DETROIT – On Tuesday, Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (MI-13) hosted a telephone town hall to update the residents of the 13^th Congressional District on actions being taken to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Rep. Tlaib was joined by Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist and Crystal Hepburn, a nurse and public health expert with the Detroit Health Department. More than 6,000 residents dialed into the event, with many more listening in online.

“Right now, residents need access to trustworthy information and that is why we will be coordinating more of these telephone townhalls where people can hear directly from experts,” Congresswoman Tlaib said about the town hall. “I am asking you all to please show up for each other during this global crisis. With love for each other, along with bold, meaningful action that is aggressive, inclusive and creative, we will get through this. Please let the experts on this be the experts, and please listen to them.”

During the call, Rep. Tlaib shared information about the recently passed CARES Act, the third stimulus bill in response to COVID-19. She also shared legislative priorities she is leading for upcoming bills, including a nationwide prohibition on water shutoffs, financial assistance for state and municipal governments, and recurring direct payments for residents lasting throughout the pandemic until people can get back on their feet.

Lt. Gov. Gilchrist shared information on the latest steps the state of Michigan is taking to prevent the spread of the disease and ensure residents have access to relief such as unemployment insurance and Hepburn shared the latest best practices to help prevent the transmission of COVID-19.

Residents had an opportunity to ask questions during the town hall. Rep. Tlaib will continue holding telephone town halls throughout the pandemic, including a small business town hall planned for next week.

An audio recording of the telephone town hall can be found here.

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