Capitol Portrait Unveiling Commemorates Sen. Sarah Anthony’s Historic Milestone as First Black Woman to Chair Appropriations Committee

In new role, Sen. Anthony helped deliver a state budget as historic and impactful as her appointment, continues to make a significant impression on her district and the entire state  

LANSING, Mich. (Feb. 1, 2024) — Today, Senate Appropriations Chair Sarah Anthony (D-Lansing) was joined by Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids), legislative colleagues and staff, community members, and family and friends for the unveiling of her official portrait in her Capitol office. The portrait commemorates Chair Anthony’s role as the first Black female Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee in the state’s history, a particularly poignant moment on the first day of Black History Month.

“I began my career in government intending to help my community and represent Lansing and Mid-Michigan as best as I could — making history was never on my bucket list,” said Sen. Anthony. “I am incredibly honored and humbled to be recognized in this way, especially as it coincides with Black History Month. We have seen incredible progress when it comes to diverse representation in the Michigan Legislature, even during my relatively short time as a state officeholder, but we can always do better.  I hope others who look like me now know they can run for office and have a seat at the table.”

“When we make the critical decisions about where our state’s resources are best spent to shape our collective future, for the first time we have the lived experience of a Black woman guiding that process,” said Senate Majority Leader Brinks. “It’s a significant and powerful moment for our state. Budgets are moral documents, and by bringing her lived experiences — whether personal or from her constituents — with her into this building, Sen. Anthony has found a way to weave equity, empowerment, and justice into every page of it.”

Sen. Anthony has made history as Senate Appropriations Chair, not only through her chairmanship position, but by making transformational investments in marginalized, underserved communities. This year, she plans to prioritize expanding access to high quality, affordable housing for people of all walks of life, improving college affordability, and early childhood education in the Fiscal Year 2025 budget. One of her most recent accomplishments include passing the CROWN Act and ending child marriage in Michigan after several years of advocacy, and she further uplifts Black Michiganders in her capacity as First Vice Chairperson of the Michigan Legislative Black Caucus.  

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