Dear Neighbor,
The weather is getting warmer and warmer, bringing about seasonal change as well as many legislative wins.
The Michigan Senate and the House have both passed their Fiscal Year 2025 state budget proposals and are now ready to negotiate with the governor’s office to ensure that we are placing our state dollars toward our people and the places we call home. This newsletter will continue to serve as a great update on what we’re accomplishing here in Lansing on your behalf.
Due to Memorial Day, my office will be closed on May 27, 2024, but as always, if you or someone you know would like to provide any feedback about what’s happening in Lansing, or needs assistance of any sort, please feel free to reach out to my office. You can contact me at 517-373-0142 (Lansing office), 810-233-9788 (District office), or via email at SenJCherry@senate.michigan.gov.
Sincerely,
John Cherry
State Senator
District 27
Featured in This Newsletter
- In Recent News
- Legislative Updates
- Community Events
- Resources
In Recent News
District Office Hours
I’m thrilled to announce that our district office will be open to serve you on Mondays and Fridays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. During our operating hours, constituents can receive assistance in establishing communication with various state departments to address state issues and get answers to questions regarding legislation impacting the community. To ensure that we can give you our undivided attention, visits will be by appointment only. We can’t wait to serve you! Make an appointment on our website.
Double Up Food Bucks
Buying food is expensive right now, especially for our neighbors struggling to put food on the table. Double Up Food Bucks is here to help. Those who shop for groceries with a SNAP/Michigan Bridge Card can double their benefits to purchase fresh, Michigan-grown fruits and veggies using Double Up Food Bucks. The program is available at 230+ participating farmers’ markets, farm stands, and grocery stores across Michigan. With farmers’ market season around the corner, it’s a great time to use the program! Learn how it works and find a participating location near you at DoubleUpFoodBucks.org.
Legislative Update
Working to Deliver Innovative “Building up Michigan” State Budget
Last year marked a significant milestone for Michigan Democrats as we capitalized on their first trifecta in 40 years to spearhead a transformative budget — directing vital resources into historically neglected sectors like infrastructure, education, and local communities. This comprehensive budget, encompassing various offices, departments, initiatives, projects, and programs, follows an annual funding cycle, necessitating the State Legislature to craft a new budget each year.
Crafting this state budget is a collaborative effort involving negotiations between both legislative branches and the governor, resulting in a new state budget being signed into law each year to distribute funding to residents, schools, communities, businesses, local governments, and more.
Currently, we’re in an exciting moment with our budget process, continuing the transformative investments of the previous year and taking an innovative approach to addressing the needs of all Michiganders. Highlights of our “Building Up Michigan” budget proposal include record school funding, increased access to community college for students, significant funding for local communities, and efforts to lower costs for state residents.
As we work to deliver a final budget by the end of June, I encourage you to learn more about the process and the investments we’re looking to make to support communities across Michigan — read more here.
70th Anniversary of Brown vs. Board of Education Decision
May 17 marked the 70th anniversary of the Brown vs. Board of Education milestone Supreme Court decision which ruled that separating children in public schools based on race was unconstitutional. While we honor this important victory in our country’s history and the civil rights progress that has been made thus far, let us also recommit to the necessary work ahead to make our systems and communities more equitable and inclusive for all.
Senate Democrats Fight to Expand Access to Mental Health Care
Throughout our state, communities are grappling with the issue of having too little access to mental health support — a crisis particularly affecting young Michiganders and our veterans. That’s why Senate Democrats took action and made critical investments in the 2024 State Budget to address this gap in coverage and ensure all Michigan residents who need assistance can access it. A few highlights of the investments we have made thus far in mental health care include:
- $280 million for certified community behavioral health clinics to expand access to care.
- $328 million in the education budget to address the mental health and safety concerns of students and teachers.
- $1.2 million for suicide prevention programs to help military veterans and their families.
As we recognize May as Mental Health Awareness Month and as we continue to craft our budget for 2025, my colleagues and I remain committed to ensuring every person in our state can access essential services and programs to improve their mental health and overall well-being. Together, we can break down barriers to care and create a healthier, more resilient Michigan.
Community Events
I prioritize spending face-to-face time with constituents, which is why I regularly schedule events in the community. These events provide excellent opportunities for me to hear about issues that are important to you, answer any questions you may have, and share legislative updates on the exciting developments at our state Capitol. Find more information about my upcoming events below as well as on my website. I hope to see you there!
Flint Community Conversation
WHEN: Monday, June 3, 2024, from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
WHERE: McCree Theatre, 4601 Clio Rd., Flint, MI 48504
Resources
Crisis Lines
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: 988 is a 24/7 toll-free nationwide hotline that provides confidential and compassionate care for anyone struggling with behavioral health issues, emotional distress, or substance use crisis. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or visit their Lifeline Chat to connect with a trained crisis counselor.
- Veterans Crisis Line: The Veterans Crisis line provides veterans and their family members with 24/7, confidential support. To connect, call 1-800-273-8255 and press 1 or text 838-255. You do not have to be enrolled in VA benefits or health care to call.
- Trevor Lifeline: The Trevor Project has trained counselors who understand the challenges young people in the LGBTQ community face and are available for support 24/7. Call 1-866-488-7386, text 678-678, or click here to speak with a crisis counselor.
Locating Treatment Services
- Michigan 211: If you need assistance locating long-term mental health resources, talking through a problem, or exploring mental health treatment options, call 211 or visit mi211.org to speak with a live person who can help. All conversations are confidential, can be made anonymously, and are available in 180 languages upon request.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: Visit FindTreatment.gov, a confidential and anonymous resource, to locate treatment facilities for mental and substance use disorders near you.
- Michigan Community Mental Health Services Programs: CMHSPs provide a comprehensive range of services and supports to children, adolescents and adults with mental illnesses, developmental disabilities and substance use disorders in all 83 Michigan counties. Find your local program here.