Capitol and Community Updates

Hello Friends,

I hope all who celebrate had a happy Holi, a time for us all to celebrate love, spring and the return of color after the long winter months! It is also a time to reflect on the triumph of good over evil, and I encourage us all to consider how we can better our communities during this time.

March is Women’s History Month, a time to honor the trailblazers, innovators and everyday heroes whose contributions strengthen our state and enrich our communities.

From leaders in public service and education to entrepreneurs, caregivers, artists and advocates, women continue to shape our shared story in powerful and lasting ways. Their achievements remind us of the progress we’ve made and the work that still lies ahead to ensure opportunity and representation for all.

This month, we celebrate the women who paved the way, the women making history today and the young women who will lead us into the future.

March is also National Reading Month, a nationwide celebration dedicated to promoting literacy and nurturing a lifelong love of books. It’s the perfect moment to slow down, unplug from our busy routines and rediscover the joy of reading.

I encourage you to stop by our local library and explore its many resources. Whether you’re diving into a novel, learning something new or simply taking a quiet moment for yourself, reading is a wonderful way to reduce stress and reconnect with what inspires you.

For the next few weeks, the Michigan Legislature will be on our spring in-district work period. We will return to Lansing in April to continue working on both budget and policy initiatives.

As always, if my office can be of assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out. You can contact us via email at [email protected].

 

Warm regards,

Ranjeev Puri

Democratic Leader

24th House District

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In this Issue:

 

• Upcoming Time with Ranjeev
• Legislative Updates
• What We’ve Been Up To
• Resources
• Community Events

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UPCOMING TIME WITH RANJEEV

Stay tuned for the announcement of our next coffee hour!

 

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer Delivers Her Final State of the State Address

On Feb. 25, I attended the governor’s final State of the State address. It was a wonderful reflection on the progress we have made, and the work still to be done in Michigan. I was honored to be in attendance and to be accompanied by my 10-year old son.

During the address, the governor outlined priorities for her last year in office and nodded to the progress we have made over the last several years. Some highlights included phasing out the retirement tax, delivering a historic $1 billion tax cut for working families, expanding access to education by guaranteeing all Michiganders a no-cost path toward a college degree or skills certificate and making transformational investments in housing to help reduce the barriers to entry for homeownership. I am proud to say that House Democrats have played a great role in helping deliver these results for Michigan communities.

While we’ve come a long way, I want to emphasize that we aren’t done improving life for Michiganders. The Legislature has work to do to lower the cost of living, increase access to affordable housing, improve educational outcomes for all students and give Michiganders of all backgrounds the opportunity to remain and thrive in our state for generations. This year I am dedicated to working with the governor, the Senate and across the aisle to pass policies and a budget that lift Michiganders up.

If you missed the address, you can watch the full recording here.

 

 

SAVE ACT

Michigan House Republicans have introduced support for the federal SAVE Act (House Resolution 22 of the 119th Congress), which would require individuals to present documentation of proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections. A Michigan version of the legislation, House Bill 4765, has been working its way through the legislative process, which would impact new and re-registered voters.

The SAVE Act, the similar SAVE America Act (House Resolution 7296 of the 119th Congress) and Michigan’s House Bill 4765 would require eligible voters to prove citizenship with documents like passports or birth certificates when registering, documents millions of eligible voters nationwide likely don’t have readily available. This includes an estimated 2.2 million married women in Michigan whose legal name doesn’t match their birth certificate, who could be blocked from registering unless they track down or pay for additional paperwork.

Federal law already requires votes in any election to have U.S citizenship and noncitizen voting is extremely rare. This important issue is expected to remain a point of discussion heading into November.

 

WHAT WE’VE BEEN UP TO

State of the Township

Last week, I joined fellow Canton Township elected officials and community members at the State of the Township address. I’m proud of the progress we have made together and excited for the years ahead as we continue working to keep Canton a great place to live, work and raise a family. Watch here.

 

 

Tribute to Canton Esports team

This month, I presented a tribute to the Canton High School Esports team, congratulating them on their impressive achievement of winning a state championship in Super Smash Bros. These students exemplified work ethic, camaraderie and sportsmanship, and in moments of challenge, they demonstrated determination to perform at their very best. Congratulations once again, and well done!

Know Your Rights Town Hall

On March 7, I was joined by special guest ACLU civil rights experts for an important community conversation covering immigration enforcement, how to identify different law enforcement agencies and how to exercise your rights. Thank you to the ACLU team for such a valuable session. If you need resources, please don’t hesitate to reach out — and you can catch the full recording here.