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Govs On Deck – March 8, 2021

Govs on Deck

Monday, Monday… Welcome to today’s edition of “Govs on Deck!” As a reminder, your favorite newsletter comes out on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. 


As always, questions or suggestions? Send me a note at amestoy@dga.net. You can find us all on Twitter too – @A_Tall_Turner@CEAmestoy@SamNewton, and @andersonkayjay.


We want this to be helpful, so let us know what other info/what other formats you’d like to see for these updates.


Dem Govs Get It Done: 


NOTE: This is an overview of recent actions, not a comprehensive roundup of everything our incredible governors are doing. Want more examples? Send me an email and I can help you track down answers.


COVID-19 response:


Vaccine distribution:


  • DELAWARE Gov. John CARNEY announced an expansion of Delaware’s COVID-19 vaccination program for educators, school staff, and child care workers – in line with President Biden’s commitment to provide at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to school personnel by the end of March.
  • ILLINOIS Gov. JB PRITZKER launched a new public awareness campaign directed especially to residents in the hardest-hit communities who are reluctant to take the vaccine. The public awareness campaign features Illinoisans who have been personally impacted by COVID-19 and are sharing their stories and belief in the vaccine. 
  • MINNESOTA Gov. Tim WALZ’s administration announced the publication of vaccination data by race and ethnicity made possible through the groundbreaking partnership between the State of Minnesota and the Minnesota Electronic Health Record Consortium. This unique and innovative collaboration between public health and health systems is the first statewide effort of its kind in the United States.


Mitigation efforts:


  • COLORADO Gov. Jared POLIS extended an executive order requiring individuals in Colorado to wear a medical or non-medical face-covering due to the presence of COVID-19 in the state. 


Reopening efforts:


  • NEW YORK Gov. Andrew CUOMO announced that restaurants outside of New York City, which have been operating at 50 percent capacity, can now move to 75 percent capacity starting March 19. 


Schools and students:


  • CALIFORNIA Gov. Gavin NEWSOM signed a $6.6 billion package to accelerate the safe return to in-person instruction across California and empower schools to immediately expand academic, mental health, and social-emotional supports, including over the summer. The package was passed by the Legislature with overwhelming, bipartisan support after it was announced earlier this week.
  • OREGON Gov. Kate BROWN announced she will be issuing an executive order to return Oregon public school students to the classroom. The governor directed all Oregon public schools to offer universal access to in-person instruction on or before the weeks of March 29 for K-5 students and April 19 for students in grades 6-12.


Health care:


  • COLORADO Gov. Jared POLIS extended an executive order redirecting underutilized resources to nursing facilities and selected Home and Community-Based Services through March 31, 2021, to help providers address the impacts of the pandemic, including severe staff shortages and substantial reductions in the use of these services due to COVID-19 in Colorado.


Worker support:


  • NEW YORK Gov. Andrew CUOMO announced $29 million is available to support essential workers and first responders through the Empire Pandemic Response Reimbursement Fund program coordinated by the Office of Children and Family Services. The program is designed to reimburse out-of-pocket childcare, transportation, lodging, and other qualifying expenses that enabled workers to perform their duties. The funding comes from private donations from individuals, charitable trusts, and businesses made during the COVID crisis.


Housing support:


  • ILLINOIS’ Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity joined the Citizens Utility Board in announcing upcoming events to help more Illinois utility customers who are struggling with the cost of utility bills during the COVID-19 pandemic. 


Other efforts:


  • MINNESOTA Gov. Tim WALZ signed an emergency executive order to provide regulatory relief for septic system service companies.


Beyond COVID-19 


State of the State addresses:


  • MINNESOTA Gov. Tim WALZ will deliver his third State of the State address on Sunday, March 21, 2021.


Housing support:


  • VIRGINIA Gov. Ralph NORTHAM announced the new Virginia Eviction Reduction Pilot Program, which will award more than $2.6 million in grants to 14 localities to help build capacity and implement eviction prevention and diversion programs that address the underlying causes of evictions.


Community development:


  • KENTUCKY Gov. Andy BESHEAR announced his selection of 12 projects totaling $692,058 to receive funding from the Recreational Trails Program, all of which will upgrade parks and recreational spaces across Kentucky.


Stay safe, wear a mask, and wash your hands. See you all on Wednesday!