AG Nessel supports additional relief for frontline, essential workers

LANSING, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – As 2021 draws to a close, $5.7 billion dedicated to Michigan from the American Rescue Plan Act has yet to be appropriated by the Michigan Legislature.

Attorney General Dana Nessel says she supports devoting at least $1 billion of that remaining funding as “Hero Pay” for the more than half a million Michiganders who have worked the frontlines throughout the pandemic.

“Michigan’s frontline workers have made great sacrifices throughout this pandemic and deserve added relief from the billions of dollars made available by our federal partners to help the state and its residents recover,” Nessel said in a statement. “It is my hope that Hero Pay is included among the appropriations yet to be made so that we can properly acknowledge the additional costs and risks our essential employees have faced in order to keep Michigan running.”

Governor Gretchen Whitmer first announced support for the one-time grants in June.

The proposal would provide between $1,500 and $2,000 to Michigan’s over 600,000 frontline workers who worked in industries that could not shut down as the state faced COVID-19.