Bill Text: MI HR0353 | 2019-2020 | 100th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: A resolution to memorialize the Congress of the United States to work collaboratively with states on a national strategy to help small businesses and local units of government.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 18-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-12-16 - Referred To Committee On Commerce And Tourism [HR0353 Detail]
Download: Michigan-2019-HR0353-Introduced.html
house Resolution No.353
Reps. Kuppa, Hertel, Hope, Cynthia Neeley, Guerra, Tyrone Carter, Elder, Aiyash, Haadsma, Greig, Sneller, Lasinski, Sowerby, Wittenberg, Rabhi and Peterson offered the following resolution:
Whereas, The COVID-19 Pandemic has had a dramatic effect on small businesses in Michigan and throughout the United States. In order to mitigate the virus' spread, non-essential businesses have needed to temporarily close or significantly reduce operations. Businesses have also faced reduced traffic as consumers have limited potential exposure to the virus. This has led to unprecedented declines in revenue and the permanent closure of tens of thousands of small businesses throughout the country; and
Whereas, Local governments have also been significantly affected by the Pandemic. Falling revenues from property, casino, and local income taxes have placed these governments under immense fiscal stress that may be exacerbated by a decline in state revenue sharing; and
Whereas, Michigan and states throughout the nation are experiencing rising coronavirus cases that may place further stress on small businesses and local governments. In Michigan, some mitigation measures have been temporarily reinstituted to control the virus; and
Whereas, Establishing a coordinated national strategy to support small businesses and local governments will alleviate some of this burden and help the nation to recover more quickly when the Pandemic has ended. Providing support to small businesses will help protect jobs and American livelihoods in the immediate future, while also ensuring that these businesses are able to avoid permanent closure. Likewise, supporting local governments will allow them to avoid unnecessarily harmful budget cuts immediately and emerge in a stronger financial position after the crisis; and
Whereas, The aid provided by the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was critical in saving lives and businesses but insufficient to weather the ongoing crisis. The funding provided to small businesses was inadequate to support the number of small businesses affected by the Pandemic. Further, the act only provided direct aid to local governments with a population of half-a-million or greater, meaning the vast majority of Michigan's nearly 2,000 local units of government were ineligible for direct payments. This funding is also expiring and may only be used for costs incurred by the end of this year; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we memorialize the Congress of the United States to work collaboratively with states on a national strategy to help small businesses and local units of government; and be it further
Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the President of the United States Senate, and members of the Michigan congressional delegation.
