Dear Reader,

As always, I am honored and humbled to be your state representative. I am dedicated to improving the wellbeing of our Michigan families.

Please do not hesitate to reach out should you have questions or concerns. My office can be reached by email at DeniseMentzer@house.mi.gov or by phone at (517) 373-1774.

Sincerely,

Denise Mentzer

Mount Clemens Resource Fair
A graphic for the Mount Clemens Resource Fair on Friday, May 2 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Cairns Community Center.

Join us for a resource fair on May 2  from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Cairns Community Center in Mount Clemens. We are pleased to be joined by special guests from the following organizations for this event:

  • Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS)
  • U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
  • Mt. Clemens Mayor & City Manager
  • Elections and Voter Information
  • Macomb Community Action
  • McClaren Mobile Health Clinic
  • Face Addiction Now (FAN)
  • Michigan State Kinship Care
  • Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE)
  • United Way
  • Consumers Energy

And more! To RSVP, please check out the event on Facebook.

In Our Community: Macomb County’s Crime Victim Rights Week

 
Michigan State Representative Denise Mentzer attends the Macomb County Crime Victime Rights Week Event.

I attended Macomb County’s Crime Victim Rights Week event. This year’s event was a powerful reminder of the importance of standing with and supporting victims in healing.

The Michigan Antitrust Reform Act

I am proud to once again sponsor a bill intended to reform the noncompete agreements many employees enter. This would limit the situations in which these would be applicable. Noncompete agreements can create a stagnant job market, limiting the negotiability of wages.

Additionally, limitations on this would benefit our hard-working health care workers by promoting their ability to seek the most competitive benefits available for their efforts. Becoming trapped in a noncompete agreement can create a false health care worker shortage, as workers are unable to seek the employment they are deserving of. With current guidelines, many of Michigan’s health care workers are not being compensated fairly. The restrictions proposed would promote job market access and ensure the individuals of Michigan are given the protection they deserve.

Introduction of the “BRITE” Act

During Sunshine Week, House Democrats introduced a legislative package referred to as BRITE Act: Bringing Reforms for Integrity, Transparency, and Ethics. This package aims to bring more transparency standards to the government for the betterment of our Michigan communities. This is one of many actions this term taken to provide a higher level of ethics in our government. I proudly co-sponsored this package of bills to close the gaps in lobbying disclosures.

Legislation to End the Government Officials to Lobbyists “Revolving Door”

This package of bills was developed to require a break between holding office and lobbying recently passed in the House (House Bills 4062–4064). I was pleased to support reform like this, intended to improve the transparency of our government.

In Our Community: Ramadan Iftaar Dinner
Michigan State Representative Denise Mentzer

I was honored to be invited to the Iftaar dinner for breaking the fast during Ramadan hosted by the Bangladesh Association of Michigan.

Introduction of Medical Debt Protections Bill

I am honored to announce my introduction of House Bill 4329, intended to establish consumer protections for Michiganders struggling with medical debt. Michigan is currently one of very few states with no consumer protections for the acquisition of medical debt. As of this year, nearly 700,000 Michiganders are dealing with the burden of this debt. The omission of this from credit reports gives citizens more opportunities, preventing debt that they did not ask for from impacting long term financial decisions. This legislation would renew the American dream for tens of thousands of Michigan residents.

In Our Community: Prescription Drug Affordability Board Discussion
Michigan State Representative Denise Mentzer attends a community conversation on establishing a prescription drug affordability board.

I joined the Committee to Protect Health Care and Senator Kevin Hertel to discuss legislation House and Senate Democrats introduced to create a Prescription Drug Affordability Board to put a limit on the skyrocketing costs of medications.

Macomb County Action Receiving Nearly $2 Million in Grant Money

Macomb County received a sum of funds intended to help its residents suffer the cost of high water bills and weatherization upgrades. Macomb Community Action is receiving over a million dollars in grants to assist in the payment of low-income resident’s water bills and over $800,000 allotted for home weatherization projects.

For further questions regarding eligibility and use of these funds, Macomb Community Action can be reached by phone at (586) 469-6999 or via email at mca@macombgov.org. To apply for assistance from this grant, visit the Macomb County website.

In Our Community: Michigan Defense Expo
Michigan State Representatives Denise Mentzer and Mike McFall attend the Michigan Defense Expo.

I attended the 16th annual Michigan Defense Expo (MDEX) at Macomb Community College with state Rep. Mike McFall.