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What the federal stimulus could mean for Minnesota

Saturday, March 28, 2020

Dear Neighbors, 



Thank you for everything you are doing to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Please follow public health guidelines and stay at home except for essential needs until 5pm on Friday, April 10. Answers to frequently asked questions about what this does (and does not) mean are available here



I’m writing to let you know that Governor Walz signed the Legislature’s new economic aid package into law today. As a result, help is on the way for small businesses, workers, childcare providers, and families. This is the first part of what will need to be a comprehensive, long-term strategy to help communities recover from this unprecedented public health crisis. 



Congress and the President have just enacted a sweeping $2.2 trillion federal aid package. We’ll learn more about what this means for Minnesota in the days ahead, but what we do know is it provides assistance to states, workers, and businesses. Check out the following links for more information about what the bill includes: 



 



https://www.ncsl.org/ncsl-in-dc/publications-and-resources/coronavirus-stimulus-bill-states.aspx



https://www.forbes.com/sites/advisor/2020/03/27/your-guide-to-the-federal-stimulus-package/#2eb1ed9d2711



https://www.politico.com/news/2020/03/25/whats-in-stimulus-package-coronavirus-149282



 



The bill includes a number of changes to make sure unemployment insurance benefits are available to Minnesotans who need them over the long term. First, the benefit period is extended from 26 weeks to 39 weeks, which helps those whose benefits are about to expire. Second, it provides additional benefits of $600 per to week to unemployed workers, which are added to existing state level benefits (currently up to $740 per week in MN). Unemployed workers would be able to receive these additional benefits for up to four months. Importantly, this $600 per week in federal benefits is available to independent contractors, self-employed individuals, and gig workers who are otherwise not eligible for unemployment benefits. 



I will share more information and updates about what the federal stimulus means for Minnesota in the coming days. 



 



Sincerely,



Paul Marquart

State Representative 



 



General Resources: 



Stay Home MN website

www.mn.gov/stayhomemn 



U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

www.cdc.gov 



Minnesota Department of Health

651-201-3920 or 1-800-657-3903 (7am-7pm daily)

www.health.state.mn.us 



School and child care questions:

651-297-1304 or 1-800-657-3504 (7am-7pm daily)

www.education.mn.gov 



*Child care providers with questions should call 1-888-234-1268



 



Information for workers and employers: www.mn.gov/deed/newscenter/covid 



Minnesota Department of Health Spanish language website: https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/materials/spanish.html 



American Sign Language PSA:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8bUdMEsiPQ&feature=emb_titl




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