Dear Neighbor,
April 10 marked our first 100 days in office, and we all know they’ve been busy. As we move into these warmer months, I wanted to share some of the incredible things we’ve been able to accomplish in Lansing and the promises we’ve kept to directly benefit the people of Michigan and Wayne, Washtenaw, Monroe and Lenawee counties.
I Proudly Sponsored House Bill 4485 to Remove the Statue of Limitations for Criminal Sexual Assault on a Minor
On April 26, my colleagues and I introduced a package of bills that enhances the rights of sexual assault survivors. My bill, House Bill 4485, removes the statute of limitations for criminal sexual assault on a minor. This bill package has been named the Survivors Bill of Rights.
Survivors are often hesitant to disclose their abuse due to the narrow window of this statute of limitations. Studies have found that the average age for childhood survivors to report abuse is 52. The challenging and sometimes re-traumatizing criminal justice system also contributes to delayed disclosure and can discourage survivors from reporting abuse until after the statute of limitations expires. This bill is about supporting survivors and holding criminals accountable, and I was proud to sponsor it.
“Sunshine Week” Government Transparency Legislation
An open and transparent government is important for ensuring a functioning democracy. The Sunshine Week initiative is a national call for promoting more transparent government, and I was happy to co-sponsor a resolution to declare March 13-18, 2023, as Sunshine Week in the state of Michigan.
We Held a Town Hall in Milan with Sen. Jeff Irwin and Congresswoman Debbie Dingell
We have held coffee hours all over the district. Most recently, on Friday, April 21, we held a HUGE town hall at The Owl in Milan. Over 75 members of the community showed up to ask questions to their representatives. I was joined by state Sen. Jeff Irwin and Congresswoman Debbie Dingell. Thank you to everyone who came out, and a special thank you to everyone at The Owl, Morning ’til Night for hosting all of us. This was a huge success, and I look forward to seeing you all next time!
We Advocated for the Opening of Young Adult Mental Health Services in Washtenaw County
As we all know, there is a mental illness epidemic in this country. We need to improve our mental health infrastructure across the nation. That is why I was proud to advocate for the opening of Garrett’s Space, an upcoming facility for Washtenaw County young adults between the ages of 18 and 28 that are facing mental health challenges. This publicly-funded facility will offer inpatient and outpatient resources for people experiencing depression, anxiety or other mental health challenges.
We Recognized Teacher of the Month and Support Staff of the Month
We had the honor of recognizing two amazing individuals from our district for the incredible work that they do for our young people. Kindergarten teacher Jacki Bearden of Dundee Elementary School won our April 2023 Teacher of the Month award. Social Worker Roxanne Hope of Dundee Middle School won our April 2023 Support Staff of the Month award. Thank you both for going above and beyond to ensure a bright future for our children!
We’ve Been Busy Helping Our Constituents With Individual Issues
Our office has been able to assist multiple constituents with a variety of issues. Some of these have been issues in delays with the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency. In another case, a constituent reached out to our office about unpaid and overdue COVID Emergency Rental Assistance funds that were supposed to be delivered to her landlord last fall. After our office worked with the community action agency, Wayne Metro, to investigate this issue, the constituent’s landlord received her due funds, and this situation was resolved. If you are in a similar situation, or if you need help navigating any state agencies, please reach out to our office and we’ll do our best to help you.
May is Huntington’s Disease Awareness Month
Huntington’s disease is a rare, inherited disorder that causes nerve cells in parts of the brain to gradually break down and die, leading to loss of control of body movement. This disease is fatal and currently has no cure. Huntington’s disease has affected me personally, as my beloved niece died of this horrible disease at age 25 on March 3, 2012. During the month of May, the hashtag #LetsTalkAboutHD is used to share videos, photos and written stories about Huntington’s Disease. By sharing our stories, we can help raise awareness of this horrible disease. I introduced a resolution that was passed to designate May as Huntington’s Disease Awareness Month in Michigan.
Upcoming Events with Rep. Miller
Belleville Coffee Hour: Monday, May 15, at 10 a.m.
- Belleville Area District Library, 167 4th St., Belleville, MI 48111
Milan Coffee Hour: Friday, May 26, at 11 a.m.
- The Owl, Morning ‘til Night, 9 W. Main St., Milan, MI 48160
Sincerely,
State Representative Reggie Miller
Michigan’s 31st District
Office Phone: (517) 373-0159
Email: ReggieMiller@house.mi.gov