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You can watch live on Facebook Live and Zoom. Register in advance for this webinar:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_NGLu5IGxTEKtwg-aquNr0Q
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
Facing the Rising Sun: Black Leadership in the Michigan Legislature
Please join us for Facing the Rising Sun: Black Leadership in the Michigan Legislature on Thursday, Feb. 25, at 6:30 p.m. on Facebook Live, featuring the African-American members of the Michigan House Democratic Caucus. We will shed new and emotional light on the past, present and future of Black History.
Save the Date: COVID 19 Resources Town Hall
Please mark your calendars for Friday, March 26, at 5:30 p.m. I will be hosting a virtual town hall with several panelists to talk about the state of the pandemic and the resources available to you and your family.
Special guests:
- Joneigh Dr. Khaldun, Chief Medical Executive and Chief Deputy Director for Health and Human Services
- Asha Shajahan, Director of Health Equity and Health Disparities at Beaumont Hospital
- Jeremey Moss and
- Rosemary Bayer
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 available online at Michigan.gov/coronavirus. 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.
Community Recognition and Engagement
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
Governor Presents 2022 Budget Recommendations
Gov. Whitmer presented her $67.1 billion Fiscal Year 2022 budget proposal to a Joint Session of the House and Senate Appropriation Committees. The proposed budget prioritizes getting communities and businesses back on their feet while dealing with the effects and aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of the highlights include:
- Education:
- $203 million increase in per-pupil funding;
- $14.1 million for economically disadvantaged students, English language learners, special education students, and students in rural and isolated districts;
- $250 million in one-time supplemental funding to support student academic recovery, physical and mental health, and post-secondary readiness and transition;
- $200 million to stabilize budgets for districts experiencing losses in fiscal year 2022;
- $120 million for summer learning, after school learning, and day camps in 2021 and 2022;
- $125.7 million of funding for the Education Emergency Relief Fund to help mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on students;
- $38.9 million for public schools and $86.8 million for nonpublic schools;
- $32 million for the Great Start Readiness Program; and
- $2.9 million to address the educator shortage.
- Economic Opportunity:
- $370 million for the expansion of child care options by temporarily increasing the income eligibility threshold from 150 to 200% and temporarily waiving out-of-pocket copays through fiscal year 2022, with a 1% increase in hourly rates for child care providers;
- $120 million one-time investment for the Michigan Reconnect program;
- $60 million one-time funding for the Futures for Frontliners program;
- $15 million one-time increase for the Going Pro program;
- $3 million for apprenticeship programs that will expand Michigan’s talent pool in the construction and building trades;
- $25 million one-time funding for the Mobility Futures Initiative that would help develop autonomous vehicle infrastructure; and
- $1 million one-time funding for Focus: HOPE.
- Public Health:
- $360 million to permanently maintain the $2-an-hour wage increase for direct care workers;
- $38 million for a one-time supplemental payment for nursing homes;
- $91 million for behavioral health for Medicaid enrollees and those served through the child welfare system;
- $26.5 million for the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics Pilot to provide behavioral health services for adults;
- $7.4 million to expand the Infant Home Visiting program for visits to families with infants born with substance exposure;
- $6.7 million for the Sickle Cell Disease Initiative to expand treatment coverage and increase outreach and clinical capacity to support people in our state living with sickle cell disease;
- $8.4 million to reduce health disparities;
- $2.1 million for the Race, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Office to promote racial equity and inclusion in MDHHS-administered services; and
- $10 million one-time funding for the Lead Poisoning Prevention Fund.
- Criminal Justice:
- $29.1 million to support the additional costs of raising the age of criminal responsibility from 17 to 18, which takes effect in October;
- $20 million to support the enacted clean slate legislation for criminal record expungement;
- $10.2 million for de-escalation training for law enforcement; and
- $12 million for local trial courts to comply with new defense standards for low-income individuals.
- Infrastructure:
- $300 million to repair or replace 120 local bridges in serious or critical condition;
- $290 million in infrastructure grants for the MI Clean Water Plan;
- $40 million for grants to local governments to address issues like coastal erosion, flooding, transportation networks, urban heat, and storm water management;
- $15 million for the Dam Safety Emergency Fund; and
- $20 million to protect from cyber threats on the state’s information technology systems.
- Environment:
- $20 million for contaminated site cleanup to support rapid response to contaminated sites that pose an immediate threat;
- $5 million for the State Facility Green Revolving Fund; and
- $5 million for the Michigan Saves Green Bank.
The entire Fiscal Year 2022 proposed budget can be found here. You can watch the budget presentation here.
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