Dear Neighbor,
I hope this newsletter finds you and your family well. I am excited to share some recent updates from the State Capitol. In this edition, I wanted to share some pertinent legislative and community updates from District 21.
As always, if you, or someone you know, wants to provide any feedback about what’s happening in Lansing or needs assistance of any sort, please feel free to reach out to us at any time. You can email us at SenSAnthony@senate.michigan.gov or call (517) 373-6960.
LEGISLATIVE UPDATES
First 100 Days
The first 100 Days of working in this new majority have been full of major successes that protect, advocate, and uplift Michiganders! Our #MajorityForThePeople has wasted no time making progress on 40 years of pent-up policy ideas that will lift people up, protect freedoms, and save lives.
From securing protections for LGBTQ Michiganders to passing gun violence prevention measures to restoring workers’ rights, we have prioritized safety at school, at work, and in our communities in our first 100 days – and we’re just getting started.
Filter First Package
Earlier this month, the Michigan Senate passed Senate Bill 88 and SB 89, known as the Filter First legislation, which would protect children from lead in drinking water at schools and childcare centers. The bills will require all Michigan childcare centers and schools to implement a Drinking Water Management Plan, install filtered bottle-filling stations or filtered faucets on outlets designated for drinking water, and test the filtered water to ensure that the filters are installed and operating properly. The legislation has widespread support from health and environmental experts, and this is a much more cost-effective method than repeatedly testing every outlet or replacing entire plumbing systems.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, even low levels of lead in blood can negatively affect children’s intellectual development and academic achievement. The most proactive and protective solution to kids getting exposed to lead through school and childcare drinking water is to place filters at the point of use. Given the amount of time children spend at schools and childcare centers, these bills will help keep children safe by installing filtered faucets and water bottle filling stations and installing on-tap filters in sinks where water is used for human consumption, like school kitchens.
Senate Appropriations Committee
Last week, our first budgets reported out for seven different subcommittee areas:
- Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services
- Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs
- Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy
- Department of Natural Resources
- Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development
- Judiciary
- Michigan Department of Corrections
Senate Democrats are making historic investments in all of these critical areas of government. As the Senate Appropriations Chair, I look forward to continuing the partnership with all of the subcommittee chairs to ensure our state maintains an effective, balanced budget.
COMMUNITY UPDATES
911 Telecommunications Resolutions
I proudly partnered with Senator Sam Singh on a pair of resolutions to honor our 911 telecommunicators across the state. Senate Resolution 31 declared the week of April 9-15, 2023, as National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week in Michigan. Senate Concurrent Resolution 8 urges the U.S Congress to address the current federal classification of 911 telecommunicators to ensure these highly skilled workers can get the funding, training, and benefits they deserve. Both resolutions were adopted by the full Senate.
On February 13, 2023, our 911 telecommunicators helped direct hundreds of first responders, students, faculty, concerned parents, and community members on Michigan State University’s campus. We offered a small token of our appreciation to our Ingham County 911 Dispatch Center earlier this month and saw firsthand how critical the role of these workers is on a daily basis to make our communities a safer place.
Walter French
I was thrilled to tour the Walter French School building, a site that will soon be transformed into 76 affordable housing units and two floors of commercial space that will include a childcare center and a community resource center.
The project is being led by the Capital Area Housing Partnership with support from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.
In mid-Michigan, we must keep investing in such pivotal revitalization efforts such as this to increase affordable options for our residents and improve resources for everyone. I am proud to continue advocating and supporting this project.
UPCOMING COFFEE HOUR
WHEN: Friday, May 26, 2023, from 10 – 11 am
WHERE: Eaton Rapids City Hall, 200 Main St, Eaton Rapids, MI 48827