District 6 News & Updates

Note From Erika

I hope that everyone is getting a chance to safely enjoy the warmer weather as we move further into spring. Below is pertinent information like saving for a future education and updates on how to protect yourself from robocalls and cell phone scams. And don’t forget — while we may be done with COVID-19, COVID-19 is not done with us, so please remain vigilant and take actions to protect yourself, your household, and community from infection.

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to our office by email at SenEGeiss@senate.michigan.gov or by phone at 517-373-7800. 

Erika Geiss

State Senator
6th District

In this Edition

• State Budget Update
• 150 Schools to Receive $10 Million Total for School Safety Grants
• Saving for a Future Education
• COVID-19 Vaccination Update
• Unemployment Assistance 
• Community Update

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Senate Moves Budget Bills Along Party Lines 

On Tuesday and Wednesday of last week, the Senate passed 17 budget bills that target key state priorities. Several Democratic amendments were proposed but most failed, largely along party lines. The full Senate voted and approved the Senate version of the state budget but even though we approved these budgets, there is still more work to be done. The House passed their own budgets, so there will be more negotiations on what is included in a final budget and, at some point, both the House and Senate will have to vote again.

The approved budgets were in some ways a good step forward, but in others, a step backward as we’re still leaving federal aid funding off the table, and we did not put funding toward many critical needs in our state. This was only the beginning process of negotiations between the Senate and the House, and I look forward to fighting for the money our district needs in the days and weeks ahead as we continue work on the state budget. 

150 SCHOOLS TO RECEIVE $10 MILLION TOTAL FOR SCHOOL SAFETY GRANTS

On May 3rd, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced that 150 awards were made to local, intermediate, public, and non-public schools across Michigan for $10 million in state funding from the Competitive School Safety Grant Program (CSSGP). The grants will go toward the purchase of equipment and/or technology to improve the safety and security of school buildings, students, and staff.

Of the schools receiving these grants, the Romulus Community School District received $55,116 for its schools and Lutheran High of Westland received $34,988.

>> Read the governor’s press release here.

SAVING FOR FUTURE EDUCATION

The cost of saving for future education can be a daunting task for families, but the State of Michigan offers a variety of plans to help.

Michigan offers two direct-sold Section 529 savings plans: the Michigan Education Trust (MET) and the Michigan Education Savings Program (MESP). Michigan also offers the MI 529 Advisor Plan, for residents who wish to work with a financial advisor.

The Michigan Education Trust (MET) is Michigan’s prepaid tuition plan, and the program is the first like it in the country. MET allows for the pre-purchase of tuition based on today’s tuition prices, then pays out at the future tuition cost when the child is ready to attend college. MET can be used for both tuition and mandatory fees. A MET contract offers state income tax deduction, can be transferred to family members, can be used at an out-of-state school, independent and trade schools, and offers a variety of savings and payments plans.

MET Enrollment is open through Sept. 30, 2022.

>> Learn more about MET

The Michigan Education Savings Program (MESP) is Michigan’s direct sold 529 savings plan. Unlike MET, MESP is an investment-based savings plan, and works similarly to a 401(k). The MESP offers 22 different investment options and can be used for tuition, fees, books, as well as room and board. A family’s MESP can be transferred to another family member, offers state income tax deduction, can be used at any eligible education institution, and an account can be opened with as little as $25.

>> Learn more about MESP

Michigan strives to help families prepare and save with their student scholarships, grants, and outreach division and MiABLE 529(A) plans. More information on these plans can be found on the state’s Student Aid webpage.

COVID-19 VACCINATION UPDATE

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced a second Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna booster dose is authorized if you meet the following criteria: 

• You got your first booster more than 4 months ago, AND:
• You are 50 years old or older 
• You are 12 years old and are moderately to severely immunocompromised
• You received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine for both your primary dose and booster 

>> Learn when you can get your second booster and what you should consider

If you have not already received your primary dose
of the COVID-19 vaccine or booster, now is the time to do so. Information on vaccines, vaccine boosters, and testing locations are available on the Wayne County website. 

With both the CDC and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services revising guidelines for masking, getting vaccinated and boosted now is more critical than ever to help protect ourselves and our communities — especially for those among us who are immunocompromised or otherwise cannot take the vaccine. 

Beginning at age 5, children are eligible to receive the vaccine. The Wayne County Health Department has established three locations where you can get your child vaccinated. Parents and guardians should consult with their pediatrician or health care providers with questions and concerns. These medical professionals will offer the best guidance to your child(ren) and family.  

*The Wayne County Health Department handles the 42 Wayne County communities outside of Detroit, which has its own separate health department.  

UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE 

Senate Bill 445, signed into law by Governor Whitmer, now turns off the “able and available” requirement for federal unemployment claims filed during the pandemic. Part-time workers who could not work full-time will not have to pay back the benefits they received and/or may be eligible to claim benefits they were denied. 

To know if your claim was affected by this “able and available” requirement, your Notice of Determination, or Notice of Redetermination will list the “Issue” as either “Ability” or “Availability”. It will look similar to the one below:  

If your claim was denied, you had your benefits halted, or your eligibility was re-determined because of the “able and available” requirement, please fill out the issue form on our website and our office will assist you. 

As always, If you or someone you know who lives in Senate District 6 is having trouble receiving their Unemployment Insurance (UI) or Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), please fill out this unemployment assistance form and our office will reach out to assist you with your issue as soon as possible.  

You can also visit the Michigan LEO FAQ page for answers to questions you may have regarding eligibility for unemployment or for issues you may have with your current claim. 

COMMUNITY UPDATE

Beware of Scammers

Smishing is when scammers send text messages pretending to be from trusted sources. Their goal is to get targets to respond with personal information such as passwords and credit card details and/or click on links that will install malware on the victim’s device. Smishing is similar to phishing, which is the same practice but through email.

A scam text may read like the following” “Verizon Free Msg: Latest bill processed. Thanks, [Your Name]! Here’s a little freebie for you: fismk.exy/XXXXX”

Attorney General Dana Nessel has announced that smishing attacks are on the rise. She has provided tips on how you can protect your number and other personal information:

• Don’t share your phone number unless you know the person or organization well. 
• Don’t assume a text is legitimate because it comes from a familiar phone number or area code. Spammers use caller ID spoofing to make it appear the text is from a trusted or local source. 
• Don’t provide personal or financial information in response to the unsolicited text or at a website linked to the message. 
• Don’t click on links in suspicious text; they could install malware on your device or take you to a site that does the same. 
• Don’t reply, even if the message says you can “text STOP” to avoid more messages. That tells the scammer or spammer your number is active and can be sold to other bad actors. 
• Never follow a text’s instructions to push a designated key to opt-out of future messages. 

If you are an AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, Sprint, or Bell subscriber, you can report spam or smishing texts to your carrier by copying the original text and forwarding it to 7726 (SPAM), free of charge.

If you are unable to use 7726, then you can report smishing texts to your mobile service provider and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

Robocalls

Robocalls are also a prevalent problem in Michigan, and across the country. Not only are they annoying, but they can also be harmful to those who are scammed by them. AG Nessel has been working tirelessly to pursue these scam artists, but she needs our help.

If you are contacted by a robocall, getting as much information from them — where they are located, what business they ar
e calling for, the reason for their call, and the phone number they are calling from — can help immensely in holding these people accountable. Even if you are unable to get all that information, some of it can also help.  

If you pick up a robocall, or they leave a voicemail, please fill out this form from the Robocalls Crackdown Team with as much information as you can. You may also put your number on the National Do Not Call Registry from the Federal Trade Ccommission’s (FTC) official Do Not Call website.

Note: By putting your number on the Do Not Call Registry, other types of organizations may still call you. Please read the FTC’s FAQs for more information.