Capitol and Community Updates

Last Wednesday, I introduced House Bill 5974 with bipartisan support, which will create the framework for the licensure of Prescribed Pediatric Extended Care facilities in Michigan. I had the opportunity to tour one of these facilities recently in Kentucky. While at the facility, I observed children playing and learning with others in a safe environment while being supervised by trained pediatric nurses, aides and rehabilitation therapists who were offering medical, therapeutic, and developmental support.

Currently in Michigan, children with complex medical conditions that require nursing care and other medical services often receive such care one-on-one in their homes. This option is often more expensive and can be quite isolating for the child. Creating pathways for these facilities in Michigan will allow children with medically complex conditions to be able to play and socialize with other children while their parents are at work, creating peace of mind for parents and guardians. Currently, 16 states have legislation that creates the infrastructure for these facilities. Michigan would be the 17th state to have such legislation.

For families that experience child care access challenges, these facilities will offer peace of mind to parents while allowing children to gain valuable life skills as they learn to communicate and interact with one another in a safe and healthy environment.

I am excited to share with you the amazing investments that we have secured for our public schools. Last week, I voted in favor of House Bill 5503 to give schools a total of $150 million in funding for school safety and mental health. This legislation will empower our school districts to invest in solutions that are tailored to the needs of the district. Uplifting students and educators in my area has been one of my priorities since day one, and the support that our schools provide for our students is irreplaceable. As a practicing healthcare provider and advocate for mental health, I am pleased to see this money be put to good use to help assist our students and educators.

In addition to the $150 million investment, we allocated $1 million to go toward educational materials on the safe storage of firearms. Students today live in a world where shootings have become a part of their lives, and by teaching folks how to safely store firearms, we can ensure that our families have the tools necessary to make sure that firearms are out of reach. To go along with education on how to store firearms properly and safely, this funding invests in an anonymous tip line that accepts reports of improperly stored firearms that children may be able to access. Combined, we are making investments that will make our schools stronger and allow them to continue supporting our students while keeping them both safe and healthy.

The estimated money that schools will receive in my district are as follows:
·         Kalamazoo Public Schools: $1,386,339
·         Portage Public Schools: $975,583
·         Comstock Public Schools: $228,427

This was a historic investment that we made, and I was proud to cast my vote for this legislation.

We all know that summer and early fall are the seasons of the orange barrel, and here in Kalamazoo, there are more construction projects happening than usual. With these infrastructure improvements and projects come a new set of challenges. Businesses that are located along these routes are feeling the full effect of these road closures and detours. Some businesses I have spoken with are reporting a 20% drop in sales. One issue lies with the fact that because of road closures, people are often unaware that these businesses are still open and operating just like normal.

To help find solutions to these challenges, I attended a productive meeting with other state and local leaders to hear concerns. During this meeting, we listened to the issues of the business owners and are working to find solutions to ease the burden that has been placed on them. I will be continuing to advocate for our local businesses that have been impacted and working with leaders in our community to find a solution that works best in the face of these challenges.

One of the larger areas impacted are the businesses located along Westnedge Avenue all the way down to Cork and Ransom Street. The owners of these businesses are a staple to the Kalamazoo community, and they need our help. If you are out in an area that has been affected by the construction, please consider stopping by one of the many businesses along the way. They would appreciate it!