Michel named to subcommittee making recommendations on spending $1.8 billion in federal funds

Dist. 25 Sen. J. Walter Michel was chosen as a member of the seven-person Appropriations Subcommittee to make recommendations on spending $1.8 billion in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds allocated to the Mississippi Legislature.

Michel, whose district includes northeast Jackson and the cities of Madison and Ridgeland, was appointed to the committee by Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann and Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Briggs Hopson and will serve with fellow senators John Polk, Subcommittee Chairman and members Albert Butler, Dennis DeBar, Hillman Frazier, Rita Parks and Bart Williams.

“I will be ready to work closely with the cities of Madison, Ridgeland and I represent portions of North Jackson as well,” Michel said. “We are going to have our first meeting on Nov. 15 to discuss that so that once the session starts we will have a plan the first week of the session (in January) on how to start spending the $1.8 billion.”

The Subcommittee will meet at 10 a.m., Nov. 15, in room 216 of the Capitol to formulate recommendations before the start of the 2022 Legislative Session in January.

The money can be used for water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure; tourism; and COVID expenses related to healthcare, economic recovery and other related issues.

“I’m proud that the Lt. Gov. thought that highly of me to make me a member of this important committee,” Michel said.