Dear Neighbors,

Happy New Year! I wish you and your family a healthy and prosperous 2022.

I take tremendous pride in serving our community. Every day I strive to serve the needs of the 28th House District residents. My staff and I updated our strategic plan on how to support our public schools, provide high-quality education to every child, support innovation and fund improvements to infrastructure. We are already hard at work on implementing our plan.

If you are in need of assistance or resources, please reach out to me and my staff. You can visit my website at stone.housedems.com to learn more about resources, events and recent efforts in Lansing. I can be contacted at my office phone number (517) 373-1772 and my official email is LoriStone@house.mi.gov. I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Lori M. Stone

State Representative, 28th House District

In this Issue:

  • Community Engagement – Community Conversations
  • Invest in MI Community Survey
  • Legislative Update
  • COVID UPDATE
  • State Funded Grant Awarded to Center Line
  • Appointment of Judge Teri Lynn Dennings
  • Warren COVID-19 Mortgage and Rental Assistance Program
  • Home Energy Cost Assistance
  • Unemployment Overpayment PUA Notice

Community Engagement – Community Conversations

Community Conversations are an important part of government transparency and accountability. Each month, I hold Community Conversations and release an eNewsletter. Also, town halls and other community events are an opportunity to shine a light on important topics. I have provided a combination of events that are in-person and virtual . I welcome ideas on topics of interest so I can better serve the community. Thank you to everyone that participates!

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Upcoming Community Conversations

Jan. 22 Community Conversation            

TIME: 11 a.m. – Noon     

LOCATION: Zoom  Webinar:     

https://bit.ly/3Fg5v5j

Feb. 19 Community Conversation           

TIME: 11 a.m. – Noon     

LOCATION: Burnett Branch Library – (23345 Van Dyke Ave. in Warren)

Or Virtual Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84476515631?pwd=aFBuMzFhM1NaSWU4RzdGc2s5cDZxUT09

Meeting ID: 844 7651 5631             Passcode: 436171

March 19 Community Conversation

TIME: 11 a.m. – Noon          

LOCATION: Center Line Library – (7345 Weingartz St. in Center Line)

Or Virtual Zoom Meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87531595649?pwd=VTA4VjZBTXZxOGJZeVhMS2FjZFludz09

Meeting ID: 875 3159 5649             Passcode: 050618

April 23 Community Conversation

TIME: 11 a.m. – Noon           LOCATION: Kuhnhenn’s Pints & Politics – (5919 Chicago Road in Warren)

Or Virtual Zoom Meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88965230969?pwd=bDlYMFNZTHRWZ0dSYzhVQ2E3NVlxdz09

Meeting ID: 889 6523 0969             Passcode: 002173

Information for future Community Conversations, town halls, and resources can be found on my Facebook page, or you can sign up for email updates at stone.housedems.com.

Invest in MI Community Survey

The federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will deliver billions of dollars to Michigan to fund large-scale infrastructure investments and create good-paying jobs. The people in our community deserve to have a say on what local infrastructure should be improved.That’s why I want to hear from you!

  • Is there a local road or bridge that needs to be repaired?
  • Are you concerned about the pipes that deliver your drinking water?
  • Are there storm drains that fail to keep up with rainfall and flood basements?

Now is your chance to tell us! Please fill out this survey with as much detail as possible. Responses will be collected across the state and turned into an action plan for rebuilding Michigan.

Legislative Update

I introduced House Bill 5677, which would require a trigger lock, gun case or secured storage container and a safety brochure to be provided with every firearm purchase. My bill is a common-sense solution that has bipartisan support! Safe storage is essential for responsible gun ownership. Secured storage helps prevent accidental shootings and suicides. When every firearm purchased includes a brochure that explains simple safe storage measures, lives are saved. HB 5677 has been referred to the Committee on Military, Veterans and Homeland Security.

Inspired by learning of unfair treatment, I introduced HB 5640The Breastfeeding Privacy Act. This bill requires employers to provide adequate time, a flexible schedule and private, hygienic accommodations for employees to breastfeed or express milk for a nursing child in the workplace. This legislation aims to provide employees that are breastfeeding with flexibility, accessibility, dignity and equity. Breastfeeding employees will have the opportunity to provide for the health and well-being of their infant children as a contributing member of the workforce, without compromising their employment status.

COVID Update

The Michigan House of Representatives recently passed House Bill 5523, which appropriated more than $1 billion in federal funding dedicated to fighting COVID-19. This bill includes:

  • $300 million for health care worker recruitment, retention and training.
  • $150 million to expand testing to help keep students in school.
  • $90 million to assist vaccine distribution to prevent severe outcomes of infection.
  • $50 million to establish early COVID-19 treatment sites.

House Democrats have been fighting for over a year to bring these taxpayer dollars home to Michigan and put them to work in our communities. This relief funding is long overdue, and I am proud that we delivered this critical funding to keep Michiganders safe.

FREE COVID-19 testing kits! I am urging residents to request their fourfree at-home, rapid COVID-19 tests. Ordering is quick and easy at www.covidtests.gov. Every household is eligible for four free tests that will be shipped directly to your home. These COVID-19 at-home tests will provide the necessary tools to empower residents to take immediate action after receiving a test result.

When to use an at-home test: 

  • If experiencing symptoms of COVID-19.
  • If exposed to someone diagnosed with COVID-19 (ideally five days after exposure or after experiencing symptoms).
  • Prior to or after traveling or attending a large gathering.

State Funded Grant Awarded to Center Line

It is my honor to recognize that the City of Center Line has been awarded a Drinking Water Asset Management (DWAM) Grant totaling $400,000.  This grant program was the first to be developed by the Michigan Department of the Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy  under the MI Clean Water Plan to help communities assess and upgrade drinking water and wastewater systems. The DWAM grant is available to assist water suppliers in Asset Management Plan development or updates.

Appointment of Teri Lynn Dennings

to the 16th Circuit Court of Macomb County

Congratulations to Judge Teri Lynn Dennings, a distinguished Warren resident, appointed to the 16th Circuit Court effective Jan. 7, 2022.

“This appointment is an opportunity to live my dream of achieving a justice system that is fair and accessible to everybody, and I am grateful to Gov. Whitmer for choosing me for this very important role. I can’t wait to begin serving the residents of Macomb County,”  said Dennings.

Judge Teri Lynn Dennings earned her Juris Doctor degree from Wayne State University Law School and Bachelor of Science in political science and African American studies from Eastern Michigan University. She is a member of the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan, Black Women Lawyers Association, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. and the Wayne State University Black Law Alumni Council.

State of the State Address

This year, the 2022 State of the State address will be held in a virtual format and broadcast live throughout the state on the evening of Wednesday, Jan. 26. During the 2022 State of the State address, Gov. Whitmer will share her comprehensive vision for Michigan and a plan to address key issues and put Michigan first, including jobs, education, infrastructure and Michigan’s strong economic progress.

Warren COVID-19 Mortgage and Rental Assistance Program

The city of Warren is accepting applications for the Warren COVID-19 Residential Mortgage and Rental Assistance Program: Up to $6,000 of assistance is available for income eligible residents who have been impacted by COVID-19.

Applications and additional information may be found on the City’s website here.

Paper applications are also available at:

Warren City Hall – Office of Community Development

1 City Square Suite 210, Warren

Questions – Call (586) 353-0582 or email covidrelief@cityofwarren.org.

Home Energy Cost Assistance and Services

The best way for people to get help if you need assistance on your home energy costs or other emergency assistance is to call 2-1-1 or go to www.mi211.org to be connected with nonprofit agencies in our community.

  •     State Emergency Relief may help low-income households pay part of their heating or electric bills, assist in keeping utilities in service, or have service restored. Apply for State Emergency Relief (SER) at michigan.gov/mibridges.
  •     Contact Consumers Energy at (800) 477-5050 to make payment arrangements.
  •     Apply for a Home Heating Credit at michigan.gov/treasury.
  • Apply for COVID Emergency Rental Assistance. Customers can apply online at www.michigan.gov/CERA.

Unemployment Overpayment on PUA Notice

***Form UIA 1471-C to protest a collection determination***

unemployment