{"id":5335,"date":"2020-05-28T16:07:45","date_gmt":"2020-05-28T16:07:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/senatedems.com\/brinks\/?p=5335"},"modified":"2020-05-28T16:07:45","modified_gmt":"2020-05-28T16:07:45","slug":"brinks-introduces-bill-to-establish-task-force-on-racial-disparities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dev.senatedems.com\/brinks\/2020\/05\/28\/brinks-introduces-bill-to-establish-task-force-on-racial-disparities\/","title":{"rendered":"Brinks introduces bill to establish Task Force on Racial Disparities"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

LANSING, Mich. \u2014 Sen. Winnie Brinks<\/strong> (D-Grand Rapids) today introduced a bill to create the Michigan Coronavirus Task Force on Racial Disparities, codifying Gov. Gretchen Whitmer\u2019s Executive Order 2020-55 into law<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Senate Bill 944 would create an advisory task force for the governor to study the causes of racial disparities as it relates to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and to offer recommendations and actions to immediately address them, as well as the historical and systematic inequities that promoted them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhile simultaneously saying they disagree with Governor Whitmer, Republican leadership recently advanced a bill that codified some of her executive orders, but what they left out is telling \u2014 including this specific task force,\u201d Sen. Brinks said. \u201cIf my colleagues on the other side of the aisle are as committed to finding solutions as they say they are, they should seriously consider taking up this legislation that addresses finding solutions for all Michiganders.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

COVID-19 has disproportionately impacted communities of color across Michigan. While African Americans make up 13.6% of the state\u2019s population, they make up 40% of COVID-19 related deaths<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among the goals of the task force would be: <\/p>\n\n\n\n