MARQUETTE — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer; U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman, R-Watersmeet; U.S. Sen. Gary Peters D-Bloomfield Hills; and U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Lansing, each released statements Wednesday regarding the passage of the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill. Statements from each official are listed in alphabetical order.

Bergman: “Since the beginning of the coronavirus crisis I’ve supported many pieces of legislation that provide relief for individuals, greater broadband access, support to local hospitals, paycheck protection for small businesses, direct payments to constituents, and billions of dollars for vaccine distribution and testing. Each of these bills were crafted with bipartisan support and across party lines in an attempt to best serve the American people.

“Roughly $46 billion in CARES Act funding has yet to be spent, and there is potentially up to $1 trillion total in COVID relief still unspent. Additionally, only a fraction of the items in this legislation will get people back to work, back to school, and get our economy back on track. In fact, less than 9% of the taxpayer dollars being spent will go directly towards public health needs like vaccination distribution, testing and tracking. While there are provisions in this bill that I’ve supported — including additional direct payments to Americans — as a whole, the so-called ‘American Rescue Plan’ is nothing short of a partisan progressive wish list, passed with absolutely zero bipartisan input or support.”

Peters: “A year into this pandemic, it’s clear that Michiganders and Americans still need additional support to put food on the table, pay their bills and make ends meet. I have heard gut-wrenching personal stories from countless Michiganders — who are trying to keep their heads above water and get through this public health and economic crisis. The American Rescue Plan will deliver much-needed relief, and I’m glad this bill is now going to be signed into law.

“This landmark aid package includes robust funding to distribute direct $1,400 stimulus checks, accelerate vaccine distribution, help ensure schools can reopen safely, extend unemployment benefits, support small businesses and help communities carry out essential functions. I was proud to help pass the American Rescue Plan in the Senate, and I look forward to President Biden enacting this comprehensive relief that will help Michiganders emerge from this dark winter.”

Stabenow: “Michigan families have been through so much this past year just trying to keep their families safe, educate their children at home and survive the financial challenges of this health pandemic. They need and deserve to know that their government has their back. The American Rescue Plan does just that. The plan we just passed will get vaccines into people’s arms, provide direct financial help for people to survive the pandemic and help return students safely back to school, and so much more.”

Whitmer: “President Biden and Michigan’s congressional Democrats have delivered critical aid to the people of Michigan and Americans nationwide with this investment in our families, communities, small businesses and children. This bold bill will, among several other pieces, send $1,400 stimulus checks to 90% of households, extend $300 weekly unemployment benefits through Sept. 6, expand the Earned Income Tax Credit for working families, vastly increase the child tax credit, and offer much needed support for America’s small and mid-sized businesses, including a dedicated restaurant relief fund.

“According to an analysis by Columbia University, the legislation will reduce poverty by one-third, cut child poverty in half and provide aid to 150 million American households. The American Rescue Plan is a historic achievement on par with President Roosevelt’s New Deal and President Johnson’s Great Society in terms of how many Americans it will immediately and directly benefit. This bill will send the state billions to help build our economy back better from the pandemic and boost our rollout of the three safe, effective vaccines. I look forward to working across the aisle with the Legislature to put these dollars to work quickly to support our working families, our kids and our small businesses. We’re living through colliding crises, but as President Biden says, our best days are ahead of us. Together, we will get there.”