With the economic strain on Michiganders and many safety net supports set to expire at the end of the month, CMF is urging Congress to advance COVID-19 relief legislation this week.

CMF sent a letter to members of Congress on Friday urging they move swiftly with a federal relief package and prioritize investments in early childhood care and education, broadband, unemployment insurance and statutory changes for the census. 

As our community of philanthropy continues to respond to the crisis, the stability of the infrastructure that supports our communities will require additional long-term investments. 

Specific asks in our letter to policymakers included:

• Support Our Child Care System: CMF is calling for $50 billion to be allocated to the Child Care and Development Block Grant Program to support providers and families.  

• Invest in Broadband Access: We are urging Congress to invest a minimum of $15 billion in emergency funds to support broadband internet access. This would include approximately $12 billion to close the education digital divide through connected devices and hotspots, $3 billion for emergency home connectivity, $200 million for telemedicine grants and $24 million for broadband mapping.  

• Extend Pandemic Unemployment Assistance: Record numbers of new Unemployment Insurance (UI) claims are still being filed as we near the expiration of federal relief under Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation. CMF is seeking an extension of federal emergency UI benefits.

• Extend Census 2020 Statutory Reporting Deadlines: To ensure our communities receive the federal funding and supports they need, it is imperative the U.S. Census Bureau has enough time to ensure quality, precision and accuracy in the census count process. CMF is urging Congress to extend the statutory reporting deadlines for apportionment and redistricting.  

We invite you to read the full letter. This week, CMF – in partnership with the Michigan Nonprofit Association and Michigan Association of United Ways – will send a joint letter highlighting urgent needs to state lawmakers, as well.

CMF also continues to work alongside our national partners, including Independent Sector, the Council on Foundations and United Philanthropy Forum, in a shared pursuit to drive long-term sustainable recovery by strengthening the physical, social, civic and economic infrastructure that drives life outcomes in communities.

Want more?

CMF seeks to fortify the field through public policy action, and champion the policy leadership of CMF members. Learn more.

If you have questions on CMF’s policy work or how to further advance your own organization’s advocacy work we invite you to connect with Regina Bell, director of government relations and public policy at CMF.