📰 August E-Newsletter

Dear Neighbor,

I hope this message finds you well. As your State Representative, I’m committed to keeping you informed and standing up for the issues that matter most to our communities. In this newsletter, I want to share important updates about my work to protect Michiganders from harmful federal cuts to Medicaid and food assistance, fight for safe and affordable housing, and strengthen public trust in law enforcement.

You’ll also find highlights from recent events across Detroit, Hamtramck, and Highland Park — and ways to connect with my office if you ever need help or want to get involved.

Thank you for the continued honor of serving you.

In service,

Tonya Myers Phillips
State Representative
House District 7
⚖️ Fighting for Michigan Families Hurt by Massive Medicaid and Food Assistance Cuts 
I understand that we are all working harder than ever. So, I am reaching out to let you know that I am here to help you, your family, and our community navigate the impact of the so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” passed by the U.S. President and all the Republicans serving in Congress.

This bill includes the largest cuts to Medicaid and food assistance in American history — slashing $1 trillion from Medicaid and $186 billion from food assistance over the next decade.

What does that mean for Michigan?

  • Families will face even higher health care costs.
  • Hundreds of thousands of Michiganders will likely lose their health care, including seniors and veterans.
  • Kids will no longer have access to certain meal programs at school.
  • Communities and families already struggling to put food on the table will be pushed to the brink.

Rest assured, I am personally committed to fighting every day to lessen the harmful impact these devastating federal cuts will have as much as possible.

Michigan Republicans are attempting to emulate what happened in Washington and have so far refused to meet the July 1 legal deadline to pass a budget.  No matter what tactics certain members of the Legislature attempt to use, I will not be bullied or pressured into a bad deal that hurts our communities and families.  I will continue to fight to prioritize funding for health care and Medicare, food benefits, water affordability, support for our K-12 schools and Michigan colleges, and truly affordable housing opportunities.

 📜 Putting People First: Fighting For Our Homes and Safety

 I am advocating to continue successful bipartisan property tax legislation
Tax foreclosure decimated home ownership in my hometown of Detroit. At its peak, one in three families lost their homes to tax foreclosure.

I worked for years to get changes in state law that allowed county treasurers to offer homeowners flexible plans to pay their property taxes and keep their homes.

On July 1, those protective provisions expired, but I, along with state Senator Stephanie Chang, took action and introduced common-sense, compassionate social safety net legislation, HB 4741, to extend these protections for our Michigan homeowners.

 I am fighting to keep all Michiganders safe 

I am proud to be one of the co-sponsors of the “Justice Needs No Mask Bill,” HB 4760, introduced by my colleague state Representative Betsy Coffia. This bill would require all law enforcement officers to display proper identification and prohibit the use of masks, except in limited and appropriate circumstances.

Michigan local, county, and state police officers and law enforcement officials do not wear masks, and they do identify themselves. This is an important policy that instills public trust and keeps us safe. Anonymity erodes trust, destroys accountability, and shields wrongdoing. I am fighting to ensure all Michigan residents have their right to due process upheld and that we all enjoy the safety and transparency in law enforcement practices.

 🏘️ All Around the District! 

I regularly hold community meetings and coffee hours in Detroit, Hamtramck, and Highland Park. It brings me joy to support our children and community members throughout our amazing district. Here are a few highlights!

Coffee and Conversations
Michigan State Representative Tonya Myers Phillips and the Honorable Mayor Glenda McDonald on the House floor.

I had the pleasure of joining residents and community leaders at the Highland Park Justice Center for one of our recent coffee hours. We talked about neighborhood safety, housing and local solutions. These community conversations are at the heart of my work; the best policy starts with listening.

Stay connected: Check out the Highland Park Community Calendar for upcoming events!

Supporting Mental Health
Michigan state Representative Tonya Myers Phillips laughing while reading to a group of elementary school students.

Mental health is health. I visited the National Association of Yemeni Americans Behavioral Health Clinic in Hamtramck, where we discussed trauma-informed care and the clinic’s work in our communities.

The clinic offers free mental health services to residents of Wayne County, including Detroit, Hamtramck, and Highland Park.

You can call (313) 733-4256 to make an appointment, visit their website, or visit them at 11521 Joseph Campau Ave.

Fighting for Housing Justice
Michigan state Representative Tonya Myers Phillips standing with Hamtramck Mayor Amer Ghalib and Police Chief Jamiel Altaheri, along with other law enforcement officials.

At the Eastside Community Network’s (ECN) Housing Resource Fair in Detroit, I spoke with residents about renters’ rights, housing insecurity, and legislation I’m working on to protect tenants and homeowners alike.

ECN is a trusted neighborhood hub for utility assistance, home repair, youth and senior programs, and more. You can call (313) 571-2800, stop by in person, or visit them at 4401 Conner St. in Detroit to learn more about available resources.

Have an upcoming event in your neighborhood?

 

Call my office at (517) 373-2276 or use the button below to invite me or my team to attend. I also welcome your thoughts on legislation or any requests for assistance — don’t hesitate to reach out!

It is truly an honor to serve you and fight for you.
A map of Michigan State House District 7.

Contact Me:

[email protected]

(517) 373-2276

Office: S-686 House Office Building

Find Me On My:

🌐Website

ⓕ Facebook