Hello Friends,
Welcome to my first e-newsletter of the 102nd Legislature! It is my honor to represent the new 24th House District and the residents of Canton Township. It has been such a busy start to 2023, and my office is hard at work for you in Lansing. My team is excited to get back into the routine of things with our biweekly e-newsletters and regularly scheduled coffee hours.
As always, if we can ever be of assistance to you, please do not hesitate to reach out. Our email address is still ranjeevpuri@house.mi.gov and our new phone number is (517) 373-0113.
Sincerely,
Ranjeev Puri
State Representative, 24th District
Proudly serving Canton Township
In this Issue:
- Upcoming Time with Ranjeev
- Legislative Update
- Rep. Puri 2023-2024 Committee Assignments
- Power Outages & Utility Company Accountability
- What We’ve Been Up To
- Resources
UPCOMING TIME WITH RANJEEV
Community Coffee Hour
April 6 at 6 p.m.
Canton Township Administration Building – Board Room, 1150 S. Canton Center Road, Canton, MI 48188
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
The Legislature returned to Lansing for session less than two months ago, and we’ve already shown great progress in the work we accomplished. Committees are in full swing, and the appropriations process is well underway as we work to put together a budget for the 2023-24 fiscal year.
We have been busy, so let’s talk about a few promises the Legislature has delivered on in just two months:
- Repealed the retirement tax.
- Raised the working families tax credit from 6% to 30% of the federal Earned Income Tax Credit.
- Passed legislation to expand the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act to include LGBTQ+ protections.
- Passed a bill to repeal the 1931 abortion ban.
- Passed legislation to restore workers’ rights by repealing anti-worker “right-to-work” laws
- Passed legislation to restore prevailing wage.
- Passed legislation requiring mandatory background checks for firearms.
- Introduced legislation and held hearings on commonsense gun reform.
2023-24 Committee Assignments
I am so excited to serve as a member of the House Appropriations Committee for the 2023-24 legislative session! As a member of Appropriations, I’ll work to ensure Michigan has the resources needed for families and workers to thrive.
I am also proud to serve as Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, as well as a member of the following House Appropriations Subcommittees:
- Agriculture and Rural Development/Natural Resources
- General Government
- Health and Human Services
- Joint Capital Outlay
- Labor and Economic Opportunity
Power Outages & Utility Company Accountability
Our community knows all too well that the reliability of our energy grid needs major improvements. In recent weeks, ice storms and severe weather left some 800,000 residents without power, many here in our community. Last summer, we saw record power outages due to storms. Climate change and abnormal weather patterns combined with a continued increase of pressure on our energy grid will only result in more outages.
Our utility companies need to be held accountable. I am committed to working with my House colleagues on ways we can increase the reliability of our energy grid while keeping costs low for our residents. The solution is going to be multifaceted. We need to look at possible solutions such as burying power lines and making critical investments in alternative energy solutions such as solar and wind.
The House Committee on Energy, Communications, and Technology held a public hearing on DTE, Consumers, and the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) this Wednesday, March 15. It is my hope that this hearing is only the first of many, and that the Legislature will continue to discuss paths forward.
The MPSC is in the process of holding town halls in different regions of the state to allow a forum for residents to share grievances and ask questions. The closest town hall to our community will be held next Monday, March 20, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Fordson High School’s auditorium (13800 Ford Road, Dearborn, MI 48123). I encourage anyone with questions or comments to attend the forum.
WHAT WE’VE BEEN UP TO
Standing with MSU Survivors
On Feb. 13, not even 15 months after a mass shooting at Oxford High School, Michigan suffered another atrocity when a shooter opened fire at multiple locations on Michigan State University’s campus.
What happened in East Lansing is far too common. Going to school in America, whether it’s preschool or college, means risking your life every day to the threat of a mass shooting. Yet all we have offered up are empty solutions — traumatizing active shooter drills and bulletproof backpacks.
We do not need to live like this. The U.S. is the only nation where this routinely happens. Where mass shootings have left us desensitized, waking up each day to a seemingly never-ending horrific cycle of gun violence.
On Feb. 15, I stood in support of MSU students at a rally in front of the Michigan Capitol. The students were calling on the Legislature to act now to prevent gun violence. I expressed that, as a legislator, I will do everything in my power to ensure commonsense gun reform is passed in Michigan.
In pursuance of a safer environment for our students and community at large, I am in strong support of commonsense gun reform. This means a variety of laws, including a mandatory waiting period on the purchase of any firearm, requiring safe storage of all firearms in the home, passing extreme risk protection orders, requiring universal background checks on all gun purchases, and a limit on high-capacity magazines.
As your state representative, and a father to three small boys, ensuring our kids and educators can go to school safe and no longer live in fear is my number one priority. The time for only thoughts and prayers is over — it is time for policy and change. We need action, and I will be working on legislation with my colleagues and the Legislature in the time ahead.
Rep. Puri Celebrates March is Reading Month with Young Readers
March is one of my favorite months because it means I can celebrate “March is Reading Month” with young readers in our district. I have already had the pleasure to visit a few elementary schools to read to third-graders. Our young learners always have the best questions!
Rep. Puri Meets with White House on Extreme Risk Protection Order Legislation
On Feb. 22, I was pleased to meet with experts from the White House and around the country to discuss best practices regarding extreme risk protection order legislation. The policy has proven to be effective at preventing senseless gun violence, especially when firearms are involved with suicide, and have been passed into law in numerous states in various forms.
I am confident that the new Democratic majorities in Lansing will act swiftly to move commonsense gun reform, including ERPO legislation, to make Michigan safer for our students and communities.
Ford Motor Company and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer EV Battery Facility Announcement
Last month, I was excited to join Ford Motor Company and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer for an announcement of the $3.5 billion investment for the new EV battery facility in Michigan.
Not only will this create thousands of jobs and help localize the EV battery supply chain, but it will also ensure our state is another step closer to leading the way in the industry of tomorrow!
RESOURCES
MI Future Educator Fellowship Stipend
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced that the MI Future Educator Fellowship and Stipend programs’ first payments are being awarded to provide financial assistance to college students aspiring to become teachers.
To be eligible, future educators must apply through the MiSSG Portal, submit their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and:
- Be working toward their first teacher certification.
- Must have earned at least 56 semester credits or 84 term credits with a cumulative 3.0 GPA.
- Began the Education Preparation Program full-time in fall 2022 or later.
- Be a Michigan resident.
For more information or help applying for the Fellowship, visit Michigan.gov/mistudentaid or contact MI Student Aid at mistudentaid@michigan.gov,(888) 447-2687, or @mistudentaid on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!
Our office is always here to answer any questions, concerns, or listen to any thoughts you have on any particular issue. The best way to reach us is by email at RanjeevPuri@house.mi.gov. Our team is working hard to respond to every email and voicemail left with our office in a timely manner. We appreciate your patience as we experience increased communications!