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Dear Neighbor, Welcome to my Capitol and Community Update! I am honored and thankful to be your state representative. Please know that as we continue to face the challenges of the pandemic and its effects on our community, my staff and I are here to serve you and help however we can. Also, I’d like to let you all know that if any of you in-district have any concerns you’d like to voice to my office, we’ve just created this Google form that you can fill out to give us feedback! Just click the link embedded here to fill out the form and give us your suggestions. Upcoming Events Join me for another Community Conversation on Oct. 4 from 6-7 p.m. at Campaign Park in Allen Park! It’s a great opportunity for me to get to know you, my constituents, and talk about the issues that matter to you. Legislative Updates FY22 Budget Passage As you may have heard, the Michigan Legislature just passed and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed the new budget for fiscal year 2022! Among the major priorities targeted by this new budget, especially prominent are child care, infrastructure and the economy. Here are some of the highlights:
After some negotiations between Gov. Whitmer’s administration and House and Senate leaders, we’ve managed to complete this budget package with broad bipartisan support. Downriver Community Conference Funding Also included in this budget was $400,000 for the Downriver Community Conference! I personally fought for this. I am extremely proud of the solutions and opportunities we were able to offer in this bipartisan budget. The investment in the Downriver Community Conference will not only help small businesses and residents in need right now but also play a critical role in revitalizing the Downriver community for many years to come. State and Capital Update Vaccinations in Michigan Michigan continues to push towards a 70% vaccination rate. As of now, 67.2% of those 16 and up have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Also, since our last e-news was sent out, the FDA has officially approved the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. 30% of Michigan’s unvaccinated have said they’ll get vaccinated once the vaccines are officially FDA-approved. Hopefully, this new clearance will push Michigan’s fully vaccinated rate past our 70% goal. Capitol 9/11 Memorial A couple of weeks ago, I joined Chief Eagan and Officer Tringer at the Capitol to commemorate the 20th anniversary of 9/11, a day when hundreds of first responders rushed into action to rescue those buried under rubble, put out the flames and save lives — many of whom made the ultimate sacrifice in the process. I was honored to recognize our public safety officers on this day at the Capitol for continuing to answer the call to risk their lives every day to protect us.
Resources Michigan WorkShare Program Michigan’s WorkShare program allows employers to restart their business and bring employees back from unemployment. Employers can bring employees back with reduced hours — while employees collect partial unemployment benefits to make up a portion of the lost wages. Click here to learn more. Michigan Reconnect Program The Michigan Reconnect program ensures that Michiganders who are 25 or older and do not have a college degree will have an opportunity to earn a tuition-free associate degree or skills certificate at their in-district community college. The link to the MRP is here. Home and Heating Credit Anyone struggling with their energy bills can apply for the Home and Heating Credit through the Michigan Department of Treasury. All applications must be received before Sept. 30. You can file for the credit online here. Home Repairs with State Emergency Relief State Emergency Relief assists with home repairs to correct unsafe conditions and restore essential services. Eligible home repairs may include repair or replacement of a non-functioning furnace, hot water heaters or septic systems. This program can be found through MI Bridges, and the link is included here. |
