Dear Friends and Neighbors,

I am most effective at my job when acting on your direct input. I encourage you to reach out to me and my staff with any questions, comments, or concerns you may have regarding our community or state and with any policy ideas.

Please do not hesitate to reach out by phone at (517) 373-0822 or send an email to AngelaWitwer@house.mi.gov.

Sincerely,

Angela Witwer

State Representative, 76th House District

In This Issue:

  • In-District Update
  • Coffee Hours
  • General Update
  • Legislative Update

In-District Update

February Teacher of the Month Winner

Congratulations to Alice Mills on being named our February Teacher of the Month winner! Alice is a kindergarten teacher at Grand Ledge Public Schools, Delta Center Elementary.

As quoted by the nominator, “Ms. Mills is energetic, fun and caring. I’ve been fortunate enough to have two students have Ms. Mills for kindergarten, and she is a beloved person for our family. You can always count on her to involve Abu, the Delta Center building dog. When my kids came home from school after working hard on something, they’d tell me they were ‘rockin’ it!,’ like Ms. Mills always says. At school events, she goes out of her way to check in with former students and families. You can always find her going above and beyond at school events like math night and the glow party. She’s fantastic!”

Each month, I highlight one of our district’s teachers. Who hasn’t had a teacher who has deeply affected our lives? We owe so much to these exceptional teachers. The least that I can do is shine a spotlight on these heroes who give so much of themselves for their communities. So, please, nominate one of the wonderful teachers in our district for March Teacher of the Month here, so we can celebrate all they do for our community.

Coffee Hours

  • 10 a.m., March 3 — BlackDog Coffee, 120 W. Hamlin St. in Eaton Rapids.
  • 10 a.m., March 17 — MorningLory Café & Bakery, 115 N. Bridge St. in Dimondale.

General Update

Guest Speaker

I had the honor of being the guest speaker at both the Michigan Legislative Consultants Budget Seminar and the Board of Directors meeting of the Michigan Association of State Universities, where I provided insight into the state’s budget and what it has been like serving as the Appropriations chair in the state House.

MI Future Educator Fellowship Stipend

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced that the MI Future Educator Fellowship and Stipend programs’ first payments are being awarded to provide financial assistance to college students aspiring to become teachers.

To be eligible, future educators must apply through the MiSSG Portal, submit their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and:

  • Be working toward their first teacher certification.
  • Must have earned at least 56 semester credits or 84 term credits with a cumulative 3.0 GPA.
  • Began the Education Preparation Program full-time in fall 2022 or later.
  • Be a Michigan resident.

For more information or help applying for the Fellowship, visit Michigan.gov/mistudentaid or contact MI Student Aid at mistudentaid@michigan.gov, (888) 447-2687 or @mistudentaid on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Legislative Update

Appropriations Committee

Last week, we had a presentation by Ford Motor Co. and the Michigan Economic Development Corp. on the proposed battery manufacturing facility in Marshall.

Senior Financial Protection Legislation

On Thursday, I will introduce legislation to help prevent the financial exploitation of seniors and other vulnerable adults by allowing broker-dealers and investment advisors to place temporary holds on disbursements of funds or securities when there is reason to believe that financial exploitation of a customer has occurred.

Unfortunately, financial exploitation of vulnerable populations is a reality, and efforts should be made to prevent this from happening. This exploitation can be wide-ranging and difficult to prevent, as a result, it often goes unreported.

The legislation I’m introducing strengthens the current Financial Industry Regulatory Authority/U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (FINRA/SEC) rule by adding language allowing temporary holds on suspicious transactions. It would also allow extra protections for Michigan residents by codifying current FINRA/SEC rules in the Michigan Uniform Securities Act and provides local and state jurisdictions better tools to protect vulnerable adults.

Update on HB 4001

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My bill, House Bill 4001, passed the House and is under consideration in the Senate.

This bill would cut taxes for retirees and low-income workers while also providing a mechanism to move corporate income tax revenue directly to the Strategic Outreach and Attraction Reserve. HB 4001 would also provide $180 rebates on every tax return filed this year if the Senate gives the legislation immediate effect. I’m very pleased to say that we are making progress on delivering financial relief to working and retired Michiganders!

Governor Signs Legislation Investing in Special Education, Student Meals and Safe Schools

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed Senate Bill 8, sponsored by Sen. Sarah Anthony, into law. It appropriates funds for the school breakfast program, supports special education, and appropriates federal resources to promote safe, healthy learning environments by investing in violence and bullying prevention.