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) 373-0152 or email at AmosONeal@house.mi.gov if we can help.

Sincerely,

Amos O’Neal

State Representative, 95th House District

In this issue:

  • Events
    • Upcoming Community Conversation – Feb. 17
    • Veteran Listening Tour – Feb. 18
    • For Our Future MI Panel – Feb. 23
  • Legislation
    • Governor’s Executive Recommendation Highlights
    • Putting Workers First Bill Package
    • HB 5472 – Memorial Highway Hearing
    • HB 5643 – School Aid Act 61 (c) Hearing

Upcoming Community Conversation

It is not too late to join us TONIGHT, Feb. 17, at 6 p.m. on Facebook Live. I will give a brief legislative update. Then, we will have a conversation about the Secure MI Vote Petition that is circulating and the dangers that it will cause on our right to vote. Our special guests helping discuss this crucial issue are Terry Pruitt and Carl Williams with the NAACP and Angie Miller with the Mid Michigan Area Labor Council.

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!

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Veterans’ Listening Tour – Feb. 18

Please join me, special guest state Rep. Julie M. Rogers and Director Zaneta Adams of the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency for a statewide veterans’ listening tour. We want to hear directly from the brave men and women who have served our country about the issues that matter most to them and their families. The tour will take place virtually this Friday at noon. To register for this or any of the other sessions, please click HERE. Individuals are also encouraged to submit questions in advance when they register.

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For Our Future MI Panel – Feb. 23

Mark your calendars for a conversation next Wednesday evening. This virtual event will focus on economic equity in Michigan and how we can better support funding in our black communities. Michigan has an opportunity to utilize federal funding here in ways that we may have missed. RSVP here: https://fofmi.link/EM-EquityMI.

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Governor’s Executive Budget Recommendation Highlights

In a joint committee meeting last week, my colleagues and I listened to the governor’s budget recommendations for 2022. I was very pleased to learn more about the governor’s priorities for this year. Some highlights include:

  • An expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit to support working Michiganders.
  • The elimination of the retirement tax.
  • $2.3 billion over four years to retain talented teachers.
  • The largest transportation investment in Michigan’s history.
  • $10 million to support the Office of Rural Development.
  • $3 billion for our essential workers, including health care workers, first responders and frontline workers.

The strong support for our schools and economy proves that this budget is the level-headed approach that Michigan needs as we move forward towards recovery.

Putting Workers First Bill Package

This week, Michigan House Democrats held a press conference to highlight our Collective Bargaining bill package that will help restore organizing, collective bargaining and workers’ rights. Michigan would not be in the place it is today without our union workers. My bill would specifically amend the Public Employment Relations Act to require every public sector employee’s introductory packet to contain information about their rights to organize, join or assist a labor organization and bargain collectively through representatives of their choice. When workers succeed, Michigan succeeds. That is why I am so proud to be a part of the Labor Caucus and have a bill in this package to stand up for our Michigan unions.

House Bill 5472 – Memorial Highway Hearing

This week I had the honor of giving testimony on my HB 5472 that will dedicate a portion of highway I-75 in Bridgeport to Army Specialist Deangelo Snow. Specialist Snow was assigned to the 526th Brigade Support Battalion after graduating from Buena Vista High School. At the young age of 22, Specialist Snow lost his life in Afghanistan. I look forward to honoring him for his service and seeing this bill continue to move forward.

HB 5643 – School Aid Act 61 (c) Hearing

This morning, the Subcommittee on School Aid for Appropriations held a hearing for my bill to amend the state’s School Aid Act to allow for a more equitable distribution of 61 (c) equipment funding. Currently, of the 53 Career Education Planning Districts (CEPDs), only 14 areas qualify. This is necessary funding to help so many areas across Michigan invest in the programs that will advance so many of our youth. My bill will allow for all areas to apply for this funding.