Dear Friend,
Welcome to my latest e-newsletter! Read on for things to do this month, along with other community information.
Legislative Update
This week, I introduced a resolution to declare November Diabetes Awareness Month in Michigan. I was contacted by a constituent who learned firsthand the importance of recognizing the warning signs of type 1 Diabetes when her 13-year-old daughter was hospitalized. Her daughter was lucky enough to survive, but undiagnosed or untreated diabetes can be deadly. Knowing the warning signs can save lives, which is why it was important to me to dedicate November as Diabetes Awareness Month in Michigan. About 790,200 adults and children in Michigan are affected by type 1 or type 2 Diabetes, and Michigan’s rate of 10.4 percent of the population is higher than the national rate of 9.3 percent.
I have recently co-sponsored a bill which would amend Michigan Election Law and make several reforms to how petitions and petition circulators are governed in Michigan. This legislation is in response to complaints across the state that a number of petition groups are using varying degrees of dishonesty when attempting to gather signatures. Unfortunately, deception by many petition circulators was widely reported during previous election cycles. Citizens should feel comfortable knowing that individuals circulating petitions are not misrepresenting the issue for which they are gathering signatures.
I have also co-sponsored another bill to include ovarian, cervical, endometrial, vaginal, and vulvar cancer in the list of cancers covered under the First Responder Presumed Coverage Fund. The First Responders Presumed Coverage Fund covers firefighters should they contract respiratory tract, bladder, skin, brain, kidney, blood, thyroid, testicular, prostate, or lymphatic cancer, as they are presumed to be caused by, or related to, the work firefighters do day in and day out to keep us safe. Unfortunately, when legislation was passed to create the First Responders Presumed Coverage Fund in 2014, several cancers that specifically or disproportionately affect women were not included. As more and more female firefighters continue to serve and protect our communities, they risk developing cancers that are not currently covered under our basic worker protections. Our female firefighters work tirelessly to keep us safe, and I believe these public servants should be given protection in return.
Daylight Savings Time Ends Sunday
Daylight savings time ends this Sunday, Nov. 3. Make sure to set your clocks back an hour on Sunday and enjoy the extra hour of sleep.
Michigan Department of Education Seeks Parent Feedback on Proposed School Transparency Dashboard
Parents and caregivers of children from preschool through Grade 12 are invited to provide feedback on Michigan’s online “school transparency dashboard,” through the Michigan Department of Education (MDE). The online dashboard is designed to show the performance of every public school in Michigan. The user-friendly dashboard will display more than 20 different measures that parents and other stakeholders have said are important to them when evaluating the quality of a school.
The survey allows participants to view components of the new dashboard, then answer questions about the way information is presented; the usefulness of certain features; and viewers’ unique interests. MDE will use survey feedback to help shape the current and future versions of the dashboard so that it is helpful to parents in every community. The survey can be completed on any computer, tablet, or mobile device. It should take no more than 15 minutes to complete, and all answers will be confidential. The survey will remain open until November 15, 2017.
Click the link below or type the survey URL into your web browser to access the online survey: www.surveymonkey.com/r/MDEESSA_Dashboard2017
911 Emergency Text Message Option Now Available
Residents of Genesee County now have the option to send emergency text messages to 911. Sending a text message to 911 would be appropriate when someone is unable to speak because of an emergency such as a home invasion or an abusive partner, the statement said. Users should send brief messages without using abbreviations or slang, be prepared to communicate your exact location and be prepared to answer questions and follow instructions from the 911 dispatcher. The service also is intended to aid people who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability. Parents are urged to educate their children about the 911 texting option and remind them that it is for emergencies only.
FREE DENTAL HEALTH CLEANINGS FOR SENIORS!
Valley Area Agency on Aging (VAAA) and Mott Community College (MCC) are partnering to offer free dental health cleanings to Genesee County seniors! Care is provided by MCC dental hygiene students, under the direct supervision of licensed dental hygienists and dentists. Seniors who qualify are those who are 60 years of age and older. Appointments are being scheduled ALL DAY Monday through Friday; call today to schedule an appointment: (810) 762-0493.
Medicare Open Enrollment
The Forest Township Senior Center is offering the opportunity for you to review your Medicare Prescription Drug Plan or your Medicare Health upon appointment. They will be offering appointments Oct. 15 through Dec. 7. Appointments are available Mondays from 8:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. and Tuesdays from 12:30 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. Contact the office at (810) 631-3407 to schedule your appointment or to ask questions.
Events, Programs or Services in the 48th House District
Swamp Monsters
Join the Mount Morris Library on Saturday, Nov. 4, from 2-3 p.m. to meet and handle endangered, unusual and familiar reptiles and amphibians. These animals are often misunderstood and have survived centuries of humans screaming and running from them in terror. These animals are fascinating creatures that you have the chance to meet and learn about. For more information and to register, please visit the Genesee District Library website.
"Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not.”
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
I hope you found this information useful. Please feel free to contact my office if we can be of any assistance.
Sincerely,
State Representative Pam Faris
48th House District