"I believe that time is of the essence to immediately begin to tangibly direct meaningful resources to the recent recommendations of the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus."

(Indianapolis, Ind.) - State Representatives are calling on Governor Holcomb to provide more funding to African American communities in Indiana. 

With these communities experiencing high rates of death from COVID-19, Ranking Minority Member of the Indiana House Ways and Means Committee and member of the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus (IBLC), State Representative Gregory W. Porter (D-Indianapolis) directly asked Indiana's governor for more support. 

"I believe that time is of the essence to immediately begin to tangibly direct meaningful resources to the recent recommendations of the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus (IBLC)," Representative Porter says in a letter to Governor Holcomb. "As you know, these recommendations include the establishment of a Health Disparity Task Force, and Essential Workers Paid Leave and Hazard Pay among other specifically identified immediate needs. Even with the various requests that are starting to come in when it comes to funding the response to the COVID-19 crisis, I believe that it is essential to secure a down payment on these initiatives while the public has heightened focus on the situation."

Porter specifically asked the Governor to set aside $5 million from the Coronavirus Relief Fund as an initial down payment to address the IBLC recommendations.

"In addition, I have been informed that Indiana has just received their latest installment of Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement dollars. The latest payment of $130 million dollars should afford some flexibility to the State when it comes to further funding the unmet needs attributable to our State's health disparities. In this regard, I am suggesting that health programs such as the Indiana Minority Health Coalition, Local Health Departments, and Community Health Centers receive an augmentation in their respective funding. An augmentation of funding for the aforementioned programs can be easily facilitated since these programs are already receiving TMSA funding."

To read the full letter, click here.