and frontline workers desperate for relief. We must act. This week the Senate Judiciary Committee started hearings on the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to be an Associate Justice on the Supreme Court. This seat is about healthcare. Right now, the Administration is at the Supreme Court working to take away healthcare form millions of Americans by destroying the Affordable Care Act. This case would rip away protections for pre-existing conditions, cease efforts to bring down out-of-pocket costs, and impact millions of Americans. All of this during a pandemic. The Senate is pushing aside getting relief to Americans affected by the pandemic to disregard precedent and the will of the people and ram through this nomination. The American people want us to have an agreement on COVID relief to protect lives, livelihoods and the life of our American Democracy. Unemployed workers can’t wait until after the election. Small businesses can’t wait until after the election. Nurses and teachers can’t wait until after the election. Five months ago the House passed the Heroes Act to provide relief and the Senate and the President have given nothing but confusing indications of where they stand. We need relief to get to the people. We can’t wait. Johnson & Johnson has paused vaccine clinical trial because of an unexplained illness. Adverse events like this are exactly why we must ensure safety and transparency during trials. No one wants a vaccine more than me, but we must make sure a vaccine that goes to market is safe, secure, and effective. This weekend I got tested – negative – and I was having no symptoms. There are many free COVID testing sites around the state, to find a location near you click here. A negative test or not, we all still need to be vigilant about wearing masks, keeping distance, and washing hands and surfaces. 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 Arabic language resources مصادر اللغة العربية • عزل COVID-19 والحجر الصحي • صحيفة وقائع COVID-19 • COVID-19 ما تحتاج إلى معرفته عن • اغسل يديك 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. Click here to be removed from this list. |
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