Dear Friends,
Hello, and welcome to my e-newsletter. I would like to take this moment to thank you for allowing me the opportunity to serve you in the 95th House District and to act as your voice in the Capitol. This issue of my e-newsletter will provide an update on what’s going on at the Capitol this month, including:
- Upcoming Coffee Hour
- Legislation to Achieve Parity for Birth Certificates
- GOP Resolution to Put Oversight of Michigan’s Natural Resources in the Hands of Corporations
- Free Carbon Monoxide and Smoke Detectors for Saginaw Residents
- Secretary of State Closure Alert
As your representative, I am most effective at my job when acting on your input, and I encourage you to reach out to me and my staff with any questions, comments or concerns you may have about issues in the district or legislation that will impact our state. You can contact me toll-free at (855) 347-8095, by email at vanessaguerra@house.mi.gov or through my website, guerra.housedems.com. I look forward to hearing from you and thank you for your commitment to the community we both call home.
Upcoming Coffee Hour
My coffee hours are a chance to sit down in an informal setting and discuss issues facing our state. My next coffee hour will be held on:
- Monday, Feb. 25, from 9-11 a.m. at the Buena Vista McDonald’s, located at 3200 Holland Road in Saginaw
If you can’t make it to the coffee hour, please feel free to contact me by email or phone. I hope to see you then!
Legislation to Achieve Parity for Birth Certificates
Currently, anyone born before Oct. 1, 1978, to unmarried parents does not have their birth records on file at their county clerk’s office. As a result of this discrimination, they have a more cumbersome process of going to the state to retrieve their vital records, taking more of their time and costing them more money because of circumstances entirely out of their control.
This week, I joined state Rep. Steve Johnson to introduce legislation that ensures individuals are charged the same amount to receive a copy of their birth records, regardless of the marital status of their parents when they were born. People should not have to pay more to retrieve a copy of their birth certificate because their parents weren’t married when they were born. It is time to level the playing field for everyone.
GOP Resolution to Put Oversight of Michigan’s Natural Resources in the Hands of Corporations
This week, House Republicans approved a resolution to reject Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s recent executive order which, among other things, eliminates three review boards the Legislature enacted into existence last year. These review boards allow corporate representatives to oversee the Department of Environmental Quality, now called the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy under the governor’s reorganization plan, and its permitting process.
Michigan families deserve clean water, safe air and a government that works for them, and after years of governmental inaction that was exactly what Gov. Whitmer’s orders and directive set out to do. The Legislature should be focusing on supporting the needs and rights of everyday Michiganders instead of making it easier for corporations to pollute our communities.
Free Carbon Monoxide and Smoke Detectors for Saginaw Residents
Through a FEMA Fire Prevention and Safety Grant and a partnership with the Michigan Community Risk Reduction Task Force, the Saginaw Fire Department can install free 10-year sealed battery smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in your home. Firefighters from your local fire station will install the free alarms by appointment at your convenience. Fire safety information will also be provided. Low-income households, homes with children and homes with elderly persons are encouraged to participate in this program.
To schedule an installation appointment, call the Saginaw Fire Department at (989) 759-1393.
Secretary of State Closure Alert
The Michigan Department of State is replacing its decades-old vehicle records system with CARS, a modern computer system to better serve millions of customers on Feb. 19. During the upgrade, SOS offices, online services and auto business transactions will be taken offline and unavailable from 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 15, until 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 19 (President’s Day weekend). Self-service kiosks will be taken offline in phases beginning today, Friday, Feb. 8. To see the schedule, click here.
The seven Super Centers will also be closed Saturday, Feb. 16, for the system-wide conversion of CARS. All branches will be closed on President’s Day, Monday, Feb. 18. For more details, go to Michigan.gov/SOS.