Dear Neighbor,
Welcome to my Capitol & Community Update e-newsletter! I hope that you had a safe and happy Fourth of July weekend!
In addition to my other regular constituent outreach efforts, such as my bi-weekly Facebook Live coffee hours and weekend legislative walks in the district, I am happy to continue providing these email updates with the latest information, resources and opportunities relevant to our community members. I am happy that I have been able to see people at in-person community events, one being last week’s coffee hour, my first in-person coffee hour of 2021. Thank you to everyone who joined!
As always, you can reach my office by voicemail at (517) 373-1783 or by email at PadmaKuppa@house.mi.gov for any thoughts or questions about state-level issues. Be sure to also check out the latest on my website at kuppa.housedems.com and on my social media platforms — @PadmaKuppaMI41 (Twitter) and @MIRepPadmaKuppa (Facebook)!
In Service,
Padma Kuppa
State Representative
House District 41
Upcoming Events
In-Person Coffee Hours
I am so excited to announce our first in-person coffee hours of 2021! The first was on June 28 at Zeoli’s in Clawson with special guests, Oakland County Commission Chair Dave Woodward and Oakland County Commissioner Penny Luebs. These events are in addition to our bi-weekly Facebook Live coffee hours (details below). I look forward to having special guests join me at the next one!
When: Tuesday, July 13, from 5-6 p.m.
Where: Cafe Immortelle (4979 Livernois Road in Troy)
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Strengthening Our Democracy Town Hall
I will be hosting a town hall special guest, Rep. Tenisha Yancey (D-Harper Woods) to discuss recent efforts to suppress the vote. The event is in partnership APIA Vote-MI and the Michigan Roundtable for Diversity & Inclusion. Please register in advance; it’s sure to be a great conversation!
When: Thursday, July 15, from 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Where: Register at bit.ly/Freedom2vote
Legislative Walks
Join me to knock doors in the community! We’ll be talking with neighbors in Troy and Clawson about the issues that matter to them, so we can update our legislative agenda in Lansing. We will meet outside the main entrance of the Troy Community Center for a quick training and to distribute materials at the start of each shift. New volunteers are welcome!
When: Every Saturday at 10:30 a.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.
How: Register at https://tinyurl.com/KuppaWalks
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Virtual Coffee Hours
Mark your calendars! Every other Friday at 6 p.m., be sure to jump on my Facebook page (@mireppadmakuppa) and join me for a virtual coffee hour where I will provide updates and answer your questions about the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and other issues facing our community. You don’t have to have a Facebook account to attend or watch. The video will be available for you to share with friends after the event. I hope to see you there!
When: Friday, July 16, at 6 p.m.
How: Visit my Facebook page (@mireppadmakuppa)
Upcoming…
When: Friday, July 30, at 6 p.m.
How: Visit my Facebook page (@mireppadmakuppa)
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Legislative Update
Justice for Allie
My first bill, Justice for Allie, is still awaiting a hearing in the House Judiciary Committee. This legislation, inspired by a courageous family of constituents, would close a loophole in the law to protect vulnerable adults from being sexually exploited online. Justice for Allie was also my first bill introduced last term. This session, Justice for Allie is a two-bill package: HB 4159 and HB 4160. The latter bill was introduced by Rep. Julie Calley (R-Portland) and underscores our goals of bipartisanship. Following their passage from the House Families, Children, and Seniors Committee, we are awaiting next steps for the bills in the Judiciary Committee. Thank you to everyone who has continued to support these bills on their legislative journey! Please help us to advocate on behalf of this legislation by sharing your support with the members of the Judiciary Committee.
Electric Vehicles
My bill, HB 4802, was recently passed by the House Energy Committee! I had previously given testimony on the bill before the committee on June 8 and June 17. The bill is part of a bipartisan legislative bill package (HB 4801-4805) to expand electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure in Michigan. After working with industry leaders, the Whitmer administration and a bipartisan group of legislators, I am hopeful that these bills will be passed by the entire chamber when we return from the in-district work period. I am proud to support efforts to ensure that Michigan remains a leader in the automotive industry!
In-District Work Period
Last Wednesday was our last regular session day before the in-district work period. Regular session weeks will start back up again in the fall. The current House session schedule can be viewed here. During this time, I plan to ramp up my door knocking and community engagement efforts. I’m so excited to be able to hear from more constituents with their thoughts on the ongoings of both Lansing and House District 41. I also hope to add more in-person events to my calendar. Stay tuned and see you out there!
COVID-19 Update
Currently, all Michiganders who are at least 12 years of age are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Those who are eligible can visit Oakland County’s COVID-19 Vaccine Hub, Michigan.gov/COVIDVaccine or the CDC’s Vaccine Finder to find local health departments and vaccine clinics that are ready to book appointments.
If you know a vaccine-eligible individual who doesn’t have access to the internet, or they need help with vaccine translation services, call 2-1-1 and press ‘5’ for free, confidential assistance. If you need additional help navigating the vaccine scheduling process, call the COVID-19 hotline at (888) 535-6136 (press 1).Oakland County continues to have the highest number of COVID-19 cases in Michigan, so we all must remain vigilant and do our part to limit the spread of this virus. This includes getting vaccinated if you are able and continuing to wear masks when appropriate, physically distancing and frequently washing our hands.
To reach the crucial 70% vaccinated mark, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has announced the MI Shot To Win sweepstakes! Michiganders who have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine can enter to win cash prizes and college scholarships at mishottowin.com.