SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Yesterday, the House Ways and Means Committee reviewed a new COVID-19 assistance package designed to help workers, families, and small businesses hardest hit by the pandemic. House DFLers are advocating for direct assistance for workers and families in addition to businesses.
Key pieces in the assistance package include:
- Extend Unemployment Benefits (Mahoney/Noor): Up to 13 additional weeks in unemployment benefits for MN workers who have exhausted all federal and state benefits.
- TANF Money for MFIP Families (Noor): One-time grants of $500 for 30,000 MFIP Families, using $15.7 million from the federal TANF Fund.
- Business Assistance (Mahoney): Provides $200 million from the General Fund in grants to restaurants, bars, gyms, theaters and many other entities directly affected by the executive orders and the pandemic.
“We are continuing to work through this extraordinary year using extraordinary means to ensure the most vulnerable Minnesotans receive the help they need,” said Rep. Lyndon Carlson (DFL – Crystal), chair of the House Ways and Means Committee. “This brand new COVID-19 assistance package will play an integral role in our state’s strategy to maintain the economic wellbeing of all Minnesotans. I am pleased that the Ways and Means committee was able to give this critical package of bills a thorough public hearing as we work to strike an agreement before Monday’s special session. ”
Supporting documents and a full list of the bills heard can be found on the committee’s website, and a video recording of the hearing will be published on the House Public Information’s YouTube channel.