Dear Neighbor,
With August well underway and a new school year starting for many across the state, I hope you’re still soaking in the remainder of summertime here in our beautiful state. I’ve enjoyed the opportunity to get out and about in our district this summer, hearing directly from our neighbors about the issues that matter most to our community. I’ll continue using this important input to guide my work in the Capitol and deliver on your priorities.
As always, please feel free to reach out to share your thoughts or seek assistance with any challenges you may be facing with state departments. You can email me at senmcavanagh@senate.michigan.gov or call 517-373-7748.
Sincerely,
Mary Cavanagh
State Senator
District 6
- Join our upcoming September Coffee Hour on Friday, Sept. 19, at the Redford Township District Library at 10:30 a.m. Read on for more details.
- My colleagues and I are doing all we can to help push back against the disastrous consequences of Trump’s so-called “Big Beautiful Bill,” including highlighting how harmful cuts to Medicaid and SNAP will be in our state.
Senate Hearing Uplifts Consequences of Trump’s Big “Beautiful” Bill on Michiganders
From funding freezes to massive federal layoffs and short-sighted tariffs, Michiganders and folks across the country have been feeling the impacts of the Trump administration’s reckless actions since the start of this year. More recently, Senate Democrats have been sounding the alarm on his so-called One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) that was signed into law earlier this summer.
To examine the ugly impacts of this new law on the state budget and economy, the Senate Appropriations Committee held a hearing last week, focusing specifically on cuts being made to Medicaid and SNAP programs. State departments, educational institutions, health care providers, and advocacy organizations all showed up to testify, highlighting how these harmful federal cuts threaten the well-being of our state and all those who call it home. From blowing a massive hole in our state budget to stripping away resources for essential health care and food assistance programs, the effects of the OBBBA are as disastrous as they are far-reaching. Learn more here, and listen to what the various testifiers had to say using this link.
Michigan Senate Acts Unanimously to Ensure Michiganders Stay Warm in the Wintertime
As the cost of everyday essentials continues to rise and too many Michiganders struggle to make ends meet, the Michigan Senate worked across party lines to pass legislation to help folks across the state afford their heating bill. Passed with full support out of the Senate chamber last week, Senate Bill 435 would make time-sensitive updates to how the state Treasury department makes its annual inflation adjustment for the Home Heating Tax Credit — proposing to utilize the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) to account for inflation instead.
The Michigan Home Heating Credit is an Individual Income Tax Credit that reduces the financial burden for over 250,000 low-income households across the state by allowing them to file for an annual credit that reimburses them for the costs of heating their home. Learn more here.
Film Detroit Outreach & Resource Fair
PeaceNic 2025
MiLEAP Fall Registration & Resource Fair
Wayne County Veterans Gift Card Distribution
Until Aug. 30, veterans can come out to the Wayne County Veteran Service Office to receive a free gift card. Follow the chart above to come on your scheduled day based on your last name. To be eligible, you must present your DD-214, a valid state ID, have an honorable discharge status, and be a Wayne County resident. The gift card distribution will be on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at 400 Monroe St., Suite 405, in Detroit.
September Coffee Hour
WHEN: Friday, Sept. 19, from 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
WHERE: Redford Township District Library, 25320 Six Mile Rd, Redford, MI
Youth Summit
WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 11, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
WHERE: Global Empowerment Ministries, 17910 Van Dyke St, Detroit, MI
New State Website to Help Michiganders Stay Protected from Wildfire Smoke
From the Upper Peninsula to the west side of the state and the east, many of us have seen and felt the far-reaching impacts of Canadian wildfires across Michigan this summer and the summers before. Just this month, Detroit was ranked third third-worst worldwide for major city air quality. As exposure to wildfire smoke increasingly becomes the norm here in Michigan and across the country — in large part due to the effects of climate change — it’s important for people to understand the health hazards associated with it, such as coughing, difficulty breathing, irregular heartbeats, asthma attacks, and even heart failure. While wildfire smoke can affect anyone, some people are more sensitive to particle pollution, including children, older adults, people with lung or heart disease, and those who are pregnant or working outdoors.
To help Michiganders prepare for, understand, and protect themselves from the effects of wildfire smoke, the Michigan Dept. of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) developed a new webpage with resources and an interactive map that shows air quality readings at state air monitors. Residents are also encouraged to sign-up to receive air quality notifications via email or text. When the air quality is in the unhealthy range for you, EGLE suggests doing the following:
- Stay indoors, keep time outdoors short, and avoid strenuous activities.
- Wear an N95 mask for the best protection if you must be outdoors.
- Set your air system – running forced air systems on “fan” or “cooling” and window air conditioning on “recirculate.”
- Limit indoor activities that create indoor air pollution, like frying foods and using gas-powered appliances.
- Limit outdoor activities like campfires, residential wood boilers, and gas-powered vehicles.
Learn more and stay safe by visiting their webpage: Michigan.gov/EGLEWildfireSmoke.
PreK For All: Improving Outcomes for Michigan Families & Kids
August means the back-to-school season is approaching, so what better time to spread the word about the best PreK for All program in the nation? Last year, Senate Democrats worked across the aisle to secure state funding that helped expand access to no-cost, high quality preschool — and our work is paying off, giving kids the tools they need for successful futures, helping tackle the childcare crisis, allowing parents to stay in the workforce, and saving Michigan families about $10,000 per child.
Michigan’s PreK for All program is available to all children who are four years old by Dec. 1, and enrollment is now open for the upcoming school year. To learn more or find options for no-cost Pre-K in your community, visit MiPreKforAll.org.