Dear Neighbor,

I am honored and humbled to be your state representative. As we continue to emerge from the challenges of the pandemic and its ripple effects throughout our society, please know that my staff and I are here for you.

If you are in need of support or resources or have any questions regarding legislation or state government in general, please feel free to reach out to me at my office via email or by calling (517) 373-2275.

Sincerely,

Nate Shannon

State Representative

25th House District

Events

April Coffee Hour

I will be hosting a coffee hour at the Sterling Heights Community Center on April 25 at 1 p.m. I have been enjoying our conversations, and I look forward to continuing in-person coffee hours after going virtual during the pandemic.

Infrastructure Listening Tour

Please join me and some special guests for an Infrastructure Listening Tour stop. We will be discussing the current state of infrastructure in Michigan and upcoming projects.

The listening tour stops at the Sterling Heights Community Center on May 9 at 6 p.m. I hope to see you there!

Legislative Update

House Resolution 272

Earlier this month, I introduced a resolution to establish a water infrastructure and flooding task force. Heavy rains have been increasingly prevalent in the state, leading record storms to overwhelm our aging water infrastructure.

Southeast Michigan has experienced five massive floods since 2014, with the worst one causing $1.8 billion in damages across the region. Last month, the Legislature appropriated nearly $2.2 billion in funding for water infrastructure and initiatives, including $66 million for pump station generators. While these are greatly important investments, this was a one-time funding opportunity. This task force would make recommendations for long-term solutions.

House Bill 5565

Last month, House Bill 5565 was passed out of the Committee on Military, Veterans and Homeland Security. My bill would ease the process of filing for a property tax exemption for veterans, their spouses and their widows. The current process for filing for an exemption relies on a yearly filing, causing those that should qualify to potentially miss out on a benefit they are owed. I am proud of the work that has been done on this legislation, and I am hopeful that it will come up for a vote on the House floor.

Work Zone Safety Awareness Week

April 11-15 was national Work Zone Safety Awareness week. In 2020, there were 4,035 work zone crashes in Michigan with fatalities on the rise. We have to do more to keep our construction workers safe when they are on the job.

In conjunction with the week, I introduced HB 6018 to strengthen drivers’ training courses on proper traffic flow, including lane reductions on freeways. Ensuring drivers understand the safest way to merge while a lane is closed is essential to keeping our workers safe and reducing traffic. This starts with the education of our student drivers.

Resources

Macomb Community Action offers services to income-eligible Macomb County residents to promote independence. These community centers provide essential assistance with utilities and housing, transportation and weatherization programs, and information/referrals to other community resources.

Contact your local Macomb Community Action Center or call (586) 469-6999 if you are seeking assistance.

You may also call 211 from any phone to be connected to a list of statewide resources for everything from food and diapers to rental assistance and bus fare. You can search their online database here.