LANSING — Today, the House of Representatives voted out Senate Bills 652-654, which create new panels and gives them new powers to oversee the DEQ and its permitting and rule-making process. In response, state Rep. Tenisha Yancey (D-Harper Woods) issued the following statement:

“We have to stop putting profits ahead of the well-being of citizens. We need to safeguard our resources from outside interests. My colleagues again rejected the proposed amendment to require that appointees to these committees are Michigan residents. It is the bare minimum that could have been done to make this a better bill. Michiganders will have the most respect for our resources because we all have fond memories that we want the next generation to share. I proposed these amendments because I wanted to be sure that the people of Michigan are having their voices heard, and I am disappointed that my colleagues did not give the people of Michigan their support.”