Governor Gretchen Whitmer is a lifelong Michigander. She is a lawyer, an educator, former prosecutor, State Representative and Senator. She was the first woman to lead a Senate caucus. But the most important title she boasts is MOM. Inspired by her family, she’s devoted her life to building a stronger Michigan for everyone.
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February 16, 2022
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 16, 2022
Contact: press@michigan.gov
Governor Whitmer Signs Bipartisan Bill to Help Keep Kids in School
$1.2 billion supplemental funding bill invests federal resources to continue in-class learning, recruit and retain more healthcare workers, and build on Michigan's economic momentum
LANSING, Mich.- Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed HB 5523, a $1.2 billion supplemental funding bill that utilizes federal resources to keep kids learning in-person and bolster the state's healthcare workforce, among other essential investments.
"This bill is a testament to what's possible when Republicans and Democrats work together to put Michiganders first," said Governor Whitmer. "The funding will ensure that our kids can continue safely learning in person by expanding testing and screening in schools and make healthcare more accessible to regular Michiganders by allocating funds to recruit and retain critical healthcare workers. I look forward to continuing in this spirit of collaboration on the fiscal year 2023 budget, which will create good-paying jobs and put money in Michiganders' pockets. Let's work together to invest more of the federal resources we have in programs and initiatives that put Michiganders first."
"Our communities benefit from a strong and talented health care workforce, and these past two years have placed incredible burdens and demands on our team members," said Tina Freese Decker, BHSH System President & CEO and Chair, Michigan Health & Hospital Association. "The funding included in this supplemental budget bill will help Michigan hospitals and health systems in rebuilding and retaining exceptional health care workers so we can continue to provide safe, high-quality care to all, including supporting innovative educational and training programs. Thank you to our Michigan Legislature and to Governor Whitmer for directing these resources to ensure we have the strong talent needed to care for our communities now and into the future."
"Nurses and other healthcare workers are exhausted after working non-stop in difficult circumstances throughout the pandemic and have made countless sacrifices, including putting our own lives at risk," said Jamie Brown, RN, a critical care nurse and President of the Michigan Nurses Association. "Anything that can be done to support healthcare workers should be done immediately in order to retain and recruit the healthcare workers needed to provide patient care as we move forward. It's urgent that hospitals get these resources to frontline workers as soon as possible."
Supplemental
HB 5523 invests $1.2 billion of federal COVID-19 resources into Michigan's families and communities. It includes $300M for healthcare recruitment, retention and training, $150.8M for testing and screenings in schools, and $367.3M to boost lab capacity grants, speeding up the processing of tests.
Budget?
A few weeks ago, Governor Whitmer introduced her budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2023. The budget puts Michiganders first and delivers on the issues that matter most to working families. The budget includes plans to roll back the retirement tax, cut taxes for working families, make the biggest per-student investment ever, make the biggest state infrastructure budget ever, and send bonuses to all school staff, frontline workers, firefighters, and police officers. Governor Whitmer will work with anyone to deliver on the proposals in her budget.?
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