Dear Neighbor,
I hope this newsletter finds you and your loved ones in good health and high spirits as we kick off the month of April. I also hope you had a wonderful spring break with your family, creating lasting memories and enjoying some well-deserved relaxation.
Remember, the deadline to file state and federal taxes is this Monday, April 15. If you have questions about filing your taxes or want to check your refund status, view account information and more, click here. If you are a qualified recipient and believe there was an issue with getting your check, the Michigan Tax Help Center may be able to provide additional help.
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 email us at SenEGeiss@senate.michigan.gov or call 517-373-7800.
Sincerely,
Erika Geiss
State Senator
District 1
In This Edition
- In Recent News
- Black Maternal Health Week
- Legislative Update
- Momnibus
- Senate Resolution 107 Commemorating Black Maternal Health Week
- Recapping Senate Democrats’ Work to Safeguard Michiganders’ Wellness During Public Health Week
- Resources
- Virtual Resource Fair for Families of Children with Special Health Care Needs
- Small Businesses Impacted by Lack of Snow to Apply for Federal Funding
- Tax Help and Resources
- Community Update
- Community Forum on the Michigan Voting Rights Act
- Gordie Howe Bridge Traffic Alerts
- I-75/Telegraph Bridge Construction Update
In Recent News
Black Maternal Health Week
Black Maternal Health week is recognized April 11-17, 2024. This week, now in its 7th annual year, was founded by the Black Mamas Matter Alliance (BMMA). This year’s theme is “Our Bodies STILL Belong to Us: Reproductive Justice NOW!” and is dedicated to awareness, activism, and amplifying the voices of Black Mamas to express the concerns and necessary improvements regarding Black maternal health and reproductive justice.
Black women face unfair health care challenges compared to white women, leading to higher risks and life-threatening complications. As mortality rates climb and reproductive freedoms come under fire, it’s crucial to back initiatives and policies that enhance prenatal and maternal care, support breastfeeding and nutrition, safeguard abortion access, and push for inclusive paid leave policies.
Legislative Updates
Momnibus Legislation
This week, my colleagues Sens. Sarah Anthony (D-Lansing), Mary Cavanagh (D-Redford Twp.), Stephanie Chang (D-Detroit), Sylvia Santana (D-Detroit) and I introduced a bill package to improve equity and accountability for those providing maternal healthcare services in Michigan. The “MI Momnibus” bill package (Senate Bills 818–827) is a multi-faceted approach to build on the existing community-driven programs, care solutions, improvements in prenatal care and maternal healthcare that amplifies the voices of Black birthing people, mothers, women, families, and stakeholders.
Read more here.
Senate Resolution 107 Commemorating Black Maternal Health Week
This week I introduced Senate Resolution 107 to commemorate Black Maternal Health Week in Michigan. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Black mothers in the United States die from pregnancy-related causes at three times the rate of white mothers. When looking at maternal mortality, Black women have a mortality rate of 69.9 deaths per 100,000 live births, compared to 26.6 deaths per 100,000 live births for white mothers. Not only do Black women have higher mortality rates, but we are more likely to suffer from reproductive health disorders, and PMADs (Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders) like postpartum depression. These disparities in maternal and infant mortality are rooted in structural racism and cut across socio-economic status, maternal age, and education levels. Black Maternal Health Week (BMHW) intentionally begins on the International Day of Maternal Health and Rights and during Minority Health Awareness Month. It was created seven years ago by Black Mamas Matter Alliance (BMMA) and designed to foster awareness about Black maternal health and address disparities through community-driven work to help shape policy changes. Learn more about BMHW and BMMA here.
Recapping Senate Democrats’ Work to Safeguard Michiganders’ Wellness During Public Health Week
With the new opportunity to better address these needs, our Majority for the People has worked to pass comprehensive, evidence-based policies to expand access to healthcare and improve the health of Michigan residents. As we observe Michigan Public Health Week, Senate Democrats recognize the invaluable contributions of those who safeguard the health of our communities and recommit to supporting their efforts as we work collectively to promote the well-being of our state.
During our first year-plus in office, we have wasted no time in enacting meaningful policies and securing investments to achieve a brighter, healthier Michigan for future generations.
Some legislative highlights include:
- Expanding access to care by codifying the Affordable Care Act into state law and passing legislation that would establish Prescription Drug Affordability Board to rein in the skyrocketing cost of medications.
- Combatting our gun violence epidemic by closing dangerous loopholes to strengthen background checks, requiring the secure storage of firearms, disarming individuals convicted of domestic violence, and allowing for the temporary removal of firearms from people who pose a significant risk to themselves or others.
- Protecting Michiganders’ reproductive freedom by repealing our state’s archaic 1931 abortion ban, passing the Reproductive Health Act, to repeal medically unnecessary regulations regarding health clinics that perform abortions, and championing the Family Protection Act to eliminate barriers to parentage in fertility healthcare to allow Michiganders more ways to grow their families.
- Keeping Michigan’s air and water clean by passing the Clean Energy Future package which sets long-awaited clean energy and renewable energy standards and increases energy efficiency targets, in addition to passing Filter First legislation that will require Michigan schools and childcare centers to implement a drinking water management plan and install filtered faucets and bottle-filling stations, ensuring every student and educator can fill their water bottle or go to the water fountain knowing it is safe.
- $280 million to address our mental health crisis through funding for community behavioral health services to expand access to care.
- $76 million for local health departments to provide economic stability and ensure they have the necessary resources to supply residents with essential health services.
- $63 million increase in funding for Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies, an initiative providing postpartum Medicaid coverage to mothers in an effort to reduce postpartum deaths.
- $800,000 to create the Office of Community Violence Services and $6 million for the office to provide grants to community-based violence intervention programs that are working to reduce firearm-related injuries and fatalities.
Virtual Resource Fair for Families of Children with Special Health Care Needs
The Family Center for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs, Michigan Family to Family, and Michigan Family Voices are teaming up for a Virtual Resource Fair on May 7, 2024, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Microsoft Teams.
This event is meant to inform individuals with disabilities and their families, caregivers, youth, providers, and community support about the variety of services and resources available in Michigan for children and youth with disabilities and special health care needs, and their families.
Small Businesses Impacted by Lack of Snow to Apply for Federal Funding
As Michigan continues to face record-high winter temperatures, small businesses impacted by the lack of snow this winter are urged to apply for federal funding from the Small Business Administration (SBA). Amid the warmest winter on record, with days in February and March topping 60 degrees, federal Economic Injury Disaster Loans are available because of ongoing federal drought declarations affecting 42 Michigan counties.
SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans are designed to help businesses through disaster situations that have impacted their economic well-being. Loans are up to $2 million to help meet financial obligations and operating expenses that could have been met had the disaster not occurred. Businesses pay no interest on the loan for the first year and a maximum rate of 4% for the rest of the loan period. Businesses must apply by the application deadline for their county.
Submit applications and find additional disaster assistance information at lending.sba.gov. Call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech-related disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services. Applicants may also contact the Michigan Small Business Development Center at 1-833-522-0025 or email sbdcmichigan@gvsu.edu.
Tax Help and Resources
It’s tax season! Remember that the deadline to file state and federal taxes is this Monday, April 15. If you have questions about filing your taxes or want to check your refund status, view account information and more, click here.
Join Senators Moss, Camilleri, Chang, Geiss, and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson for a Community Forum on the Michigan Voting Rights Act.
The Community Forum will take place Monday, April 15th, from 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at the Calvary Presbyterian Church of Detroit (19125 Greenview Ave, Detroit, MI 48219).
We look forward to seeing you!
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Sen. Moss (D-Southfield) serves Michigan’s 7th Senate District, which includes all of Auburn Hills, Bloomfield Hills, Bloomfield Township, Lake Angelus, Lathrup Village, Pontiac, Southfield, and parts of Detroit, Southfield Township, and Waterford Township. You can find a map of the district at senatedems.com/moss/district.
Sen. Camilleri (D-Trenton) serves Michigan’s 4th Senate District, which includes part of Taylor and all of Belleville, Brownstown Township, Flat Rock, Gibraltar, Grosse Ile Township, Huron Township, Riverview, Rockwood, Romulus, Southgate, Sumpter Township, Trenton, Van Buren Township, Wayne City, Woodhaven, and Wyandotte. You can find a map of the district at https://senatedems.com/camilleri/district
Sen. Chang (D-Detroit) serves Michigan’s 3rd Senate District, which includes Hamtramck, Hazel Park, Highland Park, Madison Heights, and parts of Detroit, Royal Oak, Sterling Heights, Troy, and Warren. You can find a map of the district at https://senatedems.com/chang/district
Sen. Geiss (D-Taylor) serves Michigan’s 1st Senate District which includes all of Ecorse, Lincoln Park, Melvindale, River Rouge, and parts of Allen Park, Detroit, and Taylor. https://senatedems.com/geiss/district
Gordie Howe Bridge Traffic Alerts
Starting April 1, 2024, Bridging North America will temporarily close lanes on Fort Street for curb and sidewalk reconstruction. These closures will be in place until June 28, 2024:
- Two right lanes on eastbound Fort Street will close between Livernois Avenue and Junction Street.
- The left lane on westbound Fort Street will close between Livernois Avenue and Junction Street.
- The center turn lane on Fort Street will close at the intersection of Campbell Street.
Starting April 8, 2024, Bridging North America will implement intermittent lane closures on Livernois Avenue and Cavalry Street for utility investigation work. These closures will be in place until April 12, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily as needed:
- Livernois Avenue will close between the Norfolk Southern Railroad tracks and Fort Street.
- Cavalry Street will close between Anthon Street and Fort Street. Detour routes are in place and include the following: Cavalry Street Detour
- Local traffic on Fort Street heading to Cavalry Street will be detoured south on Junction Street, and west on Anthon Street to Cavalry Street.
On March 25, 2024, Bridging North America closed Post Street for a long-term period between Jefferson Avenue and South Street. Access will be maintained for Delray Mechanical from Jefferson Avenue.
For more information about active road closures, I encourage you to visit the project website at GordieHoweInternationalBridge.com.
Huge I-75 connector/Telegraph Road construction project is underway
The Michigan Department of Transportation is investing $18.5M to replace two bridges and improve four bridges on US-24 (Telegraph Road) from the US-24/I-75 connector to Mercier Avenue, north of Eureka Road. The project will stretch through the 2024-25 construction seasons.