Dear Neighbor,
While the year is rapidly coming to a close, my Senate Democratic colleagues and I are using every moment we have to deliver solutions to the issues facing our state. From passing legislation on budget transparency and permanently expanding the bipartisan Michigan Reconnect program to holding committee hearings on the negative impact of tariffs on Michigan families and farmers, we’re laser-focused on continuing meaningful progress for the people of Michigan.
Read on to learn more about not only our current legislation we’re working on, but also the progress we’ve achieved in 2025 and our continued efforts to keep moving Michigan forward in the new year.
As always, if you need assistance of any sort, or have any questions or concerns you’d like to share, please feel free to reach out to my office. You can reach me and my team by emailing SenMCavanagh@senate.michigan.gov or calling 517-373-7748.
Sincerely,
Mary Cavanagh
State Senator
District 6
- Despite the challenges we’ve faced in our state and federal governments this year, my Senate Democratic colleagues and I spent 2025 working hard for our constituents and delivering real progress for Michigan. I look forward to another year of building opportunities for our communities.
- Earlier this month, Republicans in Lansing decimated over half a billion dollars promised to people and programs around the state that help provide wigs for kids undergoing cancer treatment, critical resources to support new moms and their babies, and more. Learn more below.
- Team Cavanagh has been busy in our community this month, attending local holiday parties and spending time with local organizations!
Expanding Opportunity, Lowering Costs, & Protecting Michigan: Senate Democrats Reflect on Progress From 2025
As we approach the end of 2025 and wrap up our legislative work for the year, I’d like to take a moment to reflect on the progress we’ve delivered for the people of Michigan. Together, my Senate Democratic colleagues and I:
- Saved Medicaid in Michigan, protecting access to accessible, affordable health care;
- Expanded the widely successful Rx Kids program to improve maternal and infant health outcomes;
- Delivered another bipartisan budget that continues the universal free school meals program, implements a long-term road solution, and lowers costs for seniors and families;
- Advanced commonsense gun safety policies to keep our communities safe;
- Fought back against federal chaos and safeguarded our state from the worst effects of Trump’s disastrous budget plan;
- Strengthened protections and benefits for Michigan veterans and their families;
- Championed legislation to improve government accountability, tackle racial and ethnic maternal health disparities, lower prescription drug costs, expand transparency in the state budget process, and so much more.
I’m proud of the work we’ve accomplished this year, despite the many obstacles and unprecedented setbacks we faced at both the state and federal levels of government. I’m already planning ahead for 2026 and looking forward to another productive year advocating for our communities and our state. I also encourage you to stay informed about the legislation moving through the Senate in the coming weeks. Feel free to track the legislation we’re working on here.
Fighting Food Insecurity This Holiday Season and Beyond
Everyone deserves access to quality, nutritious food, full stop — but this year, the demand for food assistance is higher than ever as grocery costs soar and federal Republicans have disrupted Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and restricted eligibility. Approximately 1.5 million Michiganders face food insecurity, including over 402,000 children.
My Senate Democratic colleagues and I have worked hard to ensure that every Michigan family has access to food not only during the holidays, but year-round. From proposing $71 million in relief funding to support food banks and continue SNAP benefits during the federal shutdown to delivering another year of free school meals for every Michigan student, we’ve made significant groundwork in combating food insecurity here in our state. Learn more about our efforts to tackle food insecurity here, and explore food assistance resources below.
- The Michigan Dept. of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) offers various food assistance resources and programs.
- Michigan 211 helps locate local programs to meet food and nutrition needs, from prepared meal programs to emergency formula and baby food assistance.
- Locate food banks in our local community, explore volunteer opportunities, and more at Feeding America – Michigan.
- Explore the Food Bank Council of Michigan’s website to find local food bank information, find assistance with SNAP benefits, and more.
In a Twisted Political Maneuver, Legislative Republicans Axe Crucial Funding for Michigan Kids & Communities
A couple of weeks ago, in a deliberately cruel and reckless political stunt lacking any ounce of transparency, Michigan House Speaker Matt Hall and his Republican colleagues exploited a rarely used provision in state law to unilaterally slash over a half billion dollars in budget funding for Michigan’s kids, families, small businesses, and communities. Among the $645 million in bipartisan passed, already agreed upon funding promised to programs around the state were resources to:
- Provide wigs for kids undergoing cancer treatment;
- Uplift new moms and their babies at the most vulnerable stage of life;
- Tackle our state’s opioid epidemic;
- Invest in affordable housing solutions;
- And so much more.
In the middle of the holiday season, at a time when Michiganders are already feeling the financial stress from the whiplash of federal policies, Matt Hall and his Republican colleagues pull the rug out from under them.
But Senate Democrats are fighting back.
While we work to understand the full impact of this action on people and programs around the state, you can rest assured that Senate Democrats will continue serving with actual integrity and leadership, doing everything we can to hold Lansing Republicans accountable and ensure every Michigander knows what they did.
We are not sitting idly — Senate Democrats are stepping up to clean up House Republicans’ mess. This week, Senate Appropriations Chair Sarah Anthony submitted a letter to Attorney General Dana Nessel requesting her to issue an opinion on the legality of the House Appropriations Committee’s actions. My colleagues and I also passed a bipartisan supplemental budget that would restore the $645 million decimated by Matt Hall and House Republicans. We are laser-focused on fighting for programs that improve the lives of all Michiganders.
Your voice is vital to us. Click here to tell Speaker Matt Hall and Lansing Republicans you disagree with these budget cuts. You can also let us know if you have a personal connection to these cuts.
Senate Unanimously Acts to Deliver Relief for Michiganders Facing UIA Benefit Recovery
During the chaos of the pandemic, thousands of Michiganders turned to their government for help, tapping into the unemployment system to put food on the table, pay their bills, and ensure their family could weather a once-in-a-lifetime global health crisis. Since then, the Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) has been attempting to claw back overpayments they mistakenly made to these same individuals — causing stress for many around the state at an already financially tough time.
Let’s be clear: these families did nothing wrong. That’s why, earlier this month, alongside every single Senator, across party lines, I voted to pass legislation that would provide a clean slate for these folks by waiving any overpayments the UIA is currently attempting to collect from this pandemic-era timeframe. Senate Bill 700 now heads to the Michigan House, where I’m hopeful they will act quickly so we can deliver relief to those who need it most.
We spent a lot of time in our community this month! Below are a few highlights.
17th Annual Leo Snage Luncheon
UAW Region 1A Children’s Council Holiday Celebration
Grandmont Winter Wonderland Ball
Michigan Black Caucus Holiday Party
College Park Neighborhood Holiday Party
Here are a few local events to know about as we approach the holidays!
Christmas on Hancock Street
The Christmas Owl at Greenmead in Livonia: Stories, Snacks, and Crafts
Join us for a cozy afternoon during holiday break 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 29, as we read the heartwarming tale of the tiny owl discovered in the Rockefeller Christmas Tree! We’ll celebrate with festive crafts inspired by the story and enjoy some tasty seasonal snacks. Advance registration is required, $10/child resident, $12/child non-resident.
All children in attendance must be registered and accompanied by an adult. This program is best for ages 4-10.
Holiday Toy Giveaway
Recognizing Universal Human Rights Month
December is Universal Human Rights Month, with Dec. 10 marking International Human Rights Day. Championed by the United Nations, this observance highlights how basic human rights — like access to food, water, shelter, and personal freedoms — structure our everyday lives, even in ways we don’t immediately notice. The UN’s framework, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, was adopted on Dec. 10, 1948, stating that all global citizens are entitled to freedom, dignity, and equity.
2025 has been a difficult year for ensuring human rights access, both here in the United States and across the globe. This year’s UN campaign aims to increase understanding and collective action towards ensuring human rights for all by sharing how human rights are an everyday essential.
Here in Michigan, my colleagues and I have been committed to strengthening human rights for Michiganders. Most recently, we have:
- Protected reproductive rights and freedoms;
- Expanded the Elliot-Larsen Civil Rights Act, ensuring protection against discrimination;
- Banned conversion therapy, protecting our LGBTQ+ minors;
- Taken steps to protect same-sex marriage in Michigan amidst fears surrounding review of Obergefell v. Hodges;
- Expanded policies that keep Michiganders fed and housed; and
- Ensured quality education for our next generation in the 2025-26 budget.
To learn more about human rights or how to participate in the United Nations’ educational Human Rights webinars and summits, click here.
Staying Safe This Winter
The cold and snow are here! As Michigan faces more cold weather and winter storms to come, make sure to plan ahead and take the proper precautions to stay safe. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends creating a communication plan with your family and taking steps to prepare your home and vehicle for the low temperatures, including:
- Weatherproof your home: Insulate walls and attic, caulk and weather-strip doors and windows, and insulate any water lines that run along exterior walls.
- Install a smoke detector and a carbon monoxide detector: Home heating is the second leading cause of home fires; make sure to prioritize fire safety and keep your house safe.
- Create an emergency car kit: Include items to stay warm — a portable phone charger, shovel, windshield scraper, flashlight, battery-powered radio, extra batteries, water, snacks, first-aid materials, jumper cables and waterproof matches.
- Prepare for power outages: Disconnect appliances and electronics to avoid damage from electrical surges; do not use a gas stove or oven to heat your home.
Warming Centers and Housing Assistance
As temperatures continue to drop into frigid temperatures, many community organizations across Michigan open their doors to ensure everyone can stay warm. To learn more and find warming centers in District 6:
- Visit our website to view a list of warming centers open during the day in District 6 and resources for those who need overnight places to stay warm: https://senatedems.com/cavanagh/warming-centers/
- Reach out 211 at mi211.org/housing-assistance
- Reach out to Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency here: https://www.waynemetro.org/housing/