Dear Neighbor,
Welcome to my e-newsletter! I’m honored and humbled to serve as our community’s voice at the Capitol in Lansing. As we continue into the term, rest assured that the challenges families in our community and state are facing are at the top of my legislative priorities.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to my office by phone at (517) 373-0837 or email at AmosONeal@house.mi.gov if we can help.
Sincerely,
Amos O’Neal
State Representative, 94th House District
In this issue:
- Community Conversation – TONIGHT Feb. 16th
- Gov. Whitmer’s Budget Recommendation
- EGLE Clean Water Grants
- House Resolution 34 – White Shirt Day
- House Bill 4087 – Homeless Youth and Healthcare
Community Conversation
It is not too late to join us TONIGHT! At 6 p.m. on Facebook Live we will host another Community Conversation! I will give a brief legislative update. Then we will have a conversation with special guest Amani Sawari from Spread the Vote.
We hope to save some time for Q&A, so come with questions for our guests. You can join us on Facebook Live by clicking here or searching @StateRepAmosONeal.
I hope to see you there!
Gov. Whitmer’s Budget Recommendation
Last week, Gov. Whitmer presented her Executive Budget Recommendation. As chair of the Corrections Subcommittee, I was so happy to see more resources and funding for law enforcement, among many other items. She is working to support our first responders, outfit MDOC corrections officers with body cameras, fund juvenile justice, jobs court, and community violence intervention, and much more.
Now subcommittees will begin hearing from department heads on their budget overviews. To get started, my subcommittee of Corrections will meet Feb. 23 to hear from the department director. Now is the time when I will also start to work closely with other subcommittee chairs to push for funding to support many projects within our community and bring home the resources that we need. The budget process can be very confusing. So, if you have any questions about this or anything else, please feel free to reach out to my office.
EGLE Clean Water Grants
Saginaw has been awarded two grants from the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) for clean water infrastructure. Saginaw was awarded both the Drinking Water Asset Management (DWAM) grant and a grant from the American Rescue Plan Act. DWAM will invest over $116,000 to help communities in Saginaw upgrade drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, while $15 million from the second grant will be used for elevated water storage tank upgrades.
The $15 million project involves the construction of a 3-million-gallon elevated water storage tank. The new elevated water storage tank will allow Saginaw to maintain water system pressure during power outage events at the water treatment plant. The $116,000 investment will be used to investigate and maintain over 300 water service lines within the community. Both projects are intended to be completed by early 2026.
It is foundational that we continue to support healthy, strong and up-to-date water infrastructure at home, in our communities and throughout our state. With both EGLE investments in Saginaw, our community can continue to do just that.
House Resolution 34 – White Shirt Day
Feb. 11 was White Shirt Day in Michigan. I was so honored to speak to my resolution last week, declaring Feb. 11th as White Shirt Day in Michigan.
Each year, men and women throughout the UAW wear white-collar attire traditionally donned by management to remember the sacrifices and victories of workers. White Shirt Day commemorates the end of the Flint Sit-Down Strike in 1937 and the signing of the first contract with GM. The 1937 strike was one of the most important strikes in American history, paving the way for higher pay and improved benefits.
I was honored to recognize our union brothers and sisters on this day and hope you will join me to acknowledge the accomplishments of those that came before us, and those that still work to strengthen and build Michigan’s communities, workforce and economy.
House Bill 4087 – Homeless Youth and Healthcare
Last week, I was pleased to work with Reps. Stone and Roth to introduce a package of 3 bills to outline protection measures for children who are homeless to receive medical or dental care without parental consent. These bills also allow practitioners to treat them without parental consent.
I was so excited to work on this legislation because having the opportunity to ‘get’ consent for medical treatment is a privilege not everyone can access — especially those estranged for reasons of neglect or abuse. My bill allows young people to seek help with no strings attached. This legislation promotes safe opportunities for kids in difficult circumstances to receive medical care without delay. The system as it is bars children from making those choices, which deters runaways or homeless youth from asking for the help they require.