Dear Neighbor,
With the first month of the year already over, we’re one step closer to the end of winter and the start of spring! But before the snow melts and the ice thaws for the year, make sure you don’t miss out on the beauty and fun of a pure Michigan winter — from ice skating and fishing to snowboarding and tubing, there’s no shortage of frozen fun to be had!
Our work in the Legislature is well underway for the year, and I’m honored to continue serving you and our community in the Senate. Read on to learn more about the progress we’re working to deliver for District 1 residents and our entire state.
As always, please feel free to reach out to share your thoughts or seek assistance with any challenges you may be facing with state departments. You can email me at SenEGeiss@senate.michigan.gov or call 517-373-7800.
Sincerely,
Erika Geiss
State Senator
District 1
- February is Black History Month, a time to celebrate the achievements and heritages of African Americans. My colleagues and I have worked to make Michigan a place where everyone can thrive, from centering equity in our state budget investments to banning race-based hair discrimination.
- EGLE is accepting public comments now through Feb. 24 on a proposed EES Coke air permit that would increase the facility’s air pollution.
- We observed White Shirt Day on Feb. 11 to commemorate the 88th anniversary of the end of the Flint sit-down strike and honor Michigan’s hardest workers.
Honoring the Great Laborers of Our State on White Shirt Day
Tuesday, Feb. 11 was White Shirt Day, which marked the 88th anniversary of the end of the Flint sit-down strike when Michigan UAW members won the right to be recognized by General Motors.
Entire families — men, women, and children — helped in the strike. Family members put their bodies on the line, forming a human shield around the plants to protect the strikers from violence and delivering food to the plants. They fought, and they won: higher wages, improved working conditions and better benefits — the opportunity to build a brighter future for their families.
Within a year of that strike that ended in 1937, the UAW grew from 30,000 to 500,000 members strong, and autoworker wages increased by as much as 300%.
Michigan didn’t just put the world on wheels. The courageous sacrifices these auto workers made 88 years ago changed the course of the labor movement — igniting a rallying cry for millions of workers around the country, ushering in a wave of intense union activity, and ultimately unleashing the power of the middle class.
This week, we remember and honor those trailblazers whose heroic actions paved this pathway for progress in Michigan and nationwide. We are proud that their history is our history.
Investing in Michigan — Updates on the 2026 State Budget
Last week, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer presented her recommendations for our next state budget. At this stage in the process, we’ve heard her priorities, and I’m pleased to see that we share many of the same goals — strengthening education, lowering costs for hardworking families, and driving job growth to boost our economy.
I’ll continue to provide updates as the budget takes shape, so stay tuned for more information in the coming weeks!
Celebrating Black History This Month and Beyond
February is Black History Month, a designated time to honor and appreciate the contributions, cultures, histories, and achievements of Black communities. Michigan has long been home to a diverse range of Black historical figures whose legacies have left an indelible mark on the world, from abolitionist Sojourner Truth and civil rights activist Malcom X to the “Queen of Soul” Aretha Franklin and the “mother of the freedom movement” Rosa Parks — whose birthday is annually celebrated on Feb. 4.
In the state Senate, we’ve fought hard to ensure Michigan is a state where anyone has an equitable opportunity to succeed, no matter their background or the color of their skin. From banning race-based hair discrimination and combating hate crimes to making Juneteenth an official state holiday and centering equity in our state budget investments, my Democratic colleagues and I are committed to uplifting communities that have been historically marginalized.
Want to get involved this Black History Month? Check out local events and some ways to celebrate here.
Supporting Moms & Workers: Updates from the First Month of the New Session
With the first month of 2025 over, I’m excited to share about the progress my colleagues and I have made so far on behalf of you and Michiganders around the state. In the past few weeks, in addition to introducing legislation to lower prescription drug costs and strengthen protections for workers, we:
- Voted to expand the state’s Freedom of Information Act to include the Michigan Legislature and governor. This legislation, Senate Bills 1 and 2, are now over to the House for consideration.
- Reintroduced bills to improve accountability and tackle racial and ethnical disparities in Michigan’s maternal health care system.
- Heard testimony from workers on several bills that were passed by both the House and Senate last session but are now being unconstitutionally held up by new Republican House leadership. The legislation they spoke in favor of a couple of weeks ago would boost retirement benefits for state corrections and conservation officers as well as lower health care costs for firefighters, teachers, and other public sector employees. Read on for more information.
Senate Democrats Stand Strong for Michigan Teachers, First Responders, & Corrections Officers
On Dec. 20, 2024, House Bills 4177, 4665–4667 and 4900–4901 of 2023 and House Bills 5817–5818 and 6058 of 2024 were passed by the Senate and returned to the House for presentation to the governor. However, House Republicans took illegal action to block these nine bills — which lower health care costs for teachers and first responders and improve retirement benefits for corrections officers — from being presented to the governor.
We will not let the constitution go ignored, and we will not let the needs of hardworking public servants go unmet. That’s why Senate Majority Leader Brinks has filed a lawsuit on behalf of the Michigan Senate to require House Republicans to abide by the constitution and rightfully send this critical legislation, which was passed by both chambers, to the governor. We won’t stop fighting to protect the sanctity of our constitution and stand strong for Michigan workers.
EGLE Public Comment Period on EES Coke Battery
The Michigan Dept. of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) is holding a public comment period for an air permit requested by EES Coke Battery, LLC (EES Coke), located at 1400 Zug Island Rd. in River Rouge. The comment period will remain open until Feb. 24, 2025. The company is requesting a secondary screener and associated equipment at their existing facility.
The public is encouraged to review information about the proposed air permit. The permit application submitted by EES Coke and the proposed project summary will give a good overview of what EES Coke is requesting and what is in the draft air permit.
I have submitted a public comment of my own expressing concerns with the requested air permit, as River Rouge is already one of the most heavily polluted areas in Michigan. This proposal, if permitted, would add nearly three tons of particulate matter (dust) into the air. Read about the potential impacts here.
Tell EGLE what you think:
Comments may be given at any time before the end of the comment period on Feb. 24. You may provide comments on the proposed permit in any of these ways:
- By email: EGLE-AQD-PTIPublicComments@Michigan.gov
- By U.S. mail: EGLE, Air Quality Division, Permit Section, P.O. Box 30260, Lansing, MI 48909- 7760.
- By voicemail: 517-284-0900.
If you have questions about the proposed air permit or how to comment, contact Grace Knauss at KnaussG@Michigan.gov or 517-643-6174.
February 11 is 2-1-1 Day!
Feb. 11 or 2/11 is often recognized as a day to raise awareness and remind folks about the toll-free health and human services referral service system, 2-1-1. This program, available across all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, is a fantastic resource to connect people with information and resources to build healthy, safe communities. Made possible through partnership with local United Way offices, 2-1-1 is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. To learn more and for help getting connected with resources, click here or simply call 2-1-1.
World Cancer Day: Resources and Support
World Cancer Day is annually observed on Feb. 4, and it’s a great opportunity to raise awareness about cancer and prevention efforts. The detrimental effects of cancer are felt in every corner of the globe, so World Cancer Day is the perfect time to share resources and support for all those impacted:
- Michigan Dept. of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) cancer resources for diverse communities;
- MDHHS Keeping Michigan Healthy cancer webpage;
- WISEWOMAN Program helps participants understand their chronic disease risk factors through a free health screening; and
- American Cancer Society Michigan local resources and events.