LANSING — State Representative Winnie Brinks (Grand Rapids) and Brandon Dillon (Grand Rapids) received their House committee assignments today. Brinks has been assigned to the House Education and Health Policy committees. Dillon will serve on the House Appropriations Committee and the Department of Community Health and School Aid subcommittees, and will serve as the minority vice chair of the School Aid Subcommittee.
“Few things are as important to the well-being of our state as the education of our children and the health of all its citizens,” Brinks said. “Improving our schools and restoring funding to public education are among my top goals in the Legislature. I am ready to get to work on these important matters.”
Before joining the House, Brinks served as an English Language Learners paraprofessional in the Godfrey-Lee Public Schools and as a committee member and past chairwoman of the East Grand Rapids Public Schools Legislative Committee. She also worked as the executive director of The One Way House, a nonprofit alternative to incarceration for female offenders, and as a case worker for the SOURCE, an organization that helped member companies retain employees and develop workers’ skills.
“My work in the community has shown me how important both education and health care are in allowing people be self-sufficient,” Brinks said. “I am eager to help our state find ways to better serve its citizens so that everyone can have access to excellent schools and health care and achieve their full potential.”
Dillon, serving his second term in the House, has been appointed to the House Appropriations Committee. Dillon looks forward to taking an active role in creating the state budget and ensuring that taxpayer dollars are wisely spent. He will also serve as the minority vice chairman of the School Aid Subcommittee, where he will play a significant role in determining school funding.
“I am glad to be a part of the important work of the Appropriations Committee, and I will work hard to make sure that the tax dollars paid by Michigan families are put to good use,” Dillon said. “I especially look forward to my work in the School Aid Subcommittee, as I know that our schools have been underfunded over the past two years. Restoring funding to our kids’ schools is among my highest goals in the Legislature.”