Help us recognize both a front-line worker and local business please send your nominations to me here: Suggest a Tribute
The Office of State Representative Kyra Harris Bolden Advisory Council and Youth Advisory Council Application
Save the Date: COVID 19 Resources Town Hall with special guests Senator Jeremey Moss and Senator Rosemary Bayer, on Friday, March 26, 2021 at 5:30 p.m.
Leadership and committee announcement
I am beyond honored to be named House Democrat Assistant Leader for this legislative term. I was also appointed Democratic Vice chair of the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules and a member of the Insurance and Judiciary Committees. I look forward to doing everything I can in my roles to be the voice of my district and Michiganders across the state while serving at the Capitol.
Governor Whitmer’s State of the State
Highlights from the State of the State Address
In addition to the highlights from Gov. Whitmer’s State of the State Address below, you can also visit Michigan.gov/MISOTS21 to view the full address, quotes from the speech, fact sheets on each of her policy proposals and information on her special guests.
Bipartisan Accomplishments
Gov. Whitmer highlighted a number of bipartisan actions she took with the Legislature last year, including signing two bipartisan budgets, creating the bipartisan MI Reconnect Program, and passing and signing historic Clean Slate legislation to ensure Michigan’s criminal justice system truly lives up to the promise of justice for all.
MI COVID Recovery Plan
Last month, Gov. Whitmer announced her MI COVID Recovery Plan, focused on distributing vaccines, getting our students back on track, supporting small businesses and jumpstarting our economy. In her State of the State Address, she called on my colleagues and me to work alongside her to get this important plan passed, including the necessary permanent extension of unemployment benefits from 20 weeks to 26 weeks. To read more on the Recovery Plan, click here.
Funding for Local Roads
The governor called on my colleagues and me to work with her to provide local communities more options to fix local roads and bridges, which has received bipartisan support. This will build on the Rebuilding Michigan Bonding Plan, which Gov. Whitmer announced last year to create and sustain thousands of jobs and start fixing our roads without an increase at the gas pump. In the time since, hardworking construction workers have completed the I-496 Rebuilding Michigan project in November, with hundreds of additional projects on the horizon that include heavily traveled sections of I-96 in Oakland County, I-69 in Calhoun County and I-94 in Berrien County. To read more on this, click here.
MI Classroom Heroes
The MI Classroom Heroes grants will provide up to $500 to each teacher and support staff member, to be administered beginning in February. These grants will help offset some expenses amid the extraordinary efforts Michigan’s educators have demonstrated throughout the pandemic. To read more on these grants, click here.
Good Jobs for Michigan
Previously touched on in Gov. Whitmer’s MI COVID Recovery Plan, she also highlighted the need for the Legislature to pass Good Jobs for Michigan legislation to retain and grow our businesses and create jobs across our state. Pfizer was the first business to utilize Good Jobs for Michigan, doing so to build their sterile drug manufacturing plant and create 450 good-paying jobs in Portage. Passing this legislation will be good for our families, our businesses and our economy, and I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to accomplish this. Click here for more information.
MI Clean Water
Gov. Whitmer called for the Legislature to pass the MI Clean Water plan, a $500 million comprehensive investment in our state’s water infrastructure announced last year. MI Clean Water will direct dollars to our local communities for safe, clean water to residents while expanding green infrastructure. This plan would support more than 7,500 Michigan jobs. To read more, click here.
Lowering the Cost of Prescription Drugs
Last year, Gov. Whitmer created the bipartisan Prescription Drug Task Force, which has recently released their findings in a comprehensive report on how to lower prescription drug costs and create more transparency in how drugs are priced. The bipartisan, bicameral legislative recommendations they developed would require transparency, hold those accountable who are profiting from skyrocketing prices and make necessary medications affordable for all Michigan families.
Click here to read the Task Force’s full report, and click here for more information on the proposed legislation.
Fixing the Road Ahead
Gov. Whitmer also announced the “Fixing the Road Ahead” tour to engage with and learn from Michiganders across our state, encouraging Democrats, Republicans and Independents alike to join together and make their voices heard. Through this tour, she will engage with people from all parts of our state to focus on what unites us, improve how we talk to each other and fix the road ahead.
Throughout her first two years in office, Gov. Whitmer has worked around the clock to protect public health, save lives and get things done for the people of Michigan. She’s demonstrated her dedication to putting an end to the COVID-19 pandemic once and for all, growing our economy, and getting our families and businesses back on their feet.
AKA Founders’ Day Resolution Adopted
During the first week of legislative session, I was proud to have introduced House Resolution 9 to declare Jan. 15, 2021, as Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Founders’ Day in the state of Michigan and was adopted on Jan. 26, 2021.
Black History Month
Happy Black History Month! This year’s celebration of Black History is especially momentous, as the nation witnessed the first African American and South Asian woman be sworn in as the Vice President of the United States of America. Jan. 20, 2021, was a day to be proud, not just because of the accomplishments of V.P. Kamala Harris, but proud of the fact that Black women everywhere have a living example of what they can achieve.
Usually, during Black History Month, we gather together to share stories and accomplishments of the past and present and our hopes for the future. This year, we’ll have to be more creative with our celebrations as we continue to be vigilant in our fight against COVID-19. The Michigan Legislative Black Caucus will be celebrating with a virtual event this year. Please join us for this year’s celebration later this month; watch for an update on the official time and date.
American Heart Month
February marks American Heart Month. Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer in the world, yet 80% of heart disease is preventable through lifestyle changes such as eating healthy and moving your body. The other 20% come from factors out of our control – gender, age, race and family history. Additionally, women and people of color are more likely to die from heart disease largely due to inequities in health and underrepresentation in research. I encourage you to learn more about your own heart health this month by scheduling an annual check-up and learning your family history.
COVID-19 Updates
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) updated its current epidemic order to allow contact sports to resume as of Monday, Feb. 8, provided masks are worn during practices and competition. If masks cannot be worn, participants must be regularly tested for COVID-19 consistent with guidelines issued by MDHHS, which will be available online at Michigan.gov/coronavirus on Sunday, Feb. 7. Sports organizers are encouraged to administer a testing program even if it is not required. Safety protocols like wearing masks and testing will help keep kids, coaches and families safe and allow our schools to remain open for in-person instruction. The order remains in effect through Monday, March 29.
In addition to the update, MDHHS also created several helpful graphics to explain the changes in the order:
MDHHS has been closely monitoring three metrics for stabilization or declines over the past several weeks, and Michigan continues to see improvements.
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