Dear Friends and Neighbors,
I hope you are enjoying your fall season! As always, I am thrilled to share updates via this newsletter.
Since the start of the legislative fall session, the Michigan Legislature has worked to pass impactful, meaningful legislation that will help improve our state. I am proud of what my colleagues and I have accomplished thus far — and I look forward to our continued progress.
As your State Senator, I do my best to ensure the concerns of District 27 community members are heard and attended to. Therefore, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at (517) 373-0142 or SenJCherry@senate.michigan.gov.
Working for you,
John Cherry
State Senator
District 27
Featured in this newsletter:
- Community Updates
- Legislative Updates
- Helpful Resources
Community Updates
Mundy Twp. Coffee Hour Recap
Thank you to everyone who showed up and participated in the coffee hour my team held on Friday, October 20, 2023! It was a great way to connect with constituents face-to-face and hear their thoughts. I also want to thank the Mundy Township Senior & Enrichment Center for hosting us.
To learn more on how you can join me at an upcoming event, please follow me on Facebook or visit my website.
Legislative Updates
Highway Safety-Related Legislation Signed into Law
Last week, Senate Bill 43 — a bill I sponsored — was signed into law by Governor Whitmer. This crucial piece of legislation will safeguard the lives of our dedicated road construction workers.
Rachel Snell’s heartbreaking story is a powerful reminder of why we needed SB43. Her husband, David Snell, tragically lost his life in a road accident back in 2018. David, a Bay City resident, was working along northbound I-75 when a suspected drunken driver struck him. He had dedicated over two decades to C.A. Hull Contractors in Walled Lake, and his loss is a stark reminder of the dangers road workers face daily.
Senate Bill 43 aims to make our roads safer for these brave men and women. It mandates the use of concrete barriers or equivalent crashworthy temporary traffic barriers to separate road workers from traffic when they are performing their critical duties. This legislation is a significant step towards reducing deaths and serious injuries to our road workers, providing them with the protection they rightfully deserve.
Prioritizing highway safety is incredibly important to me, especially as our state undergoes continuous improvement to our infrastructure. This legislation will help ensure the safety of construction workers and drivers whilst improving traffic flow. I am proud to have sponsored this bill and look forward to the improvements made by its passage.
I want to express my gratitude to everyone who supported SB43, including Operating Engineers 324 and especially Rachel Snell, who turned her personal tragedy into a driving force for change. Your dedication and resilience are inspiring.
Thank you, Senator Gretchen Whitmer, for recognizing the importance of this bill and signing it into law. Together, we are making Michigan’s roads safer for all those who work tirelessly to maintain and improve our infrastructure.
Transformational State Budget Takes Effect as New Fiscal Year Begins
October 1 marked the beginning of a new fiscal year for the state of Michigan — the day when the historic state budget the Michigan Senate passed on June 28 took effect.
Totaling $81.7 billion, the budget is full of transformative, innovative and equitable investments that will improve the lives of Michiganders. Read more about the state budget and its impact here.
Helpful Resources
Resources for Michiganders Potentially Affected by the UAW Strike
For those who may be impacted by the UAW strike, it is important to be prepared as the negotiations continue.
In light of recent events, the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) has offered their assistance to all affected state business owners and workers — including the following resources:
- The Claimant Roadmap
- First-time filer coaching sessions
- UIA Community Connect
- Assistance with resetting account passwords
- Work Share
- Registration and Seeking Work Waiver
- Employer Filed Claims
To connect with your local Michigan Works! service center for career services, call (800) 285-WORKS (9675) or visit Michigan.gov/MichiganWorks.
For additional assistance, workers can schedule appointments at Michigan.gov/UIA or call Customer Service at (866) 500-0017.