Bill Package to Provide Child Care Relief Passes Tax Policy Committee
LANSING, Mich., Dec. 11, 2024 — The House Tax Policy Committee passed a bill package today to amend the Child Care Licensing Act to provide greater oversight flexibility, authorize safety inspections, make it easier to appeal for rules violations and require reimbursements to child care providers to be inflation-indexed. “Fixing a broken system that’s causing Michigan’s economy to lose nearly $3 billion annually and crushing our families and businesses is going to take a sustained public investment,” said Sen. Kristen [...]
Churches Bill to Encourage Local Infrastructure Improvement Passes House
State Rep. Jaime Churches (D-Wyandotte) speaks on the House floor in support of House Bill 5779 on June 20, 2024, at the Michigan Capitol in Lansing. LANSING, Mich., June 20, 2024 — House Bill 5779, sponsored by state Rep. Jaime Churches (D-Wyandotte), was voted out of the Michigan House of Representatives today. HB 5779 would allow Grosse Ile Township to own and operate a bridge. Following the passage of the bill, Churches issued the following statement: “As an island community, it only makes sense that [...]
Churches Introduces Bill to Encourage Local Infrastructure Improvement
LANSING, Mich., June 5, 2024 — After careful consideration of current law related to the powers and duties of townships, state Rep. Jaime Churches (D-Wyandotte) introduced legislation to remove barriers surrounding a township’s ability to own and operate a bridge. Churches released the following statement, after introducing House Bill 5779: “After speaking with many residents and local elected officials from my district affected by transportation issues with our bridges, it has become clear that there is a unique need for townships to [...]
Churches Applauds House Budget, Funding for Students and Schools
LANSING, Mich., May 8, 2024 — The Michigan House of Representatives passed its budget today. It includes substantial investments for students, schools and working Michiganders. After voting on the budget, state Rep. Jaime Churches (D-Wyandotte) issued the following statement: “Prior to serving in government, I spent over a decade as a fifth-grade teacher in the Downriver community. During my teaching tenure, I encountered the challenges of working with limited resources. We’re allocating funds to directly benefit classrooms, increasing per-student funding and enhancing [...]
Churches Urges Action Following Discovery of Harmful Liquid at the Former McLouth Steel Site
LANSING, Mich., Feb. 15, 2024 — After the recent discovery of a white, corrosive fluid near the railroad crossing located at the north end of the former McLouth steel site, state Rep. Jaime Churches (D-Wyandotte) issued the following statement: “This discovery emphasizes the urgent need to hold corporate polluters accountable for the environmental hazards they create. Implementing effective laws that hold polluters financially responsible is critical to ensuring they address the consequences of their own actions, rather than burdening communities with the [...]
Dems are Supporting Education for a Better Michigan
Lawmakers pose at a bill signing on Monday, Dec. 18, 2023, at Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids. LANSING, Mich., Feb. 5, 2024 — For the first time in 40 years, Democrats gained control of the legislature and the governor’s office last year. With majority, they led a remarkably productive year, passing and signing into law a historic number of bills. A significant number of those laws go into effect on Feb. 13. In order to celebrate with and [...]
Churches on State of the State Address
LANSING, Mich., Jan. 24, 2024 — Before a joint Legislative session today, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivered this year’s State of the State address. In her speech, the governor discussed her agenda for the new term, which includes pre-K for all and making two-year community college available for all who want to attend. State Rep. Jaime Churches (D-Wyandotte) issued the following statement on Whitmer’s address: “We’re working toward providing accessible education to all Michiganders. I was glad to hear that the [...]
Camilleri and Churches secure $20 million for Grosse Ile Bridge
Grosse Ile, Mich, Sept. 5, 2023 – State Senator Darrin Camilleri (D-Trenton) and State Representative Jaime Churches (D-Wyandotte) announced they were successful in securing $20 million in the State Budget for repairs and fortification of the Grosse Ile Bridge. The significant appropriation was formally announced at a community meeting tonight at Grosse Ile Commons where they were joined by Grosse Ile Supervisor Jim Budny and members of the Grosse Ile Board of Trustees, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell, and representatives from [...]
Churches Joins ‘Make it in Michigan’ Event
WYANDOTTE, Mich., Aug. 23, 2023 — State Rep. Jaime Churches (D-Wyandotte) joined state and local officials today on a stop of the “Make it in Michigan” Tour. The tour stop aimed to spread awareness of the positive impacts the 2023-24 state budget has on her community — specifically highlighting the funding for the 3131 Biddle Redevelopment Project in Wyandotte. “This tour was a great opportunity for us to see, when given necessary funding, how our community members can benefit from [...]
Koleszar, Churches Applaud Passage of Bills Restoring Teachers Rights
LANSING, Mich., June 21, 2023 — The Michigan House of Representatives passed two bills yesterday that would restore teachers’ rights. House Bill 4044, sponsored by state Rep. Matt Koleszar (D-Plymouth), would repeal collective bargaining gap provisions. The current law freezes wage and benefit levels during negotiations, prohibits any retroactive increases, and passes any increased costs of health care benefits onto employees. This law applies to all public employees under the Public Employee Relations Act. It was previously amended in 2014, exempting police and firefighters. “This [...]
House Democrats Applaud Passage of Train and Transportation Safety Legislation
State Rep. Jaime Churches addresses the House floor on June 14, 2023, at the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing, Michigan. LANSING, Mich., June 15, 2023 — The House of Representatives voted in favor of House Bill 4153 and Senate Bill 125 yesterday. These bills would allow the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) to create and operate a grant program for the creation of overpasses and underpasses. These passes will separate vehicle traffic from railroad traffic, increasing safety and decreasing traffic congestion. “We cannot ignore [...]
Churches Addresses Concerns Over Cell Tower Placement at Washington Elementary School
WYANDOTTE, Mich., June 9, 2023 – A 5G cell phone tower placed at Washington Elementary School in the Wyandotte Public Schools district has caused concerns from parents, teachers and community members over the course of the last few months. In 2018, the Wyandotte School Board entered a legally binding business partnership with T-Mobile, allowing the service provider to mount a cell phone tower adjacent to Washington Elementary School. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the development and installation of the tower was [...]
Koleszar and Churches Applaud Largest School Aid Fund in History
LANSING, Mich., May 10, 2023 — The Michigan House of Representatives passed the largest School Aid budget in the state’s history today. It would provide free breakfast and lunch for every student in the state and make a substantial investment in the Great Start Readiness Program to make preschool affordable for every family. “With this historic budget, we are reinvesting in the people of Michigan by directly addressing the needs of our students,” said state Rep. Matt Koleszar (D-Plymouth), chair [...]
Gov. Whitmer Signs Rep. Churches’ First Bill into Law
State Rep. Jaime Churches (D-Wyandotte) spoke in favor of universal background checks before gun purchases on the House floor March 8, 2023. LANSING, Mich., April 18, 2023 – On Michigan State University’s campus last Thursday, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed the first firearm safety reforms of the 102nd Legislature into law. Among these laws was state Rep. Jaime Churches’ (D-Wyandotte) first bill, HB 4138, requiring background checks for all gun sales. In the wake of February’s shooting at Michigan [...]
Churches on Infrastructure Funding for the City of Gibraltar
LANSING, Mich., April 13, 2023 — Earlier this year, the Michigan House of Representatives passed Senate Bill 7, a budget supplemental that allocates $25 million for the Transportation Economic Development Fund, a match grant road funding program for municipalities with fewer than 10,000 people. State Rep. Jaime Churches (D-Wyandotte) issued the following statement, after learning that the city of Gibraltar, which she represents, has the opportunity to receive funds: “I am excited the city of Gibraltar is eligible to apply for this infrastructure [...]
Churches, Camilleri Respond to 5G Cell Phone Tower Concerns at Washington Elementary in Wyandotte Public Schools District
WYANDOTTE, Mich., March 24, 2023 – Over the course of several weeks, there has been increased concern over a 5G cell phone tower placed adjacent to Washington Elementary School in the Wyandotte Public Schools district. T-Mobile, owner and operator of the cell phone tower, solidified a contract in 2018 with Wyandotte Public Schools to construct and place the tower at the elementary school in order to increase network reliability in the area. Since construction of this tower has been completed [...]
House Democrats Pass Commonsense Gun Reform
Three-bill package creates requirement for universal background checks LANSING, Mich., March 8, 2023 — The Michigan House of Representatives took action today to make communities around the state safer by passing the first of several bills aimed at preventing gun violence. House Bills 4138, 4142 and 4143 establish the requirement for background checks on all gun sales in Michigan. “I am proud to work alongside my colleagues to strengthen gun violence prevention measures and to ensure communities across our [...]
Churches on Approval of Federal Building Redevelopment Project in Wyandotte
WYANDOTTE, Mich., Feb. 28, 2023 — In response to the Michigan Strategic Fund’s approval of the Federal Building Redevelopment Project in Wyandotte, state Rep. Jaime Churches (D-Wyandotte) issued the following statement of support: “As an advocate for small business growth and community revitalization, I am excited for another opportunity to expand developments in the Downriver community. The approval of this redevelopment project will bolster our local economy, bringing in new jobs and much-needed improvements to our community’s infrastructure.” The Federal [...]
Churches Responds to Mass Shooting on MSU Campus
WYANDOTTE, Mich., Feb. 14, 2023 — A mass shooting took place on the Michigan State University campus beginning around 8:20 p.m. last night. Campus police have confirmed that three students were killed and five remain in critical condition at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing. Names of the victims are expected to be released later today. The shooting triggered a manhunt that continued for hours, ending with the gunman dying of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The shooter has no apparent link to [...]
Churches on Whitmer’s State of the State Address
LANSING, Mich., Jan. 26, 2023 — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivered the State of the State address last night before a joint session of the Legislature at the Capitol in Lansing. In the speech, the governor discussed her legislative agenda for the new term, which includes bolstering the economy, increasing public safety, lowering costs for families, protecting fundamental rights, supporting Michigan workers, investing in early childhood education and attracting talent to Michigan. State Rep. Jaime Churches (D-Wyandotte) issued the following statement [...]
Churches’ Office Open for Business
Michigan Supreme Court Justice Kyra Bolden (left) swears in Rep. Jaime Churches (right) at the Michigan Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023. LANSING, Mich., Jan. 11, 2023 — Michigan’s 102nd Legislature is officially underway. Instead of starting her week in the classroom, state Rep. Jaime Churches (D-Wyandotte) is at the Capitol, ready to serve her students and families in a new role. Churches represents the newly formed House District 27, which encompasses parts of Wayne County, including Gibraltar, Grosse Ile, [...]