State Rep. Matt Hall today voted to advance a massive infrastructural commitment that will help people, workers and small-business owners across Michigan.

The second-term legislator championed a $4.7 billion plan that will tend to aging facilities and infrastructure, fix roads, provide access to safe drinking water, spur community and economic development, ramp up technology to meet today’s needs, and more.

“We have a unique opportunity to meet the demands of people throughout Michigan,” Hall said. “People I speak with frequently talk about the need for better roads, getting high-speed internet to places where they live and other pivotal elements to everyday life. I’m pushing to deliver on these concerns. This is an investment for people throughout the state now and into the future – without saddling future generations with debilitating debt.”

Highlights of Senate Bill 565 include:

Technology and energy: A $250 million investment will boost access to the broadband internet needed for work, school and everyday life. Hall noted that rural areas were at a disadvantage during COVID-19, shutdown orders and remote learning due to a lack of reliable high-speed internet access.

Road and bridge repairs: More than $380 million will assist state and local projects across the state. Additional resources will support airports and other transportation projects.

Safe, clean drinking water and more developed water infrastructure: A nearly $2 billion investment will help combat PFAS, replace lead pipes, establish “healthy hydration” centers in schools, and improve sewer systems. The plan Hall helped advance makes a sizable commitment to updating water infrastructure and giving communities resources to green light new infrastructure projects. Hall said expanded sewer systems and water infrastructure will give way to more growth, housing and economic activity.

Community support and development: Local communities across Michigan would receive $322 million in COVID relief and $46 million to protect against falling revenue that impacts critical local services. More support would also be provided for people working to stay in their homes. The state would be required to collaborate with the Michigan State Housing Development Authority to distribute $120 million in federal funding to help prevent homeowner mortgage delinquencies, defaults, foreclosures, utility or internet service loss or homeowner displacement because of financial hardship after Jan. 21, 2020.

A total of $50 million in federal COVID relief funds will be deposited into a new Missing Middle Gap program to increase housing supply for households with incomes between 185 and 300 percent of the federal poverty level. The commitment works to expand housing options and help hard-working people who have been affected through no fault of their own in the face of uncertain times and rising costs.

Hall also voted to approve House Bill 5525, which includes additional measures to stabilize and improve service at Michigan’s struggling Unemployment Insurance Agency. A $100 million investment will help offset fraud and bolster the benefits trust fund, which fell from above $4.5 billion to under $1 billion during the pandemic. Hall examined the viability of the trust fund and worked to develop solutions when chairing the House Oversight Committee during the 2019-20 legislative term.

HB 5525 also beefs up resources to fight fraud and improve customer service at the UIA without asking businesses to pay more into the system – a point Hall stressed as many local businesses throughout Michigan were forced to shut down through no fault of their own and were unable to generate revenue that would help make such payments.

The plans, which include a total of more than $4.2 billion in federal resources and nearly $600 million in state resources, will soon head to the governor for consideration.