Dear Neighbor,
While the year is rapidly coming to a close, my colleagues and I in the Michigan Senate are using every moment we have to deliver solutions to the challenges facing our state. From passing legislation to assist residents during challenging economic times to advancing policies to support first responders and keep our communities safe, we’re laser-focused on driving meaningful progress for the people of Michigan.
I encourage you to stay informed about the legislation moving through the State Senate and House in the coming weeks. We’ll continue sharing updates here in our newsletters as well as on social media. You can also track legislation by searching for bill numbers on the Michigan Legislature’s website.
As always, I’d love to hear from you about the topics you’re interested in. Please feel free to reach out to share your perspective or seek assistance with any challenges you may be facing with state departments — we are here to serve you. You can reach my office by emailing SenKHertel@senate.michigan.gov, calling our Lansing office at (517) 373-7315, or calling our district office at (586) 252-2157.
Sincerely,
Kevin Hertel
State Senator
District 12
- With a few weeks of session remaining in 2024, the Senate has been busy at work, delivering solutions to support Michigan workers and first responders.
- We have a new phone number for our District Office! If you need assistance from our office, please don’t hesitate to reach our district team at (586) 252-2157 during regular business hours.
- This National Influenza Vaccination Week, take a moment to ensure you’re ready for flu season. To find a vaccine location near you, click here.
Passed by the Senate
Coming back from Thanksgiving break, my colleagues and I had a busy week full of votes as we worked to deliver results for the people of Michigan in the waning days of the 102nd Legislature. Among the bills passed was legislation to:
- Improve Michigan’s Unemployment Insurance Agency system to boost the maximum number of weeks and benefit amount workers could qualify for. Read more here.
- Honor the ultimate sacrifice MSP Trooper Joel Popp made for his community by designating a portion of I-76 as the Trooper Joel E. Popp Memorial Highway.
- Expand access to higher education and skilled trades for more than 350,000 Michiganders by permanently lowering the eligibility age for Michigan Reconnect from 25 to 21.
- Enhance breast cancer detection standards by improving the quality of information and the way in which it is provided to women following their mammograms. Read more here.
Committee Progress
(Left) Sen. Hertel is joined by Erica Hammel and her son Wyatt. (Right) The Senate Health Policy Committee, led by Sen. Hertel, hears testimony from Michiganders on the importance of contraception access.
Senate committees also had a busy schedule this past week as we heard testimony and held votes on several policy priorities. Among the legislation that passed through the committee process and are on their way to the Senate floor are bills to:
- Protect reproductive freedom and give Michiganders the Freedom to Plan by expanding access to over-the-counter contraceptives and emergency contraceptives. Read more here.
- Strengthen Wyatt’s Law, a bill I passed when serving in the Michigan House that gave parents more access to Michigan’s central child abuse registry so they can more easily track child abuse offenders and better protect their kids. Read more here.
Additionally, this week, Sen. Veronica Klinefelt introduced legislation that would allow firefighters to bring their concerns on staffing levels to the negotiation table. Compared to other Midwest states, Michigan falls significantly behind when it comes to the total number of full-time professional firefighters — having less than half of the firefighters per resident than states such as Ohio, Illinois, and Indiana. This means fires burn longer, injuries are left untreated, and critical seconds are lost in situations where every moment matters.
On Tuesday, I was humbled to stand with firefighters from our lakeshore community and across the state to reflect on policies we’ve championed together to address our paramedic shortage and double survivor benefits for public safety officers, while advocating for the continued progress we can make to ensure our firefighters have the staffing levels they need to serve our communities.
The legislation was taken up for testimony and voted out of the Senate Labor Committee on Thursday, and now heads to the Senate floor for a vote. Read more here.
Click the video above to directly from Mount Clemens Firefighter Jacob Piper on why this legislation is so important to our first responders and everyday Michiganders.
And big thanks to all the firefighters from District 12 who came up to the Capitol to rally in support of this legislation. It was great seeing St. Clair Shores, Harrison Township, Mount Clemens, Chesterfield, Clinton Township, and more departments represented in the crowd!
Stay Healthy This Holiday Season and Get Your Flu Vaccine
As part of National Influenza Vaccination Week, Dec. 2-6, the Michigan Dept. of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is encouraging everyone to get their flu vaccine if they have not already done so. By getting the flu vaccine now, families will protect themselves and their loved ones against the flu throughout the holiday and flu seasons.
To ensure protection over the holidays, individuals should get their vaccine now before flu activity peaks in Michigan. To stay safe from other respiratory viruses, MDHHS also recommends getting the COVID-19 and RSV vaccines. All three of these vaccines can be given at the same time.
To find a vaccine location near you, visit Vaccine Finder. To learn more about seasonal respiratory illnesses and how to protect yourself, visit Michigan.gov/covidflursv.
Tips for Cancer Patients During the Holidays
The holiday season can be a particularly challenging time while living with cancer. Despite the joys of spending more time with family and loved ones, this time may bring anxiety, stress, mental and physical exhaustion, and the difficulty of coping with unwanted comments.
Here are some tips for navigating the holidays:
- Try to not overexert yourself. Give yourself grace and permission to decide which gatherings you are able to attend.
- Don’t be afraid to communicate your needs and boundaries. It’s okay to say “no.”
- Practice self-care. Whether that means enjoying a book with a cup of tea, or taking a walk, take some time to do something you love.
- Try to mentally prepare and have a way to cope with unwanted comments.
- If you feel like your mental health is struggling during this time, contact your healthcare provider and ask about support and resources.
Find more information and resources for Michiganders living with cancer on the MDDHS website.
It is one of my top goals as your State Senator to have myself and my office be as accessible to you as possible. To share your thoughts on legislation or seek assistance with an issue, please join me at one of our upcoming district events:
District Office Hours with Staff
WHEN: Every Thursday from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and by appointment
WHERE: District Office, 28800 Harper Ave., Saint Clair Shores, MI 48081
Please note: the office will be closed for the holidays on Thursday, December 26 and Thursday January 2. We will resume our regular office hours on Thursday, January 9, 2025.
If You Need Help: If you have a problem dealing with any department of state government, such as accessing unemployment benefits, my office is available to help resolve it. While we usually cannot assist with local or federal issues, we will always do our best to help direct you to the appropriate person or organization for help.
You may always feel free to email me at SenKHertel@senate.michigan.gov. You can also call our Lansing Office at (517) 373-7315 or our District Office at (586) 252-2157.
Keep Up to Date: Our bi-weekly newsletters are full of updates on what Team Hertel has been working on both in Lansing and District 12 to deliver results for Michiganders. To keep up to date with what we’ve been up to — sign up here to receive my bi-weekly newsletter, or access previous editions online here.
For more frequent updates, I also encourage you to follow our team on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.