For Immediate Release: Wednesday, January 27, 2021
Maryland Senate announces an additional $520 million in pandemic relief to
Gov. Hogan’s $1 billion relief package
Rockville, Md., Jan. 27, 2021—Today, Senate President Bill Ferguson and Democratic leadership in the Maryland Senate unveiled the Maryland Senate Recovery Now Amendment to Gov. Larry Hogan’s RELIEF Bill. The plan adds an additional $520 million to Gov. Hogan’s $767 million relief plan, which will aid an additional 192,000 Marylanders as well as over 19,300 businesses.
The Maryland Senate Recovery Now plan includes $1,000 direct payments to tens of thousands of unemployed Marylanders, expanded aid and support to nonprofits, arts organizations and businesses, plus additional assistance for housing, health care, education, transportation, and employment insurance.
Montgomery County Councilmember Tom Hucker released the following statement, on his own behalf, in response to the announcement of the Maryland Senate Recovery Now Amendment:
“In addition to the Council’s ongoing efforts to advocate for more vaccine doses from the state, I have been working with leaders across Maryland to keep pressure on Gov. Hogan to release money from the state’s Rainy Day Fund, a fund that contains more than $928 million set aside for unforeseen economic crises, to help our struggling residents and small businesses.
“Today, Sen. President Bill Ferguson and Democratic leadership in the Maryland Senate unveiled the Maryland Senate Recovery Now Amendment, which will provide immediate relief to Marylanders in need.
“This follows a campaign we launched on Wednesday, Dec. 23, where I was joined by struggling business owners and tenants as well as Sen. Ben Cardin, Treasurer Nancy Kopp, Comptroller Peter Franchot and my counterparts Baltimore City Council Chair Nick Mosby, Anne Arundel County Council Chair Sarah Lacey, Howard County Council Chair Liz Walsh, and others for a virtual press conference urging the governor to take action to provide immediate relief to Maryland’s residents and Main Street businesses.
“The coalition, Maryland United for COVID Relief Now, held a virtual rally on Saturday, Jan. 10, where thousands of Marylanders from all 24 major jurisdictions, along with the Maryland NAACP, CASA, the National Organization for Women - Maryland, Maryland State Education Association, 1199 SEIU, AFSCME Maryland, ATU Local 689 and many other groups called on Gov. Hogan to provide immediate relief from the Rainy Day Fund and the FY20 State surplus.
“Immediately following the rally, the governor announced his RELIEF Act, which would provide $450 stimulus checks to some low-income Marylanders and other relief measures. While the announcement was a step in the right direction, it was not nearly enough to provide real and immediate relief to those who need it most.
“We are so grateful that our leaders in the Maryland Senate heard our demands and listened to the united voices of Marylanders across the state to implement real and immediate support to help our communities recover from the devastating pandemic.”
###
Release ID: 21-030