View a video of Sen. Nelson’s floor comments here.

(St. Paul) — On Monday, the Minnesota Senate passed a comprehensive, bipartisan $216 million emergency relief bill to help small businesses and workers affected by the coronavirus pandemic. The bill extends unemployment insurance benefits for an additional 13 weeks and provides grants and relief to help businesses struggling under the weight of the governor’s executive orders and need fast assistance. The bill is the culmination of bipartisan negotiations between the House, Senate, and governor’s office.

Senator Carla Nelson (R-Rochester) issued the following statement:

“Yesterday the legislature overwhelmingly passed a Covid relief bill to help businesses impacted by the pandemic. I was glad to co-sponsor and support that bill and the businesses who badly need the assistance.

“I am grateful that we were able to come together and pass a Covid relief bill to help local businesses, though the bill should be viewed as a bridge to sustain them until the federal government comes with the significant relief that is badly needed.

“We should also rejoice that the vaccines are here. I am so thankful for the brilliant scientists, epidemiologists, researchers, doctors, and everyone else who came together to develop the vaccines in record time. This is what will end this pandemic that has turned our lives upside down.

“There are still things that weigh heavy on my heart. All of us know businesses that have had to close their doors permanently. I think often of those families who invested their lives into their businesses, only to be forced to close due to circumstances beyond their control.

“I also think about what is happening to our children. Kids are missing out on preschool. Their kindergarten is distance learning. It is so difficult learning the foundations of education from a distance. Students are suffering, and we will pay for it for years. We have got to do a better job of educating our kids during this pandemic, and look for ways to get students back into the classrooms safely.

“I think of the men and women who are collecting unemployment but who want to be working again. The musicians who had shows booked through the end of the year, only for those shows to be canceled. I know one musician who, when his shows were canceled, tried to drive Uber. But people didn’t want to use Uber at that time. He tried to work in a restaurant. But then we closed restaurants.

“I am thankful for the relief for businesses and the extension of unemployment benefits. But what we really need is to focus on policies that will help our economy recover quicker, and help kids get back into schools safely.”

The relief bill provides emergency assistance in three tiers:

• Direct relief payments: $88 million is allocated for businesses in industries that were directly impacted by the executive order, including bars, restaurants, and gyms. These businesses will receive a check mailed directly to them, with no need to apply. Assistance will be broken down as follows:
  • Businesses that are down 30% in revenue and have 1-20 employees will receive a $15k check
  • Businesses with 21-100 employees will receive $25k
  • Businesses with 101-300 employees will receive $35k
  • Business with more than 300 employees will receive $45k 

• Business grants: $14 million is approved for business relief grants available through DEED. These grants are aimed at businesses like movie theaters and convention centers.

• County-distributed relief: $114.8 million in relief grants will be distributed to counties based on a per capita formula. Counties will then allocate that money to businesses that were directly or indirectly impacted by the executive order. Counties will have wide latitude, but funding must be distributed by March 15.

All relief funds must be used to support payroll expenses, rent, mortgage payments, utility bills, and other similar expenses that occur in the regular course of business.

In addition, the bill extends unemployment insurance benefits for 13 weeks, providing a lifeline for the Minnesotans who, by no fault of their own, cannot go to work.