Funds come as coronavirus cases continue to surge due to delta variant
COLUMBUS – Rep. Jessica E. Miranda (D-Forest Park) announced today that the state Controlling Board approved several items of note this week, including the allocation of $175.3 million in federal funds to improve the processing of Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) claims to support Ohioans who lost their jobs during the pandemic through no fault of their own.
The Controlling Board also allocated $106 million to purchase at-home COVID-19 testing kits, which have been difficult for Ohioans to access due to increased demand for tests and limited supply.
“A year and a half after the pandemic began, too many Ohioans are still facing hurdles and long wait times for their unemployment benefits to process,” said Rep. Miranda. “We need to continue to take steps to ensure that working families have access to the benefits they have earned, especially when they are out of work through no fault of their own.”
The Controlling Board approved other measures Monday to support Ohioans amid the coronavirus pandemic, including:
- $47.1 million from the federal government to promote nutrition and combat hunger;
- $12 million from the American Rescue Plan Act to support Ohio’s seniors and Area Agencies on Aging;
- $2.8 million to distribute and administer COVID-19 vaccinations;
- $2.8 million over the next two years to provide care for Ohioans on Medicaid;
- $136,149 to mitigate the spread of COVID-19;
- $1.8 million for court-appointed Special Advocate Programs.
