“Right to Repair” for wheelchairs, addressing gun violence among our youth, and more

In this newsletter, you will learn about:

• Upcoming community event – April 13
• March is Reading Month
• My funding requests for our community
• My recently-introduced legislation on “right to repair” and addressing gun violence among youth
• House Republicans’ attempted repeal of Michigan’s renewable energy laws

Please join me next month for a Community Conversation at the Hunter Community Center in Clawson! Events like these are a great way for you to learn about your state government and share your thoughts with me.

When: Monday, April 13, from 6-7 p.m.

Where: Hunter Community Center, 509 Fisher Ct. in Clawson.

March is Reading Month and always one of my favorite times of year. This year, I read to students at Troy Union, Pembroke, and Clawson elementary schools. Thank you to the awesome educators in our community for hosting me and giving our students the gift of reading!

The following are highlights from my recent work in the Legislature. All the sponsored and cosponsored legislation I work on this term is available on my website. All my legislation from my first term is still available online. Additionally, you can see my press releases page for additional updates.

Last year, I supported legislation requiring Michigan lawmakers to publicly disclose information about their spending item requests. This is our first year under this framework, and I am proud to share that I have submitted the following spending requests for our community:

• $1.5 million for security upgrades at Clawson City Hall. The City Hall building’s security infrastructure has not meaningfully changed since its construction in the 1960s. This spending item would pay for hardened entry points, improved data server storage and improved line-of-sight for public-facing areas, better protecting the safety of city staff and the sensitive resident data they manage.
• $750,000 for facility improvements at the Troy Historic Village. The Village has been a treasured destination for Southeast Michigan families for decades. This is why I was so disappointed when its state funding was threatened last year by the Republican-led House Appropriations Committee’s disapproval of state work projects. This spending item would improve ADA accessibility at the Village, renovate the visitors center and make other needed upgrades.
• $3.2 million for Oakland Thrive’s small business loan program. The county’s premier small business support organization, Oakland Thrive is a nonprofit that provides free technical assistance and small loans to new small businesses and entrepreneurs. This investment in their revolving loan fund would make small business ownership a reality for residents across the county, growing our middle class and job market.

Photo: Me with my bill establishing a “right to repair” for users of power wheelchairs, as my friend Ruth looks on. 

My House Bill 5722 would establish a “right to repair” for the owners of motorized wheelchairs. Currently, motorized wheelchairs in Michigan can only be repaired by their manufacturer or a repair shop authorized by their manufacturer. With their users having no other options, this effective monopoly gives manufacturers little incentive to repair users’ wheelchairs in a timely fashion.

According to a report published by the US Public Interest Research Group, this effective monopoly strands many wheelchair users in their home for weeks and worsens their health. I believe it is time for Michigan to join the seven other states that have made this reform.

My House Bill 5753 would ban the sale of long guns to people under the age of 21, up from the current age of 18. It would also raise the minimum age for unsupervised public possession of firearms from 18 to 21, with exemptions for activities like hunting and skeet/trap shooting. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, firearms are the leading cause of death for people between ages 18 and 20, and young people in this age range commit firearm homicides at a rate three times higher than those age 21 and older. These facts inform my belief that individuals aged 18-20 should not be allowed to purchase firearms.

Earlier this month, House Republicans introduced bills to roll back Michigan’s landmark renewable energy law—including our clean energy targets and the siting reforms that help renewable projects get built. Electricity prices are rising for many reasons, but renewable energy isn’t one of them despite House Republicans’ claims, in my view. In fact, onshore wind and utility-scale solar are now among the lowest cost sources of new electricity generation. If we want to bring bills down over time, Michigan should be increasing—not decreasing—the share of wind and solar in our energy mix. House Republicans should be focusing on electric utilities, which are a significant driver of rising costs; instead, I think they are targeting renewables, seemingly to distract from that reality.

Each month, I recognize a small business in the community as our Small Business of the Month. To nominate your favorite business for this recognition, please fill click on the button below:

My Nonprofit for the Month for March was the St. Andrew’s Society of Detroit, which coordinates to charities and scholarship programs and promotes Scottish cultural traditions.

Know a nonprofit in our community that’s doing great work? Nominate them to be my office’s Nonprofit of the Month!

Click the button below to get started:

I am also excited to recognize a Teacher of the Month! Teachers are the backbone of this nation, and our district has the BEST! Please fill out the following form to recognize a Teacher of the Month:

Do you know someone in the district who is retiring and would like a legislative tribute to celebrate their years of service? Has a local team or group reached a milestone that they would like to be acknowledged with an official certificate for each member? Our office can provide legislative tributes, letters and certificates on a wide range of recognitions for constituents.

If you would like to request any of these materials for yourself or others, please email my office at [email protected] with as much information as possible on the requested recognition, and we will work with you to arrange delivery or presentation of the recognition!